I prefer to address the NCL Pearl only, nothing else leading up to our embarkation, as what I have to say is very important for those considering to choose NCL. My family, friends and I have just returned from an Alaskan cruise aboard the Norwegian Pearl. Fourteen of us converged in Seattle from various points in the country, including, Seattle, New York, Los Angeles, Indiana, Miami, Maryland, and Gainesville Florida. It was the first time we congregated as a family since the death of a beloved sister, aunt and mother making this vacation highly anticipated and sorely needed. After much research and consideration we decided to trust NCL to provide the experience of a lifetime in the manner in which they advertise, "Freestyle Cruising." Taking this to mean that once we've paid their considerable fee, we would be free to enjoy without concern, a plethora of options for highly organized onboard entertainment. We were looking forward to leaving our wallets in our rooms and enjoying our trip to its fullest. Instead, what we received for our fee was a minimally organized trip where we never stopped paying for activities, amenities, food and drink.

Our upgraded accommodations were extremely disappointing and not well maintained. The service expected was not friendly nor accommodating in our suites and in most all other areas of the ship. Most staff members were outright rude.

I found that there was a lack of consistency between restaurants and found the food to be anything but enjoyable. I knew in advance that there would be an up charge for the various specialty restaurants. They were all equally as bad. I thought the charge might have included a glass of wine or a beer or two. I was surprised to find it didn't even include bottled water or even a soda. This practice of charging for anything other than the buffet epitomized the timbre of the entire trip. The conditions for the buffet were deplorable. The food was below average at best, with the menu options never changing during the week. The conditions for dining were horrible. Because there were very few choices for dining during the day the entire ship would crowd into the buffet area creating a congested, filthy, unappetizing eating environment. It would often take twenty minutes or longer to find a table and you often found yourself hovering over a family waiting to take their table so you could dine amongst their half eaten food. Dispensed water, tea and bad coffee were our only drinking options if we didn't want to pay extra or wait for a drink server to stumble by. Unfortunately, if you didn't want to pay "extra" your options were limited. The constant need to dip into our wallets left us all with a very bitter taste in our mouths and the pervasive feeling that we had been swindled. We spent a considerable amount of money up front for our voyage (our entire party stayed in mini suites and in one case upgraded to an owners suite) with the expectation that we'd pay our fee in advance and afterwards be left to enjoy a cruise where food, drinks and shipboard amenities were taken care of. Instead, we were nickle and dimed every minute of the day. We were charged an additional almost seven dollars a day for soda, two fifty for a single glass of canned juice, additional charges for bottled water, a cost to use the bowling alley and an additional ten dollars a day for service fees. I thought the thousands I spent would cover service but I guess I was wrong. Every seminar that I attended ended with a soft sale for ship board products. The most organized and consistent presentations were for jewelry or art work, that shock of all shocks were sold on the ship. This was an all too familiar refrain, "Would you like a drink sir? That'll be an additional charge thank you." We wanted to take a yoga class, it was an additional charge. For what? The mat? The space? Did you have to fly someone on board? Same with the pilates class that had no special equipment. Speaking of classes, it would have been nice if NCL would have offered a more comprehensive schedule of classes and activities and done a better job of orienting us to when and where they were. You have semi-professional dancers on board, why not a full schedule of dance classes? Classes on how to play black jack or craps? Ping pong tournaments for the teenagers, more themed parties, cooking classes, more seminars on the flora, fauna and history of Alaska, tours of the ships operating systems, an introduction to the officers (who could be a little more visible). It felt like once NCL had us on the ship, that they stopped trying to keep us entertained and instead turned our vacation into a prolonged sales pitch. Nothing was more hyped than the activities that cost money, bingo, raffles etc... I understand that it is becoming increasingly difficult to turn a profit but we paid the price they asked, now let us enjoy our "free style" vacation. If I wanted to vacation on an open market barge I would have booked a trip a Morocco. It became a running joke amongst the other passengers that air would be an additional charge. Is that the reputation NCL wants? Some of our party participated in the art auction and purchased several pieces, now we come to learn that Park West is under investigation for fraud (in collusion with the cruise lines) needless to say, they are engaging an attorney. I would very much have liked to speak to someone who was able to address my concerns. I feel an obligation to other families. Families who will trust NCL with their money that is increasingly hard to come by. A family, that might be planning a once in a lifetime vacation. A family like ours. I represent the concerns of everyone I traveled with and felt the need to post this review to warn anyone considering NCL for their cruise vacations to think again. NCL will never be a recommendation I would feel comfortable making to anyone.