I just returned today from a 7 day cruise on the Pearl which left Miami with stops at NCL's private island, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. I had been to all of the stops, except their private island before. I had also been on a 7-day cruise on the Pearl to Alaska in 2007. I was a bit disappointed with the entertainment, given your typical dance and singing group, the comedian-juggler, the 2nd city comedy and the tired piano player in the piano lounge. On the other hand, the "Oh What A Night" revue of the Four Seasons was top-rate, as was the piano bar singer Shane T. (from Australia).

We mostly ate dinner in and Garden Buffet area where the food was great....lots of options and plenty of food. The one night which we ate in the Main Dining room was slow and tedious. The service in the Main Dining room was poor at best. The Bingo hostess, Maria was quite rude and I had a bit of a to-do with her. She really has to realize the no matter what....the Guest is right.....and I was.

The ports were typical of a Caribbean cruise, in Ocho Rios you are bombarded with the locals trying to get you in their taxis......we spent the afternoon at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, singing and swimming. The same in Cozumel at Margaritaville on the water. Grand Cayman was a disaster, since the lines for the tender boats to the island were backed up for quite some time. We gave up on even leaving the ship that day. Read more