P&O graveyard

[The Fox]

Hi,
just from memory here are a few ships in the past 15 years have died after being taken over by P&O.

FAIIRSTAR ex sitmar
FAIR PRINCESS ex sitmar fairsea
PACIFIC SKY ex sitmar fairsky and princess sky princess
PACIFIC STAR ex carnivale tropicale and costa tropicale.
It is obvious that P&O either purchase or receive older ships that are handed down by their parent company Carnival.They then add extra berths etc to ensure top dollar by inceasing passenger capacity.Unfortuneately they dont upgrade things like air-conditioning,seating ,sewerage capacity,lighting etc.they increase the capacity,lift their profits neglect maintenance of any kind ....blame everything or anybody they can then flog the ships off to 3rd world cruise companys.
I remember years ago when they were having all the trouble with Fair Princess constantly having cruises cancelled or leaving late because of boiler and air-con problems.
One excuse i remember given by P&O for fair princess leaving late was harbour traffic.....hell they have a dedicated shipping lane.....one of many lame excuses....come on P&O get on the same page.
Just my view

[Riffraff]

Well to be fair, the only ones of those that have actually 'died' are Fairstar and Fair Princess.
Fair Princess was having problems before she even came down here, she'd been laid up in America for a couple of years before transferring to P&O Australia.. and she was sold off to the Chinese who scrapped her.
And Sky Wonder seems to be going well, as is Pacific Star..and I'm not sure how the Spanish would react to being called a 3rd world cruise company..

I am surprised though that Carnival sold Star to Pullmantur - when they sold them Pacific Sky they were no competition - but now Pullmantur is owned by RCI and they're Carnivals main competition.

[novemberbravo1974]

P&O in the days before Princess and Carnival use to have rule that any ship surplus to requirements would actually be scapped.

The ships being sold to Pullmantur will serve in markets such as the growing South American and Latin American cruise markets, Brazil seasonally hosts several ships as well as spend time in the Med and even
Northern Europe catering to domestic European tourists and those from the spanish speaking world.

About time we get decent ships for the top dollar they extract for cruises in the Australian market. The Spanish market isnt exactly 3rd world ( Hell even they wont sail on Costa Allegra ) and after these ships do there time in that market they will be ready for India and even Chinese cruise markets.

Just my two cents!!!

Novemberbravo1974

[Fires]

3rd world cruise companys.



There's an interesting article in todays Sydney Morning Herald regarding cruising. It comments on a wide range of services offered on cruiselines outside of Australia. (if I can find a link, I'll add it later)

It made me think, we are the in the 3rd world of cruise companies.

Terry

[AuzzieCruiser]

P&O Australia would be best described as "3 star cruising". I don't think we would exactly be 3rd world.
Carnival uses Celebration and Holiday (sister ship to Sun) on short 4 and 5 day itineraries from Alabama and Jacksonville Florida. They are used in a different way to what the Pacific Sun is (9-12 nights), with Holiday and Celebration in Ports more often than the Sun would be. Same ship, different uses.

[Neilius]

It made me think, we are the in the 3rd world of cruise companies.


Terry

I admit there are classier ships around, but I think we are lucky to have the Pacific Sun and Pacific star because it means we can get cheap cruises.

5-star cruises would be nice, but how often could we afford to do them?

I'm quite happy to get a cheaper cruise on the "beautiful white lady" as Captain Ravera calls her, because it means we can take our kids, and even our friends. And we can do it a couple of times a year.

There's no way we could do this on a superliner.

I hope P&O keeps ships like the Star and the Sun here. We'll keep sailing on them, and we'll end up seeing a lot more places for a lot less money - and still remain debt free.

When I'm in my 90's, my regrets will be for the places I never managed to sail to, or the cruiises I didn't get to share with friends, not the classy 5-star acommodation I dipped out on :)

Neil

[whytey]

Terry

I admit there are classier ships around, but I think we are lucky to have the Pacific Sun and Pacific star because it means we can get cheap cruises.

5-star cruises would be nice, but how often could we afford to do them?

I'm quite happy to get a cheaper cruise on the "beautiful white lady" as Captain Ravera calls her, because it means we can take our kids, and even our friends. And we can do it a couple of times a year.

There's no way we could do this on a superliner.

I hope P&O keeps ships like the Star and the Sun here. We'll keep sailing on them, and we'll end up seeing a lot more places for a lot less money - and still remain debt free.

When I'm in my 90's, my regrets will be for the places I never managed to sail to, or the cruiises I didn't get to share with friends, not the classy 5-star acommodation I dipped out on :)

Neil
I loved my recent cruise on the Star (April, 2007), Captain Stefano Ravera is the world's best captain. I love cruising and have so since 2005 when I took a cruise on the Sky with Captain Stefano Ravera in command.

[jessica3152]

I admit there are classier ships around, but I think we are lucky to have the Pacific Sun and Pacific star because it means we can get cheap cruises.

5-star cruises would be nice, but how often could we afford to do them?


This would be OK but it is a fallacy that cruising in Australia is cheap. Compared with the prices available to Americans on much more modern ships from Miami, Los Angeles, New York etc we pay top dollar. Check out some of the US websites and you will see balcony cabins on Princess, RCI and Carnival ships for little more than USD1000 for one week twin share. This is about the same as what you could get an inside cabin on P&O Aust for.

In addition to the vastly more modern ships, US ships include all-day dining, room service etc. These are extra cost on P&O.

Carnival Australia has done very well out of Pacific Sun and Pacific Star. They have terrific yields with occupancy often above 100% (Occupancy is based on lower berths only and Sun and Star have heaps of upper berths). There has been virtually no competition in Australia with the only other visitors being premium cruises from the US (also Carnival subsidiaries) for the Summer season and a half-hearted effort by Star cruises once again using one of its older fleet members.

[DennisN]

I loved my recent cruise on the Star (April, 2007), Captain Stefano Ravera is the world's best captain. I love cruising and have so since 2005 when I took a cruise on the Sky with Captain Stefano Ravera in command.

A very popular and capable mariner ;)

I was on the ill-fated Pacific Sky cruise that broke down for 24 hours in the Malacca Straits last year.

Captain Ravera was fantastic in the way he kept all of the passengers informed with what was going on.

A pity there were a few loud mouthed "ugly Australians" :mad: on board - but he handled them with great tact and diplomacy as well.:)

[NSWP]

With Pacific Star sold, wonder when Pacific Sun will be sold ?

Pacific Dawn will probably be around for 4 or 5 years.

Yes the Americans get some brilliant cruise deals, we pay top dollar.:cool:

[Fires]

Top Three

Things to do on cruise ships

Sarah Thomas discovers exercise, education, and fine dining on the high seas.

Travelling by cruise ship is not all about bingo, shuffleboard and out of date enterainment. Now that the industry is aggressively targeting a new, younger market, onboard activities have been brought up to scratch. So those lazy days at sea can be livened up through working out your muscles, your grey matter and your tastebuds.

Learn something
John Cleese is sailing from New York to Southhampton and entertaining Silversea Cruises passengers with tales of his life. As the resident art oficianado, the deadpan comic is hosting the John Cleese Film Festival over the 16-day voyage and providing as insight into the entertainment world and his achievements.
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Many cruise lines have educational talks on a variety of topics. Princess Cruises has its Scholasship@Sea program, a rangeof mostlt complimentary courses for its guests. Subjectsinclude web design, advanced digital photography, maritime history and pottery.
Crystal Cruises has its Creative Learning Institute and its partnership with business such as Yamaha and Berlitz, helps passangers brush up on their music or language skills. Other courses include acting workshops, art history, tai chi and caberat workshops, but perhaps it's better to leave the later to the professionals.

Get Active
Royal Caribbean leads the way in this catagory. As well as a comprehensive sports program, it's famous for the rock-climbing wall that features on many of its ships.
At 60 metres above sea level, the wall then rises a further nine metres. Beginners can get one-on-one training ane there are advanced sessions for more experienced climbers and speed climbing competitions.
The cruise link also has an ice rink where guests can try out their skills, an inlins skating route and a full size boxing ring. It has introduced its Flowrider, a 12 metre long wave simulator on which guests can surf or bodyboard. But beware if your a novice - all the action is broadcast on TVs at the nearby Wipeout Bar, making your mishap public entertainmant. Most modern cruise ships have extensive fitness and spa facilities, running tracks and provide various exercise and sports classes. Cunards Queen Mary 2, the worlds largest cruise liner, features a 1800m2 health club, five swimming pools, a golf simulator and putting green.

Indulge yuor palate
Cruise ships are known for the abundance of food but there is now much available for the sophisticated palate. Many have regular food and wine festivals or host chefs and wine experts for talks - check with your cruise travel agent for details. Holland America has gone a step further with its culinary arts centre - a dedicated theatre-style venue that features a demonstration kitchen where visiting chefs can pass on their tricks of the trade.
Elsewhere, silversea makes the most of its partnership with luxury hotel and restaurant brand Relais & Chateaux with its series of wine and culinary events featuring chefs and wine experts at the top of their trade.
Crystal Cruises features a number of themed festivals throughout the year, which in 2007 features top chef Anton Mosimann and master sommelier Fred Dame. For the diehard foodie, the cruise line has also just launched its Ultimate Vintage Room Dinner option, where guests get an eight-course dinner teamed with some of the worlds rarest wines - for an indulgent $1200 a person.

[AuzzieCruiser]

Thanks for posting the article Fires.:)

My biggest regret on my Royal Caribbean cruise was not climbing the wall. Even now I think I would chicken out!!:o I loved watching other people climb it.
Ah yes, Silversea and Crystal cruises.....maybe ONE DAY!!:p (unless I win Lotto:rolleyes: ).

[Star-Man]

Ah yes, Silversea and Crystal cruises.....maybe ONE DAY!!:p

You can forget silversea, crystal cruises all the way my friend :D

[Fires]

Neil,
I appreciate where you're coming from :) . I know not everyone would like to do that sort of cruising, especially when you compare the cost.

My point is, P&O just don't compare.

I don't want 5 star cruises to be my only option, just as I don't want 3 star cruising to be my only option. Unless I go overseas or wait for them to visit in the summer, I'm pretty limited sailing from Australian ports and the article I read highlighted that.

Terry

[The Big Booper]

It seems to this US eye that Carnival Corp. is dumping all it's older ships into the Australian Market to squeeze more revenue from them before they go to India to be broken up.

It has to be frustrating to pay top dollar for older semi-outmoded ships.

[Justgottago]

Captain Stefano Ravera is the world's best captain.

In her review “FINALLY....Pacific Star Review....8th-18th June...whew... “
Kelli (K-JKoopsie) identified the captain as Captain Ivan Jerman. Does anyone know where Captain Ravera is now?