Ship Review - Norwegian Pearl

I didn't expect to like this ship, but it surprised me. The vessel itself was gorgeous. The food was delicious. Housekeeping was white-glove. Granted, this was a ship visit rather than a full cruise, but what I saw was impressive.

You will like this ship if you want:

• Restaurant choice. Ten, yes, ten restaurants from American "comfort food" to Japanese shabu-shabu to serious French cuisine.
• Fresh, tasty food. Lido lunch is usually a good test, and they did well: fresh ingredients, a wide variety of options, and attractive presentation.
• Sports facilities. The ship has a massive basketball and volleyball court, complete with bleachers for your fans. The bowling alleys and golf putting look fun too. Oh, and borrowing a page from RCI and Carnival, there's even a rock-climbing wall and a massive twisting water slide.
• Diligent upkeep. I was surprised about this, based on reports I'd heard from guests on other NCL vessels. But the ship was very tidy. No dust, no visible wear-and-tear, no trays lying around in the lido. The Dutch Hotel Director, Michel Klieverik, and his primarily Filipino, Indonesian and Indian crew seem to do a great job.
• Special suite facilities. This ship has a dedicated courtyard, pool and sun-deck exclusively for suite guests. And they look very nice.

Those who might not like this ship are those who prefer more traditional aspects of cruising. As there is no set dining, your waiters will likely never learn your name and preferences. There may be too much choice for some. And there's a clear sense of "disegalitarianism" in the special facilities for suite guests, as well as the add-on charges for five of the ten restaurants.

Also, I have a hunch - not confirmed, so take this with a grain of salt - that this ship may feel less sociable than others of comparable size. There is no obvious social nexus, apart from perhaps the atrium, where a massive television dominates and distracts. Oddly, there is no proper dance club. Yes, there's the Spinnaker Lounge, but that's more of a karaoke room or small theater in its layout. I also saw no piano bar or secondary live-music venue. The casino was tucked away in a corner. And an impressive television selection may prompt people to stay in their cabins.

All that said, it's a fine ship. Frankly, my greatest concern is its sustainability. The operation seems expensive, yet I saw surprisingly little onboard revenue activity compared with Princess, RCI, Carnival, et al. For example, there was hardly any bar collateral, and bar waiters were nowhere to be seen during lunch in the Lido. Weird.

Bottom line: Norwegian Pearl may not be a traditional cruise, but I think it could be a great setting for a week's vacation.