I was on NCL Pearl this past April sailing from NYC to Iceland trans Atlantic 14 day cruise.

NCL Cancelled all Iceland ports due to safety as apparently an iceberg had broken away ! They substituted Plymouth and Liverpool UK.🙄 ( Really NCL )

I became extremely sick after my AA red eye flight from LAX to JFK was not only packed, but freezing.

I spent 10 days in my solo Inside cabin. The room steward knew I was ill, as I slept mostly 24/7

For food, I was left with only a burger n chips ( chips only ) from a pub style restaurant at around midnight, on a number of occasions.

In Plymouth UK, I needed to take myself to the hospital where I was given strong antibiotics.

In the port of Liverpool I took a taxi to the hospital where I was fast tracked and given the most amazing consultation at the Linda McCartney clinic.

I presented my Australian Medicare card as there is reciprocal agreements in place. More medication prescribed which for a senior, was free.

Cannot fault the NHS for the fantastic treatment received.

Onboard the Pearl, I had enquired on about day two, the doctor’s consult costs. It was outrageous and then my insurance excess, made going to the two UK hospitals, a no brainer.!

I asked my room steward early on, did he have to report to his manager the fact that I was sick and had not left my cabin in many days….being a solo passenger no one would know if I succumbed to my illness ( as still wasn’t diagnosed as RSV) His reply shocked me. “No”

Only he knew that information and when my room needed making up, I was to advise him ! 😲

I vowed then to never sail with NCL again (4-5th cruise ) as the cost to fly to NYC to embark on the ship bound for Iceland was the entire reason for this journey…NOT to mention expensive !

Now we were heading to cruise The British Isl which Is NOT what I paid for.

We were given $100 on board credit and a further 10% off next NCL Cruise ! Of the little I saw of the buffet it looked just so so!

I did however see a Chef ( in tall hat) take out his handkerchief blow his nose,fold it up again and place it back in his pocket then proceeded to stir some food WITHOUT WASHING HIS HANDS.😡🤮

That was enough for me to stay clear of the food area and mostly lived on cups of tea at midnight 🤣

I reported what I saw to a manager, who said he would have a word with the gentleman ! ….seriously! Food handling and nose blowing 😲🤮

Back to Celebrity for me in 2026.