We booked the seven day Western Caribbean cruise on Norwegian Pearl leaving on November 7 because we got a very good price. I am a repeat Norwegian customer, traveling with a first time cruiser and a 16-month old child.

EMBARKATION was smooth and quick. Dropped off by a taxi. Gave a porter the luggage with tag affixed. Stood in line for about 20 minutes, received our ship cards and entered the ship. We went to the Summer Palace to eat while waiting for our rooms to be ready. I didn't see champagne or orange juice like on previous Norwegian cruises.

ROOM. We booked a class N inside guaranty cabin (the cheapest ticket to be on the ship). We were assigned class JJ on deck 8. At first, we were concerned that we were right above the nightclub. However, we had no noise problems during the cruise. The room was clean and well-maintained. One hint, if you want towel animals, then you have to let them come into the room for turndown service. (I'm not really sure what turndown service is for. I can unmake a bed myself. It's making a bed that's the hassle.) I had the do not disturb sign on for most evenings until the end of the trip, so the little girl missed out on some towel animals, I think. The room number sign has a dial you can turn for "make up the room," "do not disturb," "turn down the room." The refrigerator was filled with mini-bar stuff they wanted us to pay for. We asked them to remove it so we could keep things in there, but they didn't, so we worked around it or removed it ourselves. The room stewards were kind enough to have a pack-and-play available, and offered to build it and take it down every day, but we declined. Read more