Following the response to its unprecedented online Golden Princess Drydock Journal last month, Princess Cruises is again inviting cruise enthusiasts to go behind the scenes as Dawn Princess undergoes a similar makeover. Visitors to princess.com will be able to watch daily as the ship receives new interior furnishings and finishes, plus adds two Princess signature features — the Movies Under the Stars giant poolside screen and the relaxing adults-only Sanctuary.
The Dawn Princess Drydock Journal features regular updates of the work in progress at the Forgacs Cairncross Dockyard in Brisbane, Australia. The journal can be found on the Dawn Princess page in the Web site’s “Ships” section, and it will be regularly updated throughout the ship’s two-week drydock which ends June 20. The photos will also be posted to Princess’ Twitter feed, Facebook page and Flickr photostream.
“We had such wonderful feedback from Web users about our recent drydock journal that we decided to offer ship fans another behind-the-scenes look at all the work that will go into Dawn Princess’ refurbishment,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “I think when our passengers see first-hand what’s accomplished in a relatively short period of time, they’ll be impressed by the planning and teamwork that goes into ensuring that our ships and their amenities deliver the fantastic experience for which Princess is known.”
When Dawn Princess emerges from the drydock, the ship will feature The Sanctuary, Princess’ signature adults-only retreat featuring padded lounge chairs and the services of Serenity Stewards. Visitors to this exclusive space can enjoy beverages and light snacks or listen to a relaxing playlist of music.
In addition, Movies Under the Stars will also debut in the poolside area with a state-of-the-art Times Square-style LED screen, offering evening movies and a variety of daytime programming. The 300- square-foot screen offers passengers a movie experience comparable to the best shoreside movie theater. In addition to family cinema and first run hits, Movies Under the Stars also features major sporting events, concerts and a new Leonard Maltin Movie Club.
Other changes viewers will see throughout the drydock include the installation of new carpet and upholstery, plus a rare view of the bottom of the ship’s hull as it receives several new coats of silicone paint.
Dawn Princess is home-ported in Sydney for year-round Australia-based cruising and on July 5, the ship departs on a 104-day world cruise, the first circumnavigation and longest-ever roundtrip voyage from Australia.