Life onboard - post COVID

„ DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

MILLIONS of Australians cruise every year but in 2023 they are finding it’s a new world on the ocean waves as the post-COVID period takes hold.

I have just witnessed firsthand this new order of COVID protocols on a short cruise aboard PO’s megaship Pacific Adventure.

And straight up, let me say I was pleasantly surprised by the discovery that it was largely business as usual on board.

The biggest hurdle was actually preparing for and undertaking the tasks necessary to pass the COVID protocol prior to the cruise. This included full proof of COVID vaccines and a negative COVID test a couple of days before boarding,

P&O uses the Verifly system to register guests as COVID free, but I found it tricky to navigate at first. So, I printed out all my documents so that I had them in hand at embarkation…just in case.

Once on board, it was obvious that P&O took it very seriously with most staff wearing medical facemasks.

Most passengers didn’t wear facemasks, but I recommend you take them just in case, especially if you need to avoid COVID at all costs.

Pacific Adventure is a modern ship which was formerly Golden Princess. And let me say, it is the best P&O ship I have ever sailed upon.

Anyone who has experienced one of these luxurious floating resorts as part of the Princess line will understand just how stunning they are.

It has four pools – one indoors and one adults only, stunning water slides, a breathtaking nightclub high above the rear deck and multiple dining options.

These include Luke’s Bar & Grill by Luke Mangan, The Dragon Lady Chinese restaurant, Angelo’s Italian, the Waterfront and 400 Gradi gourmet Pizza Restaurant.

The big COVID enforced change is the Pantry on Deck 14 which is first choice for passengers for breakfast and lunch.

It is now a full-service facility with the famous self-service smorgasbord style meals now dumped.

Pacific Adventure has whole decks dedicated to the new cruising ‘rage’--mini suites.

They are worth the extra fare cost being twice the size of a normal cabin including a double size deck.

Mini suite passengers even have their own breakfast venue known as the Byron Bay Beach Club. Here you get a full-service breakfast without the crowds.

Cruise Magazine has a 22-page Ultimate Guide to Pacific Adventure at: https://www.australiancruisemagazine. com.au/pacific-adventure.html