A Pearl, no strings attached

By Anita Dunham-Potter

Travel columnist

updated 12:36 p.m. ET Jan. 8, 2007

Anita Dunham-Potter Travel columnist • Profile • E-mail

“Spoiled for life,” is how one passenger described his recent cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). It’s a common refrain among travelers who appreciate NCL's brand of “Freestyle Cruising,” an approach that the cruise line now sums up in the tagline, “You’re free to … Whatever.” To get the word out, NCL has launched a hilarious TV ad spot that lampoons the minute-by-minute, dressed-to-kill regimentation that once characterized life aboard ship. In the ad, a phalanx of passengers, seemingly clones, marches to dinner, to sunbathing, to shuffleboard — the whole works — all in step and all the while checking their watches. The ad features NCL's newest ship, the Norwegian Pearl.

Irresistible Pearl
Surprisingly, despite its innovative spirit, NCL is still trying to shake its old reputation as a stodgy cruise line with older ships. In fact, the line has one of the youngest fleets in the industry; in 2010, it will be the youngest fleet by far. The 93,500-ton Norwegian Pearl is the ninth new vessel in six years for NCL. Like her sister ships Norwegian Star, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Jewel and Pride of Hawaii, the Pearl accommodates 2,400 guests and features 10 restaurants, 13 bars, lively public rooms, family-friendly cabins and a new stateroom category, Courtyard and Garden Villas, which are the biggest, most luxurious suite complexes at sea. The Pearl also features some great innovations, including a four-lane, 10-pin bowling alley and the cruise line's first rock-climbing wall.

The heart of the ship is the Crystal Atrium, whose ceiling is aglow with colorful lighted-glass icicles. A stunning blue sculpture by Dale Chihuly, one of the world’s greatest glass artists, dominates the area. The ship’s lobby is located here, as are several of the ship’s specialty restaurants. There’s also a huge TV screen, which shows nonstop videos, Sunday football games and shipboard festivities. You can grab a cup of coffee at the Java Café, sit back in a comfy chair and people-watch, or you can listen to one of the live bands that play throughout the cruise.

During the day, the most popular place on board is the Tahitian Pool area, which has two pools, four whirlpools, a waterfall and a bright-yellow water slide for kids. I liked the many options for sun and shade, and the ship’s rattan loungers and double sun beds are terrific, though to use the latter you’d better get there early as they are extremely popular.

Staterooms
The ship offers 32 stateroom categories, from standard inside staterooms and balcony suites to interconnecting cabins and luxurious villas that come with butler and concierge service. With its vibrant Caribbean hues, my 340-square-foot mini-suite was cheerful and welcoming. Most suites have a queen-size bed, a separate living area with a dining table, and concierge service. A standard ocean-view stateroom with a balcony encompasses about 200 square feet; regular ocean-view rooms and inside cabins range between 140 and 160 square feet. All cabins have glossy cherry wood walls and furniture, a flat-panel TV, a coffee maker, a mini-bar, a safe and a duvet, and most have a bathroom with separate toilet and shower/tub areas.

Families or groups traveling together can choose from some 280 interconnecting cabins in a range of categories from standard inside rooms to suites. Cabins of different grades can be also linked to create two- to five-bedroom areas. On select voyages throughout the year, NCL offers a family-plan discount on certain arrangements of adjoining cabins.

If you’re craving more exclusivity, check out the two deluxe top-of-the-ship “Owner's Suites” and 10 Courtyard Villas, which come with their own butler and concierge. The villas ring a private, Balinese-style courtyard, which has rattan sun beds and hammocks, a plunge pool, a hot tub, a private sun deck, and gym. Each villa has two bedrooms and a living area and goes for around $5,200 per adult.

Want the biggest and best suite afloat? For $26,000 a week, you can stay in one of the two 4,400-square-foot Garden Villa Suites. For that hefty sum you get three bedrooms, three baths, your own private roof terrace, a private living room, a private garden, and your own private hot tub and steam room. Think you can’t afford it? Think again. The biggest customers are couples who rent one Garden Villa Suite and then divide the cost among them, making it a more affordable option. In fact, the suites are sold out on most voyages.

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