Carnival Encounter

The 2002-built (as Star Princess) cruise ship Carnival Encounter (formerly Pacific Encounter) is the third GRAND-Class vessel constructed for Princess Cruises, with sisterships Crown, Diamond, Caribbean, Grand, Emerald, Ruby, Golden/Carnival Adventure, and Sapphire.

The vessel (IMO number 9192363) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311001596) and registered in Nassau. Previously, she was UK-flagged (MMSI 232032840) and registered in Southampton. Under Princess Cruises, Star Princess was Bermuda-flagged (MMSI 310361000) and registered in Hamilton.

History - Construction and Ownership

Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) is a US-based brand and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, the ship’s owner. CCL was founded in 1972 by Ted Arison (1924–1999), co-founder of NCL-Norwegian.

CCL operates the largest fleet within Carnival Corporation, both in number of ships and total GT-tonnage. In 2023, CCL held ~9% of global cruise industry revenue and ~19% of passenger share. In 2024, Carnival Corporation commanded ~51% of the global US$64+ billion cruise market.

In 2018, Princess Cruises announced that Golden Princess and Star Princess would be transferred to the P&O Australia fleet in 2021 and renamed Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter, respectively. The transfer was officially confirmed on October 21, 2020. Star Princess began operations for P&O Australia in November 2021 following a scheduled drydock refurbishment.

In May 2023, Princess Cruises announced that its second SPHERE-class ship will be named Star Princess, joining the fleet in August 2025.

In May 2024, Carnival Corporation announced the discontinuation of the P&O Australia brand effective 2025. Pacific Explorer will be retired in February 2025, while Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure will transfer to Carnival Cruise Line and be renamed "Carnival Encounter" and "Carnival Adventure."

In March 2025, Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure were taken out of service for unscheduled drydocking. After April 2025, both ships began operations under the Carnival Cruise Line brand. The third Carnival Australia ship is Carnival Splendor, homeported year-round in Sydney, NSW.

During her 2008 drydock, Star Princess received several new venues, including The Piazza (entertainment space), a bakery, Internet Cafe, wine and sushi bars, The Sanctuary (adults-only area), Crown Grill (steakhouse and seafood), and seven new Suites with walk-in closets and spa bathrooms. The shopping complex was redesigned, relocating and expanding the Essence Shop and Meridian Bay Shop.

Decks and Cabins

Pacific Encounter staterooms (1298 total, across 34 categories) include 205 Suites, 515 Balcony cabins, 212 Oceanviews, and 366 Interior cabins, including 25 wheelchair-accessible. Most staterooms are sized 160–190 ft² (15–18 m²), with balconies ranging from 45–90 ft² (4–8 m²). Nearly 80% of all outside cabins have private balconies. The largest accommodation is the Grand Suite at 615 ft² (57 m²) with a 115 ft² (11 m²) terrace.

The ship has 16 decks, of which 14 are accessible to passengers and 7 contain staterooms.

Review / Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

Deck 4 contains crew cabins, Tender Embarkation/Disembarkation areas, and the Infirmary/Medical Center (with resident medical staff on 24-hour duty).

Deck 5 features the Lobby Lounge (with live performances), Cherry on Top (candy shop), Level Up Arcade, Carnival Adventures, Marquee Theater (level 1 of 3), and the Waterfront Restaurant. The Lobby is served by Lilly's Bar, Charlie's Bar, and Avalon Cafe.

• Carnival Adventures provides shore excursion info and booking assistance.
• Cherry on Top sells bulk candies, confections, apparel, flowers, greeting cards, and offers formalwear rental (pre-ordered only).
• Marquee Theater hosts evening shows, comedy acts, magic, and live music twice nightly (6:30 and 8:45 pm), as well as trivia and lectures during the day.
• Waterfront Restaurant serves breakfast (7:30–9:30 am), lunch (12–1 pm), and dinner (5–9 pm), offering a varied menu of soups, salads, pastas, meats, and desserts.

Deck 6 includes Marquee Theater (level 2), Casino (with bar and gaming tournaments), The Bonded Store (signature cocktails and tasting events), Reception Desk, Fun Shops, and Dreams Studio (photo sessions).

• Angelo’s Restaurant (midship) serves complimentary Italian cuisine; reservations at the Reception Desk.
• Dragon Lady (aft) offers Asian cuisine served banquet-style; dinner bookings also via Reception.

Deck 7 houses the outdoor Promenade, Marquee Theater (level 3), Internet Desk, Ocean Bar (with stage and dance floor), Fun Shops, Pixels Photo Gallery, Luke’s Bar & Grill, Noosa Room, Encounter Hotel, Black Circus Theatre, Piano Bar 88, and The Trattoria.

• Luke’s Bar & Grill serves signature dishes by Luke Mangan; operates as a fast food and specialty dining venue.
• Encounter Hotel is a piano lounge by day and pub by night with craft beers and live music.
• Black Circus Theatre hosts cabaret shows, movies, and family programming.
• Piano Bar 88 offers live music, singalongs, and themed nights.
• The Trattoria is a complimentary lunch venue (pasta bar) and à la carte specialty dinner restaurant ($15 adults, $5 kids).

Deck 14 includes the Navigation Bridge, two swimming pools (Main and Family), four Jacuzzis, and the Pool Deck with venues like The Pizzeria, Luke’s Burger Bar, Pool Bar, and Ice Cream Bar. Also here are The Pantry and the Oasis Pool Deck.

• The Pantry is a buffet-style marketplace with 9 food outlets, serving all meals. It also offers a kids’ dinner service daily at 4:15 pm.
• Oasis Bar serves the aft adults-only pool and sun deck area.

Deck 15 features the Cloud 9 Spa, Sky Bar, Camp Ocean (kids' club), Circle C (ages 12–14), Club O2 (ages 15–17), Seaside Theater (outdoor cinema), Family Pool Area, and Bondi Conference Room.

Deck 16 includes the Byron Beach Club (adults-only retreat with pool, Jacuzzis, cabanas, steward service), Edge Adventure Park, Kid’s Restroom, and The Spa (two hot tubs).

Deck 17 has the Magra Dome (retractable roof), The Lawn (mini-golf and lawn games), Edge sports facilities, Waterslide, and an aft sun deck with pools and games.

Deck 18 contains the Sports Court, The Walkway (jogging track), and Altitude Nightclub (which serves as a daytime observation lounge).

Itineraries

Carnival Encounter sails year-round from Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Pacific Encounter's inaugural P&O season began October 2, 2021, with a rescheduled maiden voyage on August 27, 2022 (7-day "Barrier Reef Discovery" to Airlie Beach, Cairns, and Willis Island).

Ports of call included destinations in Australia (notably the Great Barrier Reef) and South Pacific Islands (New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea). Sample itineraries were "Barrier Reef Discovery" (7-night), "Pacific Island Hopper" (7-night), "Comedy Cruise" (4-night cruise to nowhere), and "Whitsundays Cruise" (4-night).

Star Princess previously operated roundtrips from US West Coast ports (San Francisco and Los Angeles/Long Beach), sailing to Hawaii, Mexico, and Alaska on a seasonal basis.

The Fincantieri Monfalcone-built Star Princess was christened by godmother Gunilla Antonini, wife of Dr. Corrado Antonini (Executive Chairman of the Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri). The vessel began her 26-day maiden voyage (Pacific Ocean itinerary) on February 13, 2002.

Carnival Encounter (Monfalcone shipyard/hull number 6051) is powered by Wartsila-Sulzer marine diesel engines (models 8ZAV40S and 8ZAL40) with a total output of 63.36 MW.

A fun fact: there was an earlier ship also named "Star Princess", later renamed Columbus, which was previously operated as "Pacific Pearl" by P&O Australia.

P&O Pacific Encounter Refurbishment Review

During a two-week drydock in March-April 2021 (at Damen Shipyards Singapore), the ship's hull and superstructure were repainted.

The three restaurants—Angelo’s, Dragon Lady, and The Waterfront—were upgraded with new carpets and artwork. The Pantry (Lido Market) was expanded with three new Australian-themed food outlets: Stix, Curry House, and Kettle & Bun.

The drydocking project involved over 250 contractors, more than 84,000 man-hours, the installation of approximately 14,000 m² (150,700 ft²) of carpeting, and the repainting of about 5,000 m² (53,800 ft²) of interior surfaces.

All public spaces were thoroughly cleaned and renovated. General maintenance and machinery overhauls were also completed.

During the February 6–25, 2023 drydock in Singapore, the ship received significant upgrades, including the addition of the Twin-Racer waterslide (142 meters long, 16 meters high) and the P&O Edge Adventure Park (Deck 16), which features a 55-meter zipline, cargo net, walk the plank, beam walk, and rock climbing wall. New venues added included Luke’s Bar & Grill, Byron Beach Club (pool deck), 400 Gradi Pizzeria (by chef Johnny Di Francesco), Black Circus Theatre, F45 Fitness Studio, Altitude Nightclub, Encounter Hotel, and the Bonded Store.

P&O Pacific Encounter Ship Review

Deck 4 accommodates crew cabins, Tender Embarkation/Disembarkation areas, and the Medical Center (infirmary staffed 24/7 by onboard physicians and nurses).

Deck 5 features the three-deck-high Piazza Atrium (with a live performance stage), Lobby Hall (with Lobby Lounge and Shore Excursions Desk), and venues including Lilly's Bar, Charlie's Bar, and Avalon Café. The deck is also the lower level of the P&O Retail complex (spanning decks 5-7), and houses the Fine Arts Gallery and Waterfront Restaurant.

Waterfront Restaurant is a complimentary venue open for breakfast (7:30–9:30 am), lunch (12–1 pm), and dinner (5–9 pm), serving a variety of international dishes and desserts.

Deck 6 includes the Marquee Theatre (main show lounge), Casino (with bar and gaming tables), The Bonded Store (offering signature cocktails and tasting classes), Reception Desk, Level UP Arcade, Life Photo Studio, and shops. Midship is Angelo's (Italian restaurant), and aft is Dragon Lady (Asian dining). Both require dinner reservations at the Reception Desk.

Deck 7 includes the upper level of Marquee Theatre, the Ocean Front Bar (with live performances and art auctions), photo gallery, Luke’s Bar & Grill, Noosa Room (conference/wedding venue), Encounter Hotel (piano/English pub), Blue Room (live music/lounge), 400 Gradi (pizzeria), and Black Circus Theatre (cabaret and kids’ events).

• Luke's Bar & Grill offers burgers, kebabs, and seafood. Prices apply, and the venue serves both lunch and dinner with signature dishes by chef Luke Mangan.
• Encounter Hotel operates as a piano bar and English-style pub.
• Blue Room offers live entertainment and transforms into a disco at night, also featuring late-night blues sessions.
• 400 Gradi serves Neapolitan pizzas by chef Johnny Di Francesco for lunch and dinner, with room service delivery available.
• Black Circus Theatre is a cabaret-style lounge with a bar, used for live performances, laser tag, and cinema sessions.

Deck 14 features the navigation bridge, two pools (Main and Family), four Jacuzzis, band stage, and poolside bars and eateries. Also located here are The Pantry and the Oasis Pool Deck.

• The Pantry is a buffet restaurant/marketplace with nine food outlets. Open for all meals, it includes salad, stir fry, taco, curry, fish, Italian, carvery, sandwich, and dessert stations. Evenings feature Shell & Bones (à la carte), and a daily kids’ dinner service is available at 4:15 pm.
• The Oasis Bar serves the adults-only Oasis Pool and Sundeck.

Deck 15 houses the wellness complex (Elemis Spa) with pools, Jacuzzis, fitness studio, spa services, salon/barbershop, and Bondi Bar & Lounge. Also here is the Youth Center (Turtle Cove and Shark Shack), Big Screen (outdoor cinema), and Sky Bar.

Deck 16 includes Byron Beach Club (adults-only sun deck with pool, Jacuzzis, cabanas, steward service), and the upper level of the Youth Center with outdoor play areas.

Deck 17 features the Magra Dome (sliding roof), The Lawn (bowling and mini-golf), P&O Edge activities (including zipline and climbing wall), Twin-Racer waterslides, a shaded kids’ aquapark, and an aft sundeck with pool, splash area, Jacuzzi, and games, served by the Sunset Bar.

Deck 18 includes the Sports Court, The Walkway (jogging track), and Altitude Nightclub (evening disco, daytime observation lounge). Altitude is accessible via two elevators and stairs from The Oasis below.

Pacific Encounter Inaugural Itineraries 2022

The renamed Star Princess (as Pacific Encounter) was initially scheduled to debut with a 15-day repositioning cruise from Singapore to Brisbane in 2021, followed by her maiden Australian voyage.

Followed by the 7-day "Barrier Reef Discovery" itinerary (2021 Maiden Voyage):

Both sailings were canceled, and the ship's official debut was rescheduled for August 20, 2022.

7-day "Barrier Reef Discovery" itinerary (2022 Maiden Voyage):

Star Princess Itineraries 2020–2021

Star Princess’s last scheduled voyage for Princess Cruises was a 30-day relocation cruise from Alaska to Asia (Vancouver to Singapore, for drydock), priced from approximately USD 2700 per person. This voyage was later canceled.

The following were the last scheduled itineraries for Star Princess before her transfer to P&O Australia. Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy.

(2020) 15-day Hawaiian Islands Christmas and New Year cruise – USD 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).

Star Princess Ship Review (Facilities and Amenities, Food, Drinks, Entertainment)

Star Princess features open seating in its main restaurants. Alternative dinner venues include the reservations-only Sabatini's Italian Restaurant and Crown Grill, both with a cover charge per person. The Lido Buffet (Horizon Court) is open 24 hours a day.

The Wheelhouse Bar serves pub-style lunches, while the Trident Grill and Prego Pizzeria provide casual snack options.

Premium ice cream and specialty coffees are available at the ice cream bars and patisseries for an additional charge.

The Vines Bar offers artisan cheeses and evening snacks, also at an extra charge.

Guests can enjoy Chef's Table and Ultimate Balcony Dining experiences, as well as Afternoon Tea and 24-hour room service.

Below is the full list of Star Princess restaurants and food venues:

• Capri Restaurant (aft Dining Room; dinner only, Anytime Dining from 5:30–10:00 pm)
• Crown Grill (160-seat steakhouse/seafood restaurant, reservations recommended; offers complimentary British Pub Lunch on select days)
• Portofino Restaurant (forward Dining Room; Breakfast 7–9 am, Lunch 12–1:30 pm, Afternoon Tea 3:30–4:30 pm, Dinner with Anytime Dining from 5:30–8:00 pm and 8:00–10:00 pm)
• Amalfi Restaurant (aft Dining Room; dinner only with two fixed seatings at 5:45 pm and 8:00 pm)
• Sabatini's Restaurant (Italian specialty dining; reservations recommended)
• Trident Grill & Prego Pizzeria (self-service, complimentary fast food)
• Horizon Court (self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary)

Entertainment venues include the Vista Lounge and Princess Theater, both hosting multiple showings of featured performers and production shows.

The Princess Theater resembles a Broadway-style venue with orchestra-level seating, stadium-style rows, and box seating.

The Vista Lounge is cabaret-style, with seating around small drink tables and large windows that brighten the space during the day.

The Explorers Lounge and Wheelhouse Bar, located side by side on the Promenade Deck, host karaoke, piano music, dance bands, theme parties, games, and trivia.

Below is the full list of Star Princess lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults:

• The Piazza Atrium (3-deck open-floor space with live entertainment and Lobby Bar Piazza)
• Princess Fine Arts Gallery, Photo Gallery & Shop, Platinum Studio
• International Cafe (24-hour specialty coffee and patisserie)
• Vines Bar (wine, seafood, and sushi bar)
• Library with Internet stations, and 24-hour Internet Cafe
• Princess Star Theatre (2-level venue for musicals, shows, workshops, seminars, and 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 and seminars), Vista Lounge & Bar
• Explorers Lounge & Bar (disco/show lounge hosting karaoke, comedy, game shows, art auctions)
• Wheelhouse Bar (piano bar by day, English pub by night)
• 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 (outdoor LED cinema screen)
• Video Games Arcade, Teen Center, Youth Center with Paddling Pool and outdoor play areas
• The Conservatory (recreation area), The Sanctuary (adults-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, football), Shuffleboard, Deck Chess, Princess Links mini-golf course
• Skywalkers Disco Nightclub

Star Princess Refurbishment 2017 Review

The 15-day drydock refurbishment in 2017 (December 3–15, in San Francisco, CA) resulted in the following deck plan changes:

All passenger cabins were upgraded with new bedding, replacing all beds with the Princess Luxury Bed. Many staterooms were converted into interconnecting cabins. Mini-Suite category MA was reclassified as M1.

The youth lounges for kids and teens (part of "Camp Discovery") were renovated through a partnership with Discovery Channel as part of Princess Cruises' “Discovery at Sea” program.

The onboard Boutiques were expanded with new outlets: "Fragrance & Cosmetic" and "Effy Fine Jewelry".

Sabatini's Italian Trattoria was enhanced with new décor and a refreshed menu created in partnership with Chef Angelo Auriana.

The wellness complex (Lotus Spa and Fitness Center) was modernized with state-of-the-art gym equipment.

The Casino Lounge was fully redesigned and recarpeted.

Additional upgrades included new upholstery and carpeting throughout the vessel, along with general maintenance work.

Star Princess' 2017 refurbishment was part of Princess Cruises' USD 450 million multi-year fleet modernization program, "Come Back New Promise".