Review Pacific Dawn W822 2nd August 2008

[gizzigoo]

Day 1, 2nd August, 2008 Mother, daughter cruise, Chelsea is 19 and I am in the over 50’s bracket.

 

 

We boarded our flight from Brisbane to Sydney, no delays and when we arrived in Sydney just near the baggage, the P&O ladies were waiting to pick us up. Before we knew it we were on the bus heading to the ship.

I must say that booking the whole cruise including the flights and transfers through P&O made it a very easy transition. Some people who didn’t book the P&O transfers paid $12.00 each, a good price. The day was sunny although a little chilly, but a great day for sailaway.

 

 

 

As the Pacific Dawn came into sight, my very calm, rather blasé daughter exclaimed “H-O-L-Y S-H-%$#T are you sure that’s a ship, it’s massive”. At this point we were both overcome with excitement.

 

 

We went through the boarding process which was amazingly smooth and I remarked to a customs person how impressed I was with the process and how much faster it was than Queensland, he looked at, me and said “need I say more”, we all had a laugh at this.

 

 

Chelsea and I took some photos, did the happy dance (yes, I did the happy dance and she has it on video). We had our boarding photo taken and then bleeped in and we were on board, found our cabin, met Ciko our cabin steward and went exploring. Stopped for a bit to eat at the feeding trough (that’s the buffet, which became known later in the cruise as the feeding trough). Chelsea with video in hand recorded everything.

 

Then out on deck for sailaway, with cocktail in hand. The feeling onboard was electric with everyone holding their breath as we were about to go under the Sydney harbor Bridge. People were yelling “we won’t fit”, people on the bridge were waving to us as we sailed under the bridge and then out past the opera house. The only disappointment was that the ships horn was not sounded, and was not sounded that I heard at anytime.

We headed down to the lido deck as the band started playing and everyone started to dance, we had a couple of dances and then decided we should take our cocktail cups down to our cabin and put them away so that we could continue with the sailaway party. But when we got back it was over and everyone was probably settling into their cabins.

 

 

I went to meet up with Teresa, the First Purser Admin so we could discuss the CC meeting. Teresa was lovely and nothing was too much trouble. She asked if I had time to come down to the Bengal bar and sort out the meeting area. She had already advertised the CC meeting in today’s Pacific Daily and would also advertise it in tomorrow’s Pacific Daily. She asked how we would like the seating and if there was anything else we required. The meeting was all set for 2.15 pm on day 2.

 

 

Back in the cabin to unpack and I had a phone call from Fay in the dining room with a request from Fabio the Maitre de, for all 20 CCers to eat in the dining room tonight. I couldn’t organize it as I had at this stage not met the other CCers. I told Fay I would call back tomorrow after the meeting to book a time. Most said that it would suit them on first formal night to all have dinner together.

 

 

Chelsea and I had dinner. She wasn’t feeling very well as she didn’t have her sea legs yet. We went to the Dome for a short time and then went back to our cabin, I was looking in the mirror and happened to notice flowers behind me, I thought it funny as I hadn’t seen them before, there was a card included and they were from, Teresa the 1st Purser Admin, wishing us a wonderful cruise.

 

 

 

That night we climbed into bed feeling very happy with the day and chatted about the day to come, I told Chelsea that she would meet up with CC people more her age and this might be fun for her, Chelsea said she didn’t need to make friends on the cruise and was happy to spend the entire cruise with me. That thought did change a bit as she settled in, more review to come for day 2…………………

 

 

 

 

[aussiedisneyfan]

What a lovely gesture of flowers! :) Nice photo.

[Gratz]

wow how exciting! So good to be reading your review.....thanks for posting, must have been so nice to have gone with your daughter......

[angelwingsflys]

Hi ,

Thankyou for the review, can't wait for the next part... What was your cabin? Outside? which deck?

Well done so far

Deb

[streaka]

thanking you for your reveiw can't wait for the next edition.

I normaly travel with my son but he went with out me this time.

So no doubt you had a great time with your daughter

 

Janet:) :) :)

[Lizard©]

Loving the review so far.

How nice to spend time with your daughter.

Your room looks nice, which deck were you on?

Waiting with anticipation for the next part :):)

Lynda

[lias]

Hi Glenda

 

Welcome Home.

 

I feel a great review coming on! :D

 

As per your review, I'm trying to think of a six-letter word, starting with SH and ending in T :confused: :D :D

[Ela 2]

Hi Glenda,

 

Great review. Looking forward to more ... and more ... Glad you had a great trip.:):)

 

Evon.

[aussie down under]

:) More please:)

Fantastic photos, cant wait for next part.

Reading others reviews, helps relive my past cruises, and increases my excitement for my next one.

Thanks

MIchele:)

[bomber]

Can't wait to read more. What a beautiful photo of your daughter!

[kaseyoz]

Loved your review as I am too going on a mother daughter cruise and i am now "over 50" well only just. My daughter will be nearly 16 though.

Sounds like you had a ball.

 

One minor correction, the technical term for getting on the ship and using your card is "being dinged" not "bleeped"..sorry just joking..

[Charlie Girl]

Loved your review as I am too going on a mother daughter cruise and i am now "over 50" well only just. My daughter will be nearly 16 though.

Sounds like you had a ball.

 

One minor correction, the technical term for getting on the ship and using your card is "being dinged" not "bleeped"..sorry just joking..

 

Karon

Where's your count down clock for 3rd October?

[nitelite]

Great review of the 1st day, am looking forward to the rest of the review.

 

Excellent photos as well.

 

Cheers:)

[luvvin_u_2]

i was on this cruise too!

absolutely fantastic as always :)

lots of people over 65 but many very nice..

found entertainment staff a bit rude.. but love everybody else

gizzigoo, i think i met ur daughter up in the dome one night..she come up to us saying something like we were the p&o hat people :p

special mentions to rish and sam in the steakhouse, edwin in the casino, randy the cabin steward (not ours) and muntri the waiter.. all fantastic!

cant wait to cruise again.. sux its 6months away tho, way too long to wait!

[arxcards]

Hi Glenda

 

Welcome Home.

 

I feel a great review coming on! :D

 

As per your review, I'm trying to think of a six-letter word, starting with SH and ending in T :confused: :D :D

 

I agree - excellent stuff so far.

 

Socket perhaps?

[lias]

I agree - excellent stuff so far.

 

Socket perhaps?

 

No "h" in socket Geoff. I'm sure Glenda will put us out of our misery :)'

[kaseyoz]

Karon

Where's your count down clock for 3rd October?

 

It is appearing there. It may be because the date is american and showing 10/3 instead of our 3/10, that confused you.

[xxmatthewxx]

i was on this cruise too!

absolutely fantastic as always :)

lots of people over 65 but many very nice..

found entertainment staff a bit rude.. but love everybody else

gizzigoo, i think i met ur daughter up in the dome one night..she come up to us saying something like we were the p&o hat people :p

special mentions to rish and sam in the steakhouse, edwin in the casino, randy the cabin steward (not ours) and muntri the waiter.. all fantastic!

cant wait to cruise again.. sux its 6months away tho, way too long to wait!

 

Were you one of the guys hypnotized?. The guy who had to keep slipping off the chair or one from his party?. They are the only group I can recall in P&O hats.

 

I was on this cruise as well and also found it to have many older people on it which is fine but I find it hard to relate to a lot of them particularly if you are sat with them at dinner. Bit awkward for all.

 

I am going to write a review as I always find a lack of reviews from younger travelers detailing the nightclubs and stuff.

[karmac]

I am going to write a review as I always find a lack of reviews from younger travelers detailing the nightclubs and stuff.

 

 

Good stuff Matthew. Looking forward to reading it. I see you were on the maiden voyage too. We had a great time on that one.

[Charlie Girl]

It is appearing there. It may be because the date is american and showing 10/3 instead of our 3/10, that confused you.

 

Hi Karon

Yes I see it now you explained it to me. Thanks I'm a bit blind sometimes LOL:p

Gail

[gizzigoo]

Day 2, 3rd August 2008

 

Staff on the Pacific Dawn are like one large family and I am sure it is this that puts passengers at ease and immediately gives you a sense of belonging. The thought of leaving this ship was terrible, but I had a week before I really needed to think about it.

We were in Dolphin 174 ocean view, which is deck 8 at the aft of the ship on the port side, and had a quiet deck across the back of the ship. It was nice to pop out whenever we wanted some fresh air and to gaze at the ocean. Ciko our cabin steward was wonderful, we felt most fortunate that we were in this part of the ship. It is also very quiet as there is no through traffic. Ciko is due to go home in a month to see his new baby twins, he hasn’t been home for 10 months and has never seen the twins.

The bed and pillows were comfortable so I slept quite well. Chelsea found her sea legs, silly girl must have forgotten to unpack them on day one! She wasn’t sea sick, but rather dizzy and feeling a lot of movement on the first day.

Had planned to go to the Martini Demo, port tour presentation and a few other things, but as usual on a cruise, plans always change and I ran out of time! Lunch at the Palm Court Dining room, we were seated with some great people. One of the people we met was Joel Ozborn who is an Australian comedian. He is part of the “Sit down Comedy Club” that P&O are currently running. Your cruise cards can be used as tickets to get into the club if you are in Brisbane and in Sydney it is a different club but same deal. He is such a likeable person and made many friends onboard. Chelsea really enjoyed his company on quite a few occasions. Have a look at Joel’s website, some great vids on there that will give you an idea of his range. http://www.joelozborn.com/news.html

I enjoyed meeting the many passengers who shared my lunch, breakfast and dinner table. Rather than just eating in the buffet on your own. I recruited quite a few new CCers over lunch! Although, I also love to sit out on the back deck with a coffee and some of those yummy cakes from the buffet that my brain tells me to put down, but my heart says “go for it girl, what’s a few extra cake kilos in the cruising scheme of things”.

We had to rush off to the Bengal Bar for our CC meeting. When we got there Teresa 1st Purser Admin was there with staff organizing seating and she had partitioned the area off and hung the Cruise Critic sign, I had sent Carnival the artwork for the sign and for the Pacific Daily.

It was nice to meet up with the CCers and put a face to the name. We talked about our plans for the ports and arranged to meet for dinner on formal night. Exchanged cabin numbers and often bumped into each other over the course of the cruise, for a coffee or like. They are all a great bunch of people.

We met up with Matt, Emma and Simon (3 CCers who really love to cruise) at the Dome that night and partied, they were great fun and certainly know how to party. It was 50’s and 60’s Rock and Roll Party night, with the hula hoop comp and the Elvis look alike thing. I stayed till about three am and after way too many cocktails decided it was about pumpkin time for this old duck and headed back to the cabin.

Chelsea stayed till 9am. Yep, you read right. After the dome closed at 4am she headed out on deck and ordered room service with a load of other people and they asked that the spas be turned on so they could have a spa and watch the sun come up.

The best thing about a cruise is the level of security, as a parent I would normally worry if my daughter was at a night club on her own but on a cruise the security is tight. Chelsea always felt safe while on the ship and thought the security staff excellent. All the people who were regulars in the Dome got to know DJ Daniel and the entire bar staff who are amazing.

It was an older demographic on this cruise, which pretty much meant that the younger people had the Dome to themselves after 11pm.

 

 

 

The photo below is with Matt, Simon, Emma, myself and Chelsea on Pirate night, we all jumped when the pirates jumped out at us that night at the Palm Court Dining room.

 

 

 

Day three review to come………………

 

 

 

[gizzigoo]

i was on this cruise too!

absolutely fantastic as always :)

lots of people over 65 but many very nice..

found entertainment staff a bit rude.. but love everybody else

gizzigoo, i think i met ur daughter up in the dome one night..she come up to us saying something like we were the p&o hat people :p

special mentions to rish and sam in the steakhouse, edwin in the casino, randy the cabin steward (not ours) and muntri the waiter.. all fantastic!

cant wait to cruise again.. sux its 6months away tho, way too long to wait!

 

I remember you all, you had the little sailor caps on and as Mathew said one of you was Hypnotised, I loved the Micheal Jackson thing.

 

Were you one of the guys hypnotized?. The guy who had to keep slipping off the chair or one from his party?. They are the only group I can recall in P&O hats.

 

I was on this cruise as well and also found it to have many older people on it which is fine but I find it hard to relate to a lot of them particularly if you are sat with them at dinner. Bit awkward for all.

 

I am going to write a review as I always find a lack of reviews from younger travelers detailing the nightclubs and stuff.

Really looking forward to your review Matt:)

 

Hi Glenda

 

Welcome Home.

 

I feel a great review coming on!

 

As per your review, I'm trying to think of a six-letter word, starting with SH and ending in T :confused:

 

Thanks Greg and sorry Geoff, it's a special secret mother daughter language , so can't be exact, to be honest at first I thought she had said 'holy ship', but then she clarrified it for me in secret mother daughter language.:rolleyes:

 

Loved your review as I am too going on a mother daughter cruise and i am now "over 50" well only just. My daughter will be nearly 16 though.

Sounds like you had a ball.

 

One minor correction, the technical term for getting on the ship and using your card is "being dinged" not "bleeped"..sorry just joking..

 

Hi Karon, You daughter and yourself will have a Blast on your cruise together, it is so nice to spend the time with just one child, very special.

Will remember I got dinged, not bleeped

 

Thanks also to everyone for your kind comments:D

[Gratz]

gosh i am loving your review, thanks so much for posting it all! the photo's look great, are they expensive? I know thats where a lot of my money will be going!

[gizzigoo]

gosh i am loving your review, thanks so much for posting it all! the photo's look great, are they expensive? I know thats where a lot of my money will be going!

 

Hi Gratz,

Thanks for your kind words.

 

I personally feel that the photos are fantastic value, they range in price from $15 to $30. I usually wait till the last sea day to buy them all as they have specials if you buy so many. They sometimes include frames, folders or albums or buy 5 and get the 6th free. You can have as many taken as you want then buy what like out of them all.

This cruise I spent about $140.00 and Chelsea spent $120.00 and as she was telling people, "do you know how much it is to get a professional portrait taken? You'd be nuts not to buy these!"

 

They will also put them on canvas for you.

 

Glenda

[xxmatthewxx]

That pirate scared the crap out of me. I am surprised (and thankful) they never got me on the DVD. I knew they were there but I didn't realize they were on both sides of the door, I thought they were in the middle.

 

I am so pleased I met up with you Glenda. You were the only one I could ever express cruise excitement to cause everyone else just thought I was a freak I think. I mean here we are cruising away yet we already had another booked and had been on them before. My mum and Nicole would of loved your company had they been on this one as well.

 

Chelsea was great as well. So blunt and straight to the point which I like in people. Was good to have a recruitment for the dome festivities each night. We could easily relate to the hung overness each morning as well and the lack of sleep due to the 4am to 9am bedtimes.