The luster if the Pearl...... (my review)

[Traveller20074]

It depends on what you are use too. We prefer traditional. The service is more customized to your likes. You walk into the dinning room and your waiter has your drinks waiting on you, has a plate of cheese there if that's what you like. He greets you by name and knows if you want the kids dinner to come out before or with yours. Freestyle is easy. Yes, it is just like home, you wait for dinner. You are not rushed to get ready. It is just a preference.

 

Oh, that might be good. The service might be a bit better, then. Thanks for your thoughts. editing to add...I ate at the buffet because I DIDN'T want to wait. I was always so hungry when we finally did eat LOL

[ncyankee]

I am curious. Why is freestyle a pain? Kind of like home...when we're hungry, we go eat, right? I am trying to figure this out for future cruises I might want to take, and am genuinely curious about the difference between the two. I would think it would be a rush to come back from an excursion and have to rush to dress for dinner? thanks for your thoughts on this...

I say this because -- if you go to the regular dining room, you don't have a regular server. you've got to go through the same thing every night. Part of cruising is knowing your waiters. So that each night they have what you want ready. A cruise is a time to be spoiled. NO one at home does that for me -- I am the server at home. So when I am on a cruise I want excellent over the top service. The service on NCL (at the general restaurants) has gone down. It's not bad, just not what it was.

 

No if you go to the other restaurants -- the service is spectacular. Like I said before, we;ll probably eat mostly at Cagney's. To me it's worth it.

 

We have never rushed back to dinner and dressed, we have always done the later seating, even with the kids.

 

Hope I explained myself.

[deckedout]

What do you mean by digital roulette? Isn't there an actual wheel? and a table that you put chips on?? Oh jeez..I hope so...

 

 

There is also a real wheel, it has 0 and 00. DH played quite a bit and did very well. Be prepared if you win a lot to have the casino staff review everything on video before they pay out. DH was a bit annoyed by that as they had no problem taking his money on the Jewel last year, but were a bit slow to pay out this time. Still, that did not deter him from playing :eek:

 

Great cruise and I wish I was still there, I have to admit, I fell asleep during the first Jean Ann Ryan company show (can't even remember the name) the songs were way too slow for me to stay awake, but I loved the 70's show last year on the Jewel.

 

I agree with Julie, Sharkbait is a DO NOT MISS show. I loved them both times! The last day was totally filled with shows.

 

We LOVED the private Island and spent over an hour snorkeling. Beautiful with lots of fish to enjoy. The day went way too fast. We, too, were confused about the gospel music but overall really enjoyed the beach day. Got to the island around 10 and found chairs to the left, but not over the bridge, right in front of the band. Saw an iguana right next to us! Cute until someone walked by and it ran off! We were on the 2nd to last tender to leave, and really could have spent more time. Never made it off the beach, so I guess I have to go back to walk to the lighthouse:o. It was really hot the day we were there.

 

Food was good, we ate at Cagney's 3X, Jennifer A. is amazing, but make sure to order greens! She will ask you why you don't. Only had room for dessert one night and she was disappointed that we didn't save room, but with the huge shrimp cocktail and the fab stuffed mushrooms, plus salad, who has room. I couldn't even finish my steak most nights.

 

We were in a minisuite aft and had Ranold and he was great. Towel animals all but the first and last nights, ice filled always and always a greating when we saw him in the halls. Had the laundry deal for 24.95 two nights, returned on Wednesday and Saturday nights.My jean capris were pressed!

 

Fantastic cruise. Looking forward the next year already!

[Hikini]

On the Pearl, does the Blue Lagoon have the Olde English style fish and chips?

[kendallison]

So when going to GSC, as we are facing the island, do we want to go right or go left to avoid the mass crowds but still enjoy some snorkeling? Or, is the good snorkeling in the same direction as the mass crowds?

 

Thanks!

Susan

[GORDONCHICK]

Please nobody laugh, but what do you mean as a lifer? I am a Christian if that is what you mean.

 

Not laughing at all. Since Wellington isn't that big, I thought there might be a chance you went to the lifechurch.tv there, and that's where the "Lifer" term comes in. The term might not be that well-known at the other campuses outside of Oklahoma, where we have 7 campuses.

[carribeansol]

Not laughing at all. Since Wellington isn't that big, I thought there might be a chance you went to the lifechurch.tv there, and that's where the "Lifer" term comes in. The term might not be that well-known at the other campuses outside of Oklahoma, where we have 7 campuses.

 

No, we don't. We attend Christ Fellowship.

gochristfellowship dot com

[Traveller20074]

On the Pearl, does the Blue Lagoon have the Olde English style fish and chips?

 

We got F&C one night, and it was batter-cooked. Different than I'm used to, but it was good. Is that English style? What IS English style? :confused:

[Traveller20074]

So when going to GSC, as we are facing the island, do we want to go right or go left to avoid the mass crowds but still enjoy some snorkeling? Or, is the good snorkeling in the same direction as the mass crowds?

 

Thanks!

Susan

 

I found some FANTASTIC snorkeling right in the middle of everything :D I didn't want over the bridge, or the other way toward the rocks. When I exited the tender, I walked to the left (opposite of the other area over the bridge) and found a chair not too far away. I just put my stuff in my chair and went a short way up the hill and rented some snorkeling gear. I swam out between the two rocks (you will know where I'm talking about when you're there, it's pretty obvious about the two rocks. BEAUTIFUL fish and sand and clear water. Fish was very plentiful.

[Traveller20074]

I say this because -- if you go to the regular dining room, you don't have a regular server. you've got to go through the same thing every night. Part of cruising is knowing your waiters. So that each night they have what you want ready. A cruise is a time to be spoiled. NO one at home does that for me -- I am the server at home. So when I am on a cruise I want excellent over the top service. The service on NCL (at the general restaurants) has gone down. It's not bad, just not what it was.No if you go to the other restaurants -- the service is spectacular. Like I said before, we;ll probably eat mostly at Cagney's. To me it's worth it. We have never rushed back to dinner and dressed, we have always done the later seating, even with the kids. Hope I explained myself.

 

You did :) The only restaurants other than the Garden Cafe we ate at was Summer Palace (EXTREMELY slow service) and Blue Lagoon. Again, very slow service. We were hungry and wanted to eat a little faster than that, so always ate at the Buffet. I was afraid to keep trying restaurants that took forever to serve us :D