If ever they decide to rename ‘Pacific Dawn’, we’d suggest ‘Pacific Noise’ as appropriate. This would have to be the noisiest cruise we’ve ever experienced, largely thanks to the 300 kids allegedly on board (I don’t know where our informant got this figure, but it certainly seemed about right). Running, jumping, scampering, bawling, chattering, yelling kids – I overheard one passenger remark, ‘You can’t get away from them!’ That’s not quite true – you can escape to the ‘Oasis’ at the back of the ship (adults only, but only after 11 am, and ‘best of luck’ getting somewhere to perch).
Why aren’t these kids at school? And why isn’t P&O ‘brought up before the magistrates’ for aiding and abetting truancy and undermining the compulsory clauses of the Education Act? Well, who am I kidding? It’s all a bit of a laugh, really. Laws (much less simple rules) don’t count for much in this ego-driven society of ours.
There’s an upside to every downside, of course. The Pacific Dawn is a rather downmarket ‘family ship’, but we also find it (this is our 4th cruise on the Dawn) heaps friendlier than other, more upmarket, ‘sardines under the nostrils’ lines like Princess. This applies to both passengers and staff. Most passengers are out for a good time, not to demonstrate some kind of superiority, and most are consistently friendly. For friendly cheerfulness, the staff cannot be faulted. Our cabin steward – Ronnie – was a good example and, as a bonus, he was also easy on the eye!