Shadowmeboy's Norwegian Dawn Canada/New England Pictorial Review

[starfish the second]

joining in

[justhappy]

Yay for another Shadowmeboy review, I love that you document the whole trip, not just the cruise.

And thank you for the time and effort you put into these great photos so we can live vicariously through you!

[shadowmeboy]

On 7/12/2019 at 6:07 AM, LeesaB said:

 

Love NOLA!  I hope you get to spend an extra few days there.  Such an interesting city.

 

We will try our best! It will be our second time there, first was about a year post Katrina. Love the City!

 

On 7/12/2019 at 7:17 AM, tampadee said:

Enjoying your review.

 

We're booked on a 7 day Caribbean cruise out of Tampa (where we live). 

 

Thank you! What ship?

[shadowmeboy]

On 7/12/2019 at 7:58 AM, LUVINMYHUBS said:

LOVED the Dawn!! Takes me back!

 

Glad to help bring back memories for you!

 

On 7/12/2019 at 9:26 AM, Arzeena said:

Following along. Love your reviews!

 

Thank you, glad to have you with us!

[shadowmeboy]

On 7/12/2019 at 11:01 AM, starfish the second said:

joining in

 

Glad to have you along!

 

12 hours ago, justhappy said:

Yay for another Shadowmeboy review, I love that you document the whole trip, not just the cruise.

And thank you for the time and effort you put into these great photos so we can live vicariously through you!

 

Your very welcome!

[tampadee]

18 minutes ago, shadowmeboy said:

 

We will try our best! It will be our second time there, first was about a year post Katrina. Love the City!

 

 

Thank you! What ship?

The Dawn

[shadowmeboy]

Day 1 -Embarkation Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I slept maybe two hours 

 

 

Approaching New jersey, flying somewhere over PA, west of Allentown.

 

 

It was very foggy.

 

 

We are on final approach into to Newark at this point. You are looking down on the Perth Amboy, New Jersey area. the oil tanks lower right are next to the Garden State Parkway bridge.

 

 

The outerbridge crossing spanning from New Jersey to Staten Island, New York is just coming out of the fog!

 

 

A good look at Staten Island!

 

 

Pralls Island - we are flying right above the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95).

 

 

Goethals Bridge (Staten island expressway) crosses the water between New jersey and New York. See the Manhattan skyline in the top left corner?

 

 

Port Ivory Container Ship berth and the Northfolk Southern New York Container Facility

 

 

Elizabeth, NJ

 

Here is the video of our Alaska Airlines flight landing at Newark Liberty International Airport.

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

We arrived into Newark at 6:11 am EDT. (Flight attendant announced it over the planes intercom as we started taxiing.) It took about 7 minutes to get to the gate. (6:18 am)

 

We got off the plane and headed to baggage claim. We waited for maybe 3 minutes and our bags were already coming out. (6:30 am)

 

We got everything arranged, got lost finding where to catch an Uber, asked for directions, and made our way outside to request the Uber. (6:40 am)

 

Uber arrives (6:45 am)

 

We are loaded and on our way. (6:50 am)

 

 

Manhattan Skyline taken from the New Jersey Turnpike (6:57 am)

 

 

 

 

Entering the Lincoln Tunnel (7:04 am)

 

 

Lincoln Tunnel

 

 

Arrived at the cruise terminal and the Norwegian Dawn. (7:18 am)

 

 

Had to send a selfie to Trace saying we had arrived.

 

Plane to ship - Total elapsed time: 1 hour!

 

Edited July 14, 2019 by shadowmeboy

[shadowmeboy]

We checked our bags with the porters inside the terminal and the wait began!

 

 

They had a concession stand in the terminal and they had breakfast sandwiches.

 

 

I got Bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel.

 

 

Susan got a ham, egg, and cheese on a Kaiser roll.

 

An observation from waiting in the terminal pre-security, New Yorkers fit every stereotype out there. The super loud talkers especially, it was great to people watch.

 

Finally, we were able to get in line for security, then check in, and finally get our boarding group.

 

 

 

Waiting area

 

 

Boarding Photo

 

Note: We question the use of a beach theme for the border. Really a surf board, palm trees and sand for a Canada/New England cruise? Who is the genius who came up with that idea? Just sayin. Thoughts?

[shadowmeboy]

Once onboard, we met up with Trace and Maria and headed to lunch at the MDR.

 

The hostess commented that my attire was not appropriate the MDR for future days of the cruise. I looked at her and dismissed it. then I looked up Norwegian's dress code. It says no tank tops. I wear muscle shirts and so I called the assistant maître d over and expressed my displeasure in how the hostess addressed the situation and showed him the difference. He did apologize and said he would address it with her. I wear that all the time and no one else has ever said anything.

 

Lunch menu from the MDR

 

 

 

 

 

-- Appetizers --

 

 

Susan got the Pineapple and Grapefruit app

 

 

Maria got the Roasted Tomato Soup.

 

 

Trace got the Chicken Nachos.

 

 

I got the Cajun Shrimp Salad.

 

-- Main Dish --

 

 

Maria got the Fish & Chips

 

 

Susan got the Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf - said it was excellent.

 

 

Trace got the Philly Cheesecake

 

 

I got the Classic Cheeseburger.

 

-- Dessert -- 

 

 

Susan got the Crème Caramel

 

 

Maria got Sherbert.

 

 

Trace and I got Peanut Butter Cheesecakes

 

 

Trace (@tgloersen) enjoying his cheesecake!

 

 

Our Thank You bags for our servers. Our lunch server here got our first one!

Edited July 14, 2019 by shadowmeboy

[shadowmeboy]

We went and visited Trace and Maria's room as our wasn't available yet. Trace and Maria had a aft suite , so they had already been escorted here, so they brought us up. Pictures from their stateroom.

 

 

 

 

 

Balcony view

 

 

 

 

Bathroom

 

 

 

The finally announced staterooms are ready. So we headed down the hallway to our room.

 

 

 

Our BA Balcony Stateroom

 

 

 

 

Susan filming for the vlogs.

 

 

The toilet area on the Jewel class and the Star class ships is not well designed for larger people. We were able to get them to take the sliding door off, and I was able to sit down in our bathroom toilet area. With the door, it was too tight trying to sit and get in the room.

 

 

Day 1 Dailies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mjb1683]

Hi Shadowmeboy!

 

Great review so far!

 

Just curious, what is in the “thank you bag”. We love the idea and might do the same?

[shadowmeboy]

Quick Stateroom tour

 

Susan headed for the spa to take a tour and I decided I needed to relax in the room. My leg was swelling up and I was exhausted from not getting enough sleep on the plane. I took a nap while she went to the Spa and Fitness Center.

 

 

Spa menu

 

 

 

Fitness class schedule

 

 

 

Susan came back and we eventually mustered enough energy to head to the Muster Drill.

 

-- I will pick up sailaway tomorrow. Good night!

[shadowmeboy]

42 minutes ago, mjb1683 said:

Hi Shadowmeboy!

 

Great review so far!

 

Just curious, what is in the “thank you bag”. We love the idea and might do the same?

 

We put chocolates and a small tip. Bags will vary cruise to cruise depending where we are going/traveling too and time of year. Ghirardelli squares are popular too.

 

 

 

Edited July 14, 2019 by shadowmeboy

[Aldeya]

Thank you for the review! We are going on Dawn in 2 weeks and planning to buy a Spa Pass. I watched your Spa video and didn't notice any lounges to relax in the Thermal Suite. I see only heated lounges. Are there any other lounges in this area? 

[shadowmeboy]

2 minutes ago, Aldeya said:

Thank you for the review! We are going on Dawn in 2 weeks and planning to buy a Spa Pass. I watched your Spa video and didn't notice any lounges to relax in the Thermal Suite. I see only heated lounges. Are there any other lounges in this area? 

 

Susan only filmed the coed area, I believe there are some in the gender segregated area, but I can double check with her later today.

[Aldeya]

1 minute ago, shadowmeboy said:

 

Susan only filmed the coed area, I believe there are some in the gender segregated area, but I can double check with her later today.

Thank you so much! Love detailed reviews like yours. :)

 

 

[NYcruzzer]

Great pics so far. We were on same cruise as you... Cannot wait to relive cruise through your pictures and comments..

[snowey22]

Thanks  for taking the time to do your reviews!  They are so detailed and I love “traveling” with you and Susan.  Hoping to someday cruising with the two of you.  We’ll be on the Dawn Feb 2020 for 14 days.. hubby and I are so excited !! Thanks again.

[Jasonmom]

Thanks for the review.  Not planning a trip on this ship nor itinerary, but looking forward to seeing your trip.  Especially with all the photos.  May have to go back and see one of your old reviews. 

[Sailing Smooth]

Traveling on the Dawn this December.  Love catching a glimpse at the Dailies.  Thanks!

[purpleally]

2 hours ago, snowey22 said:

Thanks  for taking the time to do your reviews!  They are so detailed and I love “traveling” with you and Susan.  Hoping to someday cruising with the two of you.  We’ll be on the Dawn Feb 2020 for 14 days.. hubby and I are so excited !! Thanks again.

I’m on Dawn last week in February. Will you be on that week

[snowey22]

Hi and no we’ll be on the first two weeks in February....  but we’ll take very good care of her for you !! 😉

 

[PortFees45]

Thank you bags are cute. If you really want to make the crew happy, stick some money in there along with/in place of the chocolate. 

[gtaylor]

21 hours ago, shadowmeboy said:

 

We got everything arranged, got lost finding where to catch an Uber, asked for directions, and made our way outside to request the Uber. (6:40 am)

 

Uber arrives (6:45 am)