MS Ambience
 Regal Princess in San Francisco, California in 2006.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | list error: <br /> list (help) 1991-2007: Regal Princess 2007 onwards: Pacific Dawn |
| Owner | list error: <br /> list (help) 1991-1992: Astamar[3] 1992—2007: Princess Cruises 2007 onwards: P&O Cruises Australia[1] |
| Operator | list error: <br /> list (help) 1991—2007: Princess Cruises 2007 onwards: P&O Cruises Australia[1] |
| Port of registry | list error: <br /> list (help) 1991-1992: Palermo,  Italy1992—2007:Monrovia,  Liberia[1]2007 onwards:Unknown,  United Kingdom[2] |
| Builder | Fincantieri Monfalcone, Italy |
| Cost | $276.8 million[2] |
| Yard number | 5840[1] |
| Launched | 29 March 1990[1] |
| Acquired | 20 July 1991[1] |
| Maiden voyage | August 1991 |
| Identification | IMO 8521232[1] |
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics (as built)[1] | |
| Class and type | Crown Princess class cruise ship |
| Tonnage | 69,845 GRT |
| Displacement | 6896 DWT |
| Length | 245.10 m (804 ft 2 in) |
| Beam | 32.25 m (105 ft 10 in) |
| Draught | 7.90 m (25 ft 11 in) |
| Installed power | list error: <br /> list (help) 4 × 8-cylinder MAN-B&W diesels combined 24000 kW |
| Propulsion | Two propellers[2] |
| Speed | 19.5 kn (36.11 km/h) |
| Capacity | 1900 passengers |
| General characteristics (as Pacific Dawn)[4] | |
| Draught | 7.80 m (25 ft 7 in)[2] |
| Decks | 11 passenger decks[2] |
| Speed | 22.5 kn (41.67 km/h) maximum speed |
| Capacity | 1910 passengers[2] |
| Crew | 696[2] |
| Notes | Otherwise the same as built |
Pacific Dawn is a cruise ship owned and operated by P&O Cruises Australia. She was built in 1991 by the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy as Regal Princess for Princess Cruises brand. Although completed for Princess Cruises, the ship had originally been ordered by Sitmar Cruises. In 2007 she was transferred to the fleet of P&O Cruises Australia.[1]
After her multi-million-dollar refurbishment in Singapore from Regal Princess to Pacific Dawn, she operates from Australia to South Pacific destinations. She is the first ship of the P&O Cruises Australia fleet with an all-white hull, to mark P&O's 75th anniversary in Australia.[citation needed]
Concept and construction
Sitmar Cruises had started an ambitious newbuilding programme for the North American cruise market in 1985. Following an abortive attempt to order ships from the Italy-based Fincantieri, the company had placed an order for one ship, Sitmar Fairmajesty, with the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in France. Sitmar were planning to order additional vessels however, and the Italian government—owners of Fincantieri—were eager to have these ships built by an Italian shipyard. Following more successful negotiations between Sitmar and Fincantieri, the former placed an order for two 70,000 GT GT uses unsupported parameter (help) cruise ships with the latter, to be delivered in 1990 and 1991.[5] Although the ship ships maintained the same basic layout of the Sitmar Fairmajesty, their exteriors were redesigned by the Italian architect Renzo Piano.[6]
In 1988, while the two new ships ordered from Finatieri were in early stages of construction, Sitmar Cruises was sold to P&O Group and the decision was made to transfer the three Sitmar ships under construction to the fleet of P&O's subsidiary Princess Cruises.[6] The second of the ships under construction at Fincantieri was launched from drydock on 29 March 1990 and named Regal Princess.[3] Following successful sea trials on 5 June 1991 the Regal Princess was delivered on 20 July 1991 to Astamar, a subsidiary of P&O Group.[3][1]
Service history
1991—2007: Regal Princess
Following delivery the Regal Princess sailed to New York City, where she was officially named by the former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in on 8 August 1991.[citation needed] Subsequently the Regal Princess entered service by joining her sister ship Crown Princess in cruising out of Fort Laurendale to the Caribbean during the northern hemisphere winter, transferring to the Alaskan trade for the summer months.[3] In 1992 the ownership of the vessel was transferred from Astamar to Princess Cruises and she was transferred from the Italian registry under Liberian flag.[1]
During June 1998 during a series of cruises to Alaska, a large number of passengers on the Regal Princess were affected by a viral infection, some seriously. Following failed attempts to control the infections while retaining the ship in service, the ship was withdrawn from service for a week from 5 July 1998 onwards. During this time all linen, towels and surfaces the passenger might come in contact with were disinfected by utilising ultraviolet light and chlorine solutions, destroying the source of the infections.[7]
In 2000 the Regal Princess received a major refurbishment.[citation needed] From the same year onwards she spent the southern hemisphere summer months cruising out of Sydney, taking over Princess Cruises' Australian itenaries following the transfer of another former Sitmar ship, the Sky Princess, to P&O Cruises Australia as Pacific Sky.[8]
While on a cruise from Sydney to destinations in Asia on 15 March 2001, the Regal Princess experienced difficulties when entering the port of Cairns, due to high winds. While she made it safely to the harbour, it was decided to postprone her departure by eight hours, allowing the winds to subdue and more favourable tidal conditions. Despite these precautions the Regal Princess was grounded while outbound from Cairns, but was able to free herself under her own power after just four minutes. The ship then returned to Cairns for preliminary inspections. Due to sea conditions the hull of the ship could not inspected by divers in Cairns, and the ship was allowed to sail to Darwin for a full inspection of the hull. In Darwin minor damage to the ship's bulbous bow was discovered, but this did not threathen her safety and the Regal Princess was cleared to continue her cruise. A subsequent study to the causes of the accident concluded the Regal Princess was too large to safely traverse the narrow channel leading in Cairns, and that "commercial incentives -- may have influenced the approval process to exceed the limits of a reasonable safety envelope."[8] Despite these finding the Regal Princess again visited Cairns on 25 February 2002, entering and exiting the port without problems.[9]
For the 2003 northern hemisphere summer season the Regal Princess was repositioned for cruises on the Mediterranean and Baltic Sea.[10] While on a repositioning cruise from Copenhagen to New York in August 2003 a number of passengers and crew onboard the Regal Princess were infected by the Norwalk virus. The number of infected people onboard eventually rose to 217, and the decision was made for the ship to drop planned calls in Greenland and Newfoundland in favour of sailing directly to New York. By the time the ship arrived in New York on 2 September 2003, one day ahead of schedule, only four people onboard were still suffering from the virus. The ship was again disinfected and was able to depart on her next scheduled cruise without problems.[11]
In 2004 the Regal Princess was planned to join her sister ship A'Rosa Blu (ex-Crown Princess) in the fleet of A'Rosa Cruises, P&O Cruises' brand aimed at the German market, but the transfer was cancelled following the sale of A'Rosa Cruises to Arkona 2003.[11][12] In late 2006 the Regal Princess was due to transfer to the fleet of Ocean Village, but this too was cancelled.[12] Instead, the Regal Princess was transferred to the fleet of P&O Cruises Australia in late 2007.[1][12]
2007 onwards: Pacific Dawn
 |
Following an extensive refurbishment, the Regal Princess was renamed Pacific Dawn on 8 November 2007 by gold medalist[clarification needed] Cathy Freeman. She said: "I name this ship Pacific Dawn, may God bless her and all who sail in her." Then the traditional champagne bottle breaking over the hull took place. Following was a light and firework show. VIPs were invited to be onboard during the ceremony and party. The night's events raised funds for Freeman's new charity.
Design
Exterior design
The distinctive curved forwards superstructure of the ship, designed by Renzo Piano, was inspired by the dolphin.[6] Unlike the previous P&O Cruises Australia ships, the Pacific Dawn has an all-white hull, to mark P&O's 75th anniversary in Australia.[citation needed]
Interior design
Facilities as Pacific Dawn
|
- Two swimming pools
- Four whirlpools
- Fitness centre
- Jogging track, steam room, sauna
- Beauty salon, hair salon
- Library
- Internet café
- Duty and tax-free shop
- Casino and sports bar
- Nightclub
- The Palm Court Dining Room
- Café del Sol
- Bravo Trattoria Italian cuisine
- Steakhouse
- Pizzeria
- La Patisserie
- Lido Café
- Ice Cream Bar
- The Bengal Bar
- Promenade Bar
- Show lounge
- The Dome cabaret lounge and nightclub
- Lido Poolside Bar
- Children's facilities:
- Turtle Cove (3 to 6 years)
- Shark Shack (7 to 12 years)
- Teen Lounge (13 to 17 years)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Asklander, Micke. "M/S Regal Princess (1991)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2008-10-31.
- ^ a b c d e f g Ward, Douglas (2008). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. London: Berlitz. pp. 510–511. ISBN 978-981-268-564-3.
- ^ a b c d Plowman, Peter (2004). The Sitmar Liners: Past and Present. Hong Kong: Rosenberg. p. 202. ISBN 1-877058-25-4.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Pacific Dawn". P&O Cruises Australia. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ^ Plowman (2006). pp. 178-179.
- ^ a b c Plowman (2006). pp. 195-196.
- ^ Plowman (2006). p. 137.
- ^ a b Plowman (2006). pp. 249-253.
- ^ Plowman (2006). p. 256.
- ^ Plowman (2006). pp. 261-262.
- ^ a b Plowman (2006). pp. 269-272.
- ^ a b c Boyle, Ian. "Regal Princess". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 2008-10-31.