Norwegian Pearl 7-day Alaska Cruise
Sail Date: May 18, 2014
Reviewed: 2 years ago
Traveled As: Singles/Friends
Room Type: Inside
This was our first cruise and it wasn't long before we were referring to our ship as a "pirate ship" because of the inflated prices for every extra--laundry service was $27 for one load! Soft drinks were expensive, even with the "beverage package," and internet access unaffordable to everyone but the well-off.
Claustrophobia was a serious problem for some members of our small group, and when we asked to use the cabin we had paid for for a friend who at the last minute was unable to join us for this cruise we were told that the cabin had been placed back in inventory AND no refund would be issued. This left us with a very sour taste in our mouths.
Entertainment options were very limited--except for the "Splash Academy" for children, which was excellent and was even free! Our eight-year-old granddaughter spent every spare moment with this group and had a lot of fun with it.
The food was adequate, but the cafeteria-style Garden Restaurant was not very handicapped-friendly. Most of the time, the tables designated for the disabled were occupied by people with no discernable disability who lingered at the tables near windows long after they had finished their meals.
The one bright spot was our cabin steward who was always friendly and eager to help us with every need.
We have never been so glad to get home from a vacation, and the only way I would cruise Norwegian again is if I were well-paid to do so.
Category Ratings
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Click table then swipe to view all columns.
| Ship Quality | Ship was clean and very pretty | |
| Food and Dining | See my review | |
| Service and Staff | Craig was superb; we liked him very much | |
| Entertainment | Nothing very special was offered | |
| Children's Programs | Couldn't be happier with this FREE feature | |
| Onboard Activities | Not much to choose from | |
| Destinations and Excursions | Pretty little Ketchikan was our favorite stop. As usual, shore excursions were very costly, but the "Duck Tour" was barely affordable, unusual and interesting | |
| Cabin / Stateroom | Way too small for a claustrophobe; would've been better off upgrading. |
Port Ratings
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Click table then swipe to view all columns.
| Seattle, Washington | |||
| Juneau, Alaska | |||
| Skagway, Alaska | |||
| Cruise Glacier Bay | We got lucky--the weather was terrific and the captain chose to use his once-annually permit to have the ship towed 360 degrees several times so everyone aboard would have an excellent view of everything Glacier Bay has to offer. |
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| Ketchikan, Alaska | Loved this colorful little town--highlight of our cruise, as it turned out. | ||
| Victoria, British Columbia | Was not allowed into Canada because of a 38-year-old drug charge, so this was an unpleasant stop for our family. |
Tip
To save unnecessary wandering around in extremely narrow halls, familiarize yourself with the location of elevators nearest your cabin.
