NCL Pearl - Alaska - 9/20/15 Lots of Questions

[AllentownEric]

1. If we have a 10:00 – 10:30 check in time for our cruise, what time should we plan to arrive by taxi?

2. What do we do after we get on board that early in the day?

3. Is there a mandatory evacuation drill?

4. I am not exactly sure what Freestyle means but assume it means that you go to dinner anytime you want. My question is do we still need reservations for the 6 of us that are in our party? If so, do we make them for the whole week after we are on board, sometime the day of the dinner, or sometime before we arrive on the ship.

5. We are leaving on September 20th for Alaska. Are there any heated or indoor pools?

6. I sometimes like to watch Karaoke. Do they do that on board?

7. My wife likes to play blackjack. Do they have a blackjack tournament?

8. Are there any “his and hers” spa experiences that you might recommend

9. Are there any tours of the ship that you might recommend

10. My wife and I will try just about anything. Are there any “must do’s” on board?

11. If we do not go to any of the specialty restaurants, is there a dress up night?

12. Is there a lobster night?

13. We are debating buying the booze package. Just roughly, what is the price of a beer and/or a typical foo foo drink.

14. Can we bring any water, soda, or wine along with us?

 

Thank you in advance, Eric

[casofilia]

1. If we have a 10:00 – 10:30 check in time for our cruise, what time should we plan to arrive by taxi? Check what time the actual check in starts, if it is midday and you are not Gold or Platinum expect quite a wait whatever time you get there.

2. What do we do after we get on board that early in the day? Have some lunch. Then take a long walk round all the amenity decks checking out where everything is. Try to keep your hand luggage small as you probably won't get your stateroom till the middle of the afternoon. Find somewhere nice to sit and watch the world go by!!

3. Is there a mandatory evacuation drill? Yes; probably about 4.15-4.30

4. I am not exactly sure what Freestyle means but assume it means that you go to dinner anytime you want. My question is do we still need reservations for the 6 of us that are in our party? If so, do we make them for the whole week after we are on board, sometime the day of the dinner, or sometime before we arrive on the ship. As you say, go when you want to eat. If you are eating in the buffet you may have difficulty finding a table for 6 if you want to eat when everyone does!! I suggest you use the Main Dining Rooms when you could probably book on a day to day basis. They have a few table for 6 or more; they tend to have 2 or 4 at a table. If you are going to the Specialty restaurants you will have to book.

5. We are leaving on September 20th for Alaska. Are there any heatedThink so or indoor Probably only in the spa so costs pools?

6. I sometimes like to watch Karaoke. Do they do that on board?Have seen people doing Karaoke in one of the bars on some NCL ships.

7. My wife likes to play blackjack. Do they have a blackjack tournament?They have Blackjack but I don't know about tournaments, I think they do.

8. Are there any “his and hers” spa experiences that you might recommend Can't help out here.

9. Are there any tours of the ship that you might recommendThey do a simple free one showing you the normal open parts of the ship on the first day to orientate you. There is also one (at a cost) usually on the last day that takes you "Behind the Scenes"

10. My wife and I will try just about anything. Are there any “must do’s” on board?The shows!!

11. If we do not go to any of the specialty restaurants, is there a dress up night? Not unless it is a special day. Even the Specialty do not require "dressing up"

12. Is there a lobster night?Almost certainly not.

13. We are debating buying the booze package. Just roughly, what is the price of a beer and/or a typical foo foo drink. Beer will be USD8 up as will any other booze. Remember if you get the booze package everyone in the stateroom has to buy.

14. Can we bring any water, soda, or wine along with us? Yes but there is a horrific corkage fee for wine; Spirits are a NO NO!!

Thank you in advance, Eric

 

HTH; E&OE!!

 

Mike

Pom by Birth; Coin Collecting Retired Kiwi by Choice.

[quercus alba]

Agree with casofilia with following additions:

5) the hot tubs are outdoors and open late, if you like that idea.

8) you can purchase a "couples massage" I believe.

10) MARTINI TASTING!!!! (and mojito tasting...and margarita tasting...though best to limit yourselves to one of the above per day. :o)

[casofilia]

Just had a look.

The "free" booze package has a maximum of USD11 per drink; if what you want costs more you pay the extra. (From what I can make out there are not many over USD11 :D)

Bottles of wine only give you a 20% discount.

Only I drink at a time per person, I presume that means if you want a get a drink for each of your party you need a card for each person.

Remember there is still the 18% service charge that goes on your OB account.

 

Caveat emptor. ;)

 

Be careful when you initially check in. You have to sign to allow access to your Credit Card through your Ship Card and that often will include those in your stateroom. I trust my wife :D but I have overheard people on the last morning querying their OB account. They "forgot" they had given their wife and children access. Me :D; them :mad: :eek:!!!!!

 

Mike

Pom by Birth; Coin Collecting Retired Kiwi by Choice.

[bonvoyagie]

The new "check-in" system is designed to even out the boarding process. I would plan on arriving towards the early side of your time - in your case around 10:00. There will be a place to drop off your checked luggage towards the right side of the security line - there will also be porters along the taxi line that will also take your bags. The first line goes through security similar to the airport. Then you will go up a flight of stairs to the main check-in area - you should be given a boarding group number, when the number is called you can board the ship.

 

Onboard, the public areas are open, lunch is being served in the MDR and Garden Café (buffet). Rooms are usually ready starting around 1:30 - suites and upper decks first followed by the lower decks - listen for the announcements. Take this time to orient you to the ship - she is fairly easy to navigate. Just remember the entrance to the aft MDR is between decks and is reached by stairs.

 

I can't help you with either the Casino or Spa.

 

Freestyle Dining is just that, you can show up to the MDR anytime it is open and be seated - just like at a land restaurant. For large groups that want to eat together, you can speak with the manager to arrange a set dining time and possibly even the table. As mentioned most of the tables are for 2 or 4.

The aft MDR is slightly more formal, the mid-ship one is less - both serve the same food. The aft one is used for the Dress up or not night - You will never need a suit and tie or tux on an NCL ship - even in the pay restaurants. Resort casual - slacks and a collared shirt for men and capris, slacks with a blouse for women - or dresses if you prefer. Most people I have seen on AK cruises tend to go for the casual side - and yes nice jeans are allowed.

 

There will be an emergency drill - ours was around 3:30 - sail time was 4:00. You will be given a place to report to - no need to bring your lifejackets - they simply take your name and room number and go over the procedure for the emergency evacuation of the ship.

 

The drink package will be a break-even at about 6-7 drinks/day - most drinks onboard are in the 8-12.00 range. You can bring water and soda onboard either as a carry on or with your checked bags. I believe the corkage fee for wine is $15.00/bottle. - Hint buy a bottle on your first night you will get about 6 pours from it - if you don't use it all the first night, they will re seal it and put your room number on it and bring it to you the next night. You usually come out a glass ahead in terms of cost.

 

There will be a sail away party on the pool deck starting around 4:00. After dinner, I suggest that you go to the Spinnaker lounge and watch the scenery go by. This was one of our favorite places to hang out - aside from our huge aft balcony :D

 

The last time I was on the Pearl the pools were not heated.

 

There will probably be some form of Karaoke in one of the bars - I vaguely remember there was some in the main lounge - there is also bowling lanes in the same lounge. Watch the Freestyle Daily for these and other shipboard activities.

 

NCL offers a "behind the scenes tour" for a fee. They take you around the various parts of the ship. There was also one day where the various hotel officers gave talks on what it takes to run a floating hotel.

 

Don't fret, sit back and enjoy Alaska - that is what it is all about.

[herdingdogmom]

I'm on the Pearl the week after you are. All the info provided here is good. Just a couple of things to add.

- Although there is no lobster night, you can pay for lobster in the French specialty restaurant.

- check in online and print out your edocs. When you are in there, look to see if you can make reservations for 6 in the MDR. I know you can make them for 4, but I'm not sure about 6.

- when checking out the spa, look at the spa pass for the week. There is a nice section you and your wife can enjoy together with pools, hot tubs and heated tile loungers.

- look at the roll call for your sailing. It looks like they are having a meet & greet and a cabin crawl. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2019578&page=8

Have a great cruise.

[mush71]

1. If we have a 10:00 – 10:30 check in time for our cruise, what time should we plan to arrive by taxi?

2. What do we do after we get on board that early in the day?

3. Is there a mandatory evacuation drill?

4. I am not exactly sure what Freestyle means but assume it means that you go to dinner anytime you want. My question is do we still need reservations for the 6 of us that are in our party? If so, do we make them for the whole week after we are on board, sometime the day of the dinner, or sometime before we arrive on the ship.

5. We are leaving on September 20th for Alaska. Are there any heated or indoor pools?

6. I sometimes like to watch Karaoke. Do they do that on board?

7. My wife likes to play blackjack. Do they have a blackjack tournament?

8. Are there any “his and hers” spa experiences that you might recommend

9. Are there any tours of the ship that you might recommend

10. My wife and I will try just about anything. Are there any “must do’s” on board?

11. If we do not go to any of the specialty restaurants, is there a dress up night?

12. Is there a lobster night?

13. We are debating buying the booze package. Just roughly, what is the price of a beer and/or a typical foo foo drink.

14. Can we bring any water, soda, or wine along with us?

 

Thank you in advance, Eric

 

1. We arrived with the hotel bus at 11:00 even though we had a 10:00 check in time. It all didn't really make a difference. When you check in they give you a number. When that number is called you are allowed to board. They didn't call number 1 until 12:00. They do go through pretty quick though. We were number 13 and were on board having lunch by 12:30.

 

2. You can wander the ship get lunch. They try to push you to the Garden Buffet but the Summer Palace is open for lunch.

 

3. Yes they have the drill. Once you get to your room you will have a newsletter that lists where the drills are. On your room key at the bottom right corner it gives you a letter and number. Ours was D4. We had our drill at O'Sheehans. You don't have to bring your life jacket with you. You have to go to the lady by the number sign and sign in though.

 

4. You only have to make reservations if you are going to the specialty restaurants. I made ours after we boarded and we only did one specialty restaurant. We did Moderno's and they were outstanding.

 

5. The pools didn't seem heated. There are 3 or 4 hot tubs. We had 51 degree air temps with high winds. It was great in the tub but getting out was rough. :D

 

6. I believe they did have Karaoke in the Bliss lounge one night. Again check the daily newsletter left in your room.

 

7. Yes they have Blackjack and Slot Tournaments.

 

11. You can dress up every night if you feel like it. They have photographers in the Atrium taking pictures every night.

 

12. There is no actual lobster night. There is seafood served through out the cruise.

 

13. I strongly urge the UBP. We had it as part of our package when we booked and it is totally worth it. Figure anywhere between $8-$11 for any alcohol drinks and $2.50 per soda. All with the 18% gratuity added.

 

14. I saw people bringing on cases of water. Not sure about the other stuff.

 

Have a great time. :D

[Ozzie's Mom]

We have a Meet and Greet organized for this cruise. Look us up in the Roll Calls list and sign up!