Dawn Review 3/28-4/4/04

The Dawn is no dought a great ship and will be used by me to futher judge all ships. The design and decor is awesome! No tacky plastic decorating. Only fine workmanship and a lot of paying attension to detailing all over the place. The use of fine woods and excellent carpentry is evedent all over. The mixtue of metals is only tastefully applied and never substituted for cheaper appplications. All together it makes for a very nautical appearance throught the ship. You can never forget that you are on a SHIP.

As for the food it was very tasty and I never felt like I was missing something no matter where I ate that night. The breakfast was more than enough and all items were very good. Plenty of friut and cerials were also offered. Lunch was usually a quicky. A burger by the pool or a sit down in the garden Cafe. Impressions was by far the best regular resturant. Cagney's was not so good for me as the t-bone was gritty. My wife enjoyed her NY strip. Freinds of our's ate at LeBistro one night and loved it. My daughter keeps telling me that they didn't offer enough of a menu at the regular resturants and that's true. Perhaps a little too upscale for them. After all the 13-16 year old crowd like it quick and filling but no frills. They couldn't even read the menu.

When you save on air fare and cruise from NYC in March to April you have to expect uncooperative weather. I had hoped for the best, but both sea days were lost to the high winds and rough seas. Oh well, nothing you can do about that.

I wish NCL could swith back to Nassau as an eight hour stop. Sea Island adventure is a must for you people that like to party on a white sand beach and aqua blue waters. Don't miss it!

We had a good time at night. The shows are excellent and NYC type of music and feeling. However everything closes down just a tad too early and at least one night spot should stay open for the late nighters.

Loved the Dawn and hope to cruise her again real soon. What a ship!

Ray.

Thank you for your informative review. I agree with you about the port stay in Nassau should be longer. Perhaps they could skip Miami and spend more time in the Bahamas.

Hey RG

I'm happy to hear you and your family had a good time. We loved the ship and yes she is beautiful.I am considering booking the 10 day cruise, if not this year maybe next.

I too am a night owl but I was more fortunate because my kind of entertainment stood open all night long....The Casino.... lol. Either way I found the ship to have something for everyone.

Take care, Linda

"Happiness is a choice"

Hello Ray and Linda, great review from both of you. I am very upset, have to go back to work tomorrow. I really loved the Dawn. I also wished a longer stay in Nassau. I would like to see a Key West in place of Cape Canavarel for next year or skip the private island. Either way it was a great cruise & by far the best out of the five we took. The Dawn is a must cruise and should not be missed. As far as the sea days that is a hit or miss. Even in the Summer, (hurricane season). But the weather we had for our 4 ports was worth a couple of hours of rough seas.

Loved meeting you guys. Linda I spent alot of time in the Casino too. I am surprised we didn't bump into each other. Ray, Loved meeting you and your wife. Hope we cross paths again. Hopefully on a cruise. Now tomorrow morning, BACK TO REALITY.

Rainy

Till NCL Dawn cruise

Hi All,

Thanks for the review. It would be very nice to have a longer stop in Nassau, but I prefer a long day on the beach at the private island. The suggestion to skip Miami is a very good one though. It's a large city and South Beach is more of a night spot. Bayside is nice mall, but it's still a mall. The Key West suggestion is very good too. I would greatly prefer that over Miami.

Did you daughter use the teen program? If she did, did she like it.

Thanks.

After sailing on NCL Sky in Alaska last August, vowing never to sail on NCL, we gave in and were pleasantly surprised to find the Dawn one of the best cruises we have been on. Everything was clean and the staff was quite curteous.

Lattitudes cocktail party was disappointing, being at 1:00 in the afternoon. Other lines have a better cocktail hour. Also no captians cocktail hour for the rest of the guests.

Staff was very receptive to our request for a Veterans get together, but wording in the Freestyle Daily was poor and not many understood what the get together was about.

Private Island was not great, and would love a Key West destination instead. We rented a car and went to Epcot and then again in Miami, rented another car and went to Everglades National Park. So much cheaper than the ship's excursions.

Shows were great, but we were always rushing to get to the next one. Spacing them better would be my suggestion.

Food was exceptional, service wonderful. I would highly recommend this ship to everyone.

Guests that stood in the suites were also invited to a cocktail party with the captain and his crew. It was held at 7pm in spinakers lounge and was quite nice. We had friends of ours staying in a mini suite that weren't invited and we were told "it's ok just bring them along". I found everyone to be very accommodating. We also loved the Dawn.

"Happiness is a choice"

I think Key West instead of Miami is a GREAT suggestion. Is there a port there where they could dock the ship? Maybe the ncl powers that be are listening and could work that into the plan in the future!

DJ

This is our FIRST Cruise

I referance to the teen club. Well, I wasn't invited! LOL. My teen did stay out until 2am just about every night so I guess she had fun. She did spend a lot of time in The Blue Lagoon, meeting other kids her age. The Teen club seemed a little too stuctured for her and her other girlfriends. She said they put them in groups and she didn't like that. (I think the attraction was slightly older boys)

We didn't want to take long 8 hour shore excursions so we went on the shorter ones. My wife and daughter liked BaySide mall, but I returned to the ship for 2-fers in Pearly Kings Pub. It's so easy to get around using the NCL sponsered buses that I choose to do that in Canavral as well. I can only take the beach so for long. (I have a sun problem from over indulgence many years ago). We went to Cocoa Beach in Canavral and the complex (Holiday Inn) they take you to is a nice place. Great beach and excellent waves. There is a lot of surfers there and my daughter realy liked that.

I've never been to Key West and would have like to experience it. But you may be right about the pier problem. I think a longer stay in Nassau and the private island (weather permitting) is a better choice. However the island is VERY crowded and would rather spend two days in Nassau so I could get at least a whole day at Rose's Island. That's the Sea Island Adventure not to be missed!

More comments to come....

Hey RG

I will be married for 36yrs and every vacation we ever took I planned. My husband really never put much input into where we would go he would always say "Where ever you want to go is fine with me".

Well tonight during dinner he said to me "You know Linda I would like to go right back on the Dawn on Sunday and redo our cruise".

So, I guess I'll be hanging around these boards and looking for another cruise, maybe the 10 day on the Dawn or I might give Princess a try.

Of course this will be after we take our granddaughter to Disney....lol...Linda

"Happiness is a choice"

Could you please tell me more about the Sea Island Adventure? Thanks

Dawn 5/23/04

RCCL Enchantment 7/02

Carnival Glory 8/03

Sorry RGWiz - I didn't see your response to my post.

Thanks

Dawn 5/23/04

RCCL Enchantment 7/02

Carnival Glory 8/03

Hi all.

This should probably be a new topic, but let's see what kind of response it brings.

A few of us passengers on the 3/28-4/4 Dawn were talking about the night life on board. Or what they said is the lack of it. I know someone said the medium age was around 50 on our cruise. Most folks thought that that was the reason for the activities closing down early. Around 11PM-12AM. I know you can hang out in some of the pubs, casino, or piano bars a little later, but the Oasis pool area was shut down just after dinner time.

What's your take on this? Some of our friends that cruised other lines say they stay open late most the time. Given the weather this time of year I can see why no one would want to hang by the pool. However, in Canavral, Miami, and The Bahammas you would think they would party longer.

Hi Guys, I was up after midnight, but guess where hubby and I hung out?? The Casino. The Casino and Bar are opened till, ?? who knows. I am sure the Spinnaker is also opened late! The other cruises I was on, the pool area does stay opened later, but that depends on weather, temp and if cruisers are willing to hang out.

Hello Ray, Linda, & Carolyn. Have a Happy Easter

Rainy

Till NCL Dawn cruise

Hi all

Rainy I'm so surprised I didn't bump into you because the casino is where I spent my late nights also. Then again, I think I was back to the cabin most nights by 1am or before.

But for those that enjoy the night life NCL should have a club open at least until 3am.

Happy Easter all...Linda

"Happiness is a choice"

Hi,

I was on the dawn 02/29. The Spiniker Lounge stayed open until 2am at least every night, one night was 4am.

I just think it depends on how many people are around each evening wanting to say awake.

Ocean Village Med June 2003

Ocean Village Carrib Nov 2003

Norwegian Dawn Feb 2004

Nice review. I agree about the lack of nightlife - or, I should say, planned activities. We spent more than a few nights in our cabin b/c we didn't see anything to do on the "Daily" (and we'd run out of casino money). Maybe if they just advertised a little better...

Also agree that if Key West were doable, it would make a GREAT change from Miami.

Overall we LOVED our Dawn cruise and are also looking at the 10-day for next year!

Norwegian Dawn 2/29/04

Carnival Inspiration 3/9/03

Pacific Princess 9/23/01

Celebrity Century 10/1/99

I think the unofficial way it works is. If the bar slows down to just a few they close it. What I guess I'm talking about is sort of what cruisinbug is refering to. That is the planned night spots don't stay open after the entertainment gets done. Dazzles offered kareoke until it became painful then it closed. I didn't see the Spinacker lounge open real late. After the band quit the bar closed soon after. Maybe it was the lack of passenger paticipation. After all we did have some very rough seas. On port days you better get to bed before 12am because some of the excursions left early. As far as the Oasis pool and Topsiders bar, I guess the weather had everything to do with it closing early. One night at the Carribean Deck party CD Ricky Mathews was dancing up a storm along with other staff personnel. However as soon as the event ended the crew came out and closed the hottubs and started washing down the decks. We sort of got the clue to leave the area. The weather wasn't that bad, a little windy, but the Topsiders Bar could have stayed open and offered a little incentive to hang out. (like a discount on the drinks prices). My freinds were saying that that's how the other cruise lines would keep the party going.

Hi Everyone,

I've had alot of fun reading all your different impressions of the cruise. It's amazing how long the whole experience stays with you. All week, Richard and I kept saying "Gee, this time last week we were....." And he echoed Linda's husband exactly saying he'd turn right around and start over again immediately. Linda, I wanted to tell you that you should consider giving Princess a try. We really loved the Golden Princess last Oct. I'd have a difficult time choosing between NCL and Princess at this point. They also have what they call "Personal Choice" dining which is comparable to "Freestyle". They don't have as many restaurants to choose from but I don't think anyone could compete with the Dawn in that respect. I don't know if I would ever like being restricted to a certain dining time after two cruises with such open choices. The very favorite part of my day on Princess was the daily 3:30 teatime in the main dining room. The waiters all wore white gloves and everything was served at your table. I enjoyed the chocolate buffet on NCL but felt alot like I was in a cattle call. Teatime on Princess is really calm and relaxed and much less hectic.

We're starting to look into doing Princess to Alaska. We'd like to go in 2005 but may wait until 2006 and go with some other family members.....unless we get a major cruise urge before then and aren't able to resist. It's really hard not to browse the different websites looking for bargains.

Happy Easter to you all (Rainy, Ray and Linda)! We're expecting snow....so I may just spend a little time going back through my cruise photos and pretend the sun is shining!

Take care,

Carolyn

Carolyn

Carolyn, Happy Easter to you too. Same for Kuppy, Rainy, and Fitness.

As for cruising again, I'm sure it will happen sooner or later. There is no plans right now, however we might try Princess in for the the next one. My niegbors are insisting it's more fun. They are looking at Bermuda for a 3 or 4 day stay during the 7 day cruise. I'd like to return to the Dawn to take advantage of the Latitude's perks and differant destinations. Leaving from NYC is first on the list as it is so easy for us.

Have a nice Holiday!

Ray.

Happy Easter all my cruise friends. We thought we try Celebrity, My sister-in-law talked me out of Princess. She stated it is a much much older crowd and shuts down at lot earlier. I quess I won't know unless I try. I am still thinking about 10-11 day on the Dawn next year??

Enjoy, miss all of you.

Rainy

Till NCL Dawn cruise

Hi All

Maybe the 4 of us should go on the 11 night next year. It seems we are having a hard time not posting to each other (separation anxiety) lol. Hope everyone had a happy Easter.

Linda

"Happiness is a choice"