Star Voyager

Star Voyager is a large cruise ship identified by IMO number 9103996. The vessel was constructed by Fincantieri at Monfalcone, Italy, and entered service in 1997 as Dawn Princess for Princess Cruises. It belongs to the Sun class and is a sister ship of Pacific World, Queen of the Oceans and Dream. Its exterior bridge wings distinguish it from Queen of the Oceans and Dream, whose bridge wings are internal. The ship was designed for multi-day and extended cruise itineraries, with accommodation, dining, entertainment and family facilities integrated into a single passenger vessel. Its onboard amenities include eight restaurants, four swimming pools, five hot tubs or whirlpools, seven lounges and bars, and two children’s centres. In 2009, while still operating as Dawn Princess, it received a refurbishment that added the outdoor Movies Under the Stars cinema concept and an adults-only area. Dawn Princess developed a particularly strong connection with the Australian cruise market. Princess Cruises used the vessel on itineraries in Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti and the South Pacific before deploying it more permanently in Australia. In September 2008 it began a 28-day Australian circumnavigation after a preceding South Pacific programme. It subsequently operated from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth alongside Sun Princess. In 2015, Carnival announced that Dawn Princess would transfer to its Australian subsidiary, P&O Cruises Australia. The transfer took place in 2017, after a conversion period at Sembawang, Singapore. The ship was renamed Pacific Explorer, re-registered in the United Kingdom and introduced to P&O Australia’s Pacific-island programme. It was formally re-christened in Sydney in July 2017, with the ceremony featuring the Nickelodeon character Dora the Explorer. Pacific Explorer continued operating in Australian waters through the late 2010s and early 2020s. In June 2022, it became the first cruise ship to use Brisbane International Cruise Terminal. The vessel also supported specialist destination programming, including a 2023 voyage from Fremantle to Exmouth intended to give passengers and astronomers an opportunity to observe a hybrid solar eclipse. Carnival Corporation announced in June 2024 that Pacific Explorer would leave the P&O Cruises Australia fleet in 2025 as part of the planned closure of the P&O Australia brand. Resorts World Cruises subsequently announced its acquisition of the ship. Although the vessel was briefly associated with the proposed name Star Scorpio, it was ultimately renamed Star Voyager and placed within the StarCruises operating structure. The ship’s history therefore spans three major commercial identities: Dawn Princess, Pacific Explorer and Star Voyager.

MS Star Voyager was built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone, Italy, and completed in 1997 as Dawn Princess. The vessel was constructed for Princess Cruises as part of the Sun class, a group of large cruise ships intended to combine substantial passenger capacity with broad onboard leisure facilities. Its design included exterior bridge wings, a feature shared with Pacific World but not with sister ships Queen of the Oceans and Dream. During its early career under the Princess Cruises name, Dawn Princess operated in several cruise regions, including Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti and the South Pacific. Its Alaska service produced the most serious event in the ship’s history. In 2001, while sailing in Glacier Bay National Park, it struck and killed a humpback whale. The operator was subsequently prosecuted in United States federal court and paid a combined fine and restitution of US$750,000. Princess Cruises later developed the vessel for Australian deployment. Plans to use it as a replacement for Pacific Princess in 2006–07 were superseded by the use of other ships, but Dawn Princess eventually began a permanent Australian role. After a 28-day Australian circumnavigation beginning in September 2008, it operated from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, alongside Sun Princess. A 2009 refurbishment added the Movies Under the Stars outdoor cinema and an adults-only space. Carnival Corporation announced in October 2015 that Dawn Princess would move to P&O Cruises Australia. The ship entered drydock at Sembawang, Singapore, in May 2017 for conversion. It emerged as Pacific Explorer, was re-registered to the United Kingdom and arrived in Sydney in June. Its maiden P&O Australia voyage visited Pacific islands, and the ship was re-christened in July 2017 in a ceremony featuring Dora the Explorer from Nickelodeon. Pacific Explorer remained a recognizable part of P&O Australia’s regional fleet. In June 2022 it became the first ship to use Brisbane International Cruise Terminal. In December of that year, a passenger fell overboard during a voyage between Melbourne and Kangaroo Island; the subsequent recovery and police investigation were reported as a separate operational incident. In April 2023 the ship operated a specialist voyage from Fremantle to Exmouth for viewing of a hybrid solar eclipse, carrying both passengers and astronomers. In 2024 Carnival announced that Pacific Explorer would leave the P&O Australia fleet in 2025 as part of the planned closure of the Australian P&O brand. Resorts World Cruises then announced plans to acquire the vessel. The ship was briefly associated with the name Star Scorpio but ultimately adopted Star Voyager. Under StarCruises, it continued the vessel’s long commercial life under a new operator and brand identity.

• 2025

  Renamed Star Voyager

  [1]MS Star Voyageren.wikipedia.org

  Following its announced acquisition by Resorts World Cruises, the vessel adopted the Star Voyager name under StarCruises.

• 2023

  Hybrid-eclipse voyage

  [1]MS Star Voyageren.wikipedia.org

  The ship carried passengers and astronomers from Fremantle to Exmouth for a hybrid solar eclipse observation voyage.

• 2022

  First ship at Brisbane International Cruise Terminal

  [1]MS Star Voyageren.wikipedia.org

  Pacific Explorer became the inaugural cruise ship to use Brisbane’s new international cruise terminal.

• 2017

  Renamed Pacific Explorer

  [1]MS Star Voyageren.wikipedia.org

  After conversion in Singapore, the ship transferred to P&O Cruises Australia and began Pacific-island service.

• 2009

  Major refurbishment

  [1]MS Star Voyageren.wikipedia.org

  The ship received Movies Under the Stars and an adults-only area.

• 2008

  Permanent Australian deployment

  [1]MS Star Voyageren.wikipedia.org

  Dawn Princess began a long-term Australian deployment after a 28-day circumnavigation voyage.

• 2001

  Whale strike in Glacier Bay

  [1]MS Star Voyageren.wikipedia.org

  Dawn Princess struck and killed a humpback whale in protected Alaskan waters, resulting in a federal conviction and financial penalties for Princess Cruises.

• 1997

  Ship completed as Dawn Princess

  [1]MS Star Voyageren.wikipedia.org

  Fincantieri completed the Sun-class cruise ship at Monfalcone, Italy, for Princess Cruises.

A large, full-service cruise ship positioned for destination-led leisure travel, family cruising and regional itineraries in Australia, the Pacific and other international markets.

• Cruise ship · 2025

  Star Voyager cruise ship

  The vessel’s current commercial identity under StarCruises. It offers full-service cruise accommodation, dining, entertainment and destination itineraries. Its facilities include eight restaurants, four swimming pools, five hot tubs or whirlpools, seven lounges and bars, and two children’s centres.

• Cruise ship · 2017

  Pacific Explorer

  The ship’s name and operating identity under P&O Cruises Australia from 2017 until its planned departure from the fleet in 2025. It served Australian and Pacific-island itineraries and was used for destination-focused voyages, including the 2023 hybrid solar eclipse trip.

• Cruise ship · 1997

  Dawn Princess

  The original service identity used under Princess Cruises from the ship’s completion in 1997. The vessel operated in Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti, the South Pacific and Australia, and received a 2009 refurbishment adding an outdoor cinema and adults-only area.

• 2024

  Christmas parade costume controversy

  Eight staff members wore pointed white costumes during a P&O Cruises Australia Christmas parade. Critics said the outfits resembled Ku Klux Klan headgear, while the operator said they were upside-down snow cones.

  Source

• 2001

  Glacier Bay humpback whale death

  Dawn Princess struck and killed a humpback whale while travelling too quickly in Glacier Bay National Park. Princess Cruises was convicted in federal court and paid fines and restitution totalling US$750,000.

  Source

Read more

• 2024

  Exit from P&O Australia fleetStrategy

  Background

  Carnival announced the planned shutdown of the P&O Cruises Australia brand.

  Action taken

  Pacific Explorer was scheduled to leave the fleet in 2025 and was subsequently announced for acquisition by Resorts World Cruises.

  Aftermath

  The ship changed operator and was ultimately renamed Star Voyager under StarCruises.

  Source

• 2015

  Transfer to P&O Cruises AustraliaStrategy

  Background

  Carnival Corporation sought to reposition the vessel within its Australian cruise portfolio.

  Action taken

  Carnival announced the transfer of Dawn Princess to P&O Cruises Australia for 2017.

  Aftermath

  The ship entered conversion in Singapore and returned to service as Pacific Explorer.

  Source

• 2009

  Refurbishment for expanded onboard appealStrategy

  Background

  Dawn Princess continued serving a broad passenger market, including Australian itineraries.

  Action taken

  The ship was refurbished with an outdoor Movies Under the Stars cinema and an adults-only area.

  Aftermath

  The improvements expanded its entertainment and passenger-segmentation offering.

  Source

1. 1MS Star Voyageren.wikipedia.org