Norwegian Pearl Review

4.0 / 5.0
2,402 reviews

Norwegian Pearl, a solid ship for the Alaskan Inside Passage

Review for Alaska Cruise on Norwegian Pearl
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Sehwong
10+ Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Aug 2016
Cabin: Inside

I go on this cruise every year. I love the inside passage. It is a relaxing cruise for me to unplug. I love the Pearl. It's a perfect sized ship for someone like me who likes midsize ships.

The best kept secret on the Pearl is the Thermal Spa package. For $149, you get unlimited access to the thermal spa all week long (8 am-10 pm) which includes whirlpools, heated ceramic loungers, steam room, sauna, deck chairs, and an environment that is kid free and announcement free (only emergency announcements come into the spa). The view is amazing! You are one level above the bridge and you have a panoramic view of the inside passage without having to fight the wind and the rain on deck. You can sit there in your bathrobe and watch the whales, sea otters, dolphins, and magnificent scenery. I love viewing Glacier Bay from the thermal spa. (Only drawback is that you don't get the great narration from the park rangers, since announcements don't come into the spa.) The pearl has one of the best thermal suites around, and if this is your cup of tea, you will love the Pearl.

I always book the cheapest inside cabin. I used to book balcony rooms, and balcony rooms are nice if you are going to spend extended periods of time sitting out eating meals or reading or watching the scenery go by. But once, when taking the extended family on a cruise, I booked an inside cabin for myself to economize and I will never book an ocean view or balcony again. I only use my cabin for the three S's, so having a balcony or extra chairs to sit on are wasted on me. The best part of an inside cabin is that when the lights are out, it is pitch black inside. If you cover the peep hole in the door with a tissue, there is no light at all, and you experience the most wonderful night's sleep you have ever had in your life. It doesn't work if you're claustrophobic, but otherwise, the savings on the stateroom can be used for shore excursions, specialty dining, or shopping in port. My stateroom was a bit cramped (Norwegian cabins are a little tighter than other cruise lines), and this time I had Stateroom 11149, which is the smallest room I've had on a cruise ship to date, but it functioned just fine for the 3 S's, so no complaints there), and despite being at the very aft of the ship, I felt no rocking or motion at all during the week.

Cabin Review

Inside

Cabin IX

Small, functional, and met my needs. You either love an inside cabin or you don't. If you like an inside cabin, purchasing the IX category means you will be assigned a cabin by the cruise line, and it will likely be far forward or aft, but it is the most economical way to travel. Use the money you save for specialty dining, drinks, or shore excursions.

Port Reviews

Seattle

Seattle is a great starting a stopping point for the cruise. So much to see and do.

Eating Salmon in Seattle is a must. If you haven't tried it yet, do it.

Juneau

The botanical gardens in Juneau are really lovely. Worth the trip.

Skagway

The railway ride to the Canadian border is lovely. On a clear day, the mountains in Skagway can't be beat.

Glacier Bay

Always my favorite part of this trip. The glacier is amazing. Luck of the draw to see the glacier calving. This year we were rewarded with a massive chunk of ice that fell slowly to the sea. Those on the other side of the ship missed it. Nature's random events don't come preplanned, so always be on the lookout.

Ketchikan

I love just walking the hills of Ketchikan for the exercise. Bald Eagles everywhere!

Victoria

A wonderful city. Buchart Gardens is worth the effort to see. The ships spend way too little time in this magnificent city.

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