Pacific Dawn Review - 9 to 16 July 2011

[Debsta]

PACIFIC DAWN – W124 - 9 to 16 JULY 2011

BRISBANE – to NOUMEA, LIFOU, PORT VILA

 

Captain – Salvatore Lupo

Cruise Director – Paul Hancox

Assistant Cruise Director – someone who should be shot ohhhh the voice!

DJ Mat

 

I am sitting here writing this with great difficulty due to the awful land rocks I get......the trade off for never getting sea sick, UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG and 7 days is not long enough for a cruise!

 

Off on an impromptu 7 nighter, solo, for a little R & R. 2 weeks prior to sailing I had waitlisted for Pacific Jewel from Sydney on 12 July and this cruise. The waitlist came through for Pacific Dawn and I ummmmmmed and arrrrrrrrred for a day hoping the Jewel would come through a) because it was from Sydney and b) it was for 12 days and I could stay on for the 3 nighter at the end I had already booked. Decisions decisions. At the 11th hour, decided any cruise was better than none so took the Pacific Dawn confirmed booking. Still wondering if the Pacific Jewel cruise would have come through LOL The airfares to Brisbane cost half of the cruise cost! Ugggggg. This is my first time on the Pacific Dawn. I have been on Pacific Jewel (balcony) and Pearl (ocean obstructed) as well as Rhapsody of the Seas (junior suite), Diamond Princess (balcony) and Sun Princess x2 (balcony and inside) in this round of cruising since November 2009, as either a solo, with family or with friends.

 

Cruise morning comes. What idiot books a crack of dawn flight from Sydney when it’s 3 degrees when you wake up! Me! Add another layer of clothing LOL Wasn’t much warmer when I got to Brisbane!

 

The flight. With the new Qantas rules of only being allowed one bag, I had pre-ordered a 2nd bag online for $20 ($30 if you do it at check-in) at 1 am when I figured I couldn’t squeeze everything into my small bag (the snorkelling gear takes up a lot of space! and the 25 pairs of shoes....joking about shoes), so decided to take the suit pack as well. It slips over the case and it’s easy to zoom along without killing my back! Being a Qantas Club member I am allowed 32 kg in one bag. It’s ridiculous you can’t spread that amount between 2 bags. Not that I had 32 kg, but I like to be able to carry my bags, not drag them and do my back in. I’m not that big! So at 1 am I try to do online checkin....no such luck, the system is down. In bed at 2 am with the alarm set for 5 am......and I ask again, what kind of idiot flies early morning?.....me! LOL

 

The taxi trip to the airport on a Saturday morning was in record time with Deepak Ghandi Webber at the wheel. So with the new whiz bang computer chip QF Card, I go to do the kiosk check-in. Ahhhhhhh it hasn’t registered my pre-ordered bag and demands another $30.00. So off to the QUEUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. I beg the “I have the power to direct you to the queue without a smile guy” to let me on the empty biz class queue and he says no way. Join that one. I go but but but but, it’s QF fault I can’t check-in at the kiosk. Too bad. But but but I’m a QF Club member. Too bad, you no longer get priority as a QF Club member. Pissed off I join the long queue. So after forever in the queue the check-in chick has problems also and spends more time on the phone. As my blood pressure rises and she says I will have to pay the $30 then request a refund I withhold my dummy for a further 30 more seconds (and it was getting very difficult I might add) her supervisor finally says, let her on! Up to the QF Club for some breakfast, cup of tea and a power nap LOL

 

Finally all comfy in my squishy economy window seat (the seats are getting smaller I swear!), earphones in and hopefully another power nap a young guy falls into his seat.....yes, falls. Stinking of last night’s adventures.....you know the smell, stale alcohol and no shower. I thank Allah it’s only an hour’s flight! Until about half an hour in I should have prayed to Buddha or someone else......he reaches for the spew bag, then puts it back, reaches, replaces, reaches, replaces............I eye off the guy sitting on the other side of him and we both have that terrified look in our eyes........then it happens..............ahhhhhhhhhhhh too late....................chuck chunder grabs the spew bag and misses. Now he sits there covered in spew. And, of course, you know what happens when someone hurls, it’s like a chain reaction. Holding my nose, looking out the window and gagging, I manage to hold my delicious breakfast of wet bircher muesli in! And a full flight so nowhere to move to! And then music to my ears, the Flight Captain announces descent yeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

 

Off the plane, grab my bags, out into a taxi ($30 to portside), at Portside at 9.45 am and they were already boarding! Check-in was a breeze. They were doing a time audit today so at the baggage drop they gave me ticket to hand in on the other side. She explained they were testing out how long each segment takes. I told her I was going to go and have a few cigarettes before I went in to stuff up their test LOL Nahhhh I wanted to get on! So with number 13 in hand (omen?) I wait for my turn.

 

Gotta say, she’s not very impressive when you pull up at the port. No WOW factor, lots of rust marks. Even less impressive when you walk on. Very bland, no WOW factor anywhere. But I’m here for last minute R&R, someone to feed me, drop my towel on the bathroom floor and leave my bed unmade - so not that fussed about the ship per se. I waitlisted/booked the cheapest inside cabin (called povo class I believe LOL) and was upgraded to an ocean view mid ship cabin P155. This was a quad share with the pull down beds, opposite the self-serve laundry (no laundry rage to be seen or heard throughout the cruise LOL). Cabin size is good but the pull down beds jut out when they are up so it’s a squeeze to get into the double bed made up. Yes I did hit my head! Flat screen TV, all the normal stuff, large shower with the loving shower curtains, heaps of storage, hanging and drawer space and 4 (yes 4) safes and not one of them worked hahahahaha Can’t tell you how many times I requested at least one get fixed.......I gave up asking after Day 4. I had a look at the mini-suites on disembarkation day and they looked quite large if you were the type to spend all your time in the cabin, had kids, honeymoon humping or just plain anti-social LOL. They do rope off the pool deck above the mini-suites on the smoking side each night, too bad if you were on the non-smoking side cos those non-smokers drag their chairs and tap dance on the deck too LOL

 

OK back to the cabin, my luggage arrived very promptly (gotta love getting onboard on audit day hahaha) so I was able to unpack and have a wander around the ship before muster. On the lookout for CC roll call people I spotted someone who might have been someone. Isn’t it funny how CC members attract LOL So I met up with “Deano” his family and their friends and ready for sailway at 2 pm. Feels odd leaving so early and without the magnificent Sydney backdrop.

 

Pool deck - There’s no Pacific Cirque swingy/thingy on the pool deck but they do have Pacific Cirque entertainers in the Atrium on certain nights. No big screen. Two pools, one adults only and a couple of hot tubs. There is a distinct lack of deck chairs on the pool deck. The Oasis is free now and gives out blankeys on cold days. The Oasis is supposed to be kid free zone but that was very hit and miss shooing out the little pests. The deck above the Oasis also has two hot tubs. There were 450 kids onboard and they seemed more noticeable on this cruise compared to Pacific Pearl I did in the April school holidays with the same amount of kids (how come I travel without kids and always end up going in school holidays? LOL)

 

For dinner we booked anytime dining......really? OK traditional dining, I mean you have a choice of up to 6 pm or 8 pm onwards LOL Shows are at 7.30 pm and 9.30 pm, so we booked 8 pm and always rushed to get out for a show. Our table waiters were pleasant but it took them days to warm up and really interact.

 

The food? Not going there. Ohhh alright, seeing as you’re wondering. I still can’t understand how they can get it so wrong. Dining room food was often cold, and I now know where all the salt mine salt has gone too. Hit and miss I think the term is. Food was OK but I wouldn’t rave about it. I tried to get to dining room breakfast but never seemed to wake up in time LOL The first morning buffet breakfast the queue’s were horrendous. Fortunately that calmed down through the cruise.

 

This is not a “happy crew” ship! Forced smiles all around. I wasn’t the only person who noticed this. The Captain never made the midday announcements either and it was always his sidekick.

 

Weather – cold for the first 2 days with jeans/jackets the dress code for most although the further away from OZ we went the layers got peeled off. Fully clothed deck sunbaking initially LOL It was about 22C in Noumea when we arrived at 3 pm, about 24C in Lifou and partly cloudy, and 26C in Port Vila and drizzly then clearing to a sunny afternoon. The next sea day on the way back was a beautiful warm day and the last sea day it started to cool down but a lot warmer than on the way over.

 

Snorkel hire is available on the ship for a full kit for $49.95 adults, $29.95 kids for the entire cruise.

 

Shore Tours

 

Noumea – what do you do from 3 pm in Noumea? I hadn’t been to the aquarium before so booked the shore tour as I knew it wasn’t opened on a Monday. A brief city tour on the way to the aquarium, which is really well done, then a trip up to the top of the hill for a look see then back to the ship.

 

Lifou – last time I was in Lifou it took forever to tender off so I decided to book a shore tour, Cliffs of Jokin. First stop a Vanilla plantation which I found very interesting and a cup of vanilla tea or coffee. Then to Cliffs of Jokin and another refreshment break. What a beautiful spot. We walked down the 100 steps and the water is pristine and the coral/fish looked sensational. I wanted to go snorkelling there (others were) but the guide wouldn’t allow it....bugga! If you can get there it is really worthwhile. Only for the fit as it’s a big jump in and a rope to pull yourself out. I then went over to Jinek Bay to snorkel. The old wooden steps are definitely gone after Cyclone Vania went through in January, but they have made a make-shift ladder out of tree branches which is difficult to navigate and very very slippery. There are some rough concrete steps further along with a big jump to get in but manageable also. P&O refuse to fix the steps due to OH&S and don’t want people going there, so the locals have done the best they can I guess. But with the money the locals make the locals should fix the bloody steps up! The water was a bit brisk but still pleasant but I’m afraid to say this area no longer has the “sensation” factor it once did. Cruise ships have wrecked this marine environment. Doesn’t help when idiots stand on the coral and go ‘look at me’. But I did Find Nemo J

 

Port Vila – I booked the Pele Island tour. It is a brand new shore tour and only the 2nd time it has been run. A small group of 18 of us. It’s about an hour’s drive, then a 15 minute boat road to the island. We were greeted by the “chief of the day” and given a coconut and lei (when I went back through the markets the local ladies were all looking at it as they had never seen one like it before to see how it was made). After a serenade by the local band we donned our snorkelling gear and out in the boats to about 300 metres offshore. It was drizzly rain and a bit windy and choppy but sensational snorkelling. It is a marine park. Due to the choppy conditions our snorkelling was cut short L Lunch is provided which was a snack box kinda deal with a ham/cheese/lettuce roll (very fresh), an apple, a muffin and scone and a chicken type spicy pastry wrapped slice (very very tasty), cordial or water. We then went on a walk through the village and they had a small market stall set up also. Back for coffee and tea then time to go! Not long enough but shore tours never are. Highly recommended! The driver stopped at the duty free shop and waited for us on the way back to the ship, with time for a 10 minute smash and grab shop back through the markets just in time for final boarding.

 

Gym/Spa is located on Deck 2. I went to the gym often for a looksee on my way to the spa LOL With all the intentions of exercising I always seem to go “tomorrow”. But “tomorrow” never comes hahaha. Spa was great. I had a few treatments, and although expensive, this is my enjoyment and after all, this is an R&R cruise. Even squeezed in a few afternoon nana naps too J

 

Salt Grill/La Luna – didn’t eat here this time but I always highly recommend both. Salt Grill was open for breakfast on the last 2 sea days at $20.00 pp. I didn’t see the menu or meet anyone who ate breakfast there, so can’t offer an opinion.

 

Onboard shops – I think I’m over onboard shopping. Nothing took my fancy, not even the diamonds! Probably cos I’ve bought it all before LOL

 

Disembarkation – I booked the $29.95 ship transfer until I got my disembarkation time of 6.40 am. Shove that! So I was able to cancel that and change my disembarkation time to a more civil hour of 8.20 am, caught a taxi which cost $27.00 LOL

 

Cruise Itinerary/Dress

 

Day 1 – Smart Casual/Dancing through the decades**

Day 2 – Cocktail/Formal

Day 3 – Smart Casual/Country & Western

Day 4 – Smart Casual/Pirates

Day 5 – Smart Casual/Island Attire**

Day 6 – Cocktail/Formal

Day 7 – Smart Casual**

Day 8 – Smart Casual

 

**Shorts may be worn in the dining room on these nights only

 

Shows/Bars/Entertainment

 

So much to do, so little time! P&O do their entertainment right! Except the band Vertigo (they were on Pearl in April and they’re haunting me). She has the worst voice!

 

Guest entertainers were Tony Laffan (comedy magician), Andrew Nasan (comedian) and Steve Allison (comedian). All very good and I love the late Sit Down Comedy Club in the Dome. Still wondering where the balloon that Tony swallowed is LOL and how he did the razor blade swallow trick!

 

International Show Lounge entertainment – Welcome Aboard Show, Do You Wanna Dance, Temonora Tahitian Experience (local folkloric show in Noumea), Pirates of the Pacific (on the Pearl they are doing the 2nd one of this), Tony Laffan and Boogie Shoes. As previously said, shows are at 7.30 pm and 9.30 pm with the exception of the first and last night, at 9.30 pm and 7.30 pm respectively.

 

There’s always something going on, movies, karaoke, demonstrations of various types (or as I like to call it the Hard Sell), art auctions (hmmmm), laser shows/pacific cirque entertainers in the atrium, formal night parade/lazer show/champagne waterfall, learn to dance, trivia, boot camp............and the list just goes on and on and on, something all day and night, for all ages and tastes...............or you can curl up in a deck chair with a book and cocktail J Oh and don’t forget afternoon tea in the dining room at 3.30 – 4.00 pm on sea days! Island night is always a hit and they have now mastered the art of keeping people up and drinking by doing the Conga line into the Dome! Very enterprising!

 

Casino – Wow what unhappy dealers. I have never seen so many glum faces (and that’s not from the passengers losing their money!) Don’t know what’s going on there but as someone who enjoys the banter at the tables I was very disappointed (and so were others) of their lack of interaction and funness L. First cruise I haven’t won anything either. I’m normally very very lucky!

 

B I N G O – I only played on the last sea day this time. Usually play every day but decided I never win so why bother LOL I won $117 in the first session hehehe. Now that’s a first! Final day jackpot was $4500 (approx) and a young couple who had come on for a family wedding won it.

 

Laundry – yes they have a self serve one and it was opposite my cabin but I didn’t even look in it.

 

OK that’s it, I’ve dribbled on, I’m sure there’s plenty more.....any questions, I’ll try to answer them.

 

Oh one more thing....I only demagnetized my cruise card once this trip.....that’s an all time cruise record hahahahahahahaha. My bill is still in its envelope, I’ll wait for the CC statement AKKKKK.

 

Ohhhh another thing – Definition of awkward/hint of bizarre/twilight zone music: Your ex BF is on the cruise with his new financee! Fortunately our split up some five years ago was due to geographical hassles as he was transferred as Chief Captain to a NSW regional hub (he’s a pilot) and we couldn’t keep up the distance romance, so that wasn’t an issue to run into him, but it’s the last place I would have thought I would run into him! Especially cruising out of Brisbane....actually just cruising. We sorta kept in contact but I hadn’t seen or heard from him in over 2 years until a few weeks ago. We chit chatted about the kids, family, bla bla (never mentioned travel or cruising mind you) and he told me he was getting married! I was happy for him but bittersweet sadness as well.....oh well. It has been 5 years though! Can you imagine when I saw them at sailaway and here and there throughout the ship! I successfully managed to evade them until the 2nd last day when face to face in the buffet queue we came! OMG the look on his face was priceless...he stuttered “Deb, Deb....OMG Deb!”.......the look on her face was even better when he introduced me as an “old friend” LOL. I wandered off and left him to explain who his “old friend” was. Bittersweet closure :/

 

THE END (but repacking for 3 nights on Pacific Jewel on 22 July outta Sydney and 2 nights on Sun Princess on 28 July outta Brissy to Sydney again – Princess elite not far off! hehehe)

[Sandielle]

I read and remarked on the other board, thanks for the review Deb. Forgot to say I think Capt. Lupo is new to this ship and was wondering what he was like - they have all been great up until now.

 

Now, I'm also wondering it the PDawn crew are now unhappy because of the new captain?????? Honestly, they all used to say the Dawn was the best ship and were all great. Ohhhhhhhhhh, I do hope they perk up before my next cruise. :cool:

[Debsta]

I was also wondering if the Captain has made a difference down the food chain? Dunno, I just like it when the Captain makes announcements. Perhaps he's microphone shy :p

[barnsey1802]

Hi Deb,

 

Welcome back:)

 

Glad you had a good time.

 

Great review, I too can't understand why the crew are unhappy. Although it was a while ago that we travelled on the Dawn, the crew were the the most friendly lot I have ever seen. Also our cabin steward that we had on the Pearl said she would much rather be on the Dawn.

 

See you on Friday.

 

Deidre:D

[Sandielle]

I was also wondering if the Captain has made a difference down the food chain? Dunno, I just like it when the Captain makes announcements. Perhaps he's microphone shy :p

 

So do I. Capts Turnbull and Box were just great and so funny. Oh well........

[dougo in oz]

Thanks for your review Deb - I enjoyed reading it.

 

And fancy running into your ex ... at least it was civil and "grown up" if you know what I mean.

 

Perhaps the crew are unhappy because some contracts are shorter these days. I met a crew member on the Pac Sun in late June who understood his contract was 6 months and found out accidentally from others that it was only 4 months ... def. not a happy camper !!

[golfer76]

Welcome back! :) I totally agree with you about the casino staff Debsta!! I see nothing's changed in a little under 4 months?!? :eek: I don't think the chick on the roulette table cracked a smile once...not even after I had handed over my cash!

 

Yeah, the Dawn doesn't quite compare to the Rhapsody lol, but she does sail out of Brissy which is good for us SE Qlders!! ;):D

[tassie cruiser]

We have been on Dawn 3 times. Our last time was a 3 dayer on her in June I thought ther same, staff not real friendly, our room steward was very ordinary I must say, I just put it down to only being a 3 day cruise????? As our previous times on Horny Dawny, the staff were fantastic,

We were on cruise at Easter on Pearl (with Debsta and Barnsey) and we ran into quite a few staff we had recognised from Dawn and we chatted with them and we asked them which ship they prefer and they all said Dawn........So, I wonder what it is?? Fiona:)

[thied]

PACIFIC DAWN – W124 - 9 to 16 JULY 2011

BRISBANE – to NOUMEA, LIFOU, PORT VILA

 

Captain – Salvatore Lupo

Cruise Director – Paul Hancox

Assistant Cruise Director – someone who should be shot ohhhh the voice!

DJ Mat

 

I am sitting here writing this with great difficulty due to the awful land rocks I get......the trade off for never getting sea sick, UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG and 7 days is not long enough for a cruise!

 

Off on an impromptu 7 nighter, solo, for a little R & R. 2 weeks prior to sailing I had waitlisted for Pacific Jewel from Sydney on 12 July and this cruise. The waitlist came through for Pacific Dawn and I ummmmmmed and arrrrrrrrred for a day hoping the Jewel would come through a) because it was from Sydney and b) it was for 12 days and I could stay on for the 3 nighter at the end I had already booked. Decisions decisions. At the 11th hour, decided any cruise was better than none so took the Pacific Dawn confirmed booking. Still wondering if the Pacific Jewel cruise would have come through LOL The airfares to Brisbane cost half of the cruise cost! Ugggggg. This is my first time on the Pacific Dawn. I have been on Pacific Jewel (balcony) and Pearl (ocean obstructed) as well as Rhapsody of the Seas (junior suite), Diamond Princess (balcony) and Sun Princess x2 (balcony and inside) in this round of cruising since November 2009, as either a solo, with family or with friends.

 

Cruise morning comes. What idiot books a crack of dawn flight from Sydney when it’s 3 degrees when you wake up! Me! Add another layer of clothing LOL Wasn’t much warmer when I got to Brisbane!

 

The flight. With the new Qantas rules of only being allowed one bag, I had pre-ordered a 2nd bag online for $20 ($30 if you do it at check-in) at 1 am when I figured I couldn’t squeeze everything into my small bag (the snorkelling gear takes up a lot of space! and the 25 pairs of shoes....joking about shoes), so decided to take the suit pack as well. It slips over the case and it’s easy to zoom along without killing my back! Being a Qantas Club member I am allowed 32 kg in one bag. It’s ridiculous you can’t spread that amount between 2 bags. Not that I had 32 kg, but I like to be able to carry my bags, not drag them and do my back in. I’m not that big! So at 1 am I try to do online checkin....no such luck, the system is down. In bed at 2 am with the alarm set for 5 am......and I ask again, what kind of idiot flies early morning?.....me! LOL

 

The taxi trip to the airport on a Saturday morning was in record time with Deepak Ghandi Webber at the wheel. So with the new whiz bang computer chip QF Card, I go to do the kiosk check-in. Ahhhhhhh it hasn’t registered my pre-ordered bag and demands another $30.00. So off to the QUEUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. I beg the “I have the power to direct you to the queue without a smile guy” to let me on the empty biz class queue and he says no way. Join that one. I go but but but but, it’s QF fault I can’t check-in at the kiosk. Too bad. But but but I’m a QF Club member. Too bad, you no longer get priority as a QF Club member. Pissed off I join the long queue. So after forever in the queue the check-in chick has problems also and spends more time on the phone. As my blood pressure rises and she says I will have to pay the $30 then request a refund I withhold my dummy for a further 30 more seconds (and it was getting very difficult I might add) her supervisor finally says, let her on! Up to the QF Club for some breakfast, cup of tea and a power nap LOL

 

Finally all comfy in my squishy economy window seat (the seats are getting smaller I swear!), earphones in and hopefully another power nap a young guy falls into his seat.....yes, falls. Stinking of last night’s adventures.....you know the smell, stale alcohol and no shower. I thank Allah it’s only an hour’s flight! Until about half an hour in I should have prayed to Buddha or someone else......he reaches for the spew bag, then puts it back, reaches, replaces, reaches, replaces............I eye off the guy sitting on the other side of him and we both have that terrified look in our eyes........then it happens..............ahhhhhhhhhhhh too late....................chuck chunder grabs the spew bag and misses. Now he sits there covered in spew. And, of course, you know what happens when someone hurls, it’s like a chain reaction. Holding my nose, looking out the window and gagging, I manage to hold my delicious breakfast of wet bircher muesli in! And a full flight so nowhere to move to! And then music to my ears, the Flight Captain announces descent yeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

 

Off the plane, grab my bags, out into a taxi ($30 to portside), at Portside at 9.45 am and they were already boarding! Check-in was a breeze. They were doing a time audit today so at the baggage drop they gave me ticket to hand in on the other side. She explained they were testing out how long each segment takes. I told her I was going to go and have a few cigarettes before I went in to stuff up their test LOL Nahhhh I wanted to get on! So with number 13 in hand (omen?) I wait for my turn.

 

Gotta say, she’s not very impressive when you pull up at the port. No WOW factor, lots of rust marks. Even less impressive when you walk on. Very bland, no WOW factor anywhere. But I’m here for last minute R&R, someone to feed me, drop my towel on the bathroom floor and leave my bed unmade - so not that fussed about the ship per se. I waitlisted/booked the cheapest inside cabin (called povo class I believe LOL) and was upgraded to an ocean view mid ship cabin P155. This was a quad share with the pull down beds, opposite the self-serve laundry (no laundry rage to be seen or heard throughout the cruise LOL). Cabin size is good but the pull down beds jut out when they are up so it’s a squeeze to get into the double bed made up. Yes I did hit my head! Flat screen TV, all the normal stuff, large shower with the loving shower curtains, heaps of storage, hanging and drawer space and 4 (yes 4) safes and not one of them worked hahahahaha Can’t tell you how many times I requested at least one get fixed.......I gave up asking after Day 4. I had a look at the mini-suites on disembarkation day and they looked quite large if you were the type to spend all your time in the cabin, had kids, honeymoon humping or just plain anti-social LOL. They do rope off the pool deck above the mini-suites on the smoking side each night, too bad if you were on the non-smoking side cos those non-smokers drag their chairs and tap dance on the deck too LOL

 

OK back to the cabin, my luggage arrived very promptly (gotta love getting onboard on audit day hahaha) so I was able to unpack and have a wander around the ship before muster. On the lookout for CC roll call people I spotted someone who might have been someone. Isn’t it funny how CC members attract LOL So I met up with “Deano” his family and their friends and ready for sailway at 2 pm. Feels odd leaving so early and without the magnificent Sydney backdrop.

 

Pool deck - There’s no Pacific Cirque swingy/thingy on the pool deck but they do have Pacific Cirque entertainers in the Atrium on certain nights. No big screen. Two pools, one adults only and a couple of hot tubs. There is a distinct lack of deck chairs on the pool deck. The Oasis is free now and gives out blankeys on cold days. The Oasis is supposed to be kid free zone but that was very hit and miss shooing out the little pests. The deck above the Oasis also has two hot tubs. There were 450 kids onboard and they seemed more noticeable on this cruise compared to Pacific Pearl I did in the April school holidays with the same amount of kids (how come I travel without kids and always end up going in school holidays? LOL)

 

For dinner we booked anytime dining......really? OK traditional dining, I mean you have a choice of up to 6 pm or 8 pm onwards LOL Shows are at 7.30 pm and 9.30 pm, so we booked 8 pm and always rushed to get out for a show. Our table waiters were pleasant but it took them days to warm up and really interact.

 

The food? Not going there. Ohhh alright, seeing as you’re wondering. I still can’t understand how they can get it so wrong. Dining room food was often cold, and I now know where all the salt mine salt has gone too. Hit and miss I think the term is. Food was OK but I wouldn’t rave about it. I tried to get to dining room breakfast but never seemed to wake up in time LOL The first morning buffet breakfast the queue’s were horrendous. Fortunately that calmed down through the cruise.

 

This is not a “happy crew” ship! Forced smiles all around. I wasn’t the only person who noticed this. The Captain never made the midday announcements either and it was always his sidekick.

 

Weather – cold for the first 2 days with jeans/jackets the dress code for most although the further away from OZ we went the layers got peeled off. Fully clothed deck sunbaking initially LOL It was about 22C in Noumea when we arrived at 3 pm, about 24C in Lifou and partly cloudy, and 26C in Port Vila and drizzly then clearing to a sunny afternoon. The next sea day on the way back was a beautiful warm day and the last sea day it started to cool down but a lot warmer than on the way over.

 

Snorkel hire is available on the ship for a full kit for $49.95 adults, $29.95 kids for the entire cruise.

 

Shore Tours

 

Noumea – what do you do from 3 pm in Noumea? I hadn’t been to the aquarium before so booked the shore tour as I knew it wasn’t opened on a Monday. A brief city tour on the way to the aquarium, which is really well done, then a trip up to the top of the hill for a look see then back to the ship.

 

Lifou – last time I was in Lifou it took forever to tender off so I decided to book a shore tour, Cliffs of Jokin. First stop a Vanilla plantation which I found very interesting and a cup of vanilla tea or coffee. Then to Cliffs of Jokin and another refreshment break. What a beautiful spot. We walked down the 100 steps and the water is pristine and the coral/fish looked sensational. I wanted to go snorkelling there (others were) but the guide wouldn’t allow it....bugga! If you can get there it is really worthwhile. Only for the fit as it’s a big jump in and a rope to pull yourself out. I then went over to Jinek Bay to snorkel. The old wooden steps are definitely gone after Cyclone Vania went through in January, but they have made a make-shift ladder out of tree branches which is difficult to navigate and very very slippery. There are some rough concrete steps further along with a big jump to get in but manageable also. P&O refuse to fix the steps due to OH&S and don’t want people going there, so the locals have done the best they can I guess. But with the money the locals make the locals should fix the bloody steps up! The water was a bit brisk but still pleasant but I’m afraid to say this area no longer has the “sensation” factor it once did. Cruise ships have wrecked this marine environment. Doesn’t help when idiots stand on the coral and go ‘look at me’. But I did Find Nemo J

 

Port Vila – I booked the Pele Island tour. It is a brand new shore tour and only the 2nd time it has been run. A small group of 18 of us. It’s about an hour’s drive, then a 15 minute boat road to the island. We were greeted by the “chief of the day” and given a coconut and lei (when I went back through the markets the local ladies were all looking at it as they had never seen one like it before to see how it was made). After a serenade by the local band we donned our snorkelling gear and out in the boats to about 300 metres offshore. It was drizzly rain and a bit windy and choppy but sensational snorkelling. It is a marine park. Due to the choppy conditions our snorkelling was cut short L Lunch is provided which was a snack box kinda deal with a ham/cheese/lettuce roll (very fresh), an apple, a muffin and scone and a chicken type spicy pastry wrapped slice (very very tasty), cordial or water. We then went on a walk through the village and they had a small market stall set up also. Back for coffee and tea then time to go! Not long enough but shore tours never are. Highly recommended! The driver stopped at the duty free shop and waited for us on the way back to the ship, with time for a 10 minute smash and grab shop back through the markets just in time for final boarding.

 

Gym/Spa is located on Deck 2. I went to the gym often for a looksee on my way to the spa LOL With all the intentions of exercising I always seem to go “tomorrow”. But “tomorrow” never comes hahaha. Spa was great. I had a few treatments, and although expensive, this is my enjoyment and after all, this is an R&R cruise. Even squeezed in a few afternoon nana naps too J

 

Salt Grill/La Luna – didn’t eat here this time but I always highly recommend both. Salt Grill was open for breakfast on the last 2 sea days at $20.00 pp. I didn’t see the menu or meet anyone who ate breakfast there, so can’t offer an opinion.

 

Onboard shops – I think I’m over onboard shopping. Nothing took my fancy, not even the diamonds! Probably cos I’ve bought it all before LOL

 

Disembarkation – I booked the $29.95 ship transfer until I got my disembarkation time of 6.40 am. Shove that! So I was able to cancel that and change my disembarkation time to a more civil hour of 8.20 am, caught a taxi which cost $27.00 LOL

 

Cruise Itinerary/Dress

 

Day 1 – Smart Casual/Dancing through the decades**

Day 2 – Cocktail/Formal

Day 3 – Smart Casual/Country & Western

Day 4 – Smart Casual/Pirates

Day 5 – Smart Casual/Island Attire**

Day 6 – Cocktail/Formal

Day 7 – Smart Casual**

Day 8 – Smart Casual

 

**Shorts may be worn in the dining room on these nights only

 

Shows/Bars/Entertainment

 

So much to do, so little time! P&O do their entertainment right! Except the band Vertigo (they were on Pearl in April and they’re haunting me). She has the worst voice!

 

Guest entertainers were Tony Laffan (comedy magician), Andrew Nasan (comedian) and Steve Allison (comedian). All very good and I love the late Sit Down Comedy Club in the Dome. Still wondering where the balloon that Tony swallowed is LOL and how he did the razor blade swallow trick!

 

International Show Lounge entertainment – Welcome Aboard Show, Do You Wanna Dance, Temonora Tahitian Experience (local folkloric show in Noumea), Pirates of the Pacific (on the Pearl they are doing the 2nd one of this), Tony Laffan and Boogie Shoes. As previously said, shows are at 7.30 pm and 9.30 pm with the exception of the first and last night, at 9.30 pm and 7.30 pm respectively.

 

There’s always something going on, movies, karaoke, demonstrations of various types (or as I like to call it the Hard Sell), art auctions (hmmmm), laser shows/pacific cirque entertainers in the atrium, formal night parade/lazer show/champagne waterfall, learn to dance, trivia, boot camp............and the list just goes on and on and on, something all day and night, for all ages and tastes...............or you can curl up in a deck chair with a book and cocktail J Oh and don’t forget afternoon tea in the dining room at 3.30 – 4.00 pm on sea days! Island night is always a hit and they have now mastered the art of keeping people up and drinking by doing the Conga line into the Dome! Very enterprising!

 

Casino – Wow what unhappy dealers. I have never seen so many glum faces (and that’s not from the passengers losing their money!) Don’t know what’s going on there but as someone who enjoys the banter at the tables I was very disappointed (and so were others) of their lack of interaction and funness L. First cruise I haven’t won anything either. I’m normally very very lucky!

 

B I N G O – I only played on the last sea day this time. Usually play every day but decided I never win so why bother LOL I won $117 in the first session hehehe. Now that’s a first! Final day jackpot was $4500 (approx) and a young couple who had come on for a family wedding won it.

 

Laundry – yes they have a self serve one and it was opposite my cabin but I didn’t even look in it.

 

OK that’s it, I’ve dribbled on, I’m sure there’s plenty more.....any questions, I’ll try to answer them.

 

Oh one more thing....I only demagnetized my cruise card once this trip.....that’s an all time cruise record hahahahahahahaha. My bill is still in its envelope, I’ll wait for the CC statement AKKKKK.

 

Ohhhh another thing – Definition of awkward/hint of bizarre/twilight zone music: Your ex BF is on the cruise with his new financee! Fortunately our split up some five years ago was due to geographical hassles as he was transferred as Chief Captain to a NSW regional hub (he’s a pilot) and we couldn’t keep up the distance romance, so that wasn’t an issue to run into him, but it’s the last place I would have thought I would run into him! Especially cruising out of Brisbane....actually just cruising. We sorta kept in contact but I hadn’t seen or heard from him in over 2 years until a few weeks ago. We chit chatted about the kids, family, bla bla (never mentioned travel or cruising mind you) and he told me he was getting married! I was happy for him but bittersweet sadness as well.....oh well. It has been 5 years though! Can you imagine when I saw them at sailaway and here and there throughout the ship! I successfully managed to evade them until the 2nd last day when face to face in the buffet queue we came! OMG the look on his face was priceless...he stuttered “Deb, Deb....OMG Deb!”.......the look on her face was even better when he introduced me as an “old friend” LOL. I wandered off and left him to explain who his “old friend” was. Bittersweet closure :/

 

THE END (but repacking for 3 nights on Pacific Jewel on 22 July outta Sydney and 2 nights on Sun Princess on 28 July outta Brissy to Sydney again – Princess elite not far off! hehehe)

great review so how did you find Paul?

and great love life i must say

[BuzzBuzzen]

Thanks for a great " normal person's" review , it gave me a few laughs. We went on the Dawn in 2008 and found it lotsa fun even with two teenage girls needing a revolving door on the entry and bathroom doors.

[Brossy]

Hi Deb

 

I loved reading your review and I chuckled all the way through, thanks for sharing :) .

 

I haven't been on the Dawn for a while and it sounds like they have dropped their standards a bit :( but glad to hear you still had a great time. I hope you mentioned the cranky casino staff in your questionnaire at the end of the cruise.

 

I'm looking forward to hearing all about the food and wine cruise soon too :) .

[This_Beats_Working]

I was on cruise 2 before Deb's and agree with dropping food standards. Most of the waiters are now Indian and ruder than before. Very hit and miss

 

Deputy Cruise Director is Gemma. She is a wonderful person. My favourite P&O person. Cruised with Gemma twice now and a beautiful person

[isajack]

On the Pac Dawn, October 1st 4 nights Bris to Auck, just to try, but doesn't sound too good, hope it improves for our cruise.

 

Lee

[sapper2829]

Hi Deb,

 

Great review ..have to agree on the food comment . The buffet was slop

 

for most of the time.(May 2011)

 

Looks as if you are a true cruise "junkie' Good for you.

 

Dick

[deano75]

Hey Deb - great review 10/10.

Dining at the table with you I would have to say that the food was my greatest complaint on the Dawn..... oh you forgot to mention that we owned the conga line on island night:D

Someone mentioned Paul... he was the most annoying cruise director that I have come across:mad:

As for cruising on the Dawn again...... problerly not. Will stick to Royal Carribbean from now - and try others (unless super deal with P&O)

[anderss22]

Hey Deb - great review 10/10.

Dining at the table with you I would have to say that the food was my greatest complaint on the Dawn..... oh you forgot to mention that we owned the conga line on island night:D

Someone mentioned Paul... he was the most annoying cruise director that I have come across:mad:

As for cruising on the Dawn again...... problerly not. Will stick to Royal Carribbean from now - and try others (unless super deal with P&O)

 

OMG I am slightly put off going on the pearl now in November..... Great review by the way and great that you got to meet Deano and Robyn.:)

[Debsta]

OMG I am slightly put off going on the pearl now in November..... Great review by the way and great that you got to meet Deano and Robyn.:)

 

The Pearl was great in April just gone! Don't be put off :D

[Skyrules]

Someone mentioned Paul... he was the most annoying cruise director that I have come across:mad:

 

We had Paul Hancox on Pacific Jewel last year - wasn't really impressed with him.

[tassie cruiser]

OMG I am slightly put off going on the pearl now in November..... Great review by the way and great that you got to meet Deano and Robyn.:)

 

We have been on Dawn 3 times (last cruise was last month - June) Went on Pearl at Easter (with Debsta) soooooooo different..You wouldnt have thought it was the same cruise line. So, please dont be put off, we couldnt fault Pearl, from the food to the entertainment it was first class, we have cruised Royal Caribbean and Princess and I must say Pearl wins in my opinion.. Fiona

[anderss22]

We have been on Dawn 3 times (last cruise was last month - June) Went on Pearl at Easter (with Debsta) soooooooo different..You wouldnt have thought it was the same cruise line. So, please dont be put off, we couldnt fault Pearl, from the food to the entertainment it was first class, we have cruised Royal Caribbean and Princess and I must say Pearl wins in my opinion.. Fiona

 

Thanks for the advice! We went on Rhapsody in Feb and just loved it.... We have never done the P&O ones and after reading some reviews I have been a little concerned that they are not so great... I think we were spoilt first time around on Rhapsody. I am determined to have a good time on the Pearl and keep and open mind and go with it... I do think that we will have a fantastic time and it will be great to see how another company does it!:)

[tassie cruiser]

Thanks for the advice! We went on Rhapsody in Feb and just loved it.... We have never done the P&O ones and after reading some reviews I have been a little concerned that they are not so great... I think we were spoilt first time around on Rhapsody. I am determined to have a good time on the Pearl and keep and open mind and go with it... I do think that we will have a fantastic time and it will be great to see how another company does it!:)

 

Hi there, We cruised on Rhapsody Dec/Jan this year, was a beautiful ship thats for sure, heaps nicer looking and classier than P&O, no arguments there, the atrium was just wow...

Pearl was completely different, a couple of examples::::

The Shows were great, heaps better than Rhapsody. On the top deck on Pearl the bars,grill,coffee shops were open till 1am.each day, So it was just nice to sit up on top deck chatting and having drinks, coffee, food lol.... till late, you could not do this on Rhapsody, everything on top deck was shut quite early, it seems a shame when you are in the middle of the Pacific and it is nice and warm not to be able to be on top deck, if you know what I mean.

The activities are more full on and more fun, something always going on the top deck. Rhapsody had activities but not to the extent P&O do. Island Night is the best with P&O, they have got it right and Princess and Rhapsody not up to P&O with the theme nights.The cabins quite a bit bigger. Kids club better (according to our kids anyway) On our Rhapsody cruise it was a NYE cruise and there was a 12.00 cerfew for u/18's, they had to be either in their cabin or with a parent after midnight, if they were seen out they got name in the naughty book, 3 times and parents were given a talking to, can you imagine 17 y'olds on a cruise and being in cabin by midnight or with a parent haha, they werent real happy with that lol... With P&O quite a few of their activities didnt finish till after 1 and sometimes they would have movie marathon or pool/mocktail party that would finish from 2-3am.

On the other hand things you will notice different from Rhapsody are:

Rhapsody have more free things onboard food wise, like the yummm soft serve machines, juices, pizza etc.. thats in the solarium. P&O dont do that, Pearl/Dawn doesnt even have a Pizza place anymore ,Free room service.

.I think Rhapsody's tendering was heaps better than P&O..

Overall I think P&O attract younger people (or younger minded) therefore cater to, where Princess and RCCL tend to have older passengers, eg..my mum loves Princess and says P&O is too noisy for her..lol..P&O is heaps more casual which is I think what younger people like the best.

I will probably think of heaps more but I have prattled on enough for now..lol Fiona:)

[anderss22]

Hi there, We cruised on Rhapsody Dec/Jan this year, was a beautiful ship thats for sure, heaps nicer looking and classier than P&O, no arguments there, the atrium was just wow...

Pearl was completely different, a couple of examples::::

The Shows were great, heaps better than Rhapsody. On the top deck on Pearl the bars,grill,coffee shops were open till 1am.each day, So it was just nice to sit up on top deck chatting and having drinks, coffee, food lol.... till late, you could not do this on Rhapsody, everything on top deck was shut quite early, it seems a shame when you are in the middle of the Pacific and it is nice and warm not to be able to be on top deck, if you know what I mean.

The activities are more full on and more fun, something always going on the top deck. Rhapsody had activities but not to the extent P&O do. Island Night is the best with P&O, they have got it right and Princess and Rhapsody not up to P&O with the theme nights.The cabins quite a bit bigger. Kids club better (according to our kids anyway) On our Rhapsody cruise it was a NYE cruise and there was a 12.00 cerfew for u/18's, they had to be either in their cabin or with a parent after midnight, if they were seen out they got name in the naughty book, 3 times and parents were given a talking to, can you imagine 17 y'olds on a cruise and being in cabin by midnight or with a parent haha, they werent real happy with that lol... With P&O quite a few of their activities didnt finish till after 1 and sometimes they would have movie marathon or pool/mocktail party that would finish from 2-3am.

On the other hand things you will notice different from Rhapsody are:

Rhapsody have more free things onboard food wise, like the yummm soft serve machines, juices, pizza etc.. thats in the solarium. P&O dont do that, Pearl/Dawn doesnt even have a Pizza place anymore ,Free room service.

.I think Rhapsody's tendering was heaps better than P&O..

Overall I think P&O attract younger people (or younger minded) therefore cater to, where Princess and RCCL tend to have older passengers, eg..my mum loves Princess and says P&O is too noisy for her..lol..P&O is heaps more casual which is I think what younger people like the best.

I will probably think of heaps more but I have prattled on enough for now..lol Fiona:)

 

Cheers Fiona ! Thanks for all the pointers. I am sure that we will enjoy the cruise. Seeing how we are in our early 30's I think we will find it pretty cool. I have heard from people that the princess lines are more like floating nursing homes....lol. Rhapsody had a good mix of people, but my partner did mention that it would be nice to hang out with people nearer our own age. Anyways we shall find out for ourselves and you never know we may even end up liking it more than our last cruise! :D

[tassie cruiser]

Thanks for the advice! We went on Rhapsody in Feb and just loved it.... We have never done the P&O ones and after reading some reviews I have been a little concerned that they are not so great... I think we were spoilt first time around on Rhapsody. I am determined to have a good time on the Pearl and keep and open mind and go with it... I do think that we will have a fantastic time and it will be great to see how another company does it!:)

 

Something I thought of to tell you, it prob isnt important to you but anyway.... In your cabin on the Pearl the hangers are those metal ring bits on a rod and you clip the wooden hanger off (not explaining that very well..lol) like they have in some hotel rooms.. real pain in butt... Someone on here suggested taking spare hangers of your own, this was great as there wasnt a lot of hangers and it was a pain getting them off and on and there were lots of trouser clip ones etc...which we didnt really need, so, in otherwords, its a good idea to take some of your own (on all our cruises we havent come across this before, they are usually just the normal ones and its no drama to ask steward for more) so that is my tip for the day..lol (and a powerboard of cause) Fiona:)

[anderss22]

Something I thought of to tell you, it prob isnt important to you but anyway.... In your cabin on the Pearl the hangers are those metal ring bits on a rod and you clip the wooden hanger off (not explaining that very well..lol) like they have in some hotel rooms.. real pain in butt... Someone on here suggested taking spare hangers of your own, this was great as there wasnt a lot of hangers and it was a pain getting them off and on and there were lots of trouser clip ones etc...which we didnt really need, so, in otherwords, its a good idea to take some of your own (on all our cruises we havent come across this before, they are usually just the normal ones and its no drama to ask steward for more) so that is my tip for the day..lol (and a powerboard of cause) Fiona:)

 

Thanks for the tip! I already knew that one though and did take metal ones with us last time. I also bought one of those cheap plastic clothes hanger/ airer things with the pegs from the reject shop and the cabin was like a chinese laundry.. lol

anyways thanks for all your advice and yeah hopefully a great cruise is coming up! :)

[golfer76]

We just got back off the Dawn this morning from our 11 night cruise to the Sth Pacific. I must say I think the service and food was much better this time around than our last cruise on the Dawn 4 months ago. Our cabin steward this time was way more attentive and our waiters at dinner in the main dining room were first class the whole length of the cruise. ;):)