Extensive review (with pictures) of NCL Pearl to Alaska July 28, 2013

[JRA1708]

Hi JRA1708 I will be staying in 9670 Aft who was your Butler and who was your Room Steward. It will be fun to see if I have had the same Butler before. Of course they could change just like Monica will be the Concierge Sept 8th. I really would appreciate your answer.

 

Our Concierge was Patrick, Butler was Dilip and Room Steward was Roy. All were very efficient. Here is a picture of Roy..wish I would have gotten one of Patrick and Dilip :(

[JRA1708]

We had Priority Disembarkation for Victoria and every Port before this one, but this was the 1st port we actually used it. We met on Deck 8 at the Moderno Restaurant, once the Ship was properly docked we were escorted below decks to deck 4 (I think) to disembark. We journeyed down the Crew's entrance steps and this is what impressed me a lot about the Pearl. It was SPOTLESS below decks. I mean SPOTLESS! Like we could have ate off the floor spotless. So the crew does do a REALLY GOOD JOB with keeping the ship in tip top shape. I really loved also, that when we got off the ship there were about 20 crew members and a few musicians playing music and line dancing. I LOVED THIS! They were really into too, all in sink, smiling and looking like they were enjoying themselves. I video taped it! Carnival should take notes, because NCL blows them out of the water (IMHO)

Ok, Back to Victoria...We got off the ship and easily walked to a shuttle area.(Canada didn't even check for passports :eek:) It cost $10 each for a roundtrip ticket for the shuttle into town. We could have opted to do the 40 minute each way water view walk. DH wasn't interested in doing that :rolleyes: The shuttle dropped off and picked up at the same spot every 15 minutes, so we hopped on. Victoria is a nice quaint little town. We didn't book any excursion, we just walked around and shopped a little and took pictures.

I saw the Sun shining up this street, I jumped into the middle of the road to get this picture. DH was sure I was gonna get run over by a car, but I managed it. And it turned out to be an AWESOME picture!

[JRA1708]

 

 

We stayed in Victoria for a couple hours, then headed back to the ship. It was kinda sad :( our cruise was coming to an end.

Got a nice picture of the Victoria sunset.

This is what greeted us in our Cabin. I thought it was SO CUTE!

[JRA1708]

I forgot to mention earlier..we went to the Farewell Variety Show in the Stardust Theater. I was impressed how NCL brings out their Officer's, Chef's, Room Stewards, Washy Washy Girls, Singer's and Dancers, Butler's, Concierge's and Crew staff at the end. I really really liked this. And believe me, they got a Standing Ovation! Plus the show itself was really good.

 

Later after Victoria, again DH took a nap, and I sat on our Balcony drinking coffee (shocker) We were in port until 11:00pm so there wasn't much going on throughout the ship. We did go to the 9:15pm show in the Spinnaker Ladies vs Gents. It was fun. We stayed for the Joker's Wild routine of Michael Ziegfeld and then later Second City Late Night Adult Scriptless. Both were very funny. Bed by 12:30am, for our last night on the Pearl :(

 

Here are more HIGHLIGHTS of our week....

 

This was the Chocolate Buffe.it was YUMMY!!!t.

I took this picture to show where our Aft Balcony was. 9670, second from the bottom, left corner.

[Cruiser Bruiser]

I forgot to mention earlier..we went to the Farewell Variety Show in the Stardust Theater. I was impressed how NCL brings out their Officer's, Chef's, Room Stewards, Washy Washy Girls, Singer's and Dancers, Butler's, Concierge's and Crew staff at the end. I really really liked this. And believe me, they got a Standing Ovation! Plus the show itself was really good.

 

"In your memories, you are Norwegian now..." One of my favorite parts of the cruise. Glad someone else likes it, too. ;)

[Redheel Girl]

Hi JRA1708..Thank you for the information about the Butler and Room Steward. I have heard about Dilip somewhere before. He must be good. I am sorry I don't get to have Patric he was once under Belkeys when we were on the Star twice...Your pictures of Victoria are wonderful and makes me want to go today. Your Review is the best ever.

[JRA1708]

We were up early Sunday morning and ate a really light breakfast. Said goodbye to Roy, Patrick and Dilip. Since we won $$ in the Casino we left them a really good tip :) they deserved it. DH loved the cruise and now understands why I always choose one when I plan a vaca. But he was anxious to get back to the ole farm in good ole Pennsylvania. Our flight home to Pittsburgh was at 1:00pm, I gave Patrick our confirmation # for the flights and he printed our boarding passes for us. Getting off the ship was very very easy. No waiting, No lines.

In closing, me and DH loved the Pearl and it Staff and Crew. I mean, literally do not have one complaint..NONE! My last cruise on Carnival, I could have made a list of complaints. But I know that this is our own personal experience. Some on the same cruise could have viewed their experience way way differently. Like DH pointed out, the awesome weather we had made the scenery and the greatest views I have EVER seen, seem more magnificent and Beautiful! So we were lucky, because we packed for the worst, and got the very best. Plus, I met a lot of really nice people :) from all over the country.

I have another NCL cruise planned for this Dec 2013 on the Gem sailing out of NYC. I usually don't cruise twice in a year, but family that I usually vaca with picked this one out. DH is not going :( , he refuses to do the Caribbean. We have a 2 Bedroom suite planned this time, so I am excited to be pampered again by NCL. So if anyone has questions for me about the Pearl, I would be happy to answer them. I will leave you with a few more pictures...bye bye

[JRA1708]

More pictures...enjoy!!

 

This is some of the Guides from Grizzly Fall's Zipline..again they were AWESOME!!

[JRA1708]

This will be the last of my pictures...but I could probably post like 100 more, again enjoy!!

[Poipu04]

Thanks for the information on the musicians. This was an excellent trip report!

 

I have a photography question. How long was your zoom? I am thinking about renting a longer lense but am not sure if I should bother.

[JRA1708]

Thanks for the information on the musicians. This was an excellent trip report!

 

I have a photography question. How long was your zoom? I am thinking about renting a longer lense but am not sure if I should bother.

 

DH just got me my camera for Christmas, I know it's a Canon, but not sure of the particulars (I am at work right now) I will check when I get home and post what it is. It does take really good pictures, so I am real happy with it. Some of the shots are while we are in motion (train shots especially) with no blurring. The Panoramic pictures are taken with my iPhone 4s, again very impressed with the quality of the pictures.