My friend and I like the Pearl and enjoy the spa. So we always try to pick the Pearl after trying other ships in her size and category. We have not gone out of Tampa before, so we decided to give it a try. The Pearl was updated in 2017 and the whole of the ship looked much better and cleaner than the cruise we took on her in 2016. We spend most of our time in the spa, the exercise room, and Java bar. What we found was going out of Tampa was subject to customs slowing down the whole process, governed by too few agents who were trying to control too many people. As a result both embarkation and disembarkation was greatly delayed and made many on the ship angry. We won't go out of that port ever again. The food was excellent and the choices were good. We were in Madaro and Cagnes for two meals, the rest were in the Summer Palace or Garden Cafe. We hung out at the Java bar in the atrium, as the crew there were fast, friendly and helpful. They have hired actual baristas to make the great coffee there. The entertainment was up to Pearls usual good standards in the Atrium and only two of the stage show drew us in. The two excursions we took, the Tequila Tasting and the Mayan Wellness tour were excellent. Great people very informative and helpful in so many ways. We felt well taken care of and the tour was well worth the money. The shops and entertainment in Costa Maya were great too. Our cabin steward was great and responsive the whole cruise. We discovered the clearance sale toward the end of the trip where everything there was $10 and got a few Christmas Gifts there. Their craft crew were not well organized and kept many away as a result. Not the same as we have had before. We didn't hear or see the Captain but once the whole trip. Not the kind of Captain we like. We still love the Pearl and hope to go to other locations soon.