This was a fun time with my girlfriends, packed with activities and lots of food and alcohol! Would definitely do it again but would reconsider purchasing the spa services and would be a little more selective about the specialty dining packages. I have had better food on other cruises so that may be what makes me consider another cruise line for my next cruise.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
We were so excited to board the Pearl! Our taxi was able to drop us off right at the Port of New Orleans where porters immediately off-loaded our luggage. We had reserved a 10:30 boarding time, but apparently that didn't mean anything. Once through security we were led to a huge open room,(with not enough chairs) were people were called by number to board the ship. We actually didn't board until about noon, but once called, we easily walked aboard and started the party!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
We purchased two specialty dining packages, one for Le Bistro, the French restaurant, and one for Moderno, the Churascuria. At both restaurants, the presentation of the food was lovely. At Le Bistro, the food was okay, fairly bland. Definitely not worth the extra charge. At Moderno, the food was excellent. The waiters come around with large skewers of sausages, filet mignon, pork and chicken and carve individual portions for you. It was hot and delicious. The salad bar there was also great. We found that the buffet and other dining rooms had mostly the same food, much of which was pretty bland. Definitely go for the made to order omelette and egg station to stay away from the powdered eggs!
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The downside to onboard activities is that they charge you for EVERYTHING! From the slot tournaments, to the game shows, bingo games, drawings and spa services, the charges are astronomical. Photos are $24.99 each and there is no option to purchase digital images. We bought to daily spa pass for $139 and then purchased a 3 service spa package for almost $600 more. If that wasn't bad enough, after each service they trap you in the room with a high pressure sales pitch to purchase their really expensive products. When I insisted that I was not going to purchase anything else, one of the "therapists" scolded me about how my negative attitude was affecting my appearance!
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The spa offers a lovely way to relax and unwind after a busy day sightseeing. The dry sauna and steam rooms are nice, and the therapy pool is large and provides a gentle massage. The warmed lounge chairs are a great place to take a nap! The biggest drawback is that the jacuzzi in very high up with limited access; even those of us in fairly good shape found it extremely difficult to climb up and over to get in. Certainly not for those out of shape or with a handicap. The other issue in the spa is that the floors are extremely slippery. They do not provide shower shoes and there is little to hold on to, especially when the ship is rocking and rolling!
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Our Steward, Roell, was superb. It was my friend's birthday and I wanted to surprise her by decorating our cabin. I gave all of the decorations to Roell and he did a phenomenal job, blowing up balloons, putting up streamers and decorations while we were at dinner. Every evening we were treated to his whimsical towel animals and a clean, turned down cabin. He went out of his way to bring us a third chair for our balcony and always ensured we had plenty of clean towels.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
This cabin was perfect for the three of us. the couch made into a really comfortable double bed with a mattress topper (provided by the ship). The bathroom, although small, met our needs. We brought an over the door hanger which was perfect to store all of our toiletries and hair appliances. A hair dryer was provided too. Lots of room under the beds for storage of luggage.
Ship tip
We loved deck 11 and midship was best due to the fairly rocky seas during our trip.
Fun city! We did the Hop On Hop Off Red Bus tour which provided a great overview of the city. We also did the cemetery tour and Lafitte's Swam Tour which was really fun. Brunch at Brennan's was to die for! Acme for oysters, The Gumbo Shop for the best gumbo, and definitely Cafe Dumonde for Beignets!
Wish we had more time to see this beautiful island. We did a catamaran snorkel tour which was great. Saw beautiful coral reefs and fish, enjoyed a delicious lunch on board, and relaxed for a few hours in the sun.
This pretty place had a Disneyland-like feel. Everything is new and clean, almost too new and clean. We did the zipline here, very exciting but not for the faint of heart. We were also going to parasail but the winds were too high so the excursion had to be cancelled. Instead we rented kayaks in the long lagoon that was really fun.
Decided at the last minute to do the Mayan Ruin tour and it was so worth it. Had a nice lunch at a local restaurant and shopped at many great shops.Definitely barter with the vendors!
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