pacific encounter room tour

Pacific Encounter review: All you need to know

We couldn’t wait to get onboard to see what Pacific Encounter was like for ourselves, especially the Byron Beach Club which we had really enjoyed on Pacific Adventure . It was such a nice change being able to cruise from our home port of Brisbane instead of having to fly down to Sydney.

Our trip began with a magical mystery tour to the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal . It’s like getting lost in an industrial estate that is still under construction with the occasional signpost saying you are almost there. Exiting the dusty backblocks near a waste management site, we arrived at the shiny new terminal and more importantly Pacific Encounter.

There’s no public transport at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal so plan for a taxi, Uber or transfer if you aren’t able to drive out there yourself. If you are, the carparks at the terminal aren’t huge so book ahead or you might not get a spot. If you want to stay overnight at a hotel that’s (reasonably) close to the terminal, you’ll find some suggestions here .

The ship, like the terminal, is new or almost new with Pacific Encounter looking fresh from multi-million dollar refurbishment and a name change from Star Princess. Brisbane is the home port for Pacific Encounter which cruises from here on a year-round basis. When we arrived at the terminal, the bag drop and processing was very orderly and quick so the terminal does work well.

Download the P&O App and complete your required online paperwork before boarding as this needs to be shown at check-in and when you get on the ship. My app was a little hinky at first and kept disconnecting but once I got it working, it was great. In hindsight, it would have been better if we had printed out our paperwork as a backup instead of just relying on the app.

Pacific Encounter deck plan and finding your way around

We found the Pacific Encounter deck plan easy to follow. For anyone who had been on Star Princess, it would be even easier. Entering on Deck 5, we were greeted with The Lobby lounge and a glittering atrium that extended up to Decks 6 and 7. This area is designed to impress and it succeeds. Also located in this area is the important Avalon Café for morning coffee and the two bars, Lilly’s and Charlie’s.

This is the first area of the ship where you get to see the refurbished public areas that were re-engineered into all-new venues from the ship’s Princess days with all of the ship’s lounges, restaurants, and bars getting a full makeover. Also located on Deck 5 is the main restaurant called the Waterfront, a small library with novels you can borrow while you’re onboard, and the Destination Lounge which has seating but no views.

Before venturing any further, we went to our cabin located on Deck 9 where we found our cabin keys in the document holder next to our door. This was different to our last P&O cruise when we were handed our keys at check in. Our cabin was a mini suite with access to the Byron Beach Club, a new “suite retreat” on P&O’s two newest ships. The cabin was a nice size and had new carpet, linens and soft furnishings but the furniture and bathroom hadn’t changed from ship’s Star Princess days.

Also included in our room due to the Byron Beach Club was a basket of fruit, some fresh canapes and two large bottles of water. A welcome letter that listed all the Byron Beach Club inclusions like bathrobes, Byron Beach Club flip flops (to take home), access to Angelo’s restaurant for breakfast and daily snacks was also in our room. Our key card was coded for the Club entry on deck 16.

Some important safety procedures have also changed concerning mandatory life jackets and lifeboat drills. The procedure now is to watch the demonstration of putting on the life jacket on the TV in your cabin and then proceed to your muster station. Look at the back of your cabin door to find out where to go. The muster stations are staffed from the time you get onboard until sailaway so you can proceed there at your leisure to have your name checked off (don’t bring your life jacket). Watch the video and go sooner rather than later as it gets busier later in the day as more people get on board.

Our next stop after getting our muster station checked off was heading back to Deck 6 and the Dragon Lady restaurant. The reason you will want to go to Dragon Lady is not for the food at this point but to get your restaurant bookings made or reconfirmed. You can also book restaurants via the P&O app. Stationed at the Dragon Lady restaurant are 4-6 staff with a computer to assist in booking specialty and non-specialty restaurants for your cruise. Byron Beach Club guests get priority bookings but in our experience it’s always good to get restaurant bookings done early on any ship.

Pacific Encounter had plenty of choices for dining onboard with many free venues like the Waterfront Restaurant, and buffet called The Pantry that is similar to a food court plus free specialties like Angelo’s Italian and Dragon Lady for Asian fusion. Extra cost restaurants include Luke Mangan’s Salt Bar & Grill and the P&O Trattoria. Quick eats at a charge are also available on the pool deck at Luke’s Burger Bar and P&O Pizzeria plus cones and more at New Zealand Ice Cream.

Coffee lovers can head the Avalon Café or New Zealand Ice Cream for their daily early morning hit but have patience as even with multiple machines and good baristas, you do have lots of caffeine-starved passengers after an espresso style brew, especially in the mornings. The barista coffee onboard is very good and worth the spend but like most cruise ships, the free restaurant coffee is best avoided unless you’re (really, really) desperate for a caffeine hit.

The Bond Store bar on Deck 6 is decorated like a speakeasy and perfect for a romantic cocktail or small get-together. The Casino Bar is located in the casino (surprise, surprise) and is a bit bright and sterile. It’s best for a grab-and-go beverage on your way to another lounge or bar unless you want to hit the tables or play the pokies.

Up on Deck 7 are the cool cat areas with the tropical decor of the Encounter Hotel beckoning with a dance floor and afternoon/evening entertainment. It reminded us of a trendy Cairns pub and had a nice vibe at any time of day. Adjacent is the Ocean Bar which is a favourite hang-out in the mornings and afternoons for coffee aficionados who liked to grab a takeaway and come up here to enjoy the ocean views.

The place to be in my opinion is the Blue Room, a cool blues-themed bar and lounge that is ideal for late afternoon and pre-dinner drinks or a late evening nightcap. There is entertainment here in the afternoon and evening with cool tunes and vocals from guest artists. We liked the Encounter Hotel but often ended up here for a quiet late afternoon drink as the hotel doubled as a trivia venue around this time on our sailing and was often full.

Way up on Deck 14 are the sun lovers’ drinking spots like the Pool Bar and Oasis Bar at the stern. The Oasis is an adults-only area on the ship with its own pool and sun deck and was a popular hangover recovery zone in the mornings on my sailing. Later in the day, people got into the cocktails and went for a dip in the pool. Deck 15 has the Sky Bar which overlooks the main pool and big screen.

The Byron Beach Club is on Deck 16 and has its own pool, sun deck, bar and cabanas. The ship’s spoiler incorporates the Altitude Nightclub which is also a great spot to chill out and read during the day with 180 degree views. It’s perfect for watching the sunset if you can get a seat and at night it’s a disco and late night party hangout.

A must-do on Pacific Encounter is Blanc de Blanc, a strictly 18+ show that combines, comedy, circus and burlesque in the Black Circus Theatre. This sold out before the end of our cruise and costs $20 each or $120 for 2 for VIP seating. My top tip is get the VIP tickets as they come with a bottle of Champagne (expensive stuff that’s the real deal) and the best seats in the house.

The other big show on board our cruise was Musicology, a Broadway-style production of major music hits over the decades with all the sequins and feather action you expect on cruise ships. It was very entertaining and good for all ages. More entertainment was provided by guest performers in the main theatres and lounge and bar areas throughout the ship, all of it of a high quality.

There are waterslides on the pool deck plus pools and spas that are all worth a dip especially when the ship heads north or east for tropical island escapes. The main pool on Deck 14 is popular for all and the separate kid’s pool has a retractable roof for weather protection. The last pool on Deck 14 in the Oasis which has a good view of the ship’s wake.

One pool area that is a bit of a secret is the one on Deck 15 which has a little kids’ water play area and a small, deep pool for their parents. Also on Deck 15 is the Byron Beach Club pool area which is accessible through the spa but only for Club guests. We’ve written a detailed Byron Beach Club review if you would like to know more.

More things to do on board are the daily activities such as trivia, game shows and bingo that take place in the Encounter Hotel or Black Circus Theatre. All of these are very popular so get in early for seats. The ship also has a spa and a gym which has all new carpeting and equipment plus a dedicated workout studio for yoga and F45 fitness sessions (these classes cost extra). Free stretch and meditation classes are also available here so check the daily schedules for times.

The restaurants on board were very good at the paid and free venues we visited. The standout was Luke’s Bar and Grill, followed closely by Dragon Lady with breakfast at Angelo’s and P&O Trattoria also rating highly. We didn’t have dinner at Angelo’s as our cruise was only three nights but other passengers said they enjoyed it. All of these restaurants had good service and décor that made us feel like we were having a special dining experience.

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The main dining room was also of a high quality and worth a visit, especially on sea days for lunch. We didn’t try the pizza at the P&O Pizzeria for lunch but the ones we saw other passengers eating looked good. Our only disappointment food-wise was Luke’s Burger Bar which didn’t live up to the hype. Compared to other cruise lines with free burger outlets this was a real miss.

We did note that the ship was training new staff and at busy times the bars sometimes felt understaffed but all the passengers were patient and understanding. There were a lot of standouts on our cruise but the biggest bouquets need to go to the hard-working cabin stewards and the crew staffing all the drinking and dining venues. They provided the best service possible, even when they were run off their feet, and always with a smile.

Pacific Encounter cruise ship tips

1. Download the P&O App and pre-book as much as you can when you get onboard.

2. Book your dining early (Dragon Lady has staff on-boarding) for times and dates and try them all if you can, especially Luke’s Bar and Grill.

3. Book tickets for the Blanc de Blanc 18+ show on your first day and splash out for the VIP treatment.

4. Get to venues early for good seats as the theatres do get busy on full sailings.

5. Report any problems with your room to your cabin steward instead of contacting guest services. Often they can arrange to get things fixed like having a blown lightbulb replaced.

6. Have realistic expectations when it comes to your room as you do get what you pay for. Don’t expect a huge, fancy looking suite if you have paid a modest price for a regular cabin.

7. Find your favourite spot/lounge or bar but be prepared to share if it gets busy. Who knows, you might find a new friend or two.

8. Leave a tip for the cabin stewards they work exceptionally hard to make your cruise as pleasant and comfortable as possible.

9. Don’t forget the ship has plenty of guest laundries if you like to pack light and travel with carry on only.

Disclosure: The writer travelled as a guest of P&O Cruises and would not hesitate to cruise on this ship again as his own expense.

Want more great cruise advice? Check out our tips for choosing the perfect cruise , cruising with grandchildren , cruising with tweens and cruising with kids of all ages , solo cruising , the best activities on Ovation of the Seas , doing a Transatlantic cruise with kids , cruising in Australia or Papua New Guinea , Iceland cruise tips , cruising on a megaship , scoring a bargain cruise fare , cruising the Mediterranean , making the most of a cruise ship kids club , luxury cruising with kids , and the Byron Beach Club onboard P&O Cruises . We have also reviewed Disney Wonder , Pacific Adventure , Celebrity Edge , Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas , Pacific Encounter , Carnival Splendor , Voyager of the Seas , Nieuw Statendam , Viking Helgrim , Pride of America , Coral Expeditions in Tasmania and the Great Barrier Reef , Celebrity Solstice , and Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth .

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Trevor Templeman

Trevor Templeman is a photographer and writer who travels the world capturing the essence of locations through their landscape, architecture and people. His words and photographs are published in magazines, newspapers and online around the world.

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• Pacific Encounter®

Meet Pacific Encounter! 

Pacific Encounter showcases many of our favourite features as well as a range of new ones that you are sure to love.

Splurge and book a suite or mini-suite and along with a host of great benefits, select rooms will gain access to Byron Beach Club, our new private retreat with pool, spas and comfy seating, located on the top deck of the ship. Enjoy expansive views along with pure relaxation and a superior level of service for dining reservations, shore tours, embarkation and disembarkation. Guests will love the relaxed breakfast at Angelo’s as well as the healthy options from the Byron Beach menu throughout the day.

Experience what Australian celebrity chef, Luke Mangan, has to offer at Luke’s Bar & Grill. Be sure to enjoy an elegant cocktail at Luke's Bar, prior to dining. If you’re feeling more casual,  check out Luke’s Burger Bar for al fresco burgers or try P&O Pizzeria for some delicious pizza options. Both easily found poolside on Deck 14.

The Lobby, located on deck 5 is our favourite new hang out place, from morning to night. It is the perfect place to sit and watch the (ship’s) world go by. Choose from three fabulous bars for your favourite drink, a snack, a quick lunch, or a cheese platter. We’re sure the Lobby will also be your favourite new hangout place. If you’re in the mood for something more lively head to Altitude, our nightclub on Deck 18.

Familiar favourites include Waterfront, Angelo’s and Dragon Lady or go casual in The Pantry.  Check out the new P&O Trattoria on Level 7.  Serving rustic, family-friendly Italian fare and freshly cooked pizza, P&O Trattoria offers a warm, relaxed atmosphere where fantastic food, good wine and wonderful service come together. Head to the child-free Oasis for a cocktail and a perfect view of the ship’s wake or the chilled-out vibe in the Ocean Bar, or for a true pub experience, head to Encounter Hotel.

At night, choose from live entertainment and lively signature P&O production shows including, Blanc de Blanc, a feast for the senses.

Families will love the dedicated indoor/outdoor family area with a pool, family focussed fun, games, parties and activities. Plus our fabulous Twin Racer Waterslides will be coming to Pacific Encounter on 23 March 2023.

On Pacific Encounter, there are more spaces to explore, more places to relax and more things to do.

We can't wait to welcome you onboard!

Disclaimer: Onboard offerings are subject to change. Charges apply for some activities, venues and menu items. 400 Gradi and Gradi Pronto to be replaced by P&O Trattoria and P&O Pizzeria respectively, from September 2023.

View Pacific Encounter Deck Plan View Accommodation Guide

From 29th of March, 2025, all itineraries will be operated by Carnival

Additional benefits on carnival.

Carnival operated cruises offer the P&O onboard product and experience with the additional benefits of Carnival:

• The Carnival Loyalty program
• The HUB app

Any other changes will be notified to you prior to your cruise.

2,600 guests, lower berths

12 guests decks

108,865 gross tonnage

Waterslides

Twin Racer Waterslides coming 23 March 2023

Upcoming Cruises on Pacific Encounter:

• Pacific Adventure®
• Pacific Explorer®

• Jewish Moscow
• Jewish Moscow Oblast
• Jewish Tours in Moscow
• Jewish Tours in Russia

• CruiseMapper
• P&O Cruises

Pacific Encounter

Former name: star princess.

Cruise line P&O Australia (P&O Cruises)

• Brisbane (Queensland Australia)

Pacific Encounter current position

Pacific Encounter current location is at East Australia (coordinates -23.79913 S / 153.49546 E) cruising at speed of 17.8 kn (33 km/h | 20 mph) en route to WILLIS ISLAND. The AIS position was reported 4 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Pacific Encounter

Pacific Encounter current cruise is 7 days, round-trip Pacific Island Hopper . The itinerary starts on 22 Jun, 2024 and ends on 29 Jun, 2024 .

Specifications of Pacific Encounter

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Pacific Encounter Itineraries

Pacific encounter review, review of pacific encounter.

The 2002-built (as Star Princess) cruise ship Pacific Encounter is the 3rd Grand-Class vessel constructed for Princess Cruises , with sisterships Crown , Diamond , Caribbean , Grand , Emerald , Ruby , Golden (Pacific Adventure since 2020) and Sapphire .

The vessel (IMO number 9192363) is currently UK- flagged (MMSI 232032840) and registered in Southampton .

In 2018, Princess announced that Golden Princess and Star Princess will be transferred to the P&O Australia fleet in 2021 and renamed, respectively, "Pacific Adventure" and "Pacific Encounter". The vessels' transfer was officially confirmed on October 21, 2020. Star Princess as Pacific Encounter started operations for P&O AU in November 2021 after a scheduled drydock refurbishment . In 2020, Golden Princess (as Pacific Adventure) already joined the P&O AU's fleet.

Princess Cruises' Star Princess was Bermuda-flagged (MMSI 310361000) and registered in Hamilton .

In May 2023 was announced that Princess Cruises' second SPHERE-class ship will be named Star Princess , joining the fleet in August 2025.

IMPORTANT : In May 2024, Carnival Corporation announced that terminates P&O Cruises Australia's operations and discontinues the brand in 2025. Pacific Explorer will be retired in February 2025 (sold or scrapped). Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure will remain based in Australia but will be transferred to CCL-Carnival Cruise Line and renamed. Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter in March 2025 will be taken out of service (for unscheduled drydocking) and after April will be operated by CCL. The other Carnival Australia ship is Carnival Splendor (year-round homeported in Sydney NSW).

History - construction and ownership

P&O Cruises  is a subsidiary company and two brands owned by Carnival Corporation - P&O UK and P&O Australia. In 2000, P&O Cruises became subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises, which merged with Carnival Corporation in 2003. P and O is the world's oldest cruise company, starting passenger shipping operations in 1822 on the routes connecting England with Iberia.

The 2600-passenger ship Pacific Encounter/Star Princess is relatively big for the Australian source market, with a wide diversity (for its size) onboard facilities and still providing a traditional cruising experience. During drydock 2008, Star Princess received several new facilities, including the Piazza (energetic amusement space), bakery, Internet Cafe, wine bar, sushi bar, The Sanctuary (adults-only zone with padded lounges and shaded places), Crown Grill (complimentary eatery with seafood and steakhouse fare), 7 Suites (with walk-in closets and spa tub bathrooms). The Retail shopping area was redesigned, with Essence Shop (relocated to deck 7 and doubled in size) and Meridian Bay Shop (on deck 6, replacing Essence Shop).

Decks and Cabins

Pacific Encounter staterooms (1298 total, in 34 categories) include 205x Suites, 515x Balconies, 212x Oceanviews and 366x Inside, including 25x wheelchair-accessible. Most cabins are sized 160-190 ft2 (15-18 m2), with cabin balconies sized 45-90 ft2 (4-8 m2). Nearly 80% of all outside staterooms are with private step-out balconies. The largest accommodation is the Grand Suite (615 ft2 / 57 m2, with terrace sized 115 ft2 / 11 m2).

The boat has 16 decks , of which 14 are passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins.

Review/Shipboard facilities and amenities

Deck 4 houses all staff/crew cabins, the ship's Tender Embarkation/Disembarkation areas and the Infirmary/Hospital/Medical Center (served by resident physicians and nurses on 24-hour call duty).

Deck 5 houses The Piazza Atrium (3-decks high, with a stage for live performances), and the Lobby Hall (Lobby Lounge, Destination Lounge/Shore Excursions and Tours) served by Lilly's Bar, Charlie's Bar and Avalon Cafe. Deck 5 is the lower level of P&O Retail (duty-free shopping complex spreading on 3 floors/5-6-7) and aft are the Fine Arts Gallery and the Waterfront Restaurant.

Waterfront is a complimentary Dining Room open for breakfast (7:30-9:30 am), lunch (12-1 pm) and dinner (5-9 pm). For lunch expect salads, soups, pasta, chicken pho, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, fish, cheesecake, pies, fresh fruit, and cheese plates. Dinner menu includes seared ahi tuna, ocean trout, lamb shanks, pork chops, chili chicken wings, vegetable moussaka, curry, ravioli, salads, pavlova, chocolate rolls, trifle, fruit and cheese plates.

Deck 6 houses Marquee Theatre (2-floor main show lounge for large-scale evening music and show productions, daily trivia games, bingo sessions, game shows, culinary demonstrations, various workshops, seminars, kids' talent shows), the Casino (gaming lounge with slot machines and gambling tables, served by its own Bar, also hosts Texas Hold'em tournaments and Pokies tournaments) and The Bonded Store. Deck 6's Atrium houses the Reception/Guest Services Desk (24-hour passenger services and assistance), Level UP Arcade (games room), Life Photo Studio (B&W photos/portraits studio sessions)), Shops. The Bonded Store is a bar lounge with a signature cocktails menu (via a partnership with Archie Rose Distilling Co) where are hosted themed whisky- and gin-making classes and tasting events.

Midship on Deck 6 is the Angelo's Restaurant (complimentary Dining Room) for Italian cuisine and specialties like slow-cooked pork neck, veal shank ragout, fontina, and pumpkin arancini balls, osso bucco, seafood cacciucco, pan-fried gnocchi and sweets like crispy cannoli. Bookings for dinner can be made at the Reception Desk.

Aft on Deck 6 is the Dragon Lady (Asian restaurant) with an origami-folded menu and non-alcoholic welcome shooters. Dishes are designed to be shared banquet-style, such as Indian spiced duck samosas, Vietnamese rice paper rolls, Chinese dumplings, Japanese tempura-crusted sushi rolls, barramundi green curry, honey prawns, chicken satay sticks. Desserts include mango and sticky coconut rice, a jar of apple caramel milkshake, salted dark chocolate cake with sesame ice cream. Dinner bookings are made at the Reception Desk.

Deck 7 houses the Promenade (fore-located outdoor/open-air deck space for walking/strolling), Marquee Theater's upper level (2 of 2), the Ocean Front Bar (Atrium bar with lounge seating, dance floor, a stage for live performances; hosts art auctions), Shops, IMAGES Photo Gallery, Luke's Bar & Grill, Noosa Room, Encounter Hotel (piano bar/English pub), Blue Room (Lounge & Bar), 400 Gradi (pizzeria), Black Circus Theatre (show lounge and bar).

• Luke's Bar & Grill (Luke Mangan Restaurant) is a fast food bar (with a takeaway option) serving burgers, hotdogs, chicken wings, kebabs, fries, prawns. Food is not free, but the prices are reasonable. Wine and beer are also offered. Luke's Bar also functions as a specialty restaurant for lunch and dinner. Luke's Restaurant offers signature Luke Mangan dishes, like Kingfish Sashimi and licorice parfait, Barramundi for two, Kitchen beef slider.
• Encounter Hotel is a daily piano bar /evening English pub bar with comfortable seating, dance floor, stage for live performances, fine alcohol and craft beers.
• Blue Room is an Atrium Lounge & Bar with a dance floor and live music entertainment, nightly transforms into a disco club with DJ programming. The lounge is served by its own piano bar. The late-night blues session named Blues@Blue features several very talented musicians getting together for a 1-hour-long jam, rotating with excellent guitarists and different singers.
• 400 Gradi (Neapolitan pizzeria by chef Johnny Di Francesco) is open for Lunch (between 12-1:30 pm) and Dinner (between 6-11 pm). Many passengers prefer takeaway pizzas to eat elsewhere or get these delivered to the cabin via room service.
• Black Circus Theatre is an entertainment lounge with a stage for performances (by guest comedians, singers, illusionists, cabaret-style performances) and has its own full-service Bar. Intended for cabaret performances, the venue has a supper club vibe but there are no full-size tables to eat supper, so it's basically a theatre with rows of seats along with ledges to place drinks. During the day, the lounge is used for kids' TC&Skipper's Island Adventure Show, The Edge's laser tag gaming and as Cinema/early evening movies.
• Noosa Room doubles as Conference Center/Meeting Room and Wedding Chapel.

Deck 14 houses the Navigation Bridge/Wheelhouse, midship pool deck area (2x swimming pools - Main Pool and Family Pool), 4x Jacuzzies/hot tubs, a band stage. The Family Pool deck is served by Magrodome Bar. The Main Pool deck is served by Grandi Pronto (Pizza Bar), Luke's Burger Bar (premium beef and pulled pork burgers, seafood rolls), Pool Bar (beverages) and Ice Cream Bar (serving complimentary New Zealand Natural Ice Cream).

Also on Deck 14 are The Pantry and the Oasis Pool Deck.

• The Pantry is the ship’s self-service buffet restaurant/marketplace with 9 fresh food outlets. The restaurant is complimentary and open for Breakfast (between 6:30-11:30 am), Lunch (11:30 am – 3:30 pm) or British Pub Lunch (11:30-1:30 pm /on selected days) and Dinner (5:30-11 pm). The buffet has its own bar for drinks, a stage for live performances, and a dance floor. At lunch and dinner, the food outlets include McGregor's Garden (salads), Stix (stir fry), Mexicana (tacos and burritos), Curry House, Hook's (fish-and-chips), Nic & Toni's (Italian), Fat Cow (carvery), Kettle & Bun (soups and sandwiches), and Sugar Bar (desserts). In the evenings, a 10th venue (Shell & Bones) opens as an a la carte priced restaurant. A kids' dinner for children between 3 and 10 years is held at 4:15 pm daily, with highchairs available upon request.
• The Oasis Bar is a poolside bar serving the Oasis Pool (swimming pool aft on deck 12) and the Oasis Sundeck (adults-only sunbathing area aft on deck 14).

Forward on Deck 15 is the ship's wellness complex (Elemis SPA) that groups the facilities Byron Beach Pool, 2x Jacuzzies/Whirlpools, Fitness Center with F45 Fitness Studio (Aerobics Room for classes), Thermal Suite, Rasul (steam and mud room), Elemis Day Spa, 2x Saunas, Treatments Rooms (for massages), Beauty Salon and Barbers (manicure/pedicure/hair/nail/barber services), and Bondi Bar & Lounge. Complimentary water aerobics is also available.

Aft on Deck 15 is the Youth Center & Lounge with two Outdoor Play Areas (one with a Paddling Pool). Kids & Teen Centers Turtle Cove & Shark Shack are dedicated to children and teenagers club facilities for age-appropriate and supervised daily activities (sports competitions, dance classes, treasure hunts, themed parties, computers, gaming consoles, big HDTVs, foosball tables). A Sony PlayStation VR Room is situated in HQ.

Midship on Deck 15 is the Big Screen - an outdoor cinema with a huge LED screen. Complimentary popcorn-cookies-milk are offered during the evening projections under the stars. Deck 15's sundeck is served with beverages by the Sky Bar.

Forward on Deck 16 is the Byron Beach Club - an adults-only, open-air sundeck/relaxation area with 1x Swimming Pool, 2x Outdoor Hot Tubs (Jacuzzies), sunbathing area (with padded chaise lounges), steward service (light meals), direct access to Elemis Spa Pool (forward on deck 15 below) and private outdoor cabanas (with spa massages). Charges per person apply. Also on Deck 16 is the Youth Center's upper level (outdoor playground with a Hot Tub and Paddling Pool).

Deck 17 houses the Magra Dome (sliding glass roof over deck 15's pool area), The Lawn (barefoot lawn bowling green, putting green/mini-golf course, Golf Net), the P&O Edge facilities (outdoor sports activities area), and the Waterslide (entry-level). The aft-located relaxation area is a sundeck fitted with 1x Swimming Pool, 1x Splash Pool, 1x jacuzzi/Hot Tub, deck games area (Giant Chess, Shuffleboard) and is served by the Sunset Bar.

During drydock 2023 refurbishment, on Deck 17 were installed the Twin-Racer waterslide (length 142 m / 466 ft, height 16 m / 53 ft) and the P&O Edge Adventure Park. P&O Edge facilities include a Zipline (length 55 m / 180 ft), Cargo Net, Walk the Plank, Beam Walk, and a Rock Climbing Wall. P&O Edge is positioned ~10 m / 33 ft above Deck 16. The waterslides are dual-racing (with several twists, and turns) and feature LED lights and sound effects. The aquapark has a separate shaded area for kids (outdoor playground) equipped with a dumping bucket and oversized water toys.

Aft on Deck 18 is the Sports Court (multi-sports combined court for playing basketball, volleyball, football). Deck 18 also houses The Walkway (Walking/Jogging Track with 2 scenic Walkways) and the Altitude Nightclub (Disco Lounge with a full-service Bar and DJ programming in the evenings. During the day, Altitude Nightclub doubles as an observation lounge. The Altitude is accessed via two elevators and also via stairs from The Oasis (adults-only sundeck/swimming pool relaxation area located aft on deck 16 below).

Itineraries

Star Princess's itinerary program was based on roundtrips from USA-California homeports ( San Francisco and Los Angeles/Long Beach ) to Hawaii, Baja Mexico, Alaska, alternating seasonally.

Pacific Encounter's inaugural for P&O season started with the Maiden Voyage on October 2, 2021. Previously, for the boat was scheduled a 15-night "Southeast Asia and Australia" (repositioning itinerary) from Singapore (drydock location) to Brisbane (homeport). The next two start dates were in 2022 - March 8th (4-day "Whitsundays Cruise" to Airlie Beach) and May 28th (7-day Barrier Reef Discovery), both Brisbane roundtrips, but were also canceled.

Eventually, the Maiden Voyage was rescheduled for August 27, 2022 (7-day "Barrier Reef Discovery" roundtrip from Brisbane to Airlie Beach, Cairns, Willis Island).

The Brisbane-homeported Pacific Encounter visits ports in Australia (including Great Barrier Reef ) and South Pacific Islands (New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea). The itineraries are themed "Barrier Reef Discovery" (7-night), "Pacific Island Hopper" (7-night), the themed "Comedy Cruise" (4-night cruise to nowhere ), "Whitsundays Cruise" (4-night to Airlie Beach QLD ).

Pacific Encounter - user reviews and comments

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P&O Australia and Harding Retail agreed to extend their 13-year partnership, which will see the group manage all onboard retail concessions on P...

P&O Australia’s cruise ship Pacific Encounter arrives in homeport Brisbane QLD

P&O Australia’s ship Pacific Encounter arrived in Brisbane (Queensland Australia) on Saturday, August 20, where she will be homeported year...

P&O Australia's ship Pacific Encounter sails into Sydney NSW

Pacific Encounter, the latest addition to P&O Australia's fleet to continue the revival of the country’s $5 billion a year cruise industry...

P&O Australia’s Pacific Encounter sailing home after an overnight encounter with sistership Pacific...

P&O Australia’s ship Pacific Encounter is sailing back to Australia following a spectacular overnight encounter with sistership Pacific...

P&O Australia restarts cruising on May 31 with new 2022 program

P&O Cruises Australia flagged its return to cruising at the end of May 2022, with the launch of a new homeporting program from Adelaide, Brisbane...

P&O Australia and CCL-Carnival cancel 15+ cruises until May 28

Cruise companies express further disappointment with the Australian government’s inaction over the return to cruising. P&O Australia and...

P&O Australia extending suspension of cruises through February 14, 2022

Since no green light has been yet received for domestic resumption of cruises, P&O Australia has extended their pause until 2022 - a month-long...

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Other P&O Australia cruise ships

• Pacific Adventure
• Pacific Explorer

Pacific Encounter Wiki

The Fincantieri Monfalcone -built Star Princess was christened by godmother Gunilla Antonini - wife of Dr Corrado Antonini (Executive Chairman of the Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri ). The liner started its 26-day Maiden Voyage (Pacific Ocean itinerary) on February 13, 2002. Star was the fleet's first Grand-class vessel, with sisterships Golden (Pacific Adventure) and Grand . The other (similarly-designed) boats from this series are Caribbean , Crown , Diamond , Emerald , Ruby , Sapphire .

Pacific Encounter (Monfalcone shipyard/hull number 6051) is powered by Wartsila-Sulzer marine diesel engines (models 8ZAV40S and 8ZAL40) generating total power output 63,36 MW.

Fun fact is, that earlier there was another vessel with the name "Star Princess"/ Columbus (former "Pacific Pearl" operated by P&O Australia ).

Pacific Encounter refurbishments review

During drydock 2021 (March-April/2-week project at Damen Shipyards Singapore ) the ship's hull and superstructure were repainted.

The ship's 3 restaurants (Angelo’s, Dragon Lady, The Waterfront) were refitted with new carpets and artworks. To The Pantry (lido market) were added 3x Australian fresh food outlets (Stix, Curry House, Kettle & Bun).

The drydocking project included 250+ contractors, 84000+ man-hours, installed new carpeting (~14000 m2 / ~150700 ft2 of carpets), and all the interior was repainted (~5000 m2 / 53800 ft2 of walls and ceilings).

All public spaces were extensively cleaned and renovated.

Also were conducted general maintenance works.

The ship's last drydocking project was conducted in Singapore in 2023 (Feb 6-25). Deck plan changes after refurbishment 2023 included the installation of the Twin-Racer (142-m-long/16-m-high dualing waterslide) and P&O Edge Adventure Park (outdoor activity zone on Deck 16) featuring a 55-m-long Zipline, Cargo Net, Walk the Plank, Beam Walk, Rock Climbing Wall. New venues include Luke’s Bar & Grill, Byron Beach Club (pool deck), 400 Gradi Pizzaria (via partnership with chef Johnny Di Francesco), Black Circus Theatre (main show lounge), F45 Fitness Studio, Altitude (disco nightclub), Encounter Hotel, Bonded Store.

Pacific Encounter inaugural itineraries 2022

The renamed Star Princess/Pacific Encounter was originally planned to start operations for P&O Australia with a 15-day repositioning sailing (from Singapore to Brisbane ) in 2021, followed by the Maiden Voyage from Australia.

Next is the 7-day "Barrier Reef Discovery" itinerary (Maiden Voyage 2021).

However, both voyages were canceled and the ship's inauguration was eventually rescheduled for August 20, 2022.

Next table shows the 7-day "Barrier Reef Discovery" itinerary (Maiden Voyage 2022).

Star Princess itineraries 2020-2021

Star Princess ship's last itinerary for Princess Cruises was planned as a 30-day relocation cruise from Alaska to Asia (Vancouver to Singapore / for drydocking) priced from ~USD 2700 pp. However, this voyage was eventually canceled.

Next tables show the last Star Princess itineraries that were scheduled by Princess Cruises before the transfer to P&O Australia. Prices are in USD (per person) and based on double occupancy.

(2020) 15-days Hawaiian Islands Christmas and New Year cruise ($1300)

(2021) 15-days Hawaiian Islands ($1200)

10-days Baja Peninsula Sea of Cortez ($850)

15-days Hawaiian Islands ($1200)

15-days Hawaiian Islands ($1400)

28-days Hawaii, Tahiti Samoa ($3100)

10-days Baja Peninsula Sea of Cortez ($950)

The last in the Star Princess schedule was the 7-day relocation voyage from Los Angeles to Vancouver ($530 pp).

Star Princess ship review (facilities and amenities, food, drinks, entertainment)

Star Princess' restaurants are open seating. Alternative dinner venues are the reservations-only Sabatini's Italian and Crown Grill (both with cover charge pp). The Lido buffet restaurant is open around the clock.

The Wheelhouse Bar serves a pub lunch, and a grill and pizzeria offer casual snack choices.

The ice cream bars and patisseries charge for premium ice cream and specialty coffees.

A wine bar offers extra-charge artisan cheeses and evening snacks.

Chef's Table and Ultimate Balcony Dining options are also available, as well as Afternoon Tea and room services.

Follows the complete list of Star Princess restaurants and food bars.

• Capri Restaurant (ship's aft Dining Room; dinner only - offers Anytime Dining between 5:30-10 pm)
• Crown Grill (160-seat steakhouse/seafood restaurant, reservations recommended; on select days serves British Pub Lunch, complimentary)
• Portofino Restaurant (ship's forward Dining Room for Breakfast 7-9 am, Lunch 12-1:30 pm, Afternoon Tea 3:30-4:30 p.m.; features Anytime Dining for Dinner between 5:30-8 pm or 8-10 pm)
• Amalfi Restaurant (dinner only aft Dining Room; with 2 fixed seatings at 5:45 pm and 8 pm)
• Sabatini's Restaurant (Italian specialty restaurant; reservations recommended)
• Trident Grill & Prego Pizzeria (self-service, complimentary fast food bar)
• Horizon Court (self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary).

Both the Vista Lounge and Princess Theater can host featured entertainers and production shows, and each of the shows runs several times.

The Princess Theater is more like a Broadway theatre than a cruise-ship typical show lounge. It features same-level orchestra seating, stadium seating behind, as well as a few boxes.

The Vista Lounge is cabaret-style, with chairs grouped around small drink tables and big windows making the room light during the day.

The Explorers Lounge and Wheelhouse Bar are side by side on Promenade Deck. These smaller entertainment venues host karaoke, pianists, dance bands and theme parties, as well as games and trivia during the day.

Follows the complete list of Star Princess lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• The Piazza Atrium (3-deck open floor area; features live performances entertainment and lobby Bar Piazza)
• Princess Fine Arts Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop; Platinum Studio
• International Cafe (24-hour specialty coffee bar and patisserie)
• Vines Bar (wine/seafood/sushi bar)
• Library (with Internet stations); Internet Cafe (24-hour)
• Princess Star Theatre (2-level musical and show productions; hosts workshops, seminars, game shows)
• Shooter's Lounge & Bar (smoking lounge and sports bar)
• Vines Shop; Calypso Cove Shop; Essence Shop; Meridian Bay Shop; Facets Shop
• Princess Star Grand Casino
• Crooners Lounge & Bar (live music; also used for seminars); Vista Lounge & Bar
• Explorers Lounge & Bar (disco/show lounge; hosts karaoke, comedy, game shows and art auctions)
• Wheelhouse Bar (piano bar during the day and an English pub nightly)
• Scoops Bar (Sundaes Ice Cream Bar, complimentary)
• Outrigger Bar (poolside bar); Tradewinds Bar
• Star's Lotus Spa complex; Beauty Salon; Fitness Center (with Aerobics Studio)
• Hearts & Minds (Wedding Chapel)
• Movies Under the Stars (LED screen outdoor cinema)
• Video Games Arcade; Teen Center; Youth Center with Paddling Pool and outdoor playing areas
• The Conservatory (recreation area); The Sanctuary (adult-only open-air area); The Oasis relaxation area
• Calypso Reef & Pool area; Neptune's Reef & Pool area
• The Skywalker (Jogging Track); Sports Court (volleyball, basketball, European football); Shuffleboard, Deck Chess; Princess Links mini-golf course
• Skywalkers Disco Nightclub.

The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

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Pages:  379-406

In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

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Pacific Encounter Grand Suite

• Click here for ALL
• Two Bedroom Suite

Grand Suite

• Ship info and tracking
• Cabin Check

Pacific Encounter Grand Suite cabin location, stateroom cabin videos, stateroom cabin pictures, floor plans, diagrams, stateroom features and perks. Cruisedeckplans.com also provides links to actual stateroom cabin pictures and videos on this page. You can see details and floor plans for all of Pacific Encounter's different stateroom cabin categories on the NEW cabins page.

Stateroom Features

• Separate sitting room
• Double sofa bed
• Dining area
• Large balcony
• Two televisions
• Personal computer
• A DVD/CD player
• Refrigerator
• Walk-in closet
• Bathroom with corner tub (equipped with whirlpool jets)
• Multi-directional brass fitting shower.

Sub Categories

   Grand Suite

Included in features. /

Deck Locations

Deck 11  

Important Information

All Suites have access to Byron Beach Club

Grand Suite Typical Floor Plans

Pacific Encounter Grand Suite pictures

Pacific Encounter Grand Suite stateroom videos

Scroll over cabin (stateroom) tiles below to click and watch videos. Cruisedeckplans.com shows up to 10 of the most recent videos added to our collection on this page. Be sure to click the link in the section below to see other cabins we have videos for. The date shown is the date video was published. Use this to see decor changes.

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Other categories on pacific encounter.

Click on a category below to go to that page. Stateroom cabin categories are simply the way that PO AU groups the different types of staterooms (cabins). You can see details and floor plans for all of the categories on Pacific Encounter on this page.

Pacific Encounter Grand Suite Virtual Tour

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