Having just been refitted we were expecting 'Pacific Aria' through the public spaces, however only some parts have been renovated: The Orient, The Atrium, Promenade Bar, The Dome and The Pantry / Shell & Bones; and of course the water slides and the kids water park.
Overall the Food and Beverage experience was not as good as we had on Aria this time last year, perhaps due to the newness of the Pantry and Shell & Bones, or perhaps just different staff (Freddie the F&B supervisor on Aria was fantastic, and this culture would filter down through the staff). The Pantry in general tasted bland compared to Aria last year and is not as well laid out as the Aria resulting in a lot of congestion with people trying to see what is in each station. Shell & Bones has a great hot seafood stack ($50 surcharge for 2 people) with a whole lobster, see the photo of the menu attached. One thing that needs improvement is that Shell&Bones is not very well separated from The Pantry and many people were getting confused and walking in with pantry food to get a table, it does not even have a front desk and you need to book at the Waterfront Restaurant. We would really have liked P&O to find some space for a Dragon Lady and Angelo's on the Dawn - perhaps permanently section off and convert one side of the Waterfront Restaurant into these venues?
The biggest issue that I had with the Dawn was that P&O are spending money prettying up the ship however neglecting some serious penetrative rust issues - check out the photos. I am not a Maritime Engineer so I don't know what structural role these members play, however at the least they should be rectified for the perceptions of the passengers.
Balconies are great, even when rusted through in sections (see the photos).
Beware the metal fronted equivalents on the Pacific Jewel as you would not be able to lay in bed and see the ocean.