NCL Dawn 3/12-3/19 Review- Dolphins, Zipline, Villas...oh my!

[Kristi Barber]

DH and I headed to casino to play a little before going to 9pm Band on the Run. Casino is right by Stardust with an exit leading right into Stardust hallway so a good place to hang out to watch for the crowd building to know when to go grab a seat.

I was playing the Rio Carnival slot machine by my Rainforest one because someone was on the Rainforest one (blc1975?). Then... BAM... I hit a all blue ladies and wilds except ONE spot on a $2.00 bet and won $600!!! WOOHOO!

(Should have just walked out for the week because I couldn't find anything else to do anything the rest of the week!)

 

Took $100 over to the blackjack table and ended up able to play there on that $100 for over 2 hours. Missed the show but DH wasn't too excited about going anyway. Casino bar was fantastic again and kept my specialty mudslides and miami vice's rolling. Called it a night about 11 and headed to room to grab some zzzz before an exciting day in Cozumel.

Got to room to find our first towel animal and a time change notice for Cozumel. Son was no where to be in room...let me guess... Bliss....

Turned in for the night... Cozumel tomorrow! Dolphins, snuba, and Chankanaab beach!

[Dina7]

Really enjoying your detailed review. I especially like your food pictures and letting us know your opinions of what you ordered. :)

[ashleyandhaley]

Love your DAwn info and reviews an sailing next week April 2nd, can't wait.

 

Did you do any of the shows? I'm traveling by myself with 4 girls, two 16 year olds and two 11 year olds

[Kristi Barber]

Love your DAwn info and reviews an sailing next week April 2nd, can't wait.

 

Did you do any of the shows? I'm traveling by myself with 4 girls, two 16 year olds and two 11 year olds

 

Yes. We did the David and Abi magic show and the Elements show. Both were fantastic!

[Kristi Barber]

1st towel animal

 

[Kristi Barber]

Cozumel Day!

Woke up in time to see port in.

 

 

Packed backpack for shore and headed to buffet for quick breakfast. Many choices and was actually good.

Filled our thermal cups with beverages and headed to floor 4 to get off ship. Line was a little congested but moved fast. Swipe and go!

Our first time to this port and was pleasantly surprised at all the shops and pharmacies right here. Little confused on how to get down to taxi level but figured out easily and grabbed a taxi to Chankanaab for $11.

[Kristi Barber]

Daily for Day 3

 

 

[Kristi Barber]

Chankanaab was beautiful!

 

Snagged a buy one get one free Royal Dolphin swim online through Dolphin Discovery for me and son. It included admission and buffet. DH just wanted a beach view, chair and a beer! Printed a $3 off coupon for DH so his day was $18.

 

[ottoflash]

Thank you for your review...I'll be on the Dawn in October...last time I was on was October of 2007, so I'm looking forward to seeing the updates! One question...I have been looking at the deck layouts for an atrium bar and can't find one. I see the Java bar, but that just serves coffees, right? Can you let me know where the atrium bar is?

[dja1031]

Thank you for your review...I'll be on the Dawn in October...last time I was on was October of 2007, so I'm looking forward to seeing the updates! One question...I have been looking at the deck layouts for an atrium bar and can't find one. I see the Java bar, but that just serves coffees, right? Can you let me know where the atrium bar is?

One floor up overlooking the main atrium is O'sheehans pub (you may remember this as Blue Lagoon)

[Kristi Barber]

Thank you for your review...I'll be on the Dawn in October...last time I was on was October of 2007, so I'm looking forward to seeing the updates! One question...I have been looking at the deck layouts for an atrium bar and can't find one. I see the Java bar, but that just serves coffees, right? Can you let me know where the atrium bar is?

 

The one I am referring to is right in the center of Atruim. Might be called Java but it served many drinks. They made good Miami Vice's and Mudslides and saw many people getting mixed drinks there. DH got his DosXX there.

[Kristi Barber]

One floor up overlooking the main atrium is O'sheehans pub (you may remember this as Blue Lagoon)

Yes up the atruim spiral is O'She and they also have a full bar. But the small one in the atrium had most drinks also. :)

[Kristi Barber]

Correct pic of day 3 daily

 

[Kristi Barber]

More on Dolphin Discovery:

After getting DH settled in a beach chair with thatched shade and right next to bar with a very attentive waiter, son and I headed to our 11 o'clock Royal Swim.

DH's shaded area for the day... not sure he moved from his paradise spot all day...

Like I previous said, I had done the Buy 1 get 1 deal online and got the Royal swim for $169 total for 2. It includes admission and buffet. I did see that you could get the basic swim for $65 on Groupon! We wanted the total package that included the foot push so went with that one. The ticket says to go 30 minutes early so we headed over to area at 10:30. There are free lockers, gift shop, and an area for on-lookers to sit to watch. IF you had a tele lens you might get some decent pics from there or if you get lucky enough to be in the close groups. There are about 10 groups of 8 people in various areas with various dolphins. Some of the areas are pretty close to on-look area and others farther away.

We checked in and were told to wait in an area and our guide would call for our group. While waiting, the photo lady approached us and tried to sell us a $140 package *emphasizing that if we didn't pre-buy we would NOT get any pictures together and the price would be $30 per photo. ... more on that later...

We declined and she moved on. About 11 a staff member came and told those of us waiting for the 11 swim that it was delayed due to the earlier swim delayed due to seaweed removal. She said 10 more minutes. So we continued to wait, browsed gift shop (more ridiculous prices) and finally at 11:20 they called for us to get in lines based on our swim type and bracelet color. We were put into groups of 8-9 and given a "pool" area number and sent for our life jackets, walked to our assigned area and meet our photographer, trainer, and dolphins. Our dolphins were Luminara and Guido. We got to spend about 45 minutes with our dolphins each getting turns at shakes, kisses, pulls, foot push, tricks, and serenade song.

Then we were escorted out of our area and over to the manatee area. We got pet the manatees as they slowly swam buy and feed then lettuce. I think there were 4 total. They are really big!

Then we were escorted back to the meeting area to return our life jackets and then sent into the photo area to view our photos.

They show you the photos of your group and you select those that are you and your family. Then they tell you that you can get the disk of about 120-140 photos for $140. Once again, we declined and I told the man that I only had $50 so what would that get me. He said each photo was $30. I said, well I guess we won't get anything and started to walk away. He said, maybe we can work out a deal. He pulled me over to the side a little and said $60 for disk of 130 pictures. (But to keep it quiet)... I said, okay $60 for all photos and went to get my money from the locker area. Paid and went to pick up disk at another counter area. Got disk and was pleased with my negotiation.

Since we were running late and scheduled a SNUBA for 1pm and it was now 12:50, we skipped the free buffet but it did look good.

Headed to SNUBA counter....

A few of the 130 pics...

[Kristi Barber]

SNUBA time!!!

Our family has snorkeled many times but this was our first time to SNUBA. Grabbed the snuba reservation online with ShoreExcursion for a discount rate. We ONLY book cruise line excursions for Harvest Caye because you save the "overhead" cost by booking online ahead of time private or direct with excursion location. Sometimes as much as half the cost the cruise line charges for same thing.

They also allow you to take all the photos you want with your own cameras or phones. No $140 package to sell you! YEAH!

We had our own snorkel mask and just needed fins from them but if not the mask is included in the cost. Son and I geared up and followed our guide out to a shallow area to practice with regulator breathing and get weights adjusted. After about 5 minutes we decided we were ready. Guide went over codes like thumbs up, thumbs down, ok sign, "look!"sign and instructed us to please follow him and he would make sure to point out things along the way.

I prepared the waterproof camera and tightened the float band to my arm and off we went! At first, I was breathing a little fast,short (nervous) but then relaxed and just went with the flow. It was much like taking a nebulizer breathing treatment for those that have had to do that for asthma or bronchitis. Immediately we were AMAZED at all the life in the area. Captivating and beautiful. I toggled between still photo and video easily with my camera. I have an Olympus TG4 compact waterproof camera. We snuba for about an hour! It was amazing, amazing, amazing!

Youtube link to some video in our highlights:

 

 

[Kristi Barber]

A sample of some of my 100 plus pictures! As a biology teacher this was MY paradise!

 

 

[Kristi Barber]

Few more...

 

 

[Kristi Barber]

After snuba, it was about 2:30 so we headed back to where we had left DH earlier in the day. He was still there...several beverages gone... LOL

We gathered up our things, popped into garden area, peeked in on sea lions, and walked through tequila area, grabbed a taxi, then headed back to pier to do a little browsing in shops and pick up a few items at pharmacy.

Long line to get back on ship but moved pretty quick. Loved the welcome back music and hot, mint towel to wash off face while waiting in line to board. Washy, washy...

Back to room to shower and get ready for dinner. Son and I were starving since we had skipped buffet in lue of more scuba time. DH had some chips and taco from bar area at Chankanaab so he wasn't as desperate for supper.

BTW: Liquids/drinks/thermals with beverage are allowed off ship but NO liquids back on. If you have thermal cups or water bottles you have to empty them before boarding but no issue with empty ones.

[Kristi Barber]

Since we were starving we headed to O'She at 5 for dinner and drinks.

I ordered wings (great) and artichoke dip (okay) was app. Beef fajitas for entree (great).

DH ordered wings and nachos (okay). Corn beef ruben (great).

Son ordered wings and cheeseburger (great).

Apple pie (not good unless you like Mrs. Smith's out of box). But we were spoiled with the brûlée'.

After dinner son headed to pool and then would meet up with us later for 7pm Haines Magic Show.

We headed to casino to play a minute before show. Couldn't get any slot to hit a bonus and so by 6:40 we headed to get a seat for magic show.

 

Magic show was actually pretty good. A few "cheesy" acts but most "America's Got Talent" worthy. I'm still trying to figure out a few of them. We all had a good time and laughed at the college guys who were smitten with Abi his assistant. LOL.

 

After show we listened to piano music in Gatsby and had a couple more drinks. Son went to find the college crowd...again.

 

Turned in pretty early since tomorrow would be another full day!

Found another towel animal on bed! YEAH! BTW: Still have never actually seen the steward?

[Butterz]

Following on the Dawn April 2. Getting excited

[twicindi]

We were trying to figure out what that towel animal is...Frog?

 

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Forums mobile app

[Kristi Barber]

We were trying to figure out what that towel animal is...Frog?

 

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Forums mobile app

 

 

LOL... we think.

[Kristi Barber]

Day 4: Roatan, Honduras

Roatan is a late port in so we took advantage and slept in a bit. We had a FULL day planned. I had booked, Tex, through Victor Bodden tours online to be our private driver for the day. We wanted freedom to do/see what we wanted on our own time and not be restricted by a "tour" schedule. SO GLAD we did. Tex was wonderful and went above and beyond to make sure we got our list checked off during the day and even pulled some "local" connections to make a few things happen to get everything on our list accomplished. Tex came recommended by several reviews I had read on CC and tripadvisor. Our day included: Scenic views of Roatan, zipline, monkeys, rum cake factory, cigar/rum shopping, authentic honduran lunch, and snorkeling. Yep... Tex made it all happen!

 

 

Headed to room after breakfast to pack backpacks for the day. Grabbed the extra backpack I had made for Tex and his family. Victor said Tex had 2 young boys and I had read how extremely poor the country was so I packed up some "gifts" for him like school supplies, a set of clothes for boys, and a few small toys for his boys and a couple of other items.

Down to 4 to get off ship.

[Kristi Barber]

There are two ports in Roatan and NCL ports in Coxen Hole. We were the ONLY NCL in port that day so NO tender! YEAH! I have read that NCL Dawn alternates with other NCL ships for port versus tender. I was glad it was walk off today so we could get our busy day started.

 

Port was easy to navigate and we quickly found the close vendor booths and located Victor Bodden in booth #1. Checked in and were escorted to shuttle area to meet Tex. He was gracious and funny. Got us out of port and on our way in no time. He had the list that I had sent Victor and asked if we wanted to make any changes or additional request. He said there were a few things we should do on our way to zip/monkeys to knock those out.

 

 

On our way through Roatan we saw first hand just how poor most were. Humbling.

He stopped on the top of the island for us to take an overlook picture. There were vendors there but Tex told us that if we saw something we wanted that he could probably get for us cheaper at other locations. For example, Vanilla at the overlook was $3 and in the supermarket $1. Honduran sugarcane dark rum was $11 a pint at overlook. Tex said he could get us some at market for $15 for a GALLON! SOLD! We did get great overlook pictures and they had free rum samples.

 

 

[Kristi Barber]

On way to Victor's Zipline/Monkey. Tex stopped at a grocery store and I gave him $20. He went in and got us 2 bottles pure vanilla and a GALLON of the dark Honduran rum! Then stopped at a small local pharmacy and went in to help me get a couple of things. Asked about lunch request. We told him quick, cheap and basically what would he grab to eat? He said Honduran burritos at the convenience store. WHAT? Ok...trust him. We actually went to the gas station and they had a little grill area in the back. We all ordered chicken and chorizo burritos loaded and grabbed a few beers too. Tex grabbed a soda. OH my... they were big,delicious and I think I paid $11 for everything including Tex meal. I wish I would have thougth to grab a picture.

Tex asked if we minded stopping for about 5 minutes at his house for him to check in on his wife/son. It was on the way to Zipline and we could eat our burritos and watch the dolphins. Dolphins? Absolutely!

Tex pulled into an area of several small houses. Not fancy but basic living with no frills. Tex took us around back of the first house to a dock that went out over a small cove. He told us how he grew up here and that the dolphin training habitat is directly across. Sure enough, 4 dolphins were swimming in a cove area. We sat and watched them until Tex returned about 5 minutes later.