HAL Cruisers Needs Advice Regarding the DAWN

[Sirdar]

DW and I are considering a quick and relatively inexpensive getaway to Bermuda in September or October. As we would need to leave from NYC, the Norwegian Dawn seems the best best. We prefer to sail on HAL because of the smaller ships, good food and more mature crowd but are always willing to try something different. We sailed aboard the Carribbean Princess last summer out of Brooklyn and thought it wat too big and crowded for our tastes.

 

Can you help us to decide on the Dawn? Too big? Too crowded? Too much competition for seats in the theater? or deck chairs? We last sailed Norwegian on the old Crown. Thought the food then only so-so compared to other lines we sailed on.

Anyone have recent experience comparing cuisine with other lines? (HAL, Princess, Celebrity)

 

Any help is appreciated.:)

[Suesan Jean]

DW and I are considering a quick and relatively inexpensive getaway to Bermuda in September or October. As we would need to leave from NYC, the Norwegian Dawn seems the best best. We prefer to sail on HAL because of the smaller ships, good food and more mature crowd but are always willing to try something different. We sailed aboard the Carribbean Princess last summer out of Brooklyn and thought it wat too big and crowded for our tastes.

 

Can you help us to decide on the Dawn? Too big? Too crowded? Too much competition for seats in the theater? or deck chairs? We last sailed Norwegian on the old Crown. Thought the food then only so-so compared to other lines we sailed on.

Anyone have recent experience comparing cuisine with other lines? (HAL, Princess, Celebrity)

 

Any help is appreciated.:)

I have cruised on HAL once, on the Noordam last year and LOVED IT......!!!

I would LOVE to cruise on HAL more often and now that the Veendam will cruise from New York to Bermuda, starting in 2010, I COULD.......!!! And the Veendam is a smaller ship, which we LOVE and we would go through the Saint Georges Cut which I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.......!!!:D

But, that does not help you now, can you wait till next year????;)

I have cruised on NCL five times, our sixth (our 4th time on the Dawn) will be this August on the Dawn to Bermuda. We LOVE THE DAWN.....!!!

It is a BEAUTIFULL ship, yes it is big, but, not too big. There is lots to do if you want to keep busy and if you want to be quiet, there are some nice places to sit and watch or read.

I would reccomend giving the Dawn a try, then you can decide for yourself.

Food is really an individual thing. So, I think that it is a try it to find out kind of thing.......

As for dealing with crowds, we have never had a problem fighting over chairs, etc......

I think if you go into any cruise with a positive outlook, you will have a Great time, barring any unforseen bad/unfortunate events.

You said you are willing to try different things, so, go for a cruise on the Norwegian Dawn, you may end up being QUITE HAPPY........!!!:D

[sottovoce]

We've done one HAL cruise and six on NCL and have seen no difference in the quality of food or service. NCL offers much more flexibility in choices of dining rooms, freedom to eat at your convenience, and a much less restrictive dress code--all important on a cruise where you're docked in port for three nights and want to enjoy to the fullest a beautiful place like Bermuda.

[Sirdar]

Thank you. Your replies were very helpful and we are inclined to give it a try!!

[Dolphins]

As one who had sailed over 100 days on HAL, I decided to give NCL a chance because I was tired of flying to Florida and NCL started sailing year round out of New York. Fortunately, our initial NCL experience was on the beautiful Dawn and never regretted giving NCL a try. Since then, we have achieved Platinum status on NCL and received perks we never got from HAL. Every fall we now sail our favorite ship (Dawn) to our favorite island (Bermuda). I urge you to consider our Oct. 4th cruise, the perfect time to visit Bermuda.

As for 2010, I would also like to sail HAL's Veendam to Bermuda because it docks in both St. George and Hamilton. However, a balcony cabin on the Veendam is much more expensive than a similar balcony cabin on the Dawn. I suggest you give the Dawn a try and I am confident you won't be sorry.

[Sirdar]

As one who had sailed over 100 days on HAL, I decided to give NCL a chance because I was tired of flying to Florida and NCL started sailing year round out of New York. Fortunately, our initial NCL experience was on the beautiful Dawn and never regretted giving NCL a try. Since then, we have achieved Platinum status on NCL and received perks we never got from HAL. Every fall we now sail our favorite ship (Dawn) to our favorite island (Bermuda). I urge you to consider our Oct. 4th cruise, the perfect time to visit Bermuda.

As for 2010, I would also like to sail HAL's Veendam to Bermuda because it docks in both St. George and Hamilton. However, a balcony cabin on the Veendam is much more expensive than a similar balcony cabin on the Dawn. I suggest you give the Dawn a try and I am confident you won't be sorry.

 

Thank you for your input. DW and I have sailed the Veendam twice before and like the smaller ship. I agree that the itinerary it will have (Hamiliton and St. Georges) is excellent for a Bermuda trip and are planning to go to Bermuda on her in 2010.. We have gone to Bermuda six times before (Princess, Celebrity, Norwegian) and it is our favorite island as well. But from what you say, the Dawn seems like a very good option for a quik getaway out of NYC. We will definitely consider the Oct. 4 sailing and look for a M&G!

[Kendallkat2]

You would have to make your cruise be in October to Bermuda on the Dawn. The Dawn doesn't sale to Bermuda in September. I know because I wanted to go in September. Instead we are leaving August 30, almost September. :) I believe the Dawn does New England cruises in October. Probably for fall foliage. I can get all the fall foliage I want right at home.

 

Beth

[tbag124]

I've sailed the Dawn and the Caribbean Princess. While I loved many aspects of the CB, I did feel that it was a little too big and very crowded. I was always trying to figure out where I was. It usually only takes me a day or so to get acclaimated but after 4 days on the CB, I was still referring to my pocket map A LOT! LOL I would sail either again, but I definitely think you'll enjoy the Dawn to Bermuda! We can't wait for our trip in less than 2 weeks!

[newmexicoNita]

DW and I are considering a quick and relatively inexpensive getaway to Bermuda in September or October. As we would need to leave from NYC, the Norwegian Dawn seems the best best. We prefer to sail on HAL because of the smaller ships, good food and more mature crowd but are always willing to try something different. We sailed aboard the Carribbean Princess last summer out of Brooklyn and thought it wat too big and crowded for our tastes.

 

Can you help us to decide on the Dawn? Too big? Too crowded? Too much competition for seats in the theater? or deck chairs? We last sailed Norwegian on the old Crown. Thought the food then only so-so compared to other lines we sailed on.

Anyone have recent experience comparing cuisine with other lines? (HAL, Princess, Celebrity)

 

Any help is appreciated.:)

 

our two favorite lines are NCL and HAL, but for totally different reasons. NCL has more energy which we love, they know how to do flex dining and have better entertainment. HAL has better food, although NCL has more choices, the cabins on HAL are larger and I do think they have the best service of all lines. Just go on NCL with an open mind, we like NCL better than Celebrity cause the passengers are not living in a world that makes them better than anyone else on land or sea, Princess is similar to NCL, though we like the service on NCL better, we like the activities and casino better on Princess.

 

Nita

[flashdog_1]

I've sailed several Celebrity cruises and love the food and classical music offered. Sailed Veendam once and loved the passengers of all ages and the welcoming feeling I got from those I met both from our meet and greet group and just people I'd sit and smoke with. The welcoming feeling is also there on NCL. Dawn was our second NCl cruise and we liked it better than our first.

 

My husband likes NCL because he doesn't have to dress up for formal night, and we can always have a table for two. If you LIKE to dress up, go right ahead. No one bats an eye at what anyone else is wearing. Everyone cleans up for dinner in the restaurants so you don't have to worry about someone in raggety shorts. If you don't want to do that, and do want to wear shorts, the buffet is open for dinner, plus the comfort food station, Blue Lagoon is open 24 hours. Lots more choices for food on NCL.

 

I hope you will enjoy it!

[CC Help Michell]

We have done several NCL cruises and one HAL cruise, and I think you should try it. We loved our HAL cruise (in fact, as we get older I could easily see HAL replacing NCL as our favorite, now that HAL has anytime dining). I do have a few suggestions:

 

I'd recommend purchasing the spa package for the duration of your cruise ($150 for a couple for a 7 night cruise) -- that gives you access to the adult-only spa, the saunas, the steam rooms, the thalassotherapy tub, the hot tub, the relaxation rooms, the lap pool, the loungers overlooking the wake, etc. We really enjoyed the Dawn, but part of what really "made" that cruise for us was purchasing the spa package, and the quiet relaxation time it gave us.

 

I'd also recommend trying a few of the specialty restaurants (and budgeting for them -- they have surcharges from $10 to $30 per person). I don't mind NCL's main dining room food, but I do think the specialty restaurants have better food with more variety, more like HAL's main dining room food.

 

Last, if your budget permits, I'd recommend booking a suite (penthouse or above) on NCL -- it's an amazing experience, and the Dawn's concierge is a remarkable person (if Anshuman is still on your sailing).

 

In any event, I think it's worth a try.

[courageteaches]

I have sailed on Celebrity twice, Disney, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and I enjoyed the Dawn (April 2008) MORE than any of those ships because of the free style dining. Every night was like going to a nice restaurant with my family of 3! I am a teacher and my husband is a broker/ realtor so we get enough small talk with people we don't really know already in our jobs.

We didn't scrimp on overcharges for the restaurants and I thought it was quite reasonable and it was nice to have so many choices. On celebrity, I got tired of the same type of food. The dawn had upscale mexican, Italian, French and even bar food like Chicken Wings. The main dining rooms had good food and the menu was varied.

The main thing is to plan each day the night before and make dinner reservations. I went on the Dawn on spring break on a full ship but I never felt crowded or annoyed except on excursions - because two of the places required a tender boat - if you are going to be in port it is no problem. The pool area was a little crowded but I always found a chair on deck 7 - I am a Floridian, I like the sun but I prefer shade!:cool:

I have another NCL cruise booked for next spring break and I will try to sail with them everytime now.