CONTEMPORARY CRUISE SHIP CHRONICLES:
MV PACIFIC PRINCESS (2)
Princess Cruises, Santa Clarita, California
by Peter Knego

Published July 1, 2003. All images and text copyright Peter Knego (unless otherwise noted).

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MV PACIFIC PRINCESS (2)

The new PACIFIC PRINCESS departing Los Angeles after her maiden visit on 27 May 2003. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

Princess Cruises' current PACIFIC PRINCESS (ex R THREE, 1999) entered the Santa Clarita, CA-based company's fleet in the spring of 2003. She and her 30,277 gt twin, TAHITIAN PRINCESS (ex R FOUR, 1999), are the smallest units in fleet where the next smallest vessel, ROYAL PRINCESS, measures 45,000 gt and whose largest vessels, the Grand Class (GRAND, GOLDEN, and STAR PRINCESS) measure 109,000 gt. Their size and relatively low 702 passenger capacity make them choice alternatives to the mega ship experience.

PACIFIC PRINCESS homeports in Sydney, sailing to the South Pacific, but has diverted for the summer of 2003 to Alaska on 11 night cruises from San Francisco. She will return to Sydney via Papeete in September and remain in Australian-based cruising for the foreseeable future. TAHITIAN PRINCESS is permanently based in Papeete, offering ten day cruises to French Polynesia, Samoa, and the Cooke Islands.

R FOUR (now TAHITIAN PRINCESS) is shown at Ft. Lauderdale on 13 November 1999. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.

PACIFIC and TAHITIAN PRINCESS were the third and fourth units in a fleet of eight vessels built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique for now defunct Renaissance Cruises. They were identical in nearly every discernible aspect down to the carpet schemes, furnishing, and artwork. Renaissance was a nontraditional cruise line, and proper ship nomenclature was eschewed in favor of "R" followed by "ONE," "TWO," etc. until "EIGHT" was delivered in 2001. The British-based McNeece firm (SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS, BLACK WATCH, etc.) was responsible for coordinating the exterior look as well as designing the attractive interiors, from cabins and suites to all public rooms and dining areas. A distinct Edwardian influence was "in" at the time, fueled largely by the success of the movie TITANIC, and their interiors drew heavily on this look. The ships' low passenger density, trim look, smart livery, low per diems, quality food and service, and far-reaching itineraries made them popular with the well-heeled U.S. traveler, but Renaissance did not have the capital to survive the aftermath of 9-11 and the resulting market collapse.

The "sea witch" logo now adorns the former R THREE's streamlined funnel. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

In late September/early October 2001, the entire fleet was seized by creditors and laid up at Gibraltar and later moved to Marseilles (with the exception of the Tahiti-based R THREE and FOUR, which were laid up at Uturoa). In 2002, Princess Cruises announced the purchase of the THREE and FOUR, and following a slight refit, they emerged in a new all-white livery with funnels sporting Princess' familiar "sea witch" logo.

The first PACIFIC PRINCESS departs New York in the summer of 2001. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2001.

PACIFIC PRINCESS carries on an important name in Princess Cruises' fleet history. The first PACIFIC PRINCESS was built in 1971 as the 20,000 gt SEA VENTURE for Flagship Cruises and was purchased by Princess Cruises in 1975. Princess had just traded hands from Norwegian ownership to British-based P&O Cruises, who were refocusing their interests in the American cruise market at a time when passenger shipping was reeling. P&O's fleet of handsome, traditional fuel-hungry steamships was in a state of decline with rising oil prices and the jumbo jet claiming its bastion of line voyage passengers. And, despite their old-world elegance and fine fittings, their ships were considered outdated in a time where Scandinavian simplicity and uncluttered lidos were far more in vogue. "Sayonara" IBERIA, ORCADES, CHUSAN, ORSOVA, HIMALAYA, ORONSAY and "Bienvenue" Princess!

Princess, with its American-based trio of ships ISLAND (ex ISLAND VENTURE), PACIFIC, and SUN PRINCESS (ex SPIRIT OF LONDON) was the answer to P&O's dilemma and was firmly entrenched as an industry leader, even before the advent of "The Love Boat" television series in 1977. Although the tv pilot was shot onboard the smaller SUN PRINCESS, the regular series featured the PACIFIC PRINCESS. "The Love Boat" beamed weekly into international living rooms, erasing a patina of misperceptions about the cruise experience. No longer considered a pastime for the rich and elderly, cruising soon became a favorite desired lifestyle for all walks of life, and berths could not be filled fast enough. The first PACIFIC PRINCESS, with her famous Purser's Lobby and magrodome-enclosed pool (made to look larger by Hollywood set designers), is largely responsible for the boom in cruising that led to the mega-ships of today.

The first PACIFIC PRINCESS departs New York during her final cruise season. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

The first PACIFIC PRINCESS, retired in the fall of 2002, is now sailing for Spanish-based Pullmantur as the PACIFIC. The new PACIFIC PRINCESS carries on the tradition established by her forerunner, albeit in a slightly enlarged, more spacious and well-equipped manner.

PACIFIC PRINCESS passes through the not-so-scenic port of Los Angeles enroute to her temporary new home of San Francisco in May 2003. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

On the following pages, Maritime Matters will provide a look at this welcome addition to the Princess fleet. Princess left most of the R THREE as built, save for some soft fittings, the addition of a "gallery" of paintings, and the redecoration of the observation lounge. Our deck by deck tour will start at the top and proceed via the public areas downward, ending with a look at several different accommodation categories.

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