Pacific Sun review by Barry Moore

With Reuben Goossens

Cruise’n’Travel Journalist / Cruise Reviewer & Maritime Historian

Please Note: Cruise-Australia is a non-commercial and privately owned cruise site. The author has been in the passenger shipping industry since 1960 and is currently semi-retired, but continues to write cruise and ship reviews and articles in order to better to inform cruise and ship enthusiasts and provide information for those intending a cruise in the future.

MV Pacific Sun

Cruise Review

Cruise N835 - 4 to 11 October, 2008 - Brisbane, Noumea, Lifou, Vanuatu, Brisbane

With Barry and Jackie Moore

Pacific Sun seen at anchor at Lifou, Loyalty Islands - October 7, 2008

*Means an explanation/note by Cruise-Australia

NEWS UPDATE: In December 2009 Pacific Sun will head for Fremantle and operate a series of cruises of the Western Australian Coast as well as Indonesia. Taking her place in Brisbane is the fabulous MV Pacific Dawn! View our three Pacific Dawn Photo Pages. By cruise-australia’s Kosta Specis who has already enjoyed a cruise on her!

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I’m thinking it’s hard to believe we are actually now boarding the Pacific Sun! After the smooth quay side check-in and registration process and the all important on-board cruise card, linking all our on-board purchases to our cabin number account we had been impressed by the slick embarkation process none of the expected endless queues.

Stopping briefly as we enter the ship for security photos which link our mug shots with the card (nice feeling) we marvel at the sheer enormity of P&O’s Pacific Sun, sparkling after her recent refit. We soon locate and unlock our home for the next week, an inside cabin on M deck. Our luggage arrives soon after. We eagerly check out the spotless facilities, give the queen bed a quick test- yep very comfy- note the onboard TV station pushing out vital info being almost first timers again, as our last P&O cruise was on the old Arcadia back in the 80’s. We noted the large number of Satellite TV channels that are now available. We soon headed off as we were ready to check out all the facilities on offer on this spacious ship.

Our voyage of discovery is put on hold as we slip up to the bridge deck to stake out our position for the 2pm bon voyage wave. Envious rellies quayside look as we marvel at the ship’s bow and stern thrusters pushing us sideways from the dock before she starts down the Brisbane River for our week long voyage of the Pacific.

I’m still thinking of the great idea we had to come aboard this P&O ship for an all inclusive holiday feasting on sumptuous meals, great entertainment and enjoying a relaxing atmosphere, when suddenly there is this loud deep throated B-L-AAA-R-T, amidst excited shrieks of fellow passenger enjoyment, “We are away.” Next time though we might try the stern area, instead of right under the enormous ships horn!

She is gathering speed and almost everyone does the proverbial “duck” to avoid hitting Brisbane’s Gateway Bridge, which the Pacific Sun clears with ease, as we inspect at close hand the major works of replicating the old bridge from the comfort of Deck 12.

We then go below for a coffee with newly made friends at the new Outback Coffee Bar, where they serve us true tasting “Coffee Club” style cappuccinos and I marvel at the price of only $2.50. But, soon it was time for further discoveries as we check out the new and open-feel pool area (apparently minus the former water slide) which had already come alive with the entertainment team introducing themselves and the broadcast quality TV cameras subtly capturing the first snippets of what we are told would be a great cruise video memento.

Further aft we note the ships second circular pool as well as a brand new gym. I’ll need that to recover from all the food!

Then it’s down below to listen to the Pacific Sun show band or take in some smooth piano bar sounds of the resident pianist. I make a mental note to grab some of the interesting musical quizzes on offer whilst Jackie picks out a nice piece of artwork, which will be on offer at the onboard auctions during the cruise.

We wonder where all the people are, trying to rationalise that it is supposed to be a fully booked ship. After a restful nap in our ‘inside cabin’ we are aware that with no window it’s would be easy to lose track of time in the mornings. A fellow passenger suggests that we leave on the TV channel that shows vision of the bridge camera overlooking the bow, that way the TV becomes bright as each new dawn arises. Whatever!

Pacific Sun offers excellent dining options. You can have breakfast or lunch in the Outback Café Buffet or enjoy the meal on the aft deck or poolside, or you may choose to go to the restaurant for a fully served meal during the open sitting. For dinner we are allocated first sitting in the Burgundy Restaurant. Alternatively, for a change you can always opt for something different in the evening, such as a pizza up in the *Pizzeria or enjoy a juicy steak in the new *“Steakhouse.” Such choices! *At an optional charge.

Barry and Jackie (seen front left) at dinner making new friends

(Photograph taken with Barry’s camera)

We attend at the appointed time for our first evening meal in the Burgundy Restaurant with its stylish and quality décor, another improvement we are told in the recent refit. After introductions we settle in for a well presented three or four (or five if we want) course sumptuous dinner, efficiently delivered by our waiters Arson and Jerenette. Arson demonstrates some card tricks or some skilled flower making from a simple serviette, between courses.

Arsons serviette rose completed

We are not hurried and soon we are off to the Atlantis Showroom, a huge venue for our first introduction to the talented entertainment crew, promising us many exciting and colourful professionally produced shows, featuring a varied range of entertainers. However Damo a guest comedian whose routine was supposed to make us laugh did not impress us. We make note to avoid his unfunny gutter style of comedy, whilst we’ll take in the other talents that the entertainment committee have put together for us.

Pacific Sun berthed in Noumea on October 6

Monday 3pm we arrive in Noumea, a little disappointed that there are so few daylight hours available to enjoy this bustling French tourist destination. But this is offset by subsequent destinations like Lifou with its unhurried nature and almost primitive lifestyle. Ashore in Lifou I decline an invitation from a cheerful local Lifouan woman to have my hair braided, with coloured beads. Hair? When I playfully remove my cap, her following eyes instigate a change in sales pitch to an offer of a massage instead. Touché. I revel in the many photographic opportunities around whilst Jackie checks out the local crafts.

Pacific Sun seen at Lifou on October 7

Back aboard we hurry to the ships photo shop to check out some of the hundreds of photos the P&O’s photographers have snapped from the moment we first stepped on board to formal night to just about every time we turned around. However, we discovered that many other passengers were equally appalled at the ridiculous cost of such photography, and from then on we note daily the ever increasing array of photos crammed in racks (most of which are dumped after the cruise as we were told). So much for the environment, carbon offsets and green house gases P&O, or the company who own the photo shop waste each trip to produce such quantities of printing stock and inks. P&O’s overpricing of these photographs also means missed P&O marketing opportunities for it is better to have all passengers take away their souvenir photos to give to others, which is great marketing potential and I would say, better for the environment!

We arrive at Vanuatu and having been accurately forewarned by the onboard TV channel to secure a reasonable local taxi deal to escort our friends and us on a comprehensive tour with an informed and eager local. We see so much of the local area and enjoy every photo opportunity to capture our beautiful holiday “home” across the harbour, glistening from various vantage points in the afternoon sun. We notice that the loss of her previous blue full length stripe since her recent refit makes her look rather blocky and high now with her all-white livery.

Jackie shopping for some souvenirs in Vila

The cruise is drawing to a close and we are sailing on the homeward bound leg. Whilst Jackie checks out the tempting sidewalk style merchandise sales from the several onboard so called “duty free” shops (prices in some cases dearer than on Australian soil), I take off for a look see at some more of this ship’s interesting nooks and crannies. I stop at the newly formed (optional cost) "Child free Oasis Spa Retreat", makes me wonder why there is just *one lone figure enjoying the so-called retreat on such a lovely sunny day. Still I do note it is fairly quiet here and wonder why there is a cost at all? *“The Oasis Spa Retreat” may not have been operative on that day.

We pause as we retire for bed on our last night just at how much we had fitted into a week on board this big floating resort. The meal sizes were adequate and not over done allowing us to enjoy being able to try out many taste temptations and not feel bloated.

Overall the themed entertainment and shows had been very enjoyable and the Atlantis Show lounge venue was awe inspiring with its many balconies and places to relax whilst taking in a good show.

The art “auctions” were a bit of a take, particularly with the ‘lucky draw’ at the end of each session where excited passengers didn’t seem to twig that practically everyone had their names drawn out anyway, to win a free poster artwork. All they had to pay was a $60 dollar ‘shipping charge’, which to our minds was more than the mass-printed artworks would have cost anyway.

Mini photo album & closing comments

Barry and Jackie with Captain Justin Lawes and two friends in the Terraces Lounge

Our waitress Jerenette participating in the famed “Bomb Alaska” parade

A baked piece of artistry

Another piece of art from the bakery

Barry and Jackie enjoying their Pacific Sun cruise

The question is, would we sail again on her? You betcha! After seeing our own holiday snaps and hearing our praises of the shipboard lifestyle holiday, our families (and of course, we too) are now planning a future cruise together. We simply cannot wait.

Barry and Jackie Moore.

Pacific Sun – INDEX

Pacific Sun: A ship review by the author – A photo page & review to complement all pages below.

This page was written after Reuben & Hun-Eng’s visit to the ship in Sept 2008 after her refit.

NEW Cruise Review – 1: Cruise review by Reuben Goossens & Hun-Eng Tan of Cruise-Australia

Cruise N 841 – Nov 15, 2008 – 7 (8) nights & rescuing a sinking yacht in the Coral Sea.

NEW Photo page: A photo page to complement the above review

NEW Cruise Review - 2: Cruise review by Barry & Jackie Moore.

Cruise N835 - Oct 4, 2008 – 7 nights.

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Contact the author

When sending an email please name the ship you are requesting information or speaking about!

However, if you are interested in a cruise, I am happy to refer you to a dedicated cruise agent in Australia, New Zealand or further afield on my recommended “cruise agents” page, for these are agents that specialise in cruising and they will be able offer excellent service you and the best fares available! Be assured, I do NOT receive any commissions or favours from these agents, and in the vast majority of cases these agents will not even be aware of my, or mu site’s involvement, as I provide the enquirer with the requested information of the agents (in their region) including their contact details. Reuben Goossens.

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Photographs on cruise-australia are: 1. By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are photographs provided to me without details provided regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me, that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet they either refuse to give me credit and even refuse to remove them, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show the charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due! Note: I do not credit those who send me photos as they are not the owners of the photographs concerned, unless the image is part of their private collection.

This notice covers all pages, although, I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page is updated!

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