NCL Dawn - Likes and Dislikes - Go!

[AnnieBabes]

Newbies cruising on 8/3. Any helpful suggestions would be great too!

 

 

[roger001]

I had always resisted her because of no Spinnaker observation lounge and no Great Outdoors.  The Jewel class have both.   However, after a Bermuda cruise on her last Nov, she is one of our favorite ships.  Beautiful ship and wonderful crew.   I'd sail her again anytime.   

[AlexandNessa]

Dislikes, same as roger001: no Spinnaker, no Great Outdoors. 

 

Likes: Dawn's atrium is so nice compared to Norwegian's other ships. I also like the Bimini Bar better. 

[brookie848]

We've sailed on the Dawn twice. We really enjoyed Gatsby's -- it was our favorite bar. 

 

I thought the wine bar was a waste on the Dawn. We love it on the Escape, but didn't like how it was tucked away and dark on the Dawn. 

[AnnieBabes]

13 minutes ago, AlexandNessa said:

Dislikes, same as roger001: no Spinnaker, no Great Outdoors. 

 

Likes: Dawn's atrium is so nice compared to Norwegian's other ships. I also like the Bimini Bar better. 

 

Spinnaker, Great Outdoors? You're speaking cruise expert language. :)

[AnnieBabes]

14 minutes ago, brookie848 said:

We've sailed on the Dawn twice. We really enjoyed Gatsby's -- it was our favorite bar. 

 

I thought the wine bar was a waste on the Dawn. We love it on the Escape, but didn't like how it was tucked away and dark on the Dawn. 

 

Any food recommendations? Thanks.

[AlexandNessa]

2 minutes ago, AnnieBabes said:

 

Spinnaker, Great Outdoors? You're speaking cruise expert language. :)

Sorry! These are just improvements that were made on the Jewel class ships, which were released after the Dawn class. 

 

I forgot to say we also love Los Lobos on the Dawn. You don't need to waste a dining package credit there if you just want appetizers. 

[goldy24]

Beautiful ship,  not too big and manageable. Great refurbishment. 

[roger001]

9 minutes ago, AnnieBabes said:

 

Spinnaker, Great Outdoors? You're speaking cruise expert language. 🙂

Yea.  We really enjoyed having a few down in Gatsby's also.   Reference above, go here and scroll to Spinnaker Lounge.  Then left side select dining and scroll to Great Outdoors.   Again, Jewel class ships.  

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/jewel/whats-on-board/bars-lounges

 

Oh yea.  Forgot Los Lobos. 

 

 

 

Edited June 17, 2019 by roger001

[AnnieBabes]

1 minute ago, goldy24 said:

Beautiful ship,  not too big and manageable. Great refurbishment. 

 

Goldy, where's your friend Baumy?

[goldy24]

Addressing her perks.

[AnnieBabes]

6 minutes ago, roger001 said:

Yea.  We really enjoyed having a few down in Gatsby's also.   Reference above, go here and scroll to Spinnaker Lounge.  Then left side select dining and scroll to Great Outdoors.   Again, Jewel class ships.  

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/jewel/whats-on-board/bars-lounges

 

I understand now, thank you. That Great Outdoors lounge looks great, too bad its not on the Dawn.

[brookie848]

8 minutes ago, AnnieBabes said:

 

Any food recommendations? Thanks.

 

We are pretty basic eaters and have eaten at Aqua (MDR), O'Sheehan's, Cagney's, Moderno, and La Cucina. We've also gotten snacks/lunch at the buffet, and both Bimini and Topsiders on the pool deck. All of the food is what we expect from being on a cruise. Some things really good...other things were just fine. We did really enjoy the thin crust pizza we got at La Cucina. It was a nice change of pace for us and we were able to bring our leftovers back to the cabin to snack on later.

 

We're not huge fans of Moderno and didn't really like it on the Dawn. The salad bar is smaller than it is on the larger ships.

 

The other item we didn't like was that there is only one soft serve machine in the buffet. My husband loves getting ice cream on cruises and this wasn't as convenient as it was on other ships. 

[Barb Nahoumi]

55 minutes ago, brookie848 said:

We've sailed on the Dawn twice. We really enjoyed Gatsby's -- it was our favorite bar. 

 

I thought the wine bar was a waste on the Dawn. We love it on the Escape, but didn't like how it was tucked away and dark on the Dawn. 

I liked it when it was Pearly Kings.

 

[Sachmoe]

1 hour ago, brookie848 said:

We've sailed on the Dawn twice. We really enjoyed Gatsby's -- it was our favorite bar. 

 

I thought the wine bar was a waste on the Dawn. We love it on the Escape, but didn't like how it was tucked away and dark on the Dawn. 

 

Been on the Dawn 3 times.  Twice before drydock and once post.  Really missed the Pearly Kings Pub that was replaced by the Cellar's wine bar.  Pearly Kings was usually busy most evenings, but the wine bar was pretty empty all hours of the day.

 

The Bliss Lounge (formerly the Spinnaker) we didn't mind the change much, as not much was modified.  Spent many nights enjoying karaoke (though if I have to hear Santana/Rob Thomas - Smooth, one more time I may lose it).  We got to a point the waiters knew our orders and would just keep the drinks coming all night.

 

The removal of the Blue Lagoon (which was awful the first two trips) and replaced by O'Sheehans's was a very welcome change.  Food at O'Sheehans was miles better.

 

We never made it to Los Lobos Cantina, but did miss having two methods to get out of the back end of the Garden Cafe, even if one section did not get much use the first couple trips.

[RIvacationgirl]

Sailing this weekend, and have not been on the Dawn for several years. Thank you fo rthe updates.

[AnnieBabes]

34 minutes ago, RIvacationgirl said:

Sailing this weekend, and have not been on the Dawn for several years. Thank you fo rthe updates.

 

Have a great trip!

[NYcruzzer]

9 hours ago, brookie848 said:

We've sailed on the Dawn twice. We really enjoyed Gatsby's -- it was our favorite bar. 

 

I thought the wine bar was a waste on the Dawn. We love it on the Escape, but didn't like how it was tucked away and dark on the Dawn. 

 

Just off the Dawn... You are right. The Wine bar was very underutilized..Gatsby's had some great live music. My only dislike was the strong smell of smoke from adjacent Cigar Bar and Casino. 

[Buckeye10640]

18 hours ago, AnnieBabes said:

 

Any food recommendations? Thanks.

At Los Lobos, loved the guac made tableside.  Agree with the other poster you can just get appetizers there.  We really liked O'Sheehans and ate there 3 times. We could sit by the window and watch sailaway or just watch the ocean.   Had fajitas and fish and chips but dont go without trying the Brownie Smore Cheesecake! My favorite dessert on the ship.  Only ate in the dining room a few times and we did not have dining package so cant speak to all of the specialty restaurants. 

[mking8288]

Go find & enjoy what I called the "not-so-secret" hideaway quiet (somewhat) lounge on Deck 9 mid-ship, above the atrium & up the stairs from O'Sheehan's.  It's where our "gang" meet pre-dinner sometimes, nice place indoor to read, relax, sit-back & enjoy music from below.  

[don't-use-real-name]

Spinnaker Lounge renamed "Bliss" Lounge.

DAWN the almost perfect ship without the floating amusement park stuff.

[2kruzers]

Considering this cruise for August  - did the Gem last year and loved it - perfect size and just right combo of activities for us.  Loved not having to book dinner and show reservations like on the Breakaway. Traveling with 12 year old dd and husband.  If my daughter finds friends in the kids club all will be fine but concerned if she doesn't find a group to hang out with, there will not be enough on board to entertain her.  Also, wondering about entertainment in lounges.  Last year on Gem spent almost every night being entertained by Justin (combo of singer/piano/improv guy).  Anyone have any insight on the lounge performers?  Thanks in advance.

[Sachmoe]

4 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Go find & enjoy what I called the "not-so-secret" hideaway quiet (somewhat) lounge on Deck 9 mid-ship, above the atrium & up the stairs from O'Sheehan's.  It's where our "gang" meet pre-dinner sometimes, nice place indoor to read, relax, sit-back & enjoy music from below.  

I couldn't remember which ship it was that I had accidentally found this little lounge while I was meandering around the ship early one morning.  We found that it was rarely ever used and a nice little out of the way but still can see what's going on location.  Good for a quiet morning cup of coffee.

[roger001]

34 minutes ago, 2kruzers said:

Considering this cruise for August  - did the Gem last year and loved it - perfect size and just right combo of activities for us.  Loved not having to book dinner and show reservations like on the Breakaway. Traveling with 12 year old dd and husband.  If my daughter finds friends in the kids club all will be fine but concerned if she doesn't find a group to hang out with, there will not be enough on board to entertain her.  Also, wondering about entertainment in lounges.  Last year on Gem spent almost every night being entertained by Justin (combo of singer/piano/improv guy).  Anyone have any insight on the lounge performers?  Thanks in advance.

Keep in mind that the Dawn class (including the Star) and the Jewel class (Gem and others) are somewhat different in design.  But...I do love them both.   

[ja2nowak]

Dislikes: No SpiceH20, no Spinnaker lounge, no Great Outdoors to eat breakfast at in the aft. Interesting layout.

Likes: Crew and staff are great, enjoyed the casino, still has decent size balcony's compared to the new ships.