Pacific Explorer due 31 August 2023

Next Thursday, on 31 August 2023, the cruise ship P&O Pacific Explorer is due to return on its next voyage of the South Pacific. It is only a month since the cruise ship last visited on 28 July and anchored at Cascade, and the conditions were settled for passengers to come ashore, making these three P&O Cruise ships, within one month, to be able to unload the passengers so they could explore Norfolk Island for a day.

Current itinerary of Pacific Explorer

10 days, round-trip Bounty Discovery

29/8/2023 Departing Auckland New Zealand

31/8/2023 Norfolk Island

2 /9/2023 Noumea, Grande Terre Island, New Caledonia

3/9/2023 Lifou Island, New Caledonia

4/9/2023 Port Vila, Efate Island, Vanuatu

5/9/2023 Mystery Island, Aneityum, Vanuatu

8/9/2023 Arriving in Auckland, New Zealand

This August/September 2023 cruise is a ten-day voyage, it is a “Round-trip Bounty Adventure” which starts at Auckland, and travelled the Pacific to, Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and returning to Auckland, New Zealand. The passengers will depart from Auckland on Thursday, 29 August, and on the first legs of the adventure they arrived here on Norfolk Island on Thursday 29 August. As they depart our friendly shores, they will enjoy a cruise of tropical islands and back to Auckland as a final stop on 8/9/2023.

Pacific Explorer was also known as Dawn Princess, the former name of the P&O Cruise Ship. I have read that the Pacific Explorer is able to carry up to approximately 2000 passengers. It will be wonderful to see the passengers ashore on Thursday if the weather is suitable for them to disembark. They will be able to have a great day exploring our beautiful Norfolk Island. The shops and cafes will be busy in town, as visitors are bused into Burnt Pine. Others might explore Kingston and enjoyed the World Heritage Convict Area, known as KAVHA, (Kingston Arthur’s Vale Historic Area), along with the wonderful lagoon and walks along the shoreline. Local tourist industries will once again have a busy day welcoming and sharing our local hospitality.

The last cruise ship to visit was 28 July 2023, P&O Pacific Explorer with approximately 2000 passengers and many of them disembarking at Cascade Pier.

The next scheduled cruise ship is on the 14 September 2023, the P&O Pacific Explorer will return for the fourth visit for the year.

This web page has information and updates of the current position of the vessel.

Pacific Explorer Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review | CruiseMapper

Here are a few details about the cruise ship Pacific Explorer

Specifications of Pacific Explorer

Year of Build: 1997 age: 26 years

Flag State: United Kingdom

Builder: Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy

Building Cost: USD 300 Million

Engines (power): Wartsila-Sulzer (46.1 MW / 61821 hp)

Speed: 23 kn / 43km/h / 26 mph

Length (LOA): 261m / 856 ft

Beam (width): 32m / 105 ft

Gross Tonnage: 77441 gt

Passengers: 1996 - 2395

Crew: 924

Passengers to space: 32

Decks: 14

Cabins: 998

Decks with cabins: 7

Last Refurbishment: 2020

Sister-ships: Sea Princess, Sun Princess (Pacific World)

Former Names: Dawn Princess

Christened by : Dora the Explorer (Nickelodeon) character for Princess Cruises

Owner: Carnival Corporation & PLC

Operator: Carnival Australia (via P&O Cruises Australia)

I have photos which I took last month at Cascade of the P&O Cruise ship bathed in sunshine as it awaited the return of the passengers from the Cascade Pier.

We wish the passengers safe travels on the Pacific Explorer P&O Cruises and let’s hope we

have settled weather and the visitors can disembark on 31 August and enjoy a day here on our friendly Norfolk Island shores.

Betty Matthews

August 2023