Dawn Secrets?

[debjo]

For NJcruiser21, cruizinwithkids, vacationgogo, judyf,

Glad to "revive" some "old" DAWN information for the "new" to DAWN cruisers!

 

For *Princess*JMH...

Just make sure that you don't spend more time recording your DAWN experiences in your journal than you take to actually "experience" them...I found I had that problem on a previous cruise!

 

For salvegirl2006...

DH is tickled pink to learn that the ice cream machine may be functioning on our upcoming cruise!

 

For snorklinbarb...

Sorry to hear there'll be no "free" Del Sol bag this year...glad we got ours last year. Thanks for all of the "updates" you've given us from your cruise. We are looking forward to our "private serenade" in Salsa...thanks for that tip! In fact each one of the things that you've kindly passed along to us has been added to our cruise agenda and notes.

 

For everyone...

Yes, we are obsessed planners...but that is half the fun of cruising. Without all of the information that everyone shares on these boards, we wouldn't be able to put together our fantastic cruises! What do the passengers do that don't read these messages...are they bored on their voyages???

 

My friends that cruise with us (sometimes) always tease me about my "planning"...but I know they like the information I pass on to them!

 

So, what other DAWN SECRETS are lurking out there???

 

Debjo (not ever wanting to go to cruisaholics anonymous!)

[carol louise]

We didn’t do a shore excursion in Miami, so after seeing my sister off on hers, we hung around at the rail for about an hour and watched the crew on-load food. Don’t know if the Dawn buys any food in New York, but they sure bring a LOT on board in Miami. Especially produce. So many watermelons, for example, pallet after pallet of them. Sounds odd, but it was fascinating to watch the skill with which the dock workers and crew maneuvered quickly and efficiently. (On a back-to-back cruise on HAL, on turnaround day, we saw the head chef out on the dock actually opening boxes of fish and leaning down to sniff for freshness.)

 

And on any cruise we go on, we love to watch the harbor pilot hop aboard if we’re out on deck in the morning as we approach harbor, or watch him disembark the ship after sailaway onto his little launch—both of which operations occur while the ship and the pilot’s launch s are moving briskly along. In U.S. ports, since 9/11/01, there is usually a Coast Guard vessel accompanying us in and out, too.

 

I must have been a seafarer in a previous life, to be so fascinated with the workings of it all.:D

[Suesan Jean]

Thank You to ALL of you who had some GREAT ideas, I have done a bit of paste and copy!! I leave tomorrow on my FIRST Norwegian Dawn Cruise!!! I do hope we will have a GREAT time!!! And I will be carrying information from this posting....

 

Suesan

[NJcruiser21]

any new hints or ideas out there? Love to hear more. I can't get enough of this cruise!!!!!!

[judyf]

Thanks for bringing this back to page one tim. Maybe the recent cruisers can post what they found out!

[tigerlilycruiser12]

The indoor pool there are some lounge chairs in front of pictures windows. Nice relaxing spot to sit and look at the ocean. Nice if the weather is bad on deck. My husband and I were lucky to get find this spot and empty lounge chairs. So relaxing. Hot tub area in hte back is nice to. Nice spot for a nice cool drink

[jillybean1278]

Hey All! I was on the Dawn in April (the one with the "rogue wave"). I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Dan Hidge - the piano player! He was so great! Very entertaining, talented, and engaging! We spent 4 nights with him (out of 7 is a lot!!) We also enjoyed the room service breakfast on days we were coming into port, but the waffles were super good in the garden cafe too!

 

We also signed up for parasailing at Grand Stirrup Cay, and the boat man never showed up - it was amusing in hindsight to just show you what a different lax way of life it is down there! I got over it.... I just took a picture of the sky and said that is where I would have parasailed!

 

The shows were OK, I have seen better on other ships. There is a "Lifestyles" room which we didn't actually see this whole floor until Saturday (while cleaning up some of the changes, etc. after the stop in Charleston), and it was a beautiful floor! I would like someone to see it and let me know what else is there. LOL! There was a wall with all of the pictures of the Captain and his head crew. It looked pretty cool.

 

We had a craving for salt and had potato chips brought from room service. This was great to me because there really isn't a menu of what is available so it wazs kinda testing the waters each time we ordered something snacky while getting dressed and stuff.

 

I was a little disappointed that the balconies were not private - there was enough room for someone to walk balcony to balcony. Aside from this making real uncomfortable that it could happen, but people who knew each other constantly walked through our balcony to others' rooms.

 

That's it! I am new to this site so if anyone has any hints on how to use best, I am welcome to suggestion! :)

[EileenN]

I would have to say my thoughts on the subject go in two entirely different directions

 

1. For that moment of prayer, there is a chapel on the 12th deck outsdide the left side of the Spinnaker lounge. It has floor to ceiling windows and a great view to contemplate.

2. The slot machine 25cent on the back wall of the casino called Jackpot Party, a 5 reel machine, not the one on the end, hits jackpot frequently. I would not miss this machine. Stay with it for a while and bingo...jackpot!

[tigerlilycruiser12]

Eileen

 

I saw the chapel and it was nice.

 

Thanks for the tip at the casino. I think that was the slot that I played on for an hour and I kept hitting pretty good. I should have quit when I was ahead lol I will have to check it out when I go back. ;)

 

marie

[NJcruiser21]

the slot machine is on the top of my list!!

[judyf]

Tim we all will be fighting over it!

[RichNY]

Don't miss the martini clinic..5 for $10...such a deal..!!:D

[vacationgogo]

I'm not a martini person but I went to the clinic too because I heard so much about it on these boards. It was great and the best deal you'll get on board for drinks. Plus you learn how to make several different kinds of martinis. We also loved coffee and dessert at the Java Cafe and enjoying the music, but get there before midnight, that's when it closes. We also found the 7:30 shows less crowded than the 9:30 shows. If you can snack late afternoon , see the 7:30 show and dine afterwards, I would suggest it. If I think of anything else, I'll let you all know. By the way, I was in cabin 10652 and we had a private balcony.

[vacationgogo]

One more thing, we all absolutely loved Impressions! Much more intimate than the Venetian. It has the feel of a premium restaurant, great food and a wonderful waitstaff. Don't miss it.

 

Also, if you don't want to dine in Le Bistro, you can still walk in and check out the art. The doors were open at times when no one was dining, probably just before and after dinner hours.

[nycglitter]

Tim and Judy (Mark by the way)

 

As far as the slot machine...I bet I outweigh both of you so if I am on it... bring friends...ha

 

As for the Balcony... it can be opened or closed from my understanding... that is how they make adjoining rooms or run repairs to the outside of the ship... so if it is opened... ask them to close it.

 

And finally the MOST IMPORTANT TIP EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If you know you are going to be in port at night or in the morning and either go to "bed" early or "sleep" late... close the curtains!

Sometimes you end up with a cruise ship right next to you...Im just saying...oh and sometimes there will be a worker on one of those window washer platforms washing the side of the boat getting a great view of your Ernie and Bert PJ's

Not that this has happened or anything...I'm just saying...

[marianneyaya]

We had a balcony (8026) and it was very private! We asked for the door adjoining ours with our friend next door to be opened and it worked out great. Ours had only a very thin (less than 1") space between them.

Don't forget to bring your windsock! :) We tucked the metal hanging ring in the ceiling and it never came down....until we took it down. It's now in my yard...and always reminds me of our vacation.

[NJcruiser21]

mark,

 

thanks for the tip. probably the most valuable here. :D

 

as for the slot machine, keep your hands off!

[sasi cruiser]

One thing we try not to miss, Is to find out which dinning room is open for lunch the frist day of embarkment. On the Dawn it is the Ventian Dinning room. I know there is the big BBQ on deck 12, where Enjoy ! ! ! (Full menu):)

[judyf]

Great Tip Mark, We will have to schedule times for the machine, we can all share like good friends. But I'm first!

[nycglitter]

Great Tip Mark, We will have to schedule times for the machine, we can all share like good friends. But I'm first!

 

Judy,

 

Thanks for the list you sent us...quite expansive.

 

As for sharing...the only thing I'll share is that I will hold Tim down while you kick him... he is a Boston fan so you can kick him all you want...

 

As for sharing the slots... when I sip my drink you can have a turn... so be quick with you quarters.

 

Mark

[NJcruiser21]

Great Tip Mark, We will have to schedule times for the machine, we can all share like good friends. But I'm first!

 

judy,

 

you might get there last since mark and myself seem pretty agressive! :eek: :D

 

as for mark...he doesn't scare me.....he''ll be too busy in the cabin unpacking marit's clothes (even still at day 4 of the cruise). in the meantime, i'll be racking up the money.

[nycglitter]

Tim - You are too funny. Accurate and funny! You will have the machine to yourself, Mark will be unpacking and I will be trying to get some sun!

 

 

Marit

[EileenN]

The "machine" was most accessable during the early show in the evening or any afternoon. Even late at night people were waiting around for someone to quit. By midweek, it was well known by the regulars, that it was HOT!!! Good luck and report back in case I cruise the Dawn soon.

[judyf]

I guess you will have to hold Tim down. I don't have a chance!!! Tim don't count on it. I think Mark has experience and can unpack Marit's stuff real quick!

[NJcruiser21]

eileen,

 

you'll hear me scream in joy from the ship even if i win 20 dollars. :p when I turned 21 a few months back, I went to Atlantic City during the day..i was playing the wheel of fortune and I won like 20 dollars I think on the spin and I was screaming for joy..everyone came running thinking I won 1000 with the yell I let out. LOL!

I'll let you know when I get back how it goes.

 

Judy,

 

I think me and you need to team up. :D