NCL Pearl-Jan.11,2008 - Page 2 - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

slotaddict · 12-27-2007, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyS

Willl anyone be on this ship with us?

We are 2 couples and it is coming up to our final payment and we are not getting good vibes on this ship...had lots of bad blogs.

Can someone help us?

thanks

So did you make the final payment? The Pearl is a great ship, we had one small problem, but it was actually nothing to ruin the cruise. We had no problems whatsoever with reservations for dinner. We found the staff to be friendly and helpful. It was a great cruise. We did not get off the ship in Samana which was our choice.

The Pearl is a beautiful ship and I would sail her again in a heartbeat. In fact I have just learned that the ship is changing itineries in April, so I will be sailing her again.

slotaddict · 12-27-2007, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobinP

Hi Char!
Well, I found another review about the Pearl on another Board. I hope it is ok to post the URL. This is a little more about what we experienced, in more detail.
We met several people onboard who were on the "delivery" cruise of the Pearl, and also on the maiden cruise of the Pearl, and they said these problems were NOT there then, but are there now.

Something isn't right on this ship. I hope they can turn it around. It is a beautiful ship! Robin

I read the Truth behing NCL, I cannot understand how in 1 months time, this ship can do a complete turn around. No such thing happened on our cruise. We did talk to 4 people who were in one the Villas and they could not get reservations for one of the restuarants, I cannot remember what restuarant it was. We did not wait to eat at any restuarant.

The Port of Samana just plain stinks, I did not get off of the ship because of what I had heard from other people. Yet beleive it or not, there were people on our cruise who thought it was a great stop.

I am not a cheerleader for NCL, I also cruise RCL and Celebrity and I am crusing Carnival for the first time in 2008. Prior to my first NCL cruise which was on the Dawn, I read some horror stories, it made me rethink my plans, but since we love the cruise experience itself, we went for it, it was one of the best cruises we have ever had, and the Dawn is one of my favorite ships.

Ziggy7 · 12-28-2007, 03:39 AM

I think how well or how un-well a ship runs is determined by many factors and can be great for many and bad for many on the same ship at the same time! Sad as it is, most cruises can be a hit or miss for anyone at anytime.

Even if you booked a lemon, I say make lemonade out of it and find things to make it a good cruise

After all you paid for it

cruisin' chick · 12-28-2007, 04:12 AM

My question is how do some passengers get to make reservations and others don't? Do some passengers have higher priority (such as those booked in the villa suites -- I think that's what they're called)? Is it just those passengers who are lucky enough to dial in first who get the first priority?

I know my hubby was looking at NCL and interested in freestyle dining and I'm a little skeptical about anytime, freestyle, as you please....types of dining and why this flexible type of dining would give you freedom if you have to reserve your time ahead of time...that you can't just show up to the dining room you want at the time you want and be seated within a short amount of time.

Maybe those who have gone on their first or second NCL cruise can explain the advantages and disadvantages. And whether they were able to get their desired dining times. Maybe this is what Andy is worried about.

Char · 12-28-2007, 08:39 AM

Here is part of a press release from the NCL web site:
(note the last bullet)

Quote:

Miami - Dec 20, 2007 ---
.......snip.......
NCL will immediately begin to roll out Freestyle 2.0 fleet wide. Highlights of the different onboard initiatives include:
Freestyle Dining:
An increased investment in food of $50 million before we deliver our first F3, equating to a 20 percent increased investment in food per passenger per day plus major fleet-wide capital investments;

Lobster Galore - Lobster in the main restaurant on multiple days and in one restaurant every night of the cruise;

A signature specialty dish in every restaurant (i.e. 48oz Porterhouse in the steak house, chocolate fondue tower in the action station restaurant)

An enhanced nighttime dining/ambience in the action station restaurant with table cloths, muted lighting and enhanced service;

One or two alternative restaurants open for lunch on sea days;

A new and expanded room service menu;

A "bubbly welcome" - a welcome aboard glass of bubbly for everyone;

A Taste of Freestyle on embarkation day - samplings from all of the specialty restaurants;

A major hardware investment to bring all buffets to Norwegian Gem/Norwegian Pearl "action station restaurant";

An investment in back of house to refine the reservations process and system.

cruisin' chick · 12-29-2007, 04:39 AM

We spent the evening with my friend who was on the Pride of Hawaii last summer (the one with the daughter who broke her arm in the kids' program the last night of the cruise). I asked her about her experience dining on the cruise. She said that she ate most of her meals in the buffet because she felt her youngest kid (an extremely hyper boy) wouldn't being able to stand a dining room meal. One time she did make a reservation in the afternoon to eat in one of the dining rooms while her kids were in the kids' area.

Of course, she was on a different ship. But I thought I would post her experience.

As Char's last post indicates, NCL seems to be interested in fixing the reservation problems. Let's hope they do.

slotaddict · 12-29-2007, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisin' chick

My question is how do some passengers get to make reservations and others don't? Do some passengers have higher priority (such as those booked in the villa suites -- I think that's what they're called)? Is it just those passengers who are lucky enough to dial in first who get the first priority?

I know my hubby was looking at NCL and interested in freestyle dining and I'm a little skeptical about anytime, freestyle, as you please....types of dining and why this flexible type of dining would give you freedom if you have to reserve your time ahead of time...that you can't just show up to the dining room you want at the time you want and be seated within a short amount of time.

Maybe those who have gone on their first or second NCL cruise can explain the advantages and disadvantages. And whether they were able to get their desired dining times. Maybe this is what Andy is worried about.

Fair question, I honestly do not know. We went to Mambos and made reservations for a couple of meals and twice I picked up the phone in my room dialed and made the reservation. I can't believe that we were that lucky.

I will say that the people we spoke to staying in one of Villa rooms had a concierge and he couldn;t get them the reservations they wanted. Now I find that really hard to believe, I would think that the people in the very high priced rooms would have priority seatings but apparantly not.

The Pearl cruise, was my 14 or 15th cruise, I lost count, it was the first time that my husband and I went on a cruise by ourselves. I have to say it was a wonderful cruise, virtually no problems.

A couple of nights we went and looked at the menu in the main dining rooms, did not like the offerings and choose to go to the buffet. I thought the food in the buffet was great.

We are crusing on the Spirit in May, so I will be looking forward to seeing at least some changes in the food, but anything else would be a bonus.

cruisin' chick · 12-30-2007, 02:47 AM

Hmm, that's interesting that those in the most expensive cabins wouldn't get priority for dining reservations. But then, it's nice that no one would have an advantage (speaking as someone who usually books inside cabins).

I hope more people experienced with NCL dining will chime in here.

Planersedge · 12-30-2007, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisin' chick

Hmm, that's interesting that those in the most expensive cabins wouldn't get priority for dining reservations. But then, it's nice that no one would have an advantage (speaking as someone who usually books inside cabins).

I hope more people experienced with NCL dining will chime in here.

Are 18 NCL cruises enough experience???

This incorrect to some extent. Just being in an expensive cabin does not give you priority, working with the Concierge is what gives you priority. Suites aboard NCL ships are advertised as having Concierge service. Most if not all of the upper end suite passengers will be introduced to the Concierge before even boarding the ship and some may even be escorted onto the ship by this individual. Now this is not to say that no one else has access to these services. If you contact the concierge for some assistance they will not hang up on you. But, remember to compensate this person appropriately.

PE

Planersedge · 12-30-2007, 12:38 PM

Now, to address this so called review. I don't know if this person was really on this cruise or not. But, everything that was written is the same boilerplate crap that is thrown around over on the Dark Side. I also find it very interesting that RobinP signs on here and posts this "review" and one other response 3 days ago and makes no other remarks but keeps coming back and looking in on their handy work.

I could post links to any number of positive reviews pertaining to the Pearl. But, As I have read somewhere else "A lie is halfway around the before the truth can get its' pants on". RobinP also states, in her profile, that her favorite cruise line is RCI. I think a lot of this NCL bashing is coming from the fact that other lines are implementing various forms of freestyle dining and people are afraid of change and don't want their favorite line to change one little bit.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not calling this poster a liar. I have been on ships where Norovirus has reared its' ugly head and things get a little screwed up and inconvenient. But, I have never experienced any of these "long lines" to dine. I have never been handed a pager like they use at Outback Steakhouse. I just have not experienced any of these boilerplate issues. Like I said in another thread, maybe I am just an ignorant dumbass that does not know when he is being duped by a crappy cruise line. I don't think so and I am not wearing rose colored glasses. I see things that can be improved with NCL's product but that goes with every line out there. I recently had a very subpar experience on an RCI cruise but I did not feel the need to go to every RCI board and trash the whole cruise line.

I will slowly get off my soap box now. I just get real tired of counterpointing these unreasonable NCL bashes. I read on over on the Dark Side that said they were in an Owners Suite and did not meet the Concierge until Thursday of their sailing. I know for a fact that when you arrive at the pier in Miami you are escorted to a VIP lounge if you are in a Penthouse Suite and above. There is where the Concierge has your room key and they (or a butler) also escort you onto the ship. Maybe if some of these "trolls" did a little research they might be able to write plausible NCL bash.

PE

PE