We chose the Pearl because it fit our budget, desired ports of interest and Sunday departure from Seattle. We are 4 adults around 60 years of age. After reading many reviews, some positive, some negative, we were very pleased with our choice of The Pearl. The staff was courteous, helpful, and very polite. We were very pleased with the wait staff during meals and at the bars. The food was plentiful and tasty. We did not dine in any speciality restaurants. We had the ultimate drink package as one of our perks when we booked our trip. It was super convenient and we had a huge drink selection to pick from. The pinacolodas were my favorites, while my husband liked the margaritas. The evening shows were good, we loved the comedian, ventriloquist, and airealist act. We booked our excursions from companies outside the Pearl and saved money doing so. Loved Alaska and The Pearl.