New Dawn for Australian cruises

IT is twice as big as the Titanic and taller than Sydney's "Toaster" building.

Floating luxury ... Pacific Dawn boasts two swimming pools, five evening dining areas, nine bars, a show lounge and a fitness centre.

IT is twice as big as the Titanic and taller than Sydney's "Toaster" building.

Australia's first superliner, P&O Cruises' Pacific Dawn, will be launched this week with a spectacular light and sound show on Sydney Harbour.

The 245m-long luxury cruise liner - which includes two swimming pools, five evening dining areas, nine bars, a two-storey show lounge and a fitness centre - will be officially christened on Thursday night.

Pacific Dawn will leave for its inaugural trip from Sydney on Friday with its maximum 2050 passengers on board.

Event organiser for Carnival Cruises, which operates P&O Cruises, Greg Dehn said 600 VIP guests will be on board the ship for the celebration but the light show will also be for the public to enjoy.

Olympic Gold medal winner Cathy Freeman will christen the 70,000 tonne ship in a champagne bottle-breaking ceremony before the 10-minute light and sound show begins.

Mr Dehn said the light show will be projected across the 245m long ship and will be 30m high, showing Aboriginal and South Island artworks with an ocean theme portraying dolphins and other sea creatures frolicking in and above the water.

"It's going to be amazing. The movement and colour of the light and sound show will be quite a spectacular thing to see," Mr Dehn said.

P&O Cruises spokeswoman Sandy Olsen said the superliner was built to cater to the growing demand from passengers as the cruise industry grows by about 18 per cent each year.

Pacific Dawn was built in 1991 and has 795 cabins, including suites with private balconies, and has 11 decks.

The best vantage point for the light show, which begins at 8.30pm on Thursday, is from East Circular Quay and the Sydney Opera House precincts.