Thoughts from experienced PEARL cruisers?

[Hikini]

We are seasoned NCL cruisers, but due to several family, time and health issues we haven't cruised for 2 years now. We've booked the 9/13 AK cruise on the Pearl and I'm dying to hear the thoughts of those who have already cruised on her. Anything is helpful.:)

[dustyroad]

i havent yet, but will in about 5 weeks. go to the reveiws and there will be many reviews about her. i read them all the time. :)

[Azure Moon]

In addition to dustyroad's excellent suggestion, type in Pearl review in the search at the top of this page and many threads giving information about the ship will come up.

My review is in the member reviews section.

We loved the Pearl and the ship is in amazing condition. Sure she's not very old, but the maintenance crew is constantly working to keep her sparkling. I even took a picture of one gentleman as he worked. I even took a picture of the white semi-enclosed area as you walk around the outside of the ship because it was so clean!

Pearl's buffet is the best we've seen on any ship we've been on.

The Dale Chihully (sp.) blue sculpture in the atrium area is kind of cool, so don't forget to take a look.

You'll love the ship.

[dustyroad]

In addition to dustyroad's excellent suggestion, type in Pearl review in the search at the top of this page and many threads giving information about the ship will come up.

 

My review is in the member reviews section.

 

We loved the Pearl and the ship is in amazing condition. Sure she's not very old, but the maintenance crew is constantly working to keep her sparkling. I even took a picture of one gentleman as he worked. I even took a picture of the white semi-enclosed area as you walk around the outside of the ship because it was so clean!

 

Pearl's buffet is the best we've seen on any ship we've been on.

 

The Dale Chihully (sp.) blue sculpture in the atrium area is kind of cool, so don't forget to take a look.

 

You'll love the ship.

 

thanks azure moon for the info. i cant wait to sail her. it will be my first ncl cruise and im so excited.

[Azure Moon]

thanks azure moon for the info. i cant wait to sail her. it will be my first ncl cruise and im so excited.

 

You're welcome :).

I bet you are :D! You've picked a wonderful ship for your first NCL experience :cool:.

I hope Captain Lars (I don't remember his last name) is still the Captain when you sail. Except for the knocks about Roatan, he was fun to listen to when making announcements...even the crew smiled.

[Christine Frances]

I fully agree!! The Pearl was wonderful, crew excellent - just a great cruise! Do not miss Cagney's. Just wish NCL would adopt Celebrity's smoking policy - we found we were driven out of the casino many times.

You will have a great cruise.

[4 cruisers]

We are seasoned NCL cruisers, but due to several family, time and health issues we haven't cruised for 2 years now. We've booked the 9/13 AK cruise on the Pearl and I'm dying to hear the thoughts of those who have already cruised on her. Anything is helpful.:)

 

Fabulous ship and crew!!!! We loved our trip in November and are taking the repo May 3rd out of LA.

 

Don't miss the Bliss lounge....at least go take a peak if not have a cocktail or two (or threee:p). Very unique! The lounge in the front of the ship has these wonderful loungers which is a fun place to read and relax with beautiful ocean views...It's the same room they do the White Hot night Party in ...and do take a look at that too! We brought white clothes which makes it very festive!

 

Le Bistro is still prob. our favorite restaurant but that is SO subjective! My mom is French so my cooking style is pretty "fussy" and this is what we really like. Many of us have such different tastes, I hate to suggest anything. But there you have it!:o

 

I'll post when we get back. Wow we can't wait to get out of here and leave the lousy economy behind...into Pearl fantasy land for 5 nights!;)

[dustyroad]

You're welcome :).

 

I bet you are :D! You've picked a wonderful ship for your first NCL experience :cool:.

 

I hope Captain Lars (I don't remember his last name) is still the Captain when you sail. Except for the knocks about Roatan, he was fun to listen to when making announcements...even the crew smiled.

 

 

i hope he is too. he sounds like a great captain. my first time on ncl is going to be a great one i am sure.

[dustyroad]

I fully agree!! The Pearl was wonderful, crew excellent - just a great cruise! Do not miss Cagney's. Just wish NCL would adopt Celebrity's smoking policy - we found we were driven out of the casino many times.

You will have a great cruise.

 

i totally avoid the casino anyway. within 25 miles of my house i can go to 3 casino boats. if i want to lose money i can do it at home :D. so the smoke wont be a problem for me there.

[numberguy]

We were on the Pearl for an Alaskan cruise in June 2007. Everything was great, and I really can't think of a thing we didn't like. Even the weather cooperated--it was low to mid 60's and partly to mostly sunny every day except when we were in Glacier Bay, and they say you want it to be cloudy when you look at the glaciers, because it enhances the "blueness" of the glaciers.

 

It was a fantastic cruise for us. I think we might have found one soup appetizer we didn't like out of the entire trip (no, wait, that was on the Gem, her sister ship). So I guess I loved everything about it!

 

Although, be prepared to be steered to shopping in "their" shops during port days.

 

--Michael

[Hikini]

It's been so long since I've been to these forums that I had completely forgotten about the reviews section. Thanks for the heads up, and thanks for all the replies so far!

[Hikini]

Any of you Pearl cruisers also been on the Star? We've been on the Star twice - how would you compare the two?

[calicruising]

I have sailed on the Pearl twice and will be going on my second Star sailing on the 25th for the new itinerary coastal cruise up to Alaska from California.

The Pearl is my favorite NCL ship so far.. since the Jewel. The Bliss lounge is awesome with the bowling alleys in it.. makes for a great time.

The Star is a great ship, as you know, but it is smaller than the Pearl and older, so you will be very impressed with the Pearl. Also, the food is better on the Pearl as are the choices.

You already know that any cruise is a great cruise and you can find something to love on any ship.

Have a great time!

 

Any of you Pearl cruisers also been on the Star? We've been on the Star twice - how would you compare the two?

[tiggerfan616]

You're welcome :).

 

I bet you are :D! You've picked a wonderful ship for your first NCL experience :cool:.

 

I hope Captain Lars (I don't remember his last name) is still the Captain when you sail. Except for the knocks about Roatan, he was fun to listen to when making announcements...even the crew smiled.

 

We loved Capt Lars also but unfortunatly he wont be there, he left a few weeks ago for vacation. But I will echo what others have said the Pearl is a great ship with a wonderful hardworking crew. We cant wait to sail here again next January

[garycarla]

We loved her on our 19 day cruise last year. Any particular questions?

[terrymtex01]

Any of you Pearl cruisers also been on the Star? We've been on the Star twice - how would you compare the two?

 

 

Here are my thoughts to this question. We are big fans of the Star. We sailed on the Pearl this past Oct. There is very little I could ever come up with negative about the Pearl. I would be so hard pressed to come up with something negative I can't even think of anything right now. However we did not love her as we did the Star. It seems everyone has their own favorite ship and so far the Star has been ours. Have no regrets though... the Pearl is beautiful and her crew is top notch. Just for some reason, the Star feels like home to us. May not make any sense to anyone.. but thats how we feel about it.. 8-)

 

Hope you have an amazing cruise.

[gtalum]

I'm glad to hear all the good things about Pearl. We'll be sailing on her for our first NCL experience in October.

[retired rascal]

she is beautiful, big, clean, a bit gawdy. we loved the minisuite, the spa, the teppenyaki, the art in the stairwells, lying in the big window loungers on deck 12 in the morning when it was empty and quiet, found the buffet easy to navigate and full of good healthy food. stake out seating at the stern narrow area and it doesn't feel crowded or hassled. there are great espresso/latte/cappucino machines back there.....free all day. we're going again on panama canal cruise and plan cagney's and sushi. mambo's and italian were o.k., not great. we didn't like the service in the main dining room. clearly we loved being aboard as we rebooked same deck 11 mini as last cruise.:)

[Traveller20074]

I love, love LOVE the cruise I took. Nothing bad at all that I can think of. All good. Probably had the best margarita I've ever tasted at the Topsider Bar and Grill. The shows were awesome, the crew was awesome. The rooms were awesome. Simon Murray the cruise director was fun. Just a wonderful vacation. This was the Western Caribbean, I will definitely take an Alaska Cruise on the Pearl in the future. Oh! The Spa! The highlight of the cruise for me. $99 for the whole 7 days. I spent a lot of time in there.

[dustyroad]

i know i had it saved but it is gone. can someone post the link to see the drinks availble on the ship and prices. thanks so much.

[coka]

I sailed the Pearl twice. Once in March 08 (balcony) and again in Feb.09 (mini-suite). I can not think of a better combination for your cruise...The Pearl and Alaska. If Captain Lars is not there (never met him), then Captain Sverre probably will be. Under both of them, the Pearl remains a happy ship. Like the others stated, and I can not figure out why, but the Pearl does seem to have the best food. Having sailed on different NCL ships over the past few years, I spend most of my time eating when sailing her. Have a great cruise and no worries about your choice. I envy you!

 

coka

[slotaddict]

The Pearl is my favorite ship to date - I thought it to be an amazing ship, with good not great food - a wonderful buffet which we chose to eat at several nights - the crew was great - I just loved the layout of the ship and will sail her again when we finally decide to cruise Alaska.

Have a great trip.

[newmexicoNita]

We are seasoned NCL cruisers, but due to several family, time and health issues we haven't cruised for 2 years now. We've booked the 9/13 AK cruise on the Pearl and I'm dying to hear the thoughts of those who have already cruised on her. Anything is helpful.:)

 

Hikini,

 

I think we are going on the same cruise..We will decide in the next week or so.

 

Nita

[dustyroad]

I sailed the Pearl twice. Once in March 08 (balcony) and again in Feb.09 (mini-suite). I can not think of a better combination for your cruise...The Pearl and Alaska. If Captain Lars is not there (never met him), then Captain Sverre probably will be. Under both of them, the Pearl remains a happy ship. Like the others stated, and I can not figure out why, but the Pearl does seem to have the best food. Having sailed on different NCL ships over the past few years, I spend most of my time eating when sailing her. Have a great cruise and no worries about your choice. I envy you!

 

coka

 

thanks coka, i love alaska. this will be my 3rd time and i am just as excited to go there now as the first time. i am convinced i have chosen a great ship and will have a fantastic time. and im like you, all the great food is part of the cruise experience :) .

[Azure Moon]

We loved Capt Lars also but unfortunatly he wont be there, he left a few weeks ago for vacation. But I will echo what others have said the Pearl is a great ship with a wonderful hardworking crew. We cant wait to sail here again next January

 

Thanks for the update on Captain Lars. :)