Norwegian Pearl Review
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Overall- Pick another cruise line if you are considering Norwegian unless you are young (kids to early twenties)and can't spend more on your vacation. If you have any taste for the better things in life- this cruise line will not satisfy as much as the other cruise lines. I will now outline the reasons why or why not and you can judge for yourself if the pros outweigh the con and vice versa....
I want to give a balance picture and not sound too nitpicky although the devil is in the details... Small things can still wreck your vaction especially if there are MANY small things (and there were MANY...) unless you are so easy going and have next to no expectations. Norwegian is not all bad- here are the good points that we noticed that you should consider.
The ship iteself has far better decor and layout vs Carnival (we weren't surpised about this- Carnival has a reputation for gaudy ships) The best part was the fish on the carpet outside fo the staterooms- the direction they pointed was the front of the ship- I used that ALL the time- a stroke of genius for whoever though that up! Theatre decor was classier as well although there were some flaws. Gym facilities were better located- there were actually windows that you can look out of as you were using the treadmills- makes for less monotonous runs. There were also chilled towels available in the gym- luxurious! The running track also had the advantage of being measured unlike the Carnival ship. There were nicer outdoor eating areas & more outdoor deck space in general. Not to mention a dedicated promenade deck that went all the way around the ship. (too bad it didn't include a lane for running- as it was larger than the jogging deck and more protected in case of rain, 2 3/4laps was one mile) The lounge at the top of the ship is better utilized than on any of the other ships- has very comfortable large lounger/bed like sofa and numerous larger booths with a center stage that has good visibility. And don't forget the views- all around the front of the ship- extremely bright and inviting during the day. As well,this was the only ship with a bridge viewing area that we encountered. Not a big thing- but we appreciated it.
Cabin Review
Inside
Small, poor lighting, smelled like cigarette smoke in the hallway leading up to the room, a fair amount of ship motion since the room is fairly forward, poorly maintained & cleaned, not enough counter/desk space, but is quiet.