Pacific Eden quick review

We have just got back from a three night comedy cruise and had a fantastic time on the Pacific Eden with our 6 year old daughter.

We can't work out what the negative reviews have been about.

Yes it's an older ship but the main areas have been revamped and our room was very clean and still in good condition. We had a balcony room and our room attendants Dave and Mel where excellent.

The staff overall were very attentive and friendly unlike the staff we experienced on Royal Carribean's Explorer of the Seas at Christmas time. This is only our second cruise and were very surprised that in reading past reviews P&O has been referred to as a budget cruise line, yet provided better service and equal if not better food than the RCL cruise. This P &O cruise worked out at half of the cost pp per night compared to the Royal cruise.

The food in Angelo's and the Dragon Lady was really nice. The Pantry was good as well despite it being buffet style only with servers so keep your expectations realistic, and there never seemed to be any problems with huge cues, we could always find somewhere to sit. Sorry, at the water front there were cues and we chose not to stand in those cue's at peak times and just went to an alternative place to eat. Once we did cue for a few minutes at the Water front and were given a pager and asked to wait in one of the bars. How, bad can it be, have a drink in a lovely bar why you wait twenty minutes. We went to the Blueroom which we loved and frequented regularly. Some folk may complain some serves of food are a bit small but if we were still hungry we would ask for another main and that was no trouble for the staff. You could also just go to the pantry and have another entire meal.

The live shows were fantastic, both comedy and musical.

The live music in the bars and at the pool was also great. The bar areas on the Eden were very comfortable and made you feel relaxed. The bar staff were great as well. A huge contrast to the surly bar staff we experienced on RCL, in case we haven't already provided that comparative.

Our daughter had a ball in the kids club and at the pool and the staff were lovely to her. She did not need rock climbing walls and ice skating.

This cruise was at capacity but never showed as we always found a table and could easily get a drink. It was a great little ship which we found we liked after the cruise on a huge ship such as Explorer of the Seas ( so size dose not always matter) and the staff seemed much more happy on the Eden.

Our only negative and why it does not get 5 out of 5 is that the ship had some strange smells in some areas, which may be due to its age and plumbing issues, but saying that there were plumbing issues on Explorer as well. Bits of Eden are showing there age like the balconies and seals and finishings around Windows being very weathered.

Overall we had a great time and we will definately sail P&O again even though there ships are smaller and a bit older.

No point paying the extra money for big flash ships like Royal offer when the staff are unhappy and overall vibe is not there. That is our experience based on only two cruises and I'm sure others experiences on both ships may differ to ours, but for us P&O comes out in front. We will be doing a Princess Cruise New Years so we will see how they fair.

In saying all that I think any cruise is a good cruise, beats being at work and at the end of the day it's how you ride the bumps and make the most of what you have paid for. The options are there, you just need to grab them when things aren't what you expected. We are hooked.

Great cruise.

Nice review. thanks for the read....

Nice review. thanks for the read....

No probs, glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks for the report.

We were on the same cruise. Like you, couldn't really complain about the décor of the ship, the service or the food. But funny that you mention the 'strange smells' - Our toilet in a suite on deck 10 overflowed and flooded the bathroom four times on the three night cruise and we noticed other plumbing issues around the ship so that was probably what the strange smells were!

We were on the same cruise. Like you, couldn't really complain about the décor of the ship, the service or the food. But funny that you mention the 'strange smells' - Our toilet in a suite on deck 10 overflowed and flooded the bathroom four times on the three night cruise and we noticed other plumbing issues around the ship so that was probably what the strange smells were!

Thought as much. May need another spell in dry dock to give the plumbing an overhaul.

Thanks for your thoughts, we will be on the Eden in 11 days for a four night cruise - can't wait!!

We'll be on the Eden in 2 weeks. The onboard plumbing is a little disconcerting. We're in a full suite also. Hopefully one with better waterworks than that??? Could be alot of inexperienced cruises flushing stuff that shouldn't be flushed down a sensitive system?

Thank you for the review :)

I was recently in a suite on deck 10 starboard and plumbing was fine :) Did notice that the suites further forward were below where the smokers were above and instead of ashing into the receptacles provided some folks just flicked it over the side and it would float down to balconies below. Not a lot did it but none of them should !

I was recently in a suite on deck 10 starboard and plumbing was fine :) Did notice that the suites further forward were below where the smokers were above and instead of ashing into the receptacles provided some folks just flicked it over the side and it would float down to balconies below. Not a lot did it but none of them should !

I hope you reportd it as it is not only unsafe it is against their rules and they could be fined or thrown off the ship

I enjoyed your review.

Keith

i went on last weekend it was ok ship is a bit worn out

pantry is garbage

only ate ther once

angelos and dragon lady were fantastic waterfront is understaffed service is slow foods pretty good though

found it strange that half the tables were empty

no maitre d no visible cruise director

my cabin 6130 was better than princess except had no fridge could be a problem in south pacific

and couldnt stand blue curtains in atrium

still iwas on a ship so iwas happy