Norwegian Pearl Review
1959Cruiser
First Time Cruiser • Age 60s
Rating by category
Cabin
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Service
Additional details
Sail Date: Aug 2015
Cabin: Aft-Facing Balcony
This was our (my wife and I) first cruise. Based on TripAdvisor reviews and friends, we chose an Alaska cruise with Norwegian as our first attempt. We probably spent more than we absolutely had to but some of the expenses made first time cruising a breeze.
We flew to Seattle the day before embarkation and stayed at the Westin Seattle using the NCL hotel/transfer option. While pricey, this option got us a very nice hotel in a great location and handled all our transportation to and from the port. Again, for first timers, the expense was worth it especially seeing the crowds and chaos at the port. We also took Shuttle Express from and back to SeaTac airport. Great service and reasonably priced.
With the transfer service, embarkation was very simple and quick. The ship card you are given is a great idea (maybe all cruise lines use them). The card - which is your room key - makes onboard purchases, going ashore and back, dining, etc very easy. Service onboard was excellent. Everyone was pleasant, attentive, and saw to it that we got all we needed.
Cabin Review
Aft-Facing Balcony
Cabin B1
Just perfect. Plenty of room for our suitcases and clothing - there were two of us on the week long cruise. Lots of drawer and shelf space. Cabin was clean and nicely maintained. Everything was in working order. Nice shower with soap dispenser and shampoo dispenser which was enough for me. There was a shelf in the shower for my wife's things. The toilet area was a bit cramped but it worked. The bed was comfortable enough and queen size. The aft balcony was a real plus. When the wind off the ocean was cold, the aft balcony was fine. And did not have to worry about the 25 mph wind from the ship moving forward. Deck 10 aft is an excellent place. Room was quiet and conveniently located near excellent dining choices. Steward was great.
Port Reviews
Glacier Bay
Cruise ship circled the park allowing us to view a number of glaciers from the balcony of our stateroom. The ship did a complete rotation so that you could see glaciers from anywhere on the ship. Weather was cloudy in August so the pictures/views were muted and not as spectacularly blue as they could have been. We also heard several large chunks of ice fall off the glaciers - unfortunately we did not see them fall. But, we saw the aftermath. Overall, well worth seeing. A great experience.
Seattle
We stayed at the Westin Seattle which is approximately 5 blocks from the port. The hotel was excellent. Staff was friendly and helpful - concierge especially. Restaurant was very good. Nice location. A block from monorail station to Space Needle. Walking distance to Pike's Farmers Market. Plenty of shopping and dining choices around the area. Used Shuttle Express from and to SeaTac airport. Reasonable price and great service.
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