markannab

Many cocktails are around $13-$14. Beers $7-$10. Wines $9 up. I think that's fairly accurate.

That can certainly be done from my experience. Our standard arrival time is around 9:30am. Baggage drop-off has always been open and you do that before dealing with any paperwork. So you can happily wander off and come back later.

Hi all

We're cruising on Pacific Explorer from 28 December 2018. I'm trying to find out who the Entertainment Director will be then (Note: Not the Cruise Director but Entertainment Director). There seems to be a bit of a changeover taking place between now and then and that's proving to be the challenge. On FB, I posed the question and names were tossed around but none were correct. If any assistance can be given, that would be appreciated.

Mark.

Thankyou for your reply. And thanks for the tip to be sure to have something in writing. As it is, I have a direct email specifying what travel expenses are covered, having a companion come onboard for free, and the various onboard discounts. Taking your advice, I've printed that out. We have been told our "package" will arrive soon. Likely, that will include the contract.

Two of the discounts are specified as:

Bars: 60%

Restaurant Bars: 25%

I'm assuming restaurant bars refers to when purchasing drinks while dining. With P&O, many "bars" also serve cafe items like barista coffee, latte, teas, etc. I wonder if the discount is limited to just alcohol? I guess I'll soon find out. Thanks for your help.

I'm contracted directly by the cruise line - not an agent. But, as said in the original post, information is very limited. They were my first port of call (pardon the pun) but I just can't find out anything. The one bit of direction I was given was, Talk to reception if you have any questions. While acknowledging the wonderful job those at reception do (and what they have to put up with sometimes), I know from experience there's a fair chance they won't have a definitive answer either. More than likely, the answer would be along the lines of, "Don't worry about it. Your discounts will be applied at the end of the cruise".

We are only talking about coffee and tea (and maybe a few snackies), so it's not worth pursuing to any great length. But if someone who is a guest speaker reads this, then the answer may be quick and simple. Thanks.

Hi

My wife and I are excited about being guest speakers next month for the first time. But information regarding onboard discounts is limited. I wonder if anyone experienced in guest speaking onboard P&O could fill me in, please?

The main question is this: A significant discount is offered "at bars". Would this be a loose term that includes coffee shops? My wife and I do enjoy an alcoholic drink. But my wife enjoys a good few pots of tea and I like a few coffees. I assume discounts aren't figured out until the end of the cruise. If so, we would have no idea what we're spending until afterward. If we know these things are included, then we'll be all the happier as we sip away!

Thankyou for any assistance,

Mark.

Thankyou.

Good morning

I'm trying to find out who the new cruise director is/will be on Pacific Aria as my wife and I will be guest speakers on our next cruise. It has been Willie Lee. But he just sent me a message saying that, by the time we cruise on 16 March, he won't be on there. Unfortunately, his wording wasn't clear as to whether he has already moved to his next ship (Eden) or if that's in the future. Any help would be appreciated. Mark.

Spot on!

As you may be aware, the ship will dock at one of two places. If the weather is suitable and the dock is free, you'll dock against the two-storey markets. Otherwise, you'll dock at the shipping container area and be taken by bus to the market. On the bottom level of the market are little shop fronts where various tours, etc. are being sold. One woman regularly walks around trying to sell pricey hop on/hop off bus tickets and being pushy. But look around for a shop front selling them for around $12 (they're all for the same bus!). You get a wrist band that allows you on and off the bus at will and a 1/2 price drink voucher per person. Last time, this was for drinks at the "3 Brasseurs".

They'll give you directions but, essentially, walk out the front onto the main street. The bus will pull up directly outside the market. These are good, air conditioned coaches. It will stop at a number of locations, repeatedly working a loop back to the market. There are a couple of places you can hop off if you're seeking to have a drink. They're not particularly signposted and the driver doesn't always volunteer an announcement, so it can be good to ask him/her for help.

However, you can hop off at the Aquarium stop, then walk back along an attractive beach area (Anse Vata), around the headland for the drink (2km?), or get dropped off at a stop very close to "3 Brasseurs". (The "3 Brasseurs" can be seen on Google Maps just above the oval highrise building). Google Map: https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Anse+Vata,+Noumea,+New+Caledonia/@-22.3012174,166.4382435,745m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x6c27e26fad5ad017:0x480601c05a9d78f8!8m2!3d-22.3004763!4d166.4432935

Incidentally, if drink vouchers are still for the same location, you can taste test their various beers on tap before purchasing.

There are some very nice areas in Noumea and New Caledonia as a whole. Like the hometowns of anyone posting on here, Noumea has it's areas that aren't so attractive. That doesn't quite justify suggesting the entire place isn't worth visiting. We have visited several times and enjoy, not just the "luxury" things, but simply taking in how other people live.

However, like wagtail_syd said, Lemon Bay is worthwhile. We'll be arriving there at 4:00pm in March and will be doing that again. In fact, it's our tradition. We grab a hop-on/hop-off bus for around $12 each. Note that some charge a lot more than that, so search around. Along with your bus ticket, you get a 1/2 price coupon for a bar at Lemon Bay. That bar faces the water and palm trees. You can sit outside in the cool and soak in the view. They brew awesome wheat beer onsite and much of the cost of your bus ticket is recovered by the discounted drink.

We now have a contact for hiring a proper car (not scooters or electric mokes like are available at the port). So, next time, we can travel far beyond where we've been before.

As an added point, Don't panic about the idea of seasickness. My wife doesn't bother with seasickness tablets now. But, for the first few cruises, would take a non-drowsy one around sail away. It would be working by the time we hit open water. She could then gauge how she was going and how rough it was. Usually, she had to take only one more or, possibly, no more.

Hi

Strange you've had no replies since you posted this in September. We haven't been on Explorer but the principles are the same regardless of the ship. Being lower in the ship, as you are, is an advantage if the ship is rolling side-to-side. The higher you go, the greater the movement. However, you are very near the front, so you will likely be quite aware of the up and down movement as the ship cuts through waves.

On the upside, in that location and height, you may well be able to go to sleep with the soothing sound of the bow cutting back into the water after going over a wave. Personally, I found it very relaxing.

As a side tip, as first-time cruisers, if seasickness becomes an issue, don't see your cabin as the go-to location to get better. It's the worst place to be, especially if it's in a part of the ship that moves a lot. The enclosed space does nothing good for overcoming the feeling of being sick. The best thing to do is head for the centre of the ship (the pivot point) where movement is the least. Preferably, go up onto an open deck with fresh air. From that location, just don't watch the ends of the ship going up and down! :-)

It is unfortunate when a vacation is badly affected by sickness. At the same time, it is recognized by most cruisers that this is a risk that comes with this type of vacation due to the population density onboard. I do know P&O take the task of sanitizing surfaces very seriously. I'd be surprised if they held much blame. The nature of the flu is that it's passed on, even when no longer on the ship, as illustrated in the case of your family.

I agree that much can be done with preventative measures by passengers. My wife and I have now been on 10 cruises. In that time, I've had just one day where I felt so weak I had to lay down. The rest has been fine. While we know we're not 100% protected from problems, I don't doubt our hygiene habits have gone a long way in protecting us. This is what we do:

1. On the first day, we spray our room with Glen 20 and wipe down all surfaces.

2. We don't put our hands on our faces (including things like rubbing our eyes with fingers).

3. We avoid using fingers to touch any surface around the ship.

4. We wash our hands frequently.

On point three above, it may seem like a task-and-a-half to remember. But, in no time, it's habit. Going up and down staircases, we hold the rail with the inside of our wrists for support instead of the palm of the hand. To operate the lift, we use our knuckles. To pull open a door, we hook the thumb-side of our index finger around the handle. To "address" a facial itch, we use the back of the hand rather than fingers.

Like in any public place, it's a sad fact that you'll observe people with poor hygiene such as not washing their hands after going to the toilet and re-entering a public area, then touching everything that can be touched! It's these ones that do so much to successfully spread disease.

Steven from Scotland is a nut! And needs to learn some new moves. Every time you see him around the ship for two weeks, he's bopping the same moves and thinks he's endlessly entertaining. :-/

Hi

I can't confirm if the water in the rooms and in the restaurants come from different sources. However, all tap water is desalinated and can vary in taste from day-to-day. We certainly brush our teeth using water in the bathroom. For taste, bottled water is definitely better. Most times, there's a deal in your room where you buy a certain number of bottles and get more for free. P&O cruises are so low in cost, we happily make that purchase and just view it as part of the cost of our cruise.

In regard to restaurants, no, you can't book ahead of time. Sometime after you board (I can't remember the time but you can ask), you can go to the main restaurant (or ring from your room) and book a table. If you want to dine in the main restaurant the next night, simply re-book as you leave and you'll get the same table. If you skip a night (by going to dinner elsewhere), just be sure to re-book the main restaurant as far ahead as possible (early in the day, for example). Having said that, you can quite often just walk up to the restaurant (especially after the initial rush with first seating) and get a seat.

Do be aware that, by default, you will generally be seated at a table with other diners. If you don't like that idea, you just specify that you want a table by yourselves. Those smaller tables are limited in number so you want to waste no time in making that initial booking. Two seater tables are generally not near windows, so if you like a window view, you might be disappointed (though there's no guarantee of a window seat even at large tables).

But here's a thought if you haven't tried buffets before - although P&O are/have swapped all ships to The Pantry which is a more hygienic variant of the buffet. We used to dine at the main restaurant all the time. 1 1/2 - 2 hours each night. On a 14-night cruise: 20-28 hours of sitting at a table. We occasionally go to the main restaurant - especially for breakfast where no booking is required and it's quite fast. We also will treat ourselves once or twice to a specialty restaurant. But the rest of the time, we now choose The Pantry/Buffet.

We note the opening times, especially for breakfast and lunch, and we're there at kick-off. The area is quieter, we get first serves, it's quicker to get served (though we'll eat leisurely), and we can usually get terrific window seats looking out over the wake. In addition, start time for the evening meal doesn't clash with entertainment such as the main theatre or bands like the main dining room often does. Sure, you don't get someone to lay a napkin on your lap . . . but I think we can survive without that! :-)

Many mistakenly think that this choice means you have to miss out on nice dining. It's different, for sure. But, with the right approach, such as getting there at opening time, you can carefully choose a theme for your meal (Asian, Fish & Chips, Indian, etc) just as you may choose in the main restaurant. You can buy a nice wine to go with our meal as well. Not only that, The Pantry/Buffet often reflects choices that are available in the main restaurant on the same night. I remember one night, we went to the main restaurant and chose something like mussels (which I love). I got two. Later, we went into The Pantry for a snack and discovered a mountain of mussels for the taking and enjoyed a plate full!

Hope this all helps.

Thankyou very much for your help. I'll print your reply and do as you suggest.

Thanks,

Mark.

I have asked this question before and been given help by a fellow forum member. Unfortunately, I've still hit a dead end.

My wife and I are guest speakers with another cruise line and would like to look at doing the same with R.C. in Australia since we've cruised with them a few times. Unfortunately, I get no response regardless of what supplied email address I use. There also appears to be no way to phone them directly (the options when you ring are mostly for booking-related matters).

Can anyone assist me with this?

Thanks very much,

Mark.

Thanks for your reply. Something I didn't mention at the start of this thread is that we already do rock 'n' roll classes with P&O. Initially, it was purely for fun with no financial benefits. But the cruise director was was so impressed with the feedback that they asked us to join their guest speaker program and receive free cruises. We've now done that and are awaiting for the 2018 cruise listing.

You are right: We supply our own MP3 player. We arrived with wireless equipment but they wanted us to use theirs. My mention of bands isn't because I want them to play for our lessons. I want to know if suitable music is being played onboard at other times – both for our own fun and for class participants to try out a few moves if they wish.

While we tone down how much we dress up for the classes, we do take typical rock 'n' roll-style clothes for the evenings when we are dancing ourselves. It's easy for the man: One pair of shoes, one pair of pants, and two or three shirts. My wife takes along four or five circle dresses, a couple of multi-layered petticoats, etc. But her entire wardrobe of clothes - for dance and the rest of the cruise - fits in one larger suitcase.

We'll be giving lessons; not lectures. We've already been doing it unofficially and, based upon the success, been asked by one line to become official guest speakers with most or all costs covered. It is true that either staff or show dancers give lessons. In 10 cruises, I'm yet to find a staff member or show dancer who is a teacher. Bear in mind, a show dancer can be the world's best . . . but have no idea about teaching. We experienced this on our last cruise! By contrast, in addition to dancing for pleasure ourselves, we are teachers. Quite a difference. It's true, around 30 is what seems to be expected. In addition, good numbers of older ones come to watch, so it serves as entertainment for them which the cruise lines are happy about.

As regards bands, I don't want them to play for us. Teaching dance goes hand in hand with the opportunity for students - if they so wish - to have something to dance to in the evenings - hence my question about the presence of bands.

You mention "a couple of lectures" - or, in our case, classes. No, classes are numbered, generally, according to the number of sea days. Therefore, there could be seven, eight or nine classes of up to an hour each. The classes we've held thus far have, all but on one occasion, been held on the main theatre stage. The remaining one was assigned to the main dance floor.

To clarify, my question on this forum wasn't an initial enquiry about possibly giving lessons onboard. We've already given them, have experience in doing so, and are expanding onto other lines. The question related to us deciding which lines to accept as we currently have five to choose from.

"Those who grew up with rock and roll do not need lessons"? :-) I can understand why you might say that. People from that era were quick to get on the dance floor. But, usually, that was not to dance specific rock 'n' roll moves. If they did, they may have known four or five moves that they repeated (Watching an episode of Happy Days is a classic example). Nothing wrong with that.

However, there are literally hundreds of moves that can be learned. Our teacher, dancing for many, many years, knows around 200. Four years of specific lessons and heaps of practice taught my wife and I around 75. I feel the majority of people growing up in the 50's didn't invest so much time into dance that they have nothing to learn now. And, of course, there are the many younger ones (including teenagers and those in their 20's) who are discovering the fun of (possibly) dressing up for a night out and learning the skill of dancing specific moves.

I guess that, when considering my original question about typical ages of those onboard, the question isn't about how many might be interested (we know people from all age groups join in) but whether a large number are not physically able due to the sad effects of aging. We do slow the dance lessons right down and teach easy moves. Nonetheless, we find that those who are advanced in years tend to come and watch - possibly reliving their youth - rather than actually participate.

Music does get "updated" in that some of the music is newer material. But not everyone - not even all young ones - prefer the latest music over older music. So, they keep a bit of everything. I'm in my forties and I'll happily listen to 50's/60's rock. I play in a band and was performing last night. We do music ranging from 50's material through to Ed Sheeran and faster new songs. You can guess which songs filled the dance floor! :-)

Hi Peter, I'm not too keen on my email address being online but I'll post this one which isn't used much. If you wouldn't mind copying it, letting me know, then I'll delete it from the forum. It would be great if your daughter was able to help me deal directly with Celebrity for guest speaking rather than through expensive agents (most will deal directly with speakers). Thanks again. My address is: enquiries3@worldofprinting.com

Thankyou.

Thankyou. I wouldn't need live music for the classes - I use a wireless MP3 player clipped to my belt. The idea of a band is partly for my wife and I to dance to since we wouldn't enjoy a cruise where we teach dance but don't get to dance ourselves. But, also, we like to encourage those who participate in classes to get up the nerve to jump on the dance floor with their new moves before the cruise is finished. Recorded music just isn't the same.