NCL Pearl questions

[OPSnorkeler]

We have only taken one previous NCL cruise on the Pride of America. We know that POA is not indicative of the other NCL ships because it is a retrofit.

 

We will be taking a Western Caribbean cruise on the Pearl next November. We will have a BA balcony stateroom.

 

We would appreciate any information that you feel would be helpful regarding the Pearl, so that we will know what to look forward to.

 

Also, what excursions did you do if you took the Western Caribbean cuise? Especially, what do you recommend in Ocho Rios?

[Traveller20074]

We have only taken one previous NCL cruise on the Pride of America. We know that POA is not indicative of the other NCL ships because it is a retrofit.

 

We will be taking a Western Caribbean cruise on the Pearl next November. We will have a BA balcony stateroom.

 

We would appreciate any information that you feel would be helpful regarding the Pearl, so that we will know what to look forward to.

 

Also, what excursions did you do if you took the Western Caribbean cuise? Especially, what do you recommend in Ocho Rios?

 

Two words:

 

Spa Pass :D ($99/week/per person)

 

I did a couple of snorkeling trips, one in Cozumel, and the other on Great Stirrup Cay...AWESOME snorkeling!! I thought it was better than maui :)

[garycarla]

You will find the ships more alike than not.

 

As to excusions, visit the PORTS OF CALL and ROLL CALL message boards.

[retired rascal]

The Pearl is beautiful with great art....take all the staircases up and down to see the great murals on all the landings between the floors. The spa is fantastic....the heated loungers and the big fluffy couches overlooking the bow....we signed up for the whole 14 days... the buffet is better than others on NCL....the teppanyaki is fun!!

[pcl_cruiser]

The Pearl is beautiful with great art....take all the staircases up and down to see the great murals on all the landings between the floors. The spa is fantastic....the heated loungers and the big fluffy couches overlooking the bow....we signed up for the whole 14 days... the buffet is better than others on NCL....the teppanyaki is fun!!

 

Forgive me for sounding stupid, we will be on the Pearl in June in Alaska. What are the heated loungers and what did you have to sign up for and is there a cost?

[cruiseat50]

Forgive me for sounding stupid, we will be on the Pearl in June in Alaska. What are the heated loungers and what did you have to sign up for and is there a cost?

 

Not silly at all... when I first read someone saying they loved the heated stone loungers in the spa I thought - how could that be comfortable? lol... Anyway, they are a lounger that have tile on them and are heated and they are wonderful! Especially if you have arthritis! Ahh.. they warm the bones!:D

[Tutone56]

There was a group of us that did Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Rios in 2006. It was quite an adventure. We had a blast climbing up the falls. I was surprised to see an NCL photographer standing in the middle of the water about 1/2 way up :eek:. You can find more information about the falls in the Port of Call section.

We're taking the Pearl in March for the first time and have heard a lot of good things.

[pcl_cruiser]

Not silly at all... when I first read someone saying they loved the heated stone loungers in the spa I thought - how could that be comfortable? lol... Anyway, they are a lounger that have tile on them and are heated and they are wonderful! Especially if you have arthritis! Ahh.. they warm the bones!:D

 

 

Is there a charge?

[emsiam]

walk all the way thru the buffet to the area outside called the great outdoors it was great to sit out there and eat breakfast while docking in roatan!!!!

[terrymtex01]

OP.. first let me say that to us, the Pearl is overall the most beautiful ship in the NCL fleet we have been on. We loved her. Don't know if you are into the casino scene at all, but there is a very nice casino on the Pearl. The one thing you can't miss is you must try to go bowling at least once while the Pearl is at sea. It is SOOO funny trying to bowl with the ship rolling around. I don't think Doug and I have ever laughed as much on a cruise ship as we did when trying to do just that.

 

Also, I am NOT a buffet person.. especially onboard ships. I personally think the buffets we have experienced onboard ANY cruiseline have been horrible. However we LOVED the buffet on the Pearl. The food is laid out well, the staff were very friendly and helpful and the seating is also laid out very well. In fact (and I can't tell you what volumes this speaks on how much we liked the buffet) we actually choose to eat there one night for dinner instead of the MDR.

 

As far as Jamaica.. please forgive me anyone from there who reads this as I only feel this way because of our experience there... but if we were on a cruise that went to Jamaica you couldn't pay for us to get off the ship. The one and only time we have been there we took a ship excursion to Dunns River Falls and we were literally harassed going into the park by vendors, pushed and pulled by vendors as we left the park and literally physically threatened by guys selling drugs in the parking lot. Threatened because I told him we would not buy any drugs from them. The tour guides (again remember this was a ship purchased tour) just stood there and looked at the guys threatening us and did nothing. I sincerely hope you have a great time there. I have talked with many people who have, friends who love Jamaica, etc. I'm just saying what our experience was and that Jamaica will never have to worry about seeing us again. Just please be very careful when you are there.

[Megalodon]

I just got off Pearl - went to the Western Caribbean on her last week. I LOVE her. She just has a great "feel" to her, and she is beautiful. Good food, good entertainment, definitly spend the $99 for the spa (i lived in there). I can't say enough great things about this ship. She's definitly my favorite ship. Best Caribbean vacation ever IMHO. :rolleyes: