We just returned from a 7-night Alaska cruise on the Norwegian Pearl (7/27 - 8/3). We had not been on a cruise since 1998, when we rode the Norwegian Windward to Alaska. We loved that trip so much, we decided to do the same cruise again. We loved the Pearl, the cruise, and the staff.

The Pearl is a beautiful ship, and extremely well-maintained. The rooms were very clean on arrival, as were all the restaurants, common areas, and decks. Before we boarded in Seattle, we noticed the crew power-washing the balconies, decks, and windows. And when the ship was in port, the painters were at work around the ship. It is attention to detail like this which makes for a pleasurable cruise.

The boarding process was a bit confusing, but with 3000 guests trying to get on board, one should expect a bit of a wait. The waiting room could have been more comfortable, and I probably would have preferred a system that gave out numbers as you arrived and you could sit until your number was called to get in a short line. Read more