We just returned from an 8 day cruise on the P&O Australia Pacific Explorer to New Caledonia for 8 nights from Sydney in May 2018. Unfortunately we had so so weather, ending with a stomach churching bigger than forecast 6m slop from a low off the NSW coast that delayed our arrival into Sydney and made sleep difficult.
This was our 5th cruise in 4 years having sailed on Carnival Spirit, Sun Princess (twice) and the Dawn Princess, and we wanted to see what P&O was like in Australia given the party reputation and there was a great special on when we wanted to travel, and we would earn points with Princess.
Overall, the standard of service was similar, the average age, younger, there were more physical and youth activities available. The ship had a more Aussie feel, and entertainment content was more Australian. The included food value seems to be lower than Princess, with the option to pay for more expensive food options – eg Prawns or steak. This possibly leads to lower fares.
Standard Oceanview cabin, forward, gets noise frm Explorer Hotel when band playing. Can be configured with 4 bunks, we had Queen bed. Fairly standard,, not overly big!