NCL Pearl Alaska - aft cabin view?

[Roboat]

DW and I just booked an aft cabin on the Pearl, 11654, for our first Alaska IP cruise, in May 2010. Vancouver to Seattle. (Why is this cruise list-priced a lot lower than others? different airports?)

How are the views aft, versus on the side of the ship, for Alaska inside passage?

Also, I have mobility problems and we will stay aboard in ports.

Does anyone happen to know if the balcony on 11654 is covered? It looks like "not quite"

Thanks!

[nancyfancy40]

We had an aft mini on the pearl last May and loved it. Most of my pictures were taken from our balcony and they were all great. You will love the aft and never want any other kind of cabin

 

Nancy

[nlt46]

Really the aft on an Alaskan sailing is the best!! We fell in love with the aft on just such a sailing. I'm sure you will enjoy.

Nancy

[Cruise_More_Often]

DW and I just booked an aft cabin on the Pearl, 11654, for our first Alaska IP cruise, in May 2010. Vancouver to Seattle. (Why is this cruise list-priced a lot lower than others? different airports?)

How are the views aft, versus on the side of the ship, for Alaska inside passage?

Also, I have mobility problems and we will stay aboard in ports.

Does anyone happen to know if the balcony on 11654 is covered? It looks like "not quite"

Thanks!

Roboat, the cruise is priced lower than others because it is the first cruise and leaves from Vancouver, ends in Seattle. You are correct. Most people want to begin and end their cruises in the same port for convenience and so that they can take advantage of round-trip airfare.

 

The minisuite aft balconies are covered. I tried to upload a photo for you, unsuccessfully, so hopefully you'll be able to see my tiny avatar. It's of the Jewel's stern, but the Jewel and the Pearl are identical.

 

Have a wonderful cruise!

[jimswims]

This is a great question since I just booked an Aft Balcony cabin on the Pearl to Alaska for next year. We are on deck 10 though.

[pateoreo1]

DW and I just booked an aft cabin on the Pearl, 11654, for our first Alaska IP cruise, in May 2010. Vancouver to Seattle. (Why is this cruise list-priced a lot lower than others? different airports?)

How are the views aft, versus on the side of the ship, for Alaska inside passage?

Also, I have mobility problems and we will stay aboard in ports.

Does anyone happen to know if the balcony on 11654 is covered? It looks like "not quite"

Thanks!

 

 

We had an Aft penthouse on deck 9 in June and yes you will love it. When we were in Glacier Bay we stayed on our balcony the whole time and took pictures. They are covered but if you are wondering if you will get wet if it rains the answer is yes. We got into rain and about half of the balcony got wet.

[pj-n-bob]

Last year, we were in an aft cabin on deck 10. On deck 10, the balcony is larger than the other decks. All are mostly covered, you can still look up/down and wave to a neighbor...lol. We loved being on the aft...great views...

 

 

 

I'm guessing you are right about having different embark/debark locations as the reason for the price difference. It doesn't look like it goes to Glacier Bay, but you get an extra day...yeah!

 

I don't know your level of mobility, but thought I'd just mention a point. My Mom went with us on this trip and she has difficulty walking very far without getting winded. Going to a show, which is at the very front of the ship, meant planning plenty of time for stops to let her catch her breath. I wish we had brought a wheelchair...would have made things much easier for her.

 

If you're interested, I have more pics of our trip here:

http://family.webshots.com/album/567720891nDhFqK

[mypleasure]

This is a great question since I just booked an Aft Balcony cabin on the Pearl to Alaska for next year. We are on deck 10 though.

 

 

I was in 10168 on the 28th June sailing and that cabin was brilliant. It is a standard balcony cabin but the balcony is magnificent. One sun lounger, 2 chairs, small table and bags more room - not cramped with that stuff on there at all. Our steward Frank was great, so laid back and easy going, nothing was a problem for that guy at all.

 

So impressed I booked 10668 next door for my 50th Birthday cruise next Feb. I think I don't want a standard balcony ever again.

[jimswims]

I was in 10168 on the 28th June sailing and that cabin was brilliant. It is a standard balcony cabin but the balcony is magnificent. One sun lounger, 2 chairs, small table and bags more room - not cramped with that stuff on there at all. Our steward Frank was great, so laid back and easy going, nothing was a problem for that guy at all.

 

So impressed I booked 10668 next door for my 50th Birthday cruise next Feb. I think I don't want a standard balcony ever again.

 

That is where I will be next August.

 

My DW has wanted to take an Alaska cruise for several years. I was not interested. We have been on several cruises to warmer places instead. A friend went on the Pearl recently and gave the best review complete with pictures. It truly looked amazing. We both have been working very hard in our demanding jobs, raising two wonderful kids, and in addition to all of this, I went back to school to finish my doctorate. This is one of the ways that I am saying thanks for keeping everything together during a very busy and stressful time.

 

I look forward to hearing about your cruise and the cabin. Happy early Birthday to you:)!

[McDebbie]

Paula, great pictures, thanks so much for sharing. We are going the first week in September this year and will be in 10164 and were wondering if we should take an upsell (if it comes :D) but I am thinking we will just stay put. Looks like you had great weather. What? No crabs for you? Where did your family have the crab and you the chicken?

[mypleasure]

 

I look forward to hearing about your cruise and the cabin. Happy early Birthday to you:)!

 

Thank You. My PCC said the same when we were talking about my booking yesterday and I said it was to celebrate my 50th. He said he was sending me a cake!

 

We would have liked to have gone a week earlier to actually be on the ship on the big day but the two cabins 10168 and 10668 were already booked. I am so looking forward to being back on the Pearl with it's friendly crew, and that cabin will be fabulous. When in Alaska we were out there a lot and because it is so sheltered it was really good out of the wind and in the sun, too hot sometimes. I will take good care of it for you.

[mypleasure]

Paula, great pictures, thanks so much for sharing. We are going the first week in September this year and will be in 10164 and were wondering if we should take an upsell (if it comes :D) but I am thinking we will just stay put. Looks like you had great weather. What? No crabs for you? Where did your family have the crab and you the chicken?

 

I would say that unless the upsell is really fantastic then stay where you are. I looked through the door of the cabin when Frank was cleaning it and I wanted to tell him we were out for dinner and it looked really nice. Much bigger than the BA of course but that and the perks is what you pay extra for. Given that the perks are the same for an upsell then it is all about whether the change of location will be good for you or not. I felt the main benefit of the location was the shelter from the wind making it far more usable than the midship balcony we had last year. It is also very peaceful there although our neighbours had some friends who used to shout down from the great outdoors sometimes when they were out there. The only noise we ever heard from anywhere.

[coka]

I stayed in 11654 and yes, the balcony is covered. Deck 10 balconies jut out a little further than deck 11 so those are the ones that are not covered completely (enough, but not entirely). You can see it clearly on the previous poster's picture.

 

I was not in Alaska but the views of the Caribbean were good. This cabin is very spacious and handicapped equipped. I think the best part of an aft for Alaska is not being in the wind as you would most likely get on the sides or front.

 

We enjoyed this cabin very much. Be careful though, the beds are THE BEST EVER. I remember choosing the bed over staying out late-night. I remember choosing the balcony over the ports. Another good part of this location was the ease of going up one flight of stairs to the Garden Cafe.

 

My review of this cabin is somewhere on the boards. I will look for it.

 

coka

[coka]

Here it is. I copied and pasted from the formal review section:

 

The Pearl is Still Perfect For Me!

 

This was my 23rd cruise on NCL and I have sailed Carnival 7x, Princess 3x, and Royal Caribbean 2x. I choose NCL because they have the most genuine, sincere, friendly, and dedicated employees. Additionally, NCL has great past passenger benefits and I find freestyle cruising most conducive to how I like to vacation. Although I have diary reviews all throughout the CruiseCritic.com archives, this is my first on the big board!

 

Hotel Information: Stayed two days in South Beach at the Kent Hotel prior to cruise. Near everything, we enjoyed the Oceanside dining, the sun, and dancing at Mangoes, Nikki Beach Club, Gemma (at Lincoln Road Mall), and Mansion (although I was the oldest one dancing on a box above everyone…well, okay…I was the oldest one amongst the 2,500 patrons). Post cruise was at Bahia Mar Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. Nice hotel in the center of the beach action.

 

Embarkation: Very easy. I usually get in the very small platinum boarding line, but since I was traveling with my sister in a wheelchair, we got on even faster!

 

The ship: She's simply irresistible! She is the first ship to have bowling which compliments her Bliss nightclub experience. There are very nice deck chairs and loungers in all the outdoor areas. The gamblers are not confined to the casino as they set up tables near the pool and have some slots next to bowling area. Do not expect a grand atrium as there is none. This works for me because the big atriums make me feel like I am in a mall. Each restaurant and lounge is unique in décor and is certainly worth taking time to look at. In the deck hallways, the fish on the carpet are always swimming forward thus enabling you to know where the front is. My second time on the Pearl, I discovered all sorts of secret spots where one can relax in the sun peacefully away from crowds…on the promenade deck, near the rock climbing wall, deck 13 aft up the outside stairways, and forward ship on the uppermost decks. If you want more vibe and energy of pools, a band, bars, grills, barbecues and hot-tubbing, then lido deck 12 is the place to go. The Garden Café buffet is nearby.

 

Our Stateroom: Almost twice the size of a regular mini-suite, our stern handicapped mini-suite 11654 was wonderful. The bathroom had a moveable mirror, grab-bars and an attached shower chair. The balcony door was electronic and the ramp getting out there was up to code. The vanity and the extra long table/storage/refrigerator area enabled a wheelchair to fit under. The phone was not accessible so we easily moved it. The storage was immense. In the closet, a lower bar to hang clothes would be more convenient as the high bar was difficult for sister to use. The bedding is out of this world. Well, it actually comes from Italy, but if you can imagine me choosing sleep over dancing, then that is how good the 2.0 upgraded mattresses on NCL are!

 

Activities: I do not believe the reviews that tell us there is nothing to do onboard. Seminars, fitness activities, trivia, Wii on the big screen in the atrium, rock climbing, liquor tasting, gambling, NCL-U, bowling, dance lessons, are a few examples among many. On this cruise, my favorite choice activities were sitting on the balcony sipping wine, eating a lot of yummy food in great restaurants, and awakening every morning to beautiful sunrises. I did go to an informative session given by the Captain, Chief Engineer and Cruise Director that showed and discussed behind the scene aspects to a cruise ship. The audience could ask questions afterwards.

 

Entertainment: I sat on my balcony sipping wine…eating…watching sunrises! The big Jean Ann Ryan shows are presented twice during the evenings that enable you to work around freestyle dining. I never went to the shows but did meet some of the female dancers. They were gorgeous and had legs the length of the Nile. Jeff Harms and Peter Sasso were the comedians onboard this week and my sister thought they were very funny. Having seen them on previous ships, I knew they were. Two signature NCL parties are Monte Carlo night and the White Hot Party night. I will always make it to a white hot party and I was not disappointed. Each ship has their twist to the parties and the Pearl's was a treat to attend. Other not to miss events includes Quest, the not-so-newlywed game, the crew talent show, the passenger talent show, the outdoor deck party and the last night toga party.

 

Dining: I never had a bad meal. My sister loved the food presentation. Some of my favorite meal items are the made-to-order omelets or the pasta dishes at the action stations, the cold soups in the buffet or restaurants, or escargot in the Le Bistro French restaurant. I ate twice there! Never waited to get a seat and making reservations was very easy for us. Other nightly meals were at Cagney's (the garlic potatoes and scalloped potatoes are my favorites), La Cucina (I loved the trolley tray), Mambos (oh my gosh, the crushed pineapple/mango fruitover vanilla ice cream-with a cornbread crumb and cinnamon spice sprinkled on top was scrumptious), the Summer Palace restaurant and the night-time buffet (If you love crepes, then be sure to see Rio, the Garden Café crepe man, who makes them big as an entire meal)!

 

Ports-Of-Call: We stopped in Roatan, Belize, Cozumel and NCL's private island. Having been on this itinerary many times, we did not do any excursions and did not feel the urgency to leave the Pearl. Having her all to ourselves while passengers were on shore is definitely a best secret in cruising. The times we went ashore were for various reasons but none included ship tours. I love the private island best over other cruise line private islands. They have a big picnic barbecue and fun activities to partake in. Many sometimes complain of the crowded beach, yet if you look around and explore, you can find solitude. I found things off the beaten path I never knew existed there!

 

Ship Services: The stores onboard are smaller than some NCL ships due to its location, but one can really find anything forgotten from home. One can also find a souvenir. The best bargains are the duty free liquor and cigarettes. Sales and specials occur throughout the week. The spa has specials too. I highly recommend taking a spa tour upon boarding because you will be pleasantly surprised with what they offer…not just in services but for areas to relax and rejuvenate in! I had my first ever Swedish back massage and I wished it could have lasted forever.

 

Officers/Staff/Crew: Those onboard the Pearl that week went over and beyond their calls-of-duty for my sister and me. From embarkation to debarkation, many assisted and offered to assist us in so many ways. From the Captain down to those who polish the hand rails, all were friendly, genuine and sincere in their interactions with us. They made my sister feel like she was traveling with family. I was very happy she got to experience the care and hospitality NCL gives as I have experienced over the years sailing with them. Although I love all the NCL ships in their own unique ways and highly anticipate the Epic, I will always and forever be a Pearl-Girl!

[pj-n-bob]

Paula, great pictures, thanks so much for sharing. We are going the first week in September this year and will be in 10164 and were wondering if we should take an upsell (if it comes :D) but I am thinking we will just stay put. Looks like you had great weather. What? No crabs for you? Where did your family have the crab and you the chicken?

 

Our trip was the first week of September last year. I think the aft cabins are the best for the Alaska cruise. I had forgotten about the wind, as someone else mentioned...it is true. We could sit out on our balcony at any time, even when we were cruising full speed.

 

Yeah, I don't eat much seafood. That excursion was in Ketchikan, the Wilderness Exploration & Crab Feed.

[Roboat]

Thanks so much for the replies, reviews, photos and comments. Y'all rock.

 

And thank you, NCL, for offering military discounts to veterans.

 

We (meaning DW Suzanne) decided to cruise Alaska this year instead of our annual Caribbean cruise. Ouch in the wallet, since we live in Orlando.

 

You know how you can let yourself get kinda sucked into something before you've really thought it through? I was just perusing VTG while I should have been working. All I did was call NCL to see if they had any super deals on airfare. No intention of actually booking a cruise. Well, that sweet-talking NCL lady had me hog-tied and wrapped up with a bow in about 30 seconds.

 

Same dang thing happened to me at my one and only art auction, where I was so excited to have paid more than anyone else on the whole ship for some piece of art. But I had champagne, and people were clapping, and the pretty art auctioneer lady clearly recognized me as an astute lover of art. The art doesn't take up any hardly any room at all in the closet, where it's still in the shipping tube 7 years later, soaring in value.

 

I'm sure I'll have a bunch of questions. Thanks again, folks.

[McDebbie]

Same dang thing happened to me at my one and only art auction, where I was so excited to have paid more than anyone else on the whole ship for some piece of art. But I had champagne, and people were clapping, and the pretty art auctioneer lady clearly recognized me as an astute lover of art. The art doesn't take up any hardly any room at all in the closet, where it's still in the shipping tube 7 years later, soaring in value.

Too funny. Maybe you should pull it out and see if it will pay for the Alaska cruise. :D