On for young and old ... the Pacific Pearl's pool deck.
P&O's latest ship hosts pool parties on one deck and exclusive dinners on another, writes Joanna Hall.
A MAGNIFICENT summer sunset is taking shape beyond the Harbour Bridge as Pacific Pearl slowly pulls away from the dock at Circular Quay on its maiden Australian voyage. Everyone on board this three-night cruise appears to be on deck at the same time, either cooling off in one of the pools or having a drink to mark our departure.
It's hot and crowded but a youthful and celebratory air mingles with the smell of coconut oil and the sound of dance music coming from a DJ booth beneath the big screen. I have a strong feeling this cruise is going to be one big party - and I'm not disappointed.
The arrival of this latest addition to P&O's Australian fleet has been eagerly awaited. Dividing its time between two home ports, Auckland and Sydney, Pacific Pearl has had much money lavished on it to tailor its facilities to the Australian market - and incorporate some of the most popular elements of its three older siblings.
It might be a new name but Pacific Pearl isn't new as far as the world of cruising is concerned. In ship terms, it has been around the block many times, cruising many parts of the world under a variety of guises.
It started life in 1988 as the Sitmar Line's Fair Majesty and in its 23-year lifespan has cruised as the Star Princess, MV Arcadia and Ocean Village before being transferred to P&O last year and renamed Pacific Pearl in Auckland in December.
I first saw the ship as I cruised into Circular Quay on a Manly Fast Ferry and from the outside it looked good, bearing P&O's signature glistening white livery from bow to stern. However, a ship's exterior tells only part of the story and, for many savvy cruisers, it's what's inside that really counts.
After a quick and easy embarkation - no immigration required because it was a cruise with no destinations - I headed straight for my stateroom. There are many telltale signs of a ship's age, two of which are the ship's wide stairwells and corridors, regarded as "dead" space by today's marine architects.
At double occupancy, Pacific Pearl carries 1817 guests in 773 staterooms. Sixty-four have private verandahs - 36 suites and 28 veranda staterooms - and 176 are inside with no view. My accommodation for the three-night cruise was a verandah stateroom forward on deck 11.
In the multimillion-dollar overhaul the ship underwent to become Pacific Pearl, only the suites were redesigned from top and bottom - and it shows.
From the moment I walked inside my stateroom, I could see it bore many original features from previous lives.
The dark wood wardrobes, furniture and wall panelling appeared drab and out of place for a ship that will spend most of its year cruising the colourful tropics. The only splashes of light and colour belonged to the newly fitted carpet and curtains but deft touches included a new flat-screen television, a generous-sized refrigerator and a hand-held hair dryer.
Exploring further, however, it was easy to see where the big bucks had been spent.
Public rooms have been transformed into elegant and contemporary spaces - in particular the main dining room, Waterfront. A colourful venue with touches of blue, lavender and pink, it has the feel of a real restaurant with plenty of cosy nooks and crannies; it takes reservations for dinner.
The cuisine, generally good and aiming to be international, has surprisingly strong leanings towards our British cousins, with regular dishes including fish and chips and shepherd's pie.
The centrepiece of the Waterfront is the Wine Room, a private dining area behind gossamer curtains and very pleasing on the eye. It features P&O's new dining concept, called Chef's Table. At $75 a head including wine, it is a culinary event scheduled up to three times a cruise for just 14 discerning guests.
Another outstanding dining spot is Luke Mangan's Salt Grill, serving the celebrity chef's signature style of cuisine in generous portions. It's worth the $40-a-head for dinner - and starving yourself all day if you have the will power.
Pacific Pearl has plenty of other facilities to keep cruisers amused and entertained, even on a three-night cruise to nowhere. Pick of the watering holes is the Blue Bar, a stylish place for a pre- or post-dinner cocktail. The two-level entertainment venue called Marquee hosts everything from Broadway-style extravaganzas to quiz shows.
Although the new Aqua HealthSpaFitness Centre was left in its dungeon-like location on deck two, it has been rebuilt from the ground up. It boasts a white decor with splashes of blue, a couple's treatment room and a full service menu of Elemis experiences.
Surprisingly, Pacific Pearl doesn't have a lot of outdoor deck space - another sign of its real age. The two pools, one of which is designated for adults only, are modest for a ship of this size; even the cruise director laughingly described them as "Olympic-sized handbasins".
For grown-ups seeking solitude, however, there is an Oasis retreat. Where kids are concerned, there's a range of impressive facilities spanning the ages - including what P&O boasts is its largest teen centre.
Pacific Pearl is a welcome addition to the Australasian market and if you can look beyond the uninspiring accommodation, it's a ship with much to offer anyone looking for an exotic and fun-filled budget holiday at sea.
The writer was a guest of P&O Cruises.
Trip notes
Get on board
Pacific Pearl hosts a variety of cruises from Sydney until the end of April, when she will relocate temporarily to her other home port of Auckland, returning in July. Cruises range from four to 28 nights duration and itineraries include Fiji, Tasmania, the Pacific Islands, including Noumea and Isle of Pines and New Zealand.
Fares for a four-night short-break from Sydney to Auckland, departing on December 15, start from $583 a person, twin share. 13 24 94, pocruises.com.au.
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