Pacific Princess

Launched in 1999, Pacific Princess is the 2nd of the two smallest ships of Princess Cruises R-class, together with Ocean Princess (Oceania Sirena since 2016).

History - construction and ownership

Princess Cruises is a US cruise company headquartered in Beverly Hills CA. A former subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises (founded 1977), in 2003, the company merged with Carnival Corporation - world's largest passenger shipping company. Among Princess Cruises assets is the Caribbean private island resort Princess Cays (on Bahamas Eleuthera Island's southern end), located approx 80 km (50 ml) Nassau.

The 30,277-ton, 686-passenger cruise ship Pacific Princess offers some of the line's most exotic routes in Europe, Asia and South America, including a 107-night World Cruise, starting January to Venice, Italy from Ft. Lauderdale. The two ships were bought in 2002 from Renaissance Cruises (now-defunct), and are the smallest ships in the Princess' fleet. With its dark wood and luxury interiors, Pacific Princess resembles a stately manor house or country inn. The more intimate size facilitates amicability and passengers do not have to be surprised if the personnel know their name and says hello when they pass by.

Cruise itinerary program

Pacific Princess itinerary program is based on more exotic destinations compared to her larger fleet mates. Pacific sails on a World Cruise out of Fort Lauderdale Florida USA, starting in January each year.

In early-July 2019, Princess Cruises announced Pacific Princess ship's homeporting in Australia for season 2020-2021. The new itinerary program coincides with the 45th-anniversary celebration of company's inaugural roundtrip cruise from Australia (May 8, 1971) on SS Pacific Princess (IMO  7018563, launched in 1970, scrapped in 2014) from "The Love Boat" TV series.

The new program features a 90-day roundtrip Sydney NSW (homeport) cruise around South America (January 3, 2021), a 13-day roundtrip to New Zealand's north and south islands (December 21, 2020) and a 21-day voyage to remote locations in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (April 3, 2021). The cruise liner will make a total of 15 maiden port calls - including to Kaikoura NZ, New Plymouth NZ, Stewart Island NZ, Wewak PNG, Madang PNG, Gizo Island (Ghizo, Soloman Islands). The program also includes a 24-day Australia to Asia repositioning cruise from Sydney to Tokyo Japan (April 24, 2021) visiting ports in PNG and Philippines.

In the Australia-New Zealand region, Pacific Princess joins the fleetmates Sapphire, Sea, Sun, Majestic and Regal. General customer bookings on Pacific Princess Australian itineraries opened on July 12, 2019.

Cabins

Most Pacific Princess staterooms are 170-sq.foot balcony rooms (170). Almost 75% of ship's outside accommodations have private balcony views. There are a total of 338 staterooms in 25 categories. 5 are the wheelchair accessible rooms. The largest aboard Pacific Princess are the Balcony Suites (580 ft2).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

As opposed to Princess' larger vessels, Pacific Princess doesn't feature a versatile dining option. There are early and late shifts at 6 and 8:15 p.m. But the vessel offers line's popular alternative dining venues: Sabatini's, the signature Italian restaurant, asks passengers to choose their main entree only, and a parade of hot and cold appetizers, salads, and pasta are automatically served; The Sterling Steakhouse offers traditional favourites, focusing on top-quality steaks complemented by an international wine list. (Note: Due to the small size of the cruise ship, the dining venues alternate the nights they are open).

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

• Club Restaurant (aft Dining Room; offers open-seating Breakfast and Lunch, Afternoon Tea 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., and formal dining for Dinner with 2 fixed seatings at 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.; hosts “Chef’s Table” private dining)
• Deck BBQ (fast food bar, poolside; complimentary)
• Pizzeria (open for Lunch and Dinner; complimentary)
• Panorama Buffet Restaurant (self-service casual eatery open for Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner ”Anytime Dining” - open seating 6 p.m. -11 p.m.)
• Sterling Steakhouse Restaurant & Bar (speciality, dinner only restaurant; offers steaks and seafood; reservations recommended)
• Sabatini’s Restaurant & Bar (Italian speciality restaurant; reservations recommended; open for Dinner /all passengers, and for Breakfast /Suite guests only)

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Evening entertainment revolves around ship's Cabaret Lounge, equipped with a state-of-the-art lighting and sound system. It presents a full schedule of options, such as variety shows, live music, first-run movies. Live piano music is offered at the Casino Bar. The adjacent casino provides slot machines and table games. Sea days include destination-specific lectures, as well as classes on computer technology and photography (all part of Princess' ScholarShip@Sea program).

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

• Cabaret Lounge (forward show lounge for grand show productions)
• Pacific Casino
• Club Bar (piano bar; serves the Club Dining Room)
• Pacific Lounge & Nightclub (also serves British Pub Lunch)
• Princess Fine Arts Gallery; Photo Gallery and Shop; Pacific Boutiques
• Princess Pacific Lotus Spa & Gym (with four Treatment Rooms, two Steam Rooms, Beauty Salon, Fitness Center, Thalasso Spa Pool, Sauna)
• Card Room (board games); Library (sudoku; board games)
• Internet Cafe (24-hour Internet computers room)
• Swimming Pool area (served by Pool Bar and Lido Bar), 3 Jacuzzis
• Jogging Track; Sun Deck area; Golf Driving Net; Shuffleboard.

Pacific Princess 2017 refurbishment review

The ship's 2-weeks long drydock refurbishment (May 30 - June 8, in Freeport Bahamas) resulted in the following changes:

• The Atrium was modernized - new millwork, renovated grand staircase, new ornamentation and a stained glass ceiling.
• Sterling Steakhouse (on deck 10) was redecorated (new upholstery to chairs, new silk draperies, new artworks / B&W movie stars photos).
• Sabatini’s Restaurant (deck 10) was updated (repainted walls, new Italian furnishings, reupholstered chairs, new carpeting, new lounge area, new millwork, arched windows).
• The Club Bar Restaurant (deck 5, Club Dining Room) was updated and redecorated.
• The Panorama Buffet (deck 9) was completely renovated (new tile work, new draperies and carpeting, updated furniture).
• Lido-Pool Deck 9 was renovated (new teak flooring and tiling, new lounge furniture/lounge chairs, pool chaises, sofas).
• All cruise cabins were upgraded with Princess Cruises signature "Princess Luxury Beds", new plush linens, new plush carpeting, upholstered headboards, new draperies, new decorative lamps, wall sconces with USB ports.
• All cruise suites were updated with contemporary furniture (dining tables, chairs, lounge chairs, sofabeds, desks).
• A new cabin category was introduced (Club Class Mini-Suite") offering exclusive perks and VIP amenities (dining, preferred seating. priority embarkation/disembarkation).

Built under the name "R Three", Princess Cruises Pacific ship is the company's smallest (R-class) vessel bought from Renaissance Cruises (now defunct). Sisterships (from this series) are Oceania Cruises boat Insignia, Regatta, Sirena and Nautica, plus the Azamara Cruises ships Quest, Pursuit and Journey.

The ship was operated by Renaissance Cruises and was owned to a group of French investors. In 2001, Renaissance bankrupted and Princess purchased two of its vessels - R Three (Pacific Princess) and R Four (Ocean Princess, since 2016 - Oceania Sirena). Liner's godmother was Gabi Hollows - wife of Fred Hollows (eye surgeon, founding director of Fred Hollows Foundation). The naming ceremony was held in Port Sydney (NSW Australia) on December 8, 2002.

In January 2015, Pacific Princess started its first World Cruise leaving from Los Angeles CA. World Cruise 2015 itinerary visited ports in Australia, Asia, Europe (Mediterranean) and the Caribbean, with Suez Canal and Panama Canal transits, plus a Transatlantic crossing. Next table shows the ports sequence and times (arrival/departure) of ship's "World Cruise 2019" (112-day itinerary roundtrip from homeport Long Beach/Los Angeles.