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A Peter Knego Blog
The PK POV: PEARL Of NCL-Dom
December 16-18, 2006
On Saturday, December 16, 2006, I made my first trek in nearly seven years to Miami's Dodge Island cruise terminal to visit NCL's latest Jewel class entrant, the NORWEGIAN PEARL. The ship had just crossed the Atlantic from her Papenburg, Germany builders and a pair of introductory events at Rotterdam and Southampton.
The big set up, a victim of Miami's rain. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
As my traveling companion, Rob Distefano, and I walked along the elevated pierside platform toward the gangway late that morning, workers were still unfolding chairs and embellishing the temporary stage where dignitaries and godmother Rosie O'Donnell were scheduled to perform the 5:00 PM ceremony. Rising into the gray skies across from us, the 93,350 gt PEARL's brilliant white mass with its vivid hull art and glass spangled superstructure was a beacon of newness and enormity.
Hang on a minute, it's another first for NCL! Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
Externally she is identical to her Freestyle Cruising sisters, the NORWEGIAN JEWEL, the PRIDE OF HAWAI'I and the forthcoming NORWEGIAN GEM, save for her hull art (a blue, yellow, green and red ribbon intertwined with a strand of multihued pearls stretching from her forepeak to her midships flanks) and an NCL-first, the tan-colored rock climbing wall abaft of her funnel. Her profile is powerful and angular, beginning with a sharply raked bow, a swept back wedge of forward superstructure and a beak-like wheelhouse crowned by two decks of vertical glass and steel. A small island of forward housing supports a quadripod radio mast that is balanced by a large mirrored structure beyond the pool area containing a block of suites with its own courtyard. NCL's grilled, crescent-shaped funnel ( a trademark design dating from parent company Star Cruises' SUPERSTAR LEO of 2000 -- now sailing as NORWEGIAN SPIRIT) presides over the ship's after portion, a seven deck vertical wall sitting atop a flared sponson that appears to skirt the sea while the ship is underway.
One of the PEARL's two Meyer-Werft plates. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
A product of the Meyer-Werft shipyard, the PEARL exudes quality in her fittings and workmanship. Her outer decks feel solid (unlike some newbuilds with their tinny "trampoline" decking) and are covered with a textured, slip resistant rubberized coating. Fine details and joinery lend themselves favorably to a close inspection and the variety and style of her furnishings and fixtures is impressive.
There are twelve passenger levels, spanning up from decks 4 to 15. They are linked by three stairtowers and twelve speedy elevators in three banks: the forward bank spans decks 4 through 13; the midships bank spans decks 4 through 14, and the aft bank spans decks 7 through 12. Deck 4 contains passenger accommodation along its port side and Deck 5 begins with the lowest level of the Stardust Theater, continuing aft on either side with cabins. Decks 6 and 7 are devoted to public rooms and restaurants, while Decks 8 through 11 offer more accommodation. Deck 12 houses the spa, midships pool area, and several dining venues. Deck 13 begins with the Spinnaker observation lounge and contains more sunning space, the steakhouse, and deck games areas. The forward portion of Deck 14 is a sheltered sunning area and the aft portion is a block of suites followed by the rock climbing wall. Forward Deck 15 is a sunning terrace. Aft, it contains the villa suites and both private and public sun decks.
There's even a Chilhuly in the Crystal Atrium! Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
The ship's overall decor runs the gamut from 1930's Deco Ocean Liner to Russian Palatial, Asiatic, and trendy Modern. Accordingly, color schemes are sophisticated, lively, envelope-pushing, and every combination thereof. The abundant deep turquoise carpeting is actually attractive in person and much of the artwork is interesting, provocative, and refreshingly original.
Facing forward in the Indigo Restaurant. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
My favorite spaces on the ship would have to be the L-shaped 304 seat Indigo Restaurant with its dark wood tones, rich violet and blue soft fittings (contrasted with orange accents), and backlit pop art glass representations of iconic American landmarks and the Bar Central area with its Deco seating, NORMANDIE-inspired artworks, and the sweep of its open dual-level space. The Spinnaker Lounge offers phenomenal views from above the bridge and Bliss Ultra is an interesting representation of gothic nightclub trendiness with its bedroom-style alcoves.
Not the first, but perhaps the best? Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
In addition to the aforementioned rock climbing wall, the PEARL has some other modifications that set her apart from her sisters. The shopping area has been moved from aft Deck 7 to a more well traversed position just aft of the Stardust Theater on forward Deck 7. In its place on aft Deck 7, there is the Bliss Ultra Lounge and Night Club with another NCL first: four regulation-sized, ten pin bowling lanes. Although bowling alleys are not new to passenger ships (French Line's 1912-built FRANCE had one jury-rigged to her after decks, the Cunarders QUEEN MARY, CARMANIA, and FRANCONIA carried them in the 1960s and the Baltic ferry STENA SAGA currently boasts one), they are a first in the realm of NCL, Carnival, RCCL, and MSC-owned cruise ships.
Mini-suite 11598 facing port. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
Our 284 square foot cabin, 11598, was a handsome cherry-veneered mini-suite on the ship's aft/port side, featuring a queen-sized bed (or two twins), a separate sitting area with convertible sofa, flat screen television, coffee maker, fridge, dresser, and a generous closet (which would be slightly easier to access if it had sliding doors). The bathroom is cleverly divided into separate commode, sink, and shower areas (another feature that originated with the forward-looking SUPERSTAR LEO). From our more than ample, rain-soaked balcony, we would have a good, if distant, view of the christening should we wish to avoid the champagne-clinking clamor of the crowds.
There are eight cabin categories in all, ranging from the 928 square foot Deluxe Owner's Suites overlooking the pool area (with private living/dining room, bedroom, luxury bath, whirlpool tub, huge balcony, courtyard access, etc.) to comfortable 143 square foot Insides.
The Neoclassical Russian palatial descent to the Summer Palace restaurant. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
With our jet-lagged appetites in full gear, our first stop would be the 558 seat Summer Palace restaurant for lunch. The largest of the ship's ten dining venues, it is located on aft Deck 6 and accessed via a grand staircase from Deck 7. The decor is inspired by the places of St. Petersburg with white and gold ceilings, green marble pillars, and 24-carat gold plated chandeliers. A wall of glass overlooks the stern and full length windows infuse natural light along its forward port and starboard sides. We were given a nice table for two with a lovely view facing Miami's intracoastal waterway.
Accompanied by an excellent St. Francis Merlot and ice water that was frequently replenished, my meal consisted of a cured salmon tartare, a delicious salad of goat cheese croutons on field greens, and grilled Mediterranean veggies in phyllo crust. Rob and I shared two obscenely rich desserts: a cinnamon ginger mousse in a candied sugar shell and a hot chocolate souffle doused in Grand Marnier. Service was speedy, friendly and efficient, something we both appreciated in the midst of the strenuous scheduling of the inaugural and thousands of guests passing through the ship that afternoon.
The rain was unrelenting, limiting all attempts at exterior photography and ultimately forcing NCL to scrap the pierside naming ceremony for a dryer presentation in the three deck high, 1042 seat Starlight Theater.
By 4:45, crowds had gathered at the theater's entrance and spilled into the passageways and public rooms on decks 6, 7, and 8. For those that did not arrive early enough to secure a seat, a live broadcast would be screened in the Crystal Court Atrium.
Top, the orchestra and choir. Above, Rosie speaks. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
Once all seats were filled, the ceremonies began. Onstage, the Miami Philharmonic Orchestra and the vocal choir, Seraphic Fire, performed Christmas songs; the Miami Coast Guard's Color Guard marched down to the proscenium with a flurry of patriotic banners; and, following introductions by cruise director Matthew Baker and CEO Colin Veitch, the godmother, Rosie O'Donnell appeared to thank the crowd for their support of the prior night's charity function on board, which raised $650,000.
Star Cruises' CEO, Tan Sri LIM Kok Thay speaks.Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
The NORWEGIAN PEARL was invoked by Reverend Kevin Johnson before Colin Veitch returned to give a 40th anniversary salute to NCL. As Veitch read, photos of most of the company's ships flashed on the large screen along with images representing each decade from the 1960's through today. When the NORWAY (ex FRANCE) appeared, the room erupted in applause, causing Mr. Veitch to pause for a moment before continuing with his oratory. Star Cruises Chairman Tan Sri LIM Kok Thay then took the stage for several minutes before Rosie stepped back up to the podium, joining Veitch and Thay.
Godmother Rosie is flanked by the Colin Veitch, Tan Sri LIM Kok Thay, and Captain Trond Kildal. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
"I have one sentence. I practiced it at home. Ready? I name this ship NORWEGIAN PEARL. May god bless her and all who sail on her." She then pulled a large stage-mounted lever as the bottle's slightly delayed "bow smash" was simulcast on the screen behind her. Confetti dropped down from the rafters, the orchestra played, and a new megaship was launched.
Click to NORWEGIAN PEARL blog, continued
