P&O Cruises to Replace Pacific Jewel

P&O Cruises Australia has announced that a second Princes Cruises' Grand Class ship will join the fleet to replace Pacific Jewel.

The 3,100-guest Star Princess will join her sister ship, Golden Princess, in the P&O Cruises Australia fleet from the end of 2021. Both Princess vessels will be renovated and renamed before joining the fleet.

Pacific Jewel will leave P&O Cruises in March next year, by which time she will have served the brand for almost 10 years. The vessel underwent a makeover in March this year. She was built by Fincantieri and launched in 1989.

P&O Cruises announced its plan to refresh its fleet in September last year. The company will continue to base ships year-round in its key homeports of Sydney and Brisbane as well as offering seasonal sailings from other Australian states and New Zealand.

The revamped Golden Princess will join the P&O Cruises fleet in October 2020. Meanwhile, Pacific Eden leaves the fleet in April 2019, acquired by CMV Group, a British-based cruise operator.