Pacific Pearl, Bounty Cruise JAN 2011

[Eaglegirl52]

I'm looking at booking this cruise as the date and itinerary suit, then realised after trying to research the ship that it doesnt exist as the Pearl as yet. Anybody got any plans to book this ship or any ideas as to how the refit will change it from the existing Ocean Village?

[Single Cruiser]

The functional areas of the Pearl OV are very similar to that of the Jewel. However she is much better in lots of areas.

 

Deck 14 dome is a gym/lounge in the day and Nightclub at night. For those wanting forward views there is a wrap-around deck in front which allows you to watch the bridge wings as the pilots navigate in and out of port.

 

The restaurants are the same, main Waterfront deck 7 aft, slightly smaller than on the Jewel as the Bistro (which I assume will become a Luke Mangan salt grill) is in one corner. This does however mean that the Plantations buffet on deck 12 is bigger than on the Jewel.

 

Overall she is bigger (longer) than the Jewel and has less cabins. Deck 5 houses a 200+ seat Cinema where Jewel has cabins. Deck 6 around the atrium/village square has an extra bar (blue bar) and an extra shop where Jewel has more cabins.

 

I reckon the changes they will make will be:

• Conversion of the Waterfront from buffet to traditional dining.
  
• Conversion of the Sunweaver bar to this new chocolate cafe thing..
  
• Conversion of the Bistro to a Luke Managan Salt Grill.
  
• General refurb of the lounges/nightclub.
  
• Conversion of the power in cabins to Aus sockets
  
• Refurb of the Connexions and Oval bars on deck 7.
  
• External re-paint job into that horrible plain white P&O colours
  

Like the Jewel she has tiered rear decks so guess they might do another Adults area. The Family base camp has a rear deck already on deck 11 aft along with child sports nets. Deck 14 aft where the kids club is based on the jewel is open deck that has a basketball size sports net/court.

 

Ov/Pearl has a swim-up bar in the middle of deck 12 which means lots more deck space on deck 14 above.

 

Teens area is down on deck 2 as is a small spa.

 

The thing to note is that currently she only has balcony cabins on deck 11, so a few dozen and so will sell out soon. I can't see them spending money on making extra given her age.

[Eaglegirl52]

Thanks for the extensive info on the layout.

You say "given her age", is she generally in good condition for her age? or will the refit likely include a lot of remodelling and refurbishment?

thanks

[Single Cruiser]

She's a bit rusty in places but then she's a couple years older than the Jewel. All the interiors will be refurbished like they did on the Jewel (carpets/re-rope lifts etc..) new furniture etc...

 

I would imagine that they would do some metal work on the railings. She's only going to be in dry dock the same duration as Jewel was so I doubt anything structually..

[Riffraff]

I reckon the changes they will make will be:

• External re-paint job into that horrible plain white P&O colours
  

 

Don't you mean, "get rid of the horrible Ocean Village colours and make it look like a proper ship again!" ? :):D:D

 

sorry - couldn't resist.:p

I reckon you're right about what they'll do though - and also, they'll probably do what they did on Regal Princess when she became Pacific Dawn - take out the cinema and use the space for something else - on Dawn it's the Shark Shack & Turtle Cove kids areas.

 

The swim-up bar might go as well - the one on Pacific Dawn did.

 

I think she looks like a great ship, and I'm keen to do a cruise on her out of Auckland when she arrives.

When she goes into dry dock, still ages away yet, P&O will probably do another blog thing like they did for Jewel so we can see the progress.

[Single Cruiser]

The kids club has a large base and night nursery on deck 11. Much larger than jewels so hopefully they won't need to axe the cinema. In her p&o days when she was Arcadia I think they also used the cinema for another lounge for comedians etc. She's not new to aus either, loads of pics online in her White p&o livery leaving Sydney.

 

Having spent more than 2 months onboard her I'll miss her. One or two last cruises for me this year on her and that's it :(

[Kiwi_cruiser]

Having spent more than 2 months onboard her I'll miss her. One or two last cruises for me this year on her and that's it :(

 

When are you going on her next Single Cruiser?

[Single Cruiser]

She's in the Caribbean at the moment out of Barbados but when shes back over to the Med she's doing some itineraries out of Crete and some out of Majorca. At the moment its looking like a 12-day repositioning between Crete and Majorca, via Turkey, Greece, Sicilly, Italy and France.

 

And of course everyone is looking at the end of Oct cruise down to Singapore like the Jewel did last year.. Will see how much first... :D

[wildweston]

Come on down Craig and check out your/our ships, you have given great information in the lead up to these two ships coming to OZ, thank you :)

[kiwi sailor]

According the the floor plans of the Pearl compared to the OV, the Cinema is getting the axe and becomes a bar. Only a few other changes that I can work out, apart from the gym being cut down in size. Maybe that is saying something about the Kiwis and Aussies. We drink more and exercise less than the Brits.

[rugbypopsie]

Thanks for the great info....hopefully we wont lose "free" areas on the ship such as the cinema..but sadly on a lot of ships we are seeing more and more of the ship turned into revenue raising sanctuaries "pay for use areas" etc.:o

[Single Cruiser]

According the the floor plans of the Pearl compared to the OV, the Cinema is getting the axe and becomes a bar. Only a few other changes that I can work out, apart from the gym being cut down in size. Maybe that is saying something about the Kiwis and Aussies. We drink more and exercise less than the Brits.

 

Which floor plan is this? The one on the pocruises.com.au website still shows the cinema on deck 5 and gym the same?

[Riffraff]

The latest P&O brochure shows the Pearl has the Players Bar & Casino on deck 5 where the cinema is on OV, and the Gym/Spa is on deck 2 forward of the Aqua Spa & Beauty Salon. The teen centre is also on Deck 2, via the forward stairs.

 

On deck 14 forward the whole area is showing as the Bayside Lounge & Bar - should be good, like the Dome on the Pacific Dawn!

 

I'm really looking forward to Pearl arriving..sorry you're losing her Craig..come down under and cruise on her next year!

[Single Cruiser]

Right I see. I was wondering where the casino went. Currently part of deck 8 above the marquee.

 

You will love bayside. I'm onboard her in 6 months time so will take some inside "before re-fit" pics and post them on here.