I'm a first time cruiser but won't be in a rush to return. The Pacific Pearl was just okay! Alot of the staff were friendly but quite a few were rude and some were nonchalant and unhappy. The evening entertainment was moderate to terrible. I had to leave one show after 15 minutes it was so crap. Also, the cruise director was very annoying, repeating herself every evening on stage. The ship has two small spas/jacuzzi's which was a squash for more than 8 people and it would have been good if they were either bigger or they had a few more of them. We ate dinner at the Waterfront Restaurant one evening but the risotto was completely bland and the pizza was disgusting. Because of this we ate at the only other free restaurant, The Plantation, every day. But after 6-7 days I was sick of the options for each sitting as the breakfast was always the same, lunch the same and dinner the same each day. My travel companion had been on a Princess cruise a few months ago which she couldn't stop raving about and comparing against the Pacific Pearl. She felt the Princess cruise was 5 out of 5 and the Pacific Pearl only 3 out of 5 at best. Due to a cyclone heading toward New Caledonia we couldn't go to Lifou or Noumea understandably but there was no compensation at all like a glass of wine or a credit to each cabins account. A few positives to end the review: we had a great cabin: big porthole, comfortable beds, wardrobe space with coat hangers, tons of drawer space. The gym is good with plenty of equipment for a ship. Basically, if you want to go on a cruise maybe avoid the Pacific Pearl and try a Princess ship instead.