P&O Mocktails and the Refreshment Package - Pacific Encounter

We started our cruising adventures paying as we go for our drinks - way too expensive, then we would get the alcohol package, and it was well worth it back then. The most we ever paid was $65 a day. Certainly can't drink $100+ a day now. So now it depends on the cruise lines. We were particularly impressed with the new eco friendly take away coffee cups. Often the tops were hard to put on if a staff member didn't help.

For P&O Peter buys as he goes. Jon gets the soft drink package and I get the refreshment package which includes mocktails. My favourite is Sweet Tooth. So much better now that we can get mocktails at any bars.

P&O has changed a lot in regard to mocktails. Now mocktails can be obtained at any bar. There is a new mocktail menu at the bars - above. One can also order the old  menu mocktails and sometimes, if you get the right bar staff any cocktail can be made as a mocktail. 

I like my cocktails, and if I feel like one I just buy it. However, I'm finding I sail more often not having any alcohol at all. On P&O the refreshment package is all I need. As with other cruise lines, there is no consistency with the mocktails. Passion Pop was my go to for meals as it was easier to order rather than another mocktail...... but no consistency.

Morning specialised tea or coffee, mocktails and water bottles throughout the day.

I especially like the bubble tea available now at Charlies Bar. Evening is a mocktail or two, then hot chocolate before bed - and another water bottle.

Here are the other drink menus:

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Drinks on Carnival Luminosa - March 2023

Now to drinks. We had plenty of choices both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. The prices for reasonable for a cruise. Novel - at first - were the edible straws. There were three flavours, strawberry, orange and chocolate. If you were a slow drinker the straws would deteriorate into the drink. Next cruise I will take my own re-usuable straws.

Sex on the Beach was my favourite cocktail.

..and Kiss on the Lips was pretty good too.

Like other cruise lines, consistency is an issue. This is also Sex on the Beach cocktail.

 I discovered half way through the 7 night cruise that I could get a cocktail pitcher with 4-5 drinks for $49. So I got a pitcher of Sex on the Beach. It lasted me all afternoon, night, and next afternoon. Tasted great at first, but after all the ice had melted it was not so good. Won't do that again.

 

Peter would buy the bucket of beers. It use to be buy 6 pay for 5, but now its $6 off - that $1 off each beer.

The Alchemy Bar had a unique bar menu that lit up when it was opened.

The prices for the drinks were the same all over the ship. Soft drinks (Coke range) come in cans. Of course there were included drinks. Water at all the bars and the four drink stations in the Lido Marketplace, available 24 hours for tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and cordial drinks.

 

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Pacific Encounter - Food and Drink

We enjoy most of the food on P&O. However have never been a fan of the Pantry (buffet), preferring the Main Dining room for meals, and Pantry for a sweet snack or sandwich.

The 'new' Pantry is not a lot different from the old Pantry. It is open for breakfast from 6.30am - 10am, lunch 11.30am - 2pm, and dinner from 5.30pm - 9pm. Breakfast is not bad in the Pantry although we prefer the Waterfront. I was pleased to see pre-made sandwiches at the Kettle and Bun, which is now self serve, and the only self serve in the Pantry. There was only a choice of two or three different sandwiches and they were good. We did try the Hook's Fish and Chips one day and the fish was still mushy but the chips were good. One thing I have always liked with the Pantry was the fact that one is served. One thing I never liked at the Pantry was the long lines. It is better to get there early or late, and that's what we did if we wanted a snack. Breakfast is ok. Eggs, pancakes, hash browns all good.

Other stations in the Pantry are: Curry House, Mexicana, Stix - Asian stir frys and noodles, Fat Cow - meats and carvery, McGregors Garden - salads, Nic & Toni's - Italian, and the Sugar Bar - lovely cakes and desserts. The only food available after 9pm has to be purchased, so we take a couple of containers to put a slice of cake in to eat later in the evening.

We like the main dining room and usually book the late dining. Previously one had to book the two other included dining options one self and there was always a big rush the first day to make booking, now one either chooses early or late dining and the bookings alternate between the three main restaurants, The Waterfront, Angelos, and Dragon Lady. We were on a 3 night cruise so all three restaurants were on menu A.

The Waterfront main dining was where we headed the first day for lunch. Lunch was the same each day, as was breakfast. We were however able to eat something different each day if we wanted to. We were on a three day cruise to nowhere, so the Waterfront was open every lunchtime. Usually it is open for lunch on the first day and sea days only.

There were 6 starters, 4 entrees, 8 mains, and 3 desserts - although I asked for fruit one lunch and they happily provided a lovely plate, that closely resembled the breakfast fruit bowl.

All the food we had in the Waterfront was great. I prefer the Waterfront for breakfast as P&O make the best Eggs Benedict. I ask for one egg, but it usually comes with two. This was the smashed avo breakfast - I asked for one egg, added hash browns and hollandaise sauce on the side - best breakfast I've had for a while (then I had eggs benny the next day).

 

P&O make the best breakfast!

The Waterfront is open for breakfast 7.30am - 9.30am. Lunch 11.30am - 1.30pm. I think, except on departure day, the Waterfront may not be open on port days. Dinner 5pm - 9pm. We had dinner there on the third night, Menu A. 

Starters : Crab cake.

Mains

Desserts

 

...and the best dessert ...

Our first night dining was Angelo's. We love Angelo's, an Italian inspired restaurant.

There was lots of space between diners, maybe because passengers prefer early dining.

Enjoyed every course.

Second night was Dragon Lady, again not a lot of dinners.

We have tried the Dragon Lady before, not my favourite. I went to the Pantry at lunch time and picked up a couple of sandwiches - just in case, and I'm glad I did. Although Dragon Lady was better than previous visits, it was still not the best. Just my opinion.

 Maybe menu B will be better.

The Chinese Five Spice Pudding was surprisingly good.

 

The cocktails and drinks were good. Not full strength alcohol, but good never the less.  After using the 'medallion' on Princess Cruise I was concerned about handing over the cruise card when ordering drinks. However, P&O had a good system where if ordering from the bar you scanned your card itself and if ordering elsewhere, the staff asked your name and room number - no handling of cards. Great idea.

I love mojitos, and that is usually one the first drinks I have when boarding. This one in the Blue Room - our favourite venue.

I pre-purchased a refreshment package. It included mocktails, and although there were a lot of mocktails listed, most bars said there was only melon mocktails. I got use to that, and they were very sweet.

The package also included bottled water, tea and coffee. I love that P&O have T2T. This is Melbourne Breakfast tea. The only down is that P&O don't have sugar packets now, so each time I had a cup of tea I had to go to the cafe and a waiter had to bring a sugar dispenser and dispense the sugar into my tea! Weird. Next time I will bring my own container and fill it with ship sugar to use when I need it.

Although I had a refreshment package I did enjoy an alcoholic cocktail or three - and so does Peter. Here we are back in the Blue Room with a Toblerone and a Pina Colada.

Cocktails are a reasonable price, but not as full strength as they should be. It it is what it is.

 

There are many lovely venues to sit and enjoy the music, the ocean, the company and the drinks.

Our favourite was the Blue Room, although we often sat around the lobby area to enjoy the music.