- Pacific Jewel
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Pacific Jewel anchored off Lifou Isle in October 2011Career Name: 1990—2002: Crown Princess
2002—2004: A'Rosa Blu
2004—2007: AIDAblu
2007-2009: Ocean Village Two
2009-present: Pacific JewelOwner: 1990—1992: Astamar[1]
1992—2002: Princess Cruises
2002-2004: Seetours[2]
2004-2009: Ocean Village Currently P&O Cruises AustraliaOperator: 1990—2002: Princess Cruises
2002—2004: A'Rosa Cruises
2004—2007: Aida Cruises
2007-2009: Ocean Village[2]
2009-present: P&O Cruises AustraliaPort of registry: 1990—1992: Palermo, 
Italy
1992—2000: Monrovia,
Liberia
2000—2002: Hamilton,
Bermuda
2002 onwards: London,
United Kingdom[2]Builder: Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy Cost: $276.8 million Yard number: 5939 Launched: 25 May 1989 Acquired: 29 June 1990 Maiden voyage: 8 July 1990 In service: 8 July 1990 Identification: IMO number: 8521220 Status: In service General characteristics (as built, 1990) Class and type: Crown Princess-class cruise ship Tonnage: 69,845 GT (gross tonnage)
6,995 metric tons deadweight (DWT)Length: 245.08 m (804 ft 1 in) Beam: 32.25 m (105 ft 10 in) Draught: 7.90 m (25 ft 11 in) Decks: 11 Installed power: 4 × MAN-B&W 8L58/64 diesels, combined 2,4000 kW Propulsion: 2 propellers Speed: 22.5 knots (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph) Capacity: 1,950 passengers (maximum) General characteristics (as rebuilt, 2004) Tonnage: 70,285 GT (gross tonnage)
5,758 metric tons deadweight (DWT)Decks: 11 (passenger accessible) Capacity: 2,014 passengers (maximum) Crew: 621 Notes: Other characteristics as above Pacific Jewel is a cruise ship currently operated by P&O Cruises Australia, and operating from Sydney, Australia. Built by Fincantieri and launched in 1989 for Sitmar Cruises, ownership of the vessel was transferred to P&O Princess Cruises PLC after P&O acquired Sitmar. The cruise ship operated as Crown Princess until 2002, when she was renamed A`Rosa Blu and transferred to A'Rosa Cruises. In 2003, the ship was reassigned to the AIDA Cruises fleet, following the acquisition of P&O by Carnival Corporation & plc, and after a refit, reentered service in 2004 as AIDAblu. From 2007 to 2008, the ship was named Ocean Village Two and operated by Ocean Village, but after owner Carnival decided to shut down the Ocean Village brand, she was transferred to P&O Australia's fleet.
Contents
Design and construction
Pacific Jewel was built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone, Italy as Crown Princess, with the yard number 5939.[2] She was launched on 25 May 1989.[2]
As designed, the vessel had a gross tonnage of 69,845 GT (gross tonnage), and a deadweight tonnage of 6,995 metric tons deadweight (DWT).[2][3] She is 245.08 m (804 ft 1 in) long, with a beam of 32.25 m (105 ft 10 in), and a draught of 7.90 m (25 ft 11 in).[2] Her distinctive curved profile—often referred to as 'dolphin-like'—was designed by Renzo Piano.[citation needed] The two propeller shafts are drived by four MAN-B&W 8L58/64 diesels, with a combined output of 24,000 kW and a maximum speed of 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph).[2][3] The ship could originally carry 1,910 passengers (maximum)[3] The cruise ship was built at a cost of US$276.8 million.[4]
The ship has the IMO number: 8521220[2]
A second ship was built to the same design, and is operating as of 2010 under the name Pacific Dawn. The two ships were ordered by Sitmar Cruises, but transferred to the ownership of P&O Princess Cruises PLC when P&O acquired Sitmar.
Operational history
Crown Princess was handed over to P&O on 29 June 1990, and sailed on 8 July for her maiden voyage.[2]
In 2002, the ship was renamed A'Rosa Blu transferred to A'Rosa Cruises, a new P&O brand aimed at the German market. Financial problems and the acquisition of P&O by Carnival Corporation & plc prompted the ship's reassignment to the AIDA Cruises fleet in September 2003. Following a refit, which saw the ship's passenger capacity increase to 2,014 across 11 decks, her crew expanded to 621, and increases in her tonnage (to 70,285 GT (gross tonnage) and 5,758 metric tons deadweight (DWT)),[2][4] the cruise ship was renamed AIDAblu and returned to service in 2004.
Ocean Village Two (now Pacific Jewel) in St. Raphael during August 2008
In April 2007, the vessel was transferred to Ocean Village, and after a small refit in Bremerhaven, was christened as Ocean Village Two by sisters Jodie Kidd and Jemma Kidd. The vessel became an informal cruise ship.
On 30 October 2008, Carnival announced the closure of their Ocean Village brand, with both ships to be transferred to the fleet of P&O Cruises Australia by the end of 2010. Pacific Jewel left on 14 November 2009 for a two-week refit at the Sembawang Shipyards in Singapore, which included minor upgrades and renovation of her facilities. After this, the ship began operation from Sydney.
On 27 August 2010, the soap opera Neighbours filmed scenes on board Pacific Jewel.[5] Actors and crew took five hours to shoot on and around the vessel's running track and circus arena on the top deck.[5] Some Pacific Jewel staff were given the chance to be extras in the scenes.[5] Travel Blackboard reported that P&O expected Pacific Jewel's appearance on the show to generate more than $1 million worth of brand exposure to the Australian audience.[5]
In October 2010, three cruises for October and November (to Vanuatu and Noumea, Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup, and Fiji) were cancelled after a fault developed in the propulsion system.[6]
References
- ^ Plowman, Peter (2004). The Sitmar Liners: Past and Present. Hong Kong: Rosenberg. p. 196. ISBN 1-877058-25-4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Asklander, Micke. "M/S Crown Princess (1990)" (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/crown_princess_1990.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
- ^ a b c Miller, William H (1995). Pictorial Encyclopedia of Ocean Liners, 1860-1994. Mineola: Dover. pp. 36. ISBN 0-486-28137-X.
- ^ a b Ward, Douglas (2008). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp. 495–496. ISBN 978-981-268-240-6.
- ^ a b c d "Neighbours become good Friends with Pacific Jewel". Travel Blackboard. 29 September 2010. http://www.etravelblackboard.com/article/109337/neighbours-become-good-friends-with-pacific-jewel. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ Saurine, Angela (28 October 2010). "Holiday plans of thousands ruined as cruises cancelled". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/travel/news/holiday-plans-of-thousands-ruined-as-cruises-cancelled/story-e6frg8ro-1225944496576. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
External links
Media related to Pacific Jewel at Wikimedia CommonsShips of the P&O Cruises Australia Fleet Current fleet Former Ships Categories:- Cruise ships
- Ships built in Italy
- 1989 ships
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
