P&O Cruises Australia, the Australia and New Zealand focused contemporary market brand in the Carnival Corp & plc group, will introduce the current Dawn Princess as Pacific Explorer in 2017, the company said on its feed on Facebook.

The 77,441 gross ton ship that was built for sister company Princess Cruises in 1996, will be the largest unit in the P&O Cruises Australia fleet, that will comprise of six ships when the latest addition joins the Sydney based company.

Images the company has published in social media indicate that Pacific Explorer will assume an identity similar to the two former Holland America Line vessels that are undergoing conversion to become Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden. The colour schemes of the interiors of Pacific Explorer appear to follow a stronger palette than what had been used in the first three ships of the company, which are also second hand transfers.