How is it that our 6/8 sailing of the Dawn was better than the last?

[nessaj]

Hello,

 

My husband & I will be taking our 1st cruise on NCL-Dawn.

Initially, we thought we'd save money by booking an inside cabin. After much consideration, we wanted our 1st cruise to be memorable. I'm happy to say, we are both thrilled with the thought of experiencing a balcony stateroom.

I want to thank you for sharing your personal experience with the novice cruiser! I've been on sooooooooo many sites and I have read soooooooo many reviews that I believe I'm addicted.

Every day I wait for our Edocs to appear:D. Still waiting.:cool:

I remember one review said, either you like freestyle or you don't. I believe we will enjoy it.

I'm still learning the cruise lingo and look forward to the day we have 10-12 cruises under our belts. :) As a chocaholic, I do look forward to the buffet! I'll tell you all about it. LOL

Again, thank you so much for writing a review that was fun to read and full of good information.

Perhaps, one day, we will have the opportunity to be invited to the private NCL parties.

 

Thanks again!

[2Cruise4Ever]

Hello,

 

My husband & I will be taking our 1st cruise on NCL-Dawn.

Initially, we thought we'd save money by booking an inside cabin. After much consideration, we wanted our 1st cruise to be memorable. I'm happy to say, we are both thrilled with the thought of experiencing a balcony stateroom.

I want to thank you for sharing your personal experience with the novice cruiser! I've been on sooooooooo many sites and I have read soooooooo many reviews that I believe I'm addicted.

Every day I wait for our Edocs to appear:D. Still waiting.:cool:

I remember one review said, either you like freestyle or you don't. I believe we will enjoy it.

I'm still learning the cruise lingo and look forward to the day we have 10-12 cruises under our belts. :) As a chocaholic, I do look forward to the buffet! I'll tell you all about it. LOL

Again, thank you so much for writing a review that was fun to read and full of good information.

Perhaps, one day, we will have the opportunity to be invited to the private NCL parties.

 

Thanks again!

 

nessah ~ You're very welcome! First of all, welcome to Cruise Critic!!! We absolutely LOVE the Dawn. Our 5th sailing is booked for next June. We love Freestyle because trying to get our kids ready for dinner at a set time is like pulling teeth. We've sailed other lines since and are hard-pressed to get to dinner on time.

 

The chocoholic buffet is awesome! We always go into complete chocolate overload. My special favorite is the chocolate fountain. Mmmmmm chocolate covered marshmallows, strawberries, pineapple, pretzels. And, topping it off with a glass of champagne with the glass rim dipped in chocolate. OMG!!! I'm in complete heaven!

 

As far as the VIP parties, you'll get there! Either through sailing NCL numerous times. Or, perhaps one day, you'll be lucky enough to sail in a suite. NCL (IMHO) has the BEST bang for your buck!

[terrymtex01]

2Cruise and Local thank you both for posting your reviews. Very well writen and very nice reading. It makes th wait for our first cruise aboard the Dawn seem even longer away than it is. We are so excited. Thank you for sharing your vacations with us all.

[kayhil3]

We also had our first cruise experience on the Dawn to bermuda this past August and had balcony room 9066. It was well worth the money and we loved sitting on the balcony while looking out onto the vast big blue sea. Soooo relaxing. Have a great time and if you are like us it won't be long before you book your next cruise with NCL. By the way they offer a cruise certificate for 250.00 and they take 100.00 off you on board charges. So you get 250.00 off your next cruise for only 150.00, and you have 4 years to use it. Great deal. Have fun. You will love the Dawn.

[2Cruise4Ever]

By the way they offer a cruise certificate for 250.00 and they take 100.00 off you on board charges. So you get 250.00 off your next cruise for only 150.00, and you have 4 years to use it. Great deal. Have fun. You will love the Dawn.

 

Not only that, but that is the only deposit you have to put down! For our family of 4 we usually have to deposit $1,000. But, with the cruise reward certificate, the $250 is all we have to deposit to secure our next sailing!

[UandMe4Ever]

nessah ~ You're very welcome! First of all, welcome to Cruise Critic!!! We absolutely LOVE the Dawn. Our 5th sailing is booked for next June. We love Freestyle because trying to get our kids ready for dinner at a set time is like pulling teeth. We've sailed other lines since and are hard-pressed to get to dinner on time.

 

The chocoholic buffet is awesome! We always go into complete chocolate overload. My special favorite is the chocolate fountain. Mmmmmm chocolate covered marshmallows, strawberries, pineapple, pretzels. And, topping it off with a glass of champagne with the glass rim dipped in chocolate. OMG!!! I'm in complete heaven!

 

As far as the VIP parties, you'll get there! Either through sailing NCL numerous times. Or, perhaps one day, you'll be lucky enough to sail in a suite. NCL (IMHO) has the BEST bang for your buck!

Think we'll try the Choc. buffet this trip on 8/29 Dawn! Didn't on our 2 week Jewel Nov. 09~ Sounds toooo goood to pass by a second time. Thanks, much!

[argentina]

Excellent review! Thanks again for organizing the Meet and Greet, and for all the fantastic information you provided.

 

We had a GREAT TIME on the Dawn. And, in the spirit of "better late than never" here's my (EXTREMELY LONG) review of our 6/08/08 sailing:

 

ARRIVAL/EMBARKATION:

We (me, DW, DS (15), and DS (9) drove up from Delaware on Sunday morning. I had originally planned to leave around 7:30 a.m. for the two and a half hour drive, but we didn't get on the road until after 9 a.m. No worries though, traffic was minimal and we made great time. I had printed directions from Expedia and MapQuest. Both had us coming out of the Lincoln Tunnel and turning on to 42nd Street, then making a right on 12th Avenue (which parallels the port area). That was the ONLY place we hit traffic. In hindsight, I would have come directly down 55th Street and saved about 45 minutes.

 

Once we got to the pier, DW dropped us and the bags off, and went on to the self-park. It's expensive ($30 / day or $210 for our Sunday to Sunday stay), but it's very convenient and secure. When we got to our cabin and stepped out on our balcony, the car was right below our view!

 

The embarkation line was long, but it moved pretty quickly. We were staying in two connecting BB (balcony) cabins, deck nine, port side, aft. Checking in was painless and quick (even WITHOUT passports), the we posed for the embarkation photo, and headed up the gangway.

 

We were greeted by the warm, smiling faces of the crew, who offered us a choice of champagne or orange juice. We did not get an escort to our cabins (maybe we had to ask for one?) but we found it very easily.

 

CABINS:

Having sailed on only one cruise before (the MS Seaward on our honeymoon) my wife and I were pleased by the size of our cabins. The floor to ceiling glass doors of the balconies really gave the cabins an "open" feeling. And having connecting cabins so that our sons could have their own room worked out great. The bathrooms, with sliding doors separating the shower, toilet, and sink into three parts, were particularly impressive (for a ship, anyway).

 

I had ordered the "romance/honeymoon" package, so a full-sized bottle of champaign (warm, unfortunately) was waiting for us. Soon after, four large chocolate-covered strawberries followed.

 

The cabins were very clean, fridge was stocked with soda, beer, and alcohol, there was plenty of storage, and the amenities (bedding, safe, TV, etc.) were all very nice.

 

BON VOYAGE:

I had read on some forums that one "trick" upon embarkation was to head to the Venetian (one of the two main dining rooms) rather than the more crowded, buffet-style Garden Cafe for lunch. We tried, but alas, by the time we got there, they were not seating for lunch. So we did head over to the Garden Cafe, which was quite crowded. We were able to secure a table for four after a short search, and we found the buffet offerings very good.

 

We headed back to our cabins to change for the pool, and met our cabin stewards, Marlon and Jonathan. They were very friendly, energetic young guys who remembered our names from day one. The one 2.0 amenity that I felt was missing was the robes that Norwegian promises. I mentioned this to Marlon and Jonathan, and they were able to get robes for my wife and I (but not for our sons) the next day.

 

The pool area is crowded on sea days (which you have to expect), but if you don't mind being away from the pool, there are usually groups of lounge chairs available toward the bow. The poolside barbecue was very popular, as was the ice cream.

 

The poolside band was quite good, and I really liked the fact that there weren't any noisy "poolside games" going on. If you wanted a drink, you just had to raise the drink flag attached to your lounge chair. Service was pretty good, although my teenage son sometimes had to wait a long time for his "free" sodas (we bought the "soda stamp"). If was quicker for him to simply make a run to the bar area.

 

Sailing out of New York, past the tall buildings of Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island was a very cool experience.

 

FOOD/DINNING:

I thought the food overall was very good to excellent. We usually ate in the Venetian (one of the two "free" main dinning rooms), but we also had meals in the Garden Cafe (the buffet), Blue Lagoon (free, "dinner-style?"), Aqua (the other "free" main dinning room), room service, Bimini Grill (poolside lunch), and Le Bistro (DW and I, as part of the romance package).

 

While the service in the Venetian was usually quite good, there were a few times when I would call it "leisurely paced." However, I wouldn't call it "slow." After all, you should take your time to enjoy a good meal.

There was always a nice selection of entrées. I really enjoyed the Mahi Mahi, Lobster, and Prime Rib selections (all in the Venetian). The Fillet in Le Bistro was EXCELLENT, as was the service and atmosphere. I can understand why some choose to pay extra to dine at the specialty restaurants, but frankly, our dinners in the Venetian and Aqua were nearly as good. Next time, I will try Cagney's, as I heard nothing but great things about it.

 

My sons aren't the most adventurous eaters, but they ALWAYS had a selection of items to choose from. The desserts were wonderful, and it was nice to know you didn't have to settle for just one!

 

For the most part, people dressed appropriately for dinner, but there were a few times that I saw grown men in shorts or tee shirts. I'm not a stickler for formality, but I think if you go to the main dinning room, you should put on long pants and a polo shirt.

 

Also, I know some folks love to complain, but I overheard a few people who had me scratching my head. For example, one guy was unhappy because his toast at breakfast that morning wasn't hot. Since toast stays warm for about one minute, maybe he should sit closer to the galley! Another person in front of me in the buffet line at the Garden Cafe was frustrated with the "sneeze shield" that she had to reach under to get her food. Well, I was VERY HAPPY that shield was there, and if it took an extra 10 seconds to get my food, well, so be it!

 

By the way, there are hand sanitizers all over the ship, especially in the entrances and exits for the food areas.

 

ENTERTAINMENT:

I thought the shows and performers were excellent. The Stardust Theater is really impressive. We were able to see nearly all the shows. We did get shut out of the "Bon Voyage" show on the first night, because we had a late dinner. There were usually two show times each night, but the first night there's only one, so if you want to see it, get there early.

 

"Band on the Run," "Bollywood," the magic show, and the comedy of Second City were all excellent. The shows were usually about 50 minutes long, which was just about right.

 

My nine-year-old even participated on stage with Second City as part of their "unscripted" show (my wife and I were having dinner in Le Bistro, so I hope he was funny).

 

There was plenty to do on board, any time of day or night. ping pong, basketball, chess, movies, games, bingo, etc.

 

Beware if you're a big television watcher. Usually only 4 or 5 (sometimes as few as 2) stations were available (not counting the 24-7 "safety procedures" station, or the view of the bow of the ship!). The most difficult part for me was no baseball for the week (GO PHILLIES!)

 

I had fun in the casino - and even came out a bit ahead!

 

The seminars were interesting and entertaining.

 

And thank you, Liza, for recommending the "martini clinic." At $15 it was well worth it! Our host treated us to an entertaining and informative presentation on the history and terminology of the martini, and made us SIX - count 'em SIX - premium martini "samples" over the course of 75 minutes.

 

BERMUDA

Beautiful place! Very clean. Very scenic. I had been worried that the air and ocean temperatures wouldn't reach "beach weather" by mid-June, but it couldn't have been better! In fact, while the "official" forecast might have listed temperatures in the low-to-mid 70s, it felt like mid-to-high 80s to me! Ditto for the ocean temperature. While not tropical, the ocean felt warm (think Atlantic City in August) to me.

 

Having never been to Bermuda before, we booked two excursions through NCL - the Horseshoe Bay Beach Getaway and the Bermuda Snuba Experience. While it's true that the bus and ferry passes allow you to do the same things at less cost, I don't regret booking through NCL.

 

We actually took the public transportation our first day in Bermuda. There were a lot of stops on the public bus, and it got VERY crowded. On the NCL excursion, we had direct transportation, a sight-seeing guide, and no crowded bus. Either way, you got to see a lot of Bermuda.

 

Horseshoe Bay Beach is a must see for any beach lover. The one downside to the NCL excursion was that we only got to spend two hours at the beach. I would have liked more time there, especially since it was such a beautiful day. Our bus tour also stopped at a church built in 1600 and a lighthouse (sorry, I don't have the names handy).

 

The Snuba Experience was fantastic. We took a water taxi to the 9 Beaches Resort, where we received instruction, donned wetsuits, and got to explore the undersea world. Anyone 8 or older can do it, and it's a lot of fun.

 

We checked out the Crystal Caves on our own. For me, it seemed a bit pricey, but it was certainly a unique experience. Not something I'd do again, however.

 

We didn't sample any local food (unless you count my Dark and Stormy at Nine Beaches, and my Rum Swizzle at the Frog and Onion).

 

ODDS AND ENDS:

Overall, nearly perfect trip.

 

*We had very smooth seas both down and back.

 

*We were chosen to dine with Pedro, the Cruise Director one night, and he was an interesting, gracious host. Best wishes on your marriage!

 

*The hot stone massage in the spa was expensive, but was also one of the best I've ever had. I didn't like the "hard sell" of spa products that followed, however.

 

*According to Pedro, our sailing was sold out, but the ship was not at capacity. In other words, all cabins were being used, but some of those that could hold 3 or 4 were only holding 2. Ship seemed full, but not crowded.

 

*Staff was very friendly and helpful.

 

*If you see a photo in the gallery that you might want, don't wait to buy it until the end of the cruise. By then, you'll have to sift through stacks and stacks of unsold photos. I have to believe that the digital age will soon make it possible to access and purchase photos on line AFTER the vacation (a la Disneyworld).

 

*We did NOT get cookies delivered to our cabin on the final night.

 

*I'm sure the Chocolate Buffet is great, but I didn't feel like waiting in line for an hour to find out. The food and deserts were wonderful the entire cruise, and that was enough for me.

 

*Three days in Bermuda was very nice. Four would have been even better. Maybe NCL will consider a Tuesday afternoon arrival?

 

Again, sorry for the LONG review. If anyone has specific questions, I'm happy to offer my opinion.

i am planning on booking a boston/bermuda cruise because I live in Boston, MA in September. Any information you could give me about Dawn I would greatly appreciat it. Do they have lots of activies during the day? What about the shows? How is the ship overall. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thank you,

 

Lillian

[2Cruise4Ever]

i am planning on booking a boston/bermuda cruise because I live in Boston, MA in September. Any information you could give me about Dawn I would greatly appreciat it. Do they have lots of activies during the day? What about the shows? How is the ship overall. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thank you,

 

Lillian

 

Lilian ~ We have sailed the Dawn five times and absolutely love her!! The shows are really good. We always enjoy the comedian. If they still do the crew talent show that is not to be missed! Especially "Fountains." There will be plenty of activities during the day... trivia, pool games, bingo, etc. You'll see the complete list in the Freestyle Daily (delivered each night).

 

One of the tricks we learned as far as getting around the ship: You can't walk from all the way forward to all the way aft on all the decks. We usually used deck 9 or 10 (all cabins) to go from one end to the other. Deck 12 isn't bad either, but you have to go through the pool area to do it.

 

Have fun!

[momo24]

Lilian ~ We have sailed the Dawn five times and absolutely love her!! The shows are really good. We always enjoy the comedian. If they still do the crew talent show that is not to be missed! Especially "Fountains." There will be plenty of activities during the day... trivia, pool games, bingo, etc. You'll see the complete list in the Freestyle Daily (delivered each night).

 

One of the tricks we learned as far as getting around the ship: You can't walk from all the way forward to all the way aft on all the decks. We usually used deck 9 or 10 (all cabins) to go from one end to the other. Deck 12 isn't bad either, but you have to go through the pool area to do it.

 

Have fun!

Hi we are going on the Dawn in August to Bermuda and will be staying in 10226. I was just wondering if you have any pictures of your recent cruises. This is how I pass the time looking for pictures for my next vacation. This will be the first time that we booked a suite so I am looking forward to all that also. Have a great day.:)

[2Cruise4Ever]

Hi we are going on the Dawn in August to Bermuda and will be staying in 10226. I was just wondering if you have any pictures of your recent cruises. This is how I pass the time looking for pictures for my next vacation. This will be the first time that we booked a suite so I am looking forward to all that also. Have a great day.:)

 

You're in a romance suite which is much different than the suite we usually sail in (was called AB penthouse, now SC penthouse). So, the layout is completely different. The SC is 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, living area, dining area, and balcony. The romance suite is one bedroom (2 baths, I think), living area and dining area, balcony. All the amenities are the same, though.

 

Link to pics is in my signature.