Hi I’m Chris Frame and welcome to the Pacific Explorer.
We start our tour of Pacific Explorer on the promenade deck, the first area of the ship
most people will see. The gangways at Sydney’s cruise terminal attach to the promenade deck,
which is a teak wood deck that spans both the port and starboard side of
the ship. Wooden benches line the inner area of the promenade deck,
which is great for passengers who want to take a seat and watch the world go by.
Above the deck you’ll see the ship’s lifeboats, and while the deck is technically wrap around,
on our cruise the aft area of the deck was closed off and marked crew only.
Chances are after embarkation you’ll want to check out your accommodation.
There are 22 grades of cabins and suites aboard Pacific Explorer divided into six
main categories. The most expensive rooms are the penthouse, suites and mini suites, while
the most affordable are inside rooms, followed by standard ocean view cabins with a window.
The most plentiful grade are standard balcony cabins – which is the type of
cabin I had during my cruise. P&O invited me (free of charge) to sail aboard the ship’s first voyage in mid-2022,
following the long COVID cruise shutdown, so I was very grateful to have a balcony cabin that
comes with twin beds – convertible to a Queen, a sitting area, TV, ample closet space and an
ensuite bathroom with a shower, toilet and sink. The room’s balcony really sets it apart from the
ocean view and inside rooms – and being able to leave the door open at night meant falling to
sleep was easy on the comfortable bed with the sound of the ocean and a light breeze.
Pacific Explorer features many outdoor public spaces for passenger entertainment,
and the top decks are overflowing with options.
There’s waterslides and waterpark at the aft end of the ship – as well as a kid’s water
play area cleverly situated within the funnel casing. A quiet sanctuary complete with pool
and deck chairs can be found at the forward end of Deck 15, and this was a great spot to
sit and watch dolphins playing in the water alongside the ship on Day 2 of our cruise.
One deck below on Deck 14, there’s a huge open deck area that overlooks the pools and bars on
Deck 12… that’s right, there is no Deck 13 on the deck plans because, superstition? Anyways,
an oasis can be found at the back of Deck 14 and features a whirlpool and bar.
The ship features a pretty sizable fitness centre, which links into a beauty salon and day spa.
There’s also a small pool in this area on the aft of Deck 12, accessible from the Oasis. One deck
lower and slightly further aft and you’ll find a lawn bowls course – the motion of
the ship adds an extra challenge to novice and experienced players alike!
Inside there’s a heap of bars and lounges to choose from,
ranging in size and scale from the small and cozy ‘hidden bar’
with its sophisticated theming, to the Blue Room nightclub sporting dark carpets,
light chairs and a clever use of lighting that changes to suit the time of day.
The largest bar aboard is Deck 7’s Explorer Hotel. Like the pub you’d find by the beach in an old
hotel, with a large bar, bay window seating, dark wood veneer walls and a large dancefloor.
Charlie’s Bar is another option – and is located on Deck 5 by the atrium.
It’s a popular location for coffee lovers, and being located near
the reception desks and shore tour area attracts many visitors throughout the day.
There’s live music throughout the ship,
with the Explorer Lounge and Blue Room being two great venues for this.
You’ll also find music in the Atrium, with a white grand piano positioned near the bar on Deck 7.
The Black Circus Lounge at the aft of Deck 7 is home to daytime entertainment
ranging from quizzes to bingo – both done with a P&O Australia twist that make them
hilarious and enjoyable – though that is probably also helped by the lounge’s bar
which serves drinks whenever an activity is taking place.
This is also the venue for after dinner entertainment – including the brilliant
Purple Rabbit show, as well as live music and world-class comedians – something P&O are renowned
for. At the forward end of Deck 7 is the Marquee – the formal show lounge. This is where you’ll find
the production shows each evening as well as other acts that range from musicians to guest speakers.
Deck 8 is home to the Level Up Arcade – a new addition to the ship added during the
cruise pause. This is a great place for young travellers and the young at heart – with plenty
of millennials stopping by to revisit arcade games as well as foosball and air hockey.
The Casino is another busy location. Found on Deck 6 it has a wide array of pokies and
gaming tables, and hosts tournaments that attract quite a few onlookers.
Before we get to food did you know we have a brand-new range of Sea You On Board hoodies,
tees and bags in our store? All our merch is produced by Tee Mill,
an environmentally friendly and ethical clothing manufacturer based in the UK. Check out our store
in the merch shelf here on youtube or click on the link in the description box below.
Okay, so… food. Pacific Explorer provides
a great range of dining options. Everyone who sails with the ship is welcome to eat at the
Waterfront Restaurant – the P&O Australia standard ala carte dining experience.
It’s found at the aft end of Deck 5 just off the atrium and no reservation is required.
One deck up and you’ll find two additional restaurants. Angelos is P&O’s Italian themed
restaurant. A reservation is required as it is very popular and the theming here is
fantastic – with the reception desk being created out of a modified vespa. Its twin is Dragon Lady,
an Asian themed dining space found on all of the P&O Australia ships – and again a reservation is
required here – and on my cruise there was no additional fee to use these restaurants.
400 Gradi is a new space added to Pacific Explorer during the cruise pause.
It’s P&O’s take on a pizza bar and was supremely popular and difficult to get into
during my cruise – so make a reservation well in advance.
For a more up market experience, Luke’s on Deck 14 is P&O’s specialty restaurant
and overseen by Australian celebrity chef Luke Mangan. Just forward of Luke’s on the
same deck is Shell and Bones, specialising in seafood, meats and vegetarian meals.
The Pantry is P&O’s take on a reimagined alfresco experience, the Pantry has a number of themed
meal areas that range from Asian take away to roasts to fish and chips. There is also the very
popular Sugar Bar where you can satisfy your sweet tooth while barista coffee is available here too.
Pacific Explorer’s atrium connects many aspects of
the ship – spanning from Deck 8 to Deck 5. The panoramic lifts are a great way
to get an interesting perspective. Off the atrium you’ll also find the shops and photo gallery.
Pacific Explorer is looking great after her long layup, and is now back in service
for P&O Australia. She will be joined by two larger ships in 2022 – Pacific
Adventure and Pacific Encounter – bringing the P&O Australia fleet back up to 3 ships
and offering the most modern and contemporary P&O Australia experience in recent memory.