Pacific Adventure Cruises

Life aboard Pacific Adventure
Pacific Adventure (previously Golden Princess) joins P&O in October 2020 to sail out of Sydney. The ship’s refit will include many family friendly activities and spaces. Her inaugural cruise for the P&O Australia fleet will depart Singapore 12 October 2020 for Brisbane and Sydney. Get away from home or the office for three nights on a comedy cruise to nowhere! It’s four nights from Sydney to the Moreton Bay resort of Tangalooma. Eight to 12 nights will have you paddling your feet in Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu, around the Great Barrier Reef, or on a PNG island. And a 13-night cruise takes you around New Zealand. For sports lovers: Depart Sydney 31 October 2020 for a 6-night cruise that stays two nights in Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup (tickets and transfers to the Cup are included, with the option to upgrade to the P&O Enclosure); and in January 2021 the Australia Day cruise takes you to the Australian Open Tennis in Melbourne.

Being a large resort ship, built in 2001 and to be refitted in 2020, on-board entertainment and facilities will be state-of-the-art for cruise ships. The ship itself is a cruise destination. She has two decks of public spaces and plenty of lifts and staircases that make for ease of movement. There is an ‘adults only’ two-deck area with padded sunloungers and pool for your solitude. Recently fitted is a large Poolside Screen for movies and sports. Replacing Pacific Dawn (70,310 GT), this larger and newer ship (previously Golden Princess, 108,865 GT) will increase the Line's capacity. Expect to be surrounded by fun-loving and family-oriented Australians. For some it will be a short 'taster' cruise to see if they are suited to cruising, for others it will be multi-generational families taking the opportunity to entertain their little ones, and at the same time having late-night time for the adults. Tips and gratuities are included.

Accommodation
There are six types of cabin and 35 price categories: insides, outsides (some obstructed), balcony cabins, outside mini-suites (with and without balconies) and balcony suites. Cabins will be roomy and nicely appointed, with satellite TV access to major channels. Standard cabins are practical and attractive, many have additional upper berths for children, and some have inter-connecting doors. The larger the stateroom, the more additional facilities. All cabins are spacious with wardrobes, ensuites, and twin beds mostly convertible to queen size. Facilities include flat screen TV, fridge, personal safe, and an interactive video system. Outside cabins have 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.

There are 560 balcony rooms and 230 suites and mini-suites. Four types of suites are available, including two family suites, each of which can sleep up to 10 people if four are children – otherwise eight adults. Mid-priced suites compare more than favourably with motel accommodation, amenities and service. Most balconies give privacy, and some can be joined with other balconies when travelling in a group. Suites have a bathtub and second TV. Twenty-six cabins are wheelchair accessible. Cots are available for children under three years. Smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas, and excludes staterooms and balconies.

Food and Dining
Dining-wise, there will be multiple eateries onboard Pacific Adventure. Dining is where and when you like: “Your Choice Dining” at two main dining options, the formal Waterfront Restaurant (and dress up for the occasional formal dinner), and the casual Pantry with its contemporary café vibe and multiple serving stations. Designed as an international food market, The Pantry will have around nine cuisine selections, perhaps in the evening being Shell & Bones seafood. Also hopefully there’ll be Angelo’s for Italian and Dragon Lady for Asian delights. There will be a number of alternative (pay extra) options. The line’s celebrity chef Luke Mangan offers his Salt Grill steak and seafood restaurant., and for an exceptional evening make a reservation at Chef’s Table, which include a tour of the galley and commentary by the Executive Chef. 400 Gradi Pizzeria serves great pizzas at a price.

Guests in suites and mini-suites are members of the Byron Beach Club, with their own private dining concierge service including priority dining at all venues. (In addition, members have access to a private pool and spa, and top-deck lounge.) Casual dining options start with the al fresco Grill (pay) next to the pool for breakfast, lunch and through the evening. Also there is The Café for coffee and muffins and the like. Socialise at the many bars and lounges, and there’s a dance floor. Families are well catered for. Children have their own menu changed daily in the Waterfront restaurant, and they may dine early. The crew have a name for friendliness and the food selection is plentiful and varied. Book dietary requests 60 days ahead of time.

Entertainment
The main attractions will be the destinations: South Pacific islands, New Zealand, and southern Australia. During sea days there’s plenty of activity day and night to keep you entertained. For adults on board there’s a burlesque show Blanc de Blanc featuring aerial stunts and circus cabaret. There’s also an adult-only Oasis retreat, while children may be engrossed with activities supervised by professionals. In the evening having two show lounges (both theatre and cabaret style) is a great way to give passengers more entertainment choices. View all the action and latest movies on the Poolside Screen day and night on the lido deck. Other entertainment includes game shows and the adults-only Sit Down Comedy Club. There are multiple bars and a casino, much live music and karaoke.

Shore tours by P&O are excellent and varied. Re-fitting the ship for 2020 will surely include P&O Edge (pay extra), Australia’s largest adventure park at sea, for children and adults. Its 19 activities include high rope swings, Walk the Plank, laser tag, slack lines, Segway obstacle courses, flying fox lines, funnel climbs and many more designed around the ship’s existing architecture. On board by day guests can join in a variety of organised activities such as bingo. Alternatively, just stroll around and shop duty-free, or for a quiet time retire to the Library or Internet Café. Upper decks offer an adults-only Oasis spa area, complete with wicker beds, lounges, ottomans, pool and hot tubs, sports courts and night club. Keep fit by jogging around the Promenade Deck. On Deck 16 is the children/youth activity centre.

Explore the decks

17 - Sky 16 - Sports 15 - Sun 14 - Lido 12 - Aloha 11 - Baja 10 - Caribe 9 - Dolphin 8 - Emerald 7 - Promenade 6 - Fiesta 5 - Plaza 4 - Gala