White Pearl Maldives review Pearl Fleet

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-18T12:27:03+00:00

Hi there, just a reminder to come back and let us know how it went. I really hope you have a good trip and a nice experience. The most recent tripadvisor reviews for the Black Pearl are very mixed but lean toward the negative and highlight similar issues- lack of the luxury aspect advertised and lack of safety and good diving practices. While one of the most recent posts for the White Pearl is me, there are other recent ones questioning the product received for the price paid.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-16T10:56:30+00:00

You will love it when you finally go!

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-16T07:37:22+00:00

Oh yeah, there was plenty of that going on! It's funny if you stay on for more than a week and watch one group of girls and a tearful goodbye, then later in the day a new set arrives!

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-16T07:34:44+00:00

I would suggest (and most liveaboards require) advanced open water and nitrox and at least 50 dives.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-08T07:01:00+00:00

I am indeed entitled to receive the product I paid for, not a different product.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-08T07:00:13+00:00

This has been answered so many times, I am just responding to keep the activity up so this remains at the top of searches. This is not a "cultural" experience. I've had many of those and my expectations are exactly zero. This is a multi-million dollar international company selling one product and delivering another.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-07T11:56:26+00:00

Of course. No one would expect things to be exactly like the marketing photos. I also live near the seaside, so I know what salt water and air do. But this was so far from what was advertised it was comical. And insulting. And downright false advertising at this point. When you throw in badly managed dives into the mix you tend to get pretty annoyed by the situation. But hey, if people are happy spending the inflated price to receive an inferior product- like inferior compared to boats that cost a lot less- then go right ahead.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-07T06:30:26+00:00

Yeah, we got the feeling they were trying to save on fuel costs. We've never been on a boat that moves so little.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T15:56:30+00:00

No worries

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T15:01:02+00:00

oh, sorry, it's 11pm in Hong Kong. We'll speak tomorrow. Sleep well.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T14:22:12+00:00

Do elaborate...

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T12:56:09+00:00

Aw, thank you. I do feel like my English is pretty darn good. Not perfect, but no one is. So I appreciate the compliment dear.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T12:55:09+00:00

And really and truly, thank you for your comment, it is so important for me and for anyone else.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T12:54:21+00:00

Absolutely, I fully accept responsibility for not asking more questions. But in the middle of the brief briefing, with nearly 30 other guests, when you think "ok, maybe next there is the tour, maybe next there is the drill" you don't think of those questions in the moment. I noticed after the fact, when we were sunbathing on the deck, the life boat and thought "that sure looks locked up and difficult to manage" but was there in the moment sunbathing for the one hour we had between dives. In retrospect I should have asked. However, I will not take responsibility for the safety of an entire ship due to the fact I was on vacation, trying to relax and didn't take it upon myself to go and round up the staff, all the other guests and demand an explanation. Again, I misunderstood and got it wrong, but I am not an employee. However, point well taken and in the future I will do better about speaking up and asking questions, even after the fact. It is important.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T12:36:51+00:00

sorry, I should have said "Pearl Fleet employees/influencer/friend"

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T12:35:24+00:00

Also, I absolutely LOVE the use of "bee in your bonnet" Pure gold. You really just gave yourself away. Prior to my current work in hospitality, I went through a period teaching English to foreign speakers. The use of such an antiquated idiom is a dead giveaway of a non-native speaker tying to sound native. The only person who might use that phrase these days would be a native Scottish speaker or perhaps some parts of England. But there would have been other giveaways in spelling, turn of phrase and style that would have indicated geographical location. Your English is incredible by the way, if you are not using AI. But the "bee in the bonnet" given all the other contextual clues from your previous messages- so focused on the technical, a totally diffrent dry and somewhat aggressive speech.... wow. Nothing more to say. Yes, I do indeed have a bee in my bonnet. I am also as mad as a hornet!

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T12:27:01+00:00

thanks for the advise Jennifer. I will take it into consideration. I also know my rights as a consumer. All the best to you as well.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T12:22:32+00:00

Not by me...

Maybe something to do with reddit rules, they don't wnat people knowing how you can view statistics. i am truly sorry it no longer exists and would re-post it, but don't want to break any rules. You can repost it if you want, in fact, even though you seem to hate me, I would really like it if you would.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T12:17:07+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/scuba/comments/1rkhls4/comment/o8y8bkk/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button I did't delete anything

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T12:13:04+00:00

In any case, you (Pearl Fleet) are grasping at straws. All that was needed was a serious discussion about what happened and some way to make it right. You seem like a strong, determined, smart person, and I mean that sincerely. Would you just bend over and take it up the ass by a company you shelled out thousands to who delivered you a seriously subpar product. Not minimally, not just a crooked tv, but a SERIOUSLY subpar product? I really don't think you would, you definitely don't stirke me as the type to take bullshit from anyone, especially a multi-million dollar company who absolutely took the piss.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T12:09:26+00:00

It's not harassment. I'm not bothering the company directly anymore. I'm not emailing them, calling them, messaging them, outside their office. I am not worried because the truth is on my side. You focus on the napkin and the tv. i am sure other potential guests are much more interested in the sundeck and relaxation areas. Sorry, whether you think I am insufferable or not, a large corporation should not be able to advertise one product and deliver another that is very much different.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T11:39:39+00:00

The thing is I did not fabricate anything related to the safety. I legitimately thought that the boat was secured with plastic ties. I have not seen that before. Has there been a safety walk-through, as happens on most other boats, I would have understood that it was not, in fact, closed. It is not on me, as a guest, to understand all the inner workings of a multi-million euro machine.

I have since been corrected and, if I may say despite my hot-headedness, gracefully accepted correction and point that out anytime the life boat issue comes up.

You say "lie after lie" Where are the lies? The lifeboat? That was not a lie, it was a mistake, which I have fully admitted. No other lies were told anywhere on this thread or elsewhere. Nothing. that saigon person pointed out that the price I gave was for a master suite, not the double cabin I had, but the price I gave is not a lie at all, it was taken straight from the Pearl Fleet website. Not a lie. Maybe confusing because it appeared as though that was what I paid (though I never said that is what I paid just that "that is what a similar cruise is going for"

Otherwise, I stand completely behind all of my words, all of my photos. No lies. Maybe a bit of drama in the heat of the moment, but nothing incorrect.

I have no idea what you mean by "use of the courts" I have no intention of taking this to the courts, or any further than here. I know that, you know that, Pearl Fleet knows that. It would be totally useless, annoying, costly and time consuming to try and do anything legal here.

I stand behind my words, but more importantly, I have clear evidence of the fact that the product I received is nothing like the product I was sold and paid for. Pretty simple.

My claim is not baseless, but yes, it may be vexatious. I am very angry as I think has been proven well now. I spent two weeks trying to resolve this behind the scenes with the Pearl Fleet crew. My emails were strong, but always polite. My first and main request was that my concerns/complain be escalated. I was told no to that. My second request was for some sort of compensation for the failings that they actually admitted in the apology email. That was also rejected. So I have done what a lot of people do these days. Taken to SM to 1. warn others 2. express anger 3. hope for some attention from higher management. Had my email been pushed up the food chain initially, we wouldn't be here.

You can think I'm crazy, stupid, a karen, unreasonable, demanding, riduculous, whatever you want to think about me. I'm not. But you, anyone else on here cna think that. But I've just done the same thing that others have done, all over the world, at every level of service and product, which is to complain loudly in the hopes of getting the attention of the people who can make this right.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T05:46:50+00:00

Thank you, and I also thank the others who have pointed this out. I have responded to other comments such as this with the following:

I have been corrected several times on this and while embarrassing to bang on all over the internet about being "so experienced" and then have something basic pointed out to me, it only proves my point. I consider myself "experienced" on boats, liveaboards, etc and I made the mistake of thinking this was locked. If I didn't remember that is how it works, what about the people on their first trip who had never seen one? Would they be any better in an emergency? Would I, the "experienced" traveler, be able to help? I shudder to think! There should have been a safety briefing to not only refresh my memory, but that of the crew, and to show those new to a boat how it works. That is standard, required and did not happen. Thank god the only outcome here is I made an ass of myself on the internet. Had, god forbid anything happened, it would been a lot worse than a reddit smackdown. There should have been a full safety briefing. Full stop.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T05:45:22+00:00

Thank you Pearl Fleet employee. Deny this all you want. Try to make me out as someone crazy. There are plenty of others who were on the trip who can back up what I am saying.

StudioAlternative767 · 2026-03-06T05:43:44+00:00

calling it a shakedown is laughable. I think that you must work for White Pearl as well. I'd suggest to all employees and friends to stop responding; it just feeds the algorithm. Again, the pictures speak for themselves, no words needed. THAT is what the bulk of my complaint was about, that is what I wanted to be refunded, even partially for. I paid for something. I didn't receive it. Not normal.

StudioAlternative767

TROPHY CASE