Jennifer is a doctor and journey blogger who has been touring the world for 20 years. Whether or not cruising turquoise waters or trekking jungles for gorilla sightings, journey is her gasoline. Her weblog, Jennifer’s Path (jenniferspath.org), is your one-stop store for fascinating tales and savvy journey suggestions, assured to spark wanderlust and encourage your subsequent journey!
We discovered an important deal on a tremendous itinerary on the Norwegian Pearl for a 9-night Greek Islands cruise from Venice, Italy to Athens, Greece for simply over $3100 per particular person in a household balcony stateroom. This worth included the “Free at Sea” program (Extra at Sea as of 2025), giving us a restricted beverage package deal, 2 specialty eating meals per particular person, $50 shore tour credit score per day per stateroom, and 150 minutes of free wifi.
We had by no means sailed with Norwegian Cruise Line and had been excited to present them a strive! They’ve implausible itineraries and a good repute. We’re Diamond degree with Royal Caribbean and have cruised on a number of different traces, so now we have lots to check NCL to… did they measure up? Learn my Norwegian Pearl overview to seek out out!
My Norwegian Pearl Evaluate
After testing of our resort in Venice, we took a non-public water taxi to the St. Lucia prepare station. A direct prepare experience from Venice to Trieste took roughly two hours, providing scenic views alongside the way in which. Upon arrival in Trieste, crowds made it tough to catch a cab or uber, so we walked the mile or so to the cruise terminal. From there, a shuttle bus transported us to our embarkation level for the Norwegian Pearl, at pier 57.
Sadly, our journey began off on the mistaken foot. Embarkation was chaotic, with a whole bunch of passengers milling about exterior the terminal. Regardless of paying for precedence entry, we skilled no noticeable advantages.
Nonetheless, we boarded the ship with an open thoughts. We had been able to expertise NCL for the primary time and all of the superb ports of name alongside the way in which.
The Norwegian Pearl is a mid-sized ship which might maintain as much as 2344 passengers and 1072 crew members. It was refurbished in 2021, however it didn’t really feel notably new or trendy.
The ship’s Crystal Atrium, although lovely, lacked the grandeur of bigger cruise ships. Its open-air design and glass sculpture created a pleasing environment. The Atrium Bar, Starbucks, and cozy seating areas made it a central hub for socializing and leisure. The Chihuly glass sculpture and handy location of visitor providers added to its enchantment.
Eating on Norwegian Pearl
With regards to eating on Norwegian Pearl, there are a variety of complimentary spots together with a number of specialty eating places. We tried a mixture of the 2 throughout our 9 days onboard the ship. Some had been wins and others had been letdowns.
Complimentary Eating places
Backyard Cafe
General, I used to be disillusioned with the meals on this Norwegian Pearl buffet. On different cruises I’ve taken, the buffet is a gathering place filled with a wide array of worldwide dishes. Usually, the meals on the buffet is nice however not nice, however you possibly can all the time discover one thing you want.
On Norwegian Pearl, there was a restricted choice, and what they’d was not visually interesting or flavorful. Although, I’ve to present credit score the place credit score is due- the desserts not solely appeared lovely, however they had been scrumptious! We now have not discovered this to be true on different cruise traces.
Additional, the area itself was poorly designed and all the time felt crowded. The meals was crammed into one elongate room, leading to traces, hordes of hungry folks, and an total feeling of grumpiness. Throughout peak meal occasions, I’d simply swoop in and seize a slice of pizza so I may get out and keep away from elbowing anybody. After I did dine in, I spent a lot time prowling for a desk that my meals could be chilly by the point I sat down.
O’Sheehan’s Bar and Grill
O’Sheehan’s was the one 24 hour eating possibility, and take away was usually not allowed. The menu consisted of bar meals and, whereas the choice was restricted, the standard was usually fairly good. The burgers, fries, and appetizers had been stable, even when unhealthy decisions. Breakfast was persistently good, and we loved ours on the bar seating overlooking the Crystal Atrium.
The Lotus Backyard
The Lotus Backyard is a complimentary Asian fusion restaurant that additionally has sushi at a further surcharge, and a sake bar. We’re connoisseurs of Asian meals (my husband’s household is from Vietnam), and this meals missed the mark utterly sadly.
Summer time Palace
Summer time Palace was one of many fundamental eating rooms. This was your typical grand, cavernous cruise ship eating room. The decor was apparently primarily based on a neoclassical Russian palace. It was opulent with work of stern ladies and proud czars donning the partitions.
Indigo
Indigo was the second fundamental eating room and, for my part, was superior to the Summer time Palace. The vibe was extra intimate, extra like a effective eating restaurant and fewer like a cruise ship fundamental eating room. The decor was elegant however extra cozy, in tones of navy and lavender. The partitions had been adorned with artwork deco photographs of American landmarks and cities.
But, the meals and repair may have been higher.
Specialty Eating
Teppanyaki
Teppanyaki is all the time enjoyable. The meals tends to be related throughout the board and is persistently good. We didn’t dine right here throughout our cruise, however the cooks appeared to placed on an important present, and the folks we talked to had been very happy.
Le Bistro
We had been very excited to strive Le Bistro after studying evaluations and skimming the menu on the NCL web site forward of our cruise. Our appetizers and desserts had been excellent, however we had been disillusioned in the principle programs. I had the ocean bass, which I sometimes love, however it was dry and overcooked. Nonetheless, the decor and atmosphere had been good, and the service was good.
Cagney’s Steakhouse
Cagney’s is Norwegian Pearl’s upscale steakhouse, and we did get pleasure from our meal right here. I had the thick minimize bacon as an appetizer and the filet mignon with chimichurri, and each had been fairly good.
Moderno Churrascaria
Moderno is Norwegian Pearl’s churrascaria, or Brazilian steakhouse. This was an total glorious expertise! Waiters flow into with meat on a stick, serving company rodizio model. That they had all of the favorites, from picanha to pork stomach, and the meats had been cooked and seasoned to perfection. The “salad bar”, just like different Brazilian steakhouses we had visited, was huge and contained chilly cuts, cheeses, cooked greens, salad, and extra.
Additional, the service right here was attentive, heat, and pleasant. This was our greatest expertise onboard Norwegian Pearl!
La Cucina
La Cucina, the Italian restaurant onboard, was one other win! With a collection of Italian favorites and nice service, I extremely suggest eating right here throughout your cruise. Their carbonara was a household favourite!
Norwegian Pearl Bars and Lounges
- Magnum’s Champagne and Wine Bar
- Shaker’s Martini and Cocktail Bar
- Malting’s Beer & Whiskey Bar
- The Corona Cigar Membership
- Sugarcane Mojito Bar
- Sky Excessive Bar and Grill
- Topsiders Bar and Grill
- The Bliss Extremely Lounge
- Spinnaker Lounge
Whereas distinct, Magnum’s Champagne and Wine Bar, Shaker’s Martini and Cocktail Bar, and Malting’s Beer & Whiskey Bar shared a standard area. Every targeted on a selected sort of drink, with the whiskey bar providing a notable choice. The whiskey bar had a separate seating space, whereas the opposite two bars featured a bigger, open area with snug seating and a dance flooring.
Situated out of the way in which within Moderno, the Sugarcane Mojito Bar provided a collection of mojitos, caipirinhas, and different attention-grabbing cocktails to utilize your drink package deal.
The Bliss Extremely Lounge area was a standout for me! I cherished the structure of the principle night time membership onboard. The guts of the lounge was a big dance flooring, with a stage at one finish and plenty of cozy seating on the different, with the principle bar behind that. Flanking this fundamental space had been bowling lanes! Extra lateral to the bowling lanes had been cozy dialog areas and partitioned off extra non-public seating areas. I cherished the vibe of this area, and we loved a number of nights of horrible (and typically much less horrible) karaoke right here. The bartenders had been attentive, immediate, and inventive.
The Spinnaker Lounge was one other venue with a dance flooring, stage, seating, and bar. Exhibits had been held right here, and the area reworked right into a dance membership within the evenings. I cherished the arrange of this lounge too. There’s a central, spherical dance flooring with a stage on one facet and comfortable seating round the remaining.
Leisure
We loved the leisure onboard Norwegian Pearl as properly. The Stardust Theater was good and by no means felt crowded. The performers had been expert and well-trained, and the sound high quality and lighting had been high notch. We notably loved the magician, and caught each of his reveals.
Onboard Actions
Whereas not as intensive as a few of the newer ships within the NCL fleet, Norwegian Pearl has a number of onboard actions for adults and youngsters alike. There are mountain climbing partitions, shuffleboard, a sports activities court docket (volleyball, basketball, tennis), a jogging/strolling observe, and extra. Extra of an inside sort? There’s a library, a card room (the “lifestyle room”) which is stocked with board and card video games, an artwork gallery, a on line casino, an arcade, a chapel, and an web cafe.
The Health club
We attempt to maintain it collectively and maintain our health on observe when cruising, and the Norwegian Pearl made this simple for us. The health club was fairly spacious and had a cable machine, dumbbells, just a few weight machines, and quite a few cardio machines lining the home windows. A big health studio provided courses for an upcharge, together with yoga, spin, and physique sculpt. Private trainers had been obtainable for personal bookings as properly.
The Spa
The spa workers was heat and pleasant. They provided a broad collection of remedies which had been priced across the business normal for cruise ship spa providers. The amenities had been lovely, serene, and stylish. As is typical of cruise ship spa workers, they upsell you laborious, even whereas getting a therapeutic massage.
Additional, you should purchase passes to the thermal suite in case you want an escape from the crowds, the place you possibly can loosen up in heated stone loungers, benefit from the sizzling tubs or thalassotherapy pool, and sweat it out within the sauna earlier than chilling out within the icy plunge pool.
The Swimming pools
The swimming pools are situated on deck 12. There are two, and one is designated as “adults only”. Every has two sizzling tubs, and there’s a lined spherical stage by the adults’ pool. There’s ample seating across the swimming pools, and we by no means had bother discovering loungers which is usually a difficulty on cruise ships. Alongside the lined sides, you’ll discover daybeds and dialog groupings. Moreover, a number of eating tables are positioned on the finish of the pool closest to the bar and grill.
I preferred the arrange for the swimming pools. Though they had been a bit small, they’d shallow edges for seating, and you might discover spots within the solar or shade.
Youngsters’ Actions
There’s something for youths of all ages onboard!
- Deck 15 hosts an open play area referred to as “Guppies”, the place dad and mom can play with their 6-month to 3-year outdated kiddos.
- Splash Academy is supposed for youths age 3-12 years, and you’ll be able to drop them off.
- Entourage is for youths age 13-17 and has video games, motion pictures, sports activities, and events at their devoted dance membership.
Registration is important for all children packages.
Norwegian Pearl Evaluate – Staterooms
Norwegian affords a variety of staterooms to fit your wants and funds. From cozy inside cabins to luxurious penthouse suites, there’s an possibility for everybody. In the event you’re touring with an enormous household, you would possibly need to take a look at the 3-bedroom household suite that may accommodate as much as 8 folks!
Need to expertise the final word in luxurious? The Haven is Norwegian’s unique space for suite company, providing a non-public pool, sizzling tub, restaurant, lounge, and solar decks. Haven company additionally get pleasure from devoted concierge service and 24/7 butler service.
We opted for a household balcony stateroom throughout this journey. Whereas it wasn’t as fancy because the Haven, it was nonetheless a snug area for our household. The room had two twin beds that could possibly be pushed collectively, a settee mattress, and a pullman mattress.
The room was a bit slim, which made it really feel a bit cramped. The toilet was a good measurement, with a big bathe and a separate bathroom. There was additionally a conceit space with a mirror and cabinets.
The balcony was small, however offered a pleasant outside area for us to observe the world go by.
General, we had been proud of our stateroom. It offered us with a snug place to loosen up and revel in our cruise.
Norwegian Pearl Evaluate – Ports of Name
Norwegian Cruise Line shines with its itineraries! Throughout my 9-day cruise, we visited eight ports of name. This port intensive itinerary is what most appealed to my household.
Trieste, Italy
This cruise started in Trieste, which is close-ish to Venice. We stayed in Venice and took the two hour prepare experience to Trieste on embarkation day. Trieste is a stunning city, so you could think about spending an evening or two right here earlier than the cruise.
Ravenna, Italy
Ravenna is gorgeous. Stroll across the medieval village, take within the gorgeous mosaics, or head again to Venice, Murano, or Burano.
Rijeka, Croatia
Our authentic port was Koper, Slovenia. We had been disillusioned till we realized there have been related tour choices from Rijeka. We booked a tour via Shore Excursions Group which took us to the Postojna Caves and Predjama Citadel. It was an enormous bus coach tour, which isn’t superb, however the tour was good. The websites had been distinctive and beautiful, and the countryside very scenic.
Zadar, Croatia
Zadar is a fairly cool city, with a more moderen space and a walled outdated metropolis. We booked the tuk tuk tour via the cruise line. Whereas the novelty of using in a tuk tuk was enjoyable, we actually didn’t study or see lots. I’d counsel going additional afield and seeing the panorama, presumably doing a hike at Krka Nationwide Park.
Kotor, Montenegro
We booked a motorbike tour via Shore Excursions Group, and so they by no means confirmed up. So, we discovered a tout on our approach out of the port who bought us a non-public boat experience to see the key sites- the blue cave, the submarine tunnel, and our Girl of the Rock. It was a tough experience, however a number of enjoyable. It was good to have our personal boat. The city of Kotor was very cute, and price exploring.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
My household opted for the Recreation of Thrones tour via the cruise line. They loved it, though it was a bit tacky. Town itself was attractive. Get out and discover, whether or not you are taking a strolling tour or get out of city for water sports activities or wine tasting.
Corfu, Greece
We booked the 4X4 tour of Corfu via the cruise line and had a blast! They had been Suzuki Jimneys, and so they had been snug and effective to drive. Many of the driving was on paved roads, so the outline was a bit of deceptive. The surroundings and small villages had been gorgeous and idyllic, and the snacks we had alongside the way in which flavorful.
Santorini, Greece
We booked a non-public tour of Santorini via Shore Excursions Group and had a good time! Our information was implausible, and the tour itself was pleasing. We visited a vineyard, museum, and a few of the island’s fundamental sights.
Nonetheless, the island is overwhelmed by cruise ship crowds, and the cable automotive and site visitors could be chaotic. In the event you ever go to Santorini, I’d counsel a land-based tour or a non-public catamaran journey to keep away from the crowds.
Mykonos, Greece
This port was the spotlight of our cruise. Neither the cruise line nor Shore Excursions Group had excursions that us, so we went with Mykonos Kayak. I can not suggest these guys extremely sufficient! They had been punctual and took us for a stunning kayak tour, together with snorkeling, snacks, and an training in regards to the tradition, flora, and fauna of Mykonos.
Disembarkation in Piraeus, Greece
We disembarked in Piraeus, simply exterior of Athens. I extremely suggest arranging a tour or driver, somewhat than relying on a taxi or uber. There have been hordes of individuals ready for each, whereas our driver stood within the heart of the arrival plaza with an indication bearing our title, and whisked us away for a shoreline drive to the Temple of Poseidon.
General Impressions: Norwegian Pearl Evaluate
In abstract, our cruise on Norwegian Pearl was a combined bag. The meals was bland, uninventive, and infrequently tough to entry. The service was lackluster, and the ship felt crowded in lots of locations, notably the buffet.
Nonetheless, we did benefit from the Churrascaria, La Cucina, the onboard leisure and actions, and the ports of name.
We did pay for the “Priority Access Pass”, which supposedly provides you precedence embarkation, spa credit score, precedence tender boarding, and precedence disembarkation. Nonetheless, you might be restricted on which spa providers you need to use the credit score for. Precedence embarkation and disembarkation had been additionally useless- embarkation was a large number and who needs to get off extra-early?? Precedence tender entry was good. Price it? Nah.
General, I seemingly received’t journey with Norwegian once more except I discover an irresistible itinerary or a screaming deal on a set within the Haven!
Nonetheless, you will need to observe that Norwegian Pearl is an older ship, and the cruise line has many more recent ships which will enchantment to households with points of interest like waterslides and go-karts. NCL additionally affords a extra versatile “Freestyle” method to cruising which some vacationers might get pleasure from.
Feedback
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