View source for Pacific Explorer

{{Short description|Cruise ship built in 1997}}
{{for|the ship that sailed as ''Dawn Princess'' 1988–1993|RMS Sylvania{{!}}RMS ''Sylvania''}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
| display title = ital
}}
|+''Pacific Explorer''
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Pacific Explorer, Fremantle, 2023 (03).jpg
| Ship caption = ''Pacific Explorer'' leaving [[Fremantle]], Australia, 2023
| Ship image size = 300px
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship name = *''Dawn Princess'' (1997–2017)
*''Pacific Explorer'' (2017–2025)
| Ship owner = [[Carnival plc]]
| Ship operator = [[P&O Cruises Australia]]
| Previous Operator = [[Princess Cruises]]
| Ship registry = * {{LBR}}, [[Monrovia]] (1997–2000)
* {{BMU}}, [[Hamilton, Bermuda|Hamilton]] (2000–2017)
* {{flagicon|Great Britain}} [[London|London, U.K.]] (2017-present)
| Ship route = Australia and New Zealand
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship builder = [[Fincantieri]], Italy
| Ship original cost = {{US$|300 million}}
| Ship yard number = [[Monfalcone]] 5955
| Ship way number = 
| Ship laid down = 
| Ship launched = 11 July 1996
| Ship christened = 
| Ship completed = 
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship maiden voyage = 10 May 1997
| Ship in service = 
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship renamed = 
| Ship refit = June 2009
| Ship identification = * [[Maritime call sign|Call sign]]:MAQK9
* {{IMO Number|9103996}}
* [[Maritime Mobile Service Identity|MMSI no.:]] 310437000
| Ship fate = 
| Ship status = In service, Possibly in 2025 for sale.<br />final call in Sydney in July 2024<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/07/po-australias-pacific-explorer-makes-final-visit-to-sydney/ | title=P&O Australia's Pacific Explorer Makes Final Visit to Sydney - Cruise Industry News &#124; Cruise News }}</ref>
| Ship notes = <ref name="Vesseltracker">{{cite web | title=Advanced Masterdata for the Vessel ''Dawn Princess'' | url=http://www.Vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Dawn-Princess-9103996.html | work=VesselTracker | year=2010 | access-date=11 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="Ward">{{cite book |title=Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships |url=https://archive.org/details/berlitz2006compl00doug |url-access=registration |last=Ward |first=Douglas |year=2005 |publisher=Berlitz |location=Singapore |isbn=978-9812467393 }}</ref>
| Ship decommissioned = February 2025 (Planned)
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass|Sun|cruise ship}}
| Ship type = 
| Ship tonnage = *{{GT|77,441}}
*{{DWT|8,293}}
| Ship displacement = 
| Ship length = {{convert|856|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|105.6|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = {{convert|27|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship depth = 
| Ship decks = 10 passenger decks
| Ship deck clearance = {{convert|3.208|m|ftin|order=flip|abbr=on}}
| Ship ramps = 
| Ship ice class = 
| Ship power = 46,080{{nbsp}}kW (combined)
| Ship propulsion = [[Diesel-electric#Ships|Diesel-electric]]; two shafts
| Ship sail plan = 
| Ship speed = {{convert|21|kn}} (maximum)
| Ship capacity = 1,998 passengers
| Ship crew = 924
| Ship notes = <ref name="Vesseltracker"/><ref name=Ward2>{{cite book |title=Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships |last=Ward |first=Douglas |year=2008 |publisher=Berlitz |location=London |pages=[https://archive.org/details/berlitzcompleteg00doug/page/335 335–336] |isbn=978-981-268-564-3 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/berlitzcompleteg00doug/page/335 }}</ref>
}}
|}

'''''Pacific Explorer''''' (previously known as '''''Dawn Princess''''') is a [[cruise ship]] operating since June 2017 by [[P&O Cruises Australia]], a [[cruise line]] brand owned by the [[Carnival Corporation & plc]]. It is a {{sclass|Sun|cruise ship}} built by [[Fincantieri]], Italy, in 1997, and features eight restaurants, four swimming pools, five hot tubs/spas/whirlpools, seven lounges and bars, and two children centres.

She is the [[sister ship]] to {{ship|MS|Sun Princess|1995|2}}, [[P&O Cruises|P&O Cruises']] {{MV|Oceana||2}} (former ''Ocean Princess'') and {{ship||Sea Princess}}. ''Pacific Explorer'' and ''Sun Princess'' differ from ''Oceana'' and ''Sea Princess'' by having exterior bridge wings. ''Oceana'' and ''Sea Princess'' have internal bridge wings. 

As part of the announcement that P&O Cruises Australia would merge with Carnival, it was revealed the ''Pacific Explorer'' will not be joining the Carnival fleet and will be withdrawn in February 2025. The future of the ship is yet to be known.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-04 |title=Carnival Cruise Line to absorb P&O Cruises Australia |url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ship-operations/carnival-cruise-line-absorb-po-cruises-australia |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Seatrade Cruise News |language=en}}</ref>

==Princess Cruises==
=== Ports of call ===
[[File:DAwn Princess.jpg|thumb|left|''Dawn Princess'' in [[Tracy Arm]] Fjord, Alaska, United States. Taken in 2006 from {{ship|MS|Sun Princess|1995|2}}]]
''Dawn Princess'' was targeted to replace {{ship||Pacific Princess}}, sailing Australian waters between October 2006 and March 2007, to become the largest ship ever to be based in Australia, but these plans were eventually replaced by ''Sun Princess'' as well as being served by {{ship||Pacific Dawn|ship|2}} (previously christened ''Regal Princess''). ''Dawn Princess'' began sailing in Australia as of 24 September 2008 with a 28-day itinerary circumnavigating the country, after a month serving Hawaii, Tahiti, and the South Pacific.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.princess.com/pb/searchResults.do?time=189&trade=&duration=&cruiseType=&ship=DP&date=&orderBy=&filterBy=&pageOffset= |title=Princess Cruises : Australia Coastal |website=Princess.com |access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref> From this point on, ''Dawn Princess'' remained in Australia permanently sailing from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth alongside ''Sun Princess'' under the Princess brand until it was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia and renamed ''Pacific Explorer''.

=== Refurbishment ===
In June 2009, ''Dawn Princess'' was [[dry-dock]]ed in the [[Port of Brisbane]], Australia, for refurbishment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dawn Princess Drydock|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/princesscruises/sets/72157619432753479/|website=Flickr.com|date=15 June 2009 |access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref>

In June 2017, ''Pacific Explorer'' was dry-docked in Sembawang Singapore, for refurbishment and re-branding from ''Dawn Princess''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2017/05/pacific-explorer-enters-drydock-for-transformation/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714071450/https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2017/05/pacific-explorer-enters-drydock-for-transformation/ | archive-date=14 July 2024 | title=Pacific Explorer Enters Drydock for Transformation - Cruise Industry News &#124; Cruise News }}</ref>
February 2020 Pacific Explorer Dry Dock for February 12 to February 27 for refurbishments and maintenance

==P&O Cruises Australia==
[[File:Pacific Explorer, Sydney Harbour, 2017 (05).jpg|thumb|left|''Pacific Explorer'' in [[Sydney]], Australia, 2017]]
On 7 October 2015, [[Carnival plc|Carnival]] announced that ''Dawn Princess'' would be transferred in May 2017 to its Australian subsidiary [[P&O Cruises Australia]] as ''Pacific Explorer''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/13131-dawn-princess-to-be-transferred-to-pao-australia.html|title=''Dawn Princess'' to be Transferred to P&O Australia|publisher=Cruise Industry News|date=7 October 2015|access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref> ''Dawn Princess'' entered drydock on 26 May 2017 in Singapore ([[Sembawang]]) for conversion to ''Pacific Explorer'' to be released for cruises on 22 June.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pocruises.com.au/media-releases/2016/2016-july-7|title=P&O Unveils exciting new features on Pacific Explorer|date=7 July 2016|access-date=11 June 2017}}</ref>

It was [[ship registration|re-registered]] to the [[United Kingdom]] and arrived in Sydney, New South Wales on 19 June for a 3-day stay before conducting its maiden voyage to the Pacific Islands. She was christened by the [[Nickelodeon Studios]] character [[Dora the Explorer (TV series)|Dora the Explorer]] on 2 July 2017 at Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal after arriving from its maiden voyage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/17458-pacific-explorer-christened-in-sydney.html|title=Pacific Explorer Christened in Sydney|first=C. I. N.|last=Staff|date=2 July 2017|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com}}</ref>

On 2{{nbsp}}June 2022, the Pacific Explorer was the first cruise ship to use the new [[Brisbane International Cruise Terminal]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Atfield |first=Cameron |date=2022-06-02 |title='Cruising is back': New Brisbane terminal finally welcomes passengers |url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/cruising-is-back-new-brisbane-terminal-finally-welcomes-passengers-20220602-p5aqlb.html |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=Brisbane Times |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2023, ''Pacific Explorer'' sailed from Fremantle to Exmouth to allow passengers and astronomers to witness the Hybrid Solar Eclipse. Onboard were numerous scientists, including Prof. Jonte Horner and Matt Dodds. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Frame |first=Chris |date=2023-04-17 |title=Pacific Explorer travelled 1,275km to see the sun disappear!|url=https://chrisframe.com.au/post/715405015801643008/po-cruises-exmouth-eclipse-cruise-pacific-explorer-2023 |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Chris Frame Official (Maritime Historian) |language=en}}</ref>

In June 2024 Carnival Corporation announced ''Pacific Explorer'' will leave the P&O Australia fleet in 2025 as part of the planned shutdown of the P&O brand in Australia. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Frame |first=Chris |date=2024-04-17 |title=Shock news as P&O to be shut down|url=https://chrisframe.com.au/post/752310748166995968/po-australia-brand-to-be-shut-down |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Chris Frame Official (Maritime Historian) |language=en}}</ref>

===Accidents and incidents===
On 13 December 2022, a woman fell overboard between Melbourne and Kangaroo Island, triggering a search off the coast of South Australia. Her body was found several hours later, and a joint investigation by [[South Australia Police]] and [[Victoria Police]] was initiated.<ref>{{cite web| website= news.com.au| url=https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/fears-as-young-woman-falls-from-cruise-ship-in-south-australia/news-story/963451fa3db04f42e5c246c946e248d4 |title=Victoria Police called to help investigate after woman's body found off cruise ship| date=14 December 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|IMO 9103996}}
* [https://www.pocruises.com.au/ships/pacific-explorer Official website]

{{List of ships built by Fincantieri}}
{{P&O Australia Ships}}
{{Princess Ships}}

[[Category:Ships of P&O Cruises Australia]]
[[Category:Ships of Princess Cruises]]
[[Category:Ships built in Monfalcone]]
[[Category:Ships built by Fincantieri]]
[[Category:1996 ships]]