P&O Cruises will refund 50% of the Pacific Sun passengers' fees from a voyage that departs Newscastle today.

The cruise company has come under fire for the state of its ageing fleet with engine trouble on the Pacific Sun causing the voyage to be cut short.

The Pacific Sun is now 25 years old while regular visitors to Port Douglas, the Pacific Dawn and Pacific Jewel, are 20 years old.

While these ships have had upgrades in the years since they were built, many social network users have called for P&O to send new ships to Australia.

Reported in Travel Today were a number of comments posted P&O's Facebook page including this from one disgruntled passenger;

“C’mon Aussies, what do you expect? We get nothing but hand me down ships from other countries for a reason – they don’t want problems from an ageing fleet.”

But it wasn't all critical with other Facebook fans jumping to the defence of the beleaguered company.

“Thank you P&O for all the contact we have had advising us of the issue and our options – it has been very well handled.”

The Dawn Princess is due in Port Douglas on Sunday 3 April.