Just back from the Pearl

[wallygator21015]

Review of the Norwegian Pearl :)

 

Sail Date: 20 May – 27 May 2007

 

Ports of Call: Seattle, Washington; Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Ketchikan, Alaska; Victoria, British Columbia; Seattle, Washington

 

The Norwegian Pearl was purpose-built for Freestyle Cruising. Norwegian Pearl comfortably transports 2,400 guests and over 1,000 crew. Don’t forget to visit the four lanes bowling alley in the Bliss Ultra Lounge, on deck 7 aft. There is a ($5.) per person charge for bowling per game which includes bowling shoes. Combining speed, restaurant options, and family friendly accommodations, the Pearl also offers guests a wide array of public bars and lounges, casino action, extensive sports and fitness activities, and staterooms designed with rich cherry wood finishing.

Our group consisted of 12 friends and family members, situated in six inside cabins. Our average cost was $743. per person.

 

We arrived in Seattle by air at about 11:30 AM. Four of us took a Yellow Cab from Seattle Airport to Pier 66. The cost of the cab with tip was $36.00. Embarkation went well and we were having lunch in the Garden Café before 1:00 PM. The Welcome Aboard Show was a full house on the first evening on board the Pearl.

 

Restaurants without cover chargers:

 

Garden Café serves various foods at different food stations. Great for breakfast and lunch. The Garden Café also offers different dinner selections every evening.

 

Blue Lagoon Café, offers light bites and fast food dishes. (24 hours)

 

Summer Palace and Indigo restaurants serve the same menu, but different selections every evening. The food consists of a five-course meal and usually is very appetizing. Our first choice was the Summer Palace, although the same menu is offered in the Indigo Restaurant.

 

Mambo’s Restaurant serves delicious Tex Mex Cuisine.

 

La Cucina serves wonderful Italian Cuisine.

 

Great Outdoors and The Grill restaurants are located on deck 12, and are open (weather-permitting).

 

Specialty Restaurants:

 

Lotus Garden ($10.) cover charge serves a fusion of exotic Asian Flavors.

 

Shabu-Shabu ($15.) cover charge serves Mongolian hot pot Cuisine.

 

Sushi Bar ($15.) cover charge

 

Cagney’s Steakhouse ($20.) cover charge

 

Le Bistro ($15.) French Cuisine

 

Teppanyaki ($20.) Asian Cuisine

 

Ports of Call:

 

Juneau, Alaska – Capital of Alaska

This was our favorite port of call. We went shopping downtown, had a drink in the famous Red Dog Saloon, and took a bus to the Mendenhall Glacier. The Glacier is a must see! ($12.) per person roundtrip.

There is also a tramway that will take visitors from downtown to the top of Mount Roberts to enjoy a breathtaking view. ($25.) per person.

 

Skagway, Alaska – Highlight of our cruise

We took the excursion on the White Pass Scenic Railway to the White Pass Summit. This was a three and half-hour, forty mile roundtrip tour which climbs from the tidewater at Skagway to the Summit of the White Pass Mountain, a 2,865 foot elevation. The fully narrated tour features two tunnels, several sky-high trestles, cascading waterfalls, historic sites and spectacular scenery. The train actually backs right up to the dock in front of the NCL Pearl and is impossible to miss. ($109.) per person.

 

Glacier Bay National Park

Several Park rangers board the ship and conduct a narrated tour of Glacier Bay. We had an overcast day, but the viewing of the glaciers was absolutely wonderful.

 

Ketchikan, Alaska – best place to purchase your souvenirs

It rains all day in Ketchikan. We walked around the town and purchased all of our souvenirs. There are many stores selling all kinds of Alaska souvenirs.

 

Victoria, BC

From the docks you have two choices to get to downtown Victoria. There is a shuttle bus offering roundtrip transportation for ($6.) per person. Also, guests can catch a taxi for less than ($8.) including tip, one way to downtown. Taxis hold up to four passengers for the same rate. Remember, guests are probably paying in US dollars, and the cab fare is in Canadian dollars.

 

This was our sixth cruise on Norwegian Cruise Lines and we are very satisfied with their product. Don’t miss the chocolate buffet in the Garden Café on Ketchikan night, or the delicious outdoor barbeque under the stars on the last evening, Victoria night.

 

Wallygator

[hayesktrm]

Did you do the Glacier tour on your own and if so, who did you go with? How long did it take to get there? My DH doesn't want to go see it...says if he wants to see ice, he'll go to the bar :rolleyes: . I may want to go on my own so any information would be helpful.

 

Thanks for the review. The restaurant information was quite helpful.

[brunolvr]

 

Juneau, Alaska – Capital of Alaska

This was our favorite port of call. We went shopping downtown, had a drink in the famous Red Dog Saloon, and took a bus to the Mendenhall Glacier. The Glacier is a must see! ($12.) per person roundtrip.

There is also a tramway that will take visitors from downtown to the top of Mount Roberts to enjoy a breathtaking view. ($25.) per person.

Wallygator

 

Thanks for the review Wallygator. What time did you arrive and dock in Juneau? Was it difficult getting off the ship (meaning everyone wanted off at the same time so there were huge lines)?

[steveknj]

Thanks for the review! The one thing I'm glad to hear is that there are Rangers boarding the ship at Glacier Bay. I had heard that only HAL and Celebrity had the Park Rangers, so this is welcome news.

[jmcdon7230]

Thanks for the review Wallygator.

 

So what time in the morning did you leave Maryland to get to Seattle at 11:30AM?...... you brave soul you!

 

Was the Pearl on time coming back to Seattle? Did you use express debarkation....and did it go smoothly? What time did your plane leave on Sunday?

 

Thanks.

[Toyz711]

in juneau, to go to mendenhall glacier

http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/

you can catch the bus/shuttle right where the NCL shuttle drops you off.

very easy to do on your own. you don't need any vendor to go.

the $6 is per person, 1-way...then catch another shuttle to come back.

 

all ships entering glacier bay get the park rangers, it's fun to watch them climb up to the ship. some other cruise lines have naturalists that spend the whole cruise on the ship, that's what NCL doesn't have. the park rangers, usually, have a display set-up (like in the spinnaker lounger) that shows how the glacier from and move.

 

we had rain in ketchikan, also, i feel for you. ;)

glad you enjoy the cruise, we did the same route on the NCL star last sept.

nice review!!

[whynotcruise]

Thanks for your review! While walking around Ketchikan in the rain, did you wear a raincoat, poncho, or just a regular waterproof/resistant jacket? Did you see some people w/ umbrellas? So far, my family has jackets, but no rain ponchos, and want to know if we really need them. Thanks for any input!

[sue402001]

Thanks for your review wallygator! I'm getting so excited for my cruise! :D

[Toyz711]

my recommendation is rain ponchos:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2686543970096824660NKsCUO

we had several umbrellas around, made it hard to pass them on the narrow sidewalks. the nice thing about the rain ponchos, you can wear them over your normal jacket.

i'am hoping wallygator didn't have the downpour we did, in ketchikan.

but then it is in a rain forest!! sorry they had overcast for glacier bay, we were lucky..the sun came out for those couple of hours.

wallygator...you had some very long flights, hope you are getting your rest now that you are home.:)