Pacific Dawn Cruises

Life aboard Pacific Dawn
P&O Cruises Australia operates the Pacific Dawn out of Brisbane, Australia, until October 2020. Most of her cruises are 7-night sailings to the South Pacific (New Caledonia and Vanuatu), and the Great Barrier Reef (Whitsundays, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Port Douglas and Willis Island in the Coral Sea). Venture further to the South Pacific over 9 to 12 nights. If you’re unsure how you will handle sea life, try a 3-night comedy, music, or food & wine cruise. Whitsunday cruises of 4 nights take you to the delightful town of Airlie Beach, with a sea day each way. In early November 2019 there’s a 7-night Melbourne Cup cruise, with two full days and an overnight stay (with tickets and transfers included in the fare). From November 2020 Dawn sails out of Melbourne to South Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. Pacific Dawn’s most recent refurbished was March 2017, and she sports a new pool deck area and two 80m waterslides. At 70,285 GT the ship carries 1546 passengers.

P&O cruises offer relaxation with a touch of luxury, good food and entertainment on the high seas, aimed at middle Australia. Many cabins now have interconnecting rooms to benefit families. Relax on your deckchair or hammock day and night, and take in karaoke performances and latest release movies on the giant LED entertainment screen overlooking the pool. Children have their own facilities and areas, and there is an evening child-minding service. Luna Pan-Asia restaurant has a more intimate look, and the Mix Cocktail Bar and Charlie’s Bar café have been transformed. Only a few years earlier multi-million dollar additions included the Salt Grill by Luke Mangan and a new child-free Oasis retreat. The crew, service, food and entertainment receive strong reviews from guests. Gratuities are included in the fare. The ship also handles conferences and weddings, and caters for wheelchair accessibility.

Accommodation
Staterooms come in five categories – Suite with balcony, Mini-Suite with balcony, Balcony, Oceanview and Inside – and 24 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, 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). Twenty interconnecting cabins for families and groups allow quad-quad, twin-quad, triple-triple, and twin-twin bedding.

On the upper decks 14 Suites, 36 Mini Suites, and 134 Outside staterooms come with balconies. The Suites for up to four guests have a generous ensuite with bathtub and shower, walk-in wardrobe, an entertainment area, extended balcony, Nespresso machine, iPod and priority embarking and disembarking. The Mini-Suites come with upgraded bathrooms and a range of extras, and can accommodate three. Note that room-service meals come at extra charge. Nine cabins are wheelchair accessible. Cots are available for children under three years.

Food and Dining
Dining-wise, there are four eateries onboard Pacific Dawn. Dining is where and when you like: “Your Choice Dining” at the main The Waterfront Restaurant or the buffet Plantation Restaurant. Expect big ship banquet catering. The décor is bright and very colourful. Dress up for the formal dinner/s. There are three alternative (pay extra) options. The line has recruited celebrity chef Luke Mangan who has added his touches to the menu in the Salt Grill restaurant, a steak and seafood venue. Luna is a casual restaurant serving Japanese-Thai cuisine. For an exceptional evening make a reservation at Chef’s Table, for a tour of the galley and commentary by the Executive Chef.

Four other dining options start with the al fresco Grill next to the pool, for breakfast, lunch and through the evening. Also on the pool deck is The Café, for coffee and muffins and the like. Socialise in the atrium at Charlie’s Bar, along with coffee, cakes and other treats. In addition are daily wine tastings, master classes, and vintage seminars. Families are well catered for: Children have their own menu changed daily in the Waterfront restaurant, and they can dine early at the Plantation. The crew have a name for friendliness and the food selection is plentiful and varied.

Entertainment
The main attractions are the destinations: the South Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, PNG, NZ or SE Asia. During sea days there’s plenty of activity day and night to keep you entertained. The two-deck Marquee Theatre is the main venue for production shows and major cabaret acts. View all the action and latest movies on the Big Screen day and night on the pool deck, reclining on a deck chair or hammock. Other entertainment can include Laser Light shows and acrobat performances in the Atrium, game shows, and adults-only Sit Down Comedy Club. Forward on the top deck is The Dome with dance floor. There are five bars and a casino, much live music and karaoke. By day guests can join in a variety of organised activities such as Bingo. The shopping arcade offers fine jewellery, crystal, perfumes and fashion apparel.

P&O Edge (pay extra) is 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. Two aft decks offer an adults-only Oasis spa area, complete with wicker beds, lounges, ottomans and a new whirlpool. There is a small Aqua Health, Spa and Fitness centre. The Children’s Centres that cater for ages 3 to 10 years is situated at the rear of the top deck. HQ and HQ+ are hangouts for 11 to 17 year olds. Leisure spaces include jogging track, whirlpool spas, library, gym and health spa.

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