Pacific Dawn Celebrates Birthday

Australia’s first superliner, Pacific Dawn, will celebrate her first birthday on 7 November with the launch of onboard coffee appreciation courses, exclusively available from November.

As she blows out her first candle, P&O Cruises will introduce a mixture of hands-on coffee demonstrations and interactive lectures on each cruise, which will be tailored to educate passengers on the fundamentals of creating and enjoying quality coffee.

Nestlé Professional’s National Barista Ryan Spinoglio has spent the past six months in intensive training with five P&O Cruises’ crew members, tutoring them on all facets of the coffee industry from plantation to processing, through delivery and presentation.

Mr Spinoglio, an experienced barista of more than 13 years who heads the Nestlé Professional Coffee Training and Appreciation program, has been working with the P&O Cruises’ team passing on his knowledge and expertise to ships’ coffee connoisseurs.

“It’s easy to make coffee, but it takes dedication, passion and practice to master the technique of creating great espresso coffee. After putting the P&O Cruises’ coffee ambassadors through their paces, they will now be able to pass on the skills required to craft the perfect espresso,” Mr Spinoglio said.

The newly appointed coffee ambassadors will educate passengers on coffee bean origins, the different varieties and tastes of beans available, blends to suite the Australian palate and how to correctly store and extract coffee.

“What’s on top of the coffee is not as important as the flavour of the coffee. When the coffee has been made with the best ingredients and the special care of a talented barista, the look of the coffee should reinforce the care that went into making it.”

The five coffee ambassadors showed off their newly acquired skills in a coffee master event held on Sunday 12 October, where they competed against each another to unveil the ultimate P&O Cruises coffee aficionado.

Winner Nicole Dobbyn, from Auckland, is eager to pass on the trade secrets learnt from Mr Spinoglio, to teach passengers how to handcraft the perfect cup of coffee.

‘It was an honour to be picked out of a team of great coffee makers and I’m excited to pass on the knowledge and lessons I have learnt from Ryan to show passengers the techniques needed to craft the perfect cup of coffee to appeal to their individual tastes.”

Pacific Dawn features 11 decks with two swimming pools, a choice of five evening dining areas, nine bars and lounges, “The Dome” entertainment area, a two-storey show lounge and fitness centre.  

For more information and bookings contact a licensed travel agent or P&O Cruises on 13 24 69 or visit www.pocruises.com.au

Official Press Release P&O Cruises Australia dated 3rd November 2008.

P&O Will Double Fleet

Australia’s leading cruise company, P&O Cruises, today announced it will double its fleet over the next two years to keep pace with Australians’ growing love affair with cruising.

The company’s decision to add another two modern superliners, each carrying about 2000 passengers, to its Australian operation is the biggest ever investment made by a cruise company in this region.

The first ship, to be named Pacific Jewel, will begin sailing year round from Brisbane in December 2009. A second superliner will arrive in late 2010 and will sail from Auckland and possibly Sydney, but this is yet to be decided.

The two ships will join Australia’s first superliner, Pacific Dawn, which has been a major success since she began sailing from Sydney in November 2007, and Brisbane’s popular Pacific Sun.

The announcement means:

• P&O Cruise will increase its fleet to four ships – twice the size of any other cruise company operating in Australia.
• Brisbane will welcome its first full-time superliner, the 70,310-tonne Pacific Jewel, in December 2009, building on the success of Pacific Sun, which moved to Brisbane in 2007.At the time, Pacific Sun’s arrival represented a 40 per cent increase in passenger capacity in the Queensland market.

Pacific Jewel is the sister ship to Pacific Dawn and features 198 private balcony cabins.

• Fremantle will become a home port for a P&O Cruises’ ship for the first time with the arrival of Pacific Sun in December 2009. The decision to expand into a new market is in response to West Australians’ passion for cruising, which has been steadily growing in recent years.
• P&O Cruises will continue to sail from Auckland with Pacific Sun and, from 2010, a new superliner offering a range of cruising seasons.
• Once the two latest ships are added to the fleet, P&O Cruises will be carrying about 8000 passengers and 3000 crew at any given time.*  

Ann Sherry, Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Australia which owns P&O Cruises, said the popularity of cruising was growing steadily because Australians wanted good value, relaxing holidays. 

“In these tougher times, cruising is the success story of Australian tourism because people are increasingly looking for good value holidays, paid in Australian dollars but still want to travel to exotic destinations,” Ms Sherry said.

“It is commonsense that the current economic conditions mean people will think twice about their discretionary spend but we have found that cruising is holding its own because it is good value and allows families to budget.

“The appeal of a P&O Cruises’ voyage is that a passenger’s ticket covers accommodation, food and entertainment. Plus any additional onboard spending is in Australian dollars so there is no worry about fluctuating international currencies.”

Ms Sherry said the ships will include an abundance of balcony cabins and offer amazing new amenities that would differentiate the product, including P&O Cruises’ largest spa area with ocean-view treatment rooms, a child-free oasis, a circus show with a high-wire act and bikes and kayaks for onshore adventures.

The International Cruise Council of Australasia’s most recent figures show a record 252,000 Australians took an ocean cruise last year, representing a 14 per cent growth in the industry.It is the third year in a row the industry has grown by double-digit figures.

In May this year, Access Economics found the cruise industry’s total economic contribution in 2006/07 was A$734 million.

“Based on current growth rates, the industry is on track to contribute in excess of $1 billion by 2010 – a significant contribution to the Australian economy,” Ms Sherry said.

“Our announcement today sends a clear message to governments that they need to thinkseriously and strategically about ensuring cruise shipping facilities are cost efficient and adequate to meet the industry’s potential.”

The additional ships will be deployed from Carnival UK to Australia because of the growth potential in this market.

Australia’s premium cruise line, Princess Cruises, will continue to operate its sister ships Dawn Princess and Sun Princess from Sydney, Fremantle and Melbourne.

 *Final passenger capacity will depend on berth configuration

Official Press Release P&O Cruises Australia dated 31st October 2008.

New Cuisine Onboard P&O

Australians’ passion for modern, fresh, home grown cuisine has driven P&O Cruises to embark on a culinary overhaul to please its passengers’ palates.

As demand grows for sophisticated food, P&O has responded with a revamp on both Pacific Dawn and Pacific Sun cruise ships. It involves:

• Introducing fresher, locally-grown ingredients on a range of new menus
• Replacing international wine brands with an Australian and New Zealand-only list focusing on boutique and regional wineries
• Embracing Australian’s love of coffee by introducing specialist onboard coffee ambassadors and appreciation classes
• Recruiting a new Corporate Executive Chef and Manager of Food and Beverage Operations to drive forward innovation in cuisine selection

The overhaul has seen the launch of signature dishes including Indian chilli crab, coral trout sourced from northern Australian waters, served with a lobster ragout and beurre blanc sauce as well as wagyu beef burgers served on basil and garlic focaccia.

In the months leading up to the revamp, the P&O Cruises team scouted the country’s best providores to select produce that would appeal to Australian tastes and meet passengers’ high expectations. The process began more than four months ago with the introduction of new menus, wine list, and tableware across the fleet. The enhancement program will be complete by April 2009.

Lars Kristiansen, Manager of Food and Beverage Operations at P&O Cruises, said revitalising the menus with quality local products is a testament to Australian’s increasingly discerning tastes.

“We are taking the passenger culinary experience to a different level. Australians have high expectations when it comes to dining. They are looking for crisp, fresh produce, and so we’ve responded to that demand and taken it up a notch. Our aim is to exceed their expectations.”

Newly appointed Executive Chef Uwe Steifel continued, “Australians are now demonstrating more loyalty towards locally-sourced food and we’re delighted to recognise this and invigorate our menus. My ambition is for Australians to choose cruising because of the sparkling cuisine itself.”

In a further boost to the Australian market, P&O Cruises recently ditched international wine brands in support of 64 local winemakers from Australia and New Zealand. Wines that made the cut include emerging boutique wineries such as Hunter Valley’s Glandore Estate and ACT’s Lake George Winery.

P&O Cruises has also embraced Australians’ love of quality coffee, developing coffee appreciation courses for it’s passengers. Internationally renowned barista Ryan Spinoglio has spent the past six months in intensive training with five P&O Cruises crew members.

Mr Spinoglio, who samples more than 300 cups of coffee each day and about $900 million worth of coffee per year, is attributed with introducing coffee art globally.

“It’s easy to make coffee, but it takes passion to master the technique of creating great coffee. After putting the P&O Cruises’ baristas through their paces, they will now be able to pass on the skills required to craft the perfect espresso,” Mr Spinoglio said.

The newly appointed coffee ambassadors will pass on trade secrets learned from Mr Spinoglio with free classes for cruises departing in November. They will provide passengers with information on coffee origins, bean varieties to suit the Australian palate, and will help participants learn how to handcraft the elusive perfect cup of coffee.

Sydney-based superliner Pacific Dawn features 11 decks with two swimming pools, a choice of five evening dining areas, nine bars and lounges, “The Dome” entertainment area, a two-storey show lounge and fitness centre.

Meanwhile Australia’s favourite ship, Pacific Sun, now features a new child-free Oasis spa retreat, ocean-view gym and coffee bar, as well as five restaurants and cafes, multiple bars and lounges and two pools for the adults.

Pacific Dawn and Pacific Sun depart from Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland and travel to the South Pacific and selected destinations in Australia and New Zealand.

For more information and bookings contact a licensed travel agent or P&O Cruises on 13 24 69 or visit www.pocruises.com.au

Official Press Release P&O Cruises Australia dated 24th October 2008.

Stay Connected With P&O

P&O Cruises’ passengers can now make and receive calls on their personal mobile phones and access wireless internet at sea with introduction of an advance wireless network across the fleet, in a first for the Australian cruising industry.

To stay connected with loved ones, passengers simply need to ensure they activate international roaming with their mobile phone provider before stepping onboard, giving them the chance to make phone calls, send text messages and access the internet on capable devices including Blackberrys.

Sture Myrmell, Vice President of Hotel Operations at P&O Cruises, said the launch of the new wireless network would make it easier for passengers to stay in touch with family and friends while on holiday.

“This is the first time Australians have been able to use their mobile phones onboard while on a cruising holiday,” Mr Myrmell said.

“We are continuously looking for ways to improve the cruising experience for our passengers and the convenience of calling home while at sea appeals to many people.”

Mobile phone access will be available throughout staterooms and public areas on both ships. The ships’ show lounges have been made “quiet” zones with no mobile signal and passengers will be asked to follow phone etiquette in theatres, dining rooms and spa areas.

Passengers will still be able to make use of the local shore-based roaming networks when the ship is in port.

Meanwhile, holidaymakers with a thirst for surfing the net will also be able to access wireless internet 24-hours a day from their own laptops, with P&O Cruises making the service available in the atrium onboard both ships. Charges for this service are billed to the passenger’s onboard account.

Charges for text messages, phone calls and checking voicemail while at sea will depend on passengers’ individual service providers and will appear on their monthly phone bills.

Mr Myrmell said the mobile phone access is the latest in a string of new onboard initiatives across the fleet.

“We have revamped Pacific Sun, welcomed superliner Pacific Dawn and redesigned the food, wine and entertainment offering. We are continually looking to the future to develop an even more unique experience for our passengers,” he said.

Sydney-based superliner Pacific Dawn features 11 decks with two swimming pools, a choice of five evening dining areas, nine bars and lounges, “The Dome” entertainment area, a two-storey show lounge and fitness centre.

Meanwhile Australia’s favourite ship, Pacific Sun, now features a new child-free Oasis spa retreat, ocean-view gym and coffee bar, as well as five restaurants and cafes, multiple bars and lounges and two pools for the adults.

Official Press Release P&O Cruises Australia dated 22nd October 2008.

New Premium Suite Package

Passengers who holiday in P&O Cruises’ luxurious suites and mini-suites will now enjoy an upgraded level of indulgence with the introduction of a new premium suite package.

Guests will start their relaxing voyage with priority check-in and preferential boarding. Once onboard, flowers and fruit baskets will be waiting for them in their staterooms while a welcome glass of sparkling wine is served in their cabin by a dedicated suite steward.

On formal nights, pre-dinner canapés will be served to guests in their suites or mini-suites, with a sweet dream surprise delivered in the evening to end the night on a perfect note.

Passengers booked in the larger suites will enjoy a range of added extras, including complimentary room service and bottled water, pre-loaded Apple IPOD Nanos with in-room speakers and Nespresso coffee machines to allow guests to enjoy an afternoon pick-me-up in the comfort of their own room.

Suite guests also receive invitations to an exclusive cocktail party with the ship’s senior officers.

P&O Cruises will also offer suite passengers the option of having hot breakfast and afternoon tea served in their staterooms each day of the cruise, as well as a preferred reservation service for the ships’ specialty restaurants, spa treatments and shore tours.

Meanwhile, a Pillow Concierge service will be introduced across the P&O Cruises fleet later this year, offering suite guests a choice of six different pillows to ensure a luxurious night’s sleep.

To celebrate these upgrades, P&O Cruises has reduced its premium fares for Summer 2008/09 departures by up to 40%. Eight-night cruises on Australia’s first superliner, Pacific Dawn, start from $2410* for a mini-suite and $3255* for the grand 52m² suites.

Sydney-based superliner Pacific Dawn features 11 decks with two swimming pools, a choice of five evening dining areas, nine bars and lounges, “The Dome” entertainment area, a two-storey show lounge and fitness centre.

Meanwhile Australia’s favourite ship, Pacific Sun, now features a new child-free Oasis spa retreat, ocean-view gym and coffee bar, as well as five restaurants and cafes, multiple bars and lounges and two pools for the adults.

Official Press Release P&O Cruises Australia dated 8th October 2008.

New Cruises For 2010

Australia’s favourite cruise company, P&O Cruises, has announced the introduction of themed sampler cruises – relaxing gourmet voyages offering wine tasting, coffee appreciation and cooking classes with signature chefs.

The new two and three-night sampler cruises spearhead P&O Cruises’ latest Pacific Dawn and Pacific Sun 2010 brochure, which features 24 new cruises across the fleet and stunning savings of up to 50 per cent.

Departing from both Sydney and Brisbane and priced from just $448* for two nights and $657* for three nights, the sampler cruises cater to holidaymakers who are eager to dip into cruising for the first time, as well as those simply looking for the ultimate weekend escape.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, believes the enduring popularity of the cruise line is a result of continued innovation and a commitment to enhancing the onboard experience.

“The introduction of our new onboard activities – including greater entertainment options for children and families, new fitness programs and our recent food and beverage overhaul – continues to garner loyalty from our passengers, who sail with P&O Cruises holiday after holiday,” Ms Sherry said.

With local interest in shipboard holidays increasing, P&O Cruises has launched shorter, themed voyages to cater for the growing demand from Australians eager to whet their appetite for cruising with short weekend escapes.

“These new sampler cruises mean we will now be able to share the unique P&O Cruises experience with more people than ever before,” Ms Sherry said.

Other 2010 program highlights include a new 11-night Tasmania itinerary from Brisbane on Pacific Sun – P&O Cruises’ first ever journey to the Apple Isle setting sail in the summer of 2010. The cruise line has also included its first New Zealand itinerary from Sydney in more than eight years onboard Pacific Dawn in February 2010.

Official Press Release P&O Cruises Australia dated 1st October 2008.

Pacific Sun New Look

Passengers on P&O Cruises’ Pacific Sun can now relax in a new child-free Oasis spa retreat – the highlight of a multi-million dollar revamp of the ship.

Other new features include an ocean-view gym and a coffee bar, as well as a fresh new look for the 47,000-tonne liner, which has been repainted in P&O Cruises’ classic all-white livery.

Overseen by Australian design firm McRae & Lynch, the refurbishment has created even more ways for passengers to relax and enjoy their time at sea.

At the top of the list is the transformation of the ship’s top sun deck into an inviting Oasis retreat, featuring chocolate brown wicker daybeds, lounges, tables and ottomans and a new whirlpool spa.

Recognising Australians’ love of a good coffee, P&O Cruises has also created a coffee shop, the Outback Bar.

Meanwhile, the ship’s library has been refurbished, enabling it to transform at night into an elegant Steakhouse offering an intimate dining experience.

Under the changes, passengers will be able to work off their gourmet meals in a new gym area with views over the ship’s wake. The former gym area has been transformed into a relaxation room for the ship’s popular Lotus Spa, giving passengers another space to chill out.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, said the changes reflected the company’s continuing drive to extend its onboard product to create an even better holiday experience for passengers.

“Australians love cruising and the makeover of Brisbane’s own Pacific Sun is part of a much wider program to rejuvenate the onboard product offering across our fleet,” Ms Sherry said.

“We have overhauled our menus, hired a new executive chef and introduced an exclusive local wine list to keep pace with our passenger’s changing tastes.”

The 1900-passenger Pacific Sun first debuted in the Australian market in 2004 and offers South Pacific and Queensland cruises from Brisbane.

Fares on the refurbished Pacific Sun start from $895 per person twin-share for all 7-night sailings departing Brisbane during November 2008.

Official Press Release P&O Cruises Australia dated 16th September 2008.

Pacific Sun Refurbishment

Brisbane is about to receive a significant economic boost, with P&O Cruises’ Pacific Sun heading to the local Forgacs Cairncross Dockyard in Morningside for scheduled maintenance work and a major refurbishment this weekend.

The 47,000-tonne liner will go into the dry dock late on Saturday (Aug 30) for a 12-day overhaul, and will sail on her next South Pacific cruise on Saturday September 13.

The multi-million dollar dry dock project will involve around 280 tradesmen employed by Forgacs Engineering as well as more than as well as more than 200 P&O Cruises’ contractors, who will work on the internal refurbishment.

The Forgacs’ team will work in shifts around the clock to complete the project, which the company estimates will take about 25,000 hours, encompassing machinery and equipment overhauls as well as piping and electrical work. Painters will also be kept busy, with more than 10,000 litres of paint set to be applied to Pacific Sun as her livery is transformed to a classic all-white look.

Meanwhile, P&O Cruises is using the dry dock as an opportunity to change some interior sections of the ship, with the refurbishment to include the addition of a stunning new adults-only Oasis spa retreat and an ocean-view gym.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia which operates P&O Cruises, said the dry dock would make a significant contribution to the Queensland economy in terms of expenditure on labour and materials.

“Earlier this year Access Economics estimated that expenditure when cruise ships are in port is worth $164 million a year to Queensland and $734 million nationally,” Ms Sherry said.

“This dry dock work is above and beyond that estimate and further underlines the value of our industry to Queensland.”

Forgacs Engineering Global Sales Director George Windram said the company had worked hard to develop its cruise ship business since 2000, with the sector growing to represent 20 per cent of its turnover during that time.

“With the expansion of the Australian cruise industry over the past few years we’ve seen a real opportunity to increase our business, so we’ve invested in the necessary training.

“We’ve also learnt to work alongside cruise companies and accommodate their refurbishment crews while we work on the maintenance side of things, which is very important for the cruise sector.”

Official Press Release P&O Cruises Australia dated 29th August 2008.

P&O Cruises’ Pacific Sun has been affected by the severe weather conditions

P&O Cruises’ Pacific Sun has been affected by the severe weather conditions that have swept across the region.

The ship, which was about 600km north of Auckland, was experiencing 7 metre swells and 50 knot winds when it rolled sharply just before 8 pm last night.

As a result of the ship’s sudden movement, approximately 40 passengers were seen and treated by the onboard medical staff. Pacific Sun has two doctors and three nurses onboard who are highly trained.

“I would like to assure the friends and families of our passengers that they are in good care onboard the ship,” a P&O Cruises spokesperson said.

The ship, which was due to return to Auckland this morning, has been delayed by at least 24 hours due to the bad weather.

The ship is carrying 1732 passengers and 671 crew. She was on her return from an eight day cruise in the South Pacific.

Official Press Release from P&O Cruises Australia.

Carnival sell out to Royal Caribbean!

No not the company, Carnival have sold their first ever new build to Royal Caribbean. Carnival Tropicale was built in 1982 at 35,000 she is capable of carrying 1,350 passenger and marked a new era in the rise of the Carnival Corporation by being the first of numerous subsequnt new builds.

With newer and larger ships being built Carnival off loaded the Carnival Tropicale to Costa Cruises, where after a $30M refit she became Costa Tropicale. This move was short lived and in 2005 Carnival moved her from Costa Cruises to the P&O Cruises Australia fleet. Renamed Pacific Star she is currently cruising in the southern hemisphere.

The deal between Royal Caribbean and Carnival is undisclosed and as of the Pacific Star, well she will be moving to Pullmantur, the Spanish cruise line purchased by Royal Caribbean in 2006. As of yet her fourth “new” name is unknown. The date of transfer is also unannounced, however it is likely to coinside with the arrival of the 70,000-ton Pacific Dawn, Australia’s first superliner, as she joins the fleet in October 2007.