ceeceeDee

1 hour ago, Sparky74 said:

I’ll be on the Pacific Encounter in 9 days. 😁

There you go, Sparky. Please report back as well. Particularly interested in Encounter as we are on her in December. We had a great time July last year, so will be interesting to see how she is now particularly with the upcoming changeover to Carnival and whether or not that has affected anything, especially the crew.

2 hours ago, arxcards said:

dad da boom boom🙂

30 minutes ago, ddvgww said:

Sailing on Adventure on 25th August for 9 nights to Cairns.  It will be interesting to talk to our cabin steward and dining room staff to see if they have been told about what, if any,  impact the merger on 1st March next year will have on them.  Also booked on Adventure for June and August next year so will be interesting to see if there are any changes after the merger.   Hopefully you will be able to bring 2 bottles of wine onboard after 1st March and our Carnival platinum status will be acknowledged on Adventure. 

Please let us know what the crew had to say later this month. I'd be interested to know.

On 8/4/2024 at 4:39 AM, MMDown Under said:

Sorry I was typing in bed.  Too lazy to turn capitals off.

Typing in bed? In cruise mode already, Marion?🤭

I have a day where I'm too busy to log onto CC and look what happens?! Go Mic!!!!!!!!!!!😄

I don't know what cabin number you have booked, but here is a video of 9105 suite on deck 9 which may give you some idea. Pop onto cruise deck plans site to view your specific cabin and perhaps there will be photos/video attached.

https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/ships/slideshow-cabin-members.php?ship=Pacific-Encounter&cabin=9105

I haven't been on Cunard (on wish list) but a friend has several times. For her last cruise she borrowed one of my blingy evening dresses which went down a treat apparently. Bit sad that my clothes put on the Ritz whilst I stayed at home in a jeans and t shirt.🤣

Will be interesting to see what happens on our P&O December cruise. I can't see us getting to New Caledonia. Current itinerary includes Noumea and Lifou. Frankly, we'd be quite happy with 'good will' OBC but I'm not holding my breath.

We've done excursions in Noumea, still not a favourite. Our only plan this trip was to do the little tchou tchou train/trolly only because that's one thing we haven't done. I can live without it.

Our P&O cruise in December is still showing New Caledonia, but we're not banking on it being open. Fortunately, if we get extra sea days it won't worry us in the slightest. Noumea is not a great loss for us. Been there several times and didn't buy the t-shirt!😄 Our itinerary has 3 Vanuatu ports, Vila, Santo and Mystery. Incidentally, MyCruise, Mystery Island is still a Mystery to us. Maybe third time lucky.

1 hour ago, MicCanberra said:

If they were, you wouldn't be sleeping

Absolutely not! I'd be angling for a role in their next movie! My agent would be delighted.

On 7/24/2024 at 12:28 PM, Jean C said:

Hahaha, we encountered that with our first P&O cruise on Pacific Pearl. We were aware it was previously Ocean Village, however a TA said it was a brand new ship, to clarify I said "straight out of the box?" to which she said "yes"!

Caveat Emptor anyone? If the 'experts' won't do their research I guess we have to.🙄 Does the term 'having a dog and barking yourself' spring to mind.

25 minutes ago, JJK2008 said:

It would depend on the lap.....just saying.....

Yeah, but I don't think Chris Hemsworth or Benedict Cumberbatch would be next to me in economy. ☹️

25 minutes ago, dazadelaide said:

We are on our last P&O Explorer cruise 9th-13th Dec.

Taking our 2 grand daughters on their first cruise.

Have always enjoyed P&O as a cheap and cheerful family line and hope the closure will not impact too much re staff and amenities as they wind down.

Daz 

Don't forget to share your thoughts after the event, Daz

4 minutes ago, arxcards said:

Good spin beats a good product, until you try to sell it a 2nd time.

Or as my journalist late father in law always said 'Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story'.🤭

1 minute ago, arxcards said:

I thought I had already done my last P&O hurrah, and I have such fond memories of Golden Princess I didn't want to spoil - just too damned sentimental.

Sigh...... Aren't we all? I still miss Pacific Dawn. She was a bit creaky around the joints, but she was a grand old lady. I know she is still tootling around as Ambience, but I'm sure she wouldn't have the same appeal/ambience (pun definitely intended!🤣).

5 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

To add to Rosie's great advice about Manly - go over in the afternoon. Once you reach the surf beach turn right and do the walk to Shelly Beach. Look out for the small sea creature sculptures along the way. There are plenty of seats along the way if you just feel like sitting and enjoying the ocean views for a while. Then head back to Manly for dinner and get the ferry back once it starts getting dark.

Great advice. I was brought up on the Northern Beaches and Manly is definitely worth seeing.

9 minutes ago, arxcards said:

At the time, there were P&O staff and mainstream T/As that were telling customers that Pacific Dawn was a brand new ship. Nothing much changes when some staff only learn about cruising from internal memos.

Ye gods and little fishes!! It's a bit of a worry when the customer is better informed than the so called 'experts'. To my knowledge P&O have NEVER had brand new ships!! New to the fleet, yes, but definitely not newly minted straight from the ship building yard. The world and his wife knows that P&O always had Princess cast offs. The mind boggles.

3 minutes ago, arxcards said:

I will tender my late note. One of the very late P&O operated by P&O cruises for us in late Feb. 

Geoff, you're always welcome to give us your thoughts after your February cruise 🙂 I, for one, am interested in people's last hurrahs!😂

1 hour ago, Aus Traveller said:

That is what I did. I compared the deck plans of the old Star Princess with the plans of the Pacific Encounter. This showed whole sections of cabins at the aft section of decks 10, 11 and 12 that have been converted from twin share to three or four berth cabins.

 

I was surprised that my TA didn't already have this info. P&O staff at the call centre had no idea which cabins have the double-decker beds and I am pretty sure that the person I spoke to didn't know that the Pacific Encounter was formerly the Star Princess.

It's absolutely amazing what they don't know at the P&O call centre. Half the time I'm telling them!🤣

I remember the first time we booked a Byron Mini suite, I asked if it had a Nespresso machine (at that stage the info on Byron minis on the website didn't mention it). Was told that only suites had them. Wrong! Surely to goodness staff should be issued with 'cheat sheets' with this sort of basic information, along with cabin information regarding retrofitted cabins, etc. I guess it is now or soon will be a moot point given the changeover next March. However, one wonders if the Carnival staff will be any better informed.

4 hours ago, Mareblu said:

Always colder in Cooma, but often not by much.  But I do remember, as a child living in Cooma so long ago, the pipes bursting frequently in winter.  I actually love cold weather, but I struggle in the heat of summer, especially if it’s humid.

 

 

I read that too!  My brother lives in Cairns, and they are experiencing a cold winter (for them).

Anything below 20 degrees is considered cold in Cairns. Well I did when I lived there.

You're officially invited to the notes comparison! 😂We'll have to make a diary note for the end of December when everyone should have returned from (I would assume) their last hurrah on P&O.

18 minutes ago, ceeceeDee said:

I'll pass on that thanks.🤭

Did I mention SE Qld is cold.....................?🥶😮

Today's Daily Mail:

Temperatures plummeted across Queensland as the minimum temperature in Brisbane Airport overnight on Monday reached 6.3C. 

Tropical areas were also hit by the cold blast with Townsville in the north reaching 8.6C, while Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast reached just 3.7C.

1 hour ago, Cbtours said:

Try Melbourne 😁

I'll pass on that thanks.🤭

1 hour ago, MicCanberra said:

Enjoy, we have a last one with P&O as well, although we had it booked prior to the announcement and it is on the Adventure.

Same, although we are on Encounter. We three should compare notes when we get back.🤔😂