We landed in Miami at 10:30 for the Feb. 11th 5 night cruise to Cozumel and Belize. At the airport we picked up the Norwegian Cruise Line transfers. For $15 pp, they took our bags to the ship and dropped us off at the Bayside shopping area. This was a necessity because boarding of the Pearl was to begin at 3PM. They were supposed to come pick us up from Bayside and transport us to the ship before that time. After seeing a line of fellow passengers waiting for over an hour, and some screaming at a Norwegian representative, a group of four decided to walk to the ship. It was about a 15 minute walk, and without our luggage, took little effort. When we arrived(just before 3)we had no problems getting onto the ship. The ship was immaculate, and to insure no mass illnesses would occur, there were handy disinfectant dispensers throughout the ship. The room was with a balcony, and I thought just a little smaller than on the Star,which we had previously been on. The rest of the ship was very impressive although some of the color schemes could be called brash. The activities were varied. From bowling(at $5 per game), to rock climbing, or hitting into a golf net, they were perfect. They even had a basketball/tennis court which was empty at times. If you were a sunbather,you could find room on the deck above the pool. If you wanted a poolside lounge, you had to get there early in the morning. Music around the pool was very relaxing.

We love freestyle dining. The screens on the wall told you how crowded a particular restaurant was. We ate in Summer Palace, an Old World decorated main dining room. We tried the Indigo main dining room, which is more intimate. The food in both was good, although some of the portions were small. Sometimes we ordered a second entree, so don't be afraid to ask. For Valentines Day, we ate in Cagney's the specialty steak house. This cost $20 pp for most items, and another $5 for surf and turf. The food here was outstanding, but the service,which was superior, was equal in all the restaurants. The staff was polite and entertaining. The entertainment was pretty standard stuff. Two production numbers were fair. I don't get excited about them. The magician\comedian was excellent. We also saw improv with Second City, the people who supplied Saturday Night Live with their comics. Improv is an acquired taste,and many seats were empty for the 10pm show. The Spinnaker lounge had dancing and the a late show on most nights. Plenty to do. We took the tour of the Mayan ruins at Tulum. The tour guide and the tour was impressive. There are two caveats: if you get seasick easily, there is a 45 minute rocking ferry to the mainland. Also, don't do this tour on warmer months because the site can get near 100 degrees in summer. Next day we went to Belize. Decided to just walk around.MISTAKE! The poverty is dramatic, and the people fall all over you to try to sell you something. There are no beaches to relax on,so plan a tour or stay by the piers. We found relaxing by the ship's pool was easier when most people are touring.

No problems with disembarkation. Smooth and seamless. Overall, this was a top notch cruise. I think the line brings in its best people for a new ship. You can't beat it for value. We went on a school week, so there were not that many kids around. I can see many kids having a ball here also, so pick the time that best suit your needs. I compare the ship favorably to Princess, but I would still like to try Celebrity.