Norwegian Pearl Review

Panama Canal and Central America cruise

Review for the Panama Canal & Central America Cruise on Norwegian Pearl
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JB2112
10+ Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Oct 2014
Cabin: Balcony

My wife and I just returned from a 15 day cruise through the Panama canal on the NCL pearl. This was our 37th cruise and our 3rd cruise with NCL. Let me start by saying NCL has come along with since our 1st cruise with NCL on the Pride of Aloha out of Hawaii. That cruise by far set the tone and standard as being the worst cruise to date that the wife and I have done with NCL. It was shortly after that cruise that the CEO of NCL decided to take the ship off line and out of service. It was that cruise that my wife and I decided never to cruise again with NCL cruise line in the future. However, as time went by we decided we wanted to take a cruise through the Panama canal because I was stationed there with the Army in the past. We decided to try NCL again and went with the pearl. Our fisrt impression on the pearl were awesome from the over all condition of the ship, to the crew who were courteous,friendly and went out of their way to assist you. After having done so many other cruise lines NCl has started to get their act together. The personal experience that my wife and I received on the pearl was outstanding and how everyone on the cruise was extremely helpful.. Even if they were on a break they would do everything to make your cruise experience more enjoyable.

Embarkation and disembarkation was a breeze. Both were the easiest and quickest we've ever experienced. Our cabin 10130 was in great shape, very clean and well maintained. Our cabin steward (Eiggy) was outstanding, courteous and went out of his way to take care of our needs. I made sure to take care of him when we got off the ship. We enjoyed most all the ports of call. The only two that we did not care for were Puerto Chiaps and Cartaqena. Not much to see or do in both cities. They were very dirty,run down and you did not feel very safe when walking around. The other stops were great and interesting.

The biggest issues and problems that we had on the pearl was the food. On our first night we ate at a specialty restaurant called the (Le Bistro). My wife ordered the swordfish and I ordered porter house steak. When the meal came out my wife;s fish was like rubber and my steak was loaded with fat and very tuff to cut. She wanted to leave, so we got up and left the food on the table.Also, the portions were very small for the price we payed. The next day the ship gave voucher to try and use at one of the other specialty restaurant. During the next two weeks we ended up eating at Cagney's steak house three times. Cagney's was excellent with good service all three times. The rest of the cruise we only ate at the formal dinning room three times. On one occasion the food at the summer palace came out cold and I could not once again cut into my roast beef because it was a end piece of the meat. I ended up sending it back and went to the buffet. Also, the wait time took over one and half hours to get your meal. We did eat a lot of our meals at the buffet while on the ship. All in all the selection in the buffet was very limited and the quality/selection of the food was lacking in creativity. The pasta station had the same pasta's for the entire cruise. NCL used a lot of the pasta and rice as the main course with very little meat of vegetables. I like to eat pizza when on a cruise, but the pizza on board the ship was a big disappointment. I think if they were selling it from a pizza place on shore it would have gone out of business by now. The pizza had no flavor and the crust was also hard to chew.

Cabin Review

Balcony

Cabin BD

Great trip and Ship. The wife and I enjoyed the cruise and wold do it again with NCL. . The only problem we had with NCL was the food.

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