ceeceeDee

Yep. Not a great deal of choice with Brisbane departures in winter.

Value plus tends to be our 'go to' as we like to choose our cabin and we always get a drinks package, wifi, etc so to us the OBC is a bit of a bonus but not what sways us. A few months back we booked our next cruise on the $1pp deposit which attracted $400 OBC. I always keep an eye on fares and noticed a significant price drop. Immediately contacted P&O, cancelled the original booking and immediately re-booked the same cabin under the reduced price structure. OBC was reduced to $200 on that offer and we lost our original $2 deposit (whoopee), but the price difference of $1080 is a considerable reduction. (We were also required to pay the full deposit, but hardly a drama).

I'm probably way off (geographically challenged?). Port Vila? I'm really not a good guesser☹️

Great to hear springaussie. What did you have and what was the menu like?

I can usually squeeze three main meals for three adults out of one chicken. First night, roast dinner with all the trimmings, second night chicken with tomato spaghetti sauce, third night hearty chicken and veggie soup (simmered with the carcass) with fresh rolls. And there's usually a few scraps left for the cat and dog to have a small topper on their evening meal.

Have had same problem, lyndarra

Ginger and apple herbal tea, fresh air and concentrating on the horizon

Just curious........... What is the significance of chucking flour about?

Only ever two days. I'd be happy with more, love sea days

And P&O Australia cruises earn points on Princess, which I guess kinda sorta makes up for P&O offering diddly squat when it comes to loyalty points. Either way, I cruise for the cruise itself not any potential points.

Not saying it is the best ship I've ever been on, but Symphony of the Seas certainly had the 'wow factor'. From the sheer size of it, Central Park and boarding the ship to find ourselves in a shopping mall!

Oh, my sainted aunt, Les. A safari suit!!! What on earth were we thinking back in the day?!!! And usually made of polyester.😬Consider my mind well and truly boggled and my gast terminally flabbered. 😂

We normally don't bother with room service. I think the last time I did so was on the old Pacific Dawn in 2016. That was a Caesar salad and it was around the same price (possibly a dollar or two less) than what is shown on the menu John posted (my memory may be at fault, but it wasn't very expensive). I've seen the breakfast menu, but don't recall any of the prices. You have a decent amount of OBC, Yaya, so ordering room service breakfast each morning shouldn't be a financial burden.🙂 And brekkie on the balcony should be a delight (weather permitting).

We didn't even have to ask for ice cream on Encounter, the waiters automatically served it with dessert. Maybe we looked like ice cream fiends!🤣

We didn't even have to ask for ice cream on Encounter, the waiters automatically served it with dessert. Maybe we looked like ice cream fiends!🤣

Agree with everything you said in your post, Daz. Would be really interested to hear what you thought of your Virgin cruise btw. We're toying with the idea, but wonder if it is worth the considerable extra expense (and we'll have to fly in). Your opinion in due course would be very much appreciated. CeeCee

Don't be put off Yaya. Take a good time with you and that's what you'll have. I know a lot has been said about P&O food and to be honest, it isn't a foodies' paradise but it's not that bad or it wasn't when we were on Encounter in May. And it's well worth paying for an evening at Luke's Bar and Grill (around $58 for 3 courses). You've pulled the right rein in opting for a balcony cabin. We used ours quite a bit, just to watch the ocean in peace or settle in with a book. And a morning cuppa on the balcony was lovely. If crowds get to you, avoid the bars on the pool deck. It tends to be a bit of a scrum. We found the bars in the atrium to be more to our liking. Use the adults only area on the Lido deck reasonably early in the morning if you want a quiet swim. The party animals are usually still sleeping off a hang over until at least 10am (or if they have dragged themselves out of their cabins, they will be quietly passed out on the sun lounges 😂). Spend time exploring the ship, you will find some areas that tend to be quiet if you look for them. If you are planning on attending the evening shows, you will probably need to arrive about 30 minutes early (we tend to do that regardless of cruise line) and just take a book to entertain yourselves while you wait or just people watch which can be quite interesting.😂

Agree, MCC, fresh air is the best, though I wouldn't say that returning to the cabin is necessarily the kiss of death (depending on the cabin location, of course). On that trip where I was sick, getting into the fresh air was a tad problematic since it was rough enough for the Lido deck to be closed (pools splashing around like a tsunami) and the external decks were mostly closed also. But definitely, if it is not that rough lots of fresh air helps.

Apart from medication, if you feel queasy get into the fresh air and concentrate on the horizon. I have only ever been sea sick once and that was a particularly rough sea and I was up on the Lido deck at the time. I returned to our midship, low deck cabin, took Travel Calm and had a half hour snooze and then I was fine. Never been sick again and our cabin on our last two cruises was at the very front of the ship. Indeed one was a forward facing cabin.

The couch in our mini suite on Encounter converted to a bed, I believe, so that would potentially be a three berth cabin.

I honestly didn't mind Encounter (7 nights last May). From what I could gather she was near capacity, but we really didn't find it all that crowded. It may have helped that we had a Byron Mini Suite so didn't spend that much time on the Lido deck (which admittedly was quite crowded) and the Byron Beach Club was pretty quiet. We also had priority boarding, tenders, etc. What also may have had an influence was that our last cruise before that was on Symphony of the Seas with 6000 odd pax which did tend to get a bit 'busy' to say the least. Agreed the Encounter hotel was always full, but we weren't interested in going there (karaoke, ouch!! And we preferred trivia for dummies in the Black Circus - and yes, you had to get there early to get a seat) . Our go to place of an evening was the Blue Room. Great music and not too crowded. Yes, things are not like they were in our early days of cruising, all cruise lines are nickel and diming, definitely less bang for your buck and activities aren't what they used to be. Still, P&O is a budget line and accordingly I tend to not have very high expectations but having said that, have never been disappointed with the overall experience to such an extent that I would say 'never again'.

Getting back to which Princess MAY end up with P&O............ rumours always abound. When we were on Encounter in May, the scuttlebutt was that Coral Princess was coming across to P&O next year. I guess the only ones who know for sure would be the decision makers at Carnival and they may not have even considered moving any ships from Princess to P&O. Still, it can be interesting to speculate😀

At this point, the requirement for pre-cruise testing has been lifted. Should this change (unlikely, but who knows?) a RAT test within 24 hours of embarkation is sufficient. You can purchase one at any chemist so it shouldn't be a big deal for you to obtain a kit.

Yes, there is still a formal night. However, not everyone goes to the trouble. We always do, though don't go to the extent of a tux and ballgown. Hubby wears jacket and tie and I opt for cocktail dress, which seems to be the most popular option I've noticed.

I think you can, as long as it's empty.