Norwegian Pearl Review
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I almost lost my faith in cruising after a couple of pretty bad experiences on Carnival but cruising with Norwegian is just what I needed to remind me that there are still good companies out there that care what their customers think and respect their privacy. It is not one of the new super liners with 7 desks of balcony suites and a giant shopping mall in the the middle. It is simply a beautiful mid-sized ship that has just what you need and does't go overboard trying to make you buy-buy-buy. Don't get me wrong, there are shops. They are just not the focus of the ship. The guest is.
We took an Alaskan inside passage cruise from Seattle on the Norwegian Pearl, May 18-25, 2014 in celebration of our 24-year-old daughters’ masters’ degree and both me and my husband’s birthdays. Embarkation on Sunday went very smooth. Even though we were boarding at the peak time, around noon, it moved relatively fast. I was expecting to have our picture taken for the facial recognition software that 'other' ships photographers use to capture you anytime they want so they can post pictures for you to buy all week long, but it did not happen. (Thank you NCL for respecting my privacy.) We were onboard within an hour and headed straight up to The Great Outdoors on deck 12, aft. Where we could grab a bite from the outdoor buffet and get the party started with a drink and watch Seattle get smaller and smaller.
We shared an aft mini- suite on deck 11, (11118) starboard. My first impression of the room was that it might be too small for 3 adults. This was really not ever a problem. Even with the couch bed pulled out, you can maneuver pretty well. The bathroom has a very nice deep bathtub and a separate toilet area. The shower had great water pressure and the temp was easy to control. There is a table with 2 chairs and a vanity mirror with a built in hair dryer across from the couch. This makes it easy for one person to primp while the other showers.
Cabin Review
Since this was my first cruse with NCL, i have no other rooms to compare it to on the NCL line. But compared to Carnival and RCI, it was amazingly quiet and well designed. The only time I heard our neighbors was when we were both on our balconies. This cabin is located just below the Garden Cafe buffet but you would never know it. On occasion you might hear someone walking with heels on, but other than that, it's quiet. It's also VERY close to the stairs and elevator. Again, you would never know it because s quiet. There is a big benefit to the proximity to the stairs and elevator. You are only one floor away from a great place to eat and hang out, the Great Outdoors. Turn the corner out of your room, up one flight of stairs and you are entering the buffet. Not once during the trip did I hear the anchor or engines. The closet is about 5'wide and has a light inside and plenty of hangers. There are 3 drawers about 14 in tall and another about 20" and a cabinet above. Suit cases can be stored under the bed. The bathroom has a deep tub with shower. There is a toilet area separated with a sliding glass door and the sink area in the middle which has a outlet at the top of the mirror labeled "razor only".Near the balcony and across from the couch is a separate table with 2 chairs and a large mirror with vanity lighting. (No magnifying makeup mirror). This is great for primping without hogging the bathroom. There is also a built in hair dryer and two outlets. (The hair dryer is very nice quality and approved by my daughter who has about 3 times the amount of hair as most people.) Next to that is a coffee maker with GOOD coffee. Best on the ship in my opinion. I use two bags for a full pot and it was nice and strong, how I like mine.Below the table a minibar refrigerator that can be locked. The liquor in the mini bar is actually cheaper than a drink in any of the bars if you consider you can get two out of each bottle. There is also a safe. The king bed is firm yet comfortable. The linens are nice and crisp and plenty of pillows. The couch bed bottom seat pulls out and the couch back is flipped down like a minivan to form a queen bed. The flip down side is the softer side of the two. My husband and daughter took turns sleeping on this and both said it was not bad. There is a heavy curtain that can be drawn between the couch and king bed which provides a surprisingly good amount of privacy. There are separate thermostats for each area and the heating/cooling is very steady. Never too hot or cold.The only improvements I could suggest would be to re-foam the bottom of the couch. It is very hard. Also consider adding a small speaker to the room that could be turned on if desired to hear the cruise director and captains announcements. It's is so quiet in the cabin, you have to open the door to hear the clearly. (That's a good thing!) It can be hard to maneuver in the room when the couch is pulled out, but it's do able. Lastly, the TV is pretty small and dated. I think the room was really nice and would book it again.