We are independent travelers, so, this was our first cruise. My wife and I booked it on a whim and fascination at the ridiculously low price. How could anyone feed, house and transport us for that , we wondered. We're still wondering.
Frankly, I feared crowds, kids, cattle car excursions, shopping center ports and vapid fellow travelers more than anything. What I found was, you could find all of these on a ship of 2500, and you could find just the opposite if you were looking for it, had even a small measure of creativity in your approach or the slightest willingness to smile at the occasional delay or detour.
The Pearl is impressive in the same way an architectural or engineering marvel is impressive. If you enjoyed touring Hoover Dam on a side trip from LV, then you can appreciate this ship. I never felt crowded. There was always a quiet refuge in one of the public venues.