Norwegian Pearl Review
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When I set out to plan this vacation, I looked at every cruise line that sails to Alaska. Since my travel party included myself, my husband, my 15 month old daughter and my mother in law, the cabins really had a lot to do with my final decision. My husband and I quickly decided that we wanted either two cabins (preferably with balconies) or a family suite. When I found NCL's two bedroom suites, and realized how reasonable they were compared to the other options, I was sold.
The Pearl is nicely decorated and relatively easy to navigate once you wander around a bit. It's pretty much what I'd expect from a mainstream cruise ship - some of the venues are over the top, some are super basic, some are modern/clean. It's a fun ship to wander around; lots of art and other interesting things to explore.
Dining was adequate. We had a 3 night specialty dining package and those meals were definitely the stand outs of the trip. Moderno, Teppanyaki and Cagney's were all delicious. We ate most of our breakfasts in Moderno, which was peaceful and offered plenty of tasty options (the pancakes were my favorite). Unfortunately, most of our lunches were at the Garden Cafe buffet... I'm just not a fan of buffets on a cruise ship. They are already chaotic and stressful. Then, add trying to fill up plates carrying a 15 month old and finding a table and a high chair. It's just not a fun experience. That food was fine. Not great; just fine.
Cabin Review
Family Penthouse with Balcony
This cabin was amazing! The location is great, no issues with noise. Close to the forward stairs/elevators.
It was perfect for travelling as a family. The requested pack & play was set up in the master bedroom area and we were able to pull the curtains around it for nap times. Plus, the bathtub was a huge bonus (because we're not crazy about trying to shower with our 15 month old). The smaller bedroom was great for my mother in law - she had her own TV, bathroom and plenty of space.
The extra amenities were also wonderful. We all loved the coffee maker in our room. We had a consistently full bowl of fruit, which was perfect for toddler snacks. The other small things were a nice touch too - like seeing a container of bath salts by the tub. It's easy to see the details were important when designing these cabins.
Finally, there was so much space and storage. I was worried about finding space for everything we brought (diapers, toys, etc.) but everything had a place. The sitting area was great for when we all wanted to hang out together; but, we still had our own spaces when we needed a bit of quiet. The balcony was also used quite a bit.