Pearl or Miracle

[rhinomike]

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Me, my wife and 4 boys did an Alaskan cruise 3 years ago. We went on the Norweigan Star. Getting ready to book another for this summer. We are trying to decide between the Norweign Pearl or Carnival Miracle. Same iteneraries, similar price. Any thoughts? I am going to post this on Carnival and NCL board so I can get different opinions. Thanks.

[Love my butler]

Me, my wife and 4 boys did an Alaskan cruise 3 years ago. We went on the Norweigan Star. Getting ready to book another for this summer. We are trying to decide between the Norweign Pearl or Carnival Miracle. Same iteneraries, similar price. Any thoughts? I am going to post this on Carnival and NCL board so I can get different opinions. Thanks.

 

Haven't been on Miracle, but have been on the Pearl. The Pearl is a really nice ship with a great crew. You know what freestyle is all about, so it boils down to all those choices versus the limits on Carnival. I would pick the Pearl in a landslide.

[bonvoyagie]

Unless you are on the very first or last trip of the season the trip will not be the same - CCL has only two permits to enter Glacier Bay - they use them on the first and last sailings of the season. NCL enters Glacier Bay every week. Perhaps the rest of the ports are the same. But missing Glacier Bay would be a mistake IMHO.

[mizLORInj]

Haven't been on Pearl, but I have been on 2 of its sisters and they are great ships. However, I've been on Miracle and it's a great ship too.

My opinions: food is better on NCL (just suits my tastes more), cabins are larger on Miracle. Waterslide is better on Miracle.

It would be a tough choice for me too but I don't think either is bad!

Perhaps the itinerary difference as someone mentioned can help you decide?

[rhinomike]

Unless you are on the very first or last trip of the season the trip will not be the same - CCL has only two permits to enter Glacier Bay - they use them on the first and last sailings of the season. NCL enters Glacier Bay every week. Perhaps the rest of the ports are the same. But missing Glacier Bay would be a mistake IMHO.

 

Hmmmm. Interesting. Good information. It states Glacier Bay on the itenerary. Thanks for the info.

[sdmike]

Haven't been on Miracle, but have been on the Pearl. The Pearl is a really nice ship with a great crew. You know what freestyle is all about, so it boils down to all those choices versus the limits on Carnival. I would pick the Pearl in a landslide.

 

We sailed on the Jewel, Pearl's sister ship, and had a great time in Alaska. I don't think you can go wrong there, especially with her visiting Glacier Bay. I wouldn't sail Carnival unless it was half the price of an NCL cruise, which it isn't.

[iron9er]

Just got off the last Pearl sailing and loved it (thought it was Carib, not Alaska), great crew and ship. Been on Carnival before but never the Miracle. Either way, I'm sure it will be fun.