Pearl 10 Day Panama thoughts?

[ClevelandCruisin]

Going on the pearl in April 2017 for 10 days Panama. Anyone taken this cruise on the pearl? Tips or hints?

 

Also, Do they have a sail away bbq or lobster night on the pearl?

[Peachypooh]

Going on the pearl in April 2017 for 10 days Panama. Anyone taken this cruise on the pearl? Tips or hints?

 

Also, Do they have a sail away bbq or lobster night on the pearl?

 

When we were on the Pearl in 2014 there was a sail away bbq near the pool. Lines weren't too bad either. At that time no free lobster night except in the buffet a lobster dish. It might have changed.

[Va. Plumber]

We took this cruise last March and loved it. Not sure if yours stops at Curacao or Aruba.

 

In Curacao we booked independent beach resort day. The place was beautiful and included lunch and drinks. Downtown shopping and floating bridge reasonably close to ship.

 

We just hung around port in Cartagena. Waited too long to book hop on-hop off bus tour. Book before boarding if interested.

 

We stayed on ship for both the in and out passages of the Canal. There are two good vantage points: top deck forward and Deck 8 forward. The former is probably the best for hearing the excellent narration of the inbound passage, but you have to get up very early to get a good vantage point. Ship begins entering way before daylight. We figured out how to get to the latter for the return passage. It is at the little crew pool that everyone always asks about.

You walk all the way forward and go through a small bulkhead door. NCL had bar and small tent set up in afternoon.

 

Also, plan to attend excellent movie shown the day before explaining the Canal.

 

The Costa Rica stop was one of the highlights. We had booked an all day independent rain forest excursion with two couples from meet and greet ahead of time. Included guided tour of forest, cruise on the canal and beachfront lunch.

 

Also, since the trip left on a Monday, we flew to Miami on Saturday to spend time relaxing, eating and shopping. The shopping was important since I had left my suitcase with 90% of my clothes in our bedroom at home, but that's another story.