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Itineraries and Ports of Call: Alaska • Bahamas • Caribbean - Eastern • Caribbean - Western • Cruise to Nowhere • Panama Canal & Central America • U.S.A.
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Norwegian Pearl Review
The Murder Mystery Dinner on the new, bright, nearly perfect Norwegian Pearl is just one of the many sea day activities available to its guests, activities which not only include the usual rituals of poolside lounging, bingo and art auctions, but also some truly innovative and unique options. On that day I could have gone bowling, boxed against a 20-foot opponent (thanks to NCL's new partnership with Nintendo, featuring its Wii system on most ships) on the Crystal Atrium's gigantic LED screen, attended both a Martini Tasting clinic and a Margarita Taster, watched an all-male exotic dance show featuring the ship's crew, and settled into a four-poster canopy bed next to the dance floor in the Marrakech-inspired Bliss Ultra Lounge.
The third in the series of Jewel-class vessels (Norwegian Jewel and Pride of Hawaii -- soon to be renamed Norwegian Jade -- preceded Pearl; Norwegian Gem will debut in fall of 2007), this ship, with its spaces, its flow, its dining and lounge options, has been tweaked to make it one of the most enjoyable large vessels around. The addition of four bowling lanes and the Bliss Ultra Lounge in the space where most NCL ships have their department-store-sized shopping venue is one change, and making the two-story atrium actually useable is another.
Norwegian Pearl is loaded with jewel-toned designs (mauve and teal, turquoise and magenta, purple and blue, all with the occasional splash of fuchsia and orange) and original art (a Dale Chihuly sculpture anchors the atrium, a small Van Gogh reproduction -- the original is being moved from the Dawn later this year -- hangs behind the reception desk), and filled with upscale seating around its two pools and on the upper sun decks (faux wicker chairs and padded chaises, some double loungers with pillows). In addition, it boasts 12 Freestyle restaurants, 11 bars and lounges, the new bowling alley, a five-level rock-climbing wall and a contemporary kid's club.
Is Norwegian Pearl perfect? No, but our quibbles are so minor they hardly matter. We hate the tacky plastic flowers that show up in places where there should be real ones or none at all. Somehow, the architects forgot to put a drink station on the pool deck, so to get tea, coffee, water or juice, one has to wander half way through the Garden Cafe in search of a no-surcharge beverage -- irritating, but barely. The myriad of activities, the bright colors, the usability and flow of the ship, the dining and entertainment options, the fabulous itineraries (five-night Western Caribbean, nine-night Southern Caribbean, Alaska in the summer) and especially the happy, friendly, helpful staff make this ship stand out as one of our all-time favorites.
 Read Complete Norwegian Pearl Review
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NCL Ships: Norwegian Dawn • Norwegian Epic • Norwegian Gem • Norwegian Jade • Norwegian Jewel • Norwegian Pearl • Norwegian Sky • Norwegian Spirit • Norwegian Star • Norwegian Sun • Pride of America
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