The "fools" have returned-Dawn 4/1/07 to 4/12/07 review

[judyf]

NCL Dawn 11 day Cruise from NYC 4/1/07 to 4/12/07. San Juan, Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, St. Thomas and Tortola.

This is my 12th cruise 6th on NCL

Mother and daughter annual cruise-late 60's and late 40's

 

I love to cruise, I got addicted after my first cruise, which I got as a bonus for buying my timeshare in Orlando. I didn't think I would like it cause I get motion sickness real easy. I got sick watching the O’ Canada circle vision movie in Epcot. I didn't get sick at all on my first cruise on the CCL Fantasy. That was the beginning on the addiction. In 2001 my mother and I started an annual spring break cruise and even 2-3 a year when my work schedule can fit them in.

 

Sunday, 4/1/07 Embarkation Day & Cabin:

We had no problems or delays driving in from the Hudson Valley we left about 9:15 am. We arrived at the pier about 10:30 am and went right up to the Latitudes waiting area and met our first fools, Suesan Jean, Thomas and their daughter Sarah and her friend. Then all the fools started to arrive. It was nice to finally meet in person all the people we have been talking to for a really long time.

 

We went to our cabin first and they didn't have them open yet but the hall door was open we went straight down the hall and dropped off our carry ons.

 

We had cabin 8003, average inside cabin with plenty of room for the two of us. I liked the glass doors in the shower it’s so much better then those curtains. The bathroom was set up well with plenty of room. Across from the bathroom is a large closet, a few shelves and the safe, the safe uses a code rather then the card as on CCL. There's a small desk area with a chair and another chair by the closet area.

 

Then off for lunch in Venetian., after lunch we walked around the ship exploring and made dinner ressies for 3 nights. I got my first drink of the day up at Bimini's Bar and we met a great group of 4 brothers and their wives that cruise together every year. We had fun and ran into them a lot during the cruise. Stopped by the hot tub party to wish Paul a Happy Birthday!

 

Then we went to La and Cha's for a sail away party in their owners suite and we got to meet all the fools. We had fun at the party in their beautiful cabin. Really enjoyed talking to everyone.

 

Ship:

I have been on the Dawn so I knew what to expect. It's very similar to the Star and the Spirit. I really miss on the Dawn that there's no public area to sit in at the aft of the ship. There's great sitting area on the Spirit by the kids pool and the buffet area and the CCL cruises Fantasy Class ships are great also. This was my favorite areas on the other ships and missed this on the Dawn & Star. I found the ship was easy to navigate, you just need to remember to use deck 7 to go to the restaurants as deck 6 you can't go all the way through.

 

Meet & Greet:

We had our Meet & Greet set up for 10:30 am in Star Bar. We had a great turnout and the little gifts that some of the fools gave to each other were funny. Susan Jeans trivia was fun. It was a great time had by all. It was so nice to meet everyone we've been talking to on the roll call.

 

Food & Dining Room:

We found the food good to fair. We only ate breakfast in the dining room on Easter Sunday. I find the buffet for breakfast to be great for us. Fresh fruit was always available and it had a made to order omelet and a waffle station, they both were good. At the omelet station you can request fried eggs or a 2 egg omelet.

 

We had lunch in the dining room 2 times besides the day we got on the ship and it was good. Room service was okay but the menu is limited. I didn't use room service this cruise, my mother used it one morning. What I liked is there's tomato juice available from room service in the morning, it's not available at the buffet, just orange, apple and cranberry juice is in the buffet. I can't comment on the coffee as I don't drink it.

 

In the evenings we ate at La Trattoria, Teppanyaki and Salsa's one evening each. I got the veggie dishes or pasta most nights and they were good. My mother got the beef or pork most evenings and she liked most of them.

 

We only missed the dining room meal on the last evening, we had 9:30 pm dinner ressies for Salsa's but never made it. We both liked Blue Lagoon, we went there a few times during the cruise for lunch or snacks. I liked the potato skins and tomato soup the best.

 

I love freestyle and not having to decide between late or early seating. Some nights we ate early 5:30-6 pm and a few nights we ate late 8-9 pm.

 

La Trattoria was good, I love this place. We made ressies for two nights, but only made it there once as the second ressies were at the same time as the Pirate Pub Crawl was planned

 

I'm a real picky eater. I only eat boneless chicken and boneless pork. Some nights there was nothing to pick that I liked and one night there was 4 dishes on the menu that I liked. Now, I wish we could pick and choose - that would really be freestyle. LOL

 

Chocolate Buffet:

It was the second to last day at sea, at 2pm, much better then the midnight one on the Star. There were 3 tables set up. One large table in the middle and then 2 on each side the two on the sides had the same layout and items available. Didn't seem as nice as the ones in the past we have attended. Even the chocolate sculptures were not as grand. Or maybe I've been too many times now. I'm not sure but IMO wasn't as nice as the 5 others I have attended.

 

Service:

We found the service to be good to excellent, always had our room done up and ice bucket was always full. We got towels animals 4-5 nights, our cabin stewards were always smiling and said hi to us as we came and went and joked with us each and every time. They were great.

 

Dining room staff was great and very friendly. My mother commented on a waiter's pin and he took it off and gave it to her. All the staff members smiled and were polite and went out of their way to make our cruise special.

 

 

Weather:

We had good weather the day we left NYC but the day we returned in was raining hard, I felt bad for those sailing on 4/12. It was warm to lay in the sun by the pool the second day at sea and the first day at sea returning. The last day at sea it was cooler and windy.

 

Age Group & Children on the Cruise:

I cruise during spring break most of the time so I'm use to a ship with a lot of children onboard. I think we were told that on this cruise we had 600 or 650 children onboard. I never even noticed till the last day at sea then you did see them running in the halls but nothing that bothered me. I go with the flow as this is the main time of year I get to take time off to cruise.

 

The age of the passengers was very diverse, all age groups were on this cruise and everyone seemed to have a good time.

 

Casino:

I spent some time in the casino not as much as in the past as there wasn't any machines I liked. I stayed up in the casino a few nights to 2-2:30 am. I missed, ladies night where on other cruises the ladies drink free till 1am, I never saw it listed in they did have it.

 

More to follow:

[mbisson]

You sound like my kind of cruiser Judy. Keep it coming

 

-Monte

[judyf]

Martini, Margarita Daiquiri Clinics:

What can I say but fun, fun and more fun, I had the best time. I went to 2 martini clinics and 2 margarita clinics. Jose the "Booze Master", from the Spirit in July is now on the Dawn, conducting the clinics. When I described what my SO, Jerry looked like he remembered us from the Spirit. Jose the Booze Master is a lot of fun he is better then anyone I've had on other cruises and I always attend all the clinics mainly to met people. They're a nice way to meet people on the cruise, and the booze breaks the ice to start talking. LOL We've met some of the best people here and still stay in touch with many. There wasn't as many offerings this cruise as there was on the 10 day Spirit cruise. No Daiquiri clinics that I saw listed.

 

There's a $15 per person fee and you can share. We had 7 mini martini's each at the two clinics and then 8 mini margaritas. On the last sea day at the margarita clinic Jose gave us 9, as it was the same group that went to all 4 clinics. At the second martini tasting we stayed up at the Star Bar having a blast till about 7-7:30pm and a piano player that our group knew came and played for us. Don't miss these if you like to meet people and have a great time.

 

Entertainment:

Jimmy was our CD and he was okay not great. Had better but also have had worst, he is average. The NCL Performers were great!

 

We saw many shows but not all of them as I have sailed the Dawn before and some were a repeat for us.. We're had better and worst shows on other ships, these were average. The three production shows are a do not miss. !!! If possible don't miss Band on the Run the new production show. This is the only one I was able to make this cruise and it was well worth the time.

 

As always I really, really miss the late night adult comedy that CCL does. There was only one comedian during the 11 days. Second City did one show and one late night show, they were better on this cruise then they were in the past. NCL needs more comedians!

 

Here's a quick run down of the entertainment. I will rate each with 10 being the highest and 1 the lowest.

 

Sunday, Welcome Aboard Show in Stardust Theater one show 9pm only-rating 6

 

Monday, Tony Duncan Juggling and some comedy in Stardust Theater 7:30 & 9:30 pm-rating 8

 

Tuesday, NCL Production show South Beach Rave 7:30 & 9:30 pm - missed it this time but was good the first time seeing it.

 

Wednesday, Comedian Bill Hildebrandt in Stardust Theater 8:00 & 10:00 pm-rating 8

 

Thursday, Gleason Magic, in Stardust Theater 7:30 & 9:30 pm-rating 9, best magic I have seen on a ship.

 

Friday, The Second City in Stardust Theater 7:30 & 9:30 pm -rating 8, better then in the past.

 

Saturday, NCL Production show Band on the run in Stardust Theater 7:30 & 9:30 pm-rating 10.

 

Sunday, Eddie Holman in Stardust Theater 7:30 & 9:30 pm-rating 7 just not my kind of music, my mother would rate it a 9.

 

Monday, Elijah Myles & Tony Duncan in Stardust Theater 7:30 & 9:30 pm. we missed this one.

 

Tuesday, NCL Production show Bollywood in Stardust Theater 7:30 & 9:30 pm., we missed it this time but was good the first time seeing it.

 

Wednesday, Star Seeker in Stardust Theater one show 7:30-we didn't attend.

 

TIP: If there a show or event in Spinnaker Lounge get there early to get a seat. We arrived about 20-30 minutes early and there was no seats. I would suggest at least 30 minutes to get a seat even more for a good seat.

[Len3]

Please keep the review coming. On the Dawn (over Christmas) we were disappointed in the Chocolate Buffet. They didn't have a photo session prior to opening the buffet to the passengers. On the Spirit in Feb. of 2006, they did have a picture taking session and it was really nice to see it before the crowds slammed into it.

[cruisingfromMN]

Welcome Back Judy. Glad you had a good time. Off to the Star for us on Sunday.

[judyf]

Late night entertainment:

This was the worst late night entertainment I've ever had on a cruise and as stated in the beginning this is my 12th cruise. It just didn't cut it. Luckily for me I'm the type to make my own fun so I did end up having a blast. I will add this is not due to it being Easter Break cruise as you can see in my signature I cruise every Easter break since 2001.

 

You ask why was it so bad? First off on an 11 day cruise and they only had 1 comedian and the Second City shows. Except for The Quest there really was no adult entertainment. If NCL is reading this they must wake up and have more 11-12 midnight shows or events for adults only. On other cruises you had to pick where to go at 12 midnight as there's many to choose from, on the Dawn there was only Dazzles and the music the DJ was playing let's just say it was not the best.

 

The live band that played in Spinnaker's, Harmony & Rhythm was worst then the DJ. The place was empty every night. That should telll NCL something. Most cruises I've been on you can't find a place to dance on the dance floor, that wasn't an issue this cruise. Some from our roll call brought it to Jimmy's attention and some improvements were made but not much.

 

Latitudes Party & Exclusive Gathering:

The latitude party was the same as always. I have noticed the snacks are less they use to be. Drinks came around often. We had a good group of us together and we had a good time.

 

Now with the exclusive gathering, I have been to others, one on the Dawn in 2005 and the Capt., Colin the CD at the time, along with top crew staff were in attendance, talking and mingling with us and it was a good time. This one was so boring it wasn't funny. There was a table with cheese and crackers, no service you had to go up and get your own. I didn't see Jimmy the CD or the Capt. not many crew staff at all. The staff did come around to serve wine. My mother doesn't drink at all and was not able to get anything other then wine. This was the only issue with service I had, when she politely asked for a glass of soda he rudely asked for her card. Now, all the cruises I've been on and with all the different lines, if someone didn't drink alcohol when it was being served free of charge there never was an issue with someone getting a glass of soda, not this time.

 

Pools, Hot Tubs & Chairs:

I don't care to sit right by the pool so I'm happy with a chair up on top deck. I always found one by the forward hot tub and that's where I spent most of the good sea days at. I didn't have a problem finding a chair in this area, what a surprise that was. Plus there's less kids and noise so it's nice to relax and read a book., I went in the hot tub a lot. One day after coming back on the ship after being in port, the forward hot tub was so hot I was the only one in it and the other were sitting on the side. It got so hot after about 20 minutes I had to go in the pool to cool down. So be careful

 

Mandara Spa:

I booked the 20,20,20 special on the first sea day coming back. I got a neck & shoulder, foot & ankle and a hot stone massage. It was wonderful. With looking back I wish now I did it the last sea day returning due to it was cooler outsdie with less to do and I would have enjoyed the indoor spa faucities more. I did get to enjoy the indoor spa for about 3 hours after my massage. On my very first cruise I got a massage and didn't enjoy it, I didn't like the hard sell they did on the products, it wasn't relaxing at all. Now, since I read about this on cc, I let them know when I first sign up and she told me she was glad I told her as it's part of their job. So she just gave me a relaxing massage with no sales pitch. I would book this treatment again and recommend it to anyone.

 

To be continued.

[judyf]

Welcome Back Judy. Glad you had a good time. Off to the Star for us on Sunday.

 

Tami, have a great time on the Star again, we sure had fun on our Star cruise!

[judyf]

I got one port written up tonight so thought I would post it.

 

Ports:

San Juan, Puerto Rico: Wednesday, 4/4/07 2:00pm to 6:30pm-all aboard

 

I wasn't sure what we were going to do in San Juan. I had read about the trolley tour and we were going to do that. When we got off the ship there were many drivers offering an 1 1/2 hour tour for $10 pp, can't go wrong with that price. My mother couldn't walk much so this was the best bet for us. Our driver was very nice and spoke great English. He drove us around Old San Juan and we did two stops and had about 20 minutes at each stop. One was by Old San Juan Beach it was really nice we had great views of the waves and ocean. Nice little public area here and a few gifts shops.

 

Our next stop was by Fort El Morro, what great views there was from here. We didn't go into the fort but was glad we made it up to it. I had a tamarind Piraguas as someone suggested on cc and it was good. After this stop we had a choice to be dropped off in Old San Juan shopping area or to be taking back to the ship. We choose to stay and do some shopping. I'm not a big shopper so we just looked through some of the stores on our way to Hard Rock Cafe. I did find a silver store and got a really good deal on a silver chain I've been looking for, that alone made getting off the ship worth it. Then we found the Hard Rock Cafe I had a hurricane and got my glass to add to the others I have. We stayed there relaxing with mostly locals at the bar for 90 minutes or so. I was going to stop at Senor Frogs but by the time we left HRC it was too late. We were back on the ship about 6pm or so. Got a few bottles of rum just before we got on the ship in the terminal, pretty good prices.

 

This was my first time in San Juan and I was expecting worst from all I had read about this port. It wasn't bad at all. I would have loved more time to actually go into the fort and also time to go to a beach. Next time.

[FundyGirl]

Great review Judy. Keep it coming!!!!

[LadyBerard]

Hi Judy,

 

What an excellent review!!!

 

I know you took pictures at our wonderful time at martini tasting. Is it possible for you to e-mail us copies of them? My e-mail address is:

 

LadyBerard@aol.com

 

Sorry I never made it out late at night. After eating a big dinner though, I just want to crash. I'm an early riser; not like my husband who is a night owl. I hope you enjoyed his company on the couple nights you guys bumped into each other in Dazzles. I know he enjoyed yours.

 

Sue

[Cruisinbunnies]

Hey Judy!!!

 

Great review!! We really enjoyed meeting you and Mary!!!

 

Agree completely with you about the late night entertainment!

 

The comedian wanted to cut loose, but couldn't because of the number of children in the audience. The later show should have been adults only.

 

Harmony and Rhythym - their music seemed hollow and empty. Not good to dance to.

 

Dazzles was a real screw up from the get go. DJ was unaccomodating, adult karaoke was family karaoke that ran long, and too many minors in there late at night. Too bad it turned into a late night crew house party. If Jimmy would have made the rounds, I'm sure this would not have happened.

 

Oh well. You are right about the making your own fun part. We sure did!!!:D

[judyf]

Hi Judy,

 

What an excellent review!!!

 

I know you took pictures at our wonderful time at martini tasting. Is it possible for you to e-mail us copies of them? My e-mail address is:

 

LadyBerard@aol.com

 

Sorry I never made it out late at night. After eating a big dinner though, I just want to crash. I'm an early riser; not like my husband who is a night owl. I hope you enjoyed his company on the couple nights you guys bumped into each other in Dazzles. I know he enjoyed yours.

 

Sue

 

Sue, I just sent you an e-mail. I'm going to work on my pictures as soon as I get the review done. I need a few more days off. LOL

 

We sure did have a great time, another French Cosmo please!! We did enjoy Steve's company a few nights we made our own fun in Dazzles, you had too.

 

Off now to try and get more ports done.

[judyf]

Antigua: Thursday, 4/5/07 9::30am to 4:30pm-all aboard

 

This is my second time visiting Antigua, last time we just got a driver at the pier for $20 pp. It was a nice tour except the driver didn't speak good English and we couldn't hear him when he did talk. So this time we decided to pre-book a tour guide recommended from cc this time.

 

I booked the northern tour with Gordon from Antigua Beach Runner Xcursions.. Tracy and her friend Barbara joined us so it was only the 4 of us and we paid $40 pp. Our own private tour, it was great. Gordon was right there at the pier to meet us and he had others also booked from the Dawn.

 

He introduced us to our driver Abe and he spoke very good English and gave us a wonderful tour. All 4 of us agreed it was a great tour and well worth the price. He stopped and got us all a bottle of cold water at the beginning of the tour and later on he got each of us a bag with 4 black pineapples and we took them to the beach with us. They were great.

 

First we drove through the city of St. John's. We saw Betty’s Hope Sugar Plantation, Dowhill Interpretation Center, Shirley Heights, great views and a nice presentation was giving. There is a $5 pp entrance fee. We all enjoyed the tour, the history and the great views. Then we went to Nelson's Dockyard we all decided not to walk through it as we wanted to go to the beach.

 

We were dropped off at Longbay Beach. It was a nice beach, 3 of us rented chairs they were $6 each. There was a place to get drinks and food. I didn't order any food but Tracy, Barbara and my mother did and said they waited a long while. I just got a drink and went in the water. At this place I shouldn't have rented a chair as we were there about 2 hours or so and I didn't really use it as I was in the water the whole time. We ran into the "fools' at this beach and we all had a great time talking in the beautiful blue water.

 

It was a good tour and I would recommend Gordon, especially if you want a more private tour.

 

Here's is Gordon's website http://www.antiguabeachrunner.com/tourpage.html

[peggyg]

Great review Judy - I am really looking forward to April 23rd when I will be on the Dawn - I was on in 2003 so I hope it will be just as nice as it was then.

 

I am from Middletown where are you in the Hudson Valley.

 

Peggy

[judyf]

Great review Judy - I am really looking forward to April 23rd when I will be on the Dawn - I was on in 2003 so I hope it will be just as nice as it was then.

 

I am from Middletown where are you in the Hudson Valley.

 

Peggy

 

Hi Peggy a small, real small town Bloomington, near Kingston. We travel to Middletown a lot, lol Mighty M. My daughter lived in Middletown for a year at Imperial Village. I think that was the name, it was near the mall. She loved it.

 

You will have a great cruise, just go with an open mind and make your own fun.

[peggyg]

Hi Judy

 

Imperial Gardens :D I know exactly where it is - not as nice as it once was but then nothing in Middletown is really nice anymore.

 

I also know the Mighty M a little too well LOL I go about 1x a month and I was there on Thursday of course I lost I do not win up there very often.

 

I know I will have a wonderful time on the Dawn - Thanks

 

Peggy

[judyf]

Barbados: Friday, 4/6/07 10:00am to 6:00pm-all aboard

 

This is my second time to Barbados, last time we did a great tour with Glory Tours which included the Wildlife Reserve, snorkeling and swimming with the turtles. Because we saw most of the island, last trip I just wanted to enjoy the day and relax and have some fun at the beach.

 

This was our favorite port stop we had a blast. Thanks to Lee from our roll call I decided to go to the Boatyard for the day. Lee I had a drink for you and we toasted you on the beach, you were in my thoughts all day at the Boatyard as I knew you were going to go there. I told a group we met at the martini clinic about it, and they went too. We all got chairs together right by the rope swing and all the toys in the water. I rented an umbrella and it was only $2 each. There were a few umbrellas that were already there at no charge too. Anne brought her own umbrella so we had a nice area for those that wanted to stay out of the sun.

 

This was a beautiful beach we all decided at the end of the cruise that this was the best beach of all and we went to a beach on every island except San Juan. This is not counting the baths as they are in a class my themselves.

 

There's a $15 pp charge to enter the Boatyard, but included in that fee is the use of a chair, a drink and you get the use of all the toys in the water and a ride back to the ship is also included. We paid $5 pp for a cab to get there, I have read if you walk out away from the pier more you can get a cab for $3 pp but my mother can't walk that far so we just got a cab closer.

 

Five of us did a banana boat ride for $15 pp. What fun we had, we got tipped off twice, the hardest part was getting back on in the middle of the ocean. What a time that was but we all did it. LOL We also jumped off the rope swing, fun, fun, fun. I did get way too much sun here but we had a blast! I would go here again if I ever return to Barbados.

 

I did get my Barbados pictures done so here's a link to them.

 

http://family.webshots.com/album/558672715nXRMOt

[meadowvalers]

Hi Judy - awesome review, thanks for the time you are taking to do it!

 

Cruisinbunnies - you have succinctly summed up the late night entertainment issues.

 

Re: Dazzles: When they implemented the Latin dancing hour, it was at the same time as the caribbean deck party, therefore a few couples were dancing as most were at the deck party, however, near the end when the deck party ended, the dance floor was packed. It was a shame that 15 minutes later the Latin hour ended promptly at 11 pm., the dance floor cleared and the people who had been dancing left Dazzles. The DJ seemed very enoyed later when I suggested that the latin dance music had been a hit and asked if he could play more of it mixed in with the "other Musac". He suggested that only 3 couples had danced to it the entire time, well I saw at least 8 - 10+ couples near the end.

 

The reggae hour was packed and the music played for the all request hour after that was excellent. Why this could not have been the norm for all of the nights starting at 10 pm is beyond me.

 

I am amazed that, given the culturally diverse crowd that sails on this ship out of NY, they don't mix up the music more. Sorry, but 1 hour of reggae and 1 hour of latin on an 11 night day cruise - you've got to be kidding me!! And why do they have to offer it in segmensts? Mix it up - that was all we wanted.

 

Re: shows, DH and I were stunned to see that 1 year later the Second City act was the same!! This is no big production so it easily could have been changed. We were also suprised that there was only one new show, Band on the Run, as Bollywood and South Beach Rave were the same.

[judyf]

Dominica: Saturday, 4/7/07 8::00am to 4:00pm-all aboard

 

This was my first time visiting Dominica. I like to get a feel of the local life on any island my first visit so I like to book a short tour with some site seeing and then a stop at a beach. I pre-booked a tour with Reyno Tours. I decided on Reyno because I liked the idea that he provided a guide and a driver. I'm glad we did, as the driving here tests your driving skills. Our drivers name was Ashford and I think our guides name was Milta. Grace do you remember for sure? She was very good at her job. Grace, Sam and their two girls joined us and there was another family from the Dawn that had two children.

 

 

We first went to a look out point and there were a few tables filled with items to buy. Nice view of Roseau and the Dawn docked. Then we went to Trafalger Falls we hiked all the way down but my mother stayed up at the top, there's food, drinks and an area with tables filled with things for sale.

 

 

Then we went to Sulphur Springs, it's also an easy hike to the springs my mother made it with no problem. We met this cute young man here, at first I thought he might be our guides son but when I asked her she said he must be one of the venders sons. He was so informative and showed us everything, much more then our guide did. lol He never asked for a tip as sometimes kids will do at other locations. He was so nice we gave him a tip, we also got our picture taken with him.

 

 

Now we're off to Emerald Pool, what a great place this is. We hiked down to the pool, my mother went only to the look out point. It's an easy walk to the Emerald Pool look out point. Not to bad after that but I was glad my mother didn't try to do it. Milta is real good at letting you know what to expect and advises you if she thinks you can't make the hike. The water in the pool was so clean and clear. It reminded me of the mountain creeks we swim in during the summer and tubing the Esopus when the water is cool no matter how hot it has been, very refreshing. We stayed here for a while, long enough to take a dip in the pool and go under the falls.

 

I was starting to get a little motion sickness in the van as the roads are very winding and bumpy. I never thought to take a motion sickness pill. You do a lot of driving on the tours in Dominica but you do see beautiful views along the way.

 

Our last stop was Mero Beach, this is a black sand beach. At first you look and you think the water is dirty because of the black sand. It was really nice after you went in and the waves were great. I ran into Suesan Jean and we seem to be a like in loving to be in the water. I spent all of our time there in the water chatting with Suesan Jean, we had a nice time and I didn't want to leave. My mother spent time on the beach in the shade talking to friends we met on the cruise. It was a fun time had by all.

 

I think this is the main beach here as most all the tours went up here. We did run into many of the "fools" at different locations, they were on Levi's tour. Many we talked to didn't like this beach due to the black sand but I enjoyed my time there, maybe it was the company. If I remember correctly it's about a 30 minute ride back to the ship.

 

I would recommend this tour as our driver and guide were great and we got to see and do a lot in a short.

 

Here is a lonk to my Dominica pictures.

 

http://family.webshots.com/album/558674358Zmshht

[judyf]

I also got my pictures dowloaded from San Juan, Puerto Rico here is a link.

 

http://family.webshots.com/album/558671373vahfXI

 

And here's a link to Anitgua pictures.

 

http://family.webshots.com/album/558671676UZuWvj

 

I'm still working on the rest.

[judyf]

Hi Judy - awesome review, thanks for the time you are taking to do it!

 

Re: Dazzles: When they implemented the Latin dancing hour, it was at the same time as the caribbean deck party, therefore a few couples were dancing as most were at the deck party, however, near the end when the deck party ended, the dance floor was packed. It was a shame that 15 minutes later the Latin hour ended promptly at 11 pm., the dance floor cleared and the people who had been dancing left Dazzles. The DJ seemed very enoyed later when I suggested that the latin dance music had been a hit and asked if he could play more of it mixed in with the "other Musac". He suggested that only 3 couples had danced to it the entire time, well I saw at least 8 - 10+ couples near the end.

 

 

Re: shows, DH and I were stunned to see that 1 year later the Second City act was the same!! This is no big production so it easily could have been changed. We were also suprised that there was only one new show, Band on the Run, as Bollywood and South Beach Rave were the same.

 

Yvonne you are so right, we were talking about how many couples were dancing when he stopped playing Latin music. The the floor went empty.

 

As far as shows I agree, I was on the Dawn in May 2005 and the shows were the same. One reason why I like to do diferent ships. NCL doesn't change the shows much at all. As I don't believe any line does but I'm not too sure of that.

[Big Al B.]

Great pictures Judy :D

[gsc500]

Thanks for the review Judy!!

 

The guides name was Mitilda, I think.

[judyf]

Thanks for the review Judy!!

 

The guides name was Mitilda, I think.

 

You are right. I knew it was something like that.

[margord]

Great review, thanks