Pacific World
Pacific World is a Sun-class cruise ship formerly known as Sun Princess and now operated by Peace Boat.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Pacific World is a Sun-class cruise ship built in 1995. The vessel was originally launched as Sun Princess for Princess Cruises and became the lead ship of the Sun class, a group that also included ships later associated with other cruise operators. At the time of construction, Sun Princess was among the largest cruise ships in the world and represented Princess Cruises’ expansion into a larger, more contemporary cruise-ship format. During its Princess Cruises career, the ship served a wide range of markets. From its debut through 2007, it primarily operated Caribbean and Alaskan itineraries. Beginning in late 2007, the vessel developed a sustained presence in the Australian market, operating seasonally from Sydney and Melbourne and later from Fremantle. Its regional programs included circumnavigations of Australia, New Zealand cruises, voyages to New Caledonia and Vanuatu, and longer itineraries connecting Australia with Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. The ship’s Australian deployment also generated strong demand for Sydney–Fremantle sailings, leading Princess Cruises to add further voyages and establish a Fremantle-based program in 2009. That program included a 46-night Indian Ocean itinerary visiting destinations in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, and the islands of the western Indian Ocean. Sun Princess expanded into Japan-related operations during the 2010s. In 2012, it operated its first world cruise. In 2013, it conducted round-trip cruises from Tokyo, marking Princess Cruises’ first deployment from that port. The following year it operated an extended Japan program from Otaru and Kobe before being joined in the market by Diamond Princess. In the 2019–2020 season, the ship spent 141 days homeported in Fremantle as part of an extended Western Australia program. The ship also had visibility beyond ordinary cruise operations. From 1998 to 1999, it was used as the principal ship setting for the television series Love Boat: The Next Wave, a short-lived revival of the earlier The Love Boat television franchise. In October 2007, it attracted attention in Australia when it became the largest ship reported to have passed beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge at the time, with approximately 2.5 metres of clearance at low tide. In 2018, the vessel entered a two-week dry dock and received a revised exterior livery, a new stateroom category, additional shops, and other onboard improvements. That same year, it was announced as a proposed floating hotel for visitors to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, with a planned berth at Yokohama Port from 23 July to 9 August 2020. The arrangement was later overtaken by the disruption and postponement of the Olympic Games during the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2020, the ship was sold to Peace Boat and renamed Pacific World. The change ended its identity as a Princess Cruises vessel and placed it within Peace Boat’s international voyage and educational-program model. Its later history has been shaped by the broader interruption of cruise travel during the pandemic, as well as by the operational and public-health incidents recorded during its earlier service. These included passenger overboard or disappearance cases, onboard flooding caused by a burst pipe, repeated gastroenteritis outbreaks, and port restrictions and demonstrations during the early COVID-19 period. Pacific World is therefore best understood not as a conventional consumer packaged-goods brand but as the operating identity of a long-serving passenger ship with a distinctive history across Princess Cruises, Australian and Asian cruising, popular culture, and Peace Boat operations.
History
Pacific World was built in 1995 as Sun Princess for Princess Cruises. It was the first vessel of the Sun class and, at the time of completion, was among the largest cruise ships in service. The ship’s sister or related vessels later included ships operated under different names and by different cruise companies. Its early Princess Cruises service concentrated on Caribbean and Alaskan routes. From November 2007, Sun Princess became an important part of Princess Cruises’ Australian deployment, with seasonal operations from Sydney and Melbourne. It offered Australian circumnavigations, New Zealand voyages, and cruises to New Caledonia and Vanuatu. The company also developed longer routes from Australian ports, including Sydney–Fremantle voyages, a Japan and South Pacific program, and a 75-night Grand Pacific itinerary. Demand for the Sydney–Fremantle market led to additional 2009 sailings and a period of Fremantle homeporting. The 2009 Fremantle schedule included a 46-night Indian Ocean voyage visiting Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, the Maldives, Seychelles, South Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Réunion. In 2012, Sun Princess undertook its first world cruise. In 2013, it operated round-trip cruises from Tokyo, the first Princess Cruises deployment from that port. Its Japan presence continued in 2014 with voyages from Otaru and Kobe, while Diamond Princess later joined the Japanese market. During the 2019–2020 season, Sun Princess spent 141 days based at Fremantle for an extended Western Australia program. The vessel also became associated with television. It served as the ship featured in Love Boat: The Next Wave from 1998 to 1999, a revival of the long-running television series The Love Boat. In October 2007, it drew attention when it passed beneath Sydney Harbour Bridge on its first entry to the harbour, reportedly leaving about 2.5 metres of clearance at low tide. A two-week dry dock in July 2018 brought a new livery, an additional stateroom category, shops, and other amenities. In June 2018, the ship was announced as a prospective floating hotel for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with a planned stay at Yokohama Port. The plan was affected by the disruption surrounding the pandemic and the postponement of the Games. Operational incidents during its Princess Cruises period included a passenger disappearance in 2013, a passenger overboard incident in 2014, flooding caused by a burst pipe in 2017, and recurring gastroenteritis outbreaks in 2016 and 2017. During the early COVID-19 period, the ship encountered port restrictions after visiting Thailand. Madagascar denied it permission to dock in February 2020, and passengers faced protests and attempted health-screening demands at Réunion in March. Western Australian authorities later reported that a passenger from the ship had tested positive for COVID-19. In September 2020, Peace Boat purchased the vessel and changed its name to Pacific World. The renaming marked its transition from a Princess Cruises-branded cruise ship to a vessel associated with Peace Boat’s international voyages and educational activities.
- 2020
Transferred to Peace Boat and renamed Pacific World
[1]Peace Boat acquires the ship and gives it its present name.
- 2018
Receives dry-dock upgrades
[1]A refurbishment introduces new livery, accommodation options, retail space, and other onboard amenities.
- 2013
Begins Princess Cruises Tokyo deployment
[1]The ship operates round-trip cruises from Tokyo, described as Princess Cruises’ first deployment from that port.
- 2012
Runs its first world cruise
[1]Sun Princess adds a world cruise to its long-distance itinerary portfolio.
- 2009
Operates extended Indian Ocean voyage from Fremantle
[1]A 46-night itinerary links Australia with destinations across Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, and southern Africa.
- 2007
Begins seasonal Australian basing
[1]Sun Princess develops a seasonal homeporting pattern in Sydney and later other Australian ports.
- 2007
Passes beneath Sydney Harbour Bridge
[1]The vessel enters Sydney Harbour beneath the bridge with approximately 2.5 metres of clearance at low tide.
- 1998
Appears in Love Boat: The Next Wave
[1]The ship becomes the principal vessel setting for the television revival Love Boat: The Next Wave.
- 1995
Sun Princess enters service
[1]The Sun-class lead ship is built and begins service for Princess Cruises.
Products and positioning
A large, internationally operated passenger ship positioned for long-distance cruising, regional exploration, and Peace Boat’s educational and international voyage programs.
Cruise ship operations · 2020
Pacific World ocean voyages
Pacific World is a large passenger ship used for international sea voyages. Its operating identity shifted from conventional Princess Cruises itineraries to Peace Boat’s travel and educational model after the 2020 sale and renaming.
Former cruise operations · 1995
Sun Princess cruise programs
Under the Sun Princess name, the ship offered Caribbean and Alaskan cruises, Australian and New Zealand programs, South Pacific voyages, Japanese itineraries, world cruises, and long-distance routes from Fremantle through the Indian Ocean.
Passenger accommodation · 1995
Onboard accommodation and hospitality
The vessel provides passenger cabins and shipboard hospitality facilities. Its 2018 refurbishment added a new stateroom category, shops, and other amenities.
Brand decisions
2020
Sale to Peace Boat and renaming as Pacific WorldM&ABackground
After its Princess Cruises career, the vessel was transferred during a period of severe disruption to the international cruise industry.
Action taken
Peace Boat purchased the ship in September 2020 and renamed it Pacific World.
Aftermath
The ship moved into Peace Boat operations under a new name and organizational identity.
2018
Plan to use the ship as a Tokyo Olympic floating hotelStrategyBackground
Additional accommodation was sought for visitors during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Action taken
Sun Princess was announced for a planned berth at Yokohama Port from 23 July to 9 August 2020.
Aftermath
The planned use was overtaken by the pandemic-related disruption and postponement of the Games.
Sources1 sources
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