P&O Cruises Australia’s ship Pacific Encounter on Wednesday, April 14, completed her transformation, leaving ‘dry dock’ in Singapore with her ‘name badge’ and the elegant finishing touches to her onboard spaces.
250+ contractors spent 84,000+ hours fitting ~14,000 m2 of carpet and painting ~5,000 m2 of walls and ceilings in order to complete the ship’s new look.
The recent dry dock was the 2nd stage of Pacific Encounter’s transformation following a ‘wet dock’ in February. The ship emerged with all of her major public venues complete including the Blue Room and the Encounter Hotel, which will offer passengers an opportunity to enjoy vibrant live music from some of the leading Australian musicians.
The iconic trio of restaurants of P&O Cruises - the Italian Angelo’s, Pan-Asian-inspired Dragon Lady, and Australian dining outlet The Waterfront have been fitted with new carpets and artworks. The international marketplace The Pantry is complete with bright graphics depicting the 9 classic, modern, and comforting Australian fresh food outlets including ‘Stix’, ‘Curry House’, and ‘Kettle and Bun’.
According to P&O Cruises Australia President Sture Myrmell, the completion of Pacific Encounter was a positive step forward for the homegrown cruise line as it looked ahead to the resumption of cruising in Australia.
In addition to the inclusive dining options, Pacific Encounter will offer specialty restaurants by renowned chefs Luke Mangan and Johnny Di Francesco, family-friendly activities, and night-time venues. All of the public spaces on Pacific Encounter were themed around Australian nature, animals, botanicals, and distinctive art and patterns.
Later this year, Brisbane’s International Cruise Terminal will become the new home port for the vessel.