Just back from Dawn Family/Friends Bermuda Cruise

[RIvacationgirl]

Hi everyone. Just returned from our first time to Bermuda and our first time cruising with family and friends. We have gone on 2 previous cruises- Dawn and Jewel but it was just the two of us. This time we had the perspective of cruising with a total of 11 of us. It was very different from our other trips. I had made some pins for all of us to wear to celebrate our trip together.

Our ages ranged from 22yrs. to 72yrs. old., men and women. We had decided to try and get together at least once a day- usually breakfast or dinner to update everyone on each of our daily plans and adventures. This worked out very good. I had also bought at a dollar type store white board for each of the 4 rooms we were occupying to have some type of communication to leave messages "trivia at 2pm" and such - this worked out good AND we had some other messages from random people too! We decided right from the get-go that everyone likes to do different things, so we would do what we wanted and if someone from the group showed up great, but no obligations to always be together and this worked well.

Rooms-

2 mid-ship minisuites 11th floor- this was what we usually book and it was wonderful as usual- ours was 11582.

1- balcony 10th floor 10116- it was nice to see a different type room, and it was very nice, but I do prefer a little extra room in the minisuite.

1- 5th floor oceanview 5086- I had been worried that 4 young adults in there 20's would be too tight in this room, but after seeing it for myself i thought it was in their words" very do-able". It was not as tight as I thought it would be and the window was pretty good size in my opinion.

Unfortunately the weather in Bermuda did not cooperate, and several of our excursions were cancelled (rain and wind so bad my eyeglasses flew away!)

I will take any questions, please ask! I bought the spa pass, hubby bought the soda card. I did all 3 martini tastings, enjoyed the shows and casino. we enjoyed Karaoke and actually won 2 trivia contests! FYI- there was a beverage package available, but we did not know this upon embarkation and did not participate. The "White-Hot party" in the Spinnaker was fun, but it was HOT! We were very, very warm which was not enjoyable. But happily I made it onto the end of the cruise film montage dancing!

I have to say we ALL enjoyed the comedian on the ship- Ted Kaminski. He was very funny, I was disappointed in the Second City show, but I understand the SC adult improv show the last night was much better, as well as the QUEST game show had very high reviews from our group.

We ate all over, including the pay-charge Moderno Cagney's. Blue Lagoon service has improved dramatically since our experience there this past Feb. Bimini Grill was yummy! "Kids" used the pizza delivery, and we ordered breakfast in one morning.

Boston was easy on-off, we got to the terminal at 10:30am and was on the ship by 11:30, rooms ready around 1:15ish.

I went to the Latitudes Cocktail party for the first time, and this was a nice little benefit. I also bought another future cruise cert.

Again, if you would like to know something- keep the questions coming. CC has helped make our cruises very enjoyable and it is time to pay it forward!;)

[ricruise]

Also from RI!

 

Did you purchase the ferry bus pass? Was it worth it?

 

In the casino I am hooked on Wicked Winnings and so is my friend. Last year there was only one of these machines, have they added other? Which was your favorite?

 

Thanks

[RIvacationgirl]

Hello fellow Ocean Stater! We bought a round trip ferry pass to Hamilton.We went shopping, and it had a ferry that would come just about every 20 minutes they told us. It was $4 each way. I thought it was nice to just take a ride in even if you were not going to disembark. They actually had one ferry named the Rhode Island Ferry!

As far as Wicked Winnings, I only saw one, but we did not spend too much time in the casino this time, as it was closed for the 3 days in Bermuda. There may have been more but I do not know. One thing my DH and I did not realize was that if you want to get the spend $10 get $20 slot play(I AM NOT SURE OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, I THINK THIS WAS IT), you must BUY it on-line prior to cruise.

Happy Sailing!;)

[scopewest]

RIvacationgirl, oh, how I envy you being able to travel with your family! Thanks for posting!

[RIvacationgirl]

RIvacationgirl, oh, how I envy you being able to travel with your family! Thanks for posting!

Thanks! I am very lucky. We had our best friends, their 2 daughters and a boy-friend, their 2 grandmothers and an aunt, my DH and my DD who was on vacation from her job at Walt Disney World. We had such a good time, that when we returned yesterday morning, later we all got together to have dinner together to talk about all of the fun we had.:)

[RIvacationgirl]

I wanted to add we did go on a few excursions. We went on the Glass Bottom Boat tour and overall everyone found this excursion weak. The 5 hour bus tour of the island was informative during our "heavily rainy" day 2 in Bermuda. Due to the rain, we did not have the time to get off the bus and do a little exploring. The caves, zoo and aquarium was also enjoyed by 2 people in our group. Snorkeling excursion was cancelled for our group. NCL did credit all cancelled excursions right back onto our on-board account.

[martyandjanice]

I was considering purchases the spa pass for my Mom and myself and was wondering how often you actually used it and how crowed it was

[ch7012]

Also from RI!

 

Did you purchase the ferry bus pass? Was it worth it?

 

In the casino I am hooked on Wicked Winnings and so is my friend. Last year there was only one of these machines, have they added other? Which was your favorite?

 

Thanks

 

I was on there a few weeks ago and there was still only 1...

[flowers44]

Hello fellow Ocean Stater! We bought a round trip ferry pass to Hamilton.We went shopping, and it had a ferry that would come just about every 20 minutes they told us. It was $4 each way. I thought it was nice to just take a ride in even if you were not going to disembark. They actually had one ferry named the Rhode Island Ferry!

As far as Wicked Winnings, I only saw one, but we did not spend too much time in the casino this time, as it was closed for the 3 days in Bermuda. There may have been more but I do not know. One thing my DH and I did not realize was that if you want to get the spend $10 get $20 slot play(I AM NOT SURE OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, I THINK THIS WAS IT), you must BUY it on-line prior to cruise.

Happy Sailing!;)

 

The Rhode Island Ferry is actually on loan from Rhode Island because the Bermuda Ferry System was not going to be able to handle the crowds from the Breakaway.

 

I bought the $10 slot play coupon before I left and got the $20 credit on board. There is also a website called "slotplaycouponsdotcom" that you can purchase $25 voucher and get $50 credit on the ship. They work with the NCL Ships. I did one for the Dawn about a month ago and it worked out well. For $35 investment, both my DH and I got $70 worth of slot play. I bought both deals for both of us.

[cherylroslyn]

I was on there a few weeks ago and there was still only 1...

Can you tell me any of the other machines. i know they have a big group of quick hits:) But any others that were good?

[Barb Nahoumi]

I wanted to add we did go on a few excursions. We went on the Glass Bottom Boat tour and overall everyone found this excursion weak. The 5 hour bus tour of the island was informative during our "heavily rainy" day 2 in Bermuda. Due to the rain, we did not have the time to get off the bus and do a little exploring. The caves, zoo and aquarium was also enjoyed by 2 people in our group. Snorkeling excursion was cancelled for our group. NCL did credit all cancelled excursions right back onto our on-board account.

 

I did the Glass bottom boat tour many years ago. Unfortunately, I became sea sick from looking downward. Hint to all-------take sea sick meds or ginger before takin this tour.

[cherylroslyn]

Hi everyone. Just returned from our first time to Bermuda and our first time cruising with family and friends. We have gone on 2 previous cruises- Dawn and Jewel but it was just the two of us. This time we had the perspective of cruising with a total of 11 of us. It was very different from our other trips. I had made some pins for all of us to wear to celebrate our trip together.

Our ages ranged from 22yrs. to 72yrs. old., men and women. We had decided to try and get together at least once a day- usually breakfast or dinner to update everyone on each of our daily plans and adventures. This worked out very good. I had also bought at a dollar type store white board for each of the 4 rooms we were occupying to have some type of communication to leave messages "trivia at 2pm" and such - this worked out good AND we had some other messages from random people too! We decided right from the get-go that everyone likes to do different things, so we would do what we wanted and if someone from the group showed up great, but no obligations to always be together and this worked well.

Rooms-

2 mid-ship minisuites 11th floor- this was what we usually book and it was wonderful as usual- ours was 11582.

1- balcony 10th floor 10116- it was nice to see a different type room, and it was very nice, but I do prefer a little extra room in the minisuite.

1- 5th floor oceanview 5086- I had been worried that 4 young adults in there 20's would be too tight in this room, but after seeing it for myself i thought it was in their words" very do-able". It was not as tight as I thought it would be and the window was pretty good size in my opinion.

Unfortunately the weather in Bermuda did not cooperate, and several of our excursions were cancelled (rain and wind so bad my eyeglasses flew away!)

I will take any questions, please ask! I bought the spa pass, hubby bought the soda card. I did all 3 martini tastings, enjoyed the shows and casino. we enjoyed Karaoke and actually won 2 trivia contests! FYI- there was a beverage package available, but we did not know this upon embarkation and did not participate. The "White-Hot party" in the Spinnaker was fun, but it was HOT! We were very, very warm which was not enjoyable. But happily I made it onto the end of the cruise film montage dancing!

I have to say we ALL enjoyed the comedian on the ship- Ted Kaminski. He was very funny, I was disappointed in the Second City show, but I understand the SC adult improv show the last night was much better, as well as the QUEST game show had very high reviews from our group.

We ate all over, including the pay-charge Moderno Cagney's. Blue Lagoon service has improved dramatically since our experience there this past Feb. Bimini Grill was yummy! "Kids" used the pizza delivery, and we ordered breakfast in one morning.

Boston was easy on-off, we got to the terminal at 10:30am and was on the ship by 11:30, rooms ready around 1:15ish.

I went to the Latitudes Cocktail party for the first time, and this was a nice little benefit. I also bought another future cruise cert.

Again, if you would like to know something- keep the questions coming. CC has helped make our cruises very enjoyable and it is time to pay it forward!;)

Thanks for the review.....I am down to a little over a week and I just can't take it anymore.... I pray for reviews on the Dawn overy day....just anything to get through these last days:)

 

By the way, how much was the spa pass?

[RIvacationgirl]

I was considering purchases the spa pass for my Mom and myself and was wondering how often you actually used it and how crowed it was

 

It was NEVER crowded for me. Actually, I was alone every time I went except for one afternoon, and this had maybe four people that time. I usually went after Breakfast, around 8:30am, or afternoon after 1pm, and stayed about 2 hours. I went 6 out of 7 days. I probably would have gone longer if my Dh had bought a pass. He opted out this time.

 

I have to say, when it was pouring rain outside during one of the Bermuda days, I was lounging in the warm whirlpools relaxing, while the others in my family could not go swimming. This was a nice plus of splurging on the spa pass for myself!

[RIvacationgirl]

The pass was $156 I think. I wish you a wonderful trip and steady seas. have a great time!

[RIvacationgirl]

Try Shadow of the Panther and Lucky Penguins, I played on these for quite a while.

[RIvacationgirl]

The Rhode Island Ferry is actually on loan from Rhode Island because the Bermuda Ferry System was not going to be able to handle the crowds from the Breakaway.

 

I bought the $10 slot play coupon before I left and got the $20 credit on board. There is also a website called "slotplaycouponsdotcom" that you can purchase $25 voucher and get $50 credit on the ship. They work with the NCL Ships. I did one for the Dawn about a month ago and it worked out well. For $35 investment, both my DH and I got $70 worth of slot play. I bought both deals for both of us.

 

Thanks for the tip!

[Fins2theleft]

Thanks for the review. Welcome back.

[cherylroslyn]

Try Shadow of the Panther and Lucky Penguins, I played on these for quite a while.

Gotcha!!!! Thanks ;)

 

That price really went up in the last couple years...... Maybe that explaints why it was pretty quiet in there:)