I have just read a review on here from a person who compared P&O with the Carnival Spirit . There are definitely negatives and positives about both cruise companies but Carnival Spirit stood out in front for me compared to the P&O Pacific Dawn. However I do agree with the negative feedback regarding the food on Carnival. They really need to shift it all up a notch. The main restaurants were the Empire dining room and the La Play Grill so lets start there. The décor in the Empire Room was exquisite and did make you feel the experience would be wonderful. La Play Grille was the smorgasbord with casual dining. The food in both eateries was actually the same but in The Empire it was written on a menu and food presented nicely. However the service was very slow and the food was cold. The wine service was disgusting as it seemed to take forever to actually get the wine from wherever. Too many waiters for each table and they were forever in your face. The food at La Play Grille was very repetitious. The sweets and desserts were definitely superior on the P& O ship. Carnival desserts were as if a packet of cake mix had been mixed up and then different flavours included. For example same recipe as chocolate, orange or whatever cake which was very bland and dry. No cream or custard available. Always the same fruit and just not enough variation. The meat that was offered was often very dry and the pork spare ribs I tried were actually inedible. It seemed to be the same food offered every night with a different name and a different spice added and a lot of leftovers were offered as vegetable tempura or similar names. While you definitely would not starve on this ship the food as boring and repetitious. However I was wrapt with the ship, it was so spacious, the entertainment was of a high calibre, there was always plenty to do. My choice would be Carnival over P&O and maybe I would not put on as much weight as with the latter. All in all a lot of fun and happy memories.