Question about P and O Explorer

[Ozwoody]

1 hour ago, arxcards said:

And Royal has had that for years as well. As long as it is for Surf & Turf or high-end steaks, I think it is a perfectly acceptable option. Sadly, there are nights when we are looking at the P&O menu, that our eyes keep looking over to the paid options.

Yes I can see what you say.

As long as they don't dumb down the menu to guide people into the more expensive option, it could be an cheaper alternative to going out to a specialty dinning.

Especially for the people who really like their steaks etc.

 

[ceeceeDee]

We have sailed numerous times with P&O over the years, but have not cruised on Explorer. We have recently done a 7 day Great Barrier Reef on Encounter. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Keep in mind that P&O is a budget line so you certainly won't get all the bells and whistles. Yes, some dining options in the complimentary dining rooms come at an extra charge. However, it seems that most cruise lines are starting to nickel and dime. There is something of an uproar on line as there is a rumour that Royal Caribbean is considering charging for pizza! Sacre bleu!!!!

Again, I don't know about Explorer, but on Encounter some categories of rooms have been partially updated. We had a Byron Mini Suite which had a bit of a facelift with the Byron livery (carpets, curtains, soft furnishing etc, but no change to the Princess bathroom - she's the old Star Princess). Our friends had a balcony room which looked as though it hadn't been updated (though it was clean and looked to be well maintained) and I think all categories have updated bedding.

The refurbished public areas look great and in our opinion thoughtfully designed with plenty of seating.

Explorer, Encounter and Adventure are all aging (20+ years apiece) so the old girls are showing their age in some respects.

If you go in with reasonable expectations, you shouldn't be disappointed. As we always say, take a good time with you and that's what you'll have.

[yes!yes!yes!]

29 minutes ago, ceeceeDee said:

We have sailed numerous times with P&O over the years, but have not cruised on Explorer. We have recently done a 7 day Great Barrier Reef on Encounter. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Keep in mind that P&O is a budget line so you certainly won't get all the bells and whistles. Yes, some dining options in the complimentary dining rooms come at an extra charge. However, it seems that most cruise lines are starting to nickel and dime. There is something of an uproar on line as there is a rumour that Royal Caribbean is considering charging for pizza! Sacre bleu!!!!

Again, I don't know about Explorer, but on Encounter some categories of rooms have been partially updated. We had a Byron Mini Suite which had a bit of a facelift with the Byron livery (carpets, curtains, soft furnishing etc, but no change to the Princess bathroom - she's the old Star Princess). Our friends had a balcony room which looked as though it hadn't been updated (though it was clean and looked to be well maintained) and I think all categories have updated bedding.

The refurbished public areas look great and in our opinion thoughtfully designed with plenty of seating.

Explorer, Encounter and Adventure are all aging (20+ years apiece) so the old girls are showing their age in some respects.

If you go in with reasonable expectations, you shouldn't be disappointed. As we always say, take a good time with you and that's what you'll have.

Thanks for the great feedback.

Royal Caribbean has poor pizza anyway, so no great loss.

[phoenixxx]

20 hours ago, Ozwoody said:

Hi yes!yes!yes!

I have sailed on the old Dawn Princess (Explorer) several times, including a World Cruise on her.

I'm one of those Aussieflyer referred too, who loved the three sisters, Sun, Sea & Dawn princess's.😁

Having sailed on all three.

She is an older class ship, but P&O have done her up well I'm told.

But the main thing is she is now a P&O brand, what are they like?

 

Well truth be told, more or less like any cruise line, their different from Princess, they charge for things that princess provide free, but that is because in general they are catering for a different nitch of people.

 

Usually they aim for the younger partying, and/or families, we travelled recently on the Encounter, another old Princess ship, the Star I believe.

It was different than princess, and yes I prefer Princess, but that has not stopped me about to embark on a second cruise on her in a couple of weeks.

Its a cruise and I love cruising, its nice to try different lines.

 

Be bold explore, it will be fun.

 

Regards

John.

 

I would love to hear a report after your trip about the food on Explorer if you would be so kind.

[arxcards]

4 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

I disembarked from the World Cruise a few days ago (in New York). I was surprised at how many people had the 'plus' option. It would have been the majority of passengers. I was also surprised how many of those people said "it was free" or "the drinks are complimentary" or "my travel agent arranged it". They didn't realise that their travel agent had booked them on the higher fare. Nothing comes free!

That's true, but there were lots of these booked in the lockdown days when the $40 per day was largely offset into a promo fare. $65 is much less free, even with the ice cream, as it is sitting on top of full-price (and increasing) fares.

 

We found last year that plenty of passengers didn't even know they had a plus package until they started querying the lack of charges on their account. Even once they had the bar worked out, they still didn't know about having internet.

 

I can understand how they would think their T/A arranged it, as it reads that way when you look at your travel docs.

[arxcards]

2 hours ago, Ozwoody said:

The Plus package thing annoys me, it seems to in courage people to drink lots.

Not what I call being socially responsible.

 

I would think providing a suitably price drink package with a limited number of drinks per day, would serve people better.

When you have people getting an all you can drink package, it seems naturally they want to make sure they get their moneys worth and a little bit more.

 

And why don't they offer a suitable non-alcoholic plus package for the non/occasional drinkers.

 

I like an occasional drink, just got no interest in getting tipsy everyday.

 

They do, but it is a package and not as part of your fare, and doesn't include Alfredo's, internet  or that special ice cream like the upfront packages have. Yes, it is possible to drink to excess - like I say to Barb, the drink cap isn't a challenge.

 

There is one thing I really dislike about the packages, that is that there isn't enough staff to serve them. I am hearing about long lines at Cones to get those special ice creams, so if you want your included soft serve, you now have to wait 10 times longer than you would have last year. If you want a drink at one of the bars that does the "premium" juices, the bar staff are that run off their feet using the blender that you will wait in thirst, or head-off to another bar. There is no way Isaac would have allowed this to happen. If you want to book a specialty restaurant on a short cruise, it is likely to be already sold-out prior to boarding by the crowd holding two vouchers with their premier package.

 

The same will happen now with Alfredo's. As much as we think the place will sound of crickets by adding a charge, it is likely the place will be so full of passengers with packages who think they are getting something for nothing. Package passengers who haven't done a fitness class will now be signing-up for them so they don't miss out on a freebie, making it harder for those that would already pay for fitness classes. So now it isn't just the potential of drinking to the excess, but everything to the excess. The only way they can overcome the pull on service levels is to limit the number of passengers that can book that way, especially on shorter cruises - a nice way of rewarding passengers that book early.

[arxcards]

1 hour ago, ceeceeDee said:

However, it seems that most cruise lines are starting to nickel and dime. There is something of an uproar on line as there is a rumour that Royal Caribbean is considering charging for pizza! Sacre bleu!!!!

Royal Caribbean's socials have come out over the past day to say they had no plans to charge for pizza (must have us mixed-up with someone else). Pizza, burgers, fries, is generally bottom shelf food, and a cheap way of filling the bellies of the masses anyway. Their current prices for Jamie's, Wonderland, Chops Grille etc is for lots of nickels and lots of dimes.

[yes!yes!yes!]

A couple more questions.

Do they have drinks packages and if so how much?

Can you take 2 bottles of wine on board like you can with Princess and Royal Caribbean? (you can't with MSC)

I have just watched a couple of vlogs on you tube, are the drinks prices on the menu Australian dollars or US dollars?

Do they dress up for dinner? I like to dress up.

 

[Ozwoody]

1 hour ago, arxcards said:

They do, but it is a package and not as part of your fare, and doesn't include Alfredo's, internet  or that special ice cream like the upfront packages have. Yes, it is possible to drink to excess - like I say to Barb, the drink cap isn't a challenge.

 

Hi Geoff

But that's just the point its a normal package not a plus package, that includes all the other titbits at a savings like the alcohol plus packages their offering now.

 

We, the sober not quite teetotaller's are being discriminated against.😠

What's seems to be needed is, a suffragette type uprising for the down trodden moderate cruisers, who just want to enjoy coffees, hot chocolates, and a mocktail or two, maybe three.🤗

Now I ask you? Is that too much to ask???🤷‍♂️

 

Your oppressed fellow cruiser....

 

[Ozwoody]

1 hour ago, yes!yes!yes! said:

A couple more questions.

Do they have drinks packages and if so how much?

Can you take 2 bottles of wine on board like you can with Princess and Royal Caribbean? (you can't with MSC)

I have just watched a couple of vlogs on you tube, are the drinks prices on the menu Australian dollars or US dollars?

Do they dress up for dinner? I like to dress up.

 

Yes they have drink packages, but pricey.

No you are not allow to take wine or not even water. Just a dozen cans of Coke or similar.

On the Australian site (don't know if P&O Aust has a non Aust site) all prices are Aust dollars.

You can dress up some do, but its pretty casual on P&O, see one guy in shorts and tee-shirt for the evening meal in the Waterfront.

 

[yes!yes!yes!]

2 minutes ago, Ozwoody said:

Yes they have drink packages, but pricey.

No you are not allow to take wine or not even water. Just a dozen cans of Coke or similar.

On the Australian site (don't know if P&O Aust has a non Aust site) all prices are Aust dollars.

You can dress up some do, but its pretty casual on P&O, see one guy in shorts and tee-shirt for the evening meal in the Waterfront.

 

Is the waterfront the main dining room?

[Ozwoody]

2 hours ago, phoenixxx said:

I would love to hear a report after your trip about the food on Explorer if you would be so kind.

My P&O cruise will be on the Encounter, not the Explorer. 

But I assume the menus and food quality will be the same.

 

Regards

John

 

[Ozwoody]

Just now, yes!yes!yes! said:

Is the waterfront the main dining room?

The main dinning rooms are:

the Waterfront

Angelo's and

The Dragon Lady

Each has a unique menu to them selves, obviously European, Italian, and Asian.

We found them all reasonable in quality.

The Buffett was the most of a let down in my opinion, but others may disagree....

 

Regards

John

 

[Ozwoody]

Ohh, a lot of people have expressed dissatisfaction with the Dragon Lady, my experiance was I quite enjoyed. Different people different strokes it seems.

 

[yes!yes!yes!]

7 minutes ago, Ozwoody said:

The main dinning rooms are:

the Waterfront

Angelo's and

The Dragon Lady

Each has a unique menu to them selves, obviously European, Italian, and Asian.

We found them all reasonable in quality.

The Buffett was the most of a let down in my opinion, but others may disagree....

 

Regards

John

 

I like the main dining room for dinner.

I will google the menus, thanks

[yes!yes!yes!]

Another question. How much is the wifi?

[Ozwoody]

6 minutes ago, yes!yes!yes! said:

Another question. How much is the wifi?

We didn't bother with getting internet for the 14 day cruise, and don't intend to have it for our 7 day Nth Qld cruise in Oct.

 

But when we last cruised they handed out a flyer for the internet as we boarded, and it said For seven days it was $63 for basic social media only, rising to $84 including e-mail, and then to $105 for unlimited access.

 

Too bloody expensive for me, so will rely on free internet at the ports we visit.

 

regards

John

 

[sewgood]

34 minutes ago, Ozwoody said:

The Buffett was the most of a let down in my opinion, but others may disagree..

I agree strongly. 😊 I would like a more salad and vegetables to choose from.

[Ozwoody]

2 minutes ago, sewgood said:

I agree strongly. 😊 I would like a more salad and vegetables to choose from.

Yes vary lacking in salads, selection of cheeses, and other similar salad bar selections.

They only had two or three wimpy sliced cheeses, not like princess which has several slabs to cut from.

[yes!yes!yes!]

17 minutes ago, Ozwoody said:

We didn't bother with getting internet for the 14 day cruise, and don't intend to have it for our 7 day Nth Qld cruise in Oct.

 

But when we last cruised they handed out a flyer for the internet as we boarded, and it said For seven days it was $63 for basic social media only, rising to $84 including e-mail, and then to $105 for unlimited access.

 

Too bloody expensive for me, so will rely on free internet at the ports we visit.

 

regards

John

 

Thank you. I couldn't find any prices anywhere.

I usually get the internet, mainly to keep in touch with work if needed, not to watch stuff. Although if the F1 is on I will watch it if its not shown in the sports bar. On MSC they showed it on the sports screens in the Casino, in Italian!!!! On Coral princess I could get Foxtel on my phone to watch it as we never went too far from the coast.

[Tripmode33]

1 hour ago, yes!yes!yes! said:

I like the main dining room for dinner.

I will google the menus, thanks

We found that when we rotated through the included three main dining rooms (Angelo's, Dragon Lady and Waterfront), there were two menus in each, changing every three days for dinner. So it was a different menu for the first six nights and only repeated on Night 7 if our 7 night cruise.  We enjoyed all three restaurants but Angelo's probably our favourite but Dragon Lady a close second.

Re the buffet, really loved the Indian, and fish and chips very enjoyable too. There was a salad bar, fruit, and cold sandwich, rolls and wraps as well. Never a wait or line-up to be served but we usually had lunch early.

Agree, the range at the buffet wasn't as extensive as Princess buffet but we probably enjoyed it at a similar level.  Great value too, as our P&O cruise was around $100 per night balcony whereas we are finding Princess lately is close to $200 night for balcony.

[yes!yes!yes!]

24 minutes ago, Tripmode33 said:

We found that when we rotated through the included three main dining rooms (Angelo's, Dragon Lady and Waterfront), there were two menus in each, changing every three days for dinner. So it was a different menu for the first six nights and only repeated on Night 7 if our 7 night cruise.  We enjoyed all three restaurants but Angelo's probably our favourite but Dragon Lady a close second.

Re the buffet, really loved the Indian, and fish and chips very enjoyable too. There was a salad bar, fruit, and cold sandwich, rolls and wraps as well. Never a wait or line-up to be served but we usually had lunch early.

Agree, the range at the buffet wasn't as extensive as Princess buffet but we probably enjoyed it at a similar level.  Great value too, as our P&O cruise was around $100 per night balcony whereas we are finding Princess lately is close to $200 night for balcony.

Thank you

I like the sound of an Indian section in the buffet and if I take my mum, fish and chips are her go to lunch.

[yes!yes!yes!]

26 minutes ago, Tripmode33 said:

We found that when we rotated through the included three main dining rooms (Angelo's, Dragon Lady and Waterfront), there were two menus in each, changing every three days for dinner. So it was a different menu for the first six nights and only repeated on Night 7 if our 7 night cruise.  We enjoyed all three restaurants but Angelo's probably our favourite but Dragon Lady a close second.

Re the buffet, really loved the Indian, and fish and chips very enjoyable too. There was a salad bar, fruit, and cold sandwich, rolls and wraps as well. Never a wait or line-up to be served but we usually had lunch early.

Agree, the range at the buffet wasn't as extensive as Princess buffet but we probably enjoyed it at a similar level.  Great value too, as our P&O cruise was around $100 per night balcony whereas we are finding Princess lately is close to $200 night for balcony.

What sort of food does the waterfront do? I couldn't find menus for that one. The other 2 sounded good.

[arxcards]

2 hours ago, yes!yes!yes! said:

What sort of food does the waterfront do? I couldn't find menus for that one. The other 2 sounded good.

Angelo's has a MDR feel, just more of a contemporary menu.

 

Waterfront is the main MDR, and has general breakfast, lunch, dinner menus. Post #9 at this thread is a typical menu.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2567270-new-restricted-dinner-menu-on-pacific-explorer/

It is from 2018, but looks much like a menu we had last year. Note that the menu sits on a single page, and half of that is plus $$. I have a wife with a mushroom allergy and I am not a massive seafood fan, so that one is a good indicator of why we aren't big fans of Waterfront for dinner.

 

In lieu of a recent breakfast menu, here is one from a few years back 😉

 

[arxcards]

A more recent Waterfront brekky menu.