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Farewell Dawn Princess, hello Pacific Explorer

It happens once, maybe twice and sometimes even three times in every cruise ship's life - they're transferred to a new line and receive a complete identity makeover.

It happens once, maybe twice and sometimes even three times in every cruise ship’s life – they’re transferred to a new line and receive a complete identity makeover.

As part of the makeover, their insides are completely ripped out and replaced, their livery repainted and they’re given a new name.

It’s happening to Holland America’s Ryndam and Statendam as I type this, they are both being converted into P&O’s Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden.

Pacific Explorer ship

And it’s going to happen to Dawn Princess before she joins the same Australian cruise line in 2017 as… Pacific Explorer.

P&O revealed the ship’s new identity yesterday and confirmed she would build upon the line’s contemporary new design currently being installed on Aria and Eden.

Removing Dawn Princess’ buffet, Explorer will carry P&O’s ‘The Pantry‘ – a foodcourt-influenced room featuring a vast variety of food options.

Pacific Explorer 3

Instead of Dawn’s Sabatinis, P&O guests will be able to enjoy traditional Italian dishes at Angelo’s Italian and Kai Sushi will be replaced with the Asian-fusion specialty restaurant, Dragon Lady.

The outdoor pool will be refitted to resemble a resort-style pool area and there’ll be new and exciting entertainment concepts and space which P&O promises will ‘excite and surprise passengers’.

“We have grand plans for Pacific Explorer and we think her new features are going to cause a lot of excitement in the local industry.”

Sture Myrmel, P&O Cruises Senior Vice President 

Pacific Explorer

The 77,000-tonne Pacific Explorer will carry 2,000 passengers and offer more than 400 balcony rooms.

She’s expected to join the P&O fleet in May 2017. The ship’s first program will be released early next month.

Are you excited Dawn Princess will be converted into a P&O vessel?