Just back from a 9 day cruise on the Pearl, not that impressed

[OceanDreaming2]

Ruth was our concierge and did a great job for us. Never had a problem with the reservations she made for us. Even called her with late notice to change dinner reservations without a problem. Can't say enough good things about her.

 

Amit, our butler, was a fine Indian gentleman. Always polite. Delivered the daily treats, etc. promptly. We didn't order any meals to be served en-suite.

 

Both were rewarded with appropriate gratituties.

[dwrist]

We have never recieved tipping envelopes at the end of a cruise for anyone. Is this something new to Freestyle cruising on NCL?:) :rolleyes: :)

 

And we used the forward balcony many times as we like the wind blowing through our hair. At night, all we closed were the drapes and small door to the forward balcony.

 

<how can i believe any the op's review if a couple of their observations never occured on our cruises>

[LateCruiser]

Might as well jump into the fray here. First of all PMCRR is entitled to his opinion. He had issues and mentioned them. Nothing wrong with that.

 

That being said, I disagree with him on a few things (after all, that's what sets us aside from other species - the ability to agree to disagree:D ). DW and I were in 9502 on the Jewel last January. We had rough seas for most of the cruise (especially the first evening and the last two days:( ). But, I was still out on the balcony everyday. I like the wind, found it to be very refreshing. Had many an evening conversation with the folks in the other AC suites out there while having a refreshing drink.

 

As far as the Concierge, I'm not sure what happened here. Ruth is one of the most widely respected and applauded concierges in the entire NCL fleet (maybe in all the fleets). But there were problems and I guess that happens sometimes. Don't let it form your total opinion toward her or her position. As far as using the butler if you're in a suite - it's a personal preference. We used Maxi (on the Jewel) extensively. Seems the more we requested the more he did above and beyond our requests. As a matter of fact, we didn't use the concierge on that cruise because Maxi made all our dinner reservations for us.

 

BTW, I was on the Feb 2-11 Pearl cruise also. Thought it was WONDERFUL. But as I said before, we are all entitled to our own opinions, and those opinions are usually formulated based on our personal experiences.

 

Viva La Groundhogs!:D

[pmcrr]

You can't be serious. Do they have to tell you that if you stand on deck in the rain you'll get wet? Or if you spend an afternoon in the sun without sunscreen you'll get sunburnt? Do you think NCL can repeal the laws of physics? If you're cruising at 20+ knots on the open seas it's going to be windy on a balcony at the front of the ship.

 

And enough about the "it wasn't first-class" business. You take a mass-market cruise--whether it's NCL, HAL, Celebrity, or whatever--and it's not going to be Crystal. You want Crystal? Open up your checkbook. And then come back and tell us if it was really worth it.

 

You wouldnt listen any way, you just like to here yourself talk. Do you suggest that the next time I book a cruise I ask for the ships construction drawings to see how they confgured the front of the ship to see if my Balcony would be useable most of the time. Since I am paying for that space as well. Other lines have a small print statement that says views from your stateroom may be blocked by either a life boat or some structure. So where is NCL disclaimer? On your next cruise when your toilet backs up dont act dissapointed or complain, what did you expect, you know whats in there.

[pmcrr]

If the OP was so upset with his stateroom, they could've moved him. I know of at least 3 couples who moved to different areas on the ship once we were underway.

 

 

Really? Next time I'll book an inside....complain that it is too dark and asked to be moved to a balcony.

Most ships sail FULL. Changing staterooms would be next to impossible.

 

Thank you, there were no other comparable rooms available.

[pmcrr]

The original comment is listed above, I have been in Forward Suites on NCL and Princess, they want the door and drapes to be closed, they have no problem with you opening then closing the door to access your balcony, just do not leave it open all the time. See comments by other posters in regards to this.

 

In regards to your comments, do you know the OP can open the door?, he never did on the entire trip, don't presume! You seem to speak for this person, maybe your the same. Please post a cruise line memo or rule, where it says no one is allowed on their forward cabins once the ship is underway, please.

 

Dear Badger, what an appropriate name. Read my post, Where do I say I never opened the door?. I did say we used the balcony when we were in port. Trust me, I can open the door at 6'7" 287lbs its not a problem. Its not written as a rule that the bulkhead door must be closed at all times but when the winds are at Gail force why would you go out there. Use some common sense. I was only upset that NCL didnt tell us up front that the Balcony would be for the most part off limits on the sea days. Thats all, end of story ,dont read anything else into it. My opinion, dont like it tough.

[RSWBADGER]

Dear Badger, what an appropriate name. Read my post, Where do I say I never opened the door?. I did say we used the balcony when we were in port. Trust me, I can open the door at 6'7" 287lbs its not a problem. Its not written as a rule that the bulkhead door must be closed at all times but when the winds are at Gail force why would you go out there. Use some common sense. I was only upset that NCL didnt tell us up front that the Balcony would be for the most part off limits on the sea days. Thats all, end of story ,dont read anything else into it. My opinion, dont like it tough.

 

Now lets not be bad mouthing my Wisconsin Badgers.

 

See other posters in regards to the "Gail Force Winds" on your trip. How many cc posts so far?, they all have a negative tone like the one above.;)

[HopSingh]

I would have to say that out of 21 cruises on various other lines, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Princess, that up until the Groundhog cruise, Carnivals beds were best. Then, I fell asleep on the Pearl.:DBest 9 nights of sleep I've ever had! Enjoy!

[ce2000]

I appreciate your review. I believe that you were honest with your original post. Overall you had a good vacation experience on the ship, but there were a few areas that dissappointed you, that you believe could have been handled a little better by NCL. I agree with you. Some people on this board really do believe that NCL is the standard that all cruise lines should be compared to. I don't have a problem with this, but I do not agree with them. We have many lines to choose from, that is a good thing. I personally am not loyal to any cruise line, I like them all. I've been on 5 cruises with 5 different lines. Someday I will inevitably have to cruise the same line twice, and that is OK, I would happily cruise any of these lines a second time.

[FormulaRacer]

PMCCR was not kind on his review......

 

Paul, it is hard to believe that you and Ruth could complain about your Penthouse suite. Mary and I were on the same cruise in Stateroom 9500 next to Mary Beth and Rob. We saw you and Ruth out on the balcony area several times during the cruise. We never had any problems with Butler or Concerge service, In fact Ruth dropped by to visit us several times, called several times to make sure the cruise was going well and everything was pleasing. We had, just like you, a portable phone that could be carried about the ship to get and make calls to the Ruth the Concerge and Amit our Butler. They were always there to assist. When we needed reservations, we never called the dining room we called Ruth who quickly and professionally called us back within minutes to assure us that Mary and I had the reservations confirmed. We meet several new friends on board and when we wanted to add people to our dining party, it was never a problem. I saw you and Bob several times in casino and looked like you were really enjoying yourselves. We found the dining experience in the restaurants to be excellent. Excellent plating, excellent service, excellent food. As far a paying $10,000 for your Cat AC Penthouse, that in itself is difficult to believe, when Mary and I got our AC for $3600 for two passengers. So for $10,000 you should be sleeping in the captains quarters. In fact our new friends were in 14506 at a price of $4000 in the Cort Villa on Deck 14. Cruising is an experience of what the individual cruiser makes it. I have completed 16+ cruises on many lines and this was #1, and on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, we break the scale at 11+. As for the Bliss, maybe your old fashioned. Bliss is sensual, and different, but very hip, modern, exotic. It's the wave of the future. NCL seems to be the leader. I am sure that Bliss Ultra Lounge will continue to raise eyebrows. I would bet, for spring break, the younger college kids will enjoy Bliss. As for seating in the Stardust Theatre, ultra large passengers would have rough time in the chairs. I am sure that you did, as well as when flying required a double seat belt for someone your size. You can't criticize NCL for the seating, it was your size that presented the problem. It's just not fair in this regard. As far alcohol on board, you could have easily gotten off at one of the ports and secured your own whiskey, wine, vodka, gin and brought it back on board. On the Island of Dominica, our new friends brought back several bottles of alcohol, wine, and rum and had NO problem being it back. While many passengers were out shopping, I saw you sitting on the pier on a bench not going anywhere. So you need to be honest with yourself, your size, and the what you made of the trip. Don't cast blame on NCL. As for the Pearl, it's the newest ship on seas. It was fantastic, and the paint on the outside of the ship is what makes NCL different from the rest of the cruise lines. It's called "branding". When pulling into a port of call, other cruise ships know it's an NCL ship. The paint was high quality, not spray cans, or cheap paint. Just think with ocean salt water, and force against the haul, it has to be high quality paint. As for the breeze when opening the sea door and the cabin door, our Butler warned us from day one, if you have the sea door open and then open the cabin door, the force of winds could blow the guest away at the door. I am sure that you were warned also. Next time you have a strong wind in Maryland, open your front door and the back door of your personal residence and see what happens.

 

Your review was rough on NCL and since we were your neighbors on board, just one cabin after Rob and Mary Beth and next to Bob and Maureen, it's really hard for me to believe your post.

 

I don't want to be harse, but your comments could easily turn off other potential cruisers who might want to sail with NCL and get a bad impression. I know of 79 Cruise Critic members who loved the cruise, and were taken care in a professional manner, by the executives of the ship like Klaus Lugamaeir the Hotel Director. The coordinator of the CC group Barb, went out of her way to say hello to her fellow CC members and always was professional. So, I think your rating of B+ is misleading. Mary and I rated the cruise AAA+ for the Penthouse the ultimate of service, dining pleasures, and ports of call. We did not want to get off the ship. For the $10,000 you suggested that you spent, we could have stayed on the Pearl for the extra 5 days, and another 9.

 

FormulaRacer

RF93 Van Dieman F2000

Las Cruces, New Mexico USA

[Don Haynes]

If the ship was in gale force winds, the ship probably had the promenade deck off limits too, affecting everyone on the ship. I have a hard time walking against 40 mph winds, I would fly away in a gale force.

 

From my years of experience with the Coast Guard, in gale force winds we had to be hooked to a line so we didn't fly overboard.....And you are complaining you couldn't go outside to your forward balcony cabin?

 

No wonder people die at sea?

[LateCruiser]

PMCCR was not kind on his review......

 

........

 

I don't want to be harse, but your comments could easily turn off other potential cruisers who might want to sail with NCL and get a bad impression. I know of 79 Cruise Critic members who loved the cruise, and were taken care in a professional manner, by the executives of the ship like Klaus Lugamaeir the Hotel Director. The coordinator of the CC group Barb, went out of her way to say hello to her fellow CC members and always was professional. So, I think your rating of B+ is misleading. Mary and I rated the cruise AAA+ for the Penthouse the ultimate of service, dining pleasures, and ports of call. We did not want to get off the ship. For the $10,000 you suggested that you spent, we could have stayed on the Pearl for the extra 5 days, and another 9.

 

FormulaRacer

RF93 Van Dieman F2000

Las Cruces, New Mexico USA

 

Well said Richard. Bravo!:D We enjoyed dining with you and Mary and hope to meet you on the high seas again soon.

 

Gus and Debra

[JudyOh]

We were also on this cruise in a mere mini-suite:p . We called Ruth several times for dinner reservations and were accommodated without any problems. She was always professional and prompt with her return calls.

 

Our friends were flying back on Comair (due to strike on Friday), he called Ruth to see if she could find some info out, while on the phone she said she couldn't bring it up on her computer to check at the Pursor desk to see if they could bring up their air schedule. The Pursor did and it was fine. That night as we were coming back to the cabin there was a envelope from Ruth, with a copy of an article from the Cincinnati Post (area newspaper) about Comair. I thought she went above and beyond her duties on that one. We were all impressed.

[SANDPEBBLES]

We had a minisuite as well. Ruth helped us with restaurant reservations and was very personable and professional. I would love to sail with her again.

[FormulaRacer]

FormulaRacer

Age: 55

Occupation: Financial Consultant

Vice President Investments

Formula Race Car Driver

Number of Cruises: 16+

Sailing Date: Feb 2nd, 2007 to Feb 11th, 2007

 

Norwegian Pearl

 

This cruise was aboard the newest NCL ship, the NCL Pearl. Freshly built and out to sea after four months, we found the Pearl to be a work of art. It is a beautiful ship, with very contemporary furnishings and the staterooms very modern. The Pearl’s port was Miami, FL, and this was a 9 day cruise, entitled the Southern Caribbean, with ports of call Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, and Tortola BVI.

 

Check-in: We arrived at Miami International Airport from DFW Airport in Dallas Texas. Once arriving in MIA we picked up our luggage and proceeded to the Port of Miami cruise ship terminal via Taxi, which is a flat rate of $24.00. With 2 passengers this totaled just $12.00 per passenger. In Miami, all taxis to the port terminal from MIA can only charge a flat fee. This was a great bargain, and we arrived at the port terminal in 20 minutes. It was a quick scenic trip. We arrived at 3:15 PM and the ship was scheduled to leave the pier at 4:00PM. So the check-in was quick and we were aboard the ship in 15 minutes. NCL has express lines for its past cruisers called, Latitudes members. They have a special lounge set up for Penthouse Suites, Owners Suites and Court Villa passengers. We had a Penthouse Suite Category AC, Stateroom 9500. We rated the check-in a 10, on a scale of 1 to 10. We sailed this cruise as Platinum NCL Latitudes members, NCL ‘s highest member status.

 

Staterooms: Our stateroom was cabin 9500 a Penthouse Suite, AC category that was beautiful. It was a large cabin with dining area, dressing area, segregated bedroom area, and large 500 sq ft + balcony on the front of the ship overlooking the bow. The bathroom was large with tub and fantastic shower. The bridge was just 2 floors above our balcony. The balcony was furnished with two cushioned lounge chairs, one chair and one foot stool. We could have easily entertained up to 10-15 people on the balcony. There was a bar area, stocked with a large selection of wine glasses and coffee cups. The Penthouse had its own state of the art $1300 coffee/tea maker. A stocked bar/fridge, 32” flat panel TV, DVD movie player and CD player was in the stateroom. The Pearl has 45 suites total. Since we had a Penthouse suite, it came with Concierge Service and Butler Service. Upon arrival, the room was filled with the scent of fresh cut flowers, and selection of fresh fruits and a bottle of sparkling wine. Since we where not sparkling wine drinkers, our Butler Amit from India exchanged the sparkling wine for the ships house Chardonnay Wine. The bed was extremely comfortable with thick down filled feathered pillows, which I wish I could have taken home. The extra thick duvet cover was very comfortable. The room had two separate thermostats for in room climate control. We were very happy with the accommodations. We viewed the other staterooms, both inside, ocean view and balcony and all had the same beds, pillows and comforters. These rooms were smaller in size. We also meet new friends who were on the 14th deck, Court Yard Villa area, and their two bedroom suite was spectacular. We rated our cabin 9500 as a 10.

 

Dining: The Pearl has 10 restaurants, of which 4 or 5 were considered specialty dining and had additional cover charges to dine in those areas. NCL is known for the FREESTYLE dining experience where there is no fixed seating/dining times. Our first night we dined at Mambos, the Tex Mex restaurant and enjoyed the fajitas. The prize selection on the menu is the Polo, which is served to two people on a skewer with several meats. The dining area at Mambos is on the edge of the ships atrium which has a large 25’ x 20’ TV screen which is spectacular. It was great watching the Super Bowl on the large screen. Our second night (Saturday) and optional formal night, was in the main dining room Summers Palace which is beautiful and a very large area on the aft of the ship. Saturday night is lobster night and Beef Wellington. The main dining areas serve 5 course meals. The dinnerware was top of the line, the service excellent and very friendly. The food plating was excellent and food quality was excellent. Our third night (Sunday) was at the Japanese restaurant Teppanyaki, which is similar to Benihana’s in the USA. It was a two hour dining experience. A cover charge of $20.00 per person is charged, reservations required and seating times at 5:30....7:30....9:30 PM. It was well worth the cover charge for the show and the grilled Filet Minon, Shrimp, Lobster, Scallops or Chicken.

 

For those passengers that are considered VIP, Penthouse, Court Yard Villas, Owners Suites or Platinum Latitudes members were allowed a special treat for breakfast and lunch at the ships specialty restaurant Cagney’s. It is one of the finest on board second to Le Bistro. In order to dine in Cagney’s for breakfast of lunch, you must provide your stateroom number to get in.

 

The Garden Cafe is a buffet based dining area on Deck 12 with several food stations where Pasta, Omelets, Pizza, Asian food is prepped while you wait. While the buffet area is filled for breakfast and lunch, the seating is sparse, and be prepared to share a table to make new friends. If you decide to get up for a second round of food, be prepared to lose your table and the dinnerware is quickly picked up. The food quality was very good for a mass buffet, the selection was very good. Dinner is served from 5:50 PM to 10:00 PM. There is a separate dining area for kids in the Garden Buffet that is set up with small tables and chairs to fit the kids on board.

 

The Outdoor Cafe is on the Aft of the ship, and very nice for outside evening dining.

 

Our fourth night was Monday, and we went to La Cucina the Italian restaurant. That night we dined with the cruise critic group of 60 people. The service was excellent for our group Klaus Lugameier arranged for complimentary wines, and after dinner drinks for our group at no additional costs. The dining in La Cucina is loud, and at times was hard to hear the dinner guest next to us. There was a great selection of Italian foods, breads and deserts. Once again, excellent service, excellent food selection, excellent food plating, and friendly staff.

 

Tuesday was dinner at the premier restaurant Le Bistro. The cover is $20.00 person and is the finest dining on the ship. Our meal as Platinum members was complimentary with a fine selection of complimentary wines. The highlight was the desert of chocolate fondue, a rich chocolate with fresh fruit for dipping served in 1/2 cut pineapple. This was great dining experience. I highly suggest paying the cover charge for Le Bistro. The atmosphere was great, and they have the best of the best waiters. It is very romantic.

 

Wednesday we dined at the very Metropolitan style, dining room known as Indigo. It was a real American flair, 5 course dining room. Food was excellent and staff excellent. This is a free dining area.

 

Thursday was back to Le Bistro for a second round as part of a “romance package” paid for by my partner Mary who booked the package prior to sailing. This package included dining at Le Bistro, Wine, photos and a great time. Once the again the service was impeccable, the food quality excellent, plating and service excellent. Our waiter Vikrom was so good, I left him a $10.00 tip.

 

Friday, was back at Indigo with new found friends and table for 6. The service, food, was excellent.

 

Saturday our last night was a going away celebration at Cagneys with a dinner party of six, complimentary to our party compliments of the Hotel Director Klaus Lugameier. As with Le Bistro, Cagneys has the best of the best waiters and food selection. After 3 hours of dining, 5 bottles of wine, and great food and atmosphere, it was our last dining experience and great way to say goodbye to all the new found friends.

 

We did not have time to eat at the Lotus Garden which sports a $10.00 cover charge. The Blue Lagoon for lunch is very nice with a limited selection. I loved the Wonton soup, and oriental noodles. Blue lagoon is 24 hours, but serves as part of Mambos at night.

 

Reservations for dining can only be made 24 hours in advance. You can no longer get on the ship and book reservations for the entire cruise in advance. Be aware of this NEW policy.

 

Ports of Call: This cruise called the Southern Caribbean, visited Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and Tortola, BVI. We sailed from 4:30 PM Friday to Monday and arrived in Dominica at 8:00AM. While numerous excursions are offered, and a wide selection to choose from, myself, Mary and two new friends choose to hire a private van for an island adventure. There are many taxis/vans available, and the cost of just $20.00 person was a great value. Our driver Jeff was terrific and took us to spots on Dominica that the ship excursions would never go. We spent 4 hours in the van at various beaches, fishing villages and stopped for a Kabuli beer and saw the inside of remote villages. I highly suggest this for the adventurous traveler in a group of 4 or 6.

 

Second port of call was Barbados, arriving at 8:00 AM. There are several excursions available from NCL. We choose to walk off the ship, shop, see Bridgetown, then, hired a private van for $20.00 each to see the island and get the true local experience of the islanders. The beaches are beautiful and plenty of spots to dine and have a few beers or cocktails.

 

The third port of call was St. Lucia another exotic Caribbean island. Once again, we walked off the ship and shopped than hired our own van, for another island experience. This time it was Mary and me for a cost of $50.00

 

The fourth port of call was Antigua, and the port was a run downed city, poverty stricken where there was very nice shops at and near the pier, then the outskirts of the city only got worse. We did not have any NCL excursions, nor did we hire a van. We spent time visiting shops, an internet cafe, which was a great bargain at .20 cents per minute or 15 minutes of internet for $3.00. Then back to the ship to catch the sun, eat and relax. Many passengers who took the NCL sponsored excursions stated that they really enjoyed all of them.

 

The final port is Tortola BVI, and is beautiful, upscale, and beautiful sail boats, shops, and eateries. We shopped and the ship leaves at 1:00 PM so all passengers must be on ship by 12:30 PM.

 

We sailed off to Miami.

 

We liked all the ports of call, some nicer than others, but all very nice. Items for sale from local vendors were the same at each port and many local vendors are willing to bargain.

 

Entertainment on Board: The NCL Pearl has a beautiful tiered Stardust Lounge. Three main shows by the Jean Ann Ryan Company are offered, Sea Legs, Tubez, and Garden of the Geisha. Sea Legs is a very sultry, sensual show with Las Vegas style showgirls scantly dressed. The showgirls are all beautiful, tall and long legged. Some older passengers thought the sexy, sensual outfits were not appropriate for a cruise. Of course, I loved it. Tubez is a high energy show, with lots of Rap Music that was very hard to understand what the lead singer was saying as with any Rap music. Tubez is a very contemporary show the acrobats on BMX bikes. The lead singer came from the 4th episode of American Idol and finished in fourth place, Ryan Parker. Garden of the Geisha was the best show, with incredible acrobatics from two outstanding actors. The oriental costumes were spectacular. Main shows are always at 7:45 and 9:45 PM. Ample seating was always available. During other nights, a comedian entertained twice and a juggler another. Jeff Thracter a former soap opera star was also very good. Many passengers liked him the best other than the main shows by JAR dancers. Then there was the ship crew talent show, and the introduction of the ships crew and executive staff. The Spinnaker Lounge on Deck 13 is used for shows like the traditional Newlywed Game, Family Feud, Quest etc. If you don’t want to attend these shows they are played back over the stateroom televisions. There was plenty of entertainment. The on board Bingo games was a rip-off as the payouts were very small, compared to the amount of money taken in. I would not suggest Bingo, as the payouts are small and the cost very high. The casino is ample for a cruise ship with table games, blackjack, three card poker, texas-hold’em, craps, roulette, lots of slots. Overall the casino was like being in a true Las Vegas casino.

 

Miscellaneous: The staff was very friendly and the Waiters and Jr. Waiters went out of there way to please. The staff overall was excellent, and senior personnel was always present overlooking the staff and all areas of the ship. Sanitation dispensers where present everywhere to prevent Norovirus. The ship was very clean, the lifts or elevators never really filled. The off shore ports of call where are all at a dock or pier, no tenders. The ports always found other cruise ships in ports and it was nice to see the other large ships.

 

Lounges: There were plenty of lounges to sit and relax, drink, piano music, the atrium was used for the Super Bowl party, The Champagne Bar and the Martini Bar was very nice. Malting’s for beer and wine, and the Corona Club for the cigar smokers was in an enclosed area. Drinks averaged $5.50 for the standard house drink, average Martini was $7.50 and specialty smoothie alcoholic drinks were $9.00 each. Soda is $1.75, and a 15% tip was included when making any drink purchases including bottled water. Coffee and Iced Tea was available in the Garden Cafe at no cost. Coffee from the Java Bar or bar staff waiters is at additional cost. Bliss Ultra lounge did not attract many late night passengers on this cruise. After 11:00 PM it was basically empty. It is the most exotic, contemporary on board, with large beds, (yes beds) for seating or whatever, massive lounge chairs. I would suspect that Bliss will be very active during college spring breaks.

 

Sports: Bowling in Bliss lounge was always busy, outdoor golf is available along with rock wall climbing, full size tennis court, basketball court and jogging track. The fitness center on Deck 12 was very nice with plenty of new state of the art treadmills. The Day Spa is beautiful, and the women seemed to love it. The outdoor pool areas are adequate and seating of lounge chairs and tables was great. There is one adult only pools.

 

Shopping: The ship has several on board shops from fine jewelry, to duty free alcohol and clothing. Be sure to understand when buying liquor on board it is stored to the last day, and if flying home, the liquor MUST be packed in your luggage. New TSA rules will NOT let you carry the liquor past the security gates in the travel boxes supplied by the ship. The ship does not inform the buyers of this. Be careful and be prepared if flying and carrying liquor back home.

 

Summary: The NCL Pearl is absolutely beautiful. NCL did a great job, and FREESTYLE cruising is wonderful. There are NO set times to dine, most restaurants are open from 5:30 to 11:00 PM. This cruise was 9 days and even after the 9 days we did not want to leave the ship. It was a great cruise, at a great price. I believe that NCL continues to deliver the best cruise experience based on price, food, ports of call and entertainment. I would estimate the average age at 50 +, and the ship never seemed full.

 

As an avid cruiser of 16+ cruises, this one was the best ever. I would highly suggest the NCL Pearl, for an outstanding cruise experience, and price. We just didn’t want to leave. We were treated like royalty. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 the highest, we break the scale at a solid 11+.

 

We will be back on the Pearl May 20th, 2007 for the Alaska cruise. Review to follow.

 

We saved all the FreeStyle Daily newspapers, so feel free to ask any and all questions.

 

FormulaRacer

[RSWBADGER]

Great Review, I'm sure with all of the detail involved in the review, this took some time to put together.:)

[pmcrr]

PMCCR was not kind on his review......

 

Paul, it is hard to believe that you and Ruth could complain about your Penthouse suite. Mary and I were on the same cruise in Stateroom 9500 next to Mary Beth and Rob. We saw you and Ruth out on the balcony area several times during the cruise. We never had any problems with Butler or Concerge service, In fact Ruth dropped by to visit us several times, called several times to make sure the cruise was going well and everything was pleasing. We had, just like you, a portable phone that could be carried about the ship to get and make calls to the Ruth the Concerge and Amit our Butler. They were always there to assist. When we needed reservations, we never called the dining room we called Ruth who quickly and professionally called us back within minutes to assure us that Mary and I had the reservations confirmed. We meet several new friends on board and when we wanted to add people to our dining party, it was never a problem. I saw you and Bob several times in casino and looked like you were really enjoying yourselves. We found the dining experience in the restaurants to be excellent. Excellent plating, excellent service, excellent food. As far a paying $10,000 for your Cat AC Penthouse, that in itself is difficult to believe, when Mary and I got our AC for $3600 for two passengers. So for $10,000 you should be sleeping in the captains quarters. In fact our new friends were in 14506 at a price of $4000 in the Cort Villa on Deck 14. Cruising is an experience of what the individual cruiser makes it. I have completed 16+ cruises on many lines and this was #1, and on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, we break the scale at 11+. As for the Bliss, maybe your old fashioned. Bliss is sensual, and different, but very hip, modern, exotic. It's the wave of the future. NCL seems to be the leader. I am sure that Bliss Ultra Lounge will continue to raise eyebrows. I would bet, for spring break, the younger college kids will enjoy Bliss. As for seating in the Stardust Theatre, ultra large passengers would have rough time in the chairs. I am sure that you did, as well as when flying required a double seat belt for someone your size. You can't criticize NCL for the seating, it was your size that presented the problem. It's just not fair in this regard. As far alcohol on board, you could have easily gotten off at one of the ports and secured your own whiskey, wine, vodka, gin and brought it back on board. On the Island of Dominica, our new friends brought back several bottles of alcohol, wine, and rum and had NO problem being it back. While many passengers were out shopping, I saw you sitting on the pier on a bench not going anywhere. So you need to be honest with yourself, your size, and the what you made of the trip. Don't cast blame on NCL. As for the Pearl, it's the newest ship on seas. It was fantastic, and the paint on the outside of the ship is what makes NCL different from the rest of the cruise lines. It's called "branding". When pulling into a port of call, other cruise ships know it's an NCL ship. The paint was high quality, not spray cans, or cheap paint. Just think with ocean salt water, and force against the haul, it has to be high quality paint. As for the breeze when opening the sea door and the cabin door, our Butler warned us from day one, if you have the sea door open and then open the cabin door, the force of winds could blow the guest away at the door. I am sure that you were warned also. Next time you have a strong wind in Maryland, open your front door and the back door of your personal residence and see what happens.

 

Your review was rough on NCL and since we were your neighbors on board, just one cabin after Rob and Mary Beth and next to Bob and Maureen, it's really hard for me to believe your post.

 

I don't want to be harse, but your comments could easily turn off other potential cruisers who might want to sail with NCL and get a bad impression. I know of 79 Cruise Critic members who loved the cruise, and were taken care in a professional manner, by the executives of the ship like Klaus Lugamaeir the Hotel Director. The coordinator of the CC group Barb, went out of her way to say hello to her fellow CC members and always was professional. So, I think your rating of B+ is misleading. Mary and I rated the cruise AAA+ for the Penthouse the ultimate of service, dining pleasures, and ports of call. We did not want to get off the ship. For the $10,000 you suggested that you spent, we could have stayed on the Pearl for the extra 5 days, and another 9.

 

FormulaRacer

RF93 Van Dieman F2000

Las Cruces, New Mexico USA

 

Perhaps you need to read my post again. I never said that I didnt use my balcony, I only sugested that NCL state that those rooms in the front have limited Balcony time. So glad for you that Ruth the concierge did a wonderful job for you and Mary. But she fell flat on her face for our group of 10. How do you know so much about our dining experience, as well as the level of service we received from the concierge?. She was never there to assist. I never said I paid 10,000. for our stateroom I said I paid 10,000 for our Vacation. Air fare, room, excursions, etc. Alcohol will be held by security till the end of the cruise if caught when brought aboard. You make it sound like its so easy to just buy what you want and run it thru security and they just let you take it to your room no questions asked. Wrong again. As far as me sitting on the bench at the pier, I finished my shopping in the morning, and was sitting there waiting for my wife? and some friends, hoping the steel band music would start again. Didnt realize I was under your microscope for the trip? How much fun could you have had watching me all the time? You call the Paint Branding, I call it tacky. It amazes me that you assume that just because everything went ok for you then everyone else expierenced the same level of satisfaction. The only thing we had in common on this cruise is that we were neighbors. Other than that you know nothing about our cancelled excursions, poor dinner reservations, overcooked food etc, etc. I wont sugar coat my post to make you or anyone feel better. And finally, My post was honest, Please dont mislead people here trying to pretend you were part of our group. I couldnt comment on your experience, I only saw you 3 or 4 times on your Balcony. I suggest you start a post on how your experience was.

[star7228]

We will be back on the Pearl May 20th, 2007 for the Alaska cruise.

 

Based on this review, I can't wait for your 5/20/07 review of the Pearl...we'll be on her on 6/24/07 in an AD suite. Can't wait to experience the breakfast/lunch in Cagney's that you and others have detailed. :D Thanks for the thoroughness of the review of the shows and lounges, too.

[LateCruiser]

Great review Richard!:D Thanks.

 

BTW, for anyone interested, I've been keeping score and there are 48 positive reviews/remarks, and 2 "other than positive" reviews (note: I didn't necessarily say negative) amongst all the threads and the roll call. So, 48 out of 50 = 96%, an A in most schools I've attended. And, one of the "other than positive" reviews (PMCRR) gave the overall experience a B+ and I consider that a very good grade in any endeavor.

 

As I've said before, people do have bad experiences and it's refreshing to see those also. I just wish everyone could have had as wonderful a time as Debra and I did. As you can see from my calendar below, "I'll Be Back".

[RSWBADGER]

Based on this review, I can't wait for your 5/20/07 review of the Pearl...we'll be on her on 6/24/07 in an AD suite. Can't wait to experience the breakfast/lunch in Cagney's that you and others have detailed. :D Thanks for the thoroughness of the review of the shows and lounges, too.

 

Enjoy you AD Suite, we had 10164 on the 12/22/2006 Pearl Cruise. :D

Click to Enlarge

[RSWBADGER]

Double Post

[Zeno]

FormulaRacer

Age: 55

Occupation: Financial Consultant

Vice President Investments

Formula Race Car Driver

Number of Cruises: 16+

Sailing Date: Feb 2nd, 2007 to Feb 11th, 2007

 

Norwegian Pearl

 

This cruise was aboard the newest NCL ship, the NCL Pearl. Freshly built and out to sea after four months, we found the Pearl to be a work of art. It is a beautiful ship, with very contemporary furnishings and the staterooms very modern. The Pearl’s port was Miami, FL, and this was a 9 day cruise, entitled the Southern Caribbean, with ports of call Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, and Tortola BVI.

 

Check-in: We arrived at Miami International Airport from DFW Airport in Dallas Texas. Once arriving in MIA we picked up our luggage and proceeded to the Port of Miami cruise ship terminal via Taxi, which is a flat rate of $24.00. With 2 passengers this totaled just $12.00 per passenger. In Miami, all taxis to the port terminal from MIA can only charge a flat fee. This was a great bargain, and we arrived at the port terminal in 20 minutes. It was a quick scenic trip. We arrived at 3:15 PM and the ship was scheduled to leave the pier at 4:00PM. So the check-in was quick and we were aboard the ship in 15 minutes. NCL has express lines for its past cruisers called, Latitudes members. They have a special lounge set up for Penthouse Suites, Owners Suites and Court Villa passengers. We had a Penthouse Suite Category AC, Stateroom 9500. We rated the check-in a 10, on a scale of 1 to 10. We sailed this cruise as Platinum NCL Latitudes members, NCL ‘s highest member status.

 

Staterooms: Our stateroom was cabin 9500 a Penthouse Suite, AC category that was beautiful. It was a large cabin with dining area, dressing area, segregated bedroom area, and large 500 sq ft + balcony on the front of the ship overlooking the bow. The bathroom was large with tub and fantastic shower. The bridge was just 2 floors above our balcony. The balcony was furnished with two cushioned lounge chairs, one chair and one foot stool. We could have easily entertained up to 10-15 people on the balcony. There was a bar area, stocked with a large selection of wine glasses and coffee cups. The Penthouse had its own state of the art $1300 coffee/tea maker. A stocked bar/fridge, 32” flat panel TV, DVD movie player and CD player was in the stateroom. The Pearl has 45 suites total. Since we had a Penthouse suite, it came with Concierge Service and Butler Service. Upon arrival, the room was filled with the scent of fresh cut flowers, and selection of fresh fruits and a bottle of sparkling wine. Since we where not sparkling wine drinkers, our Butler Amit from India exchanged the sparkling wine for the ships house Chardonnay Wine. The bed was extremely comfortable with thick down filled feathered pillows, which I wish I could have taken home. The extra thick duvet cover was very comfortable. The room had two separate thermostats for in room climate control. We were very happy with the accommodations. We viewed the other staterooms, both inside, ocean view and balcony and all had the same beds, pillows and comforters. These rooms were smaller in size. We also meet new friends who were on the 14th deck, Court Yard Villa area, and their two bedroom suite was spectacular. We rated our cabin 9500 as a 10.

 

Dining: The Pearl has 10 restaurants, of which 4 or 5 were considered specialty dining and had additional cover charges to dine in those areas. NCL is known for the FREESTYLE dining experience where there is no fixed seating/dining times. Our first night we dined at Mambos, the Tex Mex restaurant and enjoyed the fajitas. The prize selection on the menu is the Polo, which is served to two people on a skewer with several meats. The dining area at Mambos is on the edge of the ships atrium which has a large 25’ x 20’ TV screen which is spectacular. It was great watching the Super Bowl on the large screen. Our second night (Saturday) and optional formal night, was in the main dining room Summers Palace which is beautiful and a very large area on the aft of the ship. Saturday night is lobster night and Beef Wellington. The main dining areas serve 5 course meals. The dinnerware was top of the line, the service excellent and very friendly. The food plating was excellent and food quality was excellent. Our third night (Sunday) was at the Japanese restaurant Teppanyaki, which is similar to Benihana’s in the USA. It was a two hour dining experience. A cover charge of $20.00 per person is charged, reservations required and seating times at 5:30....7:30....9:30 PM. It was well worth the cover charge for the show and the grilled Filet Minon, Shrimp, Lobster, Scallops or Chicken.

 

For those passengers that are considered VIP, Penthouse, Court Yard Villas, Owners Suites or Platinum Latitudes members were allowed a special treat for breakfast and lunch at the ships specialty restaurant Cagney’s. It is one of the finest on board second to Le Bistro. In order to dine in Cagney’s for breakfast of lunch, you must provide your stateroom number to get in.

 

The Garden Cafe is a buffet based dining area on Deck 12 with several food stations where Pasta, Omelets, Pizza, Asian food is prepped while you wait. While the buffet area is filled for breakfast and lunch, the seating is sparse, and be prepared to share a table to make new friends. If you decide to get up for a second round of food, be prepared to lose your table and the dinnerware is quickly picked up. The food quality was very good for a mass buffet, the selection was very good. Dinner is served from 5:50 PM to 10:00 PM. There is a separate dining area for kids in the Garden Buffet that is set up with small tables and chairs to fit the kids on board.

 

The Outdoor Cafe is on the Aft of the ship, and very nice for outside evening dining.

 

Our fourth night was Monday, and we went to La Cucina the Italian restaurant. That night we dined with the cruise critic group of 60 people. The service was excellent for our group Klaus Lugameier arranged for complimentary wines, and after dinner drinks for our group at no additional costs. The dining in La Cucina is loud, and at times was hard to hear the dinner guest next to us. There was a great selection of Italian foods, breads and deserts. Once again, excellent service, excellent food selection, excellent food plating, and friendly staff.

 

Tuesday was dinner at the premier restaurant Le Bistro. The cover is $20.00 person and is the finest dining on the ship. Our meal as Platinum members was complimentary with a fine selection of complimentary wines. The highlight was the desert of chocolate fondue, a rich chocolate with fresh fruit for dipping served in 1/2 cut pineapple. This was great dining experience. I highly suggest paying the cover charge for Le Bistro. The atmosphere was great, and they have the best of the best waiters. It is very romantic.

 

Wednesday we dined at the very Metropolitan style, dining room known as Indigo. It was a real American flair, 5 course dining room. Food was excellent and staff excellent. This is a free dining area.

 

Thursday was back to Le Bistro for a second round as part of a “romance package” paid for by my partner Mary who booked the package prior to sailing. This package included dining at Le Bistro, Wine, photos and a great time. Once the again the service was impeccable, the food quality excellent, plating and service excellent. Our waiter Vikrom was so good, I left him a $10.00 tip.

 

Friday, was back at Indigo with new found friends and table for 6. The service, food, was excellent.

 

Saturday our last night was a going away celebration at Cagneys with a dinner party of six, complimentary to our party compliments of the Hotel Director Klaus Lugameier. As with Le Bistro, Cagneys has the best of the best waiters and food selection. After 3 hours of dining, 5 bottles of wine, and great food and atmosphere, it was our last dining experience and great way to say goodbye to all the new found friends.

 

We did not have time to eat at the Lotus Garden which sports a $10.00 cover charge. The Blue Lagoon for lunch is very nice with a limited selection. I loved the Wonton soup, and oriental noodles. Blue lagoon is 24 hours, but serves as part of Mambos at night.

 

Reservations for dining can only be made 24 hours in advance. You can no longer get on the ship and book reservations for the entire cruise in advance. Be aware of this NEW policy.

 

Ports of Call: This cruise called the Southern Caribbean, visited Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and Tortola, BVI. We sailed from 4:30 PM Friday to Monday and arrived in Dominica at 8:00AM. While numerous excursions are offered, and a wide selection to choose from, myself, Mary and two new friends choose to hire a private van for an island adventure. There are many taxis/vans available, and the cost of just $20.00 person was a great value. Our driver Jeff was terrific and took us to spots on Dominica that the ship excursions would never go. We spent 4 hours in the van at various beaches, fishing villages and stopped for a Kabuli beer and saw the inside of remote villages. I highly suggest this for the adventurous traveler in a group of 4 or 6.

 

Second port of call was Barbados, arriving at 8:00 AM. There are several excursions available from NCL. We choose to walk off the ship, shop, see Bridgetown, then, hired a private van for $20.00 each to see the island and get the true local experience of the islanders. The beaches are beautiful and plenty of spots to dine and have a few beers or cocktails.

 

The third port of call was St. Lucia another exotic Caribbean island. Once again, we walked off the ship and shopped than hired our own van, for another island experience. This time it was Mary and me for a cost of $50.00

 

The fourth port of call was Antigua, and the port was a run downed city, poverty stricken where there was very nice shops at and near the pier, then the outskirts of the city only got worse. We did not have any NCL excursions, nor did we hire a van. We spent time visiting shops, an internet cafe, which was a great bargain at .20 cents per minute or 15 minutes of internet for $3.00. Then back to the ship to catch the sun, eat and relax. Many passengers who took the NCL sponsored excursions stated that they really enjoyed all of them.

 

The final port is Tortola BVI, and is beautiful, upscale, and beautiful sail boats, shops, and eateries. We shopped and the ship leaves at 1:00 PM so all passengers must be on ship by 12:30 PM.

 

We sailed off to Miami.

 

We liked all the ports of call, some nicer than others, but all very nice. Items for sale from local vendors were the same at each port and many local vendors are willing to bargain.

 

Entertainment on Board: The NCL Pearl has a beautiful tiered Stardust Lounge. Three main shows by the Jean Ann Ryan Company are offered, Sea Legs, Tubez, and Garden of the Geisha. Sea Legs is a very sultry, sensual show with Las Vegas style showgirls scantly dressed. The showgirls are all beautiful, tall and long legged. Some older passengers thought the sexy, sensual outfits were not appropriate for a cruise. Of course, I loved it. Tubez is a high energy show, with lots of Rap Music that was very hard to understand what the lead singer was saying as with any Rap music. Tubez is a very contemporary show the acrobats on BMX bikes. The lead singer came from the 4th episode of American Idol and finished in fourth place, Ryan Parker. Garden of the Geisha was the best show, with incredible acrobatics from two outstanding actors. The oriental costumes were spectacular. Main shows are always at 7:45 and 9:45 PM. Ample seating was always available. During other nights, a comedian entertained twice and a juggler another. Jeff Thracter a former soap opera star was also very good. Many passengers liked him the best other than the main shows by JAR dancers. Then there was the ship crew talent show, and the introduction of the ships crew and executive staff. The Spinnaker Lounge on Deck 13 is used for shows like the traditional Newlywed Game, Family Feud, Quest etc. If you don’t want to attend these shows they are played back over the stateroom televisions. There was plenty of entertainment. The on board Bingo games was a rip-off as the payouts were very small, compared to the amount of money taken in. I would not suggest Bingo, as the payouts are small and the cost very high. The casino is ample for a cruise ship with table games, blackjack, three card poker, texas-hold’em, craps, roulette, lots of slots. Overall the casino was like being in a true Las Vegas casino.

 

Miscellaneous: The staff was very friendly and the Waiters and Jr. Waiters went out of there way to please. The staff overall was excellent, and senior personnel was always present overlooking the staff and all areas of the ship. Sanitation dispensers where present everywhere to prevent Norovirus. The ship was very clean, the lifts or elevators never really filled. The off shore ports of call where are all at a dock or pier, no tenders. The ports always found other cruise ships in ports and it was nice to see the other large ships.

 

Lounges: There were plenty of lounges to sit and relax, drink, piano music, the atrium was used for the Super Bowl party, The Champagne Bar and the Martini Bar was very nice. Malting’s for beer and wine, and the Corona Club for the cigar smokers was in an enclosed area. Drinks averaged $5.50 for the standard house drink, average Martini was $7.50 and specialty smoothie alcoholic drinks were $9.00 each. Soda is $1.75, and a 15% tip was included when making any drink purchases including bottled water. Coffee and Iced Tea was available in the Garden Cafe at no cost. Coffee from the Java Bar or bar staff waiters is at additional cost. Bliss Ultra lounge did not attract many late night passengers on this cruise. After 11:00 PM it was basically empty. It is the most exotic, contemporary on board, with large beds, (yes beds) for seating or whatever, massive lounge chairs. I would suspect that Bliss will be very active during college spring breaks.

 

Sports: Bowling in Bliss lounge was always busy, outdoor golf is available along with rock wall climbing, full size tennis court, basketball court and jogging track. The fitness center on Deck 12 was very nice with plenty of new state of the art treadmills. The Day Spa is beautiful, and the women seemed to love it. The outdoor pool areas are adequate and seating of lounge chairs and tables was great. There is one adult only pools.

 

Shopping: The ship has several on board shops from fine jewelry, to duty free alcohol and clothing. Be sure to understand when buying liquor on board it is stored to the last day, and if flying home, the liquor MUST be packed in your luggage. New TSA rules will NOT let you carry the liquor past the security gates in the travel boxes supplied by the ship. The ship does not inform the buyers of this. Be careful and be prepared if flying and carrying liquor back home.

 

Summary: The NCL Pearl is absolutely beautiful. NCL did a great job, and FREESTYLE cruising is wonderful. There are NO set times to dine, most restaurants are open from 5:30 to 11:00 PM. This cruise was 9 days and even after the 9 days we did not want to leave the ship. It was a great cruise, at a great price. I believe that NCL continues to deliver the best cruise experience based on price, food, ports of call and entertainment. I would estimate the average age at 50 +, and the ship never seemed full.

 

As an avid cruiser of 16+ cruises, this one was the best ever. I would highly suggest the NCL Pearl, for an outstanding cruise experience, and price. We just didn’t want to leave. We were treated like royalty. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 the highest, we break the scale at a solid 11+.

 

We will be back on the Pearl May 20th, 2007 for the Alaska cruise. Review to follow.

 

We saved all the FreeStyle Daily newspapers, so feel free to ask any and all questions.

 

FormulaRacer

 

Wonderfully detailed review! Thanks for the effort!

[star7228]

Enjoy you AD Suite, we had 10164 on the 12/22/2006 Pearl Cruise. :D

Click to Enlarge

 

Thanks RSWBADGER! I was thrilled when you initially posted your pics after your cruise, because it was the first look at an AD suite on the Pearl! :D I absolutely love the bedding...it's positively awesome. :)

 

Do you know if all the AD suites are decorated the same? I remember that on the Star, each AD was decorated a bit differently, but they were all beautiful with very rich decorations. Just curious if they are all the same or if they're different, as we're in 10664. Either way, I'm thrilled and am counting down the weeks!! :D

[snorklinbarb]

FormulaRacer, I think that's the best, most comprehensive review of the Pearl I've read! What a wealth of info you shared. Funny thing is, as you were describing your experience, I was saying yup, that's just the way it was for us, too.:D

 

For the record, I do want to agree with pcmrr though on the liquor thing. I bought Bob a bottle of Barbados rum first thing in the morning and as soon as it went through security I was asked to surrender it until the last night of the cruise. However, other times on other cruises I've had one slip through, too. This time the 6 bottles of Dominican beer went right through.

 

So really it can vary, though the vast majority is pulled over till the last night of the cruise.

 

I was really really surprised to hear of the OP's severe criticism of Ruth Hagger, the concierge among the whole fleet who has opened up ship after ship. So it's not a surprise that NCL asked her to go on the Pearl. I had some luggage tag questions & Ft. Lauderdale transfer questions and Ruth got the info asap. She's the warmest welcoming face when you arrive at the terminal if you're in a suite or villa.

 

I've sat down for coffee with Ruth as we've known each other for years. Her phone rings nonstop - everything is written down - she knows everyone by name - she no more than hangs up and she follows through right away with every request. She even smiles in the air as she's talking to her guests.

 

That's why I'm really shocked to hear of a suite passenger with such dreadful service. Did pmcrr speak to one of Ruth's superiors such as the Hotel Dir. Klaus or his Asst. Prem? They would never wish to see one of their guests sit disappointed the whole cruise when something could have been turned around in short order.

 

Also, there is no reason for someone on the same cruise (in this case Richard) to start their own thread. pmcrr posted their views and rating of the sailing and he came on to tell about his experiences. No one "owns" the thread.

 

I have just posted my own review of the same sailing and welcome anybody else to share their comments, the good and the needs to be improved. My thread is certainly not private.:eek:

[pmcrr]

I appreciate your review. I believe that you were honest with your original post. Overall you had a good vacation experience on the ship, but there were a few areas that dissappointed you, that you believe could have been handled a little better by NCL. I agree with you. Some people on this board really do believe that NCL is the standard that all cruise lines should be compared to. I don't have a problem with this, but I do not agree with them. We have many lines to choose from, that is a good thing. I personally am not loyal to any cruise line, I like them all. I've been on 5 cruises with 5 different lines. Someday I will inevitably have to cruise the same line twice, and that is OK, I would happily cruise any of these lines a second time.

 

CE 2000 Thank You , Its nice to know you read my post and understood what I was saying. Thank you for not being a phony.