Live from the Dawn (12/3 cruise)

We can't find anything wrong that hasn't been fixed. The only problem is that we are moving slow. We averaged 16 knots the 1st 20 hours. That is because of the break-in period for the new engine.

As far as we are concerned, this Princess product is as good as we are used to. The new internet cafe is on deck 7 where the card room was. The card room is on deck 12 forward.

We were just on the Dawn the 14th of Oct for 10 days. I would imagine that now that she's been in dry dock she is even more beautiful than when we sailed.

I hope you have as great a time as we did.

Are you still able to order from the dining room menu via Room Service?

Have been reading that they've changed that option. We have always enjoyed ordering anything we want from the dining room menu for Breakfast on our balcony.

Wondering what your experience has been with this as I've been reading they don't allow any longer.

Have a WONDERFUL cruise!!!

This is such a mundane question, but let us know (if you know) if the laundry rooms are functioning. I'm spending a week in Florida post-cruise and planned to do some laundry on one of our many sea days on my Dawn cruise. Take care of the ship, will ya? My room is reserved for 12/13 on the Aloha deck!

Bluedevilump, keep us posted! I just found out two of my cousins are on the ship with you! If you run into Ruth and Harold from Florida, tell them Miriam (Adina and Bob's kid) says Happy Anniversary!!!

We were on the Dawn for 10 days in October and used the (free!) laundry facilities quite a bit. Each passenger deck has a laundry room that contains 2 washers and 2 dryers. The washer is about a 40 minute cycle and the dryers seem to take sooooooo long. I would say to dry a full load you're looking at 1.5 hrs! So take a book with you and/or be prepared to make quick friends with others also doing laundry!

There's also an ironing board and iron. Personally, I didn't like the teflon ironing board cover and in all honesty, will take my own next time!

The soap is $1 per box and the soap dispensing unit takes quarters - so take some with you as change is not so easy to come by! Alternatively, you could take your own small box of soap with you - we picked one up in FLL for about $5. Also brought some dryer sheets from home in a small zip lock bag. People could not believe how prepared we were...

My guess is the new laundry machines are "not free". Let us know if they are charging for them.

I was on the Dawn this summer and I found her gorgeous then - I am sure she is even more beautiful now.

If you have time - let us know which shows are on. The Dawn got a new stage and I am wondering if Tribute can now be done there.

16 knotts!!! That's about 24 miles an hour not that slow for that ship at all!!!

You can cover 570 miles in a day. We'll be on the ship in 18 days and looking forward to it again:D

Hi,

We have just come off the ship and I would say the laundry rooms always seemed to be quite busy. I only used the iron but while I was in there someone used the washer and they did have to put money in to use but I don't know how much, sorry.

I would advise using the laundry room say if you got back early on a port day and most people were still off the ship. Alot of people were complaining that some of the machines were not working and when I used the iron a washer was labelled "out of order".

Hope this helps,

Lisa

When we got off the ship on 12/3 I think we saw washers and driers on the dock. I'm wondering if the ship got new ones because one of the two on our floor (9) was out of order and I heard only the ones on 6 were working. On a ten day cruise it's nice to be able to do a little load of laundry and little is the key word here because the machines were very small.

Yes, someone on the 11/23 cruise posted that almost all the laundry rooms were out of order, that's why I was wondering on the current cruise if things had improved. Sounds like they may have been updating them this time.

I figured they were being replaced with coin machines. Last year on the Dawn they were free. I don't care if I pay, just so they work!!!!

Good tip on the dryer sheets - I'll have to throw some into my luggage.

This has been a beautiful day in Cozumel. We are leaving about 15 minutes late waiting fo a tour to get back. Thats what reduced port hours will get you.

I will try to answer a couple of questions.

1.I don't know about all of them, but the laundries seem to be working. I'll try to find out about the rest.

2. I don't know about the room service breakfast, we havn't tried that one yet.

3. The Dawn's usual cruising speed is 21 knots.

4. If I see Ruth and Harold, I will wish them HA.

Please shoot me any other questions and I will try to find out.

Beautiful cruise. Great crew.

I need a drink.

This has been a beautiful day in Cozumel. We are leaving about 15 minutes late waiting fo a tour to get back. Thats what reduced port hours will get you.

Thanks so much for taking time to post information on the Dawn. I don't really have any questions, but I look forward to getting more of your reports.

I am especially happy to hear good news!!!

hi we are on dawn 12/13. thanks for the good reports. we were on royal in 2002 and things have changed. i underestand they charge for expresso,charge for money in the casino. do they still offer double shots for $more,$ min massages sometimes ? any other tips thanks for reports. adinva

Ben.. Thanks for the reports...

You mentioned reduced port times?? Where and when are the reduced port times, and what is your itinerary for this cruise suppose to be ??

Thanks again

Srpilo

Hi GVRE;

You are a little off in your conversion of Knots to MPH. The correct conversion for 16 knots is 18.41 MPH.

Fair winds

Dave

I hope I'm not being too cheerful, but it's hard not to be. Beautiful day on our way to G Cayman. We anchor at 12.

1. Yes, they do charge for espresso.

2. I don't know about the double shots.

3. Computer time is $.35/minute.

4. Our original itinerary was Cozumel, Cayman, M Bay, St Thomas, St Martin and P Cays.

They cut 2 hours off of port visits to Cozumel and M Bay. A new engine was installed in drydock between 11/3 and 11/22. There is a break in period, so...we are not going real fast. I'm not too sure how long the period lasts. Lastly, we were supposed to go to P Cays. The alleged reason that we are not is because it is not open yet. However, we could not have made it even if it were open, for the above reason. Last I heard, P Cays would be open by the 1st of the year.

Everybody is having a ball. The crew is great. (We are easy to please, but certainly can recognize when something is wrong.) Biggest thing that we can find - our TV remote was not working-steward fixed it in a minute. The guy who was making omelets this morning, his grill wasn't working. Guess what, I didn't go hungry.

I hope I'm not being too cheerful, but it's hard not to be. Beautiful day on our way to G Cayman. We anchor at 12.

I'm asking these questions because I'm booked on the "Western Itinerary" also , but our cruise is in the reverse of yours (we stop 1st in St.Thomas), so I'm a little curious on the time it's taking to make your ports of call, and assuming the worst that maybe the Dawn will never be able to make the "posted original itinerary" because of insuffishant engines or speed.. Ummm?

I guess, my nagging question is .. How come a Brand new ship right of the factory doesn't need to "Break-in" their motors and can make all their posted itinerary's right away..?? But the Dawn can't ?

Oh well, I guess only time will tell . :confused:

Thanks again

Srpilo

Srpilo - Hope you understand, this isn't official. Princess will not tell us anything. Our time changes were made back in September. The break-in stuff that I am getting comes from whatever officers that will talk to me.

Our hours in Cayman were not changed.

This was a great (short) day in MoBay. Weather is still great. Any questions about the cruise. There is another Live thread on this cruise. It is titled Live Dawn 12/6. Talk to you tomorrow.