We traveled on the Pearl in February 2013 and she was great. Food, service, atmosphere everything even though most other travelers bagged it out. So I was looking forward to going on her again. This time however it was the opposite. What drinks staff they had and that didn't seem to be many in any of the bars or in the Plantation restaurant were unfriendly and scowled more than smile. I know they have a long and hard job but a smile wouldn't hurt. The staff in the Waterfront restaurant didn't seem to have their act together and forgot food or brought the wrong orders.
The food in the Plantation started out fine but by the end of the cruise left a alot to be desired. Like they went to the cupboards and threw stuff together and said that would do.The Waterfront was OK.
Embarkation was a fail. They got everyone choose a time to embark but I don't think the check in people were really organised for the number people that turned up. It didn't really matter what time you chose because no one checked. In P and O's defense the ship had mandatory safety drills to complete before anyone was allowed on so that threw everything out a bit. Disembarkation was chaos also with no information given by the attendants about what was happening. If you wanted to know you had to ask. Filling out the form as to when you wanted or needed to get off was a waste because alot of people got later than needed.
The cabin was fine. An interior cabin. At night it was noisy, sounding like someone was trapped in the walls and sending SOS messages.