How to get the best out of this family-friendly fun boat.
Stepping on board the Pacific Encounter can feel a bit like you’re entering an episode of Magnum PI, thanks to all the brightly coloured Aloha shirts passengers wear. If you want to get into the tropical spirit, make sure you pack some floral print attire in your luggage.
When you book a suite or mini-suite on board the Pacific Encounter you also get access to the swish Byron Beach Club. If the idea of crowds on cruise ships bother you, this is the answer. The exclusive retreat at the front of the ship has a pool that is way less crowded than any of the other four pools on board, plus two whirlpool spas, sunbeds, cabanas and a bar where you can also order food from Luke's Burger Bar and P&O Pizzeria. If a suite is out of the budget, there’s also an adults-only Oasis pool and a Sunset pool at the back of the ship that are less crowded than the main pools.
If you’re planning to take part in any of the P&O Edge Adventure Park activities, like ziplining, the Titanic Experience or Sunset Bridge Roof Walk, it’s best to book them for early in your cruise. That way if the activity gets cancelled due to strong winds or rain you have time to re-book it for another day.
The queue for kids’ club can be pretty long on the first morning when everyone is registering or checking in for the first time, so it’s best to get there before it opens at 9am or avoid it altogether until the line has died down. There’s plenty of other fun things for families to do on board in the meantime – from quoits to arcade games and racing down twin waterslides. During the school holidys there are extra kids activities, which helps spread things around a bit.
With up to 2,600 passengers on board, there can also be long queues for classes. Make sure you get there at least ten minutes’ before the starting time to do them at your preferred time. The good news is that there is usually more than one class a day for popular activities, like making headbands for the Gatsby theme night, so you don’t miss out if the first one is full.
If you like to have a few drinks, booking an afternoon cocktail-making class in the speakeasy-style small bar The Bonded Store is a great value way to kick off the night. For an extra $45 you get to make four cocktails – with names like Hummingbird and Thor’s Hammer – that you can take with you to any part of the ship you want to go once the class is over. Some women in our class had done it three times for this very reason.
Undoubtedly one of the highlights of a cruise on the Pacific Encounter is the cheeky cabaret-style show Blanc de Blanc Uncorked. But be warned – there is a lot of audience participation involved in this production, so if you’re the shy and retiring type it’s best not to book a seat in the front row. If, on the other hand, you are a bit of an extrovert, go for it!
Whether it’s jewellery, clothes, perfume or alcohol, there’s some great duty-free shopping available on board the Pacific Encounter. But the discounts are even bigger towards the end of the cruise, so it’s worth waiting until the last day to do your shopping.
The writer was a guest of P&O Cruises.
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