Pacific Pearl Review
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Hubby and I have been on the Pearl before and had a so-so time, but this has been a really long and tiring year and we were both in need of a break and recharge before Christmas, so thought we would give it a go again. We are both glad we did as we had a great time. But I have to say, White Bay? As an embarkation/disembarkation port it sucks - Circular Quay is much better. Hint - if you don't get the P&O shuttle to and from the aiport and take a taxi, ask the driver to go through Redfern rather than the tollway. It takes about the same amount of time and is cheaper. We paid $42, our friends who didn't know paid $70.
The mix of passengers was really good - a fair sprinkling of the young, the not so young, and a few hobbling around on walking sticks but determined to enjoy themselves.
The crew of course were cheerful as always, I don't know how people who are working so hard are able to keep smiling, but they do.
Cabin Review
Our cabin was next to a gangway so about 5am on disembarkation day we were woken up by clanging and banging there. Earlier in the trip I was woken by four large clanging noises followed by loud splashes, totally confused as I did not think that the ship had four anchors, later realising it was the anchor and three tenders being launched! Unfortunately as we were 'island-hopping' we often got to the next island in the wee hours of the morning, so dropping of anchors and launching of tenders was the norm.