Live from the Dawn - Awesome!!!

[2Cruise4Ever]

Hello, CC-er's. I'm posting live from The Dawn. We're having awesome weather and a fabulous time.

 

ShoreGuy ~ Claudio says hello (as does Jacques the Hotel Director). He'll be leaving the Dawn in October to bring out the Gem. Our butler, Ravi, is leaving the Dawn in September to get married. He'll be back (he hopes back to the Dawn) in December, I think.

 

It's true, La Trattoria is no more. Impressions is now a specialty restaurant, no fee, reservations required. It's already booked for the week. We were lucky enough to get reservations in Teppanyaki for tomorrow night (thanks Claudio!!!).

 

Formal night is Sunday. Yes, lobster is served in the main dining rooms, but it's Caribbean lobster. A bit tough, but very tasty. We ate in Cagney's last night and had whole maine lobster which was fabulous.

 

Matt Baker is the CD, and he's great! Not too over the top as some tend to be. :D

 

The Garden Cafe has been re-done a bit. It's now more like stations instead of one long buffet line. It's much easier to get what you want without having to go through the whole line. As a matter of fact, we've never encountered a line at the buffet. Many more choices now: pasta station, crepe station, salad bar, burgers and dogs, etc.

 

We found that the prices in the Galleria have gone down some since our last trip on the Dawn two years ago. Liquor is the same price as in Nassau.

 

At the Meet N Greet, James, the assistant Hotel Director, told me that all the new F3 ships coming out in the next few years will rival RCCL's Freedom and Legend of the Seas with a capacity of 4,000 passengers :eek:

 

As a result, they will be completely re-vamping the Private Island to accommodate that many people. Right now, it'll only hold 2000. Also, no more umbrellas at the Private Island. Safety issues, we were told. So, we didn't spend all day there. Not enough shade and very hot after lunch time (oh, best BBQ I've EVER had!!!)

 

Generally speaking, we're having a great time. The Dawn is as we remembered. Awesome service, great food, and way too much to choose from regarding activities. We've had smooth seas and sunny skies the entire time (except leaving NYC in a thunderstorm! - maybe a good omen. I've tripled my money in the casino so far!!!)

 

New cruise rewards program recently unveiled: book another cruise on board with $250 down and receive $100 OBC immediately. You have 12 months to book a specific sailing and 2.5 years to actually sail. Good program!

 

Loving the suite life. And, I'll post a whole review when I return.

 

Happy Sailing!!!:D

[KeystoneCruiser]

Hello, CC-er's. I'm posting live from The Dawn. We're having awesome weather and a fabulous time. !

 

I miss the Dawn. It was one year ago this week that we were on her. We too had great weather all week. (rainstorm heading back into NYC was the only glitch.)

 

I am jealous........

 

Garden Cafe has been re-done a bit. It's now more like stations instead of one long buffet line. It's much easier to get what you want without having to go through the whole line. As a matter of fact, we've never encountered a line at the buffet. Many more choices now: pasta station, crepe station, salad bar, burgers and dogs, etc.!

That sounds like the new wave in food service in the buffets on alot of ships. I think it will be much more efficient and will keep lines down. Now if they could just bring back the trays.......

 

Did they do that to both sides of the buffet or just the old LaTrattatoria side?

 

At the Meet N Greet, James, the assistant Hotel Director, told me that all the new F3 ships coming out in the next few years will rival RCCL's Freedom and Legend of the Seas with a capacity of 4,000 passengers :eek: !

We have been looking at RCCL for next year but one of the drawbacks is the size of the ships. I know "fighting" 2000 passengers on board for deck chairs, dining times, shore excursions, etc. can be tough. I can't imagine doubling that. As my travel agent calls them, the "floating cities" (she hates them) have lost the intimacy and are just to big for my tastes. I will stick to the 2000 passenger ships.

 

 

 

New cruise rewards program recently unveiled: book another cruise on board with $250 down and receive $100 OBC immediately. You have 12 months to book a specific sailing and 2.5 years to actually sail. Good program!

 

That was "new" last year on my cruise. Went on to find out that it was unveiled in April 2006. To me that is not "recent" Typical NCL spin however.

[KeystoneCruiser]

One more question: See if you can find a "Sonny." He was a maitre'd in Cagney's last year. He was AWESOME! He went out of his way all the time for our group! (My dad and I got sick the last night of the cruise and had to miss dinner....he wanted to make sure that we ate something so he had his chefs in Cagney's make us Chicken Soup and toast and had one of his waiters bring it to our cabins!) Even though the whole crew was outstanding, Sonny will always be our favorite!

[Smellytoes]

I miss Claudio!!! Tell him I hope he's feeling better and that the tooth is taken care of. He'll know what I mean.:D

[just crusin]

thanks for your input for this wek on the dawn, We will be leaving on the 30th and have penthouse suite 8162 will we have claudio I hope so as I have heard so much about him and would love to meet him?

This will be our first cruise and it just sounds like we will have a wonderful time.

keep the input coming and enjoy the rest of your cruise:)

[lastingtouch]

One more question: See if you can find a "Sonny." He was a maitre'd in Cagney's last year. He was AWESOME! He went out of his way all the time for our group! (My dad and I got sick the last night of the cruise and had to miss dinner....he wanted to make sure that we ate something so he had his chefs in Cagney's make us Chicken Soup and toast and had one of his waiters bring it to our cabins!) Even though the whole crew was outstanding, Sonny will always be our favorite!

On our May trip we found Sonny in the LeBistro. He was moved from Cagney's. He was not happy. He likes being upstairs! LOL

[Baitman19]

One more question: See if you can find a "Sonny." He was a maitre'd in Cagney's last year. He was AWESOME! He went out of his way all the time for our group! (My dad and I got sick the last night of the cruise and had to miss dinner....he wanted to make sure that we ate something so he had his chefs in Cagney's make us Chicken Soup and toast and had one of his waiters bring it to our cabins!) Even though the whole crew was outstanding, Sonny will always be our favorite!

 

When we were on in May Sonny was in Le Bistro. Theresa Bonaobra was the Maitre'D in Cagneys.

 

Happy Cruising,

Monty

[lastingtouch]

2Cruise4Ever,

 

WOW! Sounds like we'll see some changes when we get back on the ship in October. Please tell Claudio and Jacques that Monty & Diane say hi! Also, if she's still there, tell Eka in the casino bar we say hi too. Have her tell you one of her stories and tell her I said to behave herself! LOL :D

 

Enjoy your trip!!!!

di

[2Cruise4Ever]

That sounds like the new wave in food service in the buffets on alot of ships. I think it will be much more efficient and will keep lines down. Now if they could just bring back the trays.......

 

Did they do that to both sides of the buffet or just the old LaTrattatoria side?

 

 

Nope, it's both sides. La Trattoria doesn't exist anymore. So, the entire buffet is open for all 3 meals.

 

It really is a great setup. And, no the trays are not back. One dish at a time. And, the use of hand santizers is heavily advised all throughout the ship :)

 

Oh, and for those asking before I left, yes the Kid Crew is open the first night: 8:00 to 10:00 with group babysitting from 10:00 to 1:00 a.m.

[Planer's Edge]

Does Claudio know who will be replacing him? We will be sailing on the NY to Miami repo in October.

 

PE

[jimswims]

Thank you for the live post from the Dawn.

 

We are looking forward to our cruise on the Dawn in August and we are going to be inducted into the "AB Suite Life".

 

Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

[boeckli]

2Cruise4Ever,

 

Thanks for your live updates! Sounds like you're having a great time.

If you get any chance at all to have a word with the captain, would you please pass on a "Big Hello from Denmark" for me - thanks :D

[Cosmopolitan]

2cruise4ever ~

 

thanks for posting...sounds wonderful.

 

I, too, would like to know who is replacing Claudio..please tell me it is Alex:)

[Planer's Edge]

2cruise4ever ~

 

thanks for posting...sounds wonderful.

 

I, too, would like to know who is replacing Claudio..please tell me it is Alex:)

 

It would be absolutely wonderful if Alex came home to the Dawn.

 

PE

[meggavolt]

Hi,

 

could you tell me what the formal night was like, i have heard that NCL is now Formal optional. i'm guessing this means 1 dinning room formal the other not. and is it the same menu in both dinning rooms on formal night

 

Thanks

[2Cruise4Ever]

The optional formal night was Sunday (1st sea day). We saw maybe 1/4 of the passengers actually dressed up. They didn't designate a specific dining room that I can recall. We went to the Venetian (one of 2 main dining rooms) for dinner that night. It was also lobster night (which is usually the typical menu on the optional formal night).

[angeljt]

Glad to hear you're having a great time. Thanks for posting and enjoy the rest of your cruise.

Jackie

[KeystoneCruiser]

Hi,

 

could you tell me what the formal night was like, i have heard that NCL is now Formal optional. i'm guessing this means 1 dinning room formal the other not. and is it the same menu in both dinning rooms on formal night

 

Thanks

 

 

NCL has had Optional Formal since at least 2001. All dining venues are always optional formal. You can dress up if you like or you can dress resort casual. They do not designate any one dining room as formal only.

 

The two main restaurants on each ship usually have the same menu each night and that menu changes from night to night. The specialty restaurant menus are the same for the entire cruise.

 

NCL has changed the name from "Optional Formal" night to "Dress as you want" night. (yeah, I think its a dumb name too....) 2Cruise4Ever reported that only 25% (1/4) of the passengers dressed up. In my cruises, I would estimate that to be slightly higher (up to maybe 40%) but the majority of the diners will be in resort casual. (polo shirts, Kahki pants, etc.)