DAWN SJ 5/1/15 first timer review

[jethrojam]

Off the ship and into Bermuda! It is still pretty windy, but oh man is it sunny!

 

 

 

Time to go to the caves!

[jethrojam]

 

So all the rumors are true. What a fun ride on the Buses lol.

Here are my hints if it is your first time in bermuda. If you are in a suite, get the priority exit. We did not. It is a zoo at the dockyard at 1130 am. It is a sunday, so the buses don't run often, and you may have to wait another 30 minutes to catch the next one, as it will take an hour to get your bus pass and get situated. The 7 bus gets to all the beaches, and the 8 bus gets to hamilton quickest. If you are going to the caves the first day, and I suggest you do, get on the 8 bus and go all the way until the end and then get on the 11 or 3 bus and if 11 get off at the ice cream place, and if 3, get off at the caves.

 

One tip. Get back to the bus stop by 430. 5 is the last time a bus will show up there on sunday. and if you miss that, it is an expensive cab you shall be taking. Take the bus to the caves and the ferry back to the dockyard.

[jethrojam]

We opted for the crystal cave, since it would be easier to carry up my son up and down the stairs

 

 

My son loved the carrots :)

[jethrojam]

ferry back.

 

Went to the Aqua for dinner. Had the turkey sausage lasagna. It was good.

 

 

[jethrojam]

Day 4 I woke up with what felt like a hangover. I had one, maybe 2 drinks last night. Didn't make me too happy, as today, Dad and I were going golfing at turtle hill. To get there, we took the 7 bus to gibbs lighthouse stop. We should have taken the 8 bus, which drops you off on the other side of the course that has a van that brings you up the hill. OH well, exercise was needed lol.

Both my father and I are poor golfers. But this course was definitely for us. It was all par 3, no lines, and the views were stunning. I actually got it on the green in one shot a few times. Just wish I could putt haha.

 

[jethrojam]

[jethrojam]

I Don't know how the ball landed here, but I don't think even Tiger in the 90's wouldn't take a drop

 

 

My dad and I decided to spend a bit too much time at the beach haha

[I'manewbie]

Thank you for the review! My family and I will be on the Dawn on june 12th - can't wait!

[jethrojam]

I had read a few disappointing reviews on the sunset triangle cruise. Since my family and I are not snorklers, and since even if we were, the fish are all white, we decided this was for us.

We were not wrong.

Brian, the guide was halarious, and we learned a lot. saw some fish, and saw some sights. Saw a wreck and learned how it got there. Unlimited Rum Swizzles for the last 20 minutes on the way back was included

 

I don't want to ruin the tour for anyone, but since I was expecting a thoroughly glass bottom, Id just like to clarify, it is not.

 

 

Edited May 9, 2015 by jethrojam

[jethrojam]

 

Off to bed, tomorrow is last day in port, and Horseshoe beach

[jethrojam]

Thank you for the review! My family and I will be on the Dawn on june 12th - can't wait!

 

 

no problem, if you have any questions, feel free to ask.

[jethrojam]

We couldn't just go to Bermuda without seeing the pink sand. My mother loves the beaches, the rest of us notsomuch, but it is Bermuda. So we decided to do the touristy thing and take the 7 bus to horseshoe on the last day, figuring everyone else would be staying local. This was true to a point.

 

 

My wife and sister thought the beach would be all pink. It is not. Me, I had no idea what to guess

My son loved the beach and playing in the puddles of the ocean

 

 

Found a Dark n stormy and relaxed

[jethrojam]

Saw a Gecco while waiting for bus. We took the 2 dollar ride up the hill. Got in line for the bus, and had to catch the second one around due to the line. Plan on 2 buses and since it was the last day, if you do the same plan accordingly.

 

[jethrojam]

Got back in time to take a quick tour of the fort and saw the dolphins. It was Meh. Part of it was closed due to last years hurricane unfortunately.

 

We sailed away, and the party was lackluster at best. We don't dance so the WHP wasn't our thing. We checked it out though. too many people, couldn't buy a drink forever, and as I said before, we aren't dancers so after a half hour we went to bed.

 

 

Edited May 9, 2015 by jethrojam

[princess tu tu]

Thank You so much Jethrojam, hoping to catch a review before our cruise on the 15 th, great job so far, nice photos, esp. the dallies...looking forward to more! P.S. I think you were supposed to be on our cruise on the 15 Th ?

[jethrojam]

Thank You so much Jethrojam, hoping to catch a review before our cruise on the 15 th, great job so far, nice photos, esp. the dallies...looking forward to more! P.S. I think you were supposed to be on our cruise on the 15 Th ?

 

 

Thanks :). Off to work now so thats it til tomorrow but yes, originally going on the 15th but switched after the first ksf deal ;)

[Barb Nahoumi]

Thank you for your review and pictures. We will be returning to the Dawn in June, and can't wait.

 

To avoid sea sickness, have your wife try Bonine before your next cruise. There is much less rocking in a mid-ship cabin on a lower deck.

[jethrojam]

Thank you for your review and pictures. We will be returning to the Dawn in June, and can't wait.

 

To avoid sea sickness, have your wife try Bonine before your next cruise. There is much less rocking in a mid-ship cabin on a lower deck.

 

 

That's a good tip. People, including my wife were eating the bonine like candy and the bracelets were flying off the shelf. You really couldn't walk anywhere on the ship -including the sixth floor. I am surprised they kept the casino open.

I know it is hard to believe a rookie. Cristina, the bartender from gatsbys said it was top 3 worst in her 12 years. Many crew said worst in 5 plus years. It is always bad going south on the Atlantic from boston day 2 in am i am told. This was 2.5 days of hell.

[PCLMassachusetts]

So instead of trying to get my son out of my parents room and into ours at midnight, it was easier to pack us up like sardines in one room. Issue was, the one bathroom. But I had read there was a nice mens room right around the corner. (This is not the case. The mens room on the 13th floor is rarely cleaned and has no view? that I thought I had read).

 

 

Can't talk about the cleanliness because I only used it once but the mens room with the view, I believe, is on the 12th floor near the pool. The windows are above the urinals.

 

Thanks for the review. We were just on the Dawn in Dec/Jan out of New Orleans and will be doing the Boston to Bermuda cruise in July 2016. 12th floor suite both times.

[jethrojam]

Can't talk about the cleanliness because I only used it once but the mens room with the view, I believe, is on the 12th floor near the pool. The windows are above the urinals.

 

 

 

Thanks for the review. We were just on the Dawn in Dec/Jan out of New Orleans and will be doing the Boston to Bermuda cruise in July 2016. 12th floor suite both times.

 

 

Thanks :). Oh that bathroom would be too far away haha

[mommaof 3]

Thx, sorry you had such a rough trip, but hope Bermuda made it worthwhile! We are going in a family suite in the star next year for spring break, so I really appreciate the pictures of the suite and the perks. The Dawn is a great, convenient and relatively low cost option for northeasterners.

[Freespir8]

Thanks so much for your review! How high were the waves those 2.5 days? We are booked for Bermuda next year and just trying to get perspective on what to expect. Our last cruise we had 15 ft waves. We were okay with it...probably could have handled a little more and still be comfortable but not a lot more. Do you remember how high the waves were? A little concerned now about our cruise after reading how rough the seas can be out of Boston!

[jethrojam]

Thx, sorry you had such a rough trip, but hope Bermuda made it worthwhile! We are going in a family suite in the star next year for spring break, so I really appreciate the pictures of the suite and the perks. The Dawn is a great, convenient and relatively low cost option for northeasterners.

 

 

Thanks!

[jethrojam]

Thanks so much for your review! How high were the waves those 2.5 days? We are booked for Bermuda next year and just trying to get perspective on what to expect. Our last cruise we had 15 ft waves. We were okay with it...probably could have handled a little more and still be comfortable but not a lot more. Do you remember how high the waves were? A little concerned now about our cruise after reading how rough the seas can be out of Boston!

 

 

Thanks! I really couldn't tell you an exact height or even how high aprox, simply because i never heard anyone say and I don't know how they would measure it. Id say they were violent waves but by no means a tropical storm. Perhaps another person on the cruise will read this and answer who has a better understanding of how to measure the waves.

[Freespir8]

I know what you mean. We were able to view the stats on the TV...I think channel 2 showed the ship's location, speed and sea conditions. Hopefully someone else can weigh in. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experiences!