Pacific Encounter Embarkation Day - North Queensland Cruise 24th Sept 22 to 1 Oct 22 from Brisbane

This is our Embarkation Day vlog of our recent cruise on P&O's Pacific Encounter from Brisbane to North Queensland. The trip took us to Airlie Beach and an overnight stop in Cairns and the video includes some of our initial thoughts about the recently added Pacific Encounter.
Embarkation took longer than the last time we cruised from Brisbane in June this year but this was a larger ship with more passengers since limits were relaxed.
This is the largest P&O ship we have cruised on and overall we found the Pacific Encounter to be very stable and well presented although a little confusing to navigate at times.
Thanks for supporting us and take care. Don't forget to Like and Subscribe to watch more of our Big Days Out in Queensland:
/ @robandalicruisetravel

[@tonychristie4009]

Hi, love every video I've seen, thank you. We're looking forward to our own holiday cruise. Maybe we'll get to see... and meet you. Safe travels. Off to see another video from you 😊😊

[@mikemcmanus2049]

Such a great ship and easy to navigate but agree it is big and a longer cruise gives you enough time to explore

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Mike. Yes, I'm glad we were on board for a week and not a short cruise. However, if it was a short cruise it would have been a good excuse to go back again to see what we missed.

[@gailtaylor7564]

Love the Encounter. hope you had a awesome cruise.

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Thanks Gail. We always enjoy our cruising and the Encounter certainly did not disappoint.

[@staceygill9802]

My friends and I have book this cruise for next year because of your videos!

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Stacey. Wow, that's such a responsibility. We really enjoyed this ship and are looking to get on her again sometime next year. We hope you enjoy your cruise but if there's anything else you need to know let us know. We have posted some more information on our website at www.robandali.ner under the library section if you need it.

[@Chrisnz12377]

I would also be very excited if I saw you on one of my cruises haha! Looking forward to the series.

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Chris. Working hard on the videos and we will get them out as soon as we can. It was a very unique experience meeting people that watch our videos and we loved it. It was a great way to make new friends, some of whom we have already kept in touch with.

[@tree.hugger101]

Hey guys!! I absolutely love your videos! Your "Coral Princess Tour " video helped out a lot when I was deciding on what cruise to do!! 🛳 Love you guys!! Keep up the great work!!

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi. Thanks for dropping by and we are so glad that you found it useful. If you haven't already been on your cruise we hope you have a fabulous time and let us know if there is anything else you would like to know or for us to make a video about.

[@sarahalker8507]

Loving your vids thank you so much info on the ship

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Sarah. Thank you so much for your support. We are not back on the Encounter until June but will be taking more video then and some other ships in the meantime.

[@sarahalker8507]

@@robandalicruisetravel we are on there 20th June hope your on same cruise

[@NEOAVIA]

I would be so exited, have fun

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Thanks, we had a great time. Always love our cruising.

[@NEOAVIA]

@@robandalicruisetravel same!

[@lynettesims4278]

love your videos so looking to next may

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Lynette. Thank you so much for your comments and support. Time comes round very quickly and it will be May before we know it.

[@Vexatious011]

Hry guys!! I love your videos! I get so much anxiety when we go on holiday as the unknown freaks me out and your videos have eased so much of that for me! I literally take notes as i watch your adventures 😅 I know im super late to this video but my husband and I are going on Encounter in two weeks for the christmas cruise and we have byron bay club access. Do you know if theres a special line we get to use when boarding the ship? Ive had a knee reconstruction and cant stand for too long (still use walking stick on bad days or in shopping centres) - Is there a section of the queue where i could sit and my husband stand in the queue for us, then when its our turn i can go meet him at the counter?

[@mjtunstall1976]

cant wait to board the ship pacific encounter on 7th june this year to PNG! our cabin is 8116

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Matthew. Thanks for the support and comments. We are on that cruise too. Guaranteed cabin on that one so we're not sure where we will be yet. Hopefully bump into you at some time on board.

[@mjtunstall1976]

again? go lions!

[@robandalicruisetravel]

@@mjtunstall1976 Yeah. We also have a couple of cruises in between times too. Can't wait for the Footy season to start, membership already in the bag.

[@carolyngardner4999]

That’s to much luggage 😂😂😂😂

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Carolyn. Yes it is but we just can't help ourselves. Will need to keep it down for the Feb cruise though as we need to fly to Melbourne for that one.

[@steveberry1826]

Stayed on deck 10255.

[@kellyjones1016]

Love watching your videos - question for you guys… do you tip your cabin attendants direct and how much do you think is reasonable based on the number of nights of the cruise. Do you leave it in the cabin or give it direct? We are booked back on the encounter for this exact cruise in May we loved our 4night cruise recently.

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Kelly. There are usually 2 cabin attendants and we do always tip them both equally. How much, really is a matter of preference and how well they have looked after you. We would probably tip a bit more on a longer cruise but never really think of it as a 'daily' amount, more of an overall tip like you might do in a restaurant. Another factor is whether or not you are going to tip other staff members as well or just the cabin stewards (we all have budgets). On previous cruises where we have had the same table at dinner and had the same wait/drinks staff we have generally tipped them as well. These days we tend to eat in different restaurants and at different times so have different staff every time. On this cruise, however, the lady in Avalon Cafe really looked after Ali, prepped her night-time coffees and held them until we came to collect so we tipped her. With the cabin stewards we usually put some money (notes only, not coins) in envelopes with their names on and leave them on the bed the night before disembarking when we go to dinner. I guess there is a chance that whoever goes in there takes them both but we like to think they're fairly honest working with each other so much. Another alternative is to hand the envelopes to them personally if you see them. Sorry this is long winded but hope it helps.

[@elvisalofaagahunt2098]

😊

[@davealexander5393]

Can you park your car for duration of your cruise?

[@markt9805]

Great video, I’m watching from Florida in the USA. Question, are there any Americans or other nationalities onboard? I’m coming to Australia in a little more than a year after I retire, and I want to do a circumnavigation cruise of Australia. I saw that P&O Australia has a circumnavigation cruise so I’m considering taking it. Thanks

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Mark and Australia is a beautiful country. We both came her on holiday from the UK and fell in love with the place. We have met a fe Americans on both Princess and P&O cruises in Australia. Not so much on the Carnival ones but that is not to say they weren't there. Americans, Australians or others everyone on the ships from here are very friendly and we're sure that you will have a great time.

[@pete2302]

Are the complimentary restaurants open on checkin time and checkout morning?

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Pete and thanks for watching. The Pantry is certainly open on embarkation and disembarkation day. The Waterfront Restaurant may or may not be open for lunch (embarkation) or breakfast (disembarkation) and may vary from cruise to cruise. Dragon Lady and Angelos are not usually open for lunch on emabarkation day. Hope this helps.

[@binds321]

We are on same level but more to front in balcony next August

[@robandalicruisetravel]

I'm just working on a video about balconies and the difference between the decks that you might be interested. Probably be a week or so before I upload it but you might be interested. Sneaky preview, deck 10 have the biggest balconies.

[@binds321]

I think our room is 10202 looking forward to it

[@raegenpio7497]

Q: i am on a 17 nute cruise in April, so my questions are 1) can we do our own laundry and how much doesnit cost. 2) what are the power points in the cabin are they american or Australian.

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Raegen. Thanks for dropping by. A 17 night cruise would be tremendous but, unfortunately, as we both work that length of time in one cruise is not really practical for us at the moment. The answer to both of your questions (almost) will be in upcoming videos with visuals but for now 1) Yes you can do your own laundry. There are launderettes on Decks 9 & 11 Aft, Decks 8 and 12 Mid-Aft, Deck 10 Mid-Forward and Deck 5 Forward. All launderettes have multiple washers, dryers and irons/ironing boards that are already set up. Sorry, I do not know the cost as we did not do any laundry on our 7 night cruise but it shouldn't be too difficult to find out from one of the facebook groups. In answer to 2) There is a double Australian socket by the desk and also 2 US sockets which you can use for anything that can operate on 110V, just take US adapter with you. Hopefully the videos will also help and we hope you have a fantastic cruise in April.

[@kellyjones1016]

Hey sorry butting in but thought I could add….You purchase the tokens from the reception desk - I think it was $2 per token. We took our own powder.

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Kelly, no apology needed, it's all useful information for the person who asked the question and we did not know the answer. Thanks for the information.

[@lindspeters]

What time is a good time to head to the departure point?

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Lindsey. I believe they are being pretty strict on departure times at the moment but we generally aim to get there about half an hour before our allotted time. If they let us in then great, if not then we can always grab a coffee from the cart and half an hour is not long to wait.

[@johncalvinho836]

hi ,can u tell me the procedure in getting into 1carpark premium ,mainly going through check in , going to pre book ahead.

[@patriciapenry9456]

Where is the parking for the cruise terminal?

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Patricia. Sorry for the delay in replying. The parking is right outside the terminal. There are 3 car parks. P1 is closest and P3 a little further away. If you have a look at our video on Brisbane International Cruise terminal you'll be able to see exactly how far they are away. With any of them though, if you have someone to leave with the luggage, you can drop it off and then go and park.

[@lifewiththepeills6863]

Question for you. We head of on Saturday.. should we do VeriFLY or not? What’s your suggestion

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi. Sorry6 to not have got back to you earlier but we were on the Luminosa with no internet. I guess you have the answer by now but for what it's worth, we have done it both ways now and there wasn't a great deal of difference.

[@annejenkin7619]

Do you have to have paper confirmation for covid vaccination or can I just use my phone to show confirmation

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Anne. Generally you upload your certificate to Verifly but they will also accept sighting it on the phone. We have been taking paper copies with us in case of technology failure. On the P&O cruise our details did not transfer through to Verifly so we just handed over the paper copies.

[@lynettesims4278]

what deck did you embark into when boarding the ship

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Hi Lynette, Deck 7

[@binds321]

We have a royal carabeane next month

[@robandalicruisetravel]

Wow, which ship and can you tell us about it please. The more we know before we go then the more we can include in our videos. If not, that's cool and have a fantastic cruise.

[@binds321]

@@robandalicruisetravel quantum of the seas just a 3 nighter we have the key and the unlimited dining package will take plenty of pics we have balcony for this one too then feb pacific island on same ship

[@binds321]

@@robandalicruisetravel Lol and video

[@robandalicruisetravel]

We are on Quantum for NYE22 leaving 28/12 and really looking forward to it. We haven't gone for the dining package or the Key but we would really appreciate your views on these. If you take any pics or videos that we can include we would, of course, give you guys credit for it. Just as you feel.