Norwegian Pearl

[Rebel_Jedi]

Hello!

 

I'm taking my family on an Alaskan cruise next month on the Pearl. Does anyone have any experience with this ship? I've been on Princess and Carnival and my daughter has been on Disney (with my parents) but my husband has never done a cruise.

 

Also, this is the first time I will ever be doing Freestyle cruising. Is that much different than traditional cruising?

 

Thanks for your time!

Edited May 12, 2015 by Rebel_Jedi

[Va. Plumber]

Haven't sailed on Pearl yet, but to answer freestyle question. It is basically dining as you would at your local restaurant. You show up and are seated.

Sometimes there may be a wait. I have only experienced this once and it was

about 10 minutes. They may offer you a coupon for a glass of wine while you wait.

 

One side of the MDR menu changes daily. The other side is fixed

 

The specialty restaurants generally require a reservation.

 

The larger of the MDRs requires long pants and collared shirt for men. The smaller is more casual.

[Rebel_Jedi]

Thanks so much for your reply!

[Kierste]

I was just on the Pearl for an 11 day cruise... Not Alaska, but I didn't really discuss the ports in my 1st timer review:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2205041&referrerid=921204

[Rebel_Jedi]

I'll check it out - thanks!

[roger001]

The Pearl (and the Sun) are our favorites. The Pearl is just the right size, wonderful crew, probably the best buffet of the NCL ships. She has the Spinnaker Lounge (observation lounge/bar) deck 13 forward and the Great Outdoors (open air grill/bar) aft deck 12 past the buffet. Good place for breakfast. Go all the way forward port side deck 11 for the bridge viewing room. We've been on her 6 times I think, including two PC 14 day cruises. Just finished a 10 day on her. The Pearl to Alaska was our first cruise.

[Rebel_Jedi]

Thanks for the insight! My daughter is 9 and she loves buffets so that is great to hear. :)

[Kierste]

Thanks for the insight! My daughter is 9 and she loves buffets so that is great to hear. :)

 

For sure check your daughter into splash academy the first afternoon, and have her go that 1st night from 8-10 pm (the other nights the fun stuff starts at 7 pm, but the first night it's 8.) The splash academy is super fun, well supervised and safe. Don't make your kid feel guilty if they would rather be there than hanging out with you! ;)

 

Oh and if she gets Asia or Nacho for her counselors... She will be in for a treat... They were both amazing :)

Edited May 12, 2015 by Kierste

[NLH Arizona]

This was my mini review of my cruise on the Pearl in May. I did cruise her again in November. I did find in November the buffet food was hotter, but Blue Lagoon warm food and the service was very, very slow.

 

The good

• Was in an aft penthouse, it was great.
  
• Room steward was exceptional.
  
• Butler was great.
  
• Cagney’s was fantastic.
  
• Teppanyaki was fantastic.
  
• Meet and greet was really good; got to meet some really nice folks (the Captain came and actually went around the whole room shaking everyone’s hands).
  
• Hotel Director announced that he wanted to have a recap the last sea day, where cruise critic individuals could voice any concerns, etc….first time I have ever heard of this. Unfortunately, I didn’t go, but will if he offers it on my November cruise on the Pearl.
  
• Hostess for Cagney’s for breakfast and lunch was terrific.
  
• All the staff was very personable; couldn't walk down a corridor without a hello, how are you today or how was your day.
  
• All the casino staff was very friendly and fun.
  

 

The not so good

• Even though I have said that NCL’s buffet was great in the past, this time the food was lukewarm to cold.
  
• Same goes for Blue Lagoon; I ordered the chicken wings and mashed potatoes and neither were hot (wings not spicy hot or temperature hot).
  

 

The bad

• No, nothing with NCL. It was some of the passengers that had no manners. People pushing to get into an elevator without letting others out. One gang of four or five teen or pre-teen boys did this all the time; they thought it was funny. Few others, but won’t go into their lack of manners. Thankfully, it was only a very few rude passengers; the majority were just great.
  

 

The Pearl is my favorite NCL ship.

[Rebel_Jedi]

For sure check your daughter into splash academy the first afternoon, and have her go that 1st night from 8-10 pm (the other nights the fun stuff starts at 7 pm, but the first night it's 8.) The splash academy is super fun, well supervised and safe. Don't make your kid feel guilty if they would rather be there than hanging out with you! ;)

 

Oh and if she gets Asia or Nacho for her counselors... She will be in for a treat... They were both amazing :)

 

 

 

Oh great idea! I'll check her into the evening program on the first day. And I'll remember to ask her about those counsellors! Thanks for the suggestion. :)

[Rebel_Jedi]

This was my mini review of my cruise on the Pearl in May. I did cruise her again in November. I did find in November the buffet food was hotter, but Blue Lagoon warm food and the service was very, very slow.

 

The good

• Was in an aft penthouse, it was great.
  
• Room steward was exceptional.
  
• Butler was great.
  
• Cagney’s was fantastic.
  
• Teppanyaki was fantastic.
  
• Meet and greet was really good; got to meet some really nice folks (the Captain came and actually went around the whole room shaking everyone’s hands).
  
• Hotel Director announced that he wanted to have a recap the last sea day, where cruise critic individuals could voice any concerns, etc….first time I have ever heard of this. Unfortunately, I didn’t go, but will if he offers it on my November cruise on the Pearl.
  
• Hostess for Cagney’s for breakfast and lunch was terrific.
  
• All the staff was very personable; couldn't walk down a corridor without a hello, how are you today or how was your day.
  
• All the casino staff was very friendly and fun.
  

 

The not so good

• Even though I have said that NCL’s buffet was great in the past, this time the food was lukewarm to cold.
  
• Same goes for Blue Lagoon; I ordered the chicken wings and mashed potatoes and neither were hot (wings not spicy hot or temperature hot).
  

 

The bad

• No, nothing with NCL. It was some of the passengers that had no manners. People pushing to get into an elevator without letting others out. One gang of four or five teen or pre-teen boys did this all the time; they thought it was funny. Few others, but won’t go into their lack of manners. Thankfully, it was only a very few rude passengers; the majority were just great.
  

 

The Pearl is my favorite NCL ship.

 

Thanks for the info! I'm getting hyped. I'm glad the service was great and I guess they can't help rude people. They're everywhere!

[Kierste]

Oh great idea! I'll check her into the evening program on the first day. And I'll remember to ask her about those counsellors! Thanks for the suggestion. :)

 

 

Its best to go the first night... They really make friends easiest then :)

My dd exchanged emails with a girl from the UK, one from Canada and one from Florida... They were all pretty tight after 11 days!

[Rebel_Jedi]

Oh man, I wish we were going for 11 days. 7 days never seems long enough.

[wimsikl]

I second, third and 100th the praise for the kids club. Basically, it's the reason we sail NCL.

 

I reiterate the importance of registering her in the afternoon you board (it's our first stop, gets crazy busy later) and having her attend the first night at 8pm. That's when they play all the getting to know you games and kids make 7-day BFF's. Once we missed it, and paid for it dearly the rest of the trip.

 

I have one sad thing I want to mention. The Pearl's waterslide was removed last year. If you have kids the right age, you know what I'm talkin' about. The Jewel still has two. Had I known this, instead of the two Pearl cruises I have booked this summer, I would have booked them on the Jewel. (pretty much same timing, price and itinerary) I had to strategically let them know, and at the same time describe all the wonderful things they could do instead. Still didn't really work!

[NLH Arizona]

Oh man, I wish we were going for 11 days. 7 days never seems long enough.

My November cruise on the Pearl was 11 days and it was heaven.

[roger001]

My November cruise on the Pearl was 11 days and it was heaven.

 

We've done a 10 day on both the Pearl and Sun. Seven days just doesn't satisfy anymore...although I'll sure still take them. The two 14 day PCs on the Pearl were wonderful, a perfect amount of time we thought.

[Rebel_Jedi]

I second, third and 100th the praise for the kids club. Basically, it's the reason we sail NCL.

 

I reiterate the importance of registering her in the afternoon you board (it's our first stop, gets crazy busy later) and having her attend the first night at 8pm. That's when they play all the getting to know you games and kids make 7-day BFF's. Once we missed it, and paid for it dearly the rest of the trip.

 

I have one sad thing I want to mention. The Pearl's waterslide was removed last year. If you have kids the right age, you know what I'm talkin' about. The Jewel still has two. Had I known this, instead of the two Pearl cruises I have booked this summer, I would have booked them on the Jewel. (pretty much same timing, price and itinerary) I had to strategically let them know, and at the same time describe all the wonderful things they could do instead. Still didn't really work!

 

*&%$! I am bummed about the waterslide - my kid is 9, she would have loved it. Well, thanks for letting me know so I didn't get her hopes up. Why on earth did they remove it?

 

We're slotted for an 11:30am check in at the port in Seattle. Where do we go (on the ship) to sign her up for the evening kids program? Is NCL a pretty good cruise line for kids? She's coming from DCL.

 

Either way, thanks for the info on Splash Academy and the heads up on the water slide!

[Kierste]

*&%$! I am bummed about the waterslide - my kid is 9, she would have loved it. Well, thanks for letting me know so I didn't get her hopes up. Why on earth did they remove it?

 

We're slotted for an 11:30am check in at the port in Seattle. Where do we go (on the ship) to sign her up for the evening kids program? Is NCL a pretty good cruise line for kids? She's coming from DCL.

 

Either way, thanks for the info on Splash Academy and the heads up on the water slide!

 

So go right to splash academy to sign her up... It's on deck 12 in the same hallway with the bank of elevators as the buffet and the doors out to the pool. It's super easy to find. They will give you the schedule for the week, and tell you all about how you go about signing her in and out and what times they are closed (lunch and dinner basically.). It took us about 10 minutes to do.

[roger001]

*&%$! I am bummed about the waterslide - my kid is 9, she would have loved it. Well, thanks for letting me know so I didn't get her hopes up. Why on earth did they remove it?

 

We're slotted for an 11:30am check in at the port in Seattle. Where do we go (on the ship) to sign her up for the evening kids program? Is NCL a pretty good cruise line for kids? She's coming from DCL.

 

Either way, thanks for the info on Splash Academy and the heads up on the water slide!

 

The Pearl is used for music charters in the early spring. The slides I believe we're removed to alow room for music stages and entertainment activity. Those charters are very popular and sell outs. And according to the crew, fun.

[ja_martin]

Hello!

 

I'm taking my family on an Alaskan cruise next month on the Pearl. Does anyone have any experience with this ship? I've been on Princess and Carnival and my daughter has been on Disney (with my parents) but my husband has never done a cruise.

 

Also, this is the first time I will ever be doing Freestyle cruising. Is that much different than traditional cruising?

 

Thanks for your time!

 

It has been two years since I was on The Pearl. My husband and I did a b2b2b in 2013. After so many cruises on both Carnival and Norwegian, The Pearl instantly became our favorite ship of all time. We loved the ship, the crew and the buffet, which was really the best buffet I have ever had (under Messiah at the time). The main dining room food wasn't our favorite, but Norwegian's main dining room food has never been great, in my opinion. Le Bistro and Moderno Churascaria were wonderful, if you are planning on doing any specialty dining. The Pearl also has a Great Outdoors, which is also a personal favorite.

 

Freestyle is really nothing different than any other ship with the exception that you eat when you want. It is just like going to a restaurant. There is no assigned dinner seating; but, if you want to sit with others, you will still have that option.

[sartoken]

Will be first time cruisers on the Pearl Panama Canal cruise in November. Wondering if there are happy hours on board daily? Thank you.

[biojeep]

We were on the Pearl in June of 2012 for the Alaskan cruise & loved every minute. The ship is beautiful, the crew & entertainment were fabulous but the scenery was even better. Would highly recommend the Pearl.

[dramamom]

When sailing in Alaska the weather is unpredictable so she might not miss the waterslide. The waterslide was never that great to begin with (too slow moving for my girls) so they didn't miss it much! On the upside, the Pearl has a rock climbing wall and the bowling alleys that all three of my girls loved. Have a great trip!

[roger001]

Will be first time cruisers on the Pearl Panama Canal cruise in November. Wondering if there are happy hours on board daily? Thank you.

 

Not happy hours really. However, watch the Freestyle Daily each day. There will be bar drinks and specials usually advertised each day, some with limited hours or certain bar only.

[quercus alba]

*&%$! I am bummed about the waterslide - my kid is 9, she would have loved it. Well, thanks for letting me know so I didn't get her hopes up. Why on earth did they remove it?

 

We're slotted for an 11:30am check in at the port in Seattle. Where do we go (on the ship) to sign her up for the evening kids program? Is NCL a pretty good cruise line for kids? She's coming from DCL.

 

Either way, thanks for the info on Splash Academy and the heads up on the water slide!

 

I'm sure she's been on better water slides in hotels. My two boys (8 & 11 then) thought it was pretty slow and lame when we sailed Pearl 2 years ago--but they're both very excited about our Alaska cruise in July this year.

 

We loved Pearl for our Caribbean cruise and specifically chose her for Alaska--just a great attitude of staff, nice layout and size for the ship. Just relax and enjoy your cruise!