Pacific Explorer deck 12 plan (Cabins-Bridge-Gym-Spa-Pools-Kids)

Deck layout and review

Review of Pacific Explorer deck 12 (Cabins-Bridge-Gym-Spa-Pools-Kids)

The fore-located Navigation Bridge/Wheelhouse and the adjacent Captain’s Suite and officers' quarters are inaccessible to passengers.

The Main Pool area (forward/midship location, fka Riviera Pool) has 2 swimming pools, 3 Jacuzzies/whirlpool hot tubs, Tennis Tables, sunbathing area (with loungers and deckchairs). Drinks are served by a Pool Bar (fka The Riviera Bar). Pool Bar (open between 11 am - 6 pm) also offers ice cream (complimentary New Zealand Natural Ice Cream) and sells premium coffees and gourmet sweets.

Spa Deck also has a virtual Golf Simulator. During drydock 2020 was added the Level UP Arcade with 21 machines (including the popular VR game Virtual Rabbids).

IMAGES Photo Gallery (fka Platinum Studio) B&W photos/portraits studio sessions

Kids & Teen Centers Turtle Cove & Shark Shack (starboard) are dedicated for children and teenagers club facilities for age-appropriate and supervised daily activities. Among those are sports competitions, dance classes, treasure hunts, themed parties, computers, gaming consoles, big-size TVs, foosball tables. Turtle Cove (kids aged 2 to 6 years old), has many nooks to play with toys and games. At 8 am, mums and dads are welcome for Toddler Time with Parents. Parties, movies, arts & crafts, Sleepyheads Storytime are also featured. Shark Shack is a supervised club (kids aged 7 to 10 years old) that encourages learning with activities like jewelry making, dance lessons, computer games, scavenger hunts, theme nights and Lego activities. 

For an extra fee, lively activities can be enjoyed from P&O Edge program, including laser tag, Segway course, mechanical bull rides, bungee trampolining, flying fox (zip line over the pool deck), Walk the Plank (harnessed for safety guests walk along a narrow plank over the ship's side), the Titanic Experience (standing on the ship's bow guests yell "I'm king of the world!"). Kids prices are US$5 cheaper than adults. P&O Edge features a minimum age of 6 years old.

Late-night group babysitting is provided from 10:30 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. for US$5 per hour per kid aged over 2. One-on-one and in-cabin babysitting is not offered. Infants under 2 have to be accompanied by a parent (guardian) at all times in all venues, as well as the kids' club. Children using the pools also have to be supervised. Infants in nappies/swim nappies and kids who are not toilet trained are not allowed in the pools. P&O Cruises provide cots, booster seats and high chairs. Parents (guardians) have to bring their own wipes, nappies, baby baths, prams, and other accessories for the duration of the sailing as these are not sold onboard. Parents (authorized guardians, aged 16 or over) have to show their cruise card whenever they sign in/sign out kids aged between 2 and 10.

For children aged 11-14, HQ is specially designed as a chill-out zone with lounges to hang out with friends, watch movies, play board and computer games. The staff lead activities like filmmaking, karaoke, performing in a rock band or talent show. A Sony PlayStation VR room is situated in HQ. For those aged up to 14 a parent (guardian) can authorize sign-in/sign-out privileges. After 10:30 p.m. kids must be signed out by a parent (guardian), except for the ones authorised with sign in/sign out privileges. Next door is ship's HQ+, which is strictly for 15-17-year-olds. Programs include Broadshorts, which gets teenagers behind the camera to make a movie. Teens can also use the club for board and computer games or Foosball, watch movies or relax on bean bags with friends.

The ship’s wellness complex Elemis SPA (fka "Aqua HealthSpaFitness”) consists of a round-shaped pool (formerly Oasis Pool), 2x Jacuzzies/spa pools/hot tubs, Fitness Center (with separate Aerobics Studio for classes), Elemis Day Spa, 2x Saunas, Treatments Rooms (for massages), Beauty Salon (manicure/pedicure/barber services).

Elemis Spa At Sea provides services like massage (US$149 for 50 min), couples massages, facials (US$149), manicures and pedicures (US$42), brow and lash treatments (from US$15), waxing (from US$20 for a lip wax), teeth whitening. The separate hair salon offers shampoo, cut & blow dry (from US$74), coloring (US$86), as well as a range of conditioning treatments. A 30-minute shave costs US$57. A 5% gratuity is automatically added to spa & salon services. Guests who want to remove it must request it prior to signing the receipt at the spa. A thermal suite single pass costs US$149, the couple is US$199 for unlimited access throughout the cruise. The 10-20-30 deal allows for choosing 3 signature treatments with 10% discount off the first treatment, 20% off the 2nd and 30% off the 3rd.

The Gym is fitted with treadmills, steppers, exercise bikes, resistance machines, free weights. A separate room is used for instructor-led stretching (held at 7 am and 5:30 pm) and abdominal classes (at 7:30 am) - both are free of charge. Boxing, Yoga and Pilates cost extra (US$15 per class). Complimentary water aerobics is held in the pool on Deck 14.

Card Room is the bridge-playing club lounge that also doubles as Library.

Spa Deck cruise cabins from 12001 to 12051, of which Inside (category IA) and the rest are Balcony staterooms (categories BC, BE).