P&O Aria 2016 with Talia and Vanessa
Vanessa and I were lucky enough to get on-board P&O’s Pacific Aria for three nights and we was quite surprised.
We stayed in an ocean-view room and the room was very spacious which is completely different for P&O! This was configured as a triple berth – two twin beds and a couch that converts to a single bed (and the converted bed slept pretty well!) It also features a spacious bathroom with plenty of wardrobe space with a lovely décor to go with it all.
They offer a range of on-board activities from bingo, trivia to guess the song lyrics and the staff on P&O know how to make it fun! Every corner you turn there was another activity happening. Each themed night was also accompanied by an arrangement of activities and events happening around the whole ship!
I can’t even count how many bars were on this ship – most bars and seated recreational areas had live music being played pretty much all day round depending on what activities were on. Bars would also change cocktail menus based on the theme nights to give you a bit of a taste of that theme. To give you a rough idea on pricing on this ship, a standard cocktail (my drink of choice: Fruit Tingle) cost about $12.00.
Now this is what everyone has been waiting for – the Pantry. Safe to say I loved the food. Sizing for food was massive and every station offered something unique and different, from the easy fish and chips to steaks and Asian cuisine, there is a lot to choose from, it’s just deciding what to try first! One downfall I could say is the seating area is not mapped out as well as it is should be, but it still does the job. My whole cruise I waited the longest 2-3 minutes for fresh food, no long waits, no more buffets! P&O Aria offers New Zealand Natural ice-cream at an additional cost but is so worth it!
The overall décor of the ship is modern and chic and catches your eye at every corner you turn. My favourite room to catch the eye was the Blue Room (of course it was all blue.) All public areas are spacious and well designed.
Main pool deck is very chic and classy and this is where all themed parties (we experienced White Party and Great Gatsby) events were held! If the weather did not suit, fear not, P&O Aria has a retractable roof so you can still enjoy your party or swim without having the cold or wet weather spoil your cruise and this is a major plus for the brand. I mean c’mon those lounge chairs look comfy right?! (And they were, trust me.)
P&O Edge is the newest attraction offering all kinds of fun on-board (additional costs do apply, unfortunately this does not come inclusive in your cruise fare)
Activities from Rock Climbing, Abseiling, Segway Obstacle Course, Walk the Plank, Bungee Tramp, Laser Tag and lots more are now available to be purchased on-board. Pictured is the Flying Fox which is located above the Main Pool Deck. Passes are available for these cool activities or you can book separately if you want to experience one of the many options P&O are providing.
P&O Aria features Oasis, P&O’s first adults only (18+) area. With easy access to the Pantry and its own separate bar with plenty of deck chairs, you can spend your days lazing by the sun here with maybe a cocktail or two in hand. It is a lovely pool area, but it was a shame that there is no spa area in Oasis as the spas in the main area did get quite full.
Overall for a P&O ship, they have definitely stepped up with this ship and the new on-board experiences they have to offer definitely makes it a good cruise to be on! I would highly recommend this ship for couples and for families with older children that can experience P&O Edge.
If you would like any more information on P&O’s new ships, feel free to speak to either myself, Lisa or Vanessa!
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