By
Rebecca Gibson |
Pacific Eden is to leave the P&O Cruises Australia fleet in April 2019 as part of parent company Carnival Australia’s plan to gradually refresh its fleet.
The vessel’s departure will make way for the larger 2,600-guest Golden Princess, which will transfer from current owner Princess Cruises to P&O Cruises Australia in 2020. Details about Pacific Eden’s new operator will remain confidential until it is ready to make its own announcement.
“While we are always sad to farewell ships, this is an exciting step forward for the brand and consistent with our comments over the past six months that the P&O Cruises Australia fleet was ready to be refreshed over time,” said Sture Myrmell, president of P&O Cruises Australia and Carnival Australia. “This development is proof positive that we are on the course of ensuring P&O Cruises Australia has the right ships for a contemporary brand operating in a competitive market.”
Pacific Eden joined P&O Cruises Australia at the end of 2015 and was one of the first ships to be transformed to reflect the cruise brand’s ‘modern Australian’ aesthetic.
“I have a lot of affection for Pacific Eden because of her important role in bringing to life the distinctly modern P&O product with its signature spaces and refined decor, which have since been reflected on Pacific Explorer,” said Myrmell. “Pacific Eden gave us opportunities to take our product in a new direction, and we are primed to keep transforming our fleet with the addition of Golden Princess in 2020.”
Guests booked to sail on Pacific Eden after her final 16 March 2019 voyage will be offered the opportunity to rebook on an equivalent (or near equivalent) cruise on other P&O Cruises’ ships. If there is no suitable alternative cruise, then guests will receive a full refund.