Pacific Princess, the 18-year-old veteran of the Princess Cruises fleet, has emerged from drydock following a two-week refit that saw her traditional classic cruise ship charm updated with modern touches to enhance the on-board experience for guests.
The most obvious update when you first look at the ship is her new bow livery, which is a recent addition to the Princess Cruises brand, but has quickly become a trademark of the premium cruise line.
The most work, however, has been done on the interior of the ship. All 336 of her staterooms have been replenished, with 700 ‘Princess Luxury Beds’ replacing the old ones. The new Club Class Mini-Suites have been added aboard Pacific Princess and all four of her dining venues have been extensively updated too.
After the exterior hull livery, the most noticeable change is in the Atrium, where guests are first welcomed aboard. The new modernised, yet familiar, multi-level space has been modelled on the sophisticated uptown luxury hotels lining Central Park in New York City.
“We carefully considered how to incorporate modern design elements and comfort while keeping the traditional elements of small ship cruising that have always been the hallmark of Pacific Princess,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president.
“The results are incredible and Pacific Princess now offers approachable luxury for the world-class traveler to craft an authentic cruising experience,” he added.
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Throughout the ship, the existing classical Beaux-Arts dark, rich, architectural millwork, ornamentation, vaulted stained glass ceiling and spectacular grand staircase remain, but 178,000 square feet of new carpet has been laid.
On the culinary side, the four restaurants have been thoroughly revamped and now offer a range of intimate to expanded gathering spaces.
Sterling Steakhouse – this traditional steakhouse offers décor reminiscent of the infamous Rush Street Steakhouses of Chicago and the golden era of the Hollywood Brown Derby. Diners are surrounded by silky drapery, comfortable upholstered arm chairs and black and white photographs of movie stars, both classic and contemporary, for guests of all ages to enjoy.
Sabatini’s Restaurant – drawing inspiration from Sabatini’s authentic heritage, the beloved specialty restaurant is updated with modern Italian-designed furnishings, freshly painted walls and ceiling, new carpet, reupholstered chairs, refreshed draperies and a new lounge area in front of the restaurant.
The Club Restaurant – the main dining room enhancements were inspired by the fashionable district and hotels of Central London with classic architectural millwork surrounding the rhythmic pattern of Palladium arched windows, softened by contemporary draperies, overlooking the ocean. The room’s rich, dark woods are contrasted with a warm and inviting light palette highlighted with fresh, vibrant, jewel-tones within the modern furnishings, updated carpets, draperies and upholstered arm chairs.
The Panorama Buffet – also receiving a complete makeover, the room invites guests in with new carpeting, fresh paint, new tilework, updated furniture, draperies and awnings. The dining room opens up to the outdoor deck, alfresco dining area with spectacular views overlooking exotic ports of call.
Modernized Pool Deck
The ship’s former rather generic pool deck has been transformed into a garden-like atmosphere, inspired by the swanky Art Deco boutique hotels of South Beach. It features new tiles, refinished teak woods, lounge furniture including double bed loungers and casual seating groups of outdoor living sofas, lounge chairs and pool chaises for guests to relax, unwind and soak up the sun.
Enhanced Staterooms
Some 700 Princess Luxury Beds have been added in all her staterooms, along with new plush linens. Developed in collaboration with board-certified sleep expert, Dr. Michael Breus and renowned HGTV designer Candice Olson, the Princess Luxury Bed combines the science of sleep with the pinnacle of design.
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In addition, the 10 luxury guest suites and all staterooms have been updated with new light-coloured carpets, fully upholstered headboards, modern style draperies and decorative lamps and wall sconces with USB ports incorporated into the fixtures for guest convenience.
The suites also will have new contemporary furniture including a sleeper sofa, dining room table and chairs, lounge chairs and desks.
New Club Class Mini-Suites
Pacific Princess now offers Club Class Mini-Suites, the new premium stateroom category featuring VIP amenities and exclusive dining. This elevated mini-suite category features select perks including new Club Class Dining, a reserved dining area with first priority in choosing their preferred seating and expanded menu options and priority embarkation and disembarkation.
Pacific Princess sailed from Ft. Lauderdale on her first cruise following the refit, an 18-day Fire & Ice Explorer cruise to London. The ship will sail various European itineraries through December, before departing on a 111-day World Cruise from Los Angeles on January 20, 2018.
Pacific Princess will cruise from Dubai as part of that World Cruise, sailing from the UAE on the Arabian Gulf leg of her global voyage, bound for Venice. The 20-night Middle East & Mediteranean World Cruise segment departs Dubai on March 13th.
Categories: Middle East Cruise News, News