NCL Pearl, Cruise to Alaska Background: My wife and children (son:15; daughter:12) took the NCL Pearl to Alaska on 8-8-10. I booked this cruise in July 2009. It was our 15th cruise and 8th with NCL. We settled on three priorities, non-stop flights, at least a balcony/suite cabin, and Glacier Bay. After reviewing all of our options for Alaska (RCCL, Celebrity, Princess, Carnival, and Holland America) we chose the NCL Pearl. An Alaska cruise has been high on my wife's list for many years. I love to go on cruises but was resisting this one because I had let reports taint my impression that it would be cold, boring, and only for old people (not that there is anything wrong with this!). However, after reading Cubechick's review from last June and seeing her pictures I was thinking that I was not being very open-minded about this. In addition, we try to be on a cruise for my wife's birthday. I decided that it was time to do what she wanted because she supported me and kept the family running smoothly for the past 6 years while I finished another advanced degree. It did not take a doctorate to tell me that it was time for me to be smart in my marriage, well, maybe it did actually! Synopsis: This was an amazing and unforgettable experience for me and my family. I am grateful for this cruise and everything worked out the way it was supposed to. The beauty of Alaska is there if you stop, breathe, and look. I do hope to go back again since there is so much to still do and see. Here is a brief listing of what we did. The complete review will get into the details. Pre-cruise in Seattle: Stayed at Homewood Suites/Downtown. Very close to the pier. I love the city. We walked everywhere. Experience Music Museum-Sci-Fi Museum, Space Needle, Science Museum, Seattle Underground, exploring the city. Pearl: My new favorite ship. Staff were great! We had dinners at Le Bistro, Cagneys, La Cuchina, Shabu-Shabu, Indigo, and the Garden Cafe. Alaska: Juneau: took the bus to Mendenhall Glacier and explored this area (rain and drizzle 60's); Skagway: White Pass RR train (60's to 70 some blue sky and clouds); Glacier Bay (still no words to describe this amazing place early morning cool but became sunny with clear blue sky and 70); Ketchikan: Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's tour (70's to 80 and clear blue sky); Victoria: stayed on the ship and enjoyed a sunny day of 88. However, we took the NCL Behind the scenes tour while at sea in the morning before our arrival.

We left the hotel at 10:05 on Sunday morning to get to the pier early. When we arrived, the porter suggested that he not take the bags because it would be better for us to bring them over to another spot. The pier offers an early luggage drop off and we took advantage of that option. By 10:25 we were heading through security and up to get checked in. The port agent took our cards and tickets escorted us to the area where we could sit and wait. We enjoyed waiting and talking to some of the other lucky passengers who were also on this trip. By 11:30 am we were heading on-board and I was looking forward to seeing this ship. This was my first time on an NCL Jewel class ship. I have been on the Majesty, Dream, Spirit, and Dawn so I was not sure how the Pearl would measure up. We were told that the rooms were not going to be ready until 1:30 pm. We are used to this and our lunch plans and exploration of this ship would occupy our time until then. We only had a few carry-ons so this would be manageable.

After a wonderful sit down lunch I really felt like I was on a cruise. I have arrived home to my favorite vacation place, a ship. By the way, the dining options for lunch on embarkation day are up to the Garden Cafe for the buffet, Summer Palace for sit down service, or Cagney's if you are in a suite or courtyard accommodations. Read more