We were on the Norwegian Pearl's repositioning cruise from Miami to Seattle this past April, and it was wonderful! True, we were a bit worried about nineteen days on a boat, but we soon realized that we could have stayed on for another nineteen! Our first two stops were in Colombia - Santa Marta and Cartagena - and they were great. We had never been to Colombia before. We did not book tours on the boat, but rather we took the tours and cabs that were swarming at the dock. We've done that before, and never had a bad experience. Most of the driver or guides speak English, and they know what is interesting in their area. And in each of those places and in the places we visited afterwards, we did a lot of walking off the boat and in the city. Boat-booked tours are more predictable, but there's a lot to be said for the opportunity to meet some of the taxi drivers and local guides. Then on to the Canal - what a great day that was! A day or two before the arrival at the Canal, one of the on-board lecturers talked on the Canal and had informative pictures. On the day in the Canal we were up by 6:00 AM with the rest of the tourists. The ship boards a guide/historian as well as the pilot and his crew, so we were educated the whole way by the guide. We were amazed, as everyone was, by the tight fit in the Canal! The Norwegian Pearl had something like 12 inches on each side between the hull and the side of the lock! Ships travel through the locks with the aide of four heavy-duty locomotives that pull each ship. Going through with other boats on one side or the other of us (there are two locks on each end) gave us an opportunity to watch others go through as we were going through. Panama is beautiful - what we could see of it. There was no opportunity to disembark. The area is green and lush. There were several alligators in the water as we were going through locks on both ends. The history of the Canal is most amazing, and certainly makes one appreciate the sacrifices that were made (and their foresight...) by those who built it. The lake between the two locks was beautiful, and it was busy with other ships heading for one lock or the other. There were a few tour boats on the lake here and there too. As we neared the Pacific side, we passed under two large bridges that span the waterway, and are quite impressive. As we navigated the locks there was a large viewing facility on land, and it was packed full of people waving and shouting greetings. We heard that many of the well-wishers on land were relatives of some of the employees on the boat. The building is on property of a former US military facility that is now, if I recall, a Panamanian mental health facility. We were back on the ocean and passing by Panama City as the sun was setting, and it was beautiful. The whole day was great! Travel time through the Canal is about 12 hours. The stops in Mexico were in Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas. Again, we did not book tours from the boat, but instead found people on shore to take us around. And we did a lot of walking! Then it was on to San Pedro and San Francisco, California. In San Pedro there is a free shuttle that will take you up the road for about two miles. We got off the shuttle and visited an aquarium and ate at a brew pub with six others we had met on the boat. In San Francisco we took the trolley to China Town and then walked to Telegraph Hill and all around there. We saw the parrots of Telegraph Hill. And then back to the ship to relax and eat. We did enjoy sailing under to Golden Gate Bridge! Our next stop was Astoria, Oregon. This was a great port-of-call! We rode a cute trolley (the conductor was great) from one end of town to the other. We stopped at one of the best maritime museums we have ever visited. Astoria is a small town right on the Columbia River. Very picturesque. Our final stop was Seattle. Seattle is always great. Disembarkation was a pain only in the sense that there were few cabs available when we were all done. The cruise line forgot to tell the cab companies, and there were hundreds of people waiting for cabs. The cruise line prefers that you use their buses. They can charge a lot more. This is our first NCL cruise, and our tenth cruise. The ship and the cruise were great. The crew, without fail, was excellent. We can't say enough about the wait staff, the room help, and everyone else. They were great. The ship is beautiful and the music is constant and wonderful to dance to or just sit back and enjoy. If you like to dance or would like to learn, they have lessons every sea day. The couple that taught the classes was excellent. In fact, every day there were classes of some sort going on. The food? We've had better. Many rave about the "freestyle dining." In our opinion, that was probably the "minus" of the trip. There is no opportunity to get to know consistent tablemates and we have always had a good time getting to know others - and dinner had always been the best place. The specialty restaurants are much better than the buffet or the general dining rooms. The food everywhere is "good" but the meals for which you pay extra are clearly where they place their focus. They cost up to $20.00 per person; if you go after 8:00 PM they are half price. It bothered us to have to pay extra, but on NCL that is the way it is. So, go for the fun and relaxation. Do not bring any alcohol with you onto the ship. They x-ray the luggage (yes, that's true) and they will have you come into the office (shades of grade school...) where they will hold it for you until you get off the boat, or charge you and extra $15.00 per bottle "corking fee." You can't hide it! (No, we didn't try but we were with others who did and who were "busted." It's a sore subject with those who were hoping for a bottle of wine in their cabin so that they could enjoy a drink before they go up to dinner.) Our cabin was teensy but, well, we have not ever really minded that because we spend so little time in the cabin. It can be kept tidy, it is always cleaned by the staff, and it is functional. The shower has a sliding door and that was nice. And there is always hot running water and the toilet flushes - what more could we want?!! The entertainment was great! We have always loved the variety offered on cruises, and this cruise was no exception. Great dancing, comedy acts, musicians, and jugglers. We did not miss an evening, and took in the occasional afternoon "workshops" that some of the entertainers offered. We have tried almost all of the different cruise lines. They all have their plusses and minuses. The bottom line is this - go with an open mind and without any expectations, spend the money, and you will make wonderful memories. Don't compare it to " When we went to ..." or "When we sailed on..." because you're only setting yourself up. Know that this is yet one more, different, unique experience - and it will be! Bring lots of books, use their library, take naps - what's not to like?!? We hope you decide to take the repositioning cruise that you're considering. I don't think you'll be disappointed!