Norwegian Pearl Review
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I will admit, that this was my first crew ever. It was full of surprises (all good) and it left me excited for my next trip. I had a balcony room on the 9th floor (upgraded from an obstructed view on the 8th floor). The room was beautiful, the perfect size for two. I cannot imagine not having a balcony for this trip. With all the whales, eagles, glaciers and other wonders that we saw, the trip would not have been the same if we had missed out on it all. I also know that the good viewing spots got crowded quickly. Having my own private balcony to relax on whenever I want made the trip perfect.
Embarkation at Seattle was pretty easy. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express near the SeaTac airport, and booked a cruise transportation package (included a ride from airport to hotel, hotel to cruise, and cruise back to airport). It was perfect! My only warning is be careful not to arrive too early. You are assigned embarkation times, and they are very strict about this. However, if you arrive at your scheduled time, things run vary smoothly. Everyone you meet has a smile on their face and seems just as happy to be there as you are.
For our first day, we checked in at 11:30, and were on the ship by 12. We went to the main dinning room for lunch - Summer Palace (avoiding the Buffet rush as was suggested by many). The meal was fantastic. By the time we finished eating, our rooms were ready. Entering my room was a fantastic surprise. I loved it. It was very clean and smelled pleasant. The bathroom was small, but the shower was comfortable and worked great. We did bring a small car vent air freshener for the bathroom, just to keep it extra fresh. One bag arrived around 3 and the other around 6. We spent most of the day exploring every nook and cranny of the ship, enjoying the warm day on deck, and just getting the feel for cruising. We had dinner in the Indigo - the second main dining room that night. Again, it was wonderful. The molten lava cake was amazing! (got it many nights).
Cabin Review
Family Balcony
Our cabin was a little small, but perfect for two people. There was plenty of room for both people on the balcony (chairs and a small table included). However, there was a weird noise when the balcony door was open. It sounded almost like there was an owl in the room. Lol. However, the room was always clean and comfortable. We did peak in to a few similar rooms set up for 4 people (couch pulled out into bed, bunk bed lowered from ceiling). That definitely seemed tight, but doable. The bathroom was definitely small (the toilet area especially tight) But the shower was amazing. We brought a small car air freshener to keep the bathroom smaller great.
Port Reviews
Seattle
I flew in to SeaTac airport the night before and landed late. Stayed at the Holiday Inn Express right near the airport and booked a Cruise Transportation Package. The hotel was perfect, the picked us up within 5 minutes of calling, and our driver gave us a mini tour of the area. As it was the 4th of July, he even pointed out the local fireworks (right across the street). We had a great night's sleep, and a great free breakfast. We were dropped off at port right on time the next morning, and check in was a breeze (just don't show up before your check-in time if possible, or else you will ahve a lot of time just standing around outside).
Glacier Bay
Absolutely beautiful. Watching the glaciers calve was amazing. The sound was amazing. I couldn't believe all the different colors to be seen, and all the wildlife. Keep your camera on you at all times. And this day really makes the balcony worth it. Also, get some specialty hot chocolate delivered to your room!