Nice ship - need more nighttime activities.

Item: Norwegian Pearl
Rating: 3.8
Author: tomconnie14

Norwegian Pearl Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

tomconnie14

Contributor Level: Second Mate

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 4

Helpful Votes: 194

Overall rating:

3.8 out of 5

Verified Review

8 Night Western Caribbean (New Orleans Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 30, 2017

Ship: Norwegian Pearl

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: 11591

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

Nice interior to the ship. Outside needs work. Staff is very friendly and accommodating.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

Would be a 5 but the security card stopped me and made me throw my empty water bottle away. WHY??? The Norwegian host was rude about it as well. There were 6 people in my group. He made my wife and I throw our bottles away. The other 4 had full water bottles and many other types of drink carrying bottles. Really made me mad. I wanted the bottle to have water at night and on excursions.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

The food at the main dining rooms was tremendous. The waiters and maitre de were very accomodating and friendly. I feel like they have to do too much, by that I mean, getting our alcoholic drinks. The buffet lines were very short. The buffet staff was very quick to clean and clear tables. We never waited for a table or for food.

Maltings Beer & Whiskey Bar

3 out of 5

This is for bars in general. The Crystal Atrium bar had the most friendliest and best staff. The Mojito Bar on 13 had the least friendliest bartenders. They always seemed bothered. EVERYNIGHT!! The casino bar was also very friendly.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

The bad weather on sea days did not help. Did not find much to do inside. They push for bingo and deal or no deal with terribly bad payouts is a scam. So are the casino tournaments. I will never play those again on any norwegian cruise ship.

Pearl Club Casino

2 out of 5

The machines are very tight and the table games never paid out much. All tournaments take way TOO MUCH out for the house.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

The stage shows were good. The Cruise shows were not great - but good. The comedian was good and the Cirque act and Juggler were tremendous. There was not enough late night "adult" acts. The last night they did this and the theater was packed. This should be saying something. This was the only show all week that had over 60% in the crowd. Bands around the ship were decent. I was not happy when Simon rang into the rooms twice with announcements. It was the one day we took an afternoon nap and we were woken twice. I do not know why Norwegian would not pipe in the college and pro football games the whole trip. It can be done. Many people wanted to watch. We do not care much for cricket or soccer all day.

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

The waiters and ship personnel were tremendous. the Room Steward was more distant that we are used to.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

The layout with only buffet and hallways on one side of the ship was weird. The inside was very clean and had many great rooms, ie. Spinnaker lounge and Bliss lounge. We did not feel like these spaces were used appropriately. The outside had many places in disarray. Many chairs on the upper deck were very worn.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

typical room. The bathroom and shower were nice size.