Norwegian Pearl Review

4.0 / 5.0
2,401 reviews

This time the Pearl was really a gem!

Review for the Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Norwegian Pearl
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crazymom107
First Time Cruiser • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Feb 2010
Cabin: Mid-Ship Mini-Suite with Balcony
Traveled with children

A year ago my family cruised on the Pearl to the western Caribbean and without going into specifics there were a few problems and I left my cruise unhappy with the experience. We decided to give it another go but this time the eastern caribbean, so almost exactly one year later I again boarded the Pearl, unsure of how I would like it. Well, all I can say is that my experience this time was fantastic! From the moment we arrived at the port everything was a breeze. Embarkation was so effortless I could hardly believe it. From the beginning the staff was friendly and polite.Getting on board somewhere between 12 and 1pm our room was not ready but they directed us to the buffet and the pool area. My daughter had her bathing suit with her and began using the slide. About 2pm an announcement was made that we could go to our room. Our mini suite was in excellent order. Our room was on the back of the ship and the view from the balcony was fantastic.Our luggage arrived in a timely manor.We met our room stewards and they were very nice. We had reservations for Lotus Garden and were certainly not disappointed. The food was excellent and the service great. We dined in a specialty restaurant 4 times during the cruise and each time the food and service were excellent. I really felt that they cared and wanted to please us. The best restaurant is Le Bistro. It is beautiful to dine in and its unbelievable how they can make everything so good.I have had mushroom soup plenty of times but never like at Le Bistro. How they can make a mushroom have so much flavor is a mystery to me.It truly was so much more then a meal, it was an event. There is an 18 million dollar Renoir just feet from where you are dining and everything was just perfect.The main dining room staff was also very good and the food was much better then I remember from my last cruise. The thing that impressed me so much during this cruise was how great and accommodating the staff were.Everyone from the room stewards to the dining staff to the people holding the spray bottles on antibacterials at the buffets were all so pleasant. Always smiling, they would say "Happy Happy Washy Washy" Me and my husband are still saying that to each other. Our excursions were all good. I found a difference from last time in this as well. It seemed that we were much better looked after for lack of a better word.In tortola we went to Virgin Gorda to the Baths(Which is the most beautiful place!)An NCL staff member stayed with the group the whole time, made sure everyone was accounted for.When my daughter got a small cut on her arm we asked for a tissue and the staff member brought out a 1st aid kit with antiseptic and band aids. That definitely wasn't our experience last year. I was injured during an excursion and the tour guide,who didn't work for NCL just left me. So seeing this difference really made me happy and I felt much more at ease. I felt so relaxed and pamper during this cruise. The staff all treated my daughter so well. They would call her by name and compliment her dress. In one of the lounges they had karaoke and kids are allowed in there to about 9pm. My daughter asked the bartender who goes by the name of " The Chocolate Cowboy" if she could sing. He arranged for her to sing next. She sang the Star Spangled Banner and while she was singing the audience all stood up and placed their hands over their hearts. It was really touching. When she finished "the Chocolate Cowboy ran over to her and hugged her and everyone applauded. It was so sweet. That's the kind of personal attention we received during the cruise, that by the way I never wanted to end! I was so pleased with my experience that I wasn't home 2 days I booked the Pearl again for next year. I wont say that I wont cruise with another line but as it stands now NCL is my 1st choice. I am so glad that I sailed with her this year. I have really been won over!

Cabin Review

Mid-Ship Mini-Suite with Balcony

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