Carnival Australia today announced the sale of Pacific Sun after more than seven years in the P&O Cruises' fleet during which she earned a well deserved reputation as "Australia's favourite cruise ship‟.
The sale of the 1900-passenger Pacific Sun comes at a time of unprecedented expansion of Carnival Australia's cruise business in Australia and New Zealand following consecutive years of double digit annual growth.
Pacific Sun's farewell from the P&O Cruises' fleet in July next year is seen as a natural progression in Carnival Australia's multi-brand strategy in which it is introducing more ships to the world‟s fastest growing cruise market.
P&O Cruises will continue to play a central role in the growth of the Australian and New Zealand cruise market. Pacific Sun's last cruise with P&O Cruises – a seven night cruise to the Pacific Islands – will depart from Brisbane on July 1, 2012.
Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, said Pacific Sun had made a big contribution to the growth of the local cruise industry and had introduced many thousands of people to cruising.
“Pacific Sun earned her well deserved reputation as „Australia‟s favourite cruise ship‟ and has been an important element in our amazing growth story,” Ms Sherry said. “It is thanks to her popularity that we have grown so quickly and successfully.”
Some cruises will be affected by Pacific Sun's departure from the fleet and P&O Cruises is assisting passengers to make alternative arrangements.
- This includes:
Rebooking the majority of passengers on equivalent or near equivalent cruises on other P&O Cruises' ships
- Offering a choice of alternative cruises on other ships in the P&O Cruises' fleet where a near equivalent match is not possible
- Providing a full refund to passengers for whom no alternative cruise choice is suitable (any passenger whose cruise is cancelled can choose to obtain a full refund)
Ms Sherry said many past passengers would be sorry to see Pacific Sun go and she would be given a very warm send off from the fleet.
“I am certain many of Pacific Sun's loyal followers will want to sail with her one last time before we bid her a fond farewell,” Ms Sherry said.
“We will be happy to welcome them onboard as Pacific Sun completes her proud service with P&O Cruises.”