I had another excellent cruise on the NCL Pearl. I was a little apprehensive at first because I am usually sailing on larger ships with so many activities and eating venues. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't feel like I compromised anything by being on a smaller ship.
The staff on the ship was excellent. The casino tables were not as easy to win, especially the blackjack tables. The dealers kept getting 21 ... no matter what. It was a little disheartening. I switched to Ultimate Texas Holdem ... a game I learned on the ship. It was more fun this trip.
I will say I was unimpressed by the port shopping gentlemen, Alex. He was very personable, but seemed to push shopping on board the Effy store instead of any shopping at the ports. I always like to get a piece of jewelry in the ports, and found he was not helpful at all in that regard.
The bartenders at the Atrium bar were very friendly and remembered me every time I sat down at the bar. They were always smiling and in a good mood. And I know they were working a lot since that was one of the few bars open (one on each deck) while we were in the ports. And that is a big congregation area so they were always busy.
The food in the main dining rooms was good. I ate there on embarkation day and other evenings. I like to eat in the main dining room on embarkation day instead of being herded to the buffet where it is more hectic and crowded. Eating in the main dining room (or even O'Sheehan's) is nicer because you can relax, have a cocktail and chill while you are waiting for your cabin to be available.
This trip I didn't go to any shows, but will be doing that when I sail on the same ship in Dec. 2023.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
I embarked in Boston and it was a very smooth and quick process.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
All in all the food was very good on the Pearl. I enjoyed Cagney's and Teppanyaki. I only ate at the buffet a few times, but the breakfasts I had there were excellent. I'm glad I didn't have breakfast there until late in the week because if I knew about the pecan cinnamon rolls on the first breakfast day, I'd be in trouble! Excellent all around
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
I took part in some of the games in the atrium. I also took part in the martini tasting (nominal fee) where we were able to have 6 smaller martinis. There was also trivia where we could win a full-size martini of different flavors. It was fun and informative. I also took part in the McCallan Experience (also a nominal fee). I didn't know much about scotch, so it was extremely informative for me and a fun way to learn about it and different ways to enjoy it.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The staff and service on the ship was impeccable. My cabin steward was friendly, cleaned the cabin while I was out and did a fantastic job with any additional requests I had. The bartenders at the Atrium bar were so much fun and very personable. They made sure our drinks were always full and always had a smile for us.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
This was my first time on a smaller NCL ship and I was impressed by the design and way the crew members took care of the ship. Though this is an older ship (though it has gone through some refurbishments), it didn't feel like an older ship. And it was nice not having as many people on board as the larger ships.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Though it was an inside cabin, I never felt claustrophobic or cramped. There was a fair amount of storage space, but I did notice the closet where the safe is kept, there were missed opportunities to provide more storage. I brought some motion-sensor lights in case I needed to get up in the middle of the night. Another idea is to keep your TV on the bridge camera. But if you cannot sleep with the TV on, then bringing motion-sensor lights are a good alternative.
Ship tip
Use the elevators either forward or aft for more availability. The ones in the middle are used a lot. Also, nightly at the casino bar, they have cookies and slices of cake.
Took the Acadia Ocean Hike and had a good time. It did take a while to get there because of holiday traffic to the park we visited. The excursion ran longer than planned, but I had a wonderful time and the guide (Glenn) was very informative and nice.
Right off the port there was a nice shopping mall with lots of tourist items. In a nearby building there was a farmer's market where I shopped and got a couple nice Swarovski jewelry items (one for me and one for a friend). The vendors were all super nice.
I loved this port. I took a walking tour that was fun and informative regarding the city. At the end of our tour (at a Catholic church) our guide told us we could walk back to the port with him or take in the city. He told us there was good shopping nearby and also good restaurants. He also mentioned two blocks up was Cows Ice Cream which was rated the #4 ice cream in the world. I had to try it out and it was exceptional! If you visit PEI, you have to try it.
I was not impressed by this port at all. There was not a lot of great sightseeing or tourist stores near the port. I would have rather another sea day instead of stopping here.
Disembarking from the ship was very organized and well done. I found my luggage quickly and had a porter help me to my bus for transfer to the Quebec airport. It was a very smooth and stress-free process.
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