Dawn New Year's Cruise Review

[Half Pint Mini]

Thanks Shelly11 for the great review! We were on the Dawn 8 years ago and can't wait to go in Feb! Do you know is there anyplace for breakfast outside? I have heard Blue Lagoon has outside seating but this may be wrong info. Love to cruise!:)

 

 

Hi Shellgirl,

If you are booked for the February 3rd sailing, please jump over to our "roll call" at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1519840&page=7

 

We'd love to have you at the meet & greet, cabin crawl or try your luck at our slot pull!!

[shelly11]

The Dawn doesn't have outside eating but if you use the buffet you can eat by the pool, just a short walk away.

[shellgirl]

Thanks Shelly, Jan we are sailing end of Feb so will miss meeting you, have a great cruise!

[Half Pint Mini]

Thanks Shelly, Jan we are sailing end of Feb so will miss meeting you, have a great cruise!

 

 

You have a great cruise too!!

[UnObstructedView]

Shelly,

 

We've always wanted to take a holiday cruise, but we balk when we see how much more expensive they usually are compared to early December sailings. Do you think it's worth it to pay a little more for a cruise that sails during a holiday (like New Year's Eve)?

 

Thanks!

[shelly11]

Shelly,

 

We've always wanted to take a holiday cruise, but we balk when we see how much more expensive they usually are compared to early December sailings. Do you think it's worth it to pay a little more for a cruise that sails during a holiday (like New Year's Eve)?

 

Thanks!

 

 

We planned for this cruise the whole year, made payments and got extra latitudes points by booking so far out. We really enjoyed it. The boat still had Christmas decorations up and the New Year's Eve party was great! Everywhere we went locals were telling us happy new year. It's a big holiday and it made everyone happy.

 

So yes I think it was worth it. It's hard for us to take a week of other times of the year due to work and school and we didn't buy each other many Christmas presents as this was our present. In turn no one missed school and my husband only missed a few work days due to it being over a holiday.

[caseythegr]

Thanks Shelly, Jan we are sailing end of Feb so will miss meeting you, have a great cruise!

 

We are sailing the end of February and have a roll call! If you want jump on over and join us.

[UnObstructedView]

I think it was worth it. It's hard for us to take a week of other times of the year due to work and school and we didn't buy each other many Christmas presents as this was our present. In turn no one missed school and my husband only missed a few work days due to it being over a holiday.

 

Thanks for the perspective, Double Latitude points-- score! We'd love to do it one Christmas or New Year but I think I too much of a cheapskate.

That photo of the Skyway bridge, by the way, sunset is amazing. Thank you for such a detailed thread.

[Half Pint Mini]

Shelly, could you check the dailies to see if they had Martini Tasting on both sea days please.

Thanks!

[shelly11]

Shelly, could you check the dailies to see if they had Martini Tasting on both sea days please.

Thanks!

 

Yes on both seas days. They also had beer tasting and wine tasting but we never got to any of it. Maybe next time!

[Half Pint Mini]

Yes on both seas days. They also had beer tasting and wine tasting but we never got to any of it. Maybe next time!

 

 

Sorry to be a pain :o but could you please let me know what the times were for all of the above?

Thanks!! :D

[kicia]

Shelly - what times were the evening shows? I've been told 7 and 9; 7:30 and 9:30; 7 and 9:30 and 7:30 and 9. Which one is it? We're trying to plan our group activities.

 

Thank you!

[shelly11]

Shelly - what times were the evening shows? I've been told 7 and 9; 7:30 and 9:30; 7 and 9:30 and 7:30 and 9. Which one is it? We're trying to plan our group activities.

 

Thank you!

 

 

The production shows were at 7pm and 9pm. The game shows were at 8:15pm and 10:15pm. I have my dailies in front of me. Don't know if this changes from cruise to cruise but that's what we had.

[camz]

Shelli - Thanks for your nice review. I was happy to read that the Dawn still has the WOW factor. The Dawn and her sister ship, the Star are beautiful ships with very friendly crews and I am a big fan of both. IMO some of the negativity being reported stems from the two ships being compared to NCL's newest of the fleet, the Epic, the Gem and the soon to be Breakway.

[shelly11]

Shelli - Thanks for your nice review. I was happy to read that the Dawn still has the WOW factor. The Dawn and her sister ship, the Star are beautiful ships with very friendly crews and I am a big fan of both. IMO some of the negativity being reported stems from the two ships being compared to NCL's newest of the fleet, the Epic, the Gem and the soon to be Breakway.

 

 

That's what I think too. She's a smaller ship, she's not the Epic!

 

We still plan on taking the Sky again this year, we love the Sky!!!

 

 

 

Half Pint Mini---beer tasing @ 3pm, pup hop @ 2pm, martini tasting @4pm and wine tasting @ 1pm. **all have a fee.

Edited January 14, 2013 by shelly11

[SyberCat]

Thanks for the great review. We're planning our (first!) cruise for our 10 year anniversary later this year and are considering the Dawn, so this was very helpful!

 

Cat

[muffy168]

Love your review. We enjoyed the dawn in 2011 and plan to go again in March.

My son loved the chicken wings in the Blue Lagoon. Do they still have them? thanks

[shelly11]

They do!

[shelly11]

My review was chosen as review of the week and I got a Cruise Critic bag! Thanks so much cruise critic!

 

 

Here's the review, it's a shorter version of the on in this thread. http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=113752

[camz]

My review was chosen as review of the week and I got a Cruise Critic bag! Thanks so much cruise critic!

 

 

Here's the review, it's a shorter version of the on in this thread. http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=113752

 

Congratulations Shelly! That's great! Your hard work with your nicely written detailed review paid off. Isn't it nice to be rewarded. :D

[shelly11]

It is! I didn't know what to expect but it's a draw string backpack/cooler bag. I will be using it my next trip!

[GeneD]

Hi, I will be on the Dawn with my family in May and also my 92 year old Mom will be with us. You mentioned blocked or dead end passagesways could you explain what you mean and where these are? I would hate to get all the way down one with my Mother only to have to turn around and walk all the way back. She is mobile but at her age not the greatest endurance walker.

Thanks.

Gene

[shelly11]

Look at the ship floor plans on NCL. The Spinnaker lounge is at a dead end. It's a little odd to get 'stuck' in a club.

 

I was on deck 8 and there are some meeting rooms next to the hallway that look like it's part of the hallway. It's a bit odd but an easy turn around.

 

You can pick up a pocket floor plan when you check in and the elevators all have signs of what is on each floor. It just took me longer to get used to the layout than on the Sky. The Dawn is a nice ship but just harder for me to grasp the layout.

[GeneD]

Thanks for the reply. We will be on deck nine right near the front elevators. Do those elevators go down to 4 I think that is the deck where we would get off and on in Bermuda?

I worry that Mom will strike out on her own and get confused. She likes her independence and usually makes out ok but I still worry. Probably won't be going to the Spinniker but I know we will be going to the Blue Lagoon on 8. Anyway it's hard to get Mom excited but she is and I feel happy that she will get to see Bermuda.

[shelly11]

It looks like they do go down to 4 on the deck plans.