P&O Cruises will have two new ships and bid farewell to stalwarts Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria, it was announced this week.

Next year, P&O Cruises will be welcoming  Pacific Adventure in October 2020. She is a 2,636-guest ship currently sailing as the Golden Princess.

The next year Pacific Encounter, at 3,000 passengers, will join the Australian fleet in 2021 as the line’s biggest vessel and will sail out of Brisbane from 2021. She is currently sailing as Star Princess and will be transformed before joining the fleet.

Pacific Dawn and Aria will leave the fleet February and April 2021 respectively.

The Adventure along with the P&O look and feel, will also be introducing new on board features like twin racer water slides, Edge Adventure Park and a private Byron Beach Club.

From late 2021, Pacific Explorer, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will comprise the new look P&O fleet with a total capacity of about 9,000 guests.

“In design terms, each ship is an evolution but always with a distinctive P&O flavour on each,” says the line.

“When we embarked on this transformation two years ago, we committed to refresh the fleet over time and to set the brand up for continued success,” Sture Myrmell, P&O Cruises President said.

“P&O’s Pacific Adventure will be introduced with the our distinctive look and feel along with some new onboard features that means P&O Cruises remains the driving force for cruising in Australia and New Zealand.

“It is always sad to farewell much loved ships. Both ships are close to our hearts with Pacific Dawn particularly special to us and the many thousands of guests who have sailed on her.”

Dawn was introduced all the way back in 2007 and she led the resurgence of cruising in Australia according to the line. She has sailed from both Sydney and Brisbane in her 11 years of service.

P&O Cruises is offering sentimental final sailings to guests on both Dawn and Aria.

 Pacific Dawn will depart Melbourne on February 8, 2021 sailing to Singapore via Brisbane. There are three great options for guests to farewell this ship.

  • Option One — a fantastic short break cruise from Melbourne to Brisbane.
  • Option Two — the Asia and Explorer cruise from Brisbane to Singapore.
  • Option Three — the ‘full farewell’, a combined 17-nights voyage from Melbourne right through to Singapore.

Pacific Aria will depart Melbourne on April 9, 2021 sailing to Singapore via Fremantle. There are three great options for guests to say farewell.

  • Option One — a fantastic six-night ‘Southern Discovery’ cruise from Melbourne to Fremantle calling at Esperance and Albany
  • Option Two — the Asia and Australia Explorer 12-night cruise from Fremantle to Singapore
  • Option Three — the ‘full farewell’, a combined 18-nights voyage from Melbourne right through to Singapore via Fremantle.

Guests who have booked on the Pacific Dawn departing on or after February 1,2021 will receive communication from the line with alternative arrangements. This will be the same for guests who have booked on the Aria departing on or after March 9, 2021.

P&O Cruises expect all guests to be moved to alternative cruises by December 13, 2019.

Two lines introduce mandatory vaccination for passengers, crew and tour drivers from July