PacificBear

I stay at the Hotel Formula 1 (now called ibis budget) at Sydney Airport - about $100 per night for the room. Very basic room but clean and walking distance to the domestic airport.

Just to add, most cabins only have one power point, so a double adapter can be handy.

Well written post David.

From my own perspective:

• I live in Brisbane, previously we have only really had P&O as a cruise option.
  

• At time of posting I have done 36 cruises (most 7 night cruises and most on P&O), and I am doing around 6-8 cruises per year.
  

• It would take me 1-2 years to get up the ladder on RCI and get some decent benefits.
  

• P&O give absolutely nothing to frequent passengers, not even things that would not cost them anything like priority boarding. They no longer do Captains Club, etc.
  

• RCI have announced they will have cruises departing Brisbane when the new cruise cruise terminal is build.
  

What this means is that as a frequent cruiser, why would I not go with RCI (or Princess) who reward frequent passengers ?

This means that P&O will miss out (without a doubt), unless they bring something in for frequent and past passengers.

I think some of the P&O ships have different computer systems. I was told by check in staff that the check in computer system on the Dawn is different to the Aria - which could be why P&O has not yet got a fully integrated cruise control like Princess (yet). I would expect that in due time they will continually improve. It wasn't that long ago, that P&O was all paper tickets, etc.

Question for y'all: I'm doing a baby cruise before the big one. Whats the sea like in March between NZ and the PIs? I'm not prone to sea sickness unless xxxx is involved but I'd like to know if I should rewatch Poseidon. Chur.

I have cruised all months of the year and my opinion is that sea conditions are not so much dependant upon which month, but if a storm is nearby. There are more storms expected in January than July, but I have done many cruises in January with calm seas.

Hi guys,

Angelo's & Dragon Lady - some say there was no cover charge, some say there was a $10 cover charge. Can anyone please confirm?

These two restaurants are free at the moment, but we understand the intention is to charge for them. No one has been able to tell me how much.

On Aria and Eden you can not book the Waterfront. However you can book Angelo's and Dragon Lady, from 8am on each day. Be aware, they are usually booked out by 8.30am.

Thanks for posting your review. I am feeling much more positive about our May sailing on Aria. Have they sorted the issues with the lifts? How Was the tender service ?

Yes lifts have been sorted out. On any given day there was probably one lift (out of eight) out of service, but rest were OK. Tender is fine - just usual issues of swell when getting on, etc.

P&O have replaced some of the tender boats with larger new tender boats, however you sit in them like a troop carriers (facing sideways) and they do not have many windows. Problem with this is they get extremely hot, and when the rocking of the ocean moves them about, because of the heat and no windows, causes a few people to feel sick.

I am on the Aria at the moment. Las Vegas pool party was today at midday. Not a great deal happened and not much has been said about it around the ship. Gatsby Night is tonight to align with the Red Velvet Show. The deck party starts at 9.30pm after the second show.

Bianco has been most popular with most people wearing something white, however most of us do not understand the theme, it does not seem to link to a show or anything else in fact. On my last cruise on the Dawn, sail away was Bianco which sort of worked.

Just my opinion, the old Island & Pirate nights seemed to work better and linked in the shows.

Back on the Aria for second time, been onboard for one day now. I am pleased to say a marked improvements in the ship. My opinions are below:

Boarding - Very smooth, check in staff seem to know how the new computer system works and it was very efficient

Dinning - The Restaurant seems to have simplified its menu and seems to be working better (although less food choices). Some things that people have commented upon are still there (small tables, no tablecloths). All food was hot when delivered. I ate at Angelo's last night, but there was a line of people waiting at the MDR around 7.30pm, so presume access is still an issue (which you would expect with a 400 seat MDR for 1,600 pax).

Muster - I am not a fan of the muster on external decks. I think it would be unsafe in a real emergency (who would want to be outside in heavy seas withs staff trying to launch a lifeboat about you head). Both experiences of the muster, I have seen people taken away for fainting. I think this needs reconsidering.

Ship Condition - Managed to speak to a few senior ship officers, they have all commented on the ship being not to P&O desired condition upon hand over (you may have seen the video on facebook of water in staircases which was blamed on the condition of the ship form HAL). I have taken some photo's of poor conditions things (rust, etc). Just my opinion (and others will disagree), I feel HAL may have let maintenance go a little. Condition of the ship does seems to be improving on second voyage after a few weeks of P&O service. All lifts have been working so far. I do not know why, however the viewing deck above the dome has been closed. Will try asking why later in the cruise.

Entertainment - Seems to be fairly well organised, however I don't think they have it fully smoothed out yet. Some activities do not seem to suite the location (running trivia in show lounge for example).

Kids club (HQ & HQ+) seems to have been moved to the conference rooms on deck 6 near the wine bar, however they will need to do some building work.

Will post more comments later.

Hi Shiprobbo, thanks for advices.

So all the rhetoric that we have been told over the years that its safer inside in a lounge, than outside on the deck must be BS. Not certain I would like to be on an outside deck in heavy seas waiting for staff to stuff around above my head trying to launch a lifeboat.

Anyway, the weather was on our side for muster on deck yesterday, only one lady in my area (lifeboat 7) was taken away for almost fainting.

In Nov they did not, but staff said it was coming.

I would say you are correct (a hang over from HAL). I have been told many ships in Europe do outside muster, but was also told only about 50% of passengers turn up to them in Europe (not certain that is true). Personally I think its crazy doing it outside. There is enough space internally to do them on the Aria.

Boarding Pacific Aria tomorrow. Not really looking forward to the muster on the outside decks in 30 deg heat. On my last cruise 2-3 people in my area had to be taken away due to feeling faint, etc.

I hope this has changed since I was last on her and they now do them inside like every other P&O ship.

victravellers is correct. Not only do P&O not have a loyalty program, they have stopped anything loyalty related (including Captains Club Cocktail Function).

Yes they do, but the theme night typically start around 8 or 9pm.

Many did enjoy the cruise as well. Here's a recent weblog post from one:

http://cruisingwithhoney.blogspot.com.au/

I have a feeling that this person is paid by P&O, at the very least, she is friends with a staff member; however having said that, her post is mostly similar to my experiences.

There are I think 12 lifts & it's very unlikely more than 1 would be out of operation at a time.

On the Aria, all lifts in stern lift well were non operational for the entire cruise. This meant that people with disabilities could not get to the MDR as no other lift well has access to the MDR. In the other two lift well, only perhaps 2 of the 4 lifts were working (maybe three at times).

I did cruise #2 on Aria and am going back on 3 Jan 2016 for Fiji 11 days. Will post a balanced review on return.

My experience - most of the issues were teething issues which will be well sorted out by Feb (if not now). Overall the ship was OK, much better decor that Dawn/Jewel.

I spoke to new friends we made while onboard the statendam. They were on the lowest passenger deck and reminded me 1) their toilet overflowed 2) for the first 3 days of the cruise from Seattle to Alaska (prior to our shorter sector) for three days their air con was stuck on very cold and they were very uncomfortable. Interestingly, for both inconveniences they were reimbursed $150 each time quickly with apologies. They reminded me that on the couple of rainy days we had, buckets had to be placed in various areas under the closed retractable pool area deck. We had a crack in our bathroom basin. The ship itself wasn't by any means perfect.

 

It is unfortunate that the two ships were so over hyped, as they are certainly not new.

 

We missed a port due to an engine failure, so I wonder whether this will be Eden's next drama? The saddest part were the final days, where the magnificent library had all its books packed away (some given away to passengers, most packed in boxes to other HAL ships), the terrific art including sculptures, antique furniture, paintings etc, which were all removed, and a real bunfight when all the ports visited plaques were auctioned off. In Singapore while we waited to disembark workers swarmed on, dismantling outdoor lights etc.

My opinion is that when the ship came from HAL, it was in very poor condition.

This is evident in things like heaving lines (ropes to tie the ship up) which were very old and worn, P&O do not let their lines get old and replace them at six months. Why do I focus on lines - thats about the only operational thing that I as a passenger can see, if that has not been maintained, goodness knows the maintenance on what I can not see.

Why? Excellent staff in every part of the ship / excellent food in main dining room (it was two stories high so minimal waiting time) and the buffet / cabins had flatscreen TVs with DVD player with 100s of DVDs available free anytime / cooking demonstrations / daily movies screened twice or three times 3-6-9pm / best Reception staff we have encountered / fantastic huge library with librarian, New releases section, magazine bar, jigsaw room, cards room / flowering orchids on each table in the buffet, floral displays, great works of art, sculptures, etc throughout..we could go on.....

 

We did note quite a number of P&O staff onboard the closer we got to Singapore

 

So in dry dock in Singapore, 700 odd workers, 24 hours a day... What has gone so horribly wrong?

Hi Dollyhouse,

I am an experienced cruiser (36th cruise next week) and have sailed on Aria (Sister ship) in November (second sailing of Aria under P&O), in fact I am back on her in a few days. Allot of what you are talking about has been removed by P&O. To comment on some of your remarks:

- Excellent staff: all staff replaced by P&O staff with about 50% new cruise staff (or inexperienced), which meant lots of disorganisation

- Excellent food in main dining room: MDR has been cut into three restaurants, two fee paying with MDR only seating 400 (ship hold 1,600 pax - its a no brainer to realise this is not going to work). You can not book for dinner and must wait, up to 2 hours !

- buffet: Buffet replaced by 'the pantry', some like it, some don't

- cabins had flatscreen TVs with DVD player: This is no Big deal, all cruise ships in AU have flat screen TV's

- 100s of DVDs available free anytime: removed by P&O

- Cooking demonstrations: not done by P&O

- Daily movies screened twice or three times 3-6-9pm: Not done by P&O

- Reception staff we have encountered: all replaced by P&O who are still learning the ship

- Fantastic huge library with librarian: Removed by P&O

- jigsaw room, cards room: removed by P&O

- Flowering orchids on each table in the buffet, floral displays, great works of art: removed by P&O

I could go on. My experience was that the ship is fine although I think the MDR is too small. P&O need to focus on fixing the operational matters, most of which are about having experienced staff that know how to run the ship correctly.

I was told that P&O AU is managed by a person who came from the marketing department of a Bank. So P&O are really good with flashy marketing brochures and website, but lack in operational management.

P&O cruises only had three ships and limited experience of launching new ships but tried to launch two new ships (166% increase) and whilst doing so have also have tried to change a formula that worked. I really hope they can realise the mistakes, focus on operations and get back on track.

Hi all,

I am looking at booking a cruise for four (with wife and two children). There is a 50% chance that my eldest daughter will be working, however the total price for three is the same as the total price for four.

So I am thinking of booking for four of us, however if I do, then my daughter can't go and only three turn up to check in, is there any ramifications ?

I do realise there would be no refunds and am quite OK with taking that risk.

Has anyone experienced the pantry yet and able to tell me what it's like? We're off on Jewel in August and were expecting a buffet.

Hi Kerry,

Yes I have done it - its fine. The food is good and it is served for you (so less chance of catching a bug). The best way to make it work is go to one food 'shop' at a time, eat that food and if you want to try something else go to another food 'shop'. Let me know if you have any questions.

I understand that for ships based in Australia, there is a legal issues with 'all inclusive' type drink packages.

Having said that, the price other cruise lines sell them for, it seems tt be cheaper to me to buy the drinks individually.

The ships are older but service is great as long as you fit in the P&O system. Have done many P&O cruises and I do enjoy it. Entertainment is good, especially the shows. P&O try to provide the same service to all passengers, so no rewards program (etc).

Basically a three day cruise with a slight theme on food - two full sea days cruise - a weekend get away - great fun. Yes its is worth doing - I have done 3 or 4 (actually going on a comedy cruise tomorrow Sat 7 March).