Pacific Jewel

The 1990-built (as “Crown Princess”) cruise ship MS Karnika was part of P&O Australia's fleet (as “Pacific Jewel”) between 2009 and 2019. In 2019, the liner left P&O Australia, with her final cruise departing from Melbourne on February 24.

History - construction and ownership

In late August 2018, Zen Cruises (a new company established by India’s Essel Group) was announced as the buyer of the vessel Pacific Jewel. Essel Group (founded in 1926 and headquartered in Mumbai, India) is an Indian conglomerate with business interests in media, news, technology, entertainment, packaging, infrastructure development, financial services, precious metals (gold and silver refining), education, and charity. Essel Group–owned Zen Cruises Pvt Ltd was led by Jurgen Bailom (CEO and President).

In January 2020, Jalesh Cruises announced plans to acquire a second ship to double the fleet’s capacity. The second-hand vessel (name not disclosed) was scheduled to start operations in October 2020. However, in mid-October 2020, Jalesh announced that it would permanently suspend operations due to ongoing COVID-related port closures and international travel restrictions.

Jalesh India suspended passenger operations (initially temporarily) from March 12, 2020, as debts to creditors mounted. The Karnika ship remained permanently docked at Port Mumbai (Bombay) with a skeleton crew of 60. In October, the company’s creditors, via India’s Admiralty Court, had the vessel arrested in Port Mumbai.

Jalesh Cruises planned to restart operations on November 6, 2020, after the Indian government permitted cruise vessels to resume passenger shipping from October 1. The cruise ship’s AIS transmitted for the last time on November 24, 2020, showing the vessel anchored near Alang Ship Breaking Yard. Sadly, the 30-year-old liner was subsequently added to CruiseMapper’s Scrapped Cruise Ships hub.

Jalesh Karnika (IMO number 8521220) was Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311000892) and registered in Nassau. The vessel was last drydock refurbished (by P&O Australia) in 2018.

Before joining Jalesh Cruises India, the liner’s previous operator was P&O Australia, a subsidiary fully owned by Carnival Corporation. The 1,950-passenger ship Pacific Jewel had also been part of Carnival’s German-based brand AIDA Cruises (as AIDAblu) and Ocean Village Holidays (now a defunct company) before joining P&O Australia in 2009. The “dolphin-like” ship was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano. Her sistership was Pacific Dawn (now Ambassador Ambience).

The vessel was launched on May 25, 1989, as “Crown Princess” and delivered to P&O Princess Cruises on June 29, 1990. Her inaugural voyage began on July 8. In 2002, shipowner P&O Princess Cruises created A’Rosa Cruises (a Germany-focused brand) and transferred the vessel, renaming her “A’Rosa Blu.” In 2004, new owner Carnival Corporation transferred the ship to its AIDA subsidiary, increasing capacity (to 2,014 passengers and 621 crew) and renaming her “AIDAblu.” On April 24, 2007, Ocean Village Two’s inaugural cruise (a Mediterranean itinerary) departed following a drydock refit at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany. The vessel joined fleetmate Ocean Village One (currently Columbus).

Pacific Jewel’s design made her a sistership to Pacific Dawn (now Ambassador Ambience) and similar to Pacific Pearl (CMV Columbus since 2017) and Crown Princess.

In 2010, Ocean Village ceased operations. In November, the vessel was refurbished in Singapore (at Sembawang Shipyards), renamed “Pacific Jewel,” and began a South Pacific cruise program from her homeport of Sydney, NSW, Australia.

The vessel’s official delivery to Zen Cruises took place on March 12, 2019, followed by a major drydock refurbishment. Renamed “Karnika,” the liner commenced operations for Zen Cruises (under the “Jalesh Cruises” brand) on April 17, 2019, from her homeport in Mumbai.

The christening ceremony was held on April 19, 2019, in Port Mumbai. Karnika’s godmother was Mrs Shreyasi Punit Goenka. The naming ceremony was attended by five internationally renowned Indian personalities recognized as pioneers in their fields: Mr Milkha Singh (Commonwealth Games 1958 gold medalist), Mrs Subhash Chandra (actor), Ms Sushmita Sen (Miss Universe 1994), Mr Mahesh Bhupathi (1997 Grand Slam tournament winner), and Ms Mary Kom (boxer, Asian Games 2014 gold medalist). The event began with priests chanting hymns, followed by the traditional breaking of a coconut. The maritime naming ritual included the godmother’s declaration, “I name this ship Karnika. May God bless her, her officers, staff, crew, and all who sail on her,” followed by the customary champagne bottle breaking on the bow. The ceremony also featured live performances by singer Aakriti Kakkar, stand-up comedian Papa CJ, and DJ Bally Sagoo.

The cruise ship was named after the celestial maiden (Apsara) Karnika, a female spirit who rewards those engaged in hard labor with treasures and pleasures. “Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi” is a 2019-released Indian epic drama film based on the life of Lakshmibai (Rani of Jhansi, 1828–1858), who ruled Jhansi during 1853–1854 and 1857–1858. The Jhansi region is now part of India’s Uttar Pradesh state.

Cruise itinerary program

Pacific Jewel’s itinerary program focused on Australian cruises from the homeports of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Fremantle. These included roundtrip “South Pacific Islands” voyages to Fiji, Vanuatu, Santo, and New Caledonia, as well as repositioning cruises, cruises to nowhere, and short breaks to Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef, Papua New Guinea, the Coral Coast, and Indonesia.

Jalesh Karnika’s itinerary program included cruises between the homeports of Mumbai and Mormugao (during the inaugural season), as well as Middle East voyages. Jalesh Cruises’ shore excursions program offered tours in major port cities such as Kochi, Chennai, Vizag (Visakhapatnam), Mormugao, Mumbai, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Colombo, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Singapore, and Penang.

For the summer 2019 season (June through September), the liner was homeported in Dubai, UAE (Port Mina Rashid), operating short breaks aimed primarily at tourists from India and Persian Gulf countries (notably Oman and the UAE). Regularly scheduled Arabian Gulf itineraries included two weekly departures from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and Mina Salman, Bahrain. Monday itineraries called at Oman’s Khasab and Muscat.

Cabins

The cruise ship had a total of 837 staterooms (including 36 Suites, 162 Balcony, and 209 Inside cabins) across 26 categories. The majority were 190-sq-ft Oceanview cabins (436). Nearly 25% of all passenger accommodations featured private step-out balconies. The largest accommodations were the Suites, measuring up to 560 sq ft.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The cruise liner featured five main dining venues. P&O Australia recruited its first-ever celebrity chef partner, Luke Mangan, to add his signature touches to the menu at Salt Grill (a steakhouse and seafood restaurant). The ship also had a dedicated chocolate café serving specialties such as chocolate ravioli, warm chocolate fondant, Belgian waffles, and gourmet cookies. Additional dining options included the buffet restaurant, an à la carte Main Dining Room, and The Grill. For an extra charge, guests could dine at the Asian La Luna Restaurant, offering an eight-course banquet. VIP dining was available through the 14-seat “Chef’s Table” experience in the galley.

Below is the complete list of Pacific Jewel restaurants and food bars.

• Waterfront Restaurant (open-seating dining room; all three dining rooms operated with “Your Choice Dining” à la carte menus for breakfast and lunch, and a four-course dinner menu; tables seated up to 10 guests; dining times varied by sea and port days)
• Chef’s Table (located in the Waterfront Restaurant’s Wine Room; a specialty venue offering gourmet private dining and a galley tour)
• The Luna Room (Asian-cuisine banquets featuring Japanese and Thai specialties)
• Salt Grill (reservation-only specialty restaurant in partnership with Australian celebrity chef Luke Mangan)
• The Pantry (self-service buffet restaurant with an open-air terrace)
• Shell & Bones (à la carte dining, located at the rear of The Pantry)
• The Grill (lido barbecue)
• New Zealand Natural (ice cream bar)

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The cruise ship featured the Aqua Health complex (spa and fitness/wellness center), spanning two decks and covering approximately 1,300 m². Facilities included 11 oceanview treatment rooms for massages, a beauty salon, gym, and thermal suite.

Daytime activities ranged from whiskey tastings and martini mixology classes to quilling and salsa dancing. Passengers could enjoy karaoke, bingo, and trivia games held daily, while the onboard schedule on sea days was packed with activities. The poolside LED screen on the Pool Deck was frequently used to broadcast full-length musical concerts, live sporting events, reality shows, and movies.

Evening entertainment followed classic cruise ship traditions, with a mix of guest entertainers and Broadway-style production shows. For children, dedicated activity clubs included Turtle Cove (ages 3–6), Shark Shack (ages 7–10), and HQ for teens. Adults could relax in the child-free Oasis on the top deck, while guests of all ages enjoyed the swimming pools on the Lido Deck and the P&O Edge adventure program, featuring a climbing course on the funnel and a zip line across the top deck.

Below is the complete list of Pacific Jewel lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Atrium (three-deck-high central open space and social hub)
• Charlie’s Bar; Orient Bar (English pub); MIX (specialty cocktail bar); Connexions Bar; The Café; Lido Pool Bar
• Essentials Store; tax- and duty-free shops; PANDORA jewelry boutique; Aqua Hut (snorkeling equipment)
• The Marquee Theatre (two-deck venue for large-scale shows, magic, and comedy acts; daytime bingo and trivia)
• Wine Room (boutique winery)
• The Big Screen (outdoor LED screen for movies, shows, and sports)
• The Dome (indoor observation lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows, dance floor, and full-service bar; nightclub in the evenings)
• Players Bar and Casino
• Expressions Studio (photo gallery and shop); Art Gallery; Internet Library; Internet Café
• The Oasis (adults-only relaxation complex)
• Promenade (Deck 7); 2 swimming pools; 2 jacuzzis
• Aqua Health Spa & Fitness (wellness center with day spa, thermal suites, fitness center, class studio, massage rooms, and beauty salon)
• Fun Zone kids’ center; teen and kids’ club lounges (complimentary activities via P&O youth programs: Turtle Cove, Shark Shack, HQ, HQ+)
• P&O Edge Adventure Park (high-adrenaline program with 20 activities, including climbing, jumping, racing, and zip-lining)
• Jogging track; traditional deck games (deck chess, quoits, shuffleboard); sports court (basketball, volleyball, tennis); table tennis; golf nets; lawn bowls