NLC PEARL REVIEW CONCLUSION

DAY 3 - COZUMEL

The day begins around 8:45 or so when my wife calls me at the new room, and said reception called and wants to know if we want to move, we need to answer now as they need the room for another guest getting on the ship. 8505 is at the extreme front of the ship, and my wife is prone to seasickness. We decided the chance that my wife gets seasick is a gamble we're willing to take when the other option is the high pitched squeal all night. She had to get to her message so I packed up the room and just as I finish there's a knock on the door and outside stands a guy with a giant pull cart there to move our stuff. He wore a halo and was back-lit by a huge white light....ok that may have just been my perspective, but I was dreading moving all of this stuff and suddenly this guy showed up....thank you NCL.

We were quickly up in the new room and I had everything unpacked when my wife returned from her hot stone message. $149 plus tip was a bit pricey, but hey we'd had a rough go of it so far and she deserved it. So we shower and get off the boat and do some shopping. We passed by Carlos and Charlies and I immediately got sick to my stomach. The last time we were in Cozumel I hit C&C's pretty hard...and it hit me back...pretty hard.

So we did some shopping (if you have people to buy souveniers for, this is definately the place), ate at the Hard Rock cafe, which was the smallest Hard Rock I had ever seen (which was later confirmed by the giant sign on top of the bar that said "This is the worlds smallest Hard Rock Cafe.")

We got back on the ship and took a nap, showered, got ready and caught the Second City show. Very Funny...and it was supposed to be too! After that, off to Dinner in Indigo, service was pretty slow, but not a huge deal. Then it was off to the Spinaker for the 50's and 60's sock hop. Which was pretty much the same as the other 2 50's and 60's sock hops we have been too on previous NCL cruises, we hung out there for a bit, went back to the casino and off to bed. We slept like babies.

DAY 4 - Grand Caymen

The last time we were in Grand Caymen we made the mistake of going during the Heat and Humidity festival of 2006. It wasn't a real festival...it was just brutally hot. This time is was quite comfortable. Did some more shopping and grabbed lunch at the Margarittaville in Grand Caymen. We grabbed dinner at Summer Palace again and it was off to the Spinaker for another couples game show and the unscripted performance of the Second City. I got my times messed up and we were there a lot earlier then need be, which actually worked out, the place was already packed, and they were still calling the first game of bingo. We decided to jump in and lost again, the couple game show was hosted by the ACD...Paul I think his name was. I wish I new what his name was for sure because he was outstanding. Very energetic, very funny...and he sounded like the Geico Gecco to boot. He should've been the CD (I should say here the rest of the cruise staff was outstanding as well). We caught the Second City show, and decided to head to the nightclub "Bliss" before we made our nightly trip to the Casino. The place wasn't bad, they had music videos to accompany the music, they played a little from today, a little from the 70's and 80's, everyone was having a great time. Then it was time for the Bollywood party. Everyone, not so happy anymore. The DJ announced it was time for everyone to get an education in Indian Music. The dance floor cleared. We went outside for a smoke where everyone was wondering why this guy was still playing Indian music when it was clear that no one wanted to hear it. He finally got back to other music after about 20 minutes.

I appreciate the fact that they tried to change things up with the Indian music, but it wasn't working and no one wanted to hear it. We hung out there and did some people watching for a bit, I went to the bathroom and came back and saw my wife talk to two guys at the bar. It was Kevin and Chris from the Second City Troupe. Very funny guys, we had a lot in common (I'm in the entertainment biz as well), next thing we knew the lights came on and they were playing Closing Time by Semisonic...by the way, closing time is 4am...we made it to bed that night close to 5...yikes. Most days I'm up at 3am for work.

DAY 5 - SEA DAY

My room phone rings at 8:45am...Somebody was about to make my nasty list. It was reception...they were calling to inform me that because we had to change rooms and because of the High Pitch squel they decided to give us a $100 OBC. How quickly they go from the nasty list to the Christmas Card list. I never asked reception for a credit...the way I viewed it, I picked the room, I asked to move, I moved, I apologized for inconveniencing them. They sent me someone to help me move and gave me a $100 OBC. I knew if I complained I could get an OBC, but that's not the way I operate, I viewed this as my fault and a learning experience never to pick a room on the 4th floor again. Kudos to NCL for going well above the call of duty here. I hung up the phone and went back to sleep...till the captain came on about 9:30 to make his announcement...At this point I got up not wanting to spoil my last day on the ship sleeping.

We went out to the deck, where it was packed and the chair hogs were out in full force. We sat at the sky high bar and watched the volleyball tourney hosted by the Gecco dressed in all black...long sleeve shirt and pants....absolutely insane. It was brutally hot. After the tourney he looked like he had been in the pool.

We did a little shopping on board and found some NCL Christmas ornaments, they had the Pearl the Dream and the Jewel, so we bought all three to commemorate our past and current voyages. We went back up to the pool area and miraculously found two lounge chairs right next to the pool. Finally...some relaxing time in the sun!

We did dinner at Summer Palace again (we tried to get reservations at La Cucina to no avail) and back up to the Spinaker for the Trivia game show. Second City's adult only scriptless show was coming up and we wanted to get seats this time, so we got there early. My wife went back to pack while I watched Kenosis for an hour and saved the seats. Kenosis was OK for the most part. The male lead singer can really sing. The female lead can sing a bit, and gave me a couple of chuckles when she forgot the lyrics to "I've Had the Time of My Life," the male lead did a great job bailing here out, I was probably the only one who noticed having heard the song 200 millions times (I DJ weddings ). They were OK...my favorite Spinaker act has to be Jose and Patty on the Dream, they should be on one of the bigger ships...unfortunately they are a 2 person act, and I think NCL wants more of a band on their bigger ships.

Second City was great again (see all of their shows if they are on your ship), then it was off to the casino to get smoked one more time.

DAY 6 - GETTING OFF THE SHIP AND GETTING HOME

Very Sad! I'll never do another 5 day again...with the hell we endured getting to the ship, and by the time we got into the swing of things it was over. 5 Days was just too short. Getting off the ship was very easy, we had no problem getting a ride back to the airport where we had to deal with Delta again. We asked for an earlier flight, and they could get us back to Albany 4 hours earlier.........for an extra $50 a piece. God I hate Delta!

No problems getting back home (first time I've ever not been delayed at the Atlanta airport...has anyone ever uttered the words...Oh, you have a layover in Atlanta, what a great airport, you'll have a blast. Actually most people's airline horror stories start off...so I had a layover in Atlanta and...). Just a funny note, we ate at TGI Friday's at the Atlanta airport, and I had a couple of beers at dinner...my bottle of Coors Light was MORE EXPENSIVE at the Friday's then on the Cruise ship.

I'll wrap everything up when I get back from Grocery shopping, we'll have some aftermath from the Hotel and from Delta as well as a wrapping up the Pearl.