Just back from the Pearl...Noticed lots of changes

[Akkadian01]

No longer do they have cookies avail to passengers. On past NCL cruises they would have cookies EVERYWHERE but on this one not a single one could be found. Halfway through the cruise I decided to ask and was told cookies are now only by request. :confused:

 

The chocolate lovers buffet was less then impressive. I recall lots and lots of diffrent choices and huge ice and chocolate sculptures on past cruises. This cruise they just seemed to throw something together quickly and get it over with.

 

No cruising through the Inside Passage :confused:

 

No more Lobster Night. Instead a you get a Seafood Platter which has some Lobster.

 

The menus seemed less then impressive as if NCL wants you to say "Yuck" lets go pay $20 a Cagneys.

 

The buffet though very very nice seemed to have the same food coices every night. I recall sailing on the Sun and having a individual station with one nite serving mexican, another chineese............

 

With that said NO I will not stop sailing NCL NO I will not write a complain letter. Just wanted to say what I had observed :)

 

Overall it was a GREAT cruise PERFECT wheater. We had an amazing Glacier Bay day so perfect even some of the crew were shocked about how good it was....... If you have any questions feel free to ask

[Prince1]

I'll be sailing on the Pearl in 2 weeks. I noticed your comment about not sailing the inside passage. Can you elaborate?

[Akkadian01]

I have sailed before to Alasks with NCL. On past cruisesone of my highlights was while pn the first day at sea sailing the inside passage. We wspend a good portion of the day (more then half) surrounded up close by mountains and trees. We then would sail through Bella Bella which is what I believe a Native American village. I remember the fisherman some who were just kids coming up close and sailing around us and waiving.......I woke up on the first sea day expecting this when by noon all we were seeing was the ocean I decided to go ask. I was told we would NOT be sailing the inside passage instead we would go by a similar area for a little bit around 3pm. Sure enough for about 2 hours at 3pm we passed a couple of trees(nice scenery). I was sadden but on the sailing from Skagway to Glacier Bay we saw plenty of nice scenery so in the end it was ok.

[Toyz711]

when you leave from vancouver, you sail the inside passage between vancouver and vancouver island (victoria). i hear the views are very nice and shore is close. sailing from seattle, you go west of vancouver island, open sea. but since juneau, skagway, ketchikan are all on the inside passage, you can't help but sail some of it.

the ships change course to many reasons, ship traffic, weather, time.

 

last sept, we were in the upper inside passage by 11am after sailing around vancouver island during the night. had islands and views from there on. sailing back from glacier bay, the ship took a route through some islands...didn't return by the same route. but we had views the whole way. the "true" inside passage is the gap between vancouver and vancouver island, it's narrow and allows for better views. but the area from there, going north to juneau is still the inside passage..but more open. since the big ships can't get close to shore, you need binoculars to see anything.

[ute_fan]

There was quite a discussion earlier in the year about the "inside passage" sailing -- or lack of it. Most of the ships sailing from Seattle don't do a full inside passage, as they sail west of Vancouver Island instead of east. Occassionally, you'll get lucky and sail east due to weather conditions, but they can make much better time sailing the western route. That eastern route is probably what you missed on this sailing -- and yes, I agree, it's spectacular.

 

As far as lobster night, I'm really puzzled. We sailed the Pearl earlier in the season, and there definitely was a lobster night. Not only was it available in the main dining rooms, but they made a special point of stating on the daily that lobster would be available in all the specialty dining rooms too. Unless the menus have changed again, which I think would have generated LOTS more comments on this board, I have no idea why lobster wouldn't have been available on your sailing.

[newmexicoNita]

Just back, are you referring to "just back" as in yesterday or a few weeks ago. I ask as I have read a couple of reviews lately (other boards) saying how the food has improved in the past year or so. There was no referance to the lack of Lobster. Like Ute-fan said, this really doesn't make much sense. I wonder if they simply ran out this cruise or maybe some was spoiled, forcing them to do the best they could. What about the specialty dining rooms, did they still have Lobster or did you not check them out.

 

I am sure many of us would like to know the answer to the Lobster mystery. I really don't think this is something that will continue, but who knows. As for the cookies, golly, I am not sure I would even notice that, but obviolsy you like cookies more than me. I am more the ice cream type. LOL

 

I just read "another Pearl Review" they sailed the 22-29th and raved about the food. I still think there must have been some reason for what you experienced.

 

Nita

[Aloha Gal]

We were on the Pearl 7/22 - 7/29, and there was no mention of Lobster Night in the dailies. I'm not a big lobster fan, so wasn't looking for it, but did notice the omission. My friend did have lobster at Cagney's for an extra charge.

 

Also, for our cruise anyway, they discontinued the 2 for 1 offer in specialty restaurants.

[ute_fan]

Hi Aloha girl -- that is interesting news. I don't care for lobster either, so it wouldn't have mattered to me. We had friends who had made a reservation in Mambo's for "lobster" night (Monday night), and then they were upset when they realized lobster was being served. I showed them in the daily where it stated that they would be able to get it in the specialty restaurant, and the next day they were talking about how good it was.

 

Anyone else having trouble with lobster availability??

[lmt219]

There wasn't a lobster night on the 7/15 sailing, which really annoyed me and my mother. My mother was especially mad because it's now a seafood medley and she's allergic to scallops. They said that they could make it without the scallops, but that's not a risk she's willing to take.

[Aloha Gal]

Hi Utefan, now I so understand what you meant about cruise withdrawal. Oooh, I have it so bad. I keep having Pearl dreams!:D You got anything planned? God-willing, our Smokey boy's health will improve, and we can think of booking another cruise. Till then, will have to live vicariously on this board!

 

Aloha, Logan

[Akkadian01]

I just got off the ship I was on the 7/29 sailing. I asked if there would be a Lobster night and was told No. The instead they had some type of seafood platter which had some lobster and other seafood items.........

[ute_fan]

Aloha Girl -- So you're afflicted by PCD (post-cruise depression) also, huh? Unfortunately, the only cure I know of is to plan that next cruise. We're still in the same boat you are, even if not for the same reasons, as we have no future cruise planned :( .

 

Boy, that's really too bad if they've done away with lobster night. Sounds like a topic for another thread, to see if it's fleet wide or if something weird is happening on the Pearl.

[2inTul]

Lobster! Yuck.....I could care less.

 

Now COOKIES...that's a whole 'nuther ballgame! Cookies are the staff of life right? How could they do away with cookies?

 

I have to have my cookies!

[virginiab]

T think there is currently a lobster shortage. I remember reading something about it. I can't remember what affected the lobster catch....

[big green]

Ther was no lobster night on this sailing. The buffett was not very good because the food stayed the same-- was not labele and the buffett was packed at every meal-- i was very disappointed by this.

[jkloni]

So is it a broiled lobster tail with other seafood on the plate?

 

It would be upsetting to me if they took the lobster away from the non-paying restaurants. We are on the Spirit in November and again in February....

[Toyz711]

the big maine lobster they serve in the speciality (i don't think) wouldn't be affected with any problems that the caribbean (key west spiney) lobster (that they use in the main dining room) would have. if they have a lot of red tide, that could be a problem for the spiney lobster...also, certain times of the year they can't take females because of the eggs she carries under her tail. there are other problems that could cause a shortage in dining rooms.:D

[Akkadian01]

Yeah cookies are my fav

I remember Cookies being avail in the blue lagoon on the dawn/star 24/7

I have seen cookies in the kids buffet in the regular bufffet for afternoon snacks. I have also seen cookies in the late night snacks in the casino. This time not a single cookie :(

There must be a cookie dough shortage also

[Catamount71]

the big maine lobster they serve in the speciality (i don't think) wouldn't be affected with any problems that the caribbean (key west spiney) lobster (that they use in the main dining room) would have. if they have a lot of red tide, that could be a problem for the spiney lobster...also, certain times of the year they can't take females because of the eggs she carries under her tail. there are other problems that could cause a shortage in dining rooms.:D

 

Time of year should make no difference. Poor handling in shipping of the frozen lobster could. You don't think they are fresh or even caught and frozen in the last month. ;)

[Toyz711]

4 or 5 years ago, when we lived down in florida...i remember something about a virus that was eating or destroying the shells on the lobster. when red tide hits...that can be really bad if it stays around too long. (or hits hard several years in a row)

35 years ago, i spend a summer in key west...had a great time going to the warehouse where they unloaded the lobster. even getting them 10 mins off the boat, some are tasty and some are tough.

[silkhair1]

I live for the cookies. I hope it is just on the Pearl. My kids love all the cookies on the ship. Lobster on the other hand will not affect me, but my whole family!

[CRUZIN TOM]

On the Pearl in Feb they had cookies, but you had to ask for them. Ask at the dessert bar or at the ice cream bar. We had cookies eveyday except for the last 2 days on our 9 day cruise.:)

[rnick821]

Just curious, does someone have a scan/image of the menu for the Pearl that reflects this lack of lobser night, but rather seafood night? I would be curious to know what it says.

 

Thanks.

[carontori]

I'm confused? :confused: I was on the Pearl 7/1 and they had a lobster night on the Monday and there were cookies available every day in the outdoor cafe! They were absolutely delicious. I went every day, mid afternoon for a snack.

[switzer29]

I was on the July 1st cruise and I know that they had cookies because we ate some every afternoon. We got ours in the outdoor cafe. I remember reading something about having a lobster night but since I don't eat lobster I didn't really pay attention. I should probably post a review about my cruise pretty soon!!