Pacific Jewel

Pacific Jewel departing from Fremantle in April 2015
History
Name:
  • 1990–2002: Crown Princess
  • 2002–2004: A'Rosa Blu
  • 2004–2007: AIDAblu
  • 2007–2009: Ocean Village Two
  • 2009–present: Pacific Jewel
Owner:
Operator:
Port of registry:
Builder: Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy
Cost: $276.8 million
Yard number: 5939
Launched: 25 May 1989
Acquired: 29 June 1990
Maiden voyage: 8 July 1990
In service: 8 July 1990
Identification: IMO number: 8521220
Status: In service
General characteristics (as built, 1990)
Class and type: Crown Princess-class cruise ship
Tonnage:
Length: 245.08 m (804 ft 1 in)
Beam: 32.25 m (105 ft 10 in)
Draught: 7.90 m (25 ft 11 in)
Decks: 11
Installed power: 4 × MAN-B&W 8L58/64 diesels, combined 24,000 kW
Propulsion: 2 propellers
Speed: 22.5 knots (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph)
Capacity: 1,950 passengers (maximum)
General characteristics (as rebuilt, 2004)
Tonnage:
Decks: 11 (passenger accessible)
Capacity: 2,014 passengers (maximum)
Crew: 621
Notes: Other characteristics as above

Pacific Jewel is a cruise ship currently operated by P&O Cruises Australia, and home ported at Sydney, Australia. She was built for Sitmar Cruises by Fincantieri in Monfalcone, Italy, and launched in 1989. Before she entered service, she was transferred to P&O Princess Cruises after P&O acquired Sitmar. She cruised as Crown Princess until 2002, when she was renamed A`Rosa Blu and transferred to A'Rosa Cruises.

In 2003, the ship was reassigned to the AIDA Cruises fleet, following the acquisition of P&O by Carnival Corporation & plc. After a refit, she reentered service in 2004 as AIDAblu. Between 2007 and 2009, the ship was operated by Ocean Village as Ocean Village Two, but after owner Carnival decided to shut down the Ocean Village brand, she was transferred to P&O Australia's fleet and renamed Pacific Jewel.

Design and construction

Pacific Jewel was built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone, Italy as Crown Princess, with the yard number 5839.[2] She was launched on 25 May 1989.[2]

As designed, the vessel had a gross tonnage of 69,845, and a deadweight tonnage of 6,995 tons.[2][3] She is 245.08 m (804 ft 1 in) long, with a beam of 32.25 m (105 ft 10 in), and a draft of 7.90 m (25 ft 11 in).[2] Her distinctive curved profile—often referred to as 'dolphin-like'—was designed by Renzo Piano. The two propeller shafts are driven by four MAN-B&W 8L58/64 diesels, with a combined output of 24,000 kW and a maximum speed of 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph).[2][3] The ship could originally carry 1,910 passengers (maximum)[3] The cruise ship was built at a cost of US$276.8 million.[4]

Features that can be found on Pacific Pearl as of mid 2016 include the Salt Grill by Luke Mangan, an outdoor movie screen, and the Aqua HealthSpaFitness.

A second ship was built to the same design, and is operating (as at April 2014) under the name Pacific Dawn. The two ships were ordered by Sitmar Cruises, but transferred to the ownership of P&O Princess Cruises when P&O acquired Sitmar.

Operational history

Pacific Jewel as Crown Princess

Crown Princess was handed over to P&O on 29 June 1990, and sailed on 8 July for her maiden voyage.[2]

Pacific Jewel as A'Rosa Blu

In 2002, the ship was renamed A'Rosa Blu transferred to A'Rosa Cruises, a new P&O brand aimed at the German market. Financial problems and the acquisition of P&O by Carnival Corporation & plc prompted the ship's reassignment to the AIDA Cruises fleet in September 2003. Following a refit, which saw the ship's passenger capacity increase to 2,014 across 11 decks, her crew expanded to 621, and increases in her tonnage to 70,285 GT and 5,758 DWT,[2][4] the cruise ship was renamed AIDAblu and returned to service in 2004.

Pacific Jewel as AIDAblu

In April 2007, the vessel was transferred to Ocean Village, and after a small refit in Bremerhaven, was christened as Ocean Village Two by sisters Jodie Kidd and Jemma Kidd. The vessel became an informal cruise ship.

Pacific Jewel as Ocean Village Two.

On 30 October 2008, Carnival announced the closure of their Ocean Village brand, with both ships to be transferred to the fleet of P&O Cruises Australia by the end of 2010. Pacific Jewel left on 14 November 2009 for a two-week refit at the Sembawang Shipyards in Singapore, which included minor upgrades and renovation of her facilities. After this, the ship began operation from Sydney.

On 27 August 2010, the soap opera Neighbours filmed scenes on board Pacific Jewel.[5] Actors and crew took five hours to shoot on and around the vessel's running track and circus arena on the top deck.[5] Some Pacific Jewel staff were given the chance to be extras in the scenes.[5] Travel Blackboard reported that P&O expected Pacific Jewel's appearance on the show to generate more than $1 million worth of brand exposure to the Australian audience.[5]

In October 2010, three cruises for October and November (to Vanuatu and Nouméa, Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup, and Fiji) were cancelled after a fault had developed in the propulsion system.[6]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Plowman, Peter (2004). The Sitmar Liners: Past and Present. Hong Kong: Rosenberg. p. 196. ISBN 1-877058-25-4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Asklander, Micke. "M/S Crown Princess (1990)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  3. 1 2 3 Miller, William H (1995). Pictorial Encyclopedia of Ocean Liners, 1860-1994. Mineola: Dover. p. 36. ISBN 0-486-28137-X.
  4. 1 2 Ward, Douglas (2008). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp. 495–496. ISBN 978-981-268-240-6.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Neighbours become good Friends with Pacific Jewel". Travel Blackboard. 29 September 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  6. ↑ Saurine, Angela (28 October 2010). "Holiday plans of thousands ruined as cruises cancelled". The Australian. Retrieved 30 October 2010.

Bibliography

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