Life aboard Pacific Jewel
Pacific Jewel has a distinctive all-white curved forwards superstructure inspired by the dolphin. Her latest features were added in August 2013, and at 70,310 GT she carries 1950 passengers. P&O cruises offer relaxation with a touch of luxury, good food and entertainment on the high seas, aimed at middle Australia. New to the ship are a Laser Tag game for all ages on the top deck, two-deck child-free Oasis, more/larger inter-connecting cabins, and top-deck nightclub. The spacious domed entertainment centre features great live entertainment, comedy nights and jazz events. Children have their own facilities and areas, and there is an evening child-minding service. The ship also handles conferences and weddings, and caters for wheelchair accessibility. Pacific Jewel has received good reviews for crew, service, food and entertainment. Gratuities are included in the fare.

Accommodation
Cabin decor will be upgraded in July/August 2015. Staterooms come in four categories – Mini-Suite with balcony, Balcony, Outside and Inside – and 23 price levels (higher decks costing more). Many cabins have a third or even a fourth bed available All cabins are spacious, with wardrobes, ensuites, and twin beds mostly convertible to queen size. Facilities include flat screen TV, fridge, personal safe, controllable AC, bathrobes and toiletries, and an interactive video system. The décor is neat and attractive. Outside cabins having a large window (or porthole in the case of a few). Interconnecting cabins for families and groups allow quad-quad, twin-quad, triple-triple, and twin-twin bedding.

On the upper decks 36 Mini Suites and 162 Outside staterooms come with balconies. The Mini-Suites have upgraded bathrooms and a range of extras, and can also accommodate three or four. Check out whether the deck 11 Suites allow for night-time quietness. Note that room-service meals come at extra charge. Four cabins are wheelchair accessible. Cots are available for children under three years.

Food and Dining
Dining-wise, there are seven eateries onboard Pacific Jewel. Dining is where and when you like: “Your Choice Dining”, at Plantation buffet (around the clock) and The Waterfront (three meals time daily) and tables seating two to eight. The décor is bright and very colourful. Dress up for the formal dinner/s. There are two alternative (pay extra) restaurants. The line has recruited its first ever celebrity chef, Luke Mangan, who has added his touches to the menu in the Salt Grill restaurant, a steak and seafood venue. La Luna is a casual restaurant serving Asian-style cuisine. The crew have a name for friendliness and the food selection is plentiful and varied.

Pacific Jewel’s 2013 refurbishment adds a Natural Ice-cream Parlour, for everyone’s liking (and licking). The Café and buffet on the Lido Deck serves casual meals and grills, and at night less formal dining with pasta, steaks, salads and desserts. From August 2015, replacing the lido-deck buffet, the Pantry will feature a gourmet delicatessen, Pan-Asian restaurant Dragon Lady, Angelo’s Italian, Celar Door, and a marketplace of fresh food outlets selling such as fish and chips and others. This ship has its own chocolate café on board, which serves up chocolate ravioli, warm chocolate fondant, Belgium waffles and a range of cookies and chocolate cake. Enjoy all this while on the Internet (though Internet charges are high). At the top end of the market book a dinner at The Chef’s Table, attended by the Executive Chef.

Entertainment
The main attraction is, of course, sailing to the South Pacific! You will have four or five sea days, and there’s plenty of activity day and night to keep you entertained. The Marquee, two decks high, and with a new LED wall, is the main venue for production shows and major cabaret acts. P&OEdge is a floating adventure playground for children to adults. It offers 20 activities, including high rope swings, laser tag, slack lines, Segway obstacle courses, flying fox lines, funnel climbs and many more designed around the ship’s existing architecture. The top Lido deck displays a Big Screen day and night. At night the Lido deck presents an aerial trapeze display.

By day guests can join in a variety of organised activities. Night entertainment includes: the adults-only Sit Down Comedy Club, late night piano bar, The Dome nightclub, cocktail nights, live bands, karaoke, dancing, and the casino. Two aft deck areas are an adults-only Oasis complete with sun lounges. Under the sun on the upper decks is the ocean-view Aqua Health, Spa and Fitness centre. It features 11 ocean view treatment rooms, a salon, fitness centre and thermal suite. The Children’s Centres that cater for ages 3 to 10 years is situated at the rear of the top deck. HQ and HQ+ on lower deck 2 are hangouts for 11 to 17 year olds.

Explore the decks

14 - Deck 14 12 - Deck 12 11 - Deck 11 10 - Deck 10 9 - Deck 9 8 - Deck 8 7 - Deck 7 6 - Deck 6 5 - Deck 5 4 - Deck 4 2 - Deck 2