Va. Plumber

We have sailed on Dawn three times. It remains one of our favorites.

It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the bigger ships, but we found it very comfortable.

San Juan to S. Caribbean cruise on Dawn is on my bucket list.

I booked a tour with Winsomw Tours for a large group from our meet and greet. We were divided into two mini-vans.

The owner, Ralph Richardson, is a wealth of information about Bermuda. the tour lasted about 4.5 hours and covered the entire island. Thought it was an excellent means of seeing the island and learning a lot of history.

Highly recommend.

The 18% is included in the price of the UBP. You will not be billed separately.

We spent a non-cruise night at the The Royal San Marco last September. It is only a few feet to St. Mark's Square. Great location. Room was small and dated but comfortable. Included breakfast. They also offered a free excursion to Murano.

Definitely stay in Venice. One of the highlights was walking around St. Mark's at 10:30 at night. Magical!

We are already planning another trip to Italy in near future and would not hesitate to stay there.

This subject has been beaten to death here. There are those who find the DSC reasonable and those who get their panties in a knot over it.

I don't particularly care what NCL calls it. I remember the old envelope days when a significant number of people would "forget" to leave an envelope for the steward and conveniently not eat in the dining room the last night, And yes, I have heard passengers brag about it after the cruise. At least, this system guarantees each party gets something. I don't care how it is split up.

I also leave something extra for a good room steward and reward wait staff for excellent service.

You say it is absolutely free, but normally there is an added service (gratuity) charge added to you account.

Don't know if you drink much alcohol, but the normal drink costs on a 7-day cruise would far outweigh the service charge.

As to the kids, assuming they are underage, theirs would be a soft drink package.

We have done the non-Haven suite thing three times. Twice we were in Cagney's and last time next door in Moderno. They use Cagney's kitchen to prepare food. I suspect they moved it next door since Moderno, at least on the Star, was a much brighter venue with large windows.The service is fantastic. After a couple of days waiters know your preferences.

Someone asked about menus. I think they are pretty standard throughout the fleet. Breakfast has a buffet set up with fruit, cereals, breads and sweets and cold meats and cheeses. The hot menu consists of omelets, eggs benedict, waffles, French toast and steak and eggs.

I once requested corned beef hash, not on menu; someone went elsewhere to get it. Once I realized it, I felt a little guilty asking for it.

The lunch menu is fixed. Some have griped about this, but I have found that on a typical seven-day cruise we have only eaten there during sea days. So there are more than enough choices.

Don't forget to order the French press coffee for breakfast.

Just remembered one from the Pearl last year.

DW and I were on the deck overlooking pool. DW spotted a woman using the fabric thing they put across the foot

of the bed as a bathing suit cover up.

I had used one of two CruiseNext certificates to book New England/Canada cruise for 9/17 on the Gem from New York.

Life happens! We decided to do something else this Fall.

Just got of phone with NCL PCC. I cancelled and rebooked same trip for 9/!8 on Escape.

Got Spa Balcony (angled balcony facing Statue of Liberty),. UDP & UBP, and obviously spa privileges.

This cruise was $600.00 less than original, plus we would have had to purchase spa passes. Also got $100.00

OBC.

FYI: I had read on here that you could apply second certificate if booking over a year out. Accepted!

Long story short, final payment $3100.00

While on a Boston to Bermuda cruise on the Dawn a while back, I had an interesting, if not flattering, encounter.

As per usual, DW returns to our cabin after dinner while I go to the cigar room for cigar, drink and conversation.

The first night there was a very nicely dressed woman about my age (70). We struck up a conversation while she chain smoked Marlboros and sipped on several glasses of wine. Her husband made an appearance early on in the evening then disappeared.

I learned more than I really needed to know about her. This was her second husband. Yada Yada Yada. Somewhere along the line she threw out that she had a couple of bottles of really good port in her stateroom.

I let that fly over my head. She had a habit of reaching out and touching my knee when making a point.

When I returned to my cabin, I told my wife that I had just met someone who wanted me to be her third husband.

Fast forward to the last night of the cruise. Same location. She was there again. She said she had seen me in the spa alone. I told her that my wife and I always went together. She also said she had seen me eating lunch alone in Cagney's. I replied that my wife had probably gone the cabin to changer clothes.

And then she gave out the line that I'll not forget: "You see, I've been keeping my eye on you".

We booked resort for a day in Curacao. The Santa Barbara Beach Resort is beautiful.

Included roundtrip transport, drinks and lunch. Price was $117.00.

Pool and beach were fantastic. Food and drink super.

As to Aruba, we spent five nights there. Highly recommend renting a jeep to tour the island. Easy driving, lots to see. "Baby Beach" is a great spot. The "other" side of the island is fascinating. Like driving through the desert.

Unfortunately, one of the main attraction, the natural bridge, collapsed a few years ago.

DW and I stayed two nights pre-cruise at the Fortune House booked through a Hotel website. It is 1.5 miles from pier.

There is a free trolley stop about three blocks from hotel that dropped us off at Bayside Marketplace.

We wound up with a two bedroom condo with balcony.

Rode shuttle to Whole Foods nearby.

Very comfortable and reasonable.

Walked out of lobby after check out and found shuttle sitting there. Don't remember shuttle price, but thought it was reasonable.

We did Pearl partial last March. It was great. We got up very early to go up to top deck to watch. It was already crowded. The narrator was very informative. While there we noticed people on the bow on deck 8, where the pool of water is that people always ask about.

We stayed aboard for return trip that afternoon and made our way forward. There is an open hatch for access to the area. NCL sets up tents and a bar during the transit.

Anyone ever stayed in balcony cabin with angled balcony? More room?

It appears you are looking at cruise out of New Orleans. First off, N.O. is great port. Suggest you go a little early if you have not visited before.

As to NCL and Pearl, I highly recommend. The Pearl is nice sized ship. The big ones are not really my cup of tea. We sailed on Pearl last year and loved it. As with most ships, the pool area is crowded.

We have pretty much settled on NCL as our line of choice. Depending on cabin choice, you will receive added benefits. Some complain about 18% service charge on dining and drink package, but I figure it is a lot cheaper than paying for drinks and specialty dinners.

Have done this itinerary a couple of times. Plenty to see and do. If you've never done it before check out independent shore excursions. A lot cheaper than NCL ones..

I find the original post a little confusing on several levels.

You point out that you have sailed in suites times. You presumably paid an insane amount of money for the cruise. As you say this is not the norm.. Under no circumstances would I have cleaned the mess myself.

From your experience you should know the chain of command. The butler would be the next person I would talk to. In my limited suite experience (twice), the butler makes an appearance shortly after you arrive in the suite. He should have handled this immediately.

The next level would be the concierge. He or she rules the roost in suites.

Assuming that the cabin was cleaned prior to the second evening (God forbid) The HD would be in attendance

at the suite cocktail party. Even if it had been cleaned by then, I'm sure they would be very interested in your story.

Fortunately, I have never had a problem with the neighbors.

I did make a rookie mistake when booking our first NCL cruise on the Dawn. Spring Break Week!

Some of the kids were already "fried" before they got to check -in, and there were a lot of very drunk people in the public areas.

We did strike up a conversation with another couple while awaiting disembark. They told us that housekeeping had to shampoo the hall carpet near their cabin every morning.

Also listened to a young thing brag about how she had stiffed the room steward (before pre-paid gratuities) out of a tip.

I would loved to see some of the bar bills at the end of that trip.

We did Nohoch Kay. Not fancy, but had everything we needed. Beach, bar and food. $50.00 for adults, kids less.

Short cab ride from port. Online res with deposit. Balance paid at end of day.

Just an observation. I used to get exercised about going to land-based restaurants without a reservation and waiting while there multiple empty tables. A friend in the restaurant business told me that is done so as not to over-tax the kitchen and waitstaff.

The great enjoyment to me of the specialty restaurants has always been the quality of service and the leisurely pace of the meal.

I can identify with the lack of underwear. Last cruise out of Miami the suitcase with 90% of my clothes got left next to the bed at home.

We flew down two days early and discovered the problem at the airport which was 60 miles from home.

I had two pair of slacks, one polo shirt, two changes of underwear and no socks.

We made a foray to Bayside Marketplace. Miami cruisers probably realize that the upscale shops there do not have much in the way of clothes for 70 year-old fat men.

There are several van services available online that you can engage prior to your cruise. Probably a lot cheaper than taxi.

Two stories about shipboard sports TV:

Several years ago on the Explorer of the Seas, I dropped by the TV station and asked about broadcast of Va.Tech/Miami football game on Saturday night. Sure enough there it was.

Last March, on the Pearl, I asked the CD at the meet and greet if she could get March Madness games the following weekend. She explained some of the licensing issues were a problem, but come Thursday afternoon we had b'ball. They broadcast games throughout the weekend.

Not to sound "snarky" but why would you want to. It is so much nicer to turn it over to the porters at curbside.

You don't have to worry about hauling it up stairs, ramps and escalators, not to mention the crowded conditions encountered in the waiting lounge.

If lost luggage was a big problem, CC would be lit up with complaints.

I don't have as many cruises under my belt as most folks on here, but have never had a problem.

Now delivery to your stateroom may not always be the fastest, but it eventually arrives.

We took this cruise last March and loved it. Not sure if yours stops at Curacao or Aruba.

In Curacao we booked independent beach resort day. The place was beautiful and included lunch and drinks. Downtown shopping and floating bridge reasonably close to ship.

We just hung around port in Cartagena. Waited too long to book hop on-hop off bus tour. Book before boarding if interested.

We stayed on ship for both the in and out passages of the Canal. There are two good vantage points: top deck forward and Deck 8 forward. The former is probably the best for hearing the excellent narration of the inbound passage, but you have to get up very early to get a good vantage point. Ship begins entering way before daylight. We figured out how to get to the latter for the return passage. It is at the little crew pool that everyone always asks about.

You walk all the way forward and go through a small bulkhead door. NCL had bar and small tent set up in afternoon.

Also, plan to attend excellent movie shown the day before explaining the Canal.

The Costa Rica stop was one of the highlights. We had booked an all day independent rain forest excursion with two couples from meet and greet ahead of time. Included guided tour of forest, cruise on the canal and beachfront lunch.

Also, since the trip left on a Monday, we flew to Miami on Saturday to spend time relaxing, eating and shopping. The shopping was important since I had left my suitcase with 90% of my clothes in our bedroom at home, but that's another story.

Ask the cruise director about getting them.

Sailed Dawn to Bermuda last October. No Joy!

Sailed the Pearl in March. Asked the CD at the meet and greet about March Madness. She didn't sound too promising. To my amazement we got coverage of the first round games.

Otherwise you will get steady diet of soccer, rugby and Australian rules football.