MITSUGIRLYS DAWN TO BERMUDA NOVEL (or review as some may call it)

[mitsugirly]

We were looking for a place that wouldn't break the bank as well. There was a place suggested to us that was across the bridge just down the road (I believe maybe a Best Western???) that people on here recommended. We checked into getting a place there but our problem is since we fly in, we needed to be within walking distance to 1) a grocery store or gas station to get soda for our cruise and 2) a place to get something to eat. With no transportation, we are kind of limited to the places we stay.

 

After checking the place they suggested, I found that the closest place to get anything that we needed was to actually walk up and over that big bridge and head to the grocery store that was actually across the street from where we stayed. We have 2 little ones and well...that just wasn't a great idea. After I went on google earth to see the location and the walking distance, that's when I discovered this particular hotel right across the street from the grocery store. We checked prices and they were pretty good compared to what everyone else was suggesting by staying in the Boston area and fit our needs for the amount of people we had. The added plus was that is was directly across the street from the grocery store and even had a bowling alley next to that if we wanted to do something that night. The only place we knew about in the area was the Subway right next door to the hotel and figured we could make that work for dinner...not like we haven't done that before at home. (We were later told by the shuttle staff that you can also get deli sandwiches across the street too by the grocery store). Then free shuttle service as well. So, we booked.

 

The hotel has been remodeled and we found it nice. They served a free breakfast, which also saved us money.

 

We did not have any issues staying there and we adventured out several times for soda and then again to get something to eat. The rest of the family walked down to the bowling alley (and actually was there until after dark) and had no problems walking back. If all you are looking for is some place cheaper (and nice) to stay and wont be adventuring out, I personally would think this fits the bill.

 

I did take a look at the places biker has listed on google earth. Yes, Dorchester may be a bad area, but then again, I live in a very nice suburban area with up to a few million dollar homes in my hometown and it takes me less than 10 minutes to get to what we refer to around here as the "west side" or "the bottoms" that could produce a list like his as well.

 

After putting in these streets on the list (yea, I wasn't about to do all of them, so maybe the first 10 or so), from what I'm seeing, they are closer to the heart of Dorchester?? and areas that are not exactly AT the hotel area?? I don't live there, so...that's all I can comment on. I think biker is a local, so he probably has insight to the area of course.

 

Here's a map of where the hotel is located compared to Dorchester where I found a lot of the places on the list (and a little below that area but nothing directly around the hotel).

 

 

If you look at where the hotel is located, follow that street down where it says 3A and across the bridge, that is where everyone was telling me to stay at. I'll have to find my link and post it and maybe that place would suit you better if you are worried? I don't remember what the pricing was back when I looked, but at least you would have a name to check it out as well and see if it fits your needs. (Or biker could tell you the name) It's not very far at all from the place we stayed at, but it came highly suggested during my search from those that are more familiar with the area. It just didn't suit "our" needs.

 

Here's an overview of the hotel we stayed at and the grocery store across the street and subway next door...then you can see the bowling alley there as well too (which also has food). In the picture, you can see the bridge that you walk across to get to the other side. If you need to go to the grocery store or anything, it's right there.

 

 

 

It may work for you, it may not. I can only report how our stay was, which was fine. Like I said, I'm not a local and don't know the area. It could be a bad area as biker said (since he has the statistics and might be a local), but then again, it could be like any area like here at home where I can go to an area described like this within a few minutes. :)

 

I'll look for that other link from my posting from when we were looking for a place and maybe you can check that out and it might make you feel more comfortable in finding a place there. :)

[mitsugirly]

I believe THIS is the link when I was looking and had suggestions on it.

[jakesnana]

Thank you Kim. I have read literally 100 reviews on this hotel on Tripadvisor, Travelocity and Expedia. It is a solid 3-3.5* hotel and while there were some complaints (there always are), none of the complaints or comments listed safety or feeling unsafe as an issue.

 

I think I am overthinking this and I'm just going to stay put and move on, feeling satisfied with my decision. Thanks again Kim.

[SuiteTraveler]

Thanks for the info.

 

I tried the first link and they did not provide any rooms that would allow 5 people booked in them. They were only saying 2 people. Also the prices were more expensive that what I have currently found so far with allowing up to 6 in a room with a separate room and living room. So I guess that's out.

 

My daughter did find the place you posted for the cruise parking. However, I'm sure it's a different amount to park the vehicle they are taking there, but I will have her call to verify if they can even park something that big there.

 

Thanks for the information. I truly appreciate all the effort you have put in to helping me out.

 

For future information the 2 per room seems to be a limitation of the website. If you call the hotels listed direct you can usually get the same deal for more people.

[mitsugirly]

Thank you Kim. I have read literally 100 reviews on this hotel on Tripadvisor, Travelocity and Expedia. It is a solid 3-3.5* hotel and while there were some complaints (there always are), none of the complaints or comments listed safety or feeling unsafe as an issue.

 

I think I am overthinking this and I'm just going to stay put and move on, feeling satisfied with my decision. Thanks again Kim.

 

You are welcome and I hope you have a positive stay like we did. :)

 

For future information the 2 per room seems to be a limitation of the website. If you call the hotels listed direct you can usually get the same deal for more people.

 

Oh ok. Thanks for letting me know. :)

[momo24]

Thank you Kim. I have read literally 100 reviews on this hotel on Tripadvisor, Travelocity and Expedia. It is a solid 3-3.5* hotel and while there were some complaints (there always are), none of the complaints or comments listed safety or feeling unsafe as an issue.

 

I think I am overthinking this and I'm just going to stay put and move on, feeling satisfied with my decision. Thanks again Kim.

 

I grew up in that area and it was and still is very safe. The listing that was reported was not in the area at all. The listing was all over Dorchester which is divided into five large areas. The area that the hotel is in is the Neponset area which is very nice and I would still be living there but I couldn't afford it. I think you will be very safe there and I hope you have a wonderful cruise.

[relic2]

Exactly. I'm glad someone else noticed it. I remember when I mentioned the hump from the Star cruise (which had several other humps) people on here pretty much told me I was crazy and there was not hump. :eek: It became a game with me and the hubby every time we passed it and we would play it off like we were drunk when we stumbled on it. I know damn well there was a carpet hump there and others just must have not noticed it. I believe I even had a pictures and people still said it didn't exist. Being the person I am and taking the pictures I do, I notice EVERYTHING!

 

 

Probably there is a hidden camera and the staff makes bets on how many passengers will stumble over it. [emoji12]

 

Nice review. I have been on several of the NCL ships, but would have to look at my journals to remember if I've been on Dawn. Next up for me is poa next January...in the coveted rear facing balcony for the first time. Really looking forward to it as my "bonus" son is stationed on Oahu.

 

Thanks! Margare

[ch27088]

Mitsugirly, I was reading various reviews and decided to see if you had done any cruises, and lo and behold, look what I find. I was hooked after reading your first review and always look forward to your trips. Can't wait to get started...and thanks for taking us along on your trip! Looks like it's going to be a good one.

[mitsugirly]

Probably there is a hidden camera and the staff makes bets on how many passengers will stumble over it. [emoji12]

 

Nice review. I have been on several of the NCL ships, but would have to look at my journals to remember if I've been on Dawn. Next up for me is poa next January...in the coveted rear facing balcony for the first time. Really looking forward to it as my "bonus" son is stationed on Oahu.

 

Thanks! Margare

 

I wouldn't doubt if they have a hidden camera...that would be hilarious and I'm sure they would have got a kick out of me and the hubby several times playing it off like it was just the ship moving back and forth and not actually us tripping over our own feet...then we discovered the problem. :D

 

I hope you have a wonderful cruise on the POA and how neat to have your son there as well. Have a great time! :)

 

Mitsugirly, I was reading various reviews and decided to see if you had done any cruises, and lo and behold, look what I find. I was hooked after reading your first review and always look forward to your trips. Can't wait to get started...and thanks for taking us along on your trip! Looks like it's going to be a good one.

 

Aww thanks for looking me up. I see you have done both the Dream and the Pride. Those are the only Carnival ships I have done, but hope to do more in the future...especially the Breeze or Magic. :D

[rs45thompson]

I just wanted to thank you for the time you put into your reviews. I have read a lot of your reviews but this is the first time posting anything. I wanted to thank you because I have learned ALOT from you. I thought I was a planner but you have me beat. You have helped me choose excursions, given me the courage to try excursions on my own(in January), etc. The only thing I wish is that instead of the breakaway in October that you were doing the escape. I would love to hear your thoughts before we go in January. But I have heard the breakaway is a beautiful ship and you will have a great cruise.

[mitsugirly]

I just wanted to thank you for the time you put into your reviews. I have read a lot of your reviews but this is the first time posting anything. I wanted to thank you because I have learned ALOT from you. I thought I was a planner but you have me beat. You have helped me choose excursions, given me the courage to try excursions on my own(in January), etc. The only thing I wish is that instead of the breakaway in October that you were doing the escape. I would love to hear your thoughts before we go in January. But I have heard the breakaway is a beautiful ship and you will have a great cruise.

 

 

Aww, thank you so much for the kind words. I truly appreciate it. I'm so happy when I'm able to help others out or at least give them some ideas on things to do or research. :)

 

Yep, I'm a planner, no denying that. :D

 

Welp, the Escape isn't out in October when I'm cruising, so I guess I can't change it now. :p :D

[ch27088]

CASINO

 

We had an awesome time in here...I guess that's mainly because I was kicking butt and taking names. I "normally" do well in the ships casino (wish I could say the same for back here at home) and I think I have only had 1 cruise that I did crappy on NCL.

 

It takes awhile for me to find "my" game, but once I do, it normally treats me pretty well.

 

This casino had your normal games that you find on most NCL ships.

 

 

 

Gold Fish (which didn't do too well), Penguins (which 1 of the 3 games gave you round after round of bonus games and kept you playing for awhile and I did see a lot of people winning on it).

 

 

Quick Hits games (I didn't do well on them, hubby did ok, but I did see a lot of people playing them this cruise).

 

 

 

 

 

Then there's the games that you find on the ship that I like to call the seizure games...they are the ones that light up so bright and everyone loves them. They are the games that you will always find people on and sometimes people standing behind them waiting for that opportunity to grab their seat IF they ever get up. They are pretty popular games and I have done well on them in the past. However, I only played them once this time around and the hubby tried once and neither of us did well so we moved on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a question for you...my hubby and I play in the casino's quite a bit while we are on a cruise. Do you know if they keep the same machines on the ship for a while, or how often do they change them out?

[mitsugirly]

I have a question for you...my hubby and I play in the casino's quite a bit while we are on a cruise. Do you know if they keep the same machines on the ship for a while, or how often do they change them out?

 

 

I honestly don't know how often (if they do) change the slot machines out since I only sail each ship once. Sorry. :)

[relic2]

Kim, just an awesome review. I feel like I've been on a cruise myself. Your camera takes the BEST underwater pictures! Now I have a question about it before I buy one myself. Do you take any close up photos with it? How close will it focus? I am trying to justify the purchase by using it for our business where we do a lot of close product photos. Thanks for your help and your stellar review!

[mitsugirly]

Kim, just an awesome review. I feel like I've been on a cruise myself. Your camera takes the BEST underwater pictures! Now I have a question about it before I buy one myself. Do you take any close up photos with it? How close will it focus? I am trying to justify the purchase by using it for our business where we do a lot of close product photos. Thanks for your help and your stellar review!

 

 

Yes, I take close ups and it also has a macro setting. ;)

[relic2]

Great! Thanks for your speedy reply. Off to the Internet to find the best price. [emoji3] I hope you are almost well. [emoji40]

[mitsugirly]

Great! Thanks for your speedy reply. Off to the Internet to find the best price. [emoji3] I hope you are almost well. [emoji40]

 

You are very welcome. I hope you enjoy your cruise and your sideways room. They are very nice and I always check to see if I can snag me one of those rooms when cruising. :)

 

Yep, all better now. :D

 

Thanks again for your comments and glad you enjoyed the review.

[relic2]

No sideways room this time. Rear facing balcony for Hawaii. [emoji4] cruising with 5 other couples. We have all 6 of those on Deck 10.

[mitsugirly]

No sideways room this time. Rear facing balcony for Hawaii. [emoji4] cruising with 5 other couples. We have all 6 of those on Deck 10.

 

 

Whoops sorry. I was talking to someone else at the same time about a sideways cabin and got you mixed up. My apologies. Hope you enjoy your aft balcony. :D

[relic2]

No problem.

[suesrn3]

Great job here! Also thanks for traveling out of Boston!

 

I LOVE your signature line!!

[suesrn3]

Great review-thank you again for doing it! I'm going on the Dawn at the end of August and thanks to your review, now have some more ideas for Bermuda!:D

 

JinxyB,

I am on that cruise as well! I am super excited, just hope some of the issues I have been hearing about have been fixed.......:(:rolleyes:

[suesrn3]

My final thoughts of the Dawn.

 

Well where do I begin? I guess I’ll start with the statement that I find it hard to believe that any cruise is a bad cruise and I can make the best out of everything. Yes, things don’t go perfect every time and things are different among each ship and each cruise line, but it will never make me have a bad time.

So, now that this is stated…my thoughts of the Dawn.

 

So my final thoughts. REMEMBER MY FINAL THOUGHTS. The Dawn is my least favorite ship in the fleet so far. She’s at the bottom of the list. Yes, we had a blast. No I would never say “don’t go on her she’s crap”, but compared to the OTHERS in the fleet, she’s just in the worse shape IMO!!!

Now I already have her booked for this same exact cruise for the same exact time to Bermuda next year. I booked this prior to leaving for Bermuda. I’m now faced with the decision as to whether or not I want to keep this booking or cancel and pay at least $600 more just to be able to give the Breakaway a try instead. Is it worth it to me? I’ll have to weigh the facts. I’m not sure. After all, I don’t exactly cruise just for the ship. As I have said plenty of times, I can have a great time on ANY ship! My other decision comes down to…trying to sail the entire fleet on NCL. Sailing the Dawn again kind of defeats the purpose as well and if you double that up with I didn’t really care for the ship, that’s kind of a double whammy. I have a lot of thinking and decisions to make now.

 

Hi Kim!

Thank you for this great review. I am doing this cruise the last week of August. I am a little disappointed to hear how bad a shape the Dawn is in, but I too will not let it ruin my party! LOL

I am very excited to see Bermuda, someplace I have always wanted to go to.

Thanks again

BTW your pictures are amazing! My pictures NEVER look like that!

Sue

[BiancaV]

Hi Kim!

Thank you for this great review. I am doing this cruise the last week of August. I am a little disappointed to hear how bad a shape the Dawn is in, but I too will not let it ruin my party! LOL

I am very excited to see Bermuda, someplace I have always wanted to go to.

Thanks again

BTW your pictures are amazing! My pictures NEVER look like that!

Sue

 

We're going the last week of August too. Looking forward to it.

[mitsugirly]

Hi Kim!

Thank you for this great review. I am doing this cruise the last week of August. I am a little disappointed to hear how bad a shape the Dawn is in, but I too will not let it ruin my party! LOL

I am very excited to see Bermuda, someplace I have always wanted to go to.

Thanks again

BTW your pictures are amazing! My pictures NEVER look like that!

Sue

 

Hi Sue and thank you for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the review and hope that you have a wonderful time in Bermuda next month. :)