Dawn- has anybody had a good cruise on her?

[Barb Nahoumi]

18 hours ago, complawyer said:

If it will   put your mind at ease, we've been on over 20 ncl cruises in the past 13 years. on  the dawn about 7-8 years back. we've been on almost every ship in the ncl fleet except, breakaway, encore, prima, sky, joy, and a few others whose names i cant recall at the moment. in any event, while i'm not trying to appear as an ncl cheerleader, i can say without a doubt, in all that time, i've never had a bad cruise on any of their ships. cruising is what you make it, sure, some things can go wrong with being on a vessel with 2-3 thousand of your closest friends, the kitchens are preparing 1000's of assorted dishes, multiple times a day, to try and please an assortment  of tastes. sometimes, you may choose a shore excursion that isnt as exciting as described. you may miss a port (or more) due to weather or mechanical conditions.

 

look at it this way, you're on a floating hotel, going to exotic ports of call, you have an unlimited amount  of foods to choose from/eat. a variety of specialty restaurants, unlimited drinks, and no one will chastise you if you have one to many. By and large, the entire staff is there to make sure you have the most pleasurable experience possible, especially if youre booked into a haven or a suite. so my best advice to you, is ignore t he naysayers, and doomsday followers, get on the ship, relax, do what's offered, or do nothing at all.  Just enjoy the experience. We've been on cruises where i didnt bother to see any of the shows, didnt use any of the extra offerings (except the specialty restaurants) and was very happy and contented to sit on my balcony, with a cold beer, or glass of champagne, reading my kindle, and watching the ocean go by. my criteria for booking a cruise is (1) price (2) itinerary. I find that ncl offers best bang for your buck, on both counts

 

as a final note (and ive posted this before) the only thing that annoys me on any of the cruises we have taken, is that the hamburger buns always fall apart before im done with the burger. that being said, however, if thats the only thing i have to complain about, im batting 100%

I've had buns and bread fall apart in local restaurants--------no bigggie.

 

[complawyer]

come on barb, seriously? the part about the hamburger buns was strictly tongue in cheek. the original question was about whether or not to book a cruise on the dawn, my entire point was that buns falling apart was just a very,very minor inconvenience , and there should be no problem if the op books the dawn

[P_Mcruisers]

I've cruised on the Dawn several times and have had no problems. It is one of our favorite ships. 

[MoCruiseFan]

On 4/18/2023 at 10:33 AM, hmorrow said:

We're booked in October from Southampton to Lisbon, with great ports. However, 99.9% of the reviews I've read for this ship are terrible. Especially in the food category.  It's been years since we've cruised NCL. Did we make a mistake?

99.9% I highly doubt that.,  We have sailed the Dawn 4 time and it was always a great time, great crew, wonderful shows, and delicious food.  Don't ruin your cruise before you even get on the ship.

[9tee2Sea]

On 4/18/2023 at 7:33 AM, hmorrow said:

We're booked in October from Southampton to Lisbon, with great ports. However, 99.9% of the reviews I've read for this ship are terrible. Especially in the food category.  It's been years since we've cruised NCL. Did we make a mistake?

my philosophy about food when dining out is...."If I wanted great food, I would just stay home and eat".   Don't base your cruise experience on food.  Customize your dishes when ordering to your liking.  NCL has the best Indian food in the buffet ( if you like that style).  Not fond of Cagney's steak house or La Cucina ( the Italian), but everything else was fine ( not great, but fine).

[hmorrow]

I will change 99.9% to MOST, in my opinion, instead, as so many are upset by my trying to make a point. 

Edited April 19, 2023 by hmorrow

[SeaShark]

55 minutes ago, hmorrow said:

I will change 99.9% to MOST, in my opinion, instead, as so many are upset by my trying to make a point. 

 

Hmmm...why "MOST" and not just "most"? Is the use of all caps significant? I don't think anyone is upset, but speaking for myself, just curious about the reason for the drama. Can't we make a point without the over exaggeration or the all caps or the so many are upset? Things don't need to be extreme to make a point...and if they are, there typically isn't a point to be made.

 

Again, I go back to the Dawn reviews that I previously provided a link to. Out of the 2,930 total reviews, 174 of them are 1-star reviews. This is only a little under 6% of the total, which, IMHO, is far from 99.9% or even "MOST".

 

Where are these terrible reviews that you are reading that would support this 99.9%/MOST conclusion?

[megansdad1]

I loved the Dawn and the food.  Los Lobos had the best Guac that I have ever had

[amygutman]

Loved, Loved, Loved the Dawn. 

 

And here's the thing - we are "Havenites"...it's our favorite way to cruise and the Dawn does NOT have a Haven. LOVE the Haven on ships with their own pool and restaurant just for the safety aspects (kiddo is not a strong swimmer and the private pool is a wonderful perk for him), and convenient indulgence of having the staff really know you well. 

 

So, we booked the Dawn in 2019 for the itinerary out of NY where we lived at the time and indulged in a DOS with TWO balconies - it was HEAVEN. Yes - not having the private pool was disappointing, but in the grand scheme of things, having the wonderful suite staff, an amazing room, the "Haven experience" for breakfast and lunch, plus all of the other suite perks was fantastic. 

 

The ship - beautiful, elegant. Showing her age? A little bit. But it was charming and we loved not fighting to get into venues / shows (like I understand is the norm on the Prima), and tons of activities. Here we are upside down (darn it...can't fix it) enjoying the most amazing balcony. 

 

Make your own decision, but try not to let the naysayers sway you. 

Warmest, Amy

 

[snickers93]

Our first NCL cruise was on the Dawn about 15 years ago.  We were just one her this year in March.  We had a great time and love this ship.  The carpet in some areas is showing some wear, but that is to be expected since it will be going into dry dock within the next couple years (I forget when).  The food and staff were excellent in my opinion.  We would sail on her again without hesitation.  

[itsnotjustme]

We had a great trip on Dawn last August.  No reservation about sailing on her again.

[Panhandle Couple]

We sailed Dawn Jan 2022.  It was coming off 18 days of no passengers due to COVID.  So the crew was extra happy to see us.  But it was only 40% full, so our experience is outside the norm.  At 40%, all ships are probably great to be in, no crowds, no waiting, no chair hogs by the pool.  We did an 11 day eastern Caribbean (all the Saints, we like to say).

 

If you are sailing with kids, it might not be the best ship.  The kids pool (on aft deck) is separated from the main pool.  There is not much space for parents around the kids pool, and you will probably find yourself and kids going between the two.

 

The main pool (and hot tubs) area is terraced (going forward) with 4 levels for loungers.  The terraces are steel, which on hot days could be very hot.  The bar at the top (and only 1/2 of that) is the only area for smokers, it was a non-smoking casino when we sailed.  However the terraces and bar are out of the wind on cooler days, which you will appreciate.

The terraces also make for a better Glow party at night.  The crew performs on them while you dance on the bottom level.  Everyone can see the dancers and entertainment.

 

It is a smaller ship, so most main areas are smaller.  Cagney's and other specialty restaurants are smaller.  Rooms however, are about the same size as on other ships.  We didn't feel crowded, because of 40% full.  

 

I think for your itinerary, it will do fine.  We also looked at that one, but felt timing isn't right for us this year.

 

 

[CountyCarrie]

I was on the Dawn in October Southhampton to Rome. I was leery because I had heard so many bad things, so my expectations were low. I had a GREAT time. I thought the food was the best I've had in my last 5 cruises (mainly Princess.) Cagney's and the French restaurant were outstanding, on par with a good-quality restaurant in California. Loved the French toast in O'Sheehans. Some areas look a little shabby and my balcony room had a laughably small TV, but the room was comfortable and itinerary was great. Give it a chance!

 

[hamrag]

On 4/19/2023 at 10:08 PM, amygutman said:

Loved, Loved, Loved the Dawn. 

 

And here's the thing - we are "Havenites"...it's our favorite way to cruise and the Dawn does NOT have a Haven. LOVE the Haven on ships with their own pool and restaurant just for the safety aspects (kiddo is not a strong swimmer and the private pool is a wonderful perk for him), and convenient indulgence of having the staff really know you well. 

 

So, we booked the Dawn in 2019 for the itinerary out of NY where we lived at the time and indulged in a DOS with TWO balconies - it was HEAVEN. Yes - not having the private pool was disappointing, but in the grand scheme of things, having the wonderful suite staff, an amazing room, the "Haven experience" for breakfast and lunch, plus all of the other suite perks was fantastic....

Can you elaborate on the suite perks please? Specifically do suite guests have the option for evening meal in the specialty restaurants without additional charge? Would be great if someone could list the perks please.

 

TIA

[dexddd]

Sailed Dawn once Star twice.  They were both great.  We did have a OS on Dawn though.  Solid ships.  Way back in the day it was known for plumbing issues but apparently long gone.

 

Last, big drydock huge refurb, looking great. Reports of spirit on 9, forward, port.  Didn't notice anything when we sailed.

[The Traveling Man]

10 hours ago, hamrag said:

Can you elaborate on the suite perks please? Specifically do suite guests have the option for evening meal in the specialty restaurants without additional charge? Would be great if someone could list the perks please.

 

TIA

The Dawn does not have a designated Haven restaurant, but unfortunately Suite passengers on the Dawn do not get to have dinner in a specialty restaurant in place of dinner in the Haven restaurant.  You do have access to exclusive breakfast service, usually in Cagney's or Moderno.  Lunch in Cagney's usually is available on sea days, and sometimes also on port days.

[jules181]

Was on the dawn British Isles a few weeks ago. 

 

Food is the same as every other NCL ship I've been on.  Los Lobos was a welcome addition that was fantastic.  

 

It's a smaller ship, doesn't have all the amenities and options of the newer ships. But it has the standard cruise experience, definitely cant complain.

 

Was a pleasant cruise. 

 

Book for the itinerary not the ship. 

[The Traveling Man]

On 4/18/2023 at 9:33 AM, hmorrow said:

We're booked in October from Southampton to Lisbon, with great ports. However, 99.9% of the reviews I've read for this ship are terrible. Especially in the food category.  It's been years since we've cruised NCL. Did we make a mistake?

We have enjoyed four wonderful cruises on board the Dawn, and have two more booked for this Fall.  It's a smaller ship than some of the recent additions to the NCL fleet, but I think it's just the right size.  It lacks some of the bells and whistles of the newer, larger ships.  There's no race track or comedy club, for example, but there still is plenty to see and do.  The food is prepared to the same standards and using the same menu as other NCL ships, so don't expect five star cuisine, just well prepared and tasty meals.  I think you must be exaggerating for emphasis with your figure of 99.9% negative reviews.  There are those who post negative comments, to be sure, but many more passengers have had a great time sailing on the Dawn.

[insidecabin]

This year we have booked Star and Dawn without even checking current reviews or vlogs.

 

They are doing runs relatively local to the UK(cheap logistics)  with some good itinerary and silly cheap prices if you wait, even Prima is getting into sensible price range.

 

Both ships had the big drinks issue when they hit UK waters hopefully resolved for good.

 

Well happy with our Star round trip Ireland, enjoyed so much put it on the list to do again if nothing else fills our gap Sept/Oct.

 

The Dawn also has decent itinerary so doing one of those soon.

(UK has good prices and $200OBC deal)

 

If I find time might check some vlogs/reviews to set expectations. as long as the core product compares with the Star will be happy.

 

Its nice to be back on a smaller ships after big ships over the last year. 

 

That run down to Lisbon  hits some good ports not on the regular round trip itineraries should be a good cruise if the weather cooperates.

[The Traveling Man]

On 6/22/2023 at 1:37 AM, insidecabin said:

The Dawn also has decent itinerary so doing one of those soon.

(UK has good prices and $200OBC deal)

 

That run down to Lisbon  hits some good ports not on the regular round trip itineraries should be a good cruise if the weather cooperates.

We're looking forward to it.  Check out the Roll Call.  See you on board.

[insidecabin]

12 minutes ago, The Traveling Man said:

We're looking forward to it.  Check out the Roll Call.  See you on board.

Our Oct schedule is not set yet, we have to sort out a September trip to US which may not leave a big enough gap for an early Oct.

[amygutman]

3 hours ago, insidecabin said:

Our Oct schedule is not set yet, we have to sort out a September trip to US which may not leave a big enough gap for an early Oct.

@hamrag agree with @The Traveling Man about the breakfast and dinner for suite guests at Moderno and Cagneys. It's essentially the "Haven" menu and AMAZING breakfast buffet. For those who are not huge fans of NCL coffee, this most definitely includes the French press coffee which, IMHO, is one of the best parts of any meal. The Dawn does not have a suite "area" per se like the Gem or Pearl, but does have an area in Moderno where the concierges are located to assist you with all of your typical "Haven / Suite Concierge" requests - reservations, excursions, billing questions, etc. This area is also where you will meet for priority tendering, theater meet-ups (for priority seating) and escorts to various events. Depending on the specific suite, you will also get those benefits - like the DOS that comes with bottles of spirits.

 

There price difference between the Haven and non-Haven is unpredictable, and we have found varies widely depending on the itinerary. For example, we were looking at the Star (similar set-up to the Dawn). It was a 7 or 8 night Fjords trip that was more expensive than a similar itinerary on a ship with an actual Haven. However, the Spirit Alaska trip we had booked (which has since been cancelled) was much cheaper than a ship with a Haven. Interesting, right? It's hard to justify a similar or higher cost when you miss out on the Haven restaurant for dinner (which may result in hundreds of dollars in specialty dining depending on your tastes) and really miss out on the quiet sanctuary of the Haven area. 

 

Honestly, it's such an individual choice, Loved the Dawn, loved the Pearl and would have loved the Spirit (still grumpy over that cancellation), but you do miss out on the whole Haven experience which is so lovely. 

 

Warmest, Amu

[ckmedsec]

Dawn is a great ship and the food was excellent.  We sailed on Dawn from June 3 to 13 and would rebook in a heartbeat.  

[hamrag]

9 hours ago, amygutman said:

@hamrag  The Dawn does not have a suite "area" per se like the Gem or Pearl, but does have an area in Moderno where the concierges are located to assist you with all of your typical "Haven / Suite Concierge" requests - reservations, excursions, billing questions, etc. This area is also where you will meet for priority tendering, theater meet-ups (for priority seating) and escorts to various events. Depending on the specific suite, you will also get those benefits - like the DOS that comes with bottles of spirits.

 

There price difference between the Haven and non-Haven is unpredictable, and we have found varies widely depending on the itinerary.......It's hard to justify a similar or higher cost when you miss out on the Haven restaurant for dinner (which may result in hundreds of dollars in specialty dining depending on your tastes) and really miss out on the quiet sanctuary of the Haven area....

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this. Recently, our cruise line of choice has been MSC Yacht Club, similar to the Haven. We have a deposit on MSC Virtuosa Yacht Club for a repositioning cruise, 18 nights Barcelona to Dubai, in November but have seen the Dawn variant of same (albeit embarking in Istanbul) for 19 nights with a few high hitter additional ports.

 

Our problem is that you have to pay for the specialty restaurants, and you highlight that cost clearly. We get 3 of them on the all inclusive package, and an additional 2 as Platinum status and would wish to spend probably 14 of our nights at the specialties. It just seems ridiculous, when the Sx grades are so expensive, not to have evening dining included.

 

So, with a fabulous itinerary, we need to decide whether to splurge or go with a non-suite cabin given the suite benefits only cover brunch meals! Or, hold off for a late booking hoping for lower pricing.....We moved on from NCl, never had Haven, back in 2017 before the offer bid system was initiated so realising price reductions for suites on Dawn will be unlikely. TBH, with such a fab itinerary, we could just go with a much lower cost cabin and still do the specialties.

Edited June 24, 2023 by hamrag

[insidecabin]

Specialties are not that bad if you know you will be using them.

 

You can add another 2 for £70pp 

If you really need the 24 the extra 9 pack £307pp

 

We would get fed up with that many would be far to much food.

Most cruises we dine down and just grab a quick light meal some evenings.