We chose this cruise to celebrate a significant birthday, having done the same cruise six and a half years earlier. Both times we booked a Suite and although the Pacific Dawn is supposed to have undergone refurbishment in that time, there was no appreciable difference to the comfort level of the decor. The sofa and tub chairs in the suite are not conducive to relaxation and the bed linen and quality of pillows is pedestrian at best. The bathroom amenities are sachets (notoriously hard to open); the mini-fridge was old and dirty on the outside and pooled water inside and there was mould in the shower recess. Our suite was directly under the Cafe/Bar and the noise transference (bumping and trolley movements) kept waking me during the night to the point where I complained on the second night. Yes, the noise stopped, but I can't believe anyone in their right mind would think it acceptable to locate a passenger cabin directly beneath a cafe/bar that operates until 11:30pm and not make the customer aware of it beforehand. If you think of a cruise ship as a floating hotel/resort then when compared to land-based accommodation, the Pacific Dawn would be no more than a 3-star establishment. Salt Grill by Luke Mangan provides the best meals onboard but of course there is a cover charge of $49pp. Shell & Bones is a full a la carte eatery, but totally lacks ambience and comfort. The eating area sits over the engine which is noisy and everything vibrates quite vigorously; not conducive to a relaxing dinner event when you can't hear your companion across the table. It's worth remembering though that since there are many budget fares, P&O work to extract money from passengers by other means. We had a Drinks Package included in our Suite but the package deals are confusing in that there are four packages and one provides only Sodas and there is another for tea and coffee. Alcoholic beverages are limited to $12 per glass of wine, beer, spirit or cocktail and all bars seem to have different prices for the same drink, (a Rose was $9 in the Cafe/Bar but $9.50 in Salt Grill, for example). You need to be careful to ensure you only chose the $12 drink otherwise you will be charged the full price, not just the difference. Cocktails in the lower level Atrium bar were mostly all over $12 but on Level 12, the same cocktails were $12 or under. Barista coffee was not included in our package. Why not have a package for all beverages to save confusion for everyone? Bear in mind that there is a significant number of cabins with a fare price starting around $550pp quad share, or less depending on the particular cruise. That fare includes all meals at The Pantry and the Waterfront Restaurant, self-serve tea and coffee anytime; a very cheap package indeed for seven nights accommodation plus all meals. One can see why these cruises appeal to the budget conscious and lower socio-economic groups in the community, including aged pensioners. Nothing wrong with that, but if you can afford and prefer 5-star comfort and you're lumped with a large number of people who aren't of that ilk, you could be disappointed. As someone said to me, think "Bali afloat". The Officers' Party for VIP passengers lacked all the class and style one would expect from a Ship's Officers' event; every different to our previous cruise. There's plenty of entertainment and activities onboard (mostly free), shore excursions can be booked, and there is a free kiddie club so parents can take a break. Embarkation and disembarkation is quick and easy if you are a VIP passenger, but if not, there can be lengthy waiting periods. Pacific Dawn is not a large ship; around 2000 passengers compared to 5000 on larger ships. P&O should be doing more for their Suite passengers who pay well in excess of quad share; more inclusions, more sumptuous Suite decor, more exclusive events and a separate lounge. At the moment Suite passengers are not receiving value for money. However, having said that, If you want to sail from Brisbane there is not a lot of choice when it comes to ship size and quality. Staff are generally service focussed, cheerful and polite, but there is still the expectation that a "tip" will be provided.