Pacific Jewel Review

S. E. Asia Cruise 2015

Review for Asia Cruise on Pacific Jewel
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Sea-Wheeler
10+ Cruises • Age 60s

Rating by category

Cabin
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service

Additional details

Sail Date: May 2015

I was really looking forward to this S.E. Asia cruise for such a long time but was disappointed with the overall service, meals, activities and entertainment not to mention that my cabin steward threw out all my medications and other medical supplies for 6 weeks on day 2 of the cruise as I was doing back to back cruises to and from Singapore (I have since been compensated for this incident). The daily activities were mostly promoting the Aqua Spa treatments that were overpriced, wine or whisky tasting for a fee, trivia several times a day which was fantastic with Zoltina J hosting the trivia sessions, easy listening music, a few activities on decks 12 & 14 such as pool volleyball and shuttle board for a few times during the cruise. There were not enough fun activities and music and entertainment on deck 12 by the pool and rarely did we have sailaway parties like I've experienced on South Pacific cruises. The meals are about 2 star even on formal nights, for example, Shepherds Pie or Pasties. Whatever happened to Prawn Cocktails, Lobster Tails, and Escargot and so on. The meals were nothing special and depending on where you were seated, the service was hit and miss. The shore tours are over-priced however the shuttles were average price when considering the distance to get from the port to the city. The embarkation process in Fremantle was fantastic however the other ports of call disembarkation and embarkation process needs to be revised because some people missed their tours because people that were not on shore tours were permitted to disembark prior to those on the morning shore tours and the tender boats process took far too long and was often disorganised. The entertainment in the Marquee was a hit and miss affair however Jackie Love and Hayden Smith were great. I think the Entertainment Team staff could have entertained on more than 4 nights than they did during this 14 night cruise. The disabled cabin is a great size however I would never book cabin 11091 again because it was forward starboard, too far from the lift/elevator and the glass doors on deck 12 were always locked on one side making it impossible to get through using a wheelchair. I had 2 options: 1. Go up 1 deck from deck 11 to 12 and wait for someone to unlock the door or 2. Go down to deck 7, wheel from the front to the back of the ship, get the left back up to deck 12 just to get to the buffet restaurant and pool. No wonder I lost weight during the cruise which is better than gaining weight. The staff on the reception and shore tour desk were extremely helpful. Overall, I would not be tempted to do another P&O cruise in the near future.

Cabin Review

Cabin Interior

The disabled cabin was very spacious with plenty of storage space. The wheel-in shower with the fold-down seat and shower hose met regulations. I would like to see a little more storage space in the bathroom, preferably a small wall unit with doors. The medical emergency buttons are well placed throughout the cabin and light switches beside the bed to turn off the overheads lights is a great feature. I would like to see a remote control for the air-conditioning. Overall cabin 11091 was very excellent however if a guest cannot wheel too far in a wheelchair or wheelie walker then I would suggest booking another cabin that is closer to the lift and do not have the inconvenience of having to wait for someone to unlock the glass doors on deck 12 so you can access the restaurants and pool area.

Port Reviews

Singapore

The disembarkation process was hit and miss. Be prepared for a very, very long taxi queue after disembarking the ship. I would suggest to wait, have a coffee in the cruise terminal or you will be standing for a very long time. Singapore taxis are very cheap compared to Australian taxi prices so if you need to get from A to B do not hesitate to use a taxi. The local buses are extremely cheap to get around Singapore but you must have the correct amount because no change is given or you can purchase a bus pass for a few days which saves money. The Hop-On-Hop-Off bus is a great way to see Singapore and do not miss the Moonlight Tour or the Night Safari which are optional extras. The Gardens by the Bay is not to be missed, the shopping centres - Suntec and Mariner are great for shopping, the casino, the gardens ... You can see most of it on the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus. Some venues charge admission. Allow at least 3 full days in Singapore to see the basic tourist attractions.

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