Onboard the Dawn now!

[latitude 22]

Greetings from somewhere of the coast of Mexico!

 

Full disclosure:

 

The Dawn is one of my favorite ships and I am a Princess Cheerleader.

 

Warning:

 

I am on vacation any negativity posts on this thread and I will stop reading it.

 

I sailed on the this itinerary on the 12/1/06 sailing, so not to long ago.

I want to post a few changes I've noticed. As always these are my observations, others may vary.

 

Since my last sailing...2.5 months ago there have been a few pricing structure changes.

 

Yoga and Pilates have gone from 10 to 15 dollars a class

Scrapbooking at Sea is now offered it is 24.95

A Digital Photography Class is offered today.

Beppe is now the Maitre D

 

The new internet company is onboard (they are the same company that Holland America uses. They are currently on the Dawn, Grand and Caribbean other ships will roll out later. With this new company the connection is MUCH quicker even faster than my DSL at home. There are no more cameras that you can take a picture add a border then send an email to friends or family not even for a charge. They removed the ability to upload your photos online yourself. I am currently staring at the sheet of costs in front of me.

 

As I said this is what is one the DAWN at this moment.

 

Time plan 1 ...40cents per minute = 250 minutes 100.00

plan 2...55 cnets a minute=100 min 55..00

pay as you go .75

 

everyone pays at 3.95 activation fee. you don't swipe your card anymore. you enter in your name, cabin number, and a password. and your in.

 

The spa prices have gone up. the stone massage is now 189.

 

Food is awesome as always..and they actually had the mushroom and pina colada soup on the 1st night together on the same menu...

oh yeah....

time to exhale I am HOME!!!!

 

I am going to submit now...just in case we lose a signal or something.

 

If have questions let me know...

[LARGIN]

Thanks.. Lots of good info..

[Perky1]

Glad to hear the connection speed is better. Likely it cost about .75 per min before when you consider that we had to wait so long for things to get going. Can you use MSN messenger from the ship??

 

Have a great cruise. 42 more days and it's our turn.

[Lynda90]

Thanks for sharing. I am looking at a cruise on this ship for next year, so any info is much appreciated. :p

[momofkaze]

Latitude 22, thank you for your post!

We are sailing on the Dawn in June. I am so excited about going. The only reservation I have, however, is we were on the Sapphire and she is so grand and there was so much to do! Does the Dawn offer a big variety of things to do during the at sea days? We will be having 5 of them. TIA

Oh, and I am so excited about the mushroom soup!! YUM!

Kim

[tahoe782]

Thanks so much for the post. Pilates $15 now, hum bug. Oh well I will take it anyway.

If you get a chance could you check out if Aloha deck under pool is very loud. We have a cabin there and are wondering how bad it is.

Thanks

Aleeta

[bdjam]

From one cheerleader to another, thanks for checking in - looking forward to hearing more...

[Julia’s Journey’s]

Great having latest info posted - thanks for sharing.

Have a wonderful cruise - I booked for next year on the Dawn!!:D

[pookyand3]

Can you tell me more about this? Is it a class or selling?

[latitude 22]

Pooky..

 

It's like a pre made packet of all the goodies that you would put into making a scrapbooking page about your vacation. because i dont scrapbook i dont know if this is a good deal or not...especially if you dont personally like some of the stuff.

 

It didn't look destination specific..as i didnt see any mexico

 

i haven't seen an actual class posted, but on this cruise for the arts and crafts classes they have origami, box making and making flowers out of tissue paper.

 

there is ceramics at sea.

 

jewlery...big big big is mexican fire opal so if you are interested in jewelry do your homework before you board,

 

Princess is changing tanzanite vendors so supplies on this ship are limited and i heard from an unnamed reliable source that most tanzanite was transfered to the caribbean based ships until the change goes through.

 

I will check on the pool Acapulco day in the morning we port at 1pm. It's not quite pool weather yet...well at least not for this california girl..

 

Sun class ships are more subdued when it comes to the bells and whistles. There will not be as many actitivities obviously the weather is cooler on our sea days than say the caribbean. However, the schedule is full of things to do. I would suggest you bring the book that you've been putting of reading, grab your sweater and read on the promenade.

 

Interesting on this cruise..they are locking the library books up unless staff is present. They haven't done this in awhile..this is one of those things that is a little annoyance.

 

time for my digital photography class...

 

adios for now!

[cruzinchris]

Latitude,

Thanks for posting "live" from the Dawn. We're having some wild & wacky winter weather here in the northern 'burbs of Detroit, and I'm wishing I was back on that ship!

 

Looking forward to hearing more about your cruise...

Chris

[tawcat]

latitude will be following your posts closely as we are leaving in about 52 days for the same float. enjoy!!!

[DesrtDrmr]

Thanks for your "live" thread. It's exciting to hear about the activities on board for the sea days...............planned on lots of reading, but may have to rethink some of the time. :)

Was embarkation a zoo? Did you stay at a hotel nearby the night before? I'm asking, because I'm wondering about parking the night before and just making our way to the ship from our hotel at Fishermans Wharf.

Have a great cruise! We're sure looking forward to ours............

[HappyCruiser383]

Thanks Latitude22!

 

Please tell us more about the digital photraphy class. Was it worth it? Did you take any other classes?

[Sailfish]

I will be on the Dawn Princess this July; sailing to Alaska round trip from San Francisco. From what I can tell, we will have quite a few days at sea, and I share momofkaze's concern about not having enough to do.

 

We were recently on the Diamond Princess to Mexico and had an awesome time. Three days at sea were relaxing, but we were never at a loss of things to do. Five days or more out of 10 is a lot even for someone like me who enjoys the down time. This 10 night cruise will be a major first for us - all others have been 7 nights or less!

 

Suffice it to say, I am reading your posts with much anticipation. Thank you so much for taking the time and for spending big bucks on the internet to keep us informed!

 

Thanks again!

 

Suzi

[shepp]

Omigod, the pina colada soup!

 

I'm there!

[wilber1]

I was wondering if you can give us an update on the casino? What kind of slots and table games. Do they have texas hold'em? Is there any window veiws from the casino? Your help is helpful!!:cool:

[latitude 22]

please work this time

[latitude 22]

Well folks i wrote out a lengthly reply and then cruisecritic acted up...

 

had to take break and go to the patisserie

 

ok this will be in short replies just in case there's a repeat.

 

 

scrapbookers...there was a class today at 945..

the thing they sell is vacation tropics by karen foster designs you could google it for more details..

 

digital photo class. well I misread (hmmm maybe depending on who's opinion) the patter. I thought it was a FREE class and you could buy a 10 dollar book. Actually it was a 10dollar class and the book was included.

 

I bought the book last cruise and it is very basic, but I just got a digital camera then (i know a little behind the times) it was helpful for a newbie.

so i passed on the class because it followed the book.

 

ok posting now ....please oh please work

[latitude 22]

Well folks i wrote out a lengthly reply and then cruisecritic acted up...

 

had to take break and go to the patisserie

 

ok this will be in short replies just in case there's a repeat.

 

 

scrapbookers...there was a class today at 945..

the thing they sell is vacation tropics by karen foster designs you could google it for more details..

 

digital photo class. well I misread (hmmm maybe depending on who's opinion) the patter. I thought it was a FREE class and you could buy a 10 dollar book. Actually it was a 10dollar class and the book was included.

 

I bought the book last cruise and it is very basic, but I just got a digital camera then (i know a little behind the times) it was helpful for a newbie.

so i passed on the class because it followed the book.

 

ok posting now ....please oh please work

[latitude 22]

part 2

 

if you are interested in photoshop classes they are still 25 per class

 

I took all of them last cruise, personally because of the slow pace with people who barely knew how to use the computer I would recommend doing a private lesson at your pace which is 75 per hour. A much better investment of your time and money. I will be doing one later in the cruise.

 

I will check out the casino while we are in port, because it full of smoke and I a) don't smoke and b} dont really gamble. but i will look for the games and the views.

 

It's not pool weather yet..well maybe for you in Detroit but not this california girl. there's been music by the pool all day.

 

Tonight we pass cabo (for those of you wondering...cabo is on latitude 22) at midnight so day 3 sea day will be super calm and warm .....wooo hooo.

 

more later...

 

BTW....

 

asparagus risotto is tonight!

 

ciao ciao for now

[latitude 22]

my other post didnt go over.....

 

will post in the morning....

 

will check on casino, more info on computer classes, and pool

 

asaparagus risotto is tonight ....

 

my dear waitress...

 

3 orders please...

 

no app, no salad, nothing else just that...

 

better yet just bring the whole pot and your brick of parmesean reggiano....

 

grazie

[latitude 22]

Dinner was so scrumptious...I restrained and only had 1 order, but it's the ultimate comfort food...i'm ready to sleep!

 

so, been doing a little reconaissance...

 

casino....there is texas hold em, if you look at the deck plan you will see that the casino has obstructed views of the life boats embarkation day had all sorts of casino specials.

 

does anyone want me to save the patters, actually whats that site that will take your patters and post them maybe i should do that

 

get this...there was a cruise critic get together POSTED IN THE PATTER for people to meet in the patisserie......interesting that they didnt just block out jammers or magnums...anyway i didn't go because i was napping and hadnt been really posting on that roll call.

 

for those of you concerned about stuff to do, i've really been studying these patters with you in mind. there is quite a bit to do that has been scheduled depending on each persons taste, but I would still bring a good book.

 

embarkation....

I live 45 min south of SFO,so friends dropped us off. I'm also elite, from the time our friends dropped us off I was onboard in 7 minutes....not kidding! so i can't really give you an accurate analysis

 

I would recommend for hotels Tuscan Inn, Sheraton and Marriott

 

keep the questions coming..

 

oh wine tasting is 9.50

 

good night sleep tight

[LBL]

Thanks for all the good info latitude 22. I will be sailing the begining of april. i have my head waiter and waiter picked out, but still one question. . .who is the captain?

 

your posts are great and filled with good info. i haven't been on a princess ship for over a year. . .don't know how i have waited so long.

 

Carole

[TrojanJulez]

Thanks so much for the info! We will be cruising on the Dawn in June (with momofkaze), so I love reading all of these details! Thanks so much for being so specific! I wonder how much will change when the ship changes to the Alaska itinerary... :confused: