Our Dawn 1/29/17 Review-Mostly Good...

[cheaperts]

Well, just back off the last week on the Dawn. I'll give my brief review, take it for what it's worth....

 

About us: Wife and I are 49, we have 2 adult kids and have sailed Norwegian 8 times? We have pretty modest tastes, we are not foodies, and mostly go along and get along. We just look to make the most of whatever is thrown at us.

 

Along with us was the wife's mother and her boyfriend (70 & 65 respectively)

We booked the cruise on a whim late November, and by watching a certain fish site;) I progressively upgraded our cabin from an inside to a balcony on deck 9. The MIL and friend were in an ocean view on 8 near O'shehans.

 

We drove down to Baton Rouge on Saturday and then the last hour to the port on Sunday. Approaching the port, dropping the luggage and parking was a bit of a cluster. This was our 4th cruise from NOLA and was definitely the messiest for getting on and getting boarded. There was no good flow to the check in, latitudes didn't seem to matter-just get in one of the lines please....

 

Oh well! Once we were checked in it wasn't very long before we were headed for the ship. Right on board, right to the cabin to drop carry on's. Our steward Robert was almost done with the cabin, so we introduced our selves, I slipped him some cash to prime the good service pump, and we headed off to explore.

[cheaperts]

The ship as you know was recently in dry dock and the public areas all looked very nice. This was our first time on the Dawn, but it certainly appeared the carpets were new, the public bathrooms all seemed freshly updated from the look of the fixtures and such.

 

BUT-the public bathrooms is my first negative remark (not really a complaint, just an observation) The bathrooms are very snug, as in if you are at a urinal and some one comes in they have to squeeze between you and a sink to get to, well anything....AWKWARD!! One bathroom I went in had 3 urinals arranged in a corner-I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE THE MIDDLE GUY! Pick your fixture wisely guys!

 

We found the MIL and friend and decided to go to O'Sheehan's for a bite. The menu at O'Sheehan's has improved since our previous cruise, that's a plus. Service was friendly and reasonably quick, all was going well....till dessert.

While we were eating they made the announcement that all staterooms were ready. We had eaten our entrees and, as is our habit we decided to get pound cake and strawberrys (one of my favorite things on NCL) to take back to the cabin. We were told "NO"....

 

Okay, wait..."No" doesn't happen often on a cruise, maybe we misunderstood the gentleman so we questioned further. We were told in no uncertain terms "food can not be taken from O'Sheehan's for 'Health Reasons'

WHAT?!?!?!?

"Food taken to cabins can spoil and cause illness so it is not allowed"

hmmm...we will revisit this later in the review.......

 

OK, whatever, we head to our cabin to unpack and get settled in, only slightly miffed about our lack of pound cake. Let's talk about the cabin, shall we?

[NMLady]

...

 

We found the MIL and friend and decided to go to O'Sheehan's for a bite. The menu at O'Sheehan's has improved since our previous cruise, that's a plus. Service was friendly and reasonably quick, all was going well....till dessert.

While we were eating they made the announcement that all staterooms were ready. We had eaten our entrees and, as is our habit we decided to get pound cake and strawberrys (one of my favorite things on NCL) to take back to the cabin. We were told "NO"....

 

Okay, wait..."No" doesn't happen often on a cruise, maybe we misunderstood the gentleman so we questioned further. We were told in no uncertain terms "food can not be taken from O'Sheehan's for 'Health Reasons' ...

 

On the back of the ship newsletter where the hours of dining are given it states that no food can be taken from O'Sheehans. That surprised me since food can be taken from buffet, and desserts can be wrapped ny staff and taken from MDR's.

[elainemasey61]

Looking forward to your review. We will be sailing the Dawn in June. I haven't sailed NCL in 30+ years.

 

 

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[cheaperts]

The Cabin:

We ended up in 9706 a BC or BD (not sure) Balcony, Handicap Accessible cabin.

 

Deck 9 AFT, just off of the elevator landing, you can see it from the landing

 

The cabin was very quiet, we never heard the elevators, or the neighbors. And was pitch black at night as long as the curtain to the balcony was fully closed. The bed was very comfortable, it had a topper on the mattress which was nice. There is ample storage, a nice flat screen TV, safe & mini fridge in the cabinet under the TV. A small round table and 2 chairs, plus the dressing area/desk with storage above it, a hair dryer and coffee maker. The coffee maker is a 5 cup maker, not a single serve, that was nice! As an accessible cabin it was larger, not double the neighbors but easily half again. More Pics:

Looking in from balcony door

[cheaperts]

More cabin pics....

The Bed

 

Bathroom-Flat roll in shower, shower chair, oversized door

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb378/cheaperts/Cruise%20Jan%202017/sink.jpeg[/img]

 

Lastly, the balcony. Not super deep but room across for 5 or even 6 chairs, 1 small table

[cheaperts]

On the back of the ship newsletter where the hours of dining are given it states that no food can be taken from O'Sheehans. That surprised me since food can be taken from buffet, and desserts can be wrapped ny staff and taken from MDR's.

 

Yes, ultimately we took food from various locations to the room, not to mention ROOM SERVICE! Or even better, we were given Hors d'oeuvres daily that were left on our table, including shrimp, hello?!?

 

We decided this is a policy, tragically, to yet again nickle and dime. Your only option late night, early morning is Room Service-7.95 service charge! or O'Sheehan's-but you can't take it out, forcing you to use room service if you want a late snack in your room

[cheaperts]

Few more things about the cabin....

I notice certain details, now the ship had just been in dry dock. Over all the cabin was in good shape and I realize maintaining this huge floating city is a constant never ending task. But, take the railing on the balcony, look again....

 

I don't think that wood has seen varnish in 5 years or more, and the entire deck looked that way forward and aft. And the extra pipe rail on top (i assume because it is accessible and the balcony floor is raised 6 inches) was a rusty beat up thing looked like it came from a scrap yard.

 

Again don't get me wrong, none of this was a deal breaker, awesome room and 95% very nice, even had robes waiting for us! But slap a little varnish on there before some one gets a nasty splinter!

 

Ok, back on track: we get to the room, sans pound cake:mad:, and the bed is full of documents-invite to the Latitudes mixer, onboard credit receipt, daily, invite to the officers mixer, letter telling us we have a Concierge and can eat Cagney's for breakfast and lunch, note about..WAIT.. WHAT??? we have a Concierge and can eat Cagney's for breakfast and lunch HOLY COW!

After high 5's between the wife and I we got the gear all hung and stored, suit cases under the bed, candy and snacks strategically placed, time to get on to vacation! Oh crap, life boat drill got in the way, oh well safety first!

[cheaperts]

We must be Famous....

 

Life boat drill was, well a life boat drill. Our muster station was in the Venetian MDR. Drill lasted 15 minutes or so and then we were dismissed to get on with the vaca!

 

We wandered to the pool deck, too cold to hang out there, we found our selves on deck 13 mid ship stepping inside right between Moderno and Cagney's. That's when a snappy dressed guy behind the Hostess stand said "Hello Mr. Winn" Freaked me out! No doubt looking like a deer in the headlights I looked at him and his name tag "Roel... Concierge" Dang this guy is good! We laughed and made nice, and he told us anything we need let him know....well ok!

 

By now I had almost forgot about the lost pound cake....

[In Toronto]

Great review. Keep it coming!:)

Ellen

[hladygirl]

How on earth do you keep the water from going all over the bathroom in that shower.

[cheaperts]

Lots more exploring the first afternoon, layout is very similar to the Jewel, small casino, theater up front on 6 and 7. One thing we missed was an outdoor/aft venue to eat, love to sit on the back of the ship and eat.

 

We had as perks from the booking prepaid tips and the drink package, and we had all purchase 3 meal dining plans. 1st evening we had booked Cagney's.

 

Up to dinner at 7 on the dot, service was excellent, food was excellent, no room for dessert. I meant to get menu pics but didn't, the ala carte pricing we decided would have been 40.00+ per person so the dining package was well worth the money.

 

All the travel and excitement had taken it's toll, we found ourselves climbing into bed by 9ish.

[cheaperts]

How on earth do you keep the water from going all over the bathroom in that shower.

 

the curtain hangs over or just to the inside of the drain channel, I suppose if you spray the curtain continuously it would get some outside, but it was never an issue. Bigger issue was tripping over the shower chair during middle of the night potty runs......

[jpcdds6]

Great review so far but I'm a little confused. How did you get suite perks in a balcony cabin?

[cheaperts]

Monday 1st Sea Day

 

We crawled out after a great night's sleep and fired up the coffee pot. Good coffee, even better with the french vanilla stuff she insists on bringing from home, and better still enjoyed in your swanky NCL robe on the veranda....

Man...we are so cool....

 

After getting ourselves together we headed up to Moderno/Cagney's to investigate how the other half eats breakfast, would there be gold flat ware? Champagne fountains? Dancing waiters?

Sadly, no...but it is a very serene place for a meal verses the MDR or the buffet. There were a few items on the menu not available in the other venues, main plus was the buffet of pastries, fruit, parfaits, etc. and the over the top service.

 

Breakfast was great, we thanked the maitre d as we left and went to get prepared for the most amazing "Cruise Critic Meet and Greet" ever!

[cheaperts]

Great review so far but I'm a little confused. How did you get suite perks in a balcony cabin?

 

There is a reason, it was a total surprise to us. We discussed it last sea day with someone and verified our thought as to why, but were asked not to discuss the why, because each ship does things differently, and they did not want other folks to expect the same, and I doubt it will ever happen to us again, unless we are in a suite, and we are too cheap for that so......

[DebbieCruises]

Monday 1st Sea Day

... we left and went to get prepared for the most amazing "Cruise Critic Meet and Greet" ever!

 

I can't wait to hear about the M&G! What made it the best ever? Please share some details and ideas to make our next one even better.:)

[cheaperts]

1st Sea Day Continued

 

Our roll call for this sailing was pretty quiet. When we joined in November? not much was going on. I read through the few pages, no one was discussing a meet and greet so I stepped up and started the list. We ended up with 75 or so people saying they would attend, and we also started a slot pull list and had 36 say they would play, not bad for a quiet roll call.

 

Now, when I say the best meet and greet ever, well on this cruise on that day! We did have good attendance, at least 50 or more showed up. Little talk from the officers, some snacks, a rather extensive Q&A with the cruise director and Cruise next rep. We had made a few door prizes we raffled off, t-shirts and Koozies (our business, see the screen name, now add a space - cheaper ts)

 

Then it was time to head to the casino for the slot pull, we had 24 total players and lost 3 bucks each! But I think fun was had by all, & the ship donated a bottle of Champagne for the highest spinning player.

 

Well after noon, we were ready to eat so we headed back up to Moderno for lunch. I did get pics of the Haven/Suite Lunch menu, I will post them tomorrow, gotta go to bed now, still trying to recover from vacation!

[cheaperts]

I can't wait to hear about the M&G! What made it the best ever? Please share some details and ideas to make our next one even better.:)

might have been a little sarcasm in my statement...it was good but I've been to better, not enough mingling and the Cruise next lady went on and on and on......

[cheaperts]

Before the lunch menu, here is a pic of the breakfast pastries and fruit buffet

forgot to post it earlier

 

Up to Moderno for lunch! Again a very nice quiet setting for good eats and stellar service, the pics are the menu for lunch daily for Haven/Suite Guests

I recommend the french dip, it is great!

[Sand and Seas]

Enjoying your review and looking forward to more! We will be back on the Dawn in March for our first trip on her since the dry-dock. Really enjoying the pictures too:D

[cheaperts]

1st sea day cont...

 

After lunch we wandered the ship, looked at the shopping venues, did a lot of people watching.

 

About the people on the cruise: Since Marge is a teacher we normally cruise on peak dates, Spring Break, Christmas/New Years, and around 4th of July. So this was a different affair from what we are use to, very few children, very few young adults. One of the officers told me the average age on this sailing was 57...so we were the young ones! But most everyone was very friendly and outgoing.

 

By 3ish we were done, a few drinks and lots of activities and we needed a nap, naps are one of my favorite things on a cruise, along with pound cake! So we crawled into bed,set an alarm for a couple of hours later and crashed and burned.

 

When we got up it was time to get ready for the officers mixer thing. We went to the Bliss lounge, aft on 7, where we were treated to shrimp and cheese and drinks, the officers were all there to say hi, then they rapidly disappeared and left us to entertain ourselves. Sorry to inconvenience you guys......:cool:

 

 

The 4 of us went down to Gatsby's bar to have a cocktail and kill a little time (and so Dave could smoke in the cigar room next to it) till our reservation at 7 for Le Bistro. Now From our first cruise on NCL we have been huge Cagney's fans, but in the last 2 cruises Le Bistro has taken the top spot. The filet is so good and the port wine reduction, injection, whatever sauce is just like gravy from heaven. Stuffed to the gills and feeling very much a part of the beau monde......

 

A night cap in the Grand Atrium and a little music, we finally crawled to the cabin, full, tired, and ready for Cozumel in the morning

[OUgal]

Howard,

 

It looks like you're from the Tulsa area... I'm curious what route you took down to New Orleans? Did you go down to Texas or over to Arkansas?

 

I'm from the Tulsa area too and will be sailing on the Dawn in about a month. Great review so far! Can't wait to see what you all did in each port.

 

Thanks,

Nicole

 

 

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[cheaperts]

Howard,

 

It looks like you're from the Tulsa area... I'm curious what route you took down to New Orleans? Did you go down to Texas or over to Arkansas?

 

I'm from the Tulsa area too and will be sailing on the Dawn in about a month. Great review so far! Can't wait to see what you all did in each port.

 

Thanks,

Nicole

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We went via Texas, right at 10 hour drive to the port

[noddoyll]

Enjoying your review, keep it going. What was your group's favorites from O'Sheehan's? Was you ever able to sneak any food from there? How was the entertainment?

 

 

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