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24 hours in the Garden Villa or How I Learned to Wave to the Minions.

shoreguy

By shoreguy,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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shoreguy

shoreguy

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I am back but changed forever. I have to say the Dawn’s Garden Villa is absolutely something else ! Just ask the other CC members that joined us and turned a cavernous, excessive, one of a kind space into a warm and friendly hideaway.

 

I will post pictures later today. I tried to take shots that had not been seen but ended up with a lot of NYC at sunset. As grand as the Villas are NYC can always steal the show. Was everything perfect? No, as always. Did I get every bit of my monies worth? Yes and then some.

 

The day started out rocky and got better for every one of the 24 hours. Up at 6 am and ready to go. Ground the coffee, started the coffee make, off to the shower. Back to the kitchen, out with a mop. I forgot to put the pot in the coffee maker. Now what was I thinking about.

 

We headed to the city around 9:30. No traffic, up 10th avenue and west to the pier entrance. The Dawn was at Pier 90. Dropped my date for this adventure and parked the car. By the way if you are looking for a way to impress someone on your first real date - this works:D I was back in the pier in 5 minutes. The lot was empty but was in fact completely full by the time we sailed.

 

Somehow I expected as a GV quest I would be whisked away. I stopped everyone I saw and said “Where do I go I am in the GV I must be special” :rolleyes: One person tried to seat us on the floor with the rest of the arriving “minions” (more on minions later). I finally checked the stairs to the lounge that we had used as Latitudes members. There was a sign “Garden Villa, Penthouse, and Latitude Members. They had set up two areas of seating. Right side was for Villa and Penthouse and left side for Latitudes. Coffee, water, juice, sandwiches, and cake were in place. We were the only two on the penthouse side with perhaps a half dozen in the latitudes section at 11 am. There we sat in 80 degrees until we boarded around 12:30

 

I have to say sitting there by ourselves in a hot stark area on folding metal chairs was not how I expected to start this cruise. It got better quickly. Next group of passengers to arrive kicked up the atmosphere. They had three cabins booked two AD and a Mini. For some this was there first cruise. They started to talk about dinner and where to eat. As usual I had to jump in and offer some advice and information on the options. I told to make sure the first thing they did when the boarded was make reservations since they had decided on Cagney’s. Fast forward - they forgot and ended up with are you ready an 11:00 PM reservation. This was a different cruise.

 

The conversation continued and the “ringleader” ( no names to protect the innocent) starting telling a story about a guy on CC that had gotten an upsell to the GV. I started to laugh. I said that guy is me. “Are you shoreguy” and the cruise was on. My GF had no idea of my secret life on the boards but I had warned here we may run into a few passengers that know me by a different name. She looked at me a little worried. I did mention a “couple” might stop by the GF that evening. The hour spent waiting flew by and finally it was time to board.

 

This is getting much longer then I thought it would and we are not even on the Dawn yet.

 

Part two coming soon.

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micheleg

micheleg

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I'm trying to make up for 5 days without power!!! I thought I'd die without TV, but no Cruisecritic for the week was the worst!!!! Wilma certainly has taken the wind out of our sails, and we just got done putting some plastic up on the roof...but we've only got a few more weeks until our short Thanksgiving cruise so we'll make it!!! :)

 

Can't wait to read Part 2!!! Thanks Shoreguy!

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shoreguy

shoreguy

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Finally one of the NCL staff showed up. I could see they were already boarding a wedding party of a 100. “Where are my GV passengers? OK you stand over here. Penthouse passengers you follow them and rest of you fall in behind. The stampede was on. We did end up being the first to the check in counter as those that rushed ahead failed to follow directions, took a wrong turn and ended up in the wedding party line that was issuing day passes for the guests on the list.

 

Claudio was standing at the counter and said hello to me by name before I even introduced myself. He remembered me from the Sun in August 04. He had are room keys in hand all we needed was to check in. Small problem the agent for that station had not shown up yet. Claudio jumped into action and tried repeatedly to get someone to move over and check us in. I think for a minute there was even a little sweat. In the end it only took a couple of minutes. Claudio was wonderful and closed the conversation by introducing us to the butler who escorted us via the back door to the Garden Villa. Think these people do not know who we are. Claudio even said I bet I will read about this on CC. Yes Claudio you will !

 

Ryan was our butler. He was the best of the best and the worst of the worst. He escorted us to the GV and gave us a brief tour. I don’t think I heard a word. I was in shock by the space. You just can’t get the fell for the GV from pictures. The though I was spending a night here was overwhelming.

 

I almost forgot my own advice. I ask Ryan for Claudio’s number I need to make dinner reservations. Ryan said he would take care of it. I knew exactly what I wanted. Bistro, 9PM, the table for two in the back next to the Renoir. He wrote it down in detail repeated it and took care of it. We spent the next hour just exploring the GV inside and out, taking pictures, and laughing like two kids locked in a candy store for the night.

 

I stood at the mirrored windows and the rail of the massive sundeck and waved to the crowds below. You just can not imagine how detached the environment makes you feel from the rest of the ship. We decided to head out for a food. I had eaten nothing all day. Time to rejoin the minions we had been waving to. Good thing we did because on of the CC members gave me instructions poolside on how to properly wave to the minions with my palm cupped and a rotation of the forearm.

 

Quick tour of the ship. Quick trip down to the Star Bar for the first of the day. It was packed. Things are different today for sure. We stopped by the Bistro to enjoy the art. I became a bit worried. Where once in the back had been a round table in the corner and a single table for two there were large tables for eight. In fact the whole restaurant looked like it had been packed with extra tables. As it turns out this was a different cruise. They ended up taking reservations up until 11:30PM to handle the demand on the one night adventure. Many tried to just make reservations for just Chocolate Fondue.

 

Lunch – what can I say? It sucked. No other way to put it. We went to Venetian around 1:10. The plan a glass of nice red wine and a light lunch. We were seated by a window. Given a menu and allowed to sit and study it for 10 minutes all by ourselves. Nothing on the menu looked good. Cold beef plate, lamb, salmon, burgers and dogs. Not the usual day one scampi even. I would have expected a killer lunch with all the first timers onboard. What better way to get them back.

 

I ordered the beef plate. I had had it on the Jewel last month and it was good. The waitress asked is that all? I began to worry. My partner asked if she could just have the salad with some chicken on it. (keep in mind this a staple of the standard room service menu). She would check.

 

Wine an adventure – I asked what are pouring by the glass. Answer Merlot and Cabernet. No what brands. Oh you want a wine list? Yes. She goes and talks to another waiter. He comes to the table. What kind of wine do you want? What kind do you have? Oh you want a wine list? Yes. Ordered the same wine we just had at the Star Bar. 5 minutes later oh we don’t have that wine anymore. Re-ordered wine came it was great. 5 minutes later waitress returns it is going to be at least another 15 minutes for the chicken they have to cook it. Just bring a plain salad. By the way the rolls were outstanding we had finished all of then by now.

 

Lunch arrived very nice salad and I knew why she asked me what else I wanted. The beef plate was very tastee. The entire thing would fit on a dinner roll. There was a teaspoon, yes one bite of potato salad and 3 tiny paper thin slices of beef. Checked out the desert menu – nothing chocolate so we headed out on a quest.

 

Surely the Java café will have something chocolate. No luck. Blue Lagoon strike two. Off to the one place I did not think I would find myself this cruise….The Garden Café. Had I used my brain I would have returned to the Villa and called Ryan to bring chocolate mousse. Got in line no chocolate dessert except a sugar free mousse (I was happy). We asked on of the cooks if there was anything chocolate. He was great. He went in the back and returned with a whole wonderful chocolate cake – quest over.

 

Off to poolside (keep in mind we have not even had the lifeboat drill yet it is only a little after 2 pm I think) The party was starting to kick up. Passengers downing those $8 plus tip souvenir drinks. Yes the new bar menu that was on the Jewel with increased prices has arrived on the Dawn. Good news buckets of beer unlike the Jewel were everywhere. Ran into our new friends from the holding tank. Got my lesson in waving and decided we would go back to the GV order a bottle of wine and relax in the hot tub until the 4:30 drill. Things were really looking up.

 

Next post – the last bump in the road from a remarkable 25 hours.

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shoreguy

shoreguy

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We returned to the mountain top to survey the minions below one more time, order wine and enjoy the private hot tub. I picked up the wireless phone (one of at least 10 phones in the GV including one in each toilet area) and dialed Ryan. I asked for the same wine we had with lunch he directed me to the wine list in the dinning room sideboard to get the bin # to make sure there was no mistake. Good thinking. While my GF headed for the hot tub I waited for Ryan and waited and waited. 40 minutes later the phone rang. We don’t have that number. I gave it to him again. He was clearly at the bar as I heard the conversation with the bartender – did I want the red or the white Merryville Reserve Cab? I think the red would be the only option. I am beginning to worry more about my dinner reservations.

 

By this time I wanted a drink and my GF was par boiled. No Hot tub for this boy. Headed off to the Star Bar for the first Martini of the day before attending the mandatory drill. It was still packed. You all have to understand as I point out the bumps you still can not wipe the smile off my face. I share them for fun and entertainment. We returned from the drill and there sat the bottle of wine. It worked out perfect. We had over an hour before I planned to me CC members in the Star Bar and a bottle of wine to share as the Dawn departed NYC at sunset.

 

The private sundeck above the GV is just about the highest point on the ship and what a spot to enjoy the trip down the Hudson. The sun was reflecting off the buildings downtown. The lady was at here best guarding the harbor. The area approaching the narrows was jammed with ships. The band was playing miles below. I had it all even if it was only for a few hours.

 

A few thoughts on the GV itself before the story begins. Things in some cases I did not know. If you are planning a big family event the GV are adjoining in a big way. It is clear that the center walls in the massive living room can be removed producing a basketball court sized living space. There is the standard doorways in the hall that could be opened as well. There is a door up on the sundeck that can be opened also.

 

It took me 3 hours before I even found the third bedroom. Everyone has its own room number and telephone number. Two of the bedrooms have wonderful bathrooms with whirlpool tubs the third is a lot like an AD with the same standard Mini/AE/AD bathroom. The third bedroom whirlpool is not as large but I think it is the nicest room with a slider onto the courtyard area.

 

The piano is a hoot. It has a remote control and CDs that cover a wide range of music. I did not realize until the evening there was a volume control and it had been on 10 the whole day. It came in handy for the CCs later but that’s the next section of the ramblings of a shoreguy.

 

I need to take a time out - more later tonight

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TrinaLC

TrinaLC

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We too were surprised that there wasn't something a little more special for the GV and OS on boarding - just the little holding pen. We weren't even asked to lead the line, someone came up and said everyone should follow her.

 

Oh well, we were treated royally from the moment we actually boarded!

 

Waiting breathlessly for the rest ...

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Suesan Jean

Suesan Jean

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I am having a BALL reading your installments of your once-in-a-lifetime-24-hours-cruise.....!!!:D I knew you would have an EXCELLENT time!!!

 

I can just imagine you doing the "Royal Wave"...!!!:D TOO CUTE!!!

 

I am quite sure you are still on "cloud nine", it is probably like coming off quite a "high"....I bet you are STILL smiling....!!!:)

 

Can't wait to read about the rest of your day!!!:)

 

Suesan:)

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shoreguy

shoreguy

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Before we return to the story

 

A few thoughts on the one day cruise. It is a very different animal. A very different mix of passengers with a very different agenda. Many were people who had never cruised before. I am not sure this was the best introduction. The bars and restaurants were jammed the shows empty. There were perhaps 200 passengers at the 8 pm Bollywood show. More later on that. That leaves 1200 still stuffed into the bars and restaurants.

 

While on our quest we ran into a group from CT in the Garden Café. None had cruised before. One woman said all I have heard from others is how good the food is and here I am in a cafeteria eating frozen pizza. Think they will be back? I tried to tell here it will get better and asked where she was having dinner. They had no idea where or what their options were. Not sure it ever got better. Bet they showed up a 7:30 and where told there will be a hour wait for a party of six.

 

As I pointed out you could not get near the specialty restaurants even with reservations until 11:30. The bars were packed all day and night. Dazzles was still going strong with Karaoke well after midnight.

 

The casino was a packed as well but being smart they knew how to maximize the return. No $5 tables everyone was $10 and up.

 

In short one day passengers were trying to pack a week into the time we usually use just find our way around and decide what we want to do during the cruise. Most seemed to have a great time. I am sure many walked away with a different impression of cruising then NCL would like.

 

For me even taking the GV out of the equation I was surprised how much fun the one day was. It was not a cruise but more like a night on the town and not like having one potato chip.

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