Pacific Encounter

The 2002-built (as Star Princess) cruise ship Pacific Encounter is the 3rd Grand-Class vessel constructed for Princess Cruises, with sisterships Crown, Diamond, Caribbean, Grand, Emerald, Ruby, Golden (Pacific Adventure since 2020) and Sapphire.

In 2018, Princess announced that Golden Princess and Star Princess will be transferred to the P&O Australia fleet in 2021 and renamed, respectively, "Pacific Adventure" and "Pacific Encounter". The vessels' transfer was officially confirmed on October 21, 2020. Star Princess as Pacific Encounter starts operations for P&O AU in November 2021 after a scheduled drydock refurbishment. In 2020, Golden Princess (as Pacific Adventure) already joined the P&O AU's fleet.

IMPORTANT: CruiseMapper's Pacific Encounter cruise schedule also lists all Star Princess cruises planned for the period December 21, 2020, through May 3, 2021.

For Princess Cruises, the vessel was Bermuda-flagged (MMSI 310361000) and registered in Hamilton.

History - construction and ownership

P&O Cruises is a subsidiary company and two brands owned by Carnival Corporation - P&O UK and P&O Australia. In 2000, P&O Cruises became subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises, which merged with Carnival Corporation in 2003. PandO is the world's oldest cruise company, starting passenger shipping operations in 1822 on the routes connecting England with Iberia.

The 108,977-ton, 2,602-passenger cruise ship Star Princess might be a vessel which design was created over more than a decade ago, but Princess has not shown its age yet. The liner is big and offers mainly pluses - and occasional minuses - of its size with a wide diversity of onboard facilities which appeal to just about anybody. At the same time, Star Princess offers guests a choice of a traditional cruising experience or a modern one - or even a smattering of elements of both. During ship's 2008 dry-dock Star Princess received a boatload of new facilities, which included the Piazza, an energetic amusement space, on-site bakery, Internet cafe, and wine and sushi bar; the Sanctuary, an adults-only zone which boasts padded lounges, shady and sunny places; the for-fee Crown Grill, which menu blends seafood and steakhouse fare (instead of the existing steakhouse on the cruise); and 7 new suites, each suite with sitting room, walk-in closet and shower/tub combo. Retail therapy got a makeover this time around as well, with a doubled-in-size Essence shop store on Deck 7 and Meridian Bay shifted to the site of the former Essence shop on Deck 6.

Cruise itinerary program

Star Princess itinerary program was based on cruises from Californian homeports (San Francisco and Los Angeles-Long Beach) to Hawaii, Baja Mexico and Alaska, alternating seasonally.

P&O's Pacific Encounter ship starts its inaugural cruise on November 11, 2021, with a 15-night "Southeast Asia and Australia" repositioning from Singapore to Brisbane. Next table shows the maiden voyage's itinerary. Prices started from USD 2300 (quad share cabin).

Pacific Encounter will be homeported in Brisbane. The maiden voyages (in 2021) visit South Pacific Islands (New Caledonia and Vanuatu). The itineraries are themed "Barrier Reef Discovery" (7-night), "Pacific Island Hopper" (7-night), the themed "Comedy Cruise" (4-night cruise to nowhere), "Whitsundays Cruise" (4-night to Airlie Beach), plus the Christmas (9-night, visiting New Caledonia and Vanuatu) and New Year's Eve (8-night, visiting Vanuatu).

Cabins

Most Pacific Encounter staterooms (1297 total in 34 categories) are 170-ft2 sized balcony rooms (515). Almost 80% of the ship's outside cabins are with private step-out balconies. There are 25 wheelchair-accessible rooms. Largest are the Grand Suites (615 ft2).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Star Princess passengers choose between open seating and two assigned dinner seatings; breakfast and lunch in all Princess restaurants are open seating. Alternative dinner venues include the reservations-only Sabatini's Italian and Crown Grill restaurants (both with cover). All Princess Cruises Lido buffets are open around the clock. The Wheelhouse Bar serves a pub lunch, and a grill and pizzeria offer casual snack choices. The ice-cream bars and patisseries charge for premium ice cream and speciality coffee. A wine bar offers extra-charge artisan cheeses and evening snacks. Chef's Table and Ultimate Balcony Dining options are also available, as is afternoon tea and room service.

Follows the complete list of Star Princess restaurants and food bars.

• Capri Restaurant (ship's aft Dining Room; dinner only - offers Anytime Dining between 5:30-10 pm)
• Crown Grill (160-seat steakhouse/seafood restaurant, reservations recommended; on select days serves British Pub Lunch, complimentary)
• Portofino Restaurant (ship's forward Dining Room for Breakfast 7-9 am, Lunch 12-1:30 pm, Afternoon Tea 3:30-4:30 p.m.; features Anytime Dining for Dinner between 5:30-8 pm or 8-10 pm)
• Amalfi Restaurant (dinner only aft Dining Room; with 2 fixed seatings at 5:45 pm and 8 pm)
• Sabatini's Restaurant (Italian speciality restaurant; reservations recommended)
• Trident Grill & Prego Pizzeria (self-service, complimentary fast food bar)
• Horizon Court (self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Both the Vista Lounge and Princess Theater can host featured entertainers and production shows, and each of the shows runs several times. The Princess Theater is more like a Broadway theatre than a cruise-ship typical show lounge. It features same-level orchestra seating, stadium seating behind, as well as a few boxes. The Vista Lounge is cabaret-style, with chairs grouped around small drink tables and big windows making the room light during the day. The Explorers Lounge and Wheelhouse Bar are located side by side on the Promenade Deck. These smaller entertainment venues host karaoke, pianists, dance bands and theme parties, as well as games and trivia during the day.

Follows the complete list of Star Princess lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• The Piazza Atrium (3-deck open floor area; features live performances entertainment and lobby Bar Piazza)
• Princess Fine Arts Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop; Platinum Studio
• International Cafe (24-hour speciality coffee bar and patisserie)
• Vines Bar (wine/seafood/sushi bar)
• Library (with Internet stations); Internet Cafe (24-hour)
• Princess Star Theatre (2-level musical and show productions; hosts workshops, seminars, game shows)
• Shooter's Lounge & Bar (smoking lounge and sports bar)
• Vines Shop; Calypso Cove Shop; Essence Shop; Meridian Bay Shop; Facets Shop
• Princess Star Grand Casino
• Crooners Lounge & Bar (live music; also used for seminars); Vista Lounge & Bar
• Explorers Lounge & Bar (disco/show lounge; hosts karaoke, comedy, game shows and art auctions)
• Wheelhouse Bar (piano bar during the day and an English pub nightly)
• Scoops Bar (Sundaes Ice Cream Bar, complimentary)
• Outrigger Bar (poolside bar); Tradewinds Bar
• Star's Lotus Spa complex; Beauty Salon; Fitness Center (with Aerobics Studio)
• Hearts & Minds (Wedding Chapel)
• Movies Under the Stars (LED screen outdoor cinema)
• Video Games Arcade; Teen Center; Youth Center with Paddling Pool and outdoor playing areas
• The Conservatory (recreation area); The Sanctuary (adult-only open-air area); The Oasis relaxation area
• Calypso Reef & Pool area; Neptune's Reef & Pool area
• The Skywalker (Jogging Track); Sports Court (volleyball, basketball, European football); Shuffleboard, Deck Chess; Princess Links mini-golf course
• Skywalkers Disco Nightclub.

Princess Cruises Star cruise ship was christened by godmother Gunilla Antonini - wife of Dr Corrado Antonini (executive chairmen of the Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri). The liner started its inaugural cruise (26-day maiden voyage) in the Pacific Ocean on February 13, 2002. Star is fleet's first Grand-class vessel, with sisterships Golden (Pacific Adventure) and Grand. The other (similarly-designed) liners from this series are Caribbean, Crown, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire.

Fun fact is, that earlier there was another vessel with the name "Star Princess". Currently, this ship cruises under the name Columbus (former "Pacific Pearl" operated by P&O Australia).

Star Princess cruises 2020-2021 itineraries

Star Princess' last itinerary for Princess Cruises was planned as a 30-day relocation cruise from Alaska to Asia (Vancouver to Singapore / for drydocking) priced from ~USD 2700 pp. However, this voyage was eventually cancelled.

Next tables show the last Star Princess itineraries scheduled by Princess Cruises before the transfer to P&O Australia. Prices are in USD (per person) and based on double occupancy.

(2020) 15-days Hawaiian Islands Christmas and New Year cruise ($1300)

(2021) 15-days Hawaiian Islands ($1200)

10-days Baja Peninsula Sea of Cortez ($850)

15-days Hawaiian Islands ($1200)

10-days Baja Peninsula Sea of Cortez ($850)

15-days Hawaiian Islands ($1200)

15-days Hawaiian Islands ($1400)

28-days Hawaii, Tahiti Samoa ($3100)

10-days Baja Peninsula Sea of Cortez ($950)

The last in the Star Princess schedule was the 7-day relocation voyage from Los Angeles to Vancouver ($530 pp).

Godspeed!

Pacific Encounter inaugural cruise 2021 itineraries

The renamed Star Princess starts as Pacific Encounter for P&O Australia with the 15-day repositioning cruise from Singapore to Brisbane.

Next is the 7-day "Barrier Reef Discovery" itinerary.

Follows the 7-day "Pacific Island Hopper" itinerary.

Star Princess 2017 refurbishment review

The ship's 15-day drydock refurbishment in 2017 (December 3-15, done in San Francisco CA) resulted in the following deckplan changes:

• All passenger staterooms received new bedding (all beds were replaced with Princess Luxury Bed). Many cabins were made interconnecting. Category MA (Mini-Suite) was changed to M1.
• The ship's kids and teen lounges (part of "Camp Discovery") were renovated and updated via a partnership with Discovery Channel (as part of Princess Cruises' complimentary onboard children program "Discovery at Sea").
• To the onboard Boutiques (Shops of Princess) were added "Fragrance & Cosmetic" and "Effy Fine Jewelry".
• Sabatini's Italian Trattoria (speciality restaurant) was updated with new decor and a new menu (partnership with Chef Angelo Auriana).
• The ship's wellness complex (Lotus Spa and Fitness Center) was upgraded with the latest gym equipment.
• The Casino Lounge was redesigned and received new carpeting.
• Among the other upgrades were new upholstery and carpeting throughout the ship and general maintenance works.

The ship's 2017 refurbishment was part of Princess Cruises' USD 450 million multi-year fleet renovation program "Come Back New Promise".