Visiting ship has familiar silhouette

Jewels in the crown aptly sums up the arrival of two Carnival group cruise ships at Port Chalmers last Friday.

While Diamond Princess was making its 20th visit, Pacific Jewel, which commenced its colourful career as the Crown Princess, was in port for the first time.

The profile of the 70,310gt newcomer is not new to this harbour.

Previously, the profile was very familiar with 19 visits by sister ship Regal Princess from November 30, 2000, to September 19, 2007.

Renamed Pacific Dawn the following month, this vessel is due here for the first time under that name on February 25.

The pair were built by the Fincantieri yard at Monfalcone, where Pacific Jewel was completed in July 1990, and Pacific Dawn in July 1991.

Both are now based in Australia and are operated by P&O Cruises Australia.

Both were ordered for the Vlasov-controlled Sitmar Cruises whose vessels already in service or on order were acquired by the P&O group in 1988.

While Pacific Dawn/Regal Princess has only served under two names, the older sister is carrying its fifth name.

The ship has traded under five flags and been operated under different Carnival group marketing names.

Crown Princess commenced its career registered at Palermo to the ownership of Astramar SpA.

They transferred it to the Liberian flag in 1992.

The port of registry was changed again to Hamilton, Bermuda, eight years later, then to London in 2002.

That year it was renamed A'Rosa Blu for service with Seetours International, a company catering for German tourists.

In September 2003, the ship was transferred to Aida Cruises, and after being fitted, re-entered service in 2004 as Aida Blu.

Owners the Costa Cruise Line saw the ship back under the Italian flag registered at Genoa.

In April 2007, the ship returned to the British flag.

Since then, it has been owned by Carnival plc and registered at London.

Then, after being refitted at Bremerhaven, it was renamed Ocean Village Two for service under the Ocean Village marketing name.

This company was created in April 2003, to attract a younger, more active clientele.

On October 30, 2008, Carnival announced the closure of the Ocean Village brand.

The two ships - the other named Ocean Village - would be transferred to P&0 Cruises Australia by 2010.

The 1900-berth Ocean Village Two left this fleet last year on November 14.

It was refitted by the Sembawang shipyard in Singapore before making its debut as the Sydney-based Pacific Jewel last December.

Of all the purpose-built cruise ships which have called here, the Crown Princess of 1990 has certainly experienced a mixed-up, varied career.

That name was perpetuated by another cruise liner completed at Monfalcone in May 2006.

Registered at Hamilton, the new Crown Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, is a 113,561gt vessel for up to 3100 passengers.