Ships switched in Sydney, WA & NZ
By: Louise Goldsbury, Cruise Weekly

P&O Cruises has ditched its plans to launch Pacific Pearl in Sydney next year, with booked passengers forced to switch to other ships, while Perth will lose the Pacific Sun.

In a coup for New Zealand but a loss to Australians, P&O Cruises plans to launch its latest superliner, Pacific Pearl, in Auckland.

But the domino effect is that people booked on her maiden season, originally planned for Sydney, are being moved to older ships including the Pacific Sun, which is to be redeployed from Fremantle.

No ship is planned to take Pacific Sun's place in WA over the 2010-11 summer, leaving the state without a superliner.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia which operates P&O, said the company remained committed to developing Fremantle as a homeport and would be looking to sail from there again in future seasons.

"Pacific Sun's inaugural 2009-10 Fremantle season has sold extremely well so we know that West Australians are keen to cruise on our ships; however there is enormous demand for cruising from Sydney over the summer months so we need to deploy Pacific Sun there over the 2010-11 season to meet that demand," Sherry said.

Pacific Pearl will be christened in Auckland Harbour on 19 December next year, before sailing six new cruises from the city, and is the first time a cruise line will launch a superliner in New Zealand.

"Given New Zealand is driving so much of our growth we thought it only fitting that the fourth ship for our expanding fleet, Pacific Pearl, should be launched in Auckland." Carnival is set to bring a record 52,000 passengers to New Zealand this season, and its 11 ships will make a total of 158 port visits - an increase of 50% compared to last season.

Meanwhile, Classic International Cruises has confirmed that its flagship, Athena, will return to WA, as well as South Australia, for the 2010/11 summer to offer the company's longest-ever program here.

As the only ship to be based in Perth next season, the 600-passenger Athena is "in the west to stay", said CIC's Australian managing director, Grant Hunter.

Athena is also the only ship scheduled to be based in Adelaide next season, from 18 December 2010 to 03 April 2011.

Passengers booked on Pacific Pearl also have the option to move to Pacific Jewel which debuts in Sydney at the end of the year.

"Passengers booked in a balcony cabin onboard Pacific Pearl will be offered an equivalent sailing in a balcony cabin onboard Pacific Jewel without any additional charge.

"Those not travelling in a balcony cabin have been offered a Pacific Sun sailing because the itineraries are identical.

"Nevertheless, passengers who are not booked in a balcony cabin can also transfer to Pacific Jewel if they wish," said a spokesperson.

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