NCL Dawn: 4/21-4/27 Review: Just back today!

[Epic_Bear]

Just back from the first Boston-Bermuda cruise of 2012, on the Dawn. Second time taking her to Bermuda and fourth time on the Dawn overall. It was six days, instead of seven, the seas were a little rough, it was super windy, but I wasn’t at work, didn’t have to cook, clean, any of it. Just me (32) and my mom (59), both Platinum Latitude Members.

 

Embarkation:

We usually take the commuter rail from my condo, but it is out of service on the weekends at the moment, so we splurged on a limo ride. Very easy, and were at the port by 1145AM, and on the ship by 1205PM. Love the priority embarkation! The rooms were ready when we go on because the Dawn sailed empty from Miami.

 

Food:

I am not a foodie by any means. I spend my real life eating hot pockets, while coaching swim team practice. If I can microwave it, I’m solid. We’ve cruised NCL a lot, and are generally happy with the food. We ate at the Blue Lagoon, Buffet, Le Bistro, Cagney’s, La Cucina and the Venetian. Overall all, great. My favorite meal was the Vegetable Napoleon, four cones and Chocolate Napoleon at Le Bistro. Loved it. A little too much salt on the chicken parm at La Cucina and on the Salmon Oscar at Cagney’s, but nothing terrible. Blue Lagoon wings are fantastic, as is the brownie sundae at Cagney’s. I think my Mom at Crème Brulee everywhere. Good to know is, since we get two comped dinners at Le Bistro, you can apply the meal coupon to Cagney’s and pay the difference, a great Platinum perk!

 

Spa:

With the weather being cruddy, we joined the spa and spent a lot of time in the thermal suite. I will recommend this if you like quiet, a place to read, soak and swim, especially if the weather isn’t great. It wasn’t crowded until the last day. I actually didn’t shower at all in the room because I always did up there! Best $100 I spent!

 

Entertainment:

We didn’t do much beside laze around. Second City was hilarious, karaoke was always packed when we walked through, the Newlywed Show always makes me laugh. It was basically a vacation of booze, reading, spa and hanging out.

 

Bermuda:

Again, the weather was not great. My dress kept blowing up day one. We went to St. George’s on the first day, via Ferry and bus, and spent the second day at King’s Wharf. Not a beach cruise, but fun to shop, talk to people, and just relax. Public transportation is incredibly easy.

 

Room:

We were in room 9202, a balcony cabin, toward the stern. It was in a great location, a few floors down to eat and a few floors up to the spa and pool deck and right by the elevators and stairs.

 

A great, relaxing cruise…looking forward to another one!

 

Any questions, ask away!

[Sheshefran]

Thanks for the review. I will be sailing on the Dawn this time next week.

[william]

Thanks for the review. Have been on the Dawn the last two years. Still deciding if we are going to go back in June. Prices still a bit high. Hoping they will drop.

[katcas]

Thanks for the review! I will be doing that cruise June 2013, so far away!

[Chuggiebug]

Enjoyed the review and would love to hear more about the Dawn. Although we have 25 cruises under belt, we just booked our first with NCL and it is on the Dawn for Christmas 2013.

[deladypilot]

Thank you for taking the time to give us a review. Glad you had a wonderful vacation

[momofdjben]

Thank you for writing the review I will be on her in 2 weeks. So excited :0)

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for taking the time to post a review of your cruise. Glad you had a nice time.

[vivavegas]

Nice review! Thanks for taking the time to write your review!:)

[FuninWB]

Thanks for your review. Were Jose and Patti singing in the Atrium? I am also wondering about the gathering for Latitudes members silver and above if you attended. We have only been to the gathering for all Latitudes members but have recently been promoted to silver, and we are on the Dawn in two weeks.

[Epic_Bear]

FuninWb:

 

Yes, Jose and Patti were singing in the atrium, they were great!

 

We went to the Latitudes party. The first one, with the raffle, was in the Stardust. The other, Silver and up, was in the Star Bar. It has some canapes, booze, and is much mellower then the other one.

[FuninWB]

Thanks wcsmells. I wasn't sure what to expect at the second Latitudes party since we haven't been to one. It sounds as if you made the most of iffy weather which may very well happen to us also. I'm looking at the pictures from the bow of the Dawn this morning, and earlier I saw some pretty impressive waves.

[patch62]

FuninWb:

 

Yes, Jose and Patti were singing in the atrium, they were great!

 

We went to the Latitudes party. The first one, with the raffle, was in the Stardust. The other, Silver and up, was in the Star Bar. It has some canapes, booze, and is much mellower then the other one.

 

Which nights did Jose and Patti perform?? We have seen them on the Dawn before!! Not too bad!! We also will attend the latitudes Party..

[ricruise]

Thanks for the review. We will be on the Dawn later in the month. A couple of questions please?

 

Who was the concierge? Did you venture into the casino? And how was the embarkation process at the Black Falcon?

 

Thanks

[Epic_Bear]

FuninWB:

Yeah, there were waves. I don't mind the rougher seas, makes me really feel like I'm on the ocean!

 

Patch62:

I'm not sure on the exact nights. I know they were there the last night, and a few others. We tended to listen to the guitar player in Gatsby's.

 

Ricruise:

The concierge was Virginia, we never used her, but had her contact info. We spent some time in the casino, mostly video poker. Not too smoky, if that's a concern. Embarkation at Black Falcon was simple. Maybe 15-20 minutes? We didn't have any luggage to check, got priority embarkation, so that may have expedited it a bit. Even the regular check in line didn't look too long.

[kocruiser]

Thanks for posting your review. Glad you enjoyed your cruise. How was disembarking? We are not sure what time to arrange for our car to pick us up at Black Falcon.

[Epic_Bear]

Disembarking was a little slow, we probably should of done priority disembarkation. Not too bad though, maybe 15-20 minutes of standing in line, handing our customs form to immigration. We carried our own bags off, so I can't speak for that.

[LBumb]

good job

[gelo7]

Glad that you had a great cruise.

[dwjoe]

With the weather being cruddy, we joined the spa and spent a lot of time in the thermal suite. I will recommend this if you like quiet, a place to read, soak and swim, especially if the weather isn’t great. It wasn’t crowded until the last day. I actually didn’t shower at all in the room because I always did up there! Best $100 I spent!

I echo your thoughts on the spa thermal suite... great buy. I did all my showering up there as well rather than in the room. The men's side, that is. :)

Do they have Japanese plunge baths (hot/cold) on the women's side?

[ricruise]

Did you do the weekly spa pass? I am thinking of signing both my DH and myself up for it.

 

How much does it cost and what do you get for the spa pass?

 

Is there a lap pool?

 

Thanks

[Epic_Bear]

Did you do the weekly spa pass? I am thinking of signing both my DH and myself up for it.

 

How much does it cost and what do you get for the spa pass?

 

Is there a lap pool?

 

Thanks

 

We did the pass, it was $102 for the 6 day cruise, I think it's $119 for the 7 days.

 

The Dawn has the lap pool, think it was 82-83 degrees. There is also an indoor hot tub, like the ones on deck,and one with loungers in it. There is a steam room, sauna, showers, lounge chairs looking aft and another relaxation room. Great place to get away from the noise or if the weather is bad. We went everyday, sometimes twice.

[Winters in NZ]

The Dawn is a good ship. Thanks for taking the time to write about your cruise experience.