Just how reliable are P&O Oz cruise ships?

[The_Big_M]

I had a look the other night for cruises out of Florida etc and the prices were less than 1/2 of what we can get here (taking into account exchange rates etc) and may get a 'higher star' ship (i.e. Shampoo not out of a dispenser and beds that actually have sheets), so looks like if I spend $1500 to fly to the US I might save $1000 on a cruise. I still loose until I save enough $$$$ to go for a month and do 3 different cruises in one hit.

 

That's a really bad comparison at the moment. Florida is the hole in their market with way too much competition for the recession they've been in and as a result prices fell greatly due to all the competition. You certainly could get a great deal there - but that's not a reflection of normal pricing so can't be compared here.

 

However, prices have been higher here the past 6 months as we didn't go into recession and consumer confidence picked up - and we were relatively down in capacity. That's what's brought about the other lines increasing their capacity in coming years, because there's just been too much demand compared to what's available this year.

[Australian family]

Just to ask something here, are the prices higher for P&O Aust because more fuel needed to cover longer diatances (have to cover a lot of miles from Sydney / Brisbane / Auckland) to get to the islands, or;

Is it becasue we are bing 'taken'?

I had a look the other night for cruises out of Florida etc and the prices were less than 1/2 of what we can get here (taking into account exchange rates etc) and may get a 'higher star' ship (i.e. Shampoo not out of a dispenser and beds that actually have sheets), so looks like if I spend $1500 to fly to the US I might save $1000 on a cruise. I still loose until I save enough $$$$ to go for a month and do 3 different cruises in one hit.

Steve

 

What do you mean by that beds that actually have sheets. What do they use on the Pacific Sun, I am curious?

 

There is a lot of competition out of Florida. We don't have the competition in Australia, but that should change by the end of next year. I just hope one of the ships from the Northern Hemisphere stays around all year.

[Ripeka]

Just to ask something here, are the prices higher for P&O Aust because more fuel needed to cover longer diatances (have to cover a lot of miles from Sydney / Brisbane / Auckland) to get to the islands, or;

Is it becasue we are bing 'taken'?

I had a look the other night for cruises out of Florida etc and the prices were less than 1/2 of what we can get here (taking into account exchange rates etc) and may get a 'higher star' ship (i.e. Shampoo not out of a dispenser and beds that actually have sheets), so looks like if I spend $1500 to fly to the US I might save $1000 on a cruise. I still loose until I save enough $$$$ to go for a month and do 3 different cruises in one hit.

Steve

 

can you explain what you mean by "beds that actually have sheets"? that's freaking me out as a first time cruiser. if they dont have sheets, what do they have??

[steve1970]

Hi, there is a 'sheet', its a bottom sheet, there is something one top of the sheet called a 'donna' I think, I am not fimilar with the term.

I use sheets, bottom sheet and top sheet.

I think they gave up using top sheets when they gave each steward about 30+ cabins to service and just having the 'donna' on top saves on time=more rooms for them to service.

Cruise last year the steward told us she had over 30 cabins and 100 and something people to cleanup after.

They do work very long hours, on their feet all day, so I dont begrudge them no turn down service and only clean the room once a day, I do like the towels changed in the evening if possible, but even that has become a bit hit and miss lately, I really dont mind, if I know only 1 towel per person per day I live with it and hang it up to dry.

[Gold Coast Cruisers]

Hi, there is a 'sheet', its a bottom sheet, there is something one top of the sheet called a 'donna' I think, I am not fimilar with the term.

I use sheets, bottom sheet and top sheet.

I think they gave up using top sheets when they gave each steward about 30+ cabins to service and just having the 'donna' on top saves on time=more rooms for them to service.

Cruise last year the steward told us she had over 30 cabins and 100 and something people to cleanup after.

They do work very long hours, on their feet all day, so I dont begrudge them no turn down service and only clean the room once a day, I do like the towels changed in the evening if possible, but even that has become a bit hit and miss lately, I really dont mind, if I know only 1 towel per person per day I live with it and hang it up to dry.

 

 

I think you mean 'doona' or 'duvet' as it is called in Europe.

 

Jillybean:)

[steve1970]

I think you mean 'doona' or 'duvet' as it is called in Europe.

 

Jillybean:)

 

Yes, Jillybean!! A Duvet! (Its French for 'A bag stuffed full of birds feathers placed on top of a pile of straw':D) We use these, but we still use sheets to sleep in-between. Maybe I am just old-fashioned and prefer 2 sheets. (I still think it was changed to cut down on bed-making time for stewards, and who knows how often they cleaned the blankets, really);)

[Bella cruiser]

Phew!!!

 

What a relief. I thought we were going to have to bring our own sheets:eek:. You had me worried there for a minute:D.

 

Regards

Jenny

 

Past cruises

Tjiwangi x2 - 1971 and 1973

Marco Polo - 1972

Cathay - 1974

Fairsky - 1975

Arcadia - 1975

Fairstar x5 - 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 & 1980

 

Future cruises

Pacific Sun - 18 September 2010

[Kiwi Kruzer]

I think you mean 'doona' or 'duvet' as it is called in Europe.

 

Jillybean:)

 

Whats a doona?

[Sandielle]

A doona (as it's called here) and duvet (as in UK etc) is a padded quilt which you cover with a giant pillowslip. You usually get pillowcases to match when you buy them.

 

We found when we were in the UK a while ago, the motel did the same thing. They had a bottom sheet, no top sheet, but changed the doona cover each day. That's what they do on the P&O ships (and maybe others - I don't know). I think, on the ship, they change the bottom sheet and doona cover each day - I do know everything always looked spotless!

 

Personally, I find it easier to change sheets than doona covers!!! :rolleyes:

[newfarmers]

so the amswer to my first question is..... not very reliable at all, as Sun limps along towards Port Vila

 

P&O - spend some damn money (lots of it) on your ships!!! not on Luke Mangan's fancy restaurants and circus facilities (I know Sun doesn't have these), on the basics - engines, aircon etc etc etc

 

Ms Sherry keeps harping on about how much money the captive Oz audience is pouring into her company. Well spend some of it madam, here, on your bread and butter before it goes mouldy, and stop sending it all back to carnival Corp in the US:mad:

[Australian family]

so the amswer to my first question is..... not very reliable at all, as Sun limps along towards Port Vila

 

P&O - spend some damn money (lots of it) on your ships!!! not on Luke Mangan's fancy restaurants and circus facilities (I know Sun doesn't have these), on the basics - engines, aircon etc etc etc

 

Ms Sherry keeps harping on about how much money the captive Oz audience is pouring into her company. Well spend some of it madam, here, on your bread and butter before it goes mouldy, and stop sending it all back to carnival Corp in the US:mad:

 

 

Well said.

 

I hope the media pick up on Pacific Sun. My husband heard on the radio yesterday how good P&O was in putting passengers up in hotels and paying for food. Obviously the P&O media outlet has gone into crash control. Try handling this one!

 

And now look at the cruise it is a shambles one engine down and late into Port Villa. People go on the cruise for the destinations and P&O are not fulfilling their obligations on the advertising.

 

Yes Ms Sherry come out and make a statement about this saga, instead she is only interested now in promoting the QM2. I wonder if she even sets foot on these old ships?

[Australian family]

Prehaps the passengers should demand a meeting with the captain and for him to get input from P&O, not the first time that has happened.

[sheridan318]

P&O seem to be trying to shirk there responsibilitys when it comes to passenger complaints etc: we have not heard back from are complaint was told by some one on phone we will ring when we get around to your turn:confused: how many complaints are they getting then, must be inundated, on the ship was told that there would be some one when we docked to talk to us, then changed there mind and said no they didnt say that even tho the two of us heard this.

I have worked for a corperate company and boy was there attitude differnt customer satisfaction was uppermost in there mantra, if a person complains its obvious that they have a problem fix it and fast.

 

we have been on the pacific sun three times and always had a great time staff have a great sense of fun and treat every one in an excellent manner its a shame that this sort of thing happens, we are on the next cruise to Auckland we think:rolleyes: but not sure if we will book P&O again as we expect good service,staff at ground level have it its the top lot that needs to improve like they always say the rot starts fro the top, like the poster said maybe we should put them all on a cruise for a week and let them endure the problems and see how happy they would be,

 

I know its been are choice to cruise P&O in the past the last cruise on Pacific Jewel needs to be addressed, we had already booked the sun cruise or we wouldnt be sailing again with P&O

Jacquie

[steve1970]

 

we are on the next cruise to Auckland we think:rolleyes: Jacquie

 

Hi Jacquie

 

We are also on the next cruise to Auckland, and then on next one to the Vila etc. I am sure all will be fine with ours, but its not a good look, all of those people from the Sydney cruise, going slowly....slowly.

Makes me wonder if they can not fix it at sea (they can fix most things 'on the run') how long will it take them?

Steve

[Australian family]

P&O seem to be trying to shirk there responsibilitys when it comes to passenger complaints etc: we have not heard back from are complaint was told by some one on phone we will ring when we get around to your turn:confused: how many complaints are they getting then, must be inundated, on the ship was told that there would be some one when we docked to talk to us, then changed there mind and said no they didnt say that even tho the two of us heard this.

I have worked for a corperate company and boy was there attitude differnt customer satisfaction was uppermost in there mantra, if a person complains its obvious that they have a problem fix it and fast.

 

we have been on the pacific sun three times and always had a great time staff have a great sense of fun and treat every one in an excellent manner its a shame that this sort of thing happens, we are on the next cruise to Auckland we think:rolleyes: but not sure if we will book P&O again as we expect good service,staff at ground level have it its the top lot that needs to improve like they always say the rot starts fro the top, like the poster said maybe we should put them all on a cruise for a week and let them endure the problems and see how happy they would be,

 

I know its been are choice to cruise P&O in the past the last cruise on Pacific Jewel needs to be addressed, we had already booked the sun cruise or we wouldnt be sailing again with P&O

Jacquie

 

Do you have a travel agent then take it up with them. You should also hint that you are going to cancel your cruise on the jewel, as your confidence with P&O is not good. Did you put your complaint in writing, that is usually the best thing to do.

 

Good luck.

[Aus Traveller]

I think you mean 'doona' or 'duvet' as it is called in Europe.

 

Jillybean:)

If you want a top sheet as well, I believe that you can ask your steward for one. We just use the doona, and as someone else said, they are always spotlessly clean.

 

We have always had our cabin serviced twice a day. It has a full clean in the morning and then a quick tidy-up of the bathroom in the evening while we are at dinner. Our last cruise was on the Pacific Jewel last December, so that is fairly recent.

[Sandielle]

If you want a top sheet as well, I believe that you can ask your steward for one. We just use the doona, and as someone else said, they are always spotlessly clean.

 

We have always had our cabin serviced twice a day. It has a full clean in the morning and then a quick tidy-up of the bathroom in the evening while we are at dinner. Our last cruise was on the Pacific Jewel last December, so that is fairly recent.

 

Same with us and we've just returned last Saturday. We also asked and were given more coathangers and a blanket. You just have to ask.

 

It's the same in the dining room. On the set menus you can have something changed if you don't like everything and they will also give you cream, icecream or custard with your dessert, or a plate of fruit, if you ask for it.

[Gold Coast Cruisers]

If you want a top sheet as well, I believe that you can ask your steward for one. We just use the doona, and as someone else said, they are always spotlessly clean.

 

We have always had our cabin serviced twice a day. It has a full clean in the morning and then a quick tidy-up of the bathroom in the evening while we are at dinner. Our last cruise was on the Pacific Jewel last December, so that is fairly recent.

 

 

Yes I agree, I like my doona or duvet plus two sheets on my bed. I've not had anything less on any cruise so this must be something new to P & O is it? I have not cruised on P & O for awhile.

 

Jillybean:)

[Aus Traveller]

Yes I agree, I like my doona or duvet plus two sheets on my bed. I've not had anything less on any cruise so this must be something new to P & O is it? I have not cruised on P & O for awhile.

 

Jillybean:)

Yes, it is fairly new to P & O. I can't tell you exactly when it came in, but I think it would have been last year.

[Kiwi_cruiser]

From the P&O Australia website: http://www.pocruises.co.nz/AboutUs/Pages/importantupdates.aspx

 

Pacific Sun N009N

 

P&O Cruises would like to take this opportunity to update you on Pacific Sun’s N009N cruise.

 

Unfortunately, after having an opportunity to assess the fault overnight, our engineers have advise the repairs will require specialist machining only available on return to Sydney.

 

While Pacific Sun has two functioning engines and is perfectly safe to sail, if we proceed with the cruise itinerary we would have to maintain a reduced cruising speed for the remainder of our cruise.

 

In these circumstances, it would be impossible to call at enough destinations for this to be the South Pacific cruise experience our passengers expected and P&O Cruises wanted to deliver. As a result, P&O Cruises have decided the best option is for Pacific Sun to return to Sydney after departing from Vila later this afternoon.

 

As a result of these extraordinary circumstances, P&O Cruises will be providing affected passengers with a 100% refund of their cruise fare plus a 25% Future Cruise Credit to acknowledge their disappointment. A letter outlining this offer will be delivered to the affected passengers cabins today.

 

P&O Cruises share our passenger’s disappointment that we have had to change our plans and we will be working harder than ever to make their remaining stay on Pacific Sun as pleasant as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

About the ship

 

Q. What is wrong with the ship?

 

A. There is a fault on one of Pacific Sun’s two engines. While both engines are operational, the problem means one of them is working at reduced power, which is slowing the ship’s speed.

We had hoped to fix the problem while alongside in Vila but further investigation overnight shows the repairs will require specialist machining only available on return to Sydney.

 

Q. If the ship is able to sail back to Sydney, why can’t you continue with your scheduled cruise?

 

A. While we could have safely continued at a reduced cruising speed, we would have missed key destinations and have been unable to arrive in Sydney on schedule.

 

Q. Is the ship safe to sail back to Sydney?

 

A. Please be assured that the ship is safe and suitable for sea conditions. The safety of passengers and crew is the highest priority for P&O Cruises.

 

Q. Is this problem related to the delay with the ship leaving Sydney?

 

A. No, the engine fault is unrelated to Pacific Sun’s delay leaving dry-dock last weekend. The ship was in dry-dock for standard testing by the regulator to determine the ship’s centre of gravity, which is carried out on new or upgraded vessels . The delay was because it took longer than anticipated to collect the data to complete the test. The test was successfully completed and Pacific Sun set sail.

 

Q. Has the current poor weather influenced the decision to return to Sydney?

 

A. Our ships are built to sail in the open ocean and the weather has not affected our decision. We are, however, disappointed the weather has not been better to provide greater passenger comfort.

 

Other arrangements

 

Q. Can passengers leave the ship and stay in Vila should they want to?

 

A. Our advice is for passengers to stay onboard to return safe and sound to Sydney as accommodation in Vila and flights to Australia are very limited. While passenger’s can disembark in Vila should they wish, hotel and flight costs will be at their own expense.

 

Q. What accommodation is available in Vila?

 

A. There are a number of hotels and resorts in and around Vila. However, as Vila is a relatively small island accommodation is limited.

 

Q. What flights are available out of Vila?

 

A. Vila is serviced by Air Vanuatu and Virgin and do not have flights back to Sydney and Brisbane every day.

 

Q. Will P&O Cruises pay for a flight home if passengers leave the ship?

 

A. We will be sailing back to Sydney and, as a result, providing transport for our passengers safe return. For this reason, P&O Cruises will not be covering costs for air travel home.

 

Q. Will P&O Cruises pay for accommodation and food if passengers leave the ship?

 

A. We will be sailing back to Sydney and providing the full services of the ship. For this reason, we will not be covering costs for accommodation or food should the passenger decide to leave the ship.

 

Q. If passengers were to leave the ship, can they claim these costs on insurance?

 

A. As P&O Cruises is providing transport back to Sydney on the ship it is unlikely that passengers will be able to claim additional travel expenses from their travel insurance. However, as not all travel policies are the same we recommend that passengers consult with their travel insurance company