My more then perfect Pacific Coastal cruise on the Norwegian Pearl

[sneakerstud]

I just wanted to give you all a quick review of my phenomenal “Pacific Coastal” cruise on the simply irresistible Norwegian Pearl.

I took the 1st flight with US Airways on sailing date morning from Charlotte to

Los Angeles and had 6 hours of the worst First Class flying experience ever! What is wrong with those flight attendants…they should work on a ship and see how wonderful everything works there!

After arrival in LAX my good friend Laurel (flyingpirate) who lives in L.A. had organized a Limo and we drove together to the Pier in San Pedro, which was a quick & comfortable ride down.

There she was…this absolutely wonderful ship…my favorite in the whole wide world…The Norwegian Pearl!

The luggage was unloaded quickly and porters took care of the rest. The check-in facilities are actually very nice at the San Pedro Pier and it was a breeze to check in.

I got one of the PINK Concierge slips and was shortly greeted by the Concierge in the Concierge Lounge, where refreshments have been waiting for us.

The Concierge (more to him later) apologized for a delay in boarding, since US Customs (it had nothing to do with NCL) had not cleared the ship. It was not too bad waiting there, since I saw many familiar faces and chatted my way through the hours of wait.

It was a big “HELLO and Welcome Home, again!” when the whole brigade of Butlers arrived (it was already my 5th cruise on the Pearl and many, many others on all the rest of the fleet) and everybody offered me their services, especially since I only was in a Mini Suite, since it was a last minute thing and all the Courtyard Suites had been already taken.

Simon the Cruise Director came out and took Laurel, me and her friend 1st through Security screening and on to the ship, before even the Villas and Suites! That is what I call NCL Super VIP Service!!!

On board I went to my Mini Suite and it was actually a nice room for myself and had nothing to complain about, especially since I got granted the same amenities as the Villa Guests.

Afterwards I went straight to the pool and had to have a stiff drink! For sure the whole brigade of Bartenders have knowing me as well and asked me if I would like to have my usual. Many drinks, laughs and familiar faces later, we left Los Angeles in to the blue Pacific Ocean and a magic Sunset!

That night I had prearranged before already, a table for us in Le Bistro and we indulged ourselves for hours over the Chef’s Menu and good wine with excellent company! Even the waitresses remembered me and just said the “Chateaubriand” would have been excellent again and not as it was the last time you had it. Unbelievable, how they can remember just so small things!

After dinner I went to Bliss Ultralounge to do the usual…have wonderful drinks and dance the night away.

Next day I went for lunch to “Cagney’s” with a slightly headache and made it then to the pool! After I had returned to my Suite I found an invitation for the VIP Party and afterwards to dine with the Captain and Hotel Director.

The VIP Party (I do not normally even go there anymore) was the usual…flirting with the Hotel Director, Handshake with the Captain and Cocktails and Canapés and more flirting.

Captains Table was held in Le Bistro and was as wonderful as usual! We actually had quiet interesting table mates…The Captain, Hotel Director, a VP of NCL in Miami, The Empress (flyingpirate), The King (me), a very high Officer from the US Navy and “Who are you” a friend of Laurel. After many laughs and great food I felt like dancing again in Bliss (to burn down the calories), where I met some wonderful people, who I met the night before. We made it until almost 4am until we sailed under the “Golden Gate” Bride watching it from the Courtyard Sun Deck 15! By the way the weather could have not been better the whole cruise!

In San Francisco I laid lazy in the sun and swam in the wonderful Pool, had lunch in the Courtyard and went in the late afternoon to the Sauna, what a great day that was, just to do nothing! I had dinner in Indigo, which was superb (also the following night).

On sea day up to Canada, The Hotel Director invited the whole Cruise Critic Gang to bowling and free drinks, which was very generous of him. Everybody had a great time.

In Victoria I celebrated my 26 (again) Birthday and just indulged myself on the ship. In the evening the Concierge invited me for drinks to the Star Bar. There was where the nonsense begun! Shortly after me, the ships Doctor arrived as well with his nurses for a drink. The Concierge told us both, that the Cruise Critic Members had organized a meeting to congratulate me for my Birthday and if he would like to join in. I was like “OH MY GOD”…since I hate situations like that! There we went down, a door opened and a room was filled with people and 2 wonderful Birthday cakes, one for “King Marcus” and the other one for “Queen (?) Pieter”!!! Everybody I have seen or met on the ship/trip was there (except CC members), open bar and wonderful cake. What a great surprise party for the doctor and me!!! We both had no clue and have been surprised to the maximum! We both have been as well invited from the Hotel Director to invite people to our liking for dinner at “Cagney’s” on his compliments!

I hard core dining and drinking experience occurred that night in Cagney’s and at Bliss!

The next morning it was time to say “Good bye” in Vancouver! The Concierge met the Empress and me at 10:15a to be escorted privately off the ship, he even took care of the long lines at Vancouver pier and we just cut them all. There it was, a said good bye to my loved ship, it’s phenomenal crew and home away from home.

We took from there the Quick Shuttle to Seattle (never again), where I stayed overnight at the Seattle Marriott Airport Hotel (wonderful) and took the next morning a horrible First Class flight on Useless Air back to Charlotte.

Verdict: I had a brilliant cruise, better then excellent food and service!

I need to thank again Michael the Hotel Director for his going over and beyond to please two of NCL’s most valued Guests and Friends (flyingpirate and me).

Now to the Concierge Alexander Forbes: He is the most stylish, wonderful, great, simply gorgeous, distinguished and magic Concierge in the fleet, him and Lisa (NCL Spirit) are really the best Concierges NCL has to offer, where no request is too much and everything is dealt in a timely manner with a maximum in professionalism! It must be an Australian thing!

I can not wait to be on a NCL ship again (god thanks 3 more are already booked for this year!!!

King Marcus

[cruiser82]

It really was a great cruise, wasn't it? I need to take lessons from you on how to be a Super VIP- We had to wait in those long lines in San Pedro and Vancouver! I've always wanted to celebrate my birthday on a cruise so it was nice to hear about your surprise birthday party.

 

We also flew back with 'Useless Air' on a red eye after our stopover in Vegas and there wasn't a curtain between the first class cabin and area where the flight attendants sit, and they kept the light on the entire flight so they could read magazines. This happened to be the one time I forgot my eye mask and as we were only three rows back I didn't get any sleep.

 

Enjoy your upcoming cruises and hopefully I'll see you onboard again soon!

[sneakerstud]

Hey Niya,

 

YES...LOL...you can learn from me!!!:D

 

I just wished we could do that kind of lifestyle 24/7! You should come with us for the New Years 5 night trip out of Miami n the Jewel!

 

Big hug,

 

King Marcus

[Cosmopolitan]

Enjoyed every minute of your cruise.

 

We also loved Alex when he was on the Dawn. What a nice guy.

 

Klaus is also great and Jacques (now on the Dawn) is wonderful also.

 

So hard to say goodbye to these guys at the end of the cruise.

And, so great when we can meet up with them again:)

 

HAPPY 26th;)

[Stillfloatin']

Oh King Marcus, you sure know how to have fun! I remember you well from my Pearl southern Caribbean cruise last March. Seems like you were all over the ship, or else you had a bunch of Marcus clones running around. :D

[F5Loar]

Any chance you did the Murder Mystery dinner on Weds evening? Detials if you did. Lines at the bowling lanes?

[sneakerstud]

Murder Mystery...sorry NO! I was busy having dinner with officers of the ship! I even never made it to the show's, but on the other hand I have seen them already a couple of times...so it was ok!

 

Yes I'm always everywhere...he he he!!!

[sneakerstud]

YES true Klaus is fantastic!!! Never met Jaque, but I guess I will meet him soon!

[sneakerstud]

Thank you Cosmopolitan...he he he...it is always nice to turn 26 (again) and especially, if it is on a NCL ship! It makes the wrinkles just dissappear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

[odblnt]

I would have to say that you had the kind of cruise that we all hope to have some day.

 

In the usenet area of the WWW, there is a woodworking group where, from time to time, people describe what kind of deals they got on hardware or wood. The really great deals usually generate a number of replies from folks that say, "You suck." (This is meant only in the most envious of terms, though. It's often accompanied by folks offering to take said item or wood off the OP's hands.) After that cruise, you would definitely fit that category. ;)

 

I think I'll change my name to yours for our upcoming trip on the Pearl and see if I get that kind of treatment. :D

 

Pete

[sneakerstud]

Dear Pete,

 

YES it is wonderful to get treated the right way! If you would cruise as much as I do, you would get the same treatment!

There is really never a NO or a impossible!

 

If I go on a NCL ship it is like I would be home...just a noch better!:D

 

King Marcus

[Cosmopolitan]

Thank you Cosmopolitan...he he he...it is always nice to turn 26 (again) and especially, if it is on a NCL ship! It makes the wrinkles just dissappear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

 

So my mom was right..she always said "the ocean air keeps you young"

 

You shall be 26 forever:)

 

Keep on cruising;)

[cruiser82]

Hey Niya,

 

YES...LOL...you can learn from me!!!:D

 

I just wished we could do that kind of lifestyle 24/7! You should come with us for the New Years 5 night trip out of Miami n the Jewel!

 

Big hug,

 

King Marcus

 

I would love to go on the New Year's cruise but it's a bit up in the air at the moment because I'm not sure of my university schedule yet and I'm not even sure I'll be coming home for the holidays. However, I did drop the idea of going on this cruise into a conversation with my mom and she's considering it- the fact that we haven't been on the Jewel yet is a big selling point so we'll see!

[sneakerstud]

I have set up a group for that cruise and it will be all inclusive, flyingpirate is joining as well (so far) and many others from our Pacific Coastal. As well as friends from your area!

 

It would be so great to see you and your mom!

[shoreguy]

Hey Niya,

 

YES...LOL...you can learn from me!!!:D

 

I just wished we could do that kind of lifestyle 24/7! You should come with us for the New Years 5 night trip out of Miami n the Jewel!

 

Big hug,

 

King Marcus

 

Sounds interesting :D :rolleyes:

[sneakerstud]

Sounds interesting :D :rolleyes:

 

What does sounds interesting??? The 5 night cruise for New Years or my last trip, where I got the real "Royal" treatment?:D

[shoreguy]

What does sounds interesting??? The 5 night cruise for New Years or my last trip, where I got the real "Royal" treatment?:D

Both :D

[cruiser82]

I have set up a group for that cruise and it will be all inclusive, flyingpirate is joining as well (so far) and many others from our Pacific Coastal. As well as friends from your area!

 

It would be so great to see you and your mom!

 

I didn't know it was possible to have an all-inclusive on NCL but I guess the King can make anything happen! I'm assuming your prices are different than the ones from NCL? We'd love to get some of the pricing info if you don't mind (A3 or AB), and if you'd rather send it in an email there's a link in my signature. Thanks! :)

[sneakerstud]

I didn't know it was possible to have an all-inclusive on NCL but I guess the King can make anything happen! I'm assuming your prices are different than the ones from NCL? We'd love to get some of the pricing info if you don't mind (A3 or AB), and if you'd rather send it in an email there's a link in my signature. Thanks! :)

 

Niya,

I have e-mailed you the info!

The King

[shoreguy]

Niya,

I have e-mailed you the info!

The King

 

I feel left out ;)

[sneakerstud]

I feel left out ;)

 

Dear Jim,

 

Maybe, if you are nice to me...since we actually want to stay an exclusive jet setting crowd...I have to think, if a "Jersey" Guy would fit in!:D

 

King Marcus

[snorklinbarb]

King Marcus,

 

You had me laughing quite a bit, especially the description of the Captain's Cocktail party - you flirt!:D

 

Glad to hear you and the Pirate had a great time again on the Pearl. Loved your tale of "hard core" drinking & dining!

 

I've heard "Tubez" got the boot, though you said you didn't make any of the shows. Not sure how NCL got out of that one - wasn't there a contract for that LA "stunt" guy?:rolleyes:

 

The surprise party sounded like a blast. I can just see you making your royal entrance.:)

 

We've booked Gem 1/16/08 and have our eye on the Norwegian Fjords trip next summer if the prices ever come down on the Jade.:eek:

 

BTW, your 1st time bowling on the Pearl?:)

[ts01974]

Is this post a joke? I've never heard anybody talk about themselves so much in the third person.:rolleyes:

[calmac]

We've booked Gem 1/16/08 and have our eye on the Norwegian Fjords trip next summer if the prices ever come down on the Jade.:eek:

 

It would be great if we could meet up again on the Norwegian Fjords cruise. Flyingpirate has booked this one too!

[cruisingfromMN]

Dear Jim,

 

Maybe, if you are nice to me...since we actually want to stay an exclusive jet setting crowd...I have to think, if a "Jersey" Guy would fit in!:D

 

King Marcus

 

How about a fun loving couple from Minnesota? Like Jim, I'm feeling left out too!