Same cruise different year comparision... Pearl

[cruisinmom68]

We sailed the Pearl 8/17-24th. We ALSO sailed the Pearl last August same itinerary. So I can honestly say that there is a difference! Not so much for the better though.

Here are some of my observations. Because of the new 2.0 they are now using white linen table cloths in the buffet for dinner. The problem with this is that they are now charging for restaurants that were free last year. So the Buffet is ALWAYS packed.

 

Very difficult to find a seat. But that really isnt my issue. My issue is with the disgusting table cloths that get really filthy. The poor employees just cannot keep up with them. Many nights we just pulled the table cloth up and would hand it to someone because there was always a waiting line for tables. You take what you can get. Dirty table and all. I noticed by night 2, so many people were removing soiled table cloths so they could sit and eat.

While a table cloth is very nice and I appreciate the gesture its just not good in a buffet that has a turnover of 2 thousand + people and only 5-10 employees to clean tables. They seem so overwhelmed and I dont blame them. I would rather have a clean washed off plain table. The candles were a nice touch. Also on many nights strangers sat together in the buffet. You just had no choice. This wasnt so bad except for the night that an elderly gentleman sat with us and was coughing terrible. I went and got him some water. Needless to say 3 of the 4 of us have bad coughs now.

 

 

 

Also the employees do seem different. Our room steward was a very nice man but on the 2nd to last day he started to prepare our room for the next cruisers. He hid our coffee set up in the top of the closet. They also remove the books that have the room service menu in them. I do not recall this last year and I remember feeling just as 'loved' on Saturday as I did on Monday. This bothered me enough that I had to at least ask why our coffee set up was hidden. I didnt want to get him in trouble so I asked him directly about it. He was very sorry and did explain that there has been new responsibilities put on them and they fear job loss if things are not done in a certain amount of time. Job has been increased and time to do the job has been decreased. While he wasnt trying to make me feel sorry for him. I did. He removed our coffee set up from the closet himself and assured me that our evening turn down would be extra special for my 6 year old son. He ended up making him 3 towel animals.

 

The employee working in the photo area was an idiot. Thats the only way to sum it up. We watched him physically handle a person and take their camera away because they were taking pictures of their pictures. Now some may say they shouldnt have been doing it but there could have been a more tactful way for this guy to let them know they were not allowed. He actually took the womans card out of her camera and disappeared! She was crying hysterical. I felt just awful because many times throughout the week I had seen people taking pictures of the pictures. I even tried but they were so blurry that it was a waste of time. Our budget did not allow us purchase any but we did take 2000 photos of our own.

He did eventually bring back her camera card and still was nasty as can be to this crying woman. He had deleted any photo taken on her camera in the photo area. Even the ones of her children sitting by the windows when there were no pictures out! This whole episode lasted about 25 minutes and this upset woman ended up being taken somewhere else. Come to find out. There are no signs posted that this is not allowed. They gave her a $200 on board credit for what happened. She seemed okay when we we spoke to her later that day. We never did see that employee again in the photo area and I am glad. He apparently did not like passengers or know how to handle situations appropriately. So many children saw what he did. He should have never touched her or her property.

 

 

The bowling alley employee was not very nice either. He questioned the age of my son and I said he was 6. HE DID NOT BELIEVE ME! Its one thing to think someone is lying but to then say " your child is not 6". Caught me off guard. I wasnt about to back down as my son is 6!!! It took 2 other employees to verify this information but for the time being we just stood there feeling like fools. All we wanted to do was bowl for Gods sake. Give the boat money to use their lanes. I knew the age was 6 to be able to bowl and I also knew my son had already bowled with the kids crew! What a fiasco. I paid money to be called a liar basically.

 

 

We also got new casino cards as I had read here our old ones would not work. They had to be rude about that as well! We did NOT book through Casino at Seas this time and she said she HAD TO destroy our old cards because of this. She took them and shredded them before we got to say a word. We had held onto those as they were part of our last trip(memory book) and now they were gone before we could speak. She said we had free drink cards attached to them. Huh?? we never got a free drink last year. Not even one. Wow...we were being punished for not being Casino at Sea cruise passengers this year? Yet we were at least back on a cruise. My head was spinning. Turned us off to the casino almost entirely. Notice I say..almost. Some temptations are just to hard to resist although I am still very very very very very confused.

Oh well....

 

The cruise was wonderful and aside from these very minor issues we still had a glorious time. These things could happen on any boat or any cruise line and we take it with a grain of salt. Although to NCL: GET RID OF THE TABLE CLOTHS!!

[AFAMILY]

Did you speak to anyone at the reception desk about thses issues? You really need to let NCL know about these things when you receive your emailed questionaire.

 

How was the rest of your cruise?...the food, entertainment, ports, etc.

 

"The cruise was wonderful and aside from these very minor issues we still had a glorious time."

 

 

It's great you guys had a good time regardless of the issues you mentioned in your review.

[cruisinmom68]

 

How was the rest of your cruise?...the food, entertainment, ports, etc.

 

"The cruise was wonderful and aside from these very minor issues we still had a glorious time."

 

 

It's great you guys had a good time regardless of the issues you mentioned in your review.

 

 

The food was fantastic! Prime Rib on the buffet first night and last! Everything just tasted so good. No complaints about that at all...I gained 10 pounds *lol*

Entertainment was good. Hubby and I dont get out much with 5 children so we enjoy ALL shows. Although there were some jugglers that I lost interest in after about 10 minutes. DiamondRocks was a tribute to Neil Diamond and OMG... I am in love! even my 6 year old was dancing.

We did the DUCKS in Ketchikan and had a blast even in the rain. We enjoyed our port time although be careful in Juneau. We did alot of walking and were in some neighborhoods that had us a little worried. Our own fault though as we were having an 'adventure'. Should not have strayed from the beaten path. It was neat to see the governors house in Juneau who is now McCains VP.

[AFAMILY]

The food was fantastic! Prime Rib on the buffet first night and last! Everything just tasted so good. No complaints about that at all...I gained 10 pounds *lol*

Entertainment was good. Hubby and I dont get out much with 5 children so we enjoy ALL shows. Although there were some jugglers that I lost interest in after about 10 minutes. DiamondRocks was a tribute to Neil Diamond and OMG... I am in love! even my 6 year old was dancing.

We did the DUCKS in Ketchikan and had a blast even in the rain. We enjoyed our port time although be careful in Juneau. We did alot of walking and were in some neighborhoods that had us a little worried. Our own fault though as we were having an 'adventure'. Should not have strayed from the beaten path. It was neat to see the governors house in Juneau who is now McCains VP.

 

It all sound great. The pictures we've seen from the Alaskan cruises look outrageous. It's a cruise we plan on doing, maybe in 2010.

 

Thanks for posting your comments and again, glad you guys had a great vacation.

 

Happy Cruising! :)

[Got2Cruise]

I am not sure, but I thought I read that the photos were run by a concession, not NCL employees.

[salty dingo]

We had a wonderful cruise recently on the Pearl, but I have to agree the buffet experience was a low point in an otherwise wonderful cruise.

 

It sounded like the OP here did like to dine at the buffet - we avoided it for all meals except for in-between meal snacks, ice cream, and once lunch. We did find seating in La Cucina at lunch, and not to worry because you won't find white linen table cloths in there at lunch!

 

I don't know if the surcharge restaurants make the buffet more crowded - the main dining rooms are still free and the food is excellent. I think some people just want a less formal dining experience. Apparently a LOT of people do, judging by the crowded buffet.

[crew mom]

The cruise was wonderful and aside from these very minor issues we still had a glorious time.

I'm glad you had a good time and that the majority of the cruise went well for you.

 

 

I am not sure, but I thought I read that the photos were run by a concession, not NCL employees.

 

Yes, the Photo Dept is a separate company, however they should never treat a passenger that way.

[Sally Forth]

Thanks for your review. I like the idea of two reviews, same reviewer, same ship, different year. It's a good way to compare.

 

Viv