Trying to decide between the CCL Freedom and NCL Pearl

amistad · April 11, 2010

I have been trying to decide between the CCL Freedom 8 day Eastern and the 7 Day NCL Pearl Eastern. We enjoy both lines, I like the flexability with Freestyle dining and My time dining, dress codes on both are about the same, I like the ideas of the 8 day's, but the last Carnival cruise we took on the Liberty was just ok. We are not loyal to any of the cruise lines and have sailed on several, I generally just pick by price, ports and how old the ship is, but the recent comments on the Freedom have been so so. We would be traveling with 2 other couples so I hate to make the wrong decision, so I am asking for opinions. The cruise we took on the CCL Triumph in 2008 was great and the 2009 cruise we took on NCL Spirit was great, so hard to decide. I realize that every cruise is what you make of it, but I also appreciate the opinions of the folks here at CC.

TexDisneyMom · April 11, 2010

I havent been on the Freedom, but I loved the Pearl when we sailed her to Alaska. I dont think you could go wrong with the Pearl, if the itinerary suits your needs.

coffeecat · April 11, 2010

I have never sailed Carnival but have been on the Pearl and am booked on her again for next Feb (was going to do the Spirit but we changed our reservations to the Pearl instead).

The Pearl is an awesome ship! She is fairly new, the crew is great, and the specialty restaurants are awesome. If you are travelling with other couples it would be perfect because you could each do your own things for meals or get together as a group on some nights (rather than having to eat together every single night!). I love my friends and we are travelling with some on our next cruise, but I think it would also be nice to have some alone time with my husband for dinner on a night or two.

We really loved the Pearl! Consistently she gets overall great reviews here. Great crew and great food. Dr. Jack Daniels (you can search his posts) sailed on the Pearl recently and wrote a very nice and comprehensive review and I believe he was a frequent carnival sailor...that will probably give you a nice comparison. There are also many Carnival vs NCL threads and you could search for these in the forum. Also, post your question on the Carnival boards.

Good luck,

Coffeecat

coffeecat · April 11, 2010

Below is the link to Dr. Jack's review of the Pearl...hope it helps!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1148622&highlight=jack+daniels

Coffeecat

amistad · April 11, 2010

Thanks for the info on the Pearl, it looks like a great ship and you are right it does generally get good reviews.

t8cnel · April 11, 2010

Hello,

We have sailed on both the Pearl and Freedom. We loved the Pearl so much better. Its a nicer layout, adult pool, lovely bar area at the stern of the ship for sunset views, and freestyle dinners. The Freedom was our ship for our cruise around Italy, our most favorite vacation. I just wasn't a fan of the adult pool and bar area in the back of the ship as well as the layout of the ship. Plus, where else can you bowl on the high seas ? :D

Bars7816 · April 11, 2010

Loved the Pearl. One great thing: They had signs posted PORT and STARBOARD at the elevator landings. Without my husband with me, I rarely know where I am! Well, you know some elevators face aft and some forward, so how am I supposed to know which way my cabin is after leaving the elevator? ;)

Planer's Edge · April 11, 2010

Loved the Pearl. One great thing: They had signs posted PORT and STARBOARD at the elevator landings. Without my husband with me, I rarely know where I am! Well, you know some elevators face aft and some forward, so how am I supposed to know which way my cabin is after leaving the elevator? ;)

Also, if you look at the carpet in the cabin hallways, this fish are swimming forward.

PE

amistad · April 12, 2010

Thanks everyone for the opinions, we took an 8 day eastern a few years ago on the Jewel of the Seas and it was one of my favorite cruises, I guess I was hoping to kind of relive that, but the Freedom hasn't been getting real good comments on the Carnival board lately so I am kind of leaning toward the Pearl. The suite perks are so much better on NCL, but since we are traveling with friends I don't know if it would be worth getting one. We had an AC on the Spirit in March and only used Cagney's a couple of time for breakfast and never for lunch, because we didn't want our family in the connecting balcony to feel left out. The suites on Carnival are large and have great storage, but no extra services. Decisions decisions...

kenrod · April 12, 2010

Our last two cruises were with the Pearl and the Freedom. We loved both ships!

Of course there were some pluses and minuses for both, but other than that we loved it!

The atrium of the Freedom was nicer.

The food in the MDR on the Freedom was better (IMO)

Camp Carnival had a more extensive program than the Aqua Kids Club.

The Outside Cabin on the Freedom was larger than the outside cabin on the Pearl.

The buffet on the Pearl was probably the best I've ever seen on land or at sea.

I preferred the Stardust Theatre because of the stadium seating, and no poles in the way.

Lots of restaurant choices, but I didn't like paying for them.

Shower doors instead of curtains in the cabin washrooms.

The fish carpet in the corridors are probably the most thoughtful feature I have ever seen on a cruise ship!

Anyhow, these are my observations since my last two cruises are pretty fresh in my mind. Either way, I really like both cruise lines, and what it boils down to me is the price of the cruise and the itinerary.

LJH1 · April 12, 2010

Our last two cruises were with the Pearl and the Freedom. We loved both ships!

Of course there were some pluses and minuses for both, but other than that we loved it!

The atrium of the Freedom was nicer.

The food in the MDR on the Freedom was better (IMO)

Camp Carnival had a more extensive program than the Aqua Kids Club.

The Outside Cabin on the Freedom was larger than the outside cabin on the Pearl.

The buffet on the Pearl was probably the best I've ever seen on land or at sea.

I preferred the Stardust Theatre because of the stadium seating, and no poles in the way.

Lots of restaurant choices, but I didn't like paying for them.

Shower doors instead of curtains in the cabin washrooms.

The fish carpet in the corridors are probably the most thoughtful feature I have ever seen on a cruise ship!

Anyhow, these are my observations since my last two cruises are pretty fresh in my mind. Either way, I really like both cruise lines, and what it boils down to me is the price of the cruise and the itinerary.

The fish carpet in the corridors are probably the most thoughtful feature I have ever seen on a cruise ship!

This just reminded me that they had taken the fish carpet out of the Star. I had mentioned it to a few officers but never got any comments on the issue. I can't count the number of times I've had to look down to realize which way I was going.

amistad · April 13, 2010

Our last two cruises were with the Pearl and the Freedom. We loved both ships!

Of course there were some pluses and minuses for both, but other than that we loved it!

The atrium of the Freedom was nicer.

The food in the MDR on the Freedom was better (IMO)

Camp Carnival had a more extensive program than the Aqua Kids Club.

The Outside Cabin on the Freedom was larger than the outside cabin on the Pearl.

The buffet on the Pearl was probably the best I've ever seen on land or at sea.

I preferred the Stardust Theatre because of the stadium seating, and no poles in the way.

Lots of restaurant choices, but I didn't like paying for them.

Shower doors instead of curtains in the cabin washrooms.

The fish carpet in the corridors are probably the most thoughtful feature I have ever seen on a cruise ship!

Anyhow, these are my observations since my last two cruises are pretty fresh in my mind. Either way, I really like both cruise lines, and what it boils down to me is the price of the cruise and the itinerary.

Thanks for the recent comparison on the two ships, I guess I am over thinking this I need to flip a coin. Not really, I think I will let our friends look at the itineraries and decide, since you are familiar with CCL how did Great Stirrup Cay compare to Halfmoon Cay? I love Hmc, and haven't been to NCL's private island yet.

Traveller20074 · April 13, 2010

I havent been on the Freedom, but I loved the Pearl when we sailed her to Alaska. I dont think you could go wrong with the Pearl, if the itinerary suits your needs.

There's no way to private message you, so this is a total threadjack...apologies to the original poster :(

We're going on the Alaska cruise (Pearl) on May 9th.....

what time of year did you go?

Traveller20074 · April 13, 2010

Also' date=' if you look at the carpet in the cabin hallways, this fish are swimming forward.

PE[/color']

They need this carpet with the fish throughout the ship. If they had it on the floor by the elevators, it would be even better. THAT's where I got the most confused:o

luvmysox1 · April 13, 2010

They need this carpet with the fish throughout the ship. If they had it on the floor by the elevators, it would be even better. THAT's where I got the most confused:o

I do the same thing getting off the elevator. By the time I figure it out... it the end of the cruise:confused:

kenrod · April 13, 2010

Thanks for the recent comparison on the two ships, I guess I am over thinking this I need to flip a coin. Not really, I think I will let our friends look at the itineraries and decide, since you are familiar with CCL how did Great Stirrup Cay compare to Halfmoon Cay? I love Hmc, and haven't been to NCL's private island yet.

To be honest, I would have to flip a coin as well. I haven't met a cruise ship I didn't like, so I would choose based on itinerary as well as price.

To answer your question on Great Stirrup Cay vs Half Moon Cay. I went to HMC in November 2007 and GSC on February 2009. We perferred HMC because there were more activities available and the beach at HMC was much bigger and less crowded.

At GSC, all Norwegian offered at the time was snorkeling and parasailing as a shore excursion. Carnival offered more shore excursions such as horseback riding, fishing, etc. Also, clamshells were available for rent at HMC. It is my understanding that these are or will be available at GSC as well. There is a straw market at GSC and shops at HMC.

On both islands, the passengers had to be tendered in. Also, both islands had the beach party feeling such as barbecues, cocktail waiters at the beach, and of course music by one of the ships bands at both islands.

It's the same dance, just a different tune.

Here are some pictures I took at Half Moon Cay:

kenrod · April 13, 2010

I tried to post some pictures of Great Stirrup Cay, but Cruise Critic decided to do their nightly maintenance. Fortunately this message comes right after my last message, but a couple of hours later.

Here are my pictures of Great Stirrup Cay. As you can see, it is the same dance, just a different tune.

amistad · April 13, 2010

Thank you Kenrod, HMC is alway's one of our favorite stops, and since the Pearl offers GSC I wanted to see if it was as nice.

kenrod · April 13, 2010

I have lots of pictures of both Norwegian Pearl and Carnival Freedom. Would anyone mind if I post pictures of both ships? In other words, a couple of pictures of each atrium, main dining room, theatres, casino, etc?

Unfortunately I don't know how to post the big pictures like some folks how do their reviews on these forums, but hopefully the thumbnails would be sufficient.

If you are into that, let me know, and I can do that when I get home from work. All my pictures are on my computer at home.