Pacific World

The 1995-built (as "Sun Princess") cruise ship Pacific World is the first Sun-class vessel in the Princess Cruises fleet - with sisterships Dawn Princess (now Pacific Explorer) and Sea Princess (now Dream Charming). The same name now carries the 2024-built Sun Princess.

In mid-September 2020, Princess Cruises sold Sun Princess. The company announced that the liner will leave the fleet in 2021 and will be renamed "Pacific World". The new shipowner will charter the vessel to Peace Boat. The 1983-founded, Japan-based global non-government organization (NGO) Peace Boat organizes educational cruises (floating university) as well as global events-themed conferences at sea. Also sold was Sea Princess whose shipowner now is Sanya International Cruise Development Company (China).

• A total of 23x Sun Princess cruises were canceled - departures on itineraries planned for the period December 28, 2020, through August 14, 2021. The ship was planned for deployment in Australia-New Zealand (January-March 2021) and Alaska (May-August 2021 / roundtrips from Vancouver BC Canada and Los Angeles California USA).
• The canceled voyages included roundtrips from Brisbane QLD (14-day New Zealand, 10-day Papua New Guinea, 4-day Australia Getaway, 10-day Tasmania), also repositioning cruises (15-day Brisbane to Fremantle, 12-day Fremantle to Singapore, 12-day Singapore to Yokohama, 28-day Singapore to Vancouver, 16-day Yokohama to Vancouver, 4-day Vancouver to Los Angeles) and Alaskan roundtrips (7-day Inside Passage with Glacier Bay from Vancouver and 14-day Inside Passage with Hubbard Glacier from Los Angeles).

On October 5, 2020, the vessel left its anchorage off Bandar Penawar (Johor, Malaysia) en route to Port Klang (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) and Manila (Philippines). In December, the ship arrived in China. As of November 29, it was docked at Husuntou (Qushan Island) located north of Daishan Island (Daishan County, China's Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan Archipelago/prefecture-level city). On April 9, 2021, the boat arrived and anchored off Qushan Island, China.

Note: In mid-June 2020, Carnival Corporation (shipowner) announced that intends to sell 13 ships in FY2020 - instead of the previously expected global fleet optimization planned over the next 3-5 years. In mid-September, Carnival increased the number of its cruise ships for sale to 18 (some were scrapped).

For Princess Cruises, the vessel (IMO number 9000259) was Bermuda-flagged (MMSI 310438000) and registered in Hamilton. Sun Princess was last drydock refurbished in 2018, and registered (in 1995) to Astramar SpA. Currently, the boat is Panama-flagged (MMSI 357189000).

History - construction and ownership

Princess Cruises is a US cruise company headquartered in Beverly Hills CA. A former subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises (founded 1977), in 2003, the company merged with Carnival Corporation - world's largest passenger shipping company. Among Princess Cruises assets is the Caribbean private island resort Princess Cays (on Bahamas Eleuthera Island's southern end), located approx 80 km (50 mi) from Nassau.

When the 1950-passenger ship Sun Princess debuted in 1995, she was not only the Princess fleet's largest but also the industry's biggest-ever cruise vessel. Together with the other Sun-class ships which followed (Sea Princess, Dawn Princess and Ocean Princess) - the vessel was outfitted with innovative features and facilities, which created a revolutionary effect on the industry, and served as a precursor to Princess' later establishment of Grand-class ships. Despite the relaxed atmosphere, Sun Princess has been a bit bypassed by more recent Princess innovations. Personal Choice Dining is unveiled long after the liner was designed and so the concept of versatility is not as smoothly incorporated into the dining venue scenario. Standard rooms, while effectively appointed, might be a narrow fit for a couple, and the 400 verandas are less than abundant when compared to newer vessels in the fleet. 

Sun Princess underwent a USD 30 million drydock refit from April 5-18, 2016. The 14-day dry dock in Singapore added the new Princess Luxury Bed to cabins and Curtis Stone's Share restaurant. Kai Sushi was transformed into Kai Seafood Bar. Other additions include Amuleto Café, NZ Natural ice cream outlet and Legends sports bar, showing tennis, weekly AFL and NRL football matches on LED screens.

Peace Boat's cruise itineraries

For Princess Cruises, Sun Princess itinerary program was based on Australia and New Zealand voyages leaving from homeports Sydney NSW and Fremantle-Perth (Western Australia).

For Sun Princess' last itineraries (planned for 2021 - all canceled) see the ship's Wiki section.

On August 24, 2023, Peace Boat's Pacific World started from Yokohama a 105-day around-the-world cruise itinerary visiting a total of 24 ports/destinations in the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe (Iceland, Baltic, Mediterranean), North Africa (Egypt), Asia. The route included transits of unique waterways like the Panama Canal, Egypt's Suez Canal and Canada's St Lawrence Seaway.

Decks and Cabins

Most Sun Princess staterooms (1011 total, in 27 categories) are 145-ft2 Insides cabins (396). Almost 80% of the ship's outside staterooms have private step-out balconies. There are a total of 19 wheelchair-accessible (ADA) staterooms designed for passengers with disabilities. The largest staterooms are the Balcony Suites (470 ft2).

The boat has 15 decks, of which 11 passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Sun Princess food options are generally good and guests have enough variety to be satisfied, without having to pay for speciality dining. Vegetarian selections are excellent, desserts - superb. A good selection of healthy items is provided every night. Waiters are friendly and helpful. The Regency Dining Room offers breakfast and lunch, but most passengers opt for the casual Horizon Court buffet or freshly baked pizzas at the Italian Verdi's pizzeria. The popular dining venue, Horizon Court, is open 24 hours a day. Horizon Court is situated one deck above ship's swimming area. The buffet is tiny by new-ship standards but offers excellent breakfast options from 4 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., along with an abundance of fruits and bread, and European specialities. Terrace Grill offers BBQ, hotdogs, salads and chips by the pool. 

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

• Marquis Restaurant (dinner only, aft Dining Room, with 2 fixed seatings - 5:30 and 7:45 pm)
• Regency Restaurant (aft Dining Room open for Breakfast 7:30 pm - 9:30 am., Lunch 12-noon - 1 pm, Afternoon Tea 3:30-4:30 pm, with 2 fixed Dinner seatings- at 5:45 pm or 7:45 pm)
• Kai Sushi restaurant (seafood speciality restaurant)
• Verdi's Italian Pizzeria (complimentary)
• Horizon Court (self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary)
• Sterling Steakhouse (speciality restaurant)
• Terrace Grill Bar (fast food bar, complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Both the Princess Theatre and Vista Lounge, two of the biggest and most popular Sun Princess entertainment venues, are located on the Promenade Deck. Guests can choose between early or late shows. On some nights, the productions run twice, allowing passengers to alternate between the shows, which include large-scale stage productions and cabaret numbers. The 'British Invasion' features the 1960s hits from UK bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Beatles. The Princess is a steeply sloped palladium theatre featuring excellent sightlines and theatre seating with small stands for drinks. The intimate Vista Lounge has cabaret seats around small tables, lounges and chairs around the centre stage and a row of stools against the bar. The Vista hosts headlining shows, game shows, bingo, trivia quizzes and dancing sessions including ballroom dancing and line dancing.

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

• The Grand Piazza Atrium (4-deck open floor area; features live performances entertainment and lobby Bar Piazza)
• International Cafe (24-hour patisserie/speciality coffee lobby bar; offers speciality coffees, desserts, pastries, wine, liquor)
• Atrium Boutiques (Latitudes Shop)
• Art Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop; Platinum Studio
• Internet Cafe (24-hour), Card Room
• Princess Sun Theatre (musical and show productions; hosts workshops, seminars, game shows)
• Vista Lounge (entertainment lounge; comedians, illusionists, singers).
• Shooting Stars Disco & Nightclub
• Princess Sea Monte Carlo Casino
• Atrium Lounge; Vista Lounge & Bar
• Wheelhouse Bar (piano bar during the day and an English pub nightly)
• Rendez-Vous Bar (wine bar); Sundaes Bar; Sundowners Bar (poolside)
• Sun’s Oasis Spa complex; Beauty Salon; Fitness Center (with Aerobics Studio)
• Movies Under the Stars (LED screen outdoor cinema)
• Video Games Arcade; Teen Center; Youth Center with Paddling Pool and outdoor playing areas
• The Sanctuary (adults-only sundeck / open-air area); Riviera Pool area
• Sports Court (volleyball, basketball, European football); Shuffleboard, Golf Net; Princess Links (mini-golf course).