Mini-Review of the Dawn 8/28

[mom-of-three]

Hi everyone. Here's my mini review.

Highlights:

 

1) Mariano - our room steward. He is such a great guy. Somehow he was always around to say Hi. He got our shy little boy to talk easily to him. He was so friendly and helpful. Plus he made those wonderful towel animals. I still laugh about the monkeys swinging from the ceiling.

2) The ship was as beautiful as promised. Loved the stained glass ceiling in the Salsa restaurant / lobby area.

3) The food was outstanding. The filet minon in Le Bistro was one of the best I have ever had.

4) Marissa in the entertainment staff was very nice and friendly and went out of her way to get to know the guests.

5) Freestyle dining - loved the options of where and when to eat. We never waited longer than 10 minutes (most times we didn't wait at all).

6) The kids crew ages 6-9. My 6 year old loved it and went willingly. As said before, he's shy so this doesn't happen easily.

7) The casino - I don't gamble, but I liked the fact that it is very well hidden. So well hidden that I only saw it once. Sometimes you have to walk through the casino to get to other places.

 

Lowlights:

 

1) Cell phones. The entertainment staff has cell phones, which they would answer while conducting bingo or trivia. Can you say - "Hello paying guests are waiting while you talk on the phone"? At least the phones were on vibrate mode. We all have to deal with cell phones while on shore - we don't want to deal with them on deck.

2) Pool area. This area of the ship was so loud and congested, that I didn't spend any time there. Also it had the ambience of a carnival ship with the metal and plastic strap lounge chairs.

3) Entertainment staff in general. Other than Lance, they were not naturally funny. Trivia, win lose draw and bingo were kind of stiff. I don't know how to explain it, but when the staff has a good report with each other, their jokes / comments can be so funny during these activities. I just didn't see it on the Dawn. I know the CD is new, but the rest of the staff has remained the same (I think).

4) Cell phones again. While docked in Miami and having dinner, a fellow passenger decided to have a three way business conversation at dinner. How rude! I didn't confront him, because I just didn't want to deal with this during a cruise. The staff needs to learn to politely ask someone to step outside if they are talking on a cell phone.

5) NCL's private island - lived up to its reputation - congested, crowded, murky water. I wasn't disappointed because my expectation was low. It was kind of like a day at Point Pleasant NJ beach. HAL's island is so much better.

6) Nassau - Arriving at 8p.m. and leaving at 11:30 a.m. didn't leave much time to do anything. My six year old needed to sleep until nine, so we couldn't see Atlantis. I wish we had more time.

7) Kids crew ages 10-12. The program didn't draw my older son in. He wanted them to meet throughout the ship, but they met in one location. He thought whatever they had on the program sounded boring and didn't want to go. He didn't really give it a chance and it could just be that 12 is a funny age.

 

Overall it was a very good time and a very good ship. With a few changes it could be outstanding.

 

 

Don, if you read this, thanks for hosting the cruise critic meeting on star bar. It was nice to meet everyone.

[mom-of-three]

I forgot to also say that the convertible sofa in the balcony staterooms is as hard as everyone says. Luckily my 6 year old would fall asleep on the regular bed and we would move him to the sofa bed. If he had been older and falling asleep with the older children, he would have refused to go on the sofa bed.

 

One night he woke up and called for me, I climbed into bed with him. That lasted about 5 minutes - it was all I could stand. I brought him back to bed with us.

[MOMofONE]

Thanks for the review - short but informative! We are considering a Dawn sailing in December. We too will have a 12 year old who doesn't intend to give the kid's club a shot - although very sociable she too thought alot was boring when she was 10 yrs old & we sailed NCL. She hopes to masquerade as a 13 year old and get into the teens club. lol She is always mistaken as older/more mature but wondering if they keep track of ages? She doesn't turn 13 until 4 months after sailing. :(

[mom-of-three]

I would give it a try. I have to say that the kids club didn't seem too organized so they might not cross check the registration with your room registration information. I remember filling out birthdays again with the kids crew registration. It wouldn't work on some other lines but maybe it will here.

[cantwaitt]

We were on the Majesty several years ago, just six weeks before my duaghter's 13th birthday.

 

Not only did they not let her in to the Teen disco, they did a better job keeping her and other 12 year-olds out than the border guards do keep out illegals along the Mexican border.

 

Guess the cruise staff has transportable skills when they change careers.

[cantwaitt]

Oh, I meant to add that this rigid policy ruined the cruise for my daughter, an outgoing kid who was so looking forward to the cruise.

 

I think in that case it was the result of a directive from CD Ricky (I never leave my office to speak with passengers) Martin.

[POOHISME2]

Three of my four children ages 13, 11 & 9 slept on the sofa beds in 2 mini suites. We all thought they were great and large enough to accomodate 2 adults if need be. If you find them hard, you can ask for a thicker matress pad. The kids club was OK for my 9 and 11 year old, but my 12 and 13 had no interest. The teem activites were not well organized at all. The only one that really interested her was the murder mystery dinner.