NCL Pearl - Review

Karron McGoey from our Travel My Way office just returned from the inaugural cruise of the new NCL Pearl. Here's her report:

Well as you all know, I have just returned from the inaugural cruise aboard the NCL Pearl. What a fabulous ship! It even has it's own bowling alley with 4 lanes!

There are over 500 cabins with balconies ranging from basic ocean view with balcony up to Deluxe Owners suites. They have a category called Courtyard Villas where there are 10 villas and they have access to a separate pool, hot tub, steam room etc. These suites are amazing, and naturally they have concierge service. Clients need never mingle with other guests if that is their pleasure. But why wouldn't they? They would miss way too much of the great amenities aboard this new ship.

I cannot even begin to tell you about the 12 restaurants, 13 different bars including a champagne bar and the Maltings Beer and Whiskey bar, the casino, the rock climbing wall, the bowling alley (Blizz Ultra Lounge). This really is an incredible ship and anyone who thinks NCL is the same old NCL is going to be very surprised.

There was a guest on the Pearl who had worked for over 20 years with Holland America and decided to retire and just do groups. For whatever reason, he was invited on the Pearl...he was blown away. He could not believe how great it was. NCL has undergone an unbelievable change in the last few years and you can put your clients on this ship and know that they will be impressed. This definitely rivals Holland America and Princess. In fact, with their freestyle dining - why would anyone want to cruise on anything else.

NCL is without a doubt my favourite cruise line so far out of all of the cruise lines I've been on, with the exception of Celebrity. There is just so much going for them. The food is great and it is as good in the dining room as it is in the specialty restaurants. Consider the NCL line. By the end of 2010, they will have the youngest fleet on the seas. They have another ship NCL Gem coming out next year and the year after they are planning on launching F3's. They won't tell us anything about them yet - they just say "watch for them."

Free style dining isn't for everyone. Some clients like the regiment of going for dinner at 6:30pm or 8:30pm and dressing to the "nines". This cruise line isn't for them, but how many times have we had clients tell us the main reason they won't cruise is because they wear a suit to work and will not wear one on vacation. On these ships, they don't have to. Resort casual is the dressiest they need be and then they don't have to even go that far if they don't want to. There were guests dressed to the hilt and other ones in slacks and golf shirts.

"Simply Irresistible" was the theme of their inaugural voyage and it really was!!!