Disappointed on the Dawn after the Escape??

Thinking about sailing on the Dawn with multigenerational family who sailed on the Escape last year. Will we be disappointed by the Dawn? Will it have enough to keep the kids entertained?

We are not really hard to please. The Dawn has the same itinerary as the Getaway (4 stops Western Caribbean). We did the Eastern on the Escape so this seems appealing to us. I can get a better price (with flights) on the Dawn. Should I go for it? Would love to hear from someone who's been on both. Thanks in advance!

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The Dawn is a nice ship. Recently updated, she looks new. Not as well designed as the Jewel class, but there are many similarities. Not a mega ship by any means, but it ain't the S.S. Minnow either.

The Dawn is smaller, but nice. I would go with the Getaway, being that you have children.

Took out 5 teens in the Gem after the Breakaway, they had a great time, and I realized I prefer a smaller ship (previously on the Spirit and Jewel).

I actually liked the Dawn before the upgrade. Not the decor, but just the atmosphere. My son felt there was not a lot to do for his age group (14 at the time) I would go with the larger ship. We are trying the Escape next year, first time on a Mega ship. Will see how it goes.

Thinking about sailing on the Dawn with multigenerational family who sailed on the Escape last year. Will we be disappointed by the Dawn? Will it have enough to keep the kids entertained? We are not really hard to please. The Dawn has the same itinerary as the Getaway (4 stops Western Caribbean). We did the Eastern on the Escape so this seems appealing to us. I can get a better price (with flights) on the Dawn. Should I go for it? Would love to hear from someone who's been on both. Thanks in advance!Sent from my iPhone using Forums

If you liked the Escape, stay with the bigger ships like the Getaway. The Dawn is a bit "old fashion" going back to the grander (but not necessarily funner) days of cruising.

What's great about the Dawn vs. a Mega-Ship is that there will be nightly shows that you don't have to pre-book. There will still be music all over the ship, but no dueling pianos or comedy club. the wine bar is incredible, and the wine classes are a must-do if you are into wine. The Mexican restaurant (Los Lobos) is also one of the best dining experiences I ever had at sea. Yes, the Dawn is smaller, but there is still plenty do to.

AKR2011,

We are on the Dawn in two weeks. I was interested in your comments about the wine classes. We are wine lovers and always enjoy tastings. Do the classes include tastings? Where do you sign up? Thanks for your feedback.

Yes you will.

Honestly? There will be a little less to do and you'll have fewer drinking/dining options. So if those are important, yes, you'll probably be a little disappointed. BUT, you'll love how close everything feels compared to the Escape! If I were to sail the Dawn, Star or Spirit again, I'd have to sail in a balcony, because I always had a hard time finding a quiet spot to comfortably read when the weather was bad (wind, rain). And it would be hard to go back to only having mediocre beers! The District Brew House keeps us coming back to the Escape. The ropes course and mini golf are also fun ways to spend some time on a sea day, and Spice H20 being kid-free is a bonus for us.

FYI, as others have said, I really like the Getaway as an alternative to the Escape. Just missing the Brew House. :-)

The Dawn is a bit "old fashion" going back to the grander (but not necessarily funner) days of cruising.

THIS! I agree completely. That's why I'm glad NCL has a better variety of ships now, and doesn't "cookie cutter" them all. Something for everyone.

I've sailed the Dawn twice. I love her! She's a GREAT ship. I'm booked on the Escape in 2 weeks and can not wait! I've never sailed her before and I'm really excited. All of this being said... It depends on what you're looking for. While yes the Dawn had a ton to do by day, pretty much by midnight the ship was closed down. We were there with a huge group of people--all age 40+. A couple of nights of the cruise we were ready to party it up and literally by midnight the "party scene" (club areas) had closed up shop and the ship was a ghost town. I'm not a huge party animal so I was not deterred but that was the only negative a few in our group had about her. But overall we had a blast and all of us would sail her again in a heartbeat.

I was very dissaponted in the Dawn And NCL just last week!

When walking down an inside corridor on Dawn I pop open an ash tray that's built into the wall to find it 1/2 full of decade old cigarette butt's. :eek: :eek:

I find it So Nasty that After Two refurbishment's they still have not emptyed the dang ash tray's. :( :mad:

Missing Fridge door cover's still abound too. :confused:

The Dawn and Star are my favorite NCL ships. Haven't been on Escape, but have done Epic (my least favorite), Breakaway, and Gem. I am sure we will sail the mega-ships again, but I just really like the smaller ones!

If the kids are teens go with Getaway. If they are younger the seperate pool area on the Dawn is much bigger and better.

Our teen loved Getaway and Escape and he is coming with us on the Dawn for spring break. He will like it well enough, but it will be a drop off from the slides and ropes course of the bigger ships.

I was very dissaponted in the Dawn And NCL just last week!

When walking down an inside corridor on Dawn I pop open an ash tray that's built into the wall to find it 1/2 full of decade old cigarette butt's. :eek: :eek:

I find it So Nasty that After Two refurbishment's they still have not emptyed the dang ash tray's. :( :mad:

I don't smoke, so I can't distinguish how long a cigarette butt has been in an ashtray.

What's the tipoff that a butt has been there for an hour, a day, a week, a year?

A DECADE?! Now I'm offended.

What do we think could be happening with the urinals??

NCL is constantly striving for new & creative ways to piss us off.

I don't smoke, so I can't distinguish how long a cigarette butt has been in an ashtray.

What's the tipoff that a butt has been there for an hour, a day, a week, a year?

A DECADE?! Now I'm offended.

What do we think could be happening with the urinals??

NCL is constantly striving for new & creative ways to piss us off.

There has not been smoking in the deck 4 hallway's since before Dawn came to Boston as far as I know.

There has not been smoking in the deck 4 hallway's since before Dawn came to Boston as far as I know.

Smoking was still allowed in cabins 3 yrs ago. They could have been 3 yr old butts.....still not good.

What's great about the Dawn vs. a Mega-Ship is that there will be nightly shows that you don't have to pre-book. There will still be music all over the ship, but no dueling pianos or comedy club. the wine bar is incredible, and the wine classes are a must-do if you are into wine. The Mexican restaurant (Los Lobos) is also one of the best dining experiences I ever had at sea. Yes, the Dawn is smaller, but there is still plenty do to.

I'm sold:cool:

I was very dissaponted in the Dawn And NCL just last week!

 

When walking down an inside corridor on Dawn I pop open an ash tray that's built into the wall to find it 1/2 full of decade old cigarette butt's. :eek: :eek:

 

I find it So Nasty that After Two refurbishment's they still have not emptyed the dang ash tray's. :( :mad:

 

Missing Fridge door cover's still abound too. :confused:

Oh good grief![emoji849]

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Honestly, it depends on the kids. In the end, IMHO, most kids will find a way to have fun and stay busy. The shows were very good when I last went. I went without the kids last year and we are taking them on the Dawn in April (age 13,10). They have done Disney before, But i am sure that they are going to have a blast on the Dawn even without huge water slides and such. The is a very nice ship. I liked how it looked after coming out of dry dock.

I agree with the last poster, kids can always find something to do and shouldn't be bored on any cruise, between activities and excursions, but to answer your question: the Getaway is going to be closer to what you enjoyed on the Escape if mega is what you think you prefer. For us, the mid sized ships like the Dawn are our style. Either should be fine. No there are not as many dining options on the smaller ships but nobody will run out of places to eat either way.

AKR2011,

 

We are on the Dawn in two weeks. I was interested in your comments about the wine classes. We are wine lovers and always enjoy tastings. Do the classes include tastings? Where do you sign up? Thanks for your feedback.

We signed up at the wine bar as soon as we boarded. We received a discount since we had the UBP. though I can't remember how much. We did a wine and chocolate tasting where we tried white, milk, and dark chocolate with different kinds of wines first. We were hooked on the wine bar manager at that point. She is fabulous! So the next sea day we took a class on how the shape of wine glasses effects the taste. That one was eye opening! Then we took a third class where we drank out of black glasses and had to guess what we were drinking. There was also an aroma class, but we skipped that one. I would take them all again. Such an incredible experience, and there were a few of us who took all of the classes together, so it was always nice to see each other. We also received a book to take home that reminds us what to look for when tasting wine in the future.

thanks. soon as we board, we will head for the wine bar!

I forgot to mention the quality and variety of the entertainment is much better on the Getaway/Escape. The main shows are better and I thought the performers were better from the solo piano player to the stage shows. I'm sailing the Dawn for a second time in 11 months and I'm not really looking forward to the shows. I also didn't find Second City that funny, but the comedians on the mega ships were funny, family show or adult show. And there is nothing like the atmosphere of the Manhattan or Tropicana room on those ships either.

Now I like the Dawn, but I'd prefer the Getaway and then the Escape. Also the Dawn's casino wasn't too friendly to me. The other ships let me play without taking it all, lol.