Cruising the Norwegian Pearl Review: Our Favorite Ship Yet

Are you cruising the Norwegian Pearl soon? This Norwegian Pearl review shows why this is one of our favorite ships thus far.

While I had read great Norwegian Pearl reviews, I wasn’t sure how we would like it compared to our cruise last year on the mega-ship, the Norwegian Getaway.

The Norwegian Pearl is a smaller ship with fewer activities and half the number of passengers (a plus), and this time, we didn’t live the suite life as we did on the Norwegian Getaway.

Would we miss the Haven or love cruising the Norwegian Pearl without it?

The Norwegian Pearl is an older ship, recently refurbished in February 2017. It usually cruises in Alaska during the Spring and Summer, but this time of year, it positions elsewhere and can offer a variety of itineraries.

When we cruise, we mainly cruise for the itinerary 1st and the ship 2nd, and this itinerary won us over. Total of 9 days, six ports, and only two sea days!

It’s an exciting itinerary! It meant a do-over in Roatan (last time, the weather did not let us explore) and three new destinations we hadn’t been to.

And, the transportation from city to city is part of the cruise fare we don’t take for granted.

9-Day Norwegian Pearl Western Caribbean Itinerary

Day 1 – Depart New Orleans, LA
Day 2 – Sea Day
Day 3 – Cozumel, Mexico
Day 4 – George Town, Cayman Islands
Day 5 – Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras
Day 6 – Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala
Day 7 – Harvest Caye, Belize
Day 8 – Costa Maya, Mexico
Day 9 – Sea Day
Day 10 – Disembark in New Orleans, LA

Norwegian Pearl Review

Before I break down my review, I will summarize that we had a fabulous time.

We learned that nine vs. seven days is the perfect number of cruise days for us.

Seven-day itineraries feel too short, but nine days is enough; anything over may be too much for us.

It rained on and off the first few days. It cleared up midway through the cruise -not the ship’s fault- and we were blessed with beautiful warm days.

We met a wonderful group through the Cruise Critic meet-up, on excursions, and the cruise ship.

We ate our hearts out. Danced. Laughed. Mingled. Explored on and off the ship.

It was an amazing 9 days. Before embarkation day, we spent a few days in New Orleans – our first time! It was great. However, 2 1/2 days is not enough time to do everything New Orleans offers.

Enough time to explore the French Quarter and eat our weight in beignets. We wrote another post covering our time in New Orleans and the Western Caribbean ports.

Embarkation at Port of New Orleans

Embarkation day was slightly disorganized. We arrived there at about 11:30 AM, and there was a long security line. After checking in, there was another long wait to get on the ship.

The ship had been chartered to the band KISS and their fans 5 days beforehand, and they took longer than expected to disembark the ship.

On top of that, I believe the port authority had also decided to do a full check of the ship that day.

It was around 1 PM when they started calling, and we didn’t board until about 2 PM. According to experienced cruisers we spoke to, this was not the norm.

Patience is key on embarkation day. Remember once you’re on the ship you’re on vacation.

Once you’re on the ship and grab your first cocktail, take advantage of that drink package if you have it! You’ll soon forget about the long lines and wait to embark.

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Sail Away from New Orleans Cruise Port

We were behind that day, so sail away didn’t take place until long after the initially scheduled time. We had looked forward to sailing down the Mississippi River during daylight; however, we didn’t leave port until sunset.

The spectacular sunset we experienced over the New Orleans skyline made up for it.

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Enclosed Balcony Cabin on Norwegian Pearl

We booked a balcony guarantee and were assigned starboard forward cabin # 10008, an enclosed balcony. I had never stayed in a cabin with an enclosed balcony and didn’t know what to expect.

I ended up loving the balcony. The enclosed part made it feel more private than a regular balcony. There are no obstructions; if you stick your head out, look towards your left to see the bridge from there.

The cabin was great. It had enough room for hubby and me. More than two people and it would probably feel a little snug.

• The bed was comfortable.
• There are 3 USB ports – one under each light fixture on the sides of the bed and another under the TV area.
• There is a new flat-screen TV.
• There is more than enough storage space in the closet area for our things,
• And there is a light switch in the closet that you will probably miss if you don’t reach into the back.

I felt the bathroom was a little claustrophobic. The wood paneling makes it dark, and there is no lighting in the shower area.

I’m not tall. I can imagine someone 6ft+ hitting their head on the shower ceiling or sitting in the toilet area and hitting their knees against the wall – something to keep in mind if you are tall.

There are also sliding doors to separate both the shower and the toilet from the wash area.

Recently, the Norwegian Pearl underwent a refurbishment, which included the rooms. It was my first time on this ship, so I can’t make a comparison.

The TV area and USB ports seem new to me. The room was in fine shape.

Service on the Norwegian Pearl

Service on the first day was slow. The waitstaff was working hard to get into the swing of things with a new set of passengers. We only experienced this on the first day. Throughout the rest of the cruise, the service picked up.

Our steward’s name was Albert, and he did a great job. He was polite and always called us by our first names. He cleaned our room every morning, turned it down, and cleaned our room every night. Our ice bucket was always full of ice. We had a towel animal waiting for us every night after the first.

I only wished he had provided us with more than two bath towels in the bathroom every night, as I have a ton of hair. He did the first couple of days, but then he’d forget.

No big deal, though, as long as my room was clean.

Tasty Itinerary: Food on the Norwegian Pearl

O’Sheehan’s

Besides room service, this pub-style restaurant is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is the place for late-night snacks! Wings and beer, anyone? We had lunch here upon embarkation, and it was the only day I can say we had slow service. Throughout the rest of the cruise, it was great.

Moderno

We enjoyed Norwegian’s version of a churrascaria. We loved the antipasto choices at the buffet and probably ate too much from it before they came around with the meats. The bacon-wrapped chicken, garlic filet mignon, and beef ribs stand out the most. The roasted pineapple is delicious.

Loved: Coconut Flan. 

Le Bistro

Our dining experience here was excellent and by far the BEST of our entire cruise. I was adventurous, and with the waiter’s encouragement, I tried escargot for the first time – they reminded me of garlic mushrooms. The roasted duck and the filet mignon were delicious.

We ended our meal with the most amazing desserts from our entire cruise. The crème brûlée was amazing and reminded me of our time in Paris. Hubby’s chocolate dessert was mouthwatering.

To our surprise, the chef visited our table, and she was gracious and happy that we enjoyed everything. Our entire meal was outstanding.

Cagney’s Steakhouse

On the Norwegian Getaway last year, we had the pleasure of eating at this establishment and had a fabulous meal. This time, on the Norwegian Pearl, we were underwhelmed by the service and the food quality.

For starters, the layout and seating of the restaurant are cumbersome. Waiters from Cagney’s and Moderno’s (it’s right next door) scurried back and forth from the shared kitchen across the narrow space between tables.

If you are sitting in this part of the restaurant, like we were, it makes for an uncomfortable seat as you pray that the waiters darting by don’t knock you or your drink over.

The menu was different from the Getaway, and we noticed some items missing. I’m not sure if the menu varies from ship to ship or if they are changing it ship-wide. The food was subpar. The filet mignon at Le Bistro superseded the one served here.

Good: Apple crumb dessert.

Lotus Garden

We had dinner here one night. This is your standard fast-food Chinese fare. It was fair, but do not expect it to be authentic. It’s more like Panda Express.

Indigo

This is one of the main dining rooms. We had dinner here a few nights. Standouts: Spaghetti carbonara, BBQ ribs, prime rib, basil chicken, opera cake, and apple pie.

Garden Cafe

The buffet was always crowded for breakfast, and the omelet stations had long lines. Finding a seat was difficult at times, but not impossible. If you walk past the buffet, outside to the aft of the ship, you will find a smaller buffet section with plenty of outdoor seating.

This is also where you’d find food between meal times and at night’s end after the main buffet closed. Up to 11:30 PM, you could always find a snack to eat here.

We had breakfast here every morning, and after returning from an excursion, we’d hit the buffet. We only had dinner here one night. The food was decent. The dessert section could be better, but we always find something. The crepe station was delicious. The hand-scooped ice cream is always a win.

Entertainment on the Norwegian Pearl Cruise Ship

While we enjoyed most of the shows, it seemed as though they scrounged up entertainers for the 9 days of this cruise. A few acts were on the ship for that week alone. I will not mention every act because you will find it completely different if you stepped foot on the ship today.

Legends in Concerts is the usual weekly entertainment on the Norwegian Pearl, and we, unfortunately, missed it because we were busy in the casino.

A cast member on the ship sang a Michael Bublé tribute, which was excellent. Alas, I do not know if this show is a weekly occurrence. If not, Norwegian Pearl should promote it to a regular performance.

We did expect to see a Broadway-type show, and from what I understand now, the Broadway shows are only on Norwegian Cruise Line’s mega-ships.

Every night, you can find karaoke at the Bliss Lounge or dance the night away at the Spinnaker Lounge.

One thing Norwegian Cruise Line does right is their dance parties – every night, there is a theme, whether the 80s or 90s party or a music video party.

There is always something, but I did find this cruise quieter and the vibe slightly subdued from our Norwegian Getaway cruise last year – this could be a plus or a negative. 

The casino was small. Better ventilation is needed because of all the smoke. I would love to see more Wheel-of-Fortune machines with smaller denominations than $1.

Good to know: Sea day mornings, coffee, and pastry items are placed out for early gamblers. Late-night snacks are available most nights.

Other Observations from Norwegian Pearl

• The layout of the ship was confusing. After a while, you do get the hang of it.

• The staff was terrific. Always ready to help you with a smile. They work hard to make your time on the ship flawless and memorable.

• The ship was constantly being worked on. We witnessed them cleaning the ship daily. They especially took care of the small details. And a couple of times while we were in port, they worked on our balcony, chipping away any old paint and repainting it with a fresh coat.

• The $10 bazaar was insanely overcrowded. It occurred on the last sea day in Le Bistro, and there wasn’t enough room for everyone. Once you stepped in, it was survival of the fittest. Some people played the sale like a sport.
  
  Everyone was pushing, shoving, grabbing, and snatching items as if they’d never seen some items for $10 or less. They were selling the same t-shirts that were 2 for $20 at the gift shop all week. I looked around, saw the ridiculous line to check out, and then left. They need to organize this bazaar better.

• Makers Mark is premium alcohol and not part of the beverage package… seriously? It’s a cheap bourbon.

• The hotel director on this ship was outstanding. Thank you for caring, wishing, and being willing to hear the highs and lows of our experience during our time on the Pearl.  

Disembarkation

We arrived late in NOLA because a barge stopped in the Mississippi River and did not allow them to continue at full speed ahead and on schedule. This meant that the port authority had to check the ship before anyone could start to disembark. Our flight wasn’t until early afternoon, so we weren’t worried.

We grabbed breakfast at the buffet and sat around until they started to call groups. Norwegian allows you to do self-disembarkation or provide color luggage tags that coincide with group times. We chose to disembark with the last group.

Getting off the ship wasn’t a problem, nor was customs. They waved us through.

The line to exit the port to the taxi stand was a mess. Passengers arriving early to check in to embark were confused and accidentally kept merging onto our line.

We eventually made it, but this port could use some organization.

Final Thoughts on the Norwegian Pearl

The Norwegian Pearl is a fantastic ship. It may be missing some of the bells and whistles from their sister mega-ships, but the crew on this ship impressed me. They care about the ship and its passengers.

There was a sense of family and pride amongst the crew, which was conveyed throughout the cruise.

We enjoy Norwegian Cruise Line’s FREESTYLE cruising and love the Free at Sea Perks they offer upon booking. And because we had such a great time on the Pearl, we purchased Cruise Next vouchers and plan to book another Norwegian cruise.

If the itinerary works for us, we will choose to cruise with the Norwegian Pearl again.

BEFORE YOU SET SAIL, HERE ARE SOME RELATED ARTICLES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS:

• Cruising the Norwegian Encore
• Cruising the Celebrity Solstice Review
• Cruising the Norwegian Joy Review
• Cruising the Celebrity Equinox Review
• Cruising the Norwegian Epic Review
• Cruising Norwegian Getaway and Staying in the Haven