W802 Summer Sessions - a review!

[relate2]

I must say chaz cruiser this is one of the best reviews I have read. You must have taken copious notes or you have a fantastic memory to remember what you did each day.

 

Keep up the great work, it certainly has me dreaming about my next cruise.

[chaz cruiser]

There is that feeling that all of us who love cruising hate. It's the morning you wake up after the last island visit and realise you are on your way home! Fortunately we had three sea days ahead of us still to enjoy. I love sea days so was looking forward to three jam packed days.

 

So the first sea day started with the usual breakfast in the Restaurant, then a couple of games of card in the Dome waiting for morning trivia. While we were heading down to lunch we heard from the Captain for one of the first few times he spoke to us.

 

It was quite funny when he came on because the announcement started with the usual pleasantries, "Good morning this is the Captain blah blah" then went on with "may I have your attention please". Obviously the Captain realised people weren't listening because he repeated with a little more force, "may I have your attention please". Now that got everyone to stop & listen!

 

He advised that as we may have realised that we had changed course (I didn't!) as we needed to drop off a crew member who was not well and it would not be safe for him to continue on to Sydney. We would head back in towards Noumea where we would meet a boat that was coming out to collect him. They expected to make up any time that they lost. Then the rumours started.

 

After lunch we had a fun gameshow Passenger Feud based on the tv show Family Feud. Was worth a giggle but our team didn't get selected. And we continued with Sea Horse Racing partly to ensure we had a seat for bingo but also because we like Sea Horse Racing. Mum & I share a bingo ticket and today we got the closest we did all cruise missing out on the final game by 1 number. Darn! Then it was afternoon trivia.

 

At dinner we got a window seat and kept a look out for the boat coming to meet us expected at around 7pm. Our Assistant Table Waiter shared with us that the crew member was one of his friends and that the guys wife had just had a baby. We could see the land & lights but not the boat. After lunch we were unable to get a seat in the show as it was full and I headed out on the deck to see if I could see anything.

 

It wasn't long and we saw the lights on the tiniest speed boat. I have already covered the details of the evacuation on this thread (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=693033) so won't repeat myself.

 

After the evacuation we went to the second show of Motor City (the music of Motown). We sat at the top as it was easier for us this night and I have to agree with another review the bars do get in the way. We were still able to see but you just had to move sometimes to be able to see it all. The show was fantastic and went on missing two male dancers.

 

Congratulations to Tammy & her entire team on their fantastic job. It was quite rough and we head later that one of the dancers, I think it was Meg the lead, had a very nasty fall at the end of one of the shows. I missed it so assume it was at the end of the first show. She said she had a nasty bruise. The Champagne Waterfall was scheduled for this night but it was cancelled due to the rough seas. Was held on the next night.

 

After the show it was up to the Dome for the second round of Majority Rules quiz. It was after 10pm so the Dome was an adults only venue and the questions were a little more racy. Nothing too bad though. We got closer than last time but still didn't win!

 

Back downstairs for quick visit to the video arcade as my aunt called the casino and then off to bed.

 

The next day was a continuation of the sea day roundabout, breakfast - cards - trivia - lunch - sea horse racing - bingo, but was then followed by the Captain's Club Cocktail party. My Nan received a lovely red rose corsage and was escorted to the front row as usual. Nan has completed 33 P&O cruises and was recognised as the third most frequent traveller. She received a lovely bottle of Moet (instead of the normal cheaper wine she gets) which we enjoyed with dinner. The most frequent travellers were a couple who had 91 (I think) and take 10 cruises a year, and second was a couple with 56 (again I think) who were on the second part of a back to back cruise.

 

After dinner we enjoyed the fantastic show Starry Starry Night with the Pacific Dawn Entertainers, Peter Byrne and Danny McMaster (very very funny, wished I hadn't missed his first show). We sat just in front of Danny's wife and I think she would have had a chuckle over the lady sitting next to her who nearly had kittens she was laughing so much!! Would have made for interesting conversation when she got back to the cabin that night!

 

After the show we headed up to the Dome to try out Charades. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it no other teams signed up so we got the prizes of a reversible tote bag for nothing! We decided to hang around for the Marriage Match gameshow as my Uncle & Aunt from Sydney said they were going to sign up. They did and they were selected. For those who caught the show they were Keith & Cathy.

 

The show was quite tame compared to some of the questions they used to ask in the show lounge in the middle of the day. I was a little worried about what would come out but they only had three couples and they only asked three questions of the guys and three questions to the ladies. Wasn't too bad and was still a bit of a chuckle. My Uncle & Aunt didn't win but did still receive some lovely prizes, no longer just the cheap bottle of wine.

 

Went downstairs hoping to catch the end of the Champagne Waterfall but it was all being packed up and we had missed it and the balloon drop. Ran into Martin in the lift and found out that Marriage Match may have been tamer because David was on his best behaviour and Martin usually hosts it but had to do the Waterfall instead.

 

More to come later tonight: final sea day, disembarkation & flights home...

[chaz cruiser]

I must say chaz cruiser this is one of the best reviews I have read. You must have taken copious notes or you have a fantastic memory to remember what you did each day.

 

Keep up the great work, it certainly has me dreaming about my next cruise.

 

No notes.... Just my Pacific Daily's. All the more reason to complete it as soon as I get home! I keep forgetting a few things but I'm sure that my Mum & Aunt will fill in the blanks...

 

Cheers,

Charmain:)

[aussiescouser]

loving every minute of it, cant wait for the final instalment...:D

[karmac]

I must say chaz cruiser this is one of the best reviews I have read. You must have taken copious notes or you have a fantastic memory to remember what you did each day.

 

Keep up the great work, it certainly has me dreaming about my next cruise.

 

 

Welcome back Robert. It seems ages since we saw you on here.

 

Karen

[Brushtail]

Ditto to that, Robert. So when is your next cruise? :)

[relate2]

Thanks Karen and Jen for the kind hello. :) I am still caring for Dad so I will have to wait and see if the new government continues the Carers Bonus this year and grab myself a cheap cruise around July-August.

 

I lurk here every now and then getting my placebo cruise through peoples reviews.(Thanks chaz :)) I do miss those days of "Nothing to do and all day to do it in and the biggest decision of the day being what to order for Dinner." :D

[qld cruiser]

Thanks Karen and Jen for the kind hello. :) I am still caring for Dad so I will have to wait and see if the new government continues the Carers Bonus this year and grab myself a cheap cruise around July-August.

 

I lurk here every now and then getting my placebo cruise through peoples reviews.(Thanks chaz :)) I do miss those days of "Nothing to do and all day to do it in and the biggest decision of the day being what to order for Dinner." :D

 

 

Hi Robert, great to know you are still reading CC.

I thought you may have gone back to skydiving.???

you showed us some beautiful photos from your cruise.

hope you can get on another this year.

kind regards, Lorraine:) :)

[suey]

Hi Charmain, thanks for a great revue.

I am enjoying reading about your trivia wins, you must have beaten my cruise buddies, they only won 4... they are still onboard.

they rang to say everything is different now.

but, they love the ship.

kind regards, Lorraine:) :)

 

Hi Lorraine,

They certainly did better than us as we only won one actual trivia and tied for a couple but missed out on tiebreaker questions. We did much better in the morning show trivia questions, those are the ones that we had heaps of wins on. We had a great friendly rivalry with your friends, always having a quick chat and laugh before trivia. It was a shame we did not know he was CC (as you mention in later post) we could have had a longer chat. Are they doing back-to-back cruises? If so all four of them?:)

Sue

[LouLou28]

Chaz -WOW!! what a thorough review! Took some reading, but was well worth it! What a memory you must have!

 

(I just love reading reviews!!:D :D )

[suey]

Hi Charmain, thanks for a great revue.

I am enjoying reading about your trivia wins, you must have beaten my cruise buddies, they only won 4... they are still onboard.

they rang to say everything is different now.

but, they love the ship.

kind regards, Lorraine:) :)

 

Hi Lorraine,

They certainly did better than us as we only wonone actual trivia, tied for a couple but missed out on tiebreaker questions. We did better in the morning show trivia questions,those are the ones where we won heaps. We had a great friendly rivalry with your friends,often having a few words and a laugh before trivia. It is a shame that we didn't know that he was CC we could have had a longer chat. Are they doing a back to back cruise? If so all four of them? If so they should make a killing at trivia, remembering the new questions, I am trying to remember some ready for April.

Sue:)

[qld cruiser]

Hi Lorraine,

They certainly did better than us as we only won one actual trivia and tied for a couple but missed out on tiebreaker questions. We did much better in the morning show trivia questions, those are the ones that we had heaps of wins on. We had a great friendly rivalry with your friends, always having a quick chat and laugh before trivia. It was a shame we did not know he was CC (as you mention in later post) we could have had a longer chat. Are they doing back-to-back cruises? If so all four of them?:)

Sue

 

Hi Suey, Trivia is their favourite thing on any cruise....

they are on the present 7 nighter, then home until we all do 2nd Feb Sun Princess, then they do BTB on the Sapphire March/April.( DH and I fly to Auckland to join them for the April 2 cruise.) they are a great couple.

He is a lurker in the background of CC and doesn't post much, but watches all...

I could just imagine the fun you all had.

kind regards, Lorraine:) :)

[relate2]

Hi Robert, great to know you are still reading CC.

I thought you may have gone back to skydiving.???

you showed us some beautiful photos from your cruise.

hope you can get on another this year.

kind regards, Lorraine:) :)

 

 

Always a kind word and a helping hand thanks Lorraine. :)

 

It is actually Hang gliding and the only thing that keeps me sane, I need the calmness and freedom of my flying to get me through the weeks. Luckily also after you buy your wing it is basically free, just turn up at the hill when the wind is on and jump off. :eek:

[suey]

Hi Suey, Trivia is their favourite thing on any cruise....

they are on the present 7 nighter, then home until we all do 2nd Feb Sun Princess, then they do BTB on the Sapphire March/April.( DH and I fly to Auckland to join them for the April 2 cruise.) they are a great couple.

He is a lurker in the background of CC and doesn't post much, but watches all...

I could just imagine the fun you all had.

kind regards, Lorraine:) :)

 

Sorry for the double post but the silly computer is telling me I am not posting. Are all four of them doing back to back cruises? There were four of them who seemed to be together - a younger couple thought were children of the other couple??:) We also love trivia but these questions were certainly harder especially last day quiz where the highest score was 6 out of 20:eek:

[qld cruiser]

Sorry for the double post but the silly computer is telling me I am not posting. Are all four of them doing back to back cruises? There were four of them who seemed to be together - a younger couple thought were children of the other couple??:) We also love trivia but these questions were certainly harder especially last day quiz where the highest score was 6 out of 20:eek:

 

 

Hi again Suey, the young couple were passengers they met onboard your cruise. apparently the guy was good at music questions...

I know a few people were doing BTB, but I don't think the other couple were.

wow, 6 out of 20 ...the questions must have been hard.

I always like the fun trivia.:D

 

kind regards, Lorraine:) :)

[suey]

I must say chaz cruiser this is one of the best reviews I have read. You must have taken copious notes or you have a fantastic memory to remember what you did each day.

 

Keep up the great work, it certainly has me dreaming about my next cruise.

 

Chaz's memory is not so fantastic - time for corrections. Wala day was just a heavy shower of rain before we went ashore (really heavy). The next sea day was the day we woke to torrential rain and it rained for most of the day but other four sea days were fine and sunny. :) :)

[ianqld]

Charmain enjoying the great review, waiting for the next installment.

Makes me want to try the Dawn next :)

 

 

There was also a noisy bunch of girls across the hall who regularly got back to their cabin in the early hours of the morning with heaps of noise. Again not a problem for me but did wake up the others. Was very hard to stop them from making "revenge noise" outside their cabin each morning when we got up and saw the Do Not Disturb sign...

 

We had the same problem a few years ago at a Resort, 3:30 each morning the people in the next room woke up everyone as they stumbled in, laughing and talking loudly.

A good (nasty) little trick was to walk past their room, on the way to breakfast at 7am and bang on the door saying it was room service, then just continued on to breakfast.

Some one in the room has to get up and check the door.

We done this two mornings in a row, by the third night they were really considerate of others :D

 

Ian

[karmac]

Just trying to get Ian's post to show.

 

Karen

[collective7]

Hi all,

 

Thanks for the top review – so detailed.

 

I’m going on the next Summer Sessions cruise on the 19th of Feb onboard the Dawn.

 

You wouldn’t happen to remember which themes there were for the theme nights. I think I may start my search for clothes :rolleyes:

 

 

Thanks

[kazmar]

That was a great review. being new to this site it was great to hear about your cruise and that you had a fantastic time. about the karaoke in the bengal bar - we are on the emerald deck underneath, will we have the same experience as you, as you were on the floor above? if so how many nights was there karaoke on your 10 night cruise?

[Sunshine1220]

The review was great. We're first time cruisers and are busting at the seams to get on our cruise on the Pacific Dawn on 10 August 2008!

 

Christine and David :D

[kaseyoz]

The review was great. We're first time cruisers and are busting at the seams to get on our cruise on the Pacific Dawn on 10 August 2008!

 

Christine and David :D

 

 

hi sunshinejust wanted to say i love your tagline. great attitude for a cruiser.

enjoy your countdown on here

[chaz cruiser]

Sorry for the delay in finishing the review. I did finish it on Sunday night but got the white screen of death and hadn't copied my words. Darn!! Was not happy and couldn't be bothered trying to write it all again so went to bed!! Will try again later although I am sure it won't be as good!!

 

Cheers,

Charmain:)

[chaz cruiser]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments... I'm glad you are enjoying the review.

 

Cheers,

Charmain

[CRUISING ALONG]

Hi chaz cruiser (Charmain),

Thankyou for such a great review. Looking forward to reading what happens next. Just one question. When you won the morning trivia competitions did you receive the prizes the next day or on the last sea day? Congratulations on your wins.

Regards

CRUISING ALONG:)