Just a so-so cruise
Norwegian Pearl Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern
10 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)
Sail date: April 06, 2015
Ship: Norwegian Pearl
Cabin type: Oceanview
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 9 years ago
Review summary
The Norwegian cruise we just completed was so-so. We did this as our 40th wedding anniversary cruise. I was expecting it to be exceptional and it was
pretty basic. The food was below standards. The dinner selections were a rotation of the same items. My wife is vegetarian and there was nothing. If she wanted to each fish each day that was it. At the buffet they had 2 vegitarian dishes each day, both made with the same curry flavoring. Once is ok but for 10 days?
The staff serving the meals were a mix of very good to totally untrained. Far more uitrained. Nice enough but didn't have a clue.
The entertainment was very good, comedians and jugglers were uninteresting and not good at all.
Theor wifi should not be offered. We paid $75 for 100 miuntes and spent 8 - 10 minutes trying to log on each time. Not got to really use it. they refuese to give a fefund but kept saying they would take care of it. they did not. A supervisor made up stores and never gave a refiund. very poorly managed ship. Will never, ever return to this cruise line.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Children's Programs
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
Don't expect too much. Poorly managed ship.
Ports of call
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
5 Comments
HMDowney 9 years ago
I don't mean to judge, but you seem to have nothing but negatives in your review, and you only seemed to review the food selections in MDR and Buffet and the internet. Nothing else.
I honestly don't know why you would go on a cruise and buy a big internet package. Surely the point of a cruise is to 'switch off' from technology and everydayness? Or is that just me?
I am sorry you considered the food and service in the MDR/Buffet supar. I concur with others who suggest informing NCL ahead of time of your wife's vegetarian status which should facilitate more selection for her.
Did you do nothing else on this cruise? Did you not go into any of the ports? On any of the excursions? How were the other facilities onboard?
I'd be interested to know more and I am sure others would too.
glomarrone 9 years ago
Congratulation on your fortieth wedding anniversary. Sorry to hear that the cruise was not a good fit for you. It is too bad that cruise lines do not offer more vegetarian options. On your next cruise, try arranging ahead of time for some vegetarians options. Mot cruise lines will whip up something if you ask ahead of time. My husband does this directly with the cruise line ahead of time by phone , even on the ship he speaks directly to the chef on day one. They are always accommodating - even at the buffet. They give him menus on the day before. If there is nothing there that he can eat, they will make up something simple for him.
JusMe 9 years ago
MrChocoholic 9 years ago
Not sure what "standard" you mean when you are referring to the food being "below," but I understand that it can be a bit repetitive in the MDR every night on a longer cruise. As for the training of the people "serving," do you mean the waitstaff, or the ones who hand you your carved roast beef across the buffet line? There is a definite difference in the type and level of training for kitchen personnel behind the food at the buffet and the ones who you trust to get your order right in the MDR. You never actually describe anything or explain what tasted bad. You obviously didn't care much for the ports of call either, and said nothing about them. My guess is you're probably a well-to-do internet junkie who doesn't know how to have fun and should probably be on Regent or Oceania where they will meet your high standards.