Embarkation- We had received text messages and phone calls (great communication) from P & O the day before we sailed to tell us our sail time had been delayed from 4pm to 7pm because the cruise before us was delayed coming into Sydney due to rough seas. 16 of the 28 of us had hired a mini bus to take us into wharf 5 and we decided to only delay this by an hour and spend some time down at Darling Harbour/Cockle Bay wharf. We arrived at the wharf and were able to drop our baggage off straight away, we were also told they had complimentary shuttle buses running between the wharf and Cockle Bay, where they had set up a function room with chairs and tea and coffee facilities. They also gave us our departing card and questionnaire to complete to speed things up when it came time to board. They had staff everywhere, who were very very helpful. We decided to have lunch and a few drinks and enjoy the start of our holiday, it was a beautiful day in Sydney so we were lucky. Most of us had our cabins on decks 11 and 10, so we were able to board early. Our boarding time was given to us as 4, but we decided to go back at around 2:30 and we were glad we did as when we got back, we were able to be checked in straightaway and I was in my cabin by about 3:15pm. A very smooth process.

Accommodation- I was in a twin share cabin on Deck 11- 11203 to be exact and we had a window. Our cabin steward was Lina and she was lovely. We got a couple of towel animals and chocolates on our pillow the other nights. Our room was very spacious with 2 single beds, a small bedside table and set of drawers each, a desk, couple of chairs and a TV. The wardrobe space too was very generous with plenty of drawers, hanging space and coat hangers. There is also a safe in the wardrobe. The bathrooms were not very spacious, although the showers are quite large. They supply bars of soap and conditioning shampoo (we took our own, so not sure of how good that is). We were happy with the location of our room, up 1 deck to the Plantation Buffett (we couldn't hear any noise from that above us) and the pool deck and then down to deck 7 for the Waterfront restaurant and bars. We also had a deck off the back not far from our room and it was down just 1 level to the Oasis.

Food & Beverage- On the first night, we were still getting ourselves sorted and having to do the safety muster and get up on deck for the sail away party, so we just went to the buffet for dinner, well that was the first and only time we did that. The food was pretty good, but it was very hard to get a table and once we discovered the Waterfront we did not look back! The food and service in this restaurant was fabulous! We alternated between the waterfront and buffet for breakfast and lunch, with the food being lovely in both with plenty of selection. We also ate 1 night at the Salt Grill. This was amazing and so worth the $40 cover charge. The staff in here were so fabulous and the food was beautiful- possibly the best meal I've ever had. We had 20 of us dining, so they gave us an early sitting of 5:30. You are able to choose an entree, main and dessert each and because we were a large group, they bought out all the sides for us, but I'm not sure if they would do that for just 2 or 4 or a small group they also bring out 2 types of lovely bread to begin the meal. Can highly recommend the scallops with blue cheese polenta, the 300g steak (rump I think it was), the passionfruit cheesecake and all of the sides! Read more