Pearl Seas Cruises: Unbiased Small Ship Cruise Review
Pearl Seas Cruises is a subsidiary of the firm that owns American Cruise Lines with its large and ever-growing fleet of coastal and river ships. Its one ship, the 210-passenger Pearl Mist, shares many of the characteristics of the U.S. flag fleet yet it is an ocean-going vessel, registered in the Marshall Islands and hence operates with a largely non-American crew.
With this ship, itineraries include Maine, Eastern Canada and the St. Lawrence, and the Great Lakes. The ship is stabilized.
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Pearl Mist in the St. Lawrence River. * Photo: Pearl Seas Cruises
Ship, Year Delivered & Passengers
Pearl Mist (built 2014 & 210 passengers) and refurbished in 2023.
Passenger Profile
Mostly Americans and some Canadians, largely 50+ and many will be loyal American Cruise Lines’ passengers.
Unlike the US-flag ACL, this ship is registered in the Marshall Islands and operates with a largely foreign national crew.
Passenger Decks
6; An elevator connects all four cabin decks and the Dining Room and Boarding Lobby on the lowest Main Deck but not the Sun Deck.
Price of Pearl Mist
$$$ Very Pricey
Included Features on a Pearl Cruise
Internet/WiFi; a daily cocktail hour before dinner, wine with lunch and dinner, open bar with hors d’oeuvres in the evening.
Suggested tipping is high at $125 for a seven-day cruise or $18 a day. Port charges are also extra.
Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City. * Photo: Ted Scull
Pearl Mist Itineraries
➢East Coast of the US has the Pearl Mist making its departure from Portland, Maine along the Maine coast to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Iles de la Madeleine, New Brunswick, and via the St. Lawrence River and Seaway to the Saguenay, Quebec City, Montreal, Thousand Islands, and Toronto.
➢Great Lakes late spring & summer cruises: 7- or 15-nights May to September will start in Lake Ontario and pass through the Welland Canal into Lake Erie calling at Windsor for Detroit, then Georgian Bay Islands, Mackinac Island and Sault Ste. Marie, then into Lake Michigan for Muskegon and Milwaukee. One 14-night cruise will call at ports in all five lakes including three ports in Lake Superior. Mid-summer 7-nighters will be truncated to ports in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan with a call at Sault Sainte Marie at the eastern end of Lake Superior.
The Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island. * Photo: Ted Scull
➢Leaving the Great Lakes in September, the Pearl Mist takes advantage of the fall foliage season in Canadian Maritimes and along the Maine coast. The Eastern Seaboard south of Portland, Maine is not presently offered by this vessel.
Why Go?
Pearl Mist is a small ship with just 210 passengers, roomy within, and one of the very few ships that covers the Great Lake with multiple departures, plus the St. Lawrence River, Canadian Maritime Provinces, and the Maine Coast.
When to Go?
As the ship moves around according to the seasons, when to go is already obvious. One point to keep in mind is that fall foliage in Canada occurs about a month ahead of New England and even later in the Mid-Atlantic states.
Cabins on Pearl Mist
All are outside with sliding glass doors leading to a balcony with table and two chairs, and some additionally also have large picture windows. They are arranged over four decks and divided into five categories. 12 are set aside as singles.
Amenities include flat-screen TV, DVD player, and complimentary WiFi. Connection speed will vary widely by location. Be patient and remember it’s free.
Public Rooms on Pearl Mist
Two lounges are located forward. The Pacific Lounge has good views over the bow and to either side while the Atlantic Lounge, two decks below, has views to port and starboard. Additional small lounges are located on the next to lowest (2nd) deck and the Library Lounge on the 4th deck. The highest (6th deck) offers both covered and open seating.
Pearl Mist Dining
The dining room, located aft on the main (lowest) deck, seats all at one open seating. Meals receive high marks and cater to North American tastes. Wine is included at lunch and dinner.
Activities & Entertainment
Exercise equipment resides outside on the 5th or Sun Deck. One or two lecturers travel with the ship to prepare passengers for what’s ashore. Mostly musical entertainment comes aboard in some ports.
Special Notes
While the ship has much in common with some of the larger vessels in the American Cruise Lines fleet, mair company, the crew here is international.
Many passengers will come over from parent company ACL, hence a largely North American passenger list.
Along the Same Lines
American Queen Voyager operates similar itineraries on the Great Lakes, along the St. Lawrence River, and in the Canadian maritime provinces.
Pearl Mist Contact
Pearl Seas Cruises, 741 Boston Post Road, Suite 250, Guilford, CT 06437. 1-888-882-1595. PearlSeasCruises.com.
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HEIDI SARNA
