Pacific Explorer

Pacific Explorer leaving Fremantle, Australia, 2023
History
Name	Dawn Princess (1997–2017) Pacific Explorer (2017–present)
Owner	Carnival plc
Operator	P&O Cruises Australia
Port of registry	Liberia, Monrovia (1997–2000)  Bermuda, Hamilton (2000–2017) London, U.K. (2017-present)
Route	Australia and New Zealand
Builder	Fincantieri, Italy
Cost	US$300 million
Yard number	Monfalcone 5955
Launched	11 July 1996
Maiden voyage	10 May 1997
Refit	June 2009
Identification	Call sign:MAQK9 IMO number: 9103996 MMSI no.: 310437000
Status	In service
Notes	[1][2]
General characteristics
Class and type	Sun-class cruise ship
Tonnage	77,441 GT 8,293 DWT
Length	856 ft (261 m)
Beam	105.6 ft (32.2 m)
Draught	27 ft (8.2 m)
Decks	10 passenger decks
Deck clearance	10 ft 6.3 in (3.208 m)
Installed power	46,080 kW (combined)
Propulsion	Diesel-electric; two shafts
Speed	21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) (maximum)
Capacity	1,998 passengers
Crew	924
Notes	[1][3]

Pacific Explorer (previously known as Dawn Princess) is a cruise ship operated since June 2017 by P&O Cruises Australia, a cruise line brand owned by the Carnival Corporation & plc. It is a Sun-class cruise ship built by Fincantieri, Italy, in 1997, and features eight restaurants, four swimming pools, five hot tubs/spas/whirlpools, seven lounges and bars, and two children centres.

She is the sister ship to Sun Princess, P&O Cruises' Oceana (former Ocean Princess) and Sea Princess. Pacific Explorer and Sun Princess differ from Oceana and Sea Princess by having exterior bridge wings. Oceana and Sea Princess have internal bridge wings.

Princess Cruises

Ports of call

Dawn Princess was targeted to replace Pacific Princess, sailing Australian waters between October 2006 and March 2007, to become the largest ship ever to be based in Australia, but these plans were eventually replaced by Sun Princess as well as being served by Pacific Dawn (previously christened Regal Princess). Dawn Princess began sailing in Australia as of 24 September 2008 with a 28-day itinerary circumnavigating the country, after a month serving Hawaii, Tahiti, and the South Pacific.^[4] From this point on, Dawn Princess remained in Australia permanently sailing from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth alongside Sun Princess under the Princess brand until it was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia and renamed Pacific Explorer.

Refurbishment

In June 2009, Dawn Princess was dry-docked in the Port of Brisbane, Australia, for refurbishment.^[5]

In June 2017, Pacific Explorer was dry-docked in Sembawang Singapore, for refurbishment and re-branding from Dawn Princess. February 2020 Pacific Explorer Dry Dock for February 12 to February 27 for refurbishments and maintenance

P&O Cruises Australia

On 7 October 2015, Carnival announced that Dawn Princess would be transferred in May 2017 to its Australian subsidiary P&O Cruises Australia as Pacific Explorer.^[6] Dawn Princess entered drydock on 26 May 2017 in Singapore (Sembawang) for conversion to Pacific Explorer to be released for cruises on 22 June.^[7]

It was re-registered to the United Kingdom and arrived in Sydney, New South Wales on 19 June for a 3-day stay before conducting its maiden voyage to the Pacific Islands. She was christened by the Nickelodeon Studios character Dora the Explorer on 2 July 2017 at Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal after arriving from its maiden voyage.^[8]

On 2 June 2022, the Pacific Explorer was the first cruise ship to use the new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal.^[9]

Accidents and incidents

On 13 December 2022, a woman fell overboard between Melbourne and Kangaroo Island, triggering a search off the coast of South Australia. Her body was found several hours later, and a joint investigation by South Australia Police and Victoria Police was initiated.^[10]