Dawn Food

[LakelandCat]

First time on the Dawn or with NCL. How does the food compare to Celebrity and Royal. Menu looks great. What is your opinion? Thanks for your opinions.

[dmk446]

Last fall it was very good and there's always more than enough (Free Style). There's also a great selection of specialty resturants, you're really going to enjoy your trip. The BBQ at Great Stirrup Cay is a winner! Enjoy your cruise :)

[Guest BeckyThane]

DANIEL!!! Been missing you, bud! I'll e-mail.

 

OP: I can't compare with Celebrity and RCCL since I haven't been on them, but I found it more than acceptable. Enjoy! The Dawn's a great ship with a great crew.

[PoopDeckPappy]

Regarding the no-cover dining rooms, DW & I agree that it doesn't compare to Celebrity (neither does the dining staff) and we found it better than RC (in terms of tase not staff). We feel that with NCL you have to go to the cover charge specialty restaurants to get what would be standard on Celebrity. But, in our opinion, we look at it as you get what you pay for. When we book NCL (which is more than any other line out of our 12 cruises) we don't expect the same that we'd get on say Celebrity. Going in to it we know & plan on going to the cover restaurants 6 of 7 nights. Haven't cruised with kids yet so it doesn't bother us but if we were paying 4 cover charges instead of 2 I might feel different. We've done the Dawn twice & loved it both times! Have a great trip.

[hotspur]

Regarding the no-cover dining rooms, DW & I agree that it doesn't compare to Celebrity (neither does the dining staff) and we found it better than RC (in terms of tase not staff). We feel that with NCL you have to go to the cover charge specialty restaurants to get what would be standard on Celebrity.

We found the food on Celebrity's Galaxy to be no better than in the main dining rooms on our five NCL cruises. Based on the email ads from internet TAs that come to us every day, Celebrity is, overall, no more expensive than NCL on a per diem basis, which is what you'd expect as both are mass-market cruise lines--like RCCL, Carnival, HAL, etc.

[jpritcha]

I just traveled on the Dawn on 7/28 and was dissapointed in the food. The portions were small and food was not very tasty. I'm not a very pick eater either. I felt that there weren't many good choices in the buffet either. Service was awful - assuming it is because of the service fee that they automatically charge. We cruised via Royal Caribbean last year and the food was much better - service was outstanding. The Dawn, however, was a beautiful ship!

[Len3]

As you can tell by my signature, we have tried several different cruiselines in the past few year, but have not sampled Celebrity. HAL food was certainly better than the regular restaurants on NCL, we found Princess to do a very good job in the restaurant department. That being said, we keep returning to NCL because of the "freestyle" options. We're cruising on the RCCL Navigator in October and will post a review after sailing.

[silkhair1]

Everyone can eat the same food and have different opinions. That being said, I have not eaten Celebrity food, but I would say Royal is about the same. I just depends on what you like. I have not noticed a huge difference in any cruise line food. Juat go with an open mind and you will be fine.

[hotspur]

I have not noticed a huge difference in any cruise line food.

Exactly right.

 

I don't buy any of this business about "the food on [this mass-market cruise line] is much better than the food on [that mass-market cruise line]. Same with the service. I suppose it's possible for some to be swayed by the bowing-and-scraping of the wait staff or the presence of mandatory tuxedos into thinking differently.

[electricron]

Fares per diem the same between NCL and Celebrity? We were discussing the Dawn, but were we talking about sailing from New York or Miami? Let's compare.

 

""Lowest fares" for next summer from New York

Dawn's 7 day itinerary to Bermuda on Apr 27, Sep 28, Oct 5, Oct 12, Oct 19, Oct 26

Inside $749 $107/day

Oceanview $899 $128/day

Balcony $1,299 $185/day

Mini-Suite $1,549 $221/day

 

Celebrity Constellation sails just once from New York to Bermuda and the Caribbean for 11 days on October 30

Inside $899 $81/day

Oceanview $1,049 $95/day

Balcony $1,299 $118/day

Cheapest Suite $2,299 $209/day

 

I'll agree, the Constellation had lower per day fares from New York/New Jersey, but I question just one cruise from Celebrity?

 

"Lowest fares" from Miami this winter.

Dawn 7 day Eastern Caribbean on Nov 25, Dec 2, Dec 9, Dec 16, Jan 27, Feb 3, Feb 24, Mar 9

Inside $499 $71/day

Oceanview $579 $82/day

Balcony $729 $104/day

Mini-Suite $999 $142/day

 

Celebrity's lowest fares from Miami this winter.

Celebrity's Century 5 day itineraries from Miami departing on Jan 7, Jan 21, Feb 4,

Inside $349 $69/day

Oceanview $499 $99/day

Balcony $749 $149/day

Suite $899 $128/day

 

Since the Century is the only Celebrity ship sailing from Miami, lets' include Fort Lauderdale, although NCL? doesn't sail from there.

 

Celebrity cheapest fares from Fort Lauderdale.

7 days departing January 6, 2008 on Celebrity's Millennium

Inside $699 $99/day

Oceanview $899 $129/day

Balcony $999 $142/day

Suite $1,999 #285/day

 

I wouldn't go so far to state Celebrity's fares when considered per diem is as low as NCLs, or specifically the Norwegian Dawn sailing from Fort Lauderdale or Miami.

[LakelandCat]

Thanks to all for your opinions. We are looking forward to trying NCL. Our previous cruises have been 3 RCL to Caribbean and 3 Celebrity (Caribbean and Med). This is our first cruise post-baby and will be taking our nearly one year old along for the first time. We thought maybe the Free-Style food options would be a little easier taking the little one. We love great food and have eaten all over the world but always have open minds when it comes to travel. I think this cruise will be a great new experience. Happy cruising to all!

[fasted]

I was on the dawn on 7/28/07, I thought the food in the restaurants was very small in portion and nothing that I would go back for a second time.

[melissa6675]

But I'm going on March 23. I've been on the Sun twice, and RCCL twice. I'll agree that tuxedos on the wait staff on RCCL adds to the ambience, but I found the food on the Sun at least as good as the food on RCCL.

 

Both buffets on both lines reminded me of buffets at casinos - fills a need and that's it.

 

I cruise NCL for the freestyle concept and the food - in my opinion - is very tasty.:)