Riffraff

We went on Pearl in March, and I think I'd been on board for about half a minute before I made the first comment of how nice she was because she was a lot like Sky. They are closeley related of course, Pearl was the 'next model', designed and built by the same people.

Friends were on the Pearl recently and liked Zoltina-J, but we don't like her, for much the same reasons as you mentioned.

I really can't get over the wildly differing reviews I have read about Pacific Pearl . They range from " I would never set foot onboard this ship again" to "This is the best ship in the P&O Fleet"

 

So - I am really looking forward to our upcoming 28 days to Tahiti on Pacific Pearl. It will be just a shame that they don't sell any decent beer on her - this fizzy Aussie lager just doesn't cut it with me after the great British ales we had on the P&O UK ships.

 

Barry

Hi Barry,

I agree - it's hard to believe some people are talking about the same ship! But it does come down to individual experience I guess. The recent cruise on Pearl that went to NZ from Sydney, where they missed Norfolk Island, someone on here described it as 'far from idyllic' and didn't like it, but my mother & her friend were on it and had a great time, and came off raving about Pearl being the best in the fleet.

I reckon that although Pearl's not the newest or flashest ship, there is something special about her and I'm sure you'll have a great and memorable cruise!

As for the beer - try the Orient Bar. They have some different beers on tap - can't remember exactly which ones but I do remember Hoegaarden, and others of that type.

I would think Dawn would be a better ship than Sun for not getting seasick, Sun does have a bit of a vibration as well as the usual rocking and rolling in bad weather, and I think Dawn would feel like a smoother ride, especially if you are in a cabin low down in midships.

Taking medicine before you go is a good idea. I've also heard that the body has a way of 'remembering' the feeling of the motion, so once you've been seasick once your body will not get as sick again. This is just a theory though, but you might be able to use it on your husband to convince him! :)

Choosing the itinerary is a good idea, try for a time of year when the weather is better (not cyclone season) and a Queensland coast one could be good - we did that in 2009 and it was so calm sailing inside the reef. It did get a bit choppy on the way back, but not too bad.

Cruise Ship - Pacific Jewel.

Cruise Name - Tasmanian Treasures

Date travelled - March 2 to March 10, 2010

Ports of Call - Port Arthur, Hobart, Burnie, Melbourne.

Review link: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1160779

Im super curious to know what Zoltina did to rub so many people up the wrong way! We are first time cruisers, and I keep think we missed something!

 

Maybe it's just personal taste?

 

Anyway, would love to hear your thoughts!

We had her on our 16 night cruise last year on Dawn. Her jokes ran out after the first 10 or so nights, and she had to improvise and repeat some, which was kind of funny in itself. But what we didn't like much was the way she ran down and was downright rude about some of the ports we visited - after leaving Tonga and heading back her comment was "that's out of the way, now we can get back to civilisation!".

Also she only speaks to you if you are her age or younger, and preferably female. And then if you're talking about her.

We really got the impression she didn't want to be there.

It may have been that she wasn't keen on the longer cruise, but that was our thoughts anyway. Having said that though she did always present herself really well.

Her 'thousands and thousands' certainly stuck with most of the passengers, most seemed to say it for her by the end of the cruise!

I guess it is personal choice, we didn't like her as cruise director much but other seems to think she's great. Like all cruise directors, everyone has the ones they like and those they don't. But having Zoltina as CD certainly wouldn't stop me going on another cruise.

P&O can only do so much. They can serve alcohol responsbily, but of course others can buy it for them.

And of course there's always smuggling alcohol on board as so many seem so desperately keen to do, so P&O can't control it all.