Karnika
Product brand
UnclaimedKarnika was a cruise ship that operated under six names and several international cruise brands between 1990 and 2020.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Karnika was a cruise ship identified by IMO number 8521220 and known during different periods as Crown Princess, A'Rosa Blu, AIDAblu, Ocean Village Two, and Pacific Jewel. The vessel entered service in 1990 after construction at Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard in Italy. It was originally ordered for Sitmar Cruises and transferred into the P&O Princess Cruises structure before completion. Operated by Princess Cruises, it entered service as Crown Princess and became one of the distinctive ships of the early modern cruise era, sharing its basic design with Regal Princess, delivered in 1991. The ship changed identities repeatedly as cruise companies reorganized their fleets and developed new regional brands. In 2002, Crown Princess was transferred to A'Rosa Cruises, a German-focused operation created by P&O Princess, and renamed A'Rosa Blu after a substantial refit in Bremerhaven. The ship operated Northern European cruises from Warnemünde during the summer and Mediterranean itineraries during the rest of the year. Following the merger of P&O Princess and Carnival Corporation, the A'Rosa business was divested while the ship itself moved to another Carnival-controlled brand. In 2004, the vessel became AIDAblu after refurbishment for AIDA Cruises. The refit increased its guest capacity and crew complement and modified its tonnage. In 2007, it transferred again, this time to the United Kingdom-oriented Ocean Village brand, where it operated as Ocean Village Two. That brand was later phased out as Carnival concentrated investment on cruise brands considered to have stronger long-term potential. The ship then moved to P&O Cruises Australia. Renamed Pacific Jewel in 2009, the vessel received a major refit in Singapore and was formally named in Sydney. It operated primarily in the Australian and South Pacific cruise market and gained additional public exposure when the Australian television series Neighbours filmed scenes aboard the ship in 2010. Mechanical problems affecting its propulsion system later that year led to the cancellation of three cruises. Pacific Jewel remained with P&O Cruises Australia until the company announced its withdrawal from the fleet in 2018. In 2019, the ship was sold to Zen Cruises, an Essel Group subsidiary, and transferred to the newly established Jalesh Cruises. It was renamed Karnika at a ceremony in Mumbai after a renovation intended to adapt the vessel for Indian customers. Jalesh planned to base the ship in Mumbai and offer coastal Indian cruises, with seasonal operations involving Dubai. These plans were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Jalesh Cruises suspended operations in October 2020. Karnika was subsequently sold for demolition, beached at Alang, India, in November 2020, and dismantling began in March 2021. The vessel therefore ended its career not as an active cruise brand but as a retired ship associated with multiple cruise-line identities over three decades.
History
Karnika was constructed at Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard under yard number 5839. The vessel was launched on 25 May 1989 and delivered to P&O Group on 29 June 1990. Its first operator was Princess Cruises, which introduced it as Crown Princess with a maiden voyage departing on 8 July 1990. The ship was designed with a distinctive curved, dolphin-like profile associated with architect Renzo Piano. Its original specifications included approximately 69,845 gross tons, a length of 245.08 metres, a beam of 32.25 metres, and accommodation for roughly 1,910 guests. Two Alsthom electric motors drove its propeller shafts, supplied by four MAN-B&W diesel generators. The first major change came in 2002. P&O Princess had established A'Rosa Cruises as a German-oriented brand and selected Crown Princess as its inaugural ship. After its final Princess Cruises voyage in April, the vessel underwent a month-long renovation at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven and emerged as A'Rosa Blu. It operated seven- to fourteen-day Northern European itineraries from Warnemünde in summer and Mediterranean cruises during the remainder of the year. Although bookings initially developed slowly, demand improved during 2003. The wider P&O Princess and Carnival Corporation merger subsequently led to a restructuring of the German operations, and the ship was reassigned to AIDA Cruises. AIDAblu entered service in 2004 after a refit that raised the stated guest capacity to 2,014, expanded the crew complement to 621, and changed the ship's tonnage figures. In 2007, it was transferred to Ocean Village, another Carnival brand, and renamed Ocean Village Two. The ship operated from Crete in summer and Barbados in winter. Carnival later decided to discontinue Ocean Village and move its ships into other parts of the group. Ocean Village Two completed its final voyage for the brand in October 2009 before repositioning toward Singapore. Following a two-week refit at Sembcorp Marine in November 2009, the ship became Pacific Jewel for P&O Cruises Australia. It sailed to Sydney in December and was named there on 12 December by Australia's governor-general Quentin Bryce. The vessel served the Australian cruise market for nearly a decade. Its visibility was increased when the television program Neighbours filmed scenes aboard in August 2010. The same year, a propulsion-system fault caused three cruise cancellations. Pacific Jewel was eventually scheduled to leave P&O Cruises Australia's fleet in 2019. The next stage began with its sale to Zen Cruises, an Essel Group subsidiary, in 2018. The ship was delivered to Jalesh Cruises in March 2019, renovated for Indian passengers, and renamed Karnika at Mumbai on 19 April 2019. Jalesh intended to operate from Mumbai along the Indian coast and to use Dubai seasonally. The business was unable to continue after the COVID-19 pandemic suspended cruise operations. Jalesh ceased operating in October 2020, and the vessel was sold for demolition. Karnika reached Alang in November 2020; dismantling began in March 2021 and later progressed toward the stern. Its career illustrates how a single cruise vessel can be repeatedly repositioned as ownership groups consolidate fleets, launch regional brands, and retire underperforming or aging assets.
- 2021
Dismantling progresses
[1]Scrapping continued at Alang, including work on the stern during July.
- 2020
Commercial service ends
[1]Pandemic-related suspension of Jalesh Cruises was followed by the ship's sale for scrap.
- 2019
Renamed Karnika
[1]Jalesh Cruises introduced the renovated vessel to the Indian market from Mumbai.
- 2009
Renamed Pacific Jewel
[1]After a Singapore refit, the ship joined P&O Cruises Australia.
- 2007
Renamed Ocean Village Two
[1]The ship transferred to Ocean Village and was christened under its new name.
- 2004
Renamed AIDAblu
[1]A refitted vessel joined AIDA Cruises with greater stated capacity and an expanded crew complement.
- 2002
Renamed A'Rosa Blu
[1]The ship entered the German-focused A'Rosa Cruises fleet after a Bremerhaven renovation.
- 1990
Maiden voyage as Crown Princess
[1]Delivered to P&O Group and operated by Princess Cruises, the ship began service in July.
- 1989
Vessel launched
[1]The ship was launched at Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard in Italy on 25 May.
Products and positioning
A multi-market cruise vessel repositioned throughout its life for German, British, Australian, and Indian passenger segments.
Cruise ship · 2019
Karnika
The ship's final commercial identity. Jalesh Cruises renovated the vessel for Indian passengers and planned Mumbai-based coastal itineraries, with seasonal Dubai operations. The project was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, after which the ship was withdrawn and sold for demolition.
Cruise ship · 2009
Pacific Jewel
The vessel's longest late-career identity, used by P&O Cruises Australia from 2009 to 2019. It operated in the Australian cruise market after a Singapore refit and became recognizable through onboard entertainment, regional itineraries, and a television appearance on Neighbours.
Cruise ship · 1990
Crown Princess
The original service identity under Princess Cruises. The vessel entered service in 1990 and was designed as a large international cruise ship with passenger accommodation, dining, entertainment, and multi-region itinerary capability.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010Neighbours onboard filming
Australia
The Australian television series Neighbours filmed scenes on Pacific Jewel, including areas around the running track and upper-deck entertainment spaces. The appearance was treated by P&O Cruises Australia as a way to expose the ship and its brand to the program's audience.
Outcome. The filming generated publicity for Pacific Jewel and P&O Cruises Australia, although no independently verified financial result is provided here.
Brand decisions
2020
Withdrawal and sale for scrapOtherBackground
Jalesh Cruises suspended operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and ceased operating in October.
Action taken
Karnika was sold to NKD Maritime, beached at Alang, and retired from commercial service.
Aftermath
Dismantling began in March 2021, ending the vessel's 30-year operating career.
Reported sale price to NKD Maritime. US$11.65 million (2020)
2019
Indian-market launch as KarnikaProduct launchBackground
Jalesh Cruises sought to establish an Indian cruise operation using a refurbished international vessel.
Action taken
The ship was renamed Karnika and introduced from Mumbai with planned Indian coastal and Dubai-linked itineraries.
Aftermath
The launch was short-lived because the pandemic halted cruise operations in 2020.
2018
Sale to Zen CruisesM&ABackground
P&O Cruises Australia planned to remove Pacific Jewel from its fleet and replace it with another vessel.
Action taken
The ship was sold to Zen Cruises, an Essel Group subsidiary, for transfer to Jalesh Cruises.
Aftermath
After renovation, it became the principal ship associated with Jalesh Cruises' launch in India.
2007
Transfer to Ocean VillageStrategyBackground
Carnival reorganized the vessel's role among its international cruise brands.
Action taken
AIDAblu was refitted and renamed Ocean Village Two.
Aftermath
The ship later moved to P&O Cruises Australia when Ocean Village was phased out.
2002
Repositioning into the German marketStrategyBackground
P&O Princess created A'Rosa Cruises as a German-focused cruise brand and selected Crown Princess as its inaugural ship.
Action taken
The vessel was renovated and renamed A'Rosa Blu for Northern European and Mediterranean cruises.
Aftermath
The ship later left A'Rosa and was transferred to AIDA Cruises during post-merger fleet restructuring.
Sources1 sources
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