Sun sets on P&O’s Dawn

P&O Cruises Australia will wave goodbye to Pacific Dawn in the coming weeks (CW breaking news yesterday), after having previously been announced as leaving the fleet in Feb next year.

The initial sale of Pacific Dawn to Cruise & Maritime Voyages was announced in Nov (CW 29 Nov 2019), with the ship to sail under the new name Amy Johnson

(CW 10 Feb), but with the buyer entering administration (CW 21 Jul), the sale was scuppered.

However, Pacific Dawn’s departure has now been brought forward, after an agreement to sell the ship was recently reached with an undisclosed buyer.

P&O Australia will assist affected guests who were booked on Pacific Dawn from 17 Dec, the date to which the cruise line has paused operations (CW 27 Aug).

Guests can choose alternative arrangements including a full refund, with those choosing a future cruise credit also receiving bonus onboard credit.

Pax on select cruises can also opt to move their booking to the same time next year and receive bonus onboard credit.

P&O will pay refunds to travel agents, with the cruise line to protect all commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full as of 27 Sep, as well as for the total amount of the future cruise credits.

The cruise line will make contact with guests whose cruises have been affected, either directly or via their agent.

Pacific Dawn first sailed from Sydney in Nov 2007, and has since carried 1.2 million guests, homeporting from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland over the past 13 years.

P&O Australia President Sture Myrmell lauded Pacific Dawn for having launched the careers of many of the cruise line’s staff.