BACKGROUND: I'm a 52 yo man, have cruised more than 25 times, and traveled solo on this voyage. OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: This was my second "freestyle" experience. The Pearl is a beautiful ship and NCL has tried to give cruising a hip new feel. The ship had had some virus problems the previous cruise, so passengers were always having hands disinfected and couldn't even reach for silverware. I guess it is better to be too safe, and came to appreciate NCL's diligence. HIGHLIGHTS: *great fitness center and spa * dining options * attractive public rooms * friendly staff * the stunning beauty of Alaska * easy and smooth embarkation and disembarkation LOWLIGHTS: * constant selling, including NCL "lottery tickets" before every show * almost too casual * spotty dining service * poor design of theater seating CABIN: I had an outside obstructed view. It was fine for one, but would have been very cozy for two. The shower was larger than usual. I appreciated the coffeemaker in the cabin, a great touch! The TV movie guide was a nice touch, although I never watched a movie. My cabin stewards were attentive, and responsive when I had a couple of requests. I always make sure I meet them the first day and address them by name. I'm also a big believer in tipping extra if they give very good service. DINING: NCL has created the "freestyle" experience, which is very different from traditional dining. Rather than have assigned seating in one dining room, you choose a restaurant for each meal. (Most are open just for dinner.) The advantage is that you can eat at different times, depending on your schedule, and try different cuisines in very different atmospheres. The disadvantage is that it does take time to figure out the system, and you never develop that wonderful relationship with the dining room staff as on other cruises. Several restaurants have a cover charge of $10-20 per person, so that can add up. Also, since tips are automatically billed, and most don't tip extra at each meal, the staff seem less attentive. Overall, I'd give NCL a "B" on food. Here are some thoughts on individual restaurants: GARDEN CAFE: The main buffet was well laid-out with plenty of options. No trays are available, so it is challenging to make one's way to a table with plate, silverware, and drink. A smaller buffet is set out in the aft open-air area, and it was less crowded. Note the free cappuccino/latte machine near the aft deck-- the best coffee at sea! La Cucina: Italian. No surcharge but reservations are needed. I found the food just OK, the service good, the atmosphere nice. Mambo's: Billed as Spanish tapas/Tex-mex. No surcharge but reservations needed. The food was very bland Mexican. No real Spanish tapas on the menu. Skip this one. Summer Palace: The main dining room, designed to recall the Czar of Russia! Unfortunately, the Czar's staff didn't come with it. I had one very poor lunch, with slow, inattentive service and bland food. I also had a decent dinner with great service. Indigo: A smaller, more hip atmosphere but serving the same menu as the Summer Place. No surcharge. Loved the service here and enjoyed the meals. Lotus Garden: One of the four Asian restaurants,all located together. $10 surcharge and well worth it. The steamed sea bass is the best fish I've ever had on a ship. in fact I went back for a second dinner there. Great atmosphere, attentive service, and absolutely delicious food. It is also open at lunch. I never had a problem making a reservation or walking up. Tipping is confusing. Even though there is an automatic tip charged per person, I also tipped a few dollars per dinner as I know that the dining room staff count on tips. FITNESS CENTER/ SPA: I work out every day, so fitness centers are important to me. The Pearl has a great one, with a 12 treadmills and 12 elliptical machines, as well as a few bikes, a complete weight area and a separate aerobics/yoga room. There are small locker rooms, with steam rooms and a shower in each room. But the spa has a huge thermal suite, which has a $20 a day or $75 a week charge. It is well worth it, especially in Alaska. It includes a large coed area with a therapy pool, a whirlpool, heated lounge chairs and lounge area looking out at the splendor of Alaska through a wall of glass. The separate men's and women's areas each have showers, steam, sauna (with a wraparound view), cold plunge pools, individual jacuzzis and lounge areas. I found it a great place to relax after a workout. ENTERTAINMENT: I enjoyed the various musical groups playing throughout the ship. The Stardust Theater has great sight lines, but the seats are small and cramped with only two aisles. Again and again, people would come in late and the whole row would have to stand so that they could get to empty seats. No tables or glassholders are provided, so if you order a drink, prepare to hold it for the show. I look forward to the big revues and these were not on par with other cruise lines. The other entertainment was good, including a very funny comedian and two incredible juggler/comedians (Sharkbait). While docked in Skagway, Steve Hites came on board and provided a one-man show which covers the history of Alaska from the Gold Rush of the 1890s to present day in song and story telling. He is incredible, but only about 20 of us were there to enjoy his show. Don't miss it! ITINERARY: Our cruise included Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan and Victoria,BC. Our times in both Juneau and Ketchikan were pretty short. Glacier Bay was terrific,and the park rangers offered a lot of good commentary. EXCURSIONS: The only NCL excursion I booked was a kayak trip in Ketchikan. I loved it and recommend it highly. We were just 16, with two guides. In Juneau I hopped on a bus at the pier for Mendenhall glacier ($7 each way.) I had done flights before and recommend you do it if this is your only trip to Alaska. You need to see it from the air to appreciate the grandeur. embarkation/disembarkation: While the lines were long in the embarkation process, they moved along. My cabin was ready by the time I got on board around 1:30 PM. NCL has really made the disembarkation process easy and painless. In fact the gym was open the last morning so I got in a workout before getting off the ship! It is much better than some lines which have you huddled in public rooms like the voyage of the damned, waiting for your number to be called. Overall, I'd recommend this cruise if you want a relaxed, casual experience. Alaska is so stunning, and this ship is a great one.