Review of Boston to Bermuda cruise May 5

[JCMass.]

I tried to post this under the Cruise Reviews and I could not submit it, no matter how I tried so I am posting it here.  We were on the May 5 cruise to Bermuda.  We have done this cruise many times before, on a number of NCL ships over the years out of Boston, We throughly enjoyed the Pearl.  The Jewel class ships are just right, big enough to have lots to do with lots of room for everyone.  It is an older ship so it does not have the amusement park atmosphere.  

We took this cruise last year too, and the shows were the same as last year.  But unlike some other's who said there were few shows there were quite a few.  The comedian was Andrew Kennedy, he did a family friendly show on day one and an adult show on day 6, we did not see his show.  The production show "Pure Variety"  was cancelled due to heavy seas on the day 2, and it was just skipped.  Often they find another night to have the production shows, not this time.  Day 3 and 5 was vocalist Alex Yost we saw both shows.  He had a wonderful voice and sang a range of songs for different era's, but his stage presence was very frenetic.  Day 4 was "Throwback" 1969", we did not see it this time but last year it was our favorite show, don't miss it and the music, clothes and fun of the 60's.  On Day 6 we saw "Broadway Cabaret" with the Pearl Vocalists, the Spinnaker Lounge was packed it was excellent, songs of Broadway in the 1980's.  Day 7 was "Legends in Concert"  we saw this last year also, very energetic lots of singing and dancing with impersonators of Elvis, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson.   

I never saw the Captain, and never heard a report from the bridge and he was not mentioned in the list of officers.  We were in an aft suite on the first day were sent some treats with a card that said compliments of Johan Stofling Captain.  He kept a low profile that's for sure, we are used to seeing the Captain around the ship, but not this time.

The Cruise Director was Carol Stanley who we never saw in person either.  We saw her on the TV during the  Newlywed and Not So Newly Wed Show  Her assistant always did the introductions at the show in the theater.  We are used to seeing more of the Cruise Director and the officers.  This may be a hold over from the Covid pandemic when they kept a low profile out of necessity.  

We enjoyed the food for the most part.  The specialty restaurants were overall great both food and service.  We tried Cagney's, and La Cuchina.  The lobster bisque was different, and spicy.  I had the shrimp skewer which was excellent.  My husband had the caesar salad and  filet mignon and enjoyed it.  Often I find the Italian food in La Cucina very average, this time I tried the Arugala Salad which was outstanding and then the appetizer spaghetti carbonnara but had it served as my main dish and it was tasty,   The one meal I had in the Summer Palace restaurant was screechingly salty.  It was the stir fry Asian chicken and shrimp dish.  I could only eat a small amount of it.  The chicken sandwich at O'Sheehan's was outstanding, especially after a long day of walking and touring Hamilton.     We walked and then up the hill to Fort Hamilton, which is now a beautiful garden.  We found the Garden Cafe had it's usual selection of great food, it was hot enough for us I know some have felt it was not.  

There are not enough good things to say about the crew of the Pearl.  Supardi was a great steward, personable and kept our cabin spotless.  Everywhere we were the service was excellent, and everyone seemed happy to be there.  

The weather in Bermuda could not have been better, 70 degrees with a gentle breeze, we relaxed and enjoyed ourselves all week.

We did notice there still seems to be less staff, and the current staff are really working hard to close the gaps.  I hope for their sake they increase it as the ships keep filling.  The new schedule for the stewards is hard for them.  It is not great for  the guests either.  They now work from 8:30am till 5:30pm, with an hour off for lunch.  Before they had a split shift and had hours off during the day and worked till about 8pm at night.  It seemed they wanted to come in and clean and turn the beds down when we were resting, or getting ready to go out.  

We missed the farewell show and seeing all the crew and staff together.  When we boarded a small thing but it was noticed they did not have the balloons or the nautical flags flying and only one staff member greeted us. I expect there just isn't enough staff  to take time to decorate the gangway.  

Great cabin, we were on deck 10 aft Penthouse the balconies are a bit larger than other levels.  

We have had this cabin before and we noticed they have taken away some furniture.  There is only one cushioned lounge chair on the balcony there used to be two.  This trip the coffee table in the cabin was gone. The couch is there, but the soft chair is not.  We appreciated the robes and slippers and the umbrella though we did not need it this trip.  

We were very comfortable here all week.  We enjoyed the first run movies on the television, and the daily treats.  Jon Jon Alarcon was our butler and was friendly and helpful all week, he took care of all our requests.  

[Augustsunshine]

Thanks for the review on a recent Pearl cruise. I appreciate it 

[snoopysnake]

Can you please answer a question for me?  I am doing Bermuda and Bar Harbor out of Boston in June.  Last year I did Quebec City to Boston (which included Bar Harbor.)  There was a day when there was a customs check line which every passenger had to go through.  It required going to the French restaurant and the NCL staff had roped off a very specific route that we had to take to get there.  The problem for me was that such route went through the casino and I am very allergic to cigarette smoke.  (I know some smokers will be reading this and deny that I could have such a problem, but I do, including being in a smoking room that may temporarily have no one smoking in it.)

 

So, my question is, on the Pearl cruise you just took, did you have to walk through a barrier path and did it force you through the casino?

 

[JCMass.]

We were directed to walk past Indigo restaurant,  then through the bars, Magnum's etc. then into LeBistro through the connecting doors into Indigo where the customs officers were then out the Indigo door.  We did not go through the Casino on the May 5 trip.  We did walk by the Cigar bar I don't know if that will bother you.  Have a great trip we did.  

[snoopysnake]

1 hour ago, JCMass. said:

We were directed to walk past Indigo restaurant,  then through the bars, Magnum's etc. then into LeBistro through the connecting doors into Indigo where the customs officers were then out the Indigo door.  We did not go through the Casino on the May 5 trip.  We did walk by the Cigar bar I don't know if that will bother you.  Have a great trip we did.  

Thanks for the info.  I hope the Cigar bar is walled or windowed off somehow. 

[JCMass.]

9 minutes ago, snoopysnake said:

Thanks for the info.  I hope the Cigar bar is walled or windowed off somehow. 

It is completely separate room with windows.