I think it is a great opportunity to see Bermuda in a few days. We were glad to be able to hop on a bus because it was unbearably hot in Bermuda and then back on the ship with air conditioning, food and entertaining. We would do it again!
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We mostly visited the Summer Palace. We liked the interior and the service there. We went to a Brazilian and an Italian restaurants. They were good. If you are a meat lover, the Brazilian restaurant is for you. We liked the convenience of the buffet being open throughout the day. We were always able to find something we liked except bacon that was missing on the two days we came late.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We played bowling and Bingo, did Trivia, and decorated T-shirts. Bowling is only $7 a piece but Bingo was overpriced, $39 was the cheapest package. I shouldn't complain I guess since we won in the 3d round. The fitness center was small and the machines outdated. Also, we participated in the art auctions and the two guys from Zimbabwe were very helpful.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We attended all the shows. There was a comedian, very funny, aerial acrobats, very good, magicians, a variety show, and a legends show. I loved Tina Turner and my daughter- Michael Jackson. They are very talended musicians.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Overal, very friendly, hard-working and attentive staff. Most of them are from the Philippines. Rudy, our room steward, made the room twice a day and always took the time to say hi. The only desk that we had trouble with was the excursions. They were available for a very limited time and the brochures were never out.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
We've been on big ships and small ships. The Pearl is small and has an easy layout. The casino is right next to the Stardust Theater and was always smoky. It gave me a headache a couple of times.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The cabin and the balcony were on the smaller side but were enough for the two of us. The room was clean and we enjoyed sitting on the balcony.
Ship tip
Take example of the staff and wear a mask in overcrowded spaces. I felt for the staff who stayed on the ship to continue the journey while we were off the ship and resting comfortably in our beds at home.
Bar Harbor is charming but pricy. A lobster roll is $25. I got a couple of Pandora charms right in the port, which were lovely. The Acadia Park is enormous and has beautiful views. We took a 2.5 hour trolley ride for $53. I am not sure if it was worth it. Originally, we were scheduled to do the whale watching tour, which was cancelled to our regret.
Bermuda is gorgeous. It was our second trip there. I wish we wouldn't take the transfer to the Horseshoe beach; it is only $7 by shuttle. We love this beach! We also did the Crystal Caves excursion, which was okay, and Catamaran ride to the coral reef. We were a little disappointed because we didn't see big fish. Key West has better snorkeling in my opinion.
Disembarkation in Boston was easy. We took our luggage with us and were off the ship at 8:45. I can't say the same about Bar Harbor. Although we were given instructions about how to go through passport control and get tickets for the tender boats, they were confusing and it seemed like the staff were creating those crowds. We waited in 3 long lines for about an hour and 20 minutes. There was no social distancing and I bet this is where we contracted COVID. We tested positive when we got home.
Great review but why would you feel sorry for the staff? Typically they really want to be onboard. They probably work no harder than they would at home for much more pay, and get 4 or so months a year off. Many countries wear masks a lot so that is probably not a bother and many crew members probably want to wear them anyway.
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