Ship Reports - Norwegian Pearl

Norwegian Pearl

The Norwegian Pearl is the third of NCL’s four Jewel Class ships which cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska and the Canadian Rockies. The ship is full of exciting onboard facilities including 10 restaurants, 11 bars and lounges, a bowling alley, a rock climbing wall and a shopping centre. Broads Travel’s Cruise Specialist, Anita Williams, joined the Norwegian Pearl for 2 nights as it cruised from Rotterdam to Southampton. Read her report to find out more or call 0121 250 2201 or 01543 412768 to book your cruise on the Norwegian Pearl.

First Impressions

I flew from Birmingham to Amsterdam, where I then caught a train to join the Norwegian Pearl in Rotterdam port. I was very impressed with how quickly and efficiently the Norwegian Cruise Lines staff checked everybody in.

Cabins

I stayed in a BA Stateroom with balcony, which had a flat screen TV, coffee maker, hair dryer, refrigerator and a bathroom with a shower – the suites offer a full size bath plus a shower. Out of the 1,197 staterooms, 54% have balconies. There are 278 interconnecting cabins onboard and these range from inside cabins to suites which can be linked together to form two to five bedroom cabins, which are perfect for families.

Restaurants

Norwegian Pearl, like other newer ships in NCL’s very contemporary fleet, embraces the Freestyle Dining concept and has ten different restaurants to choose from. For those looking for a more traditional cruise dining experience with the same table and waiter every night, I would recommend the ship’s two main dining rooms – Indigo and Summer Palace (there are no surcharges to pay).

You need to be aware that if you choose to dine at a popular restaurant without reserving a table first, there might be a queue. However, the hostess will give you a beeper that vibrates when your table is ready, so you can enjoy a drink in a bar until that time.

Le Bistro, the line's signature French restaurant, is decorated in a theatrical art nouveau design and offers wonderful French fare; you can choose from Terrine de Foie Gras, Traditional French Onion Soup and Chateaubriand or Lamb Rack and Le Bistro Soufflé.

Lotus Garden Asian Restaurant is divided into three eateries: a sushi bar, Shabu-Shabu (the main seating area) and Teppanyaki. This place was packed every time I passed, which must say something about the food! Also, you get to watch the fantastic show the hibachi chefs put on. Lotus Garden is a $10 cover charge per person. Shabu-Shabu is $12.50 per person. The sushi bar is also $12.50 per person; however, if sushi is ordered outside the sushi bar (such as in Shabu-Shabu), the $12.50 fee is applied on top of the Lotus Garden $10 cover charge. Teppanyaki charges a $20 fee per person.


Cagney's Steakhouse, a restaurant with a 1930s ambience that offers steak, chicken, veal and lamb, was my first dinner stop. The filet mignon for beefeaters is divine. The side portions are rather small, but don't be shy about asking for seconds! The Sinful Chocolate Obsession dessert has layers upon layers of chocolate and will have you running to the fitness centre the next morning. The cover charge is $15 per person and for an additional $5, you may choose a special from the menu. These options include the 1.5-pound whole lobster, Surf & Turf or the 24 oz certified Premium Gold Angus (TM) Beef.

La Cucina is the Italian restaurant where you can choose your own pasta and sauce to create your favourite dish, and the same goes for pizzas. With rustic farmhouse tables, old world-style archways and pottery, and the waiting staff doting on your every whim, you could almost be forgiven for thinking you are in Italy. Dishes range from the traditional Fettuccini Alfredo to Gorgonzola sauce. La Cucina is fee-free.


Blue Lagoon offers everything from Singaporean-style fried rice to hamburgers and is open 24 hours. Mambo's Latin/Tapas Restaurant is a Tex-Mex eatery that serves Latin American fare, such as taquitos, vegetable enchiladas, fajitas and more. Both restaurants are fee-free. 
Last, but certainly not least, the Garden Cafe (indoor buffet) and the Great Outdoors (outdoor buffet) which offer informal breakfasts, lunches and dinners. These restaurants are an easy dining choice when other restaurants onboard have a wait so are perfect for families on the go. No fee. 
I spent most meal times in the Garden Café as I found this most suitable for my tastes. Whichever restaurant you decide to try always check the TV screens allocated by the lifts, which display the opening times for each restaurant and how full they are.

Entertainment

Deck 6 is where most people seemed to congregate before their evening meal for a drink in the piano bar - this deck is very sophisticated in design from the swank Corona Cigar Club to the Art Deco James Bond-inspired Shakers Martini and Cocktail Bar ... until I hit the brightly colour clown-like casino. Pillars throughout the room were painted bright yellow with red crowns at the top, while red rubber stools lined matching red rubber-edged tables. The red, yellow and turquoise paisley carpet made me dizzy!

Bliss Ultra Lounge & Night Club: This doubles as a sports bar by day which boasts the first at sea four lane, 10-pin bowling alley and in the evening it becomes the nightclub – this is definitely a great way to keep the place busy at all hours. The club has a hip, rich feel with red, velvety plush chairs in each corner of the club and a spacious dance floor. And of course, don't forget the bar, offering every type of beer and mixed drink you could imagine.

The sun deck has two pools, two whirlpools, a waterslide, bowling alley and a small video arcade. The sports deck located on Deck 13 is also great for kids. Activities include mini golf and two golf-driving nets, shuffleboard, Ping Pong, a volleyball/basketball court, an oversized chessboard and a rock climbing wall.

Spa

In addition to the Spa Bar, the Spa also has a tranquil thalassotherapy pool which is located outside the treatment rooms. It offers natural salt water for soothing those sore muscles and joints. A Skin Lab enables guests to snap images of their skin so the staff can identify and correct skin conditions with treatments and products from the spa. Other cool features include GOSmile Teeth Whitening, as well as acupuncture performed by a doctor of Chinese medicine. The space within the spa has also been opened up in comparison to the fleet's other ships, thus creating a really inviting atmosphere.



Shopping

The many boutiques are located on Deck 7, adjacent to the Stardust Theatre.

Children’s Activities

Norwegian Pearl's Aqua Kids Club has daily activities for 2- to 17 year olds, divided into four groups by age: Junior Sailors (ages 2 - 5), First Mates (6 - 8), Navigators (9 - 12) and Teens (13 - 17). The Club features three interconnecting rooms. The first room is a nursery, the second is a cinema room with a flat-screen TV and bean bag chairs, and the third, Metro Centre, is geared towards teens with a dance floor, a plasma screen TV, several smaller TVs and a juice bar. Outside the nursery is a smaller pool and water slide for the younger children. 
For families who don't want to split up at bedtime, this ship is ideal as there are 278 interconnecting rooms.

Summary

As a first-time passenger on one of NCL’s designed-for-freestyle vessels, I was struck by the wealth of options for activities and food. Ultimately, the ship, like those of so many other cruise lines' mega-vessels, offers something for everyone. But in this case with Norwegian Pearl, NCL has cemented its own, quite distinctive and whimsical style, both in its offerings and in its amenities. Norwegian Pearl's greatest charm? It doesn't take itself too seriously. The atmosphere screams fun.

I thought the Pearl was a wonderful ship. Although large and glitzy, the ship offers excellent food and the staff are all very friendly. It is therefore ideal for families and cruisers who like to be able to relax but also want plenty of activities to enjoy.

Operating cruises in the Caribbean, Alaska & the Canadian Rockies, there are great open-air and indoor spaces to enjoy on the ship, so you can relax on the sundeck, take a swim in the pool or just relax in one of the hot tubs. For those of you who are more energetic you can try your hand on the golf driving nets, tennis courts, or even the rock climbing wall.