Suite perks on the Dawn

[DaisyGoldberg]

Love the Dawn SJ suites and have sailed in them 3 times (4 next month).

 

The special waiting area in Boston is not particularly impressive -- if you arrive when boarding is underway the concierge will likely introduce him/herself, give you room keys and literature, and send you on board with an escort. Sometimes we've been taken to Cagneys, sometimes directly to the room. We never received any talk in Cagneys.

 

If you arrive in the special waiting area in Boston and boarding has not yet begun, it's basically the same cattle call with folding chairs, only you're segregated with a dividing rope so that when boarding begins they can move you efficiently. There may have been snacks available but I don't know how you would have accessed them because it was a small area with a lot of people. The wait was relatively short, however, and when they announced suite boarding (after Grand Villa and a wedding party), we all walked on board together. Can't quite recall what happened -- we may have explained that we knew where we were going and peeled off on our own.

 

The very biggest benefit we ever got from a suite perk was the priority customs coming in from Canada -- the line to go through was literally the length of the ship (and then some), but suite guests gathered in a lounge and we walked right through in about 15 minutes, while others waited hours. (I think customs agents were late, hence the delay, but we waited seated in a lounge, looking out at people standing on deck, and when the agents arrived and the line started to move, we got our own line)

Edited July 6, 2016 by DaisyGoldberg

[rchampagne]

The first suites guests will board around 11:15. You will be escorted to Cagney's / Mondernos for an orientation and lunch. You need to allow time to check in. While there is a dedicated desk, if there are multiple parties showing up, you'll need to queue for the agent.

 

We just returned a few days ago. There wasn't any type of orientation. Basically, you were sent up to your deck, and then you were on your own (which is fine with me).

 

I will point out one suite perk that I've never seen listed. On-demand movies were free for us in the suites, but cost money to our friends in a non-suite. Not a big deal, but it was nice as they had a few selections that our family was happy with (i.e. "Jungle Book", "The Force Awakens", "Batman v Superman", etc).

Edited July 10, 2016 by rchampagne

[soxfan2013]

We just returned a few days ago. There wasn't any type of orientation. Basically, you were sent up to your deck, and then you were on your old (which is fine with me).

 

I will point out one suite perk that I've never seen listed. On-demand movies were free for us in the suites, but cost money to our friends in a non-suite. Not a big deal, but it was nice as they had a few selections that our family was happy with (i.e. "Jungle Book", "The Force Awakens", "Batman v Superman", etc).

 

Very extensive on demand movie list. Impressive. I didn't realize movies weren't free in other rooms. We watched many movies on both TVS, at the same time even.

[CRAustin]

Isn't there the Golden Circle special balcony seating for shows in theatre?

[soxfan2013]

Isn't there the Golden Circle special balcony seating for shows in theatre?

 

 

There are first row balcony seats set aside for Villa and Owners suite guests on the left: front. About 10-12 seats. Not sure if there's backup but if you talk to the Butler, I'm sure he'll help.

[JohnHall1965]

We are new to Norwegian and to suites in general , just wonder what the perks are for a Mini-Suit on the dawn

Edited July 11, 2016 by JohnHall1965

[Demonyte]

We are new to Norwegian and to suites in general , just wonder what the perks are for a Mini-Suit on the dawn

 

 

Mini-suites get no extra perks anymore (for several years, 10+, already).

[don't-use-real-name]

We are new to Norwegian and to suites in general , just wonder what the perks are for a Mini-Suit on the dawn

 

Sadly a misrepresentation - A "Mini-Suite" is nothing more than a Deluxe Balcony Cabin with a full bath tub instead of a stand-up shower with Psycho plastic shower curtain.

Other than that a Balcony cabin about 50-100 square feet more space.

 

No Butler - No Concierge - No priority boarding/disembarking - No automatic "All Promos Package" - No service charge waived room service.

 

Usually these Mini-Suite cabins are on an upper deck midship and on some

ships forward and aft. Always a full unobstructed view.

 

Whether these staterooms are worth a premium of a few hundred dollars more and falling short of a full suite is perhaps in the expectations of the occupant !

[JohnHall1965]

Thanks - Point taken ,we will book a Balcony !

[DaisyGoldberg]

There are first row balcony seats set aside for Villa and Owners suite guests on the left: front. About 10-12 seats. Not sure if there's backup but if you talk to the Butler, I'm sure he'll help.

 

It seems to vary on the Dawn whether they put the sign up "limiting" the suite seating to just the Grand Villa and Owners suites -- probably a function of how many people are traveling in them. Usually it was wide open with a staff member standing "guard".

 

We've always stayed in an SJ and been invited in when we've asked (if the sign was up and it wasn't anywhere close to full -- sometimes the concierge/assistant recognized us and waved us in, sometimes we had to show our key to an unfamiliar face). That said, the view is better from the regular seats. If it's a solo performer standing center stage it probably doesn't matter much, but if anything will be going on on the left side of the stage that you want to see without craning your neck and body sideways, you're better off in the regular seating. You can check it out and leave without offending anybody.

[soxfan2013]

It seems to vary on the Dawn whether they put the sign up "limiting" the suite seating to just the Grand Villa and Owners suites -- probably a function of how many people are traveling in them. Usually it was wide open with a staff member standing "guard".

 

We've always stayed in an SJ and been invited in when we've asked (if the sign was up and it wasn't anywhere close to full -- sometimes the concierge/assistant recognized us and waved us in, sometimes we had to show our key to an unfamiliar face). That said, the view is better from the regular seats. If it's a solo performer standing center stage it probably doesn't matter much, but if anything will be going on on the left side of the stage that you want to see without craning your neck and body sideways, you're better off in the regular seating. You can check it out and leave without offending anybody.

 

The advantage of the reserved front row balcony seats is that you can arrive late and generally get a seat...not that they are better than orchestra seats...it's just that to get a good orchestra seat, you have to arrive early and hang around, not that there's really a bad seat...but the come and go as you choose ability (can be limited depending on demand) was a nice advantage for us.

[fonrouge82]

We will be in the Grand Villa (14000) in less than a week on the Dawn. So darn excited! I've unsuccessfully attempted to search for suite guest menus for breakfast and lunch at Cagney's, or maybe it is now Modernos? Does anyone have these that they might post? Also, when sailing in the villa with the UBP, will the butler bring alcoholic drinks to your room with room service? (I realize there will already be a choice of 6 bottles already there :)

 

Thanks so much for your input!

[Starflyr3]

We will be in the Grand Villa (14000) in less than a week on the Dawn. So darn excited! I've unsuccessfully attempted to search for suite guest menus for breakfast and lunch at Cagney's, or maybe it is now Modernos? Does anyone have these that they might post? Also, when sailing in the villa with the UBP, will the butler bring alcoholic drinks to your room with room service? (I realize there will already be a choice of 6 bottles already there :)

 

Thanks so much for your input!

 

That sounds amazing!

 

The party line about room service cocktails is: yes, your butler will bring, but you will have to pay.

 

There have been some reports of some butlers who will, but I would NOt count on it.

[SherriM]

When we sailed HAL, one of the suite perks was unlimited free laundry and dry cleaning, will the Dawn have this? And regarding room service - do suite guests pay the $7.95 service charge? And general Dawn question (first timers on NCL) - are there any behind the scenes tours offered on board the ship?

Thank you!

[BirdTravels]

When we sailed HAL, one of the suite perks was unlimited free laundry and dry cleaning, will the Dawn have this? And regarding room service - do suite guests pay the $7.95 service charge? And general Dawn question (first timers on NCL) - are there any behind the scenes tours offered on board the ship?

Thank you!

 

No free laundry. You will be offered a fill-a- bag for $20 once during your cruise

 

No room service charges for food from the suites restaurant, main dining room, O'Shehans

 

If you order food from a specialty restaurant, you pay the price of the food in the specialty restaurant.

 

Behind the Scenes tours are offered by the shore excursion office at about $75 pp. you could try talking to the concierge to see if they can sneak you in the latitudes platinum tour done by the cruise next department.

Edited January 9, 2017 by BirdTravels

[SherriM]

No free laundry. You will be offered a fill-a- bag for $20 once during your cruise

No room service charges for food from the suites restaurant, main dining room, O'Shehans

If you order food from a specialty restaurant, you pay the price of the food in the specialty restaurant.

Behind the Scenes tours are offered by the shore excursion office at about $75 pp. you could try talking to the concierge to see if they can sneak you in the latitudes platinum tour done by the cruise next department.

 

Perfect, thank you! We loved the room service option on HAL. So not paying an added fee will make that an easy choice. And thank you for the Latitudes Platinum tour suggestion.

[atomax]

On our recent cruise on the Star (11 days), our Concierge conducted a separate Behind the scenes tour for Suite guests on one of the sea days. Luckily, we overheard him mentioning it at breakfast one day, so we asked him for tickets right away. He also sent out an invitation to all the Suite cabins the next day. Check with the Concierge, they may have something already scheduled for you.

 

Perfect, thank you! We loved the room service option on HAL. So not paying an added fee will make that an easy choice. And thank you for the Latitudes Platinum tour suggestion.

[Always Cruising]

Atomax - did you have Hanno as your concierge? We loved him! He couldn't do enough for us in September on the Star.

[don't-use-real-name]

New England Canada fall foliage cruise sailing out of Boston 9/23-10/7 ---

 

The Concierge was ROEL GONZALES

 

My party had Par Excellence service from him - was always there to help

and make things better.

 

Hanno was the Concierge on the Panama Canal cruise October 2014 - T-A-L-L

guy any wonder how he navigated the low hanging obstacles everywhere.

Fine gentleman - always appearing in the moment of need to offer exemplary

service of NCL !

 

***atomax

Going to have to remember to inquire about that B S T via the Concierge

although I have taken the standard Platinum tour - missed opportunity

of the Bridge tours previously offered - sadly no more - BUT maybe a

back door open with a DOS Haven Garden upper class suite - will have to

wait until the next cruise.

[atomax]

Yes, Hanno was our Concierge. Thank goodness he was on the Star and soooo tall! When we checked in in Singapore, no one knew what was going on. There was no signage anywhere for priority check-in. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw this extremely tall gentleman who was wearing an NCL name tag, and I made a beeline for him! Thank goodness, because he steered us to the appropriate line where we only had to wait 15 minutes for the next attendant (although it still took us 75 minutes to complete check-in, some others stood in line for 2-6 hours!! :eek:). He got us our passports from the ship-wide storage, so we didn't have to wait in line with the hordes (who I think would have eaten their young in order to get off the ship in Sanya)!

 

Atomax - did you have Hanno as your concierge? We loved him! He couldn't do enough for us in September on the Star.

[SherriM]

On our recent cruise on the Star (11 days), our Concierge conducted a separate Behind the scenes tour for Suite guests on one of the sea days. Luckily, we overheard him mentioning it at breakfast one day, so we asked him for tickets right away. He also sent out an invitation to all the Suite cabins the next day. Check with the Concierge, they may have something already scheduled for you.

 

Ooooh, good to know! We will certainly look into that!

[Luvmypups]

Is there any reserved pool deck seating for suite guests on the Dawn?

[Demonyte]

Is there any reserved pool deck seating for suite guests on the Dawn?

 

 

No. Only place on any NCL ship for reserved seating on sun decks is Haven, but Dawn does not have one.

[BrianSimpsonKY]

Good thread here...i have a PH suite on the JADE in April...guessing the Dawn and Jade work the same suite wise!!!

 

 

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[rjmols]

That sounds amazing!

 

The party line about room service cocktails is: yes, your butler will bring, but you will have to pay.

 

There have been some reports of some butlers who will, but I would NOt count on it.

 

On the Gem last week in a suite - whenever we ordered drinks to the room we were told we would have to pay even though we had UBP, however, we were never charged extra - and we ordered lots of drinks :D