Sitmar and the Australian Connection | From Fairstar to Pacific Pearl, a Generation Defined

With special thanks to
ssmaritime.com
heybrian.com
timspages.blogspot.com

In recent times, we have said goodbye to many ships that connect our maritime past to our present - and in Australia a lot of that nostalgia and history has to do with the Italian line, Sitmar.

Sitmar and its ships defined a generation of cruisers in Australia, in most cases under the operation of P&O and Princess.

Sitmar was purchased by P&O/Princess in the late 1980s and took over a number of ships, both existing and new builds. These ships would come to define the very early cruise experiences for many cruise-lovers in Australia.

Beginning with the fun ship, Fairstar which operated under the Sitmar brand in Australia until its transfer to P&O. Following the Fairstar, the (ex Sitmar Fairsea) Fair Princess repositioned down under where she became the home-ported ship for Australians, and was in the fact the ship I enjoyed my first cruise on in 1999.

With the eventual retirement of Fair Princess from the P&O fleet, the (ex Sitmar Fairsky) Pacific Sky took over the reigns down under, bringing a more modern cruise experience to Australian shores in 2000.

In 2007, Sitmar-ordered Regal Princess was transferred to P&O as the Pacific Dawn, and was joined by her sister, the exCrown Princess and renamed the Pacific Jewel. These twin sister ships were designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano and had a very distinctive dolphin-like profile and silhouette that gave them their unmistakable look.

These two ships were the mainstay of the P&O fleet, and were eventually joined by the ex Sitmar Fairmajesty (ex Star Princess) which was renamed Pacific Pearl for the Australian market.

These three ships were the last of the Sitmar fleet to carry Australians on their, in many cases, first cruise holidays.

I felt it was important to recognise the history behind the cruising phenomenon that exists today and to pay homage to a cruise line that, although no longer in existence, still played a pivotal role in the cruise experience that many were able to enjoy in our local cruising market.

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