Ally

P&O Cruises’ first superliner, Pacific Dawn, arrived in Sydney yesterday afternoon to prepare for her official naming by Olympic Gold medallist Cathy Freeman tomorrow.

Fresh from a multi-million dollar refurbishment and sporting her new P&O Cruises’ livery, the 70,000-ton sleek white liner slipped under the Sydney Harbour Bridge to berth at White Bay.

Thursday night’s naming ceremony will be a spectacular event for Sydneysiders, with the traditional bottle-breaking by Cathy Freeman to be followed by a stunning light and sound show projected across Circular Quay onto Pacific Dawn’s hull.

The show, commencing at 8.30pm and best viewed from East Circular Quay promenade or the Sydney Opera House precinct, will be the largest projection on a ship ever undertaken in Australia. Stretching 200 metres wide and 25 metres high, it will be set to music especially composed for the event.

Over the next two days, the superliner will undergo final preparations for her naming ceremony – and her first cruise, which departs Sydney on Friday November 9 for a 14-night voyage to Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

When world-famous Italian architect Renzo Piano, designer of the stunning Aurora Place in Sydney, first drew up plans for the ship he aimed to combine the latest in architectural technology with the surrounding natural elements – creating sleek exterior lines that resembled a dolphin moving through the water.

The ship’s stylish refurbishment builds on Renzo’s design through the creation of a massive entertainment area - ‘The Dome’ - in the ship’s dolphin-like prow. Pacific Dawn also has more al fresco dining areas and new kids’ clubs to cater to P&O Cruises’ large family market.

Her arrival in Australia as P&O Cruises’ first superliner heralds a new era for the leading cruise company and the Australian cruise market. Pacific Dawn’s superliner status means she offers many new features for the local market, including an abundance of balcony cabins, a wide choice of dining options and multiple entertainment offerings.

Fares for an 8-night South Pacific cruise departing August 2, 2008, start from just $935 per person* or a 10-night Queensland cruise, departing May 24 2008, starts from $1085 per person*.

(etravelblackboard)

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Ally - CruisingTalk Administrator

1965 - Cunard Queen Mary
1967 - Cunard Queen Elizabeth
1970 - Cunard Queen Elizabeth 2
1971 - P&O Oriana
1972 - SS France
1975 - SS Leopard
1977 - P&O Canberra
2005 - NCL Norwegian Jewel - Shakedown Cruise - Jersey
2005/6 - NCL Norwegian Crown - Chile, Cape Horn, Falkland Islands, Uruguay & Argentina - Christmas/New Year cruise
2006 - Fred Olsen Braemar Mini Cruise - Amsterdam & Zeebrugge
2007 - Fred Olsen Braemar Transatlantic - Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, Bermuda & Azores
2007 - Fred Olsen Braemar Mini Cruise - Guernsey & Amsterdam
2007 - NCL Norwegian Gem - Shakedown Cruise - Amsterdam
2008 - Costa Allegra - Hong Kong, Philippines, Borneo, Brunei, Singapore, Saigon, Da-Nang & Sanya

Coming up next.....

10/10/2009 - Costa Classica - Grand Oriental Cruise - Shanghai, Nagasaki, Tokyo, Kobe, Naha, Keelung and Hong Kong - 16 Nights Cruising in: 274 day(s), 10 hour(s), 23 minute(s)