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Our Fleet's History

Along with sister company, P&O Cruises in the United Kingdom, P&O Cruises Australia originates from the passenger division of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, a UK shipping company which operated the world's first passenger ships in the early 19th Century. P&O ships made many line voyages to Australia and went on to become Australia’s home grown cruise line with P&O’s first ever cruise sailing from Sydney on December 23, 1932, on board the mail steamer Strathaird, on a seven-day itinerary calling at Brisbane and Norfolk Island. 

These voyages eventually developed into the cruise holidays we recognise today and so P&O adopted the brand name P&O Cruises, with the specialist Australian service becoming known as P&O Cruises Australia.

P&O Cruises first permanent ship in Australia was the Fairstar, followed by Pacific Sky, Pacific Star, Pacific Sun, Pacific Dawn, Pacific Jewel, Pacific Eden, Pacific Aria & then Pacific Explorer.

Today, the P&O Cruises Australia fleet consists of Pacific Explorer. Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will join the fleet in 2021.

Our Past Fleet:

Fairstar

Affectionately known as the 'fun ship' Fairstar was a member of the P&O Cruises fleet for 9 years.

Ship facts:

  • Years of Service: 1988 to 1997
  • Tonnage: 21,600
  • Max Speed: 17 knots
  • Passenger Capacity: 1,860
  • Crew: 460
  • Passenger Decks: 10

Pacific Sky

Pacific Sky sailed under the P&O Cruises banner from 2000 to 2006.

Ship facts:

  • Years of Service: 2000 to 2006
  • Nights spent at sea: 2,707
  • Cruises Completed: 314
  • Ports Visited: 1,168
  • Passenger Capacity: 1,850
  • Max Speed: 21 knots
  • Passenger Decks: 9

Pacific Star

Pacific Star joined the P&O Cruises fleet in 2005 and departed in 2008.

Ship facts:

  • Years of Service: 2005 - 2008
  • Tonnage: 36,674
  • Passenger Capacity: 1,350
  • Crew: 520
  • Cruising Speed: 19 knots

Pacific Sun

Pacific Sun became known as 'Australia's favourite cruise ship'.

Ship facts:

  • Years of Service: 2004 to 2012
  • Tonnage: 46,087
  • Max Speed: 21 knots
  • Passenger Capacity: 1,550
  • Crew: 600
  • Passenger Decks: 11

Pacific Pearl

Pacific Pearl was one of P&O's favorite ships, it was in service from 2010 until 2017..

Ship facts:

  • Years of Service: 2010 to 2017
  • Tonnage: 63,500
  • Max Speed: 21.5 knots
  • Passenger Capacity: 1,578
  • Crew: 700
  • Passenger Decks: 11

Pacific Jewel

Pacific Jewel first joined the P&O fleet back in 2007 and left in 2019.

Ship facts:

  • Years of Service: 2004 to 2019
  • Tonnage: 70,310
  • Max Speed: 22.5 knots
  • Passenger Capacity: 1,670
  • Passenger Decks: 11

Pacific Eden

Pacific Eden first joined the P&O fleet back in 2015 and left in 2019.

Ship facts:

  • Years of Service: 2015 to 2019
  • Tonnage: 55,820
  • Max Speed: 20 knots
  • Passenger Capacity: 1,260
  • Passenger Decks: 9

Pacific Dawn

Pacific Dawn first joined the P&O fleet back in 2015 and left in 2020. During her P&O service, Pacific Dawn travelled a total of 1,208,812 nautical miles or 2,238,719 kilometres — the equivalent of sailing to the moon and back nearly three times or nearly 56 times around the Equator, taking over 1.2 million Aussies on amazing cruise holidays.

Ship facts:

  • Years of Service: 2007 to 2020
  • Tonnage: 70,285
  • Max Speed: 22.5 knots
  • Passenger Capacity: 2000
  • Passenger Decks: 11

Pacific Aria

Pacific Aria first joined the P&O fleet back in 2015 and left in 2020.

Ship facts:

  • Years of Service: 2015 to 2020
  • Tonnage: 55,820
  • Max Speed: 20 knots
  • Passenger Capacity: 1,260
  • Passenger Decks: 9