Pepper reporting live from the Dawn!

Good morning! We are somewhere nearly level with the southernmost portion of Florida, enjoying 75 balmy degrees. Although you’d never know it – winds are listed as force 8 – Gale force, and seas are listed as rough. You should know that we’ve had these or similar conditions most of the trip according to the ship’s television, but I’ve yet to find one person who thinks it feels the slightest bit rough. We’ve felt very little motion, even here on Deck 11. Sometime overnight, the winds shifted – until then they were coming from the ESE, and now they are WSW. I can feel a bit on my port side balcony now, and the wind-tunnel effect was amazing a few moments ago!

Our CC meeting was incredibly well attended. So much so that I never met everyone! Fortunately we’ve got another opportunity, as one of the members is occupying the GV, and has invited all the members to a Fat Tuesday party. We’ll have much more time to mingle and get to know one another there, providing we can do so before the effects of any libation take hold.

So far we’ve enjoyed meals in Venetian, LeBistro and Impressions. Both lunches in Venetian were excellent, with adequate choices to keep everyone happy. Dinner in LeBistro was superb, however we did have the same issue as many others – our chocolate for the fondue arrived stone cold. We sent it back and it returned much the same. We ate it and enjoyed it nonetheless.

Dinner last night in Venetian – formal night. Alex made arrangements for nine of us to dine together – and made a point to arrange for a table that was particularly accessible as one member is in a wheelchair. The lines were so long waiting to get in, that he arranged to meet all of us in one of the staterooms, and escorted us directly to the table. We did receive some nasty glares from some who were waiting in that line, and under the circumstances I can understand. Dinner was absolutely superb to the last detail – Chateaubriand was so amazing that four of us actually ordered a second serving.

Alex must have cloned himself, because this man is everywhere! To any who have cruises planned on the Dawn, and will be fortunate enough to enjoy his services – be prepared to be amazed. In addition to being spoiled by Alex, we are doubly spoiled by our butler, Putu! We got stuck in traffic on embarkation day and did not arrive until after the Suite guests had been boarded. An NCL employee made a phone call and in about two minutes he appeared, ushered us past every line, and right to our stateroom. What probably took an hour or more for other folks, took us less than eight minutes! He’s been on top of every detail of our stateroom since we boarded, and accommodates even the smallest requests in very short order. Our fruit basket has been replenished once already, and the daily treats he brings have each been delightful.

We’re having an absolutely marvelous time, and being spoiled rotten in every way. Poundage is already adding to our waistlines so today we start exercising a bit more. We’re enjoying every aspect of the journey and the ship. Housekeeping is on it’s toes in every department, and the ship is spotless. For the most part staff is extremely attentive, professional and efficient. Weather is fabulous. Food is wonderful. AB Penthouse is beyond description. How on earth did I get so lucky?

Great to hear from you, Pepper! I knew you'd love your suite. Keep it coming, we're standing by.

Pepper,

Happy to hear you are having a good cruise:D Wish we were still on board:( Enjoy it goes tooo fast:)

Well it is about time :D

Send my regards to Putu and Alex - what a great team. Putu may not know me as shoreguy but the guy from 11520 last week.

Have a great cruise and thanks for checking in.

Good morning! We are somewhere nearly level with the southernmost portion of Florida, enjoying 75 balmy degrees. Although you’d never know it – winds are listed as force 8 – Gale force, and seas are listed as rough. You should know that we’ve had these or similar conditions most of the trip according to the ship’s television, but I’ve yet to find one person who thinks it feels the slightest bit rough. We’ve felt very little motion, even here on Deck 11. Sometime overnight, the winds shifted – until then they were coming from the ESE, and now they are WSW. I can feel a bit on my port side balcony now, and the wind-tunnel effect was amazing a few moments ago!

Our CC meeting was incredibly well attended. So much so that I never met everyone! Fortunately we’ve got another opportunity, as one of the members is occupying the GV, and has invited all the members to a Fat Tuesday party. We’ll have much more time to mingle and get to know one another there, providing we can do so before the effects of any libation take hold.

So far we’ve enjoyed meals in Venetian, LeBistro and Impressions. Both lunches in Venetian were excellent, with adequate choices to keep everyone happy. Dinner in LeBistro was superb, however we did have the same issue as many others – our chocolate for the fondue arrived stone cold. We sent it back and it returned much the same. We ate it and enjoyed it nonetheless.

Dinner last night in Venetian – formal night. Alex made arrangements for nine of us to dine together – and made a point to arrange for a table that was particularly accessible as one member is in a wheelchair. The lines were so long waiting to get in, that he arranged to meet all of us in one of the staterooms, and escorted us directly to the table. We did receive some nasty glares from some who were waiting in that line, and under the circumstances I can understand. Dinner was absolutely superb to the last detail – Chateaubriand was so amazing that four of us actually ordered a second serving.

Alex must have cloned himself, because this man is everywhere! To any who have cruises planned on the Dawn, and will be fortunate enough to enjoy his services – be prepared to be amazed. In addition to being spoiled by Alex, we are doubly spoiled by our butler, Putu! We got stuck in traffic on embarkation day and did not arrive until after the Suite guests had been boarded. An NCL employee made a phone call and in about two minutes he appeared, ushered us past every line, and right to our stateroom. What probably took an hour or more for other folks, took us less than eight minutes! He’s been on top of every detail of our stateroom since we boarded, and accommodates even the smallest requests in very short order. Our fruit basket has been replenished once already, and the daily treats he brings have each been delightful.

We’re having an absolutely marvelous time, and being spoiled rotten in every way. Poundage is already adding to our waistlines so today we start exercising a bit more. We’re enjoying every aspect of the journey and the ship. Housekeeping is on it’s toes in every department, and the ship is spotless. For the most part staff is extremely attentive, professional and efficient. Weather is fabulous. Food is wonderful. AB Penthouse is beyond description. How on earth did I get so lucky?

Thanks Pepper! I've been thinking about you since Shoreguy got off and wondering how things are going. I'm thrilled for you as it seems as though you are having a marvelous time. The AB is amazing, isn't it?

Here's to you... hope to hear more as you go. Cheers!

I think we'll go through withdrawel if we have a spell with no live reports!

Have a great time

Hi to Alex from "Mark & Kathy", owner's suite 1st week August 2005!

(9502 - it was our 25th Anniv)

Hi Pepper!

I glad you are enjoying yourself. Keep up the good work;) Don't you love the window in the AB shower?

Alex is wonderful and adorable. Tell him hi from AJ and Susie from 10506 last trip.

Warm regards,

Susie

Pepper,

So very happy for you and Waldo! Certainly sounds like you're off to a terrific start! How did you get so lucky!!???.....well, good things happen to good people!! ;)

Enjoy!!!! :D

Hi

You seem to answer all my questions but here is another one for you.

Are you on the Sun out of New Orleans western caribeaan in November?

Have a great time, Pepper!

Keep the Dawn warm for us!

Pepper,

Have a great cruise and keep us posted. We're all suffering from I WANT TO GO NOW!

60 days and counting.

Happy Sailing,

Monty

Please give our best to Chris and Terry from Bob & Denise & Nick-we wish we were there-

Denise

have a great time!

Have fun throwin' the beads!!!!

Pepper.

Sounds like you're having a wonderful time and beautiful weather. Enjoy every minute!

Back here in NH it's been snowing for over 4 hrs and the SOS ( stuck on stupid) people :rolleyes: are out on both 93 and 89 keeping everyone busy. I guess they figure the skis on the roof are for when they flip, they can just keep going.

Thanks for the updates.

Thanks very much for taking the time to check in with us. Glad to hear you're having a good time. I'm jealous that you're going to be partying in the GV. Enjoy the rest of the cruise!

Pepper: You so deserve the wonderful pampering you are getting this week on the Dawn.

Glad you like the AB Penthouse so much. I have been in an AB on the Dawn twice. Don't you just love the bathroom. Huge!!!!!! Not great with the whole privacy thing, but wow !!!!!

Thanks again for all of your help with getting my upsell on my cruise on the Star in just 5 days !!!!!!

Enjoy your cruise. I look forward to reading more of your experiences.

Marilyn

Well it is about time :D

 

Send my regards to Putu and Alex - what a great team. Putu may not know me as shoreguy but the guy from 11520 last week.

 

Have a great cruise and thanks for checking in.

We are in the same suite next week. Thought it would be handy to the elevator and the casino. Let's hope I get your luck.

Pepper, Sounds like the ideal vacation. I am so glad it is going well. I have been watching the seas and it looked a bit rough. Glad to hear that is not bothering you. Thanks for taking time out for us back home waiting. What suite are you in?

Eileen

Hey Pepper-

Please say 'Hi' to Putu for us, he was our butler and was terrific. Tell him Greg, Amy, Spencer, Liam and Grandma wish we were still there!

LOL Mimi..

This is the first time we have not headed over to "the Peak" because of the snow though we have been waiting ALL WINTER for snow to arrive. They are outta' staters that fly down the highways with "reverse tires" aboard. Our snowboards are tucked away today and I am watching the Dawn and Spirit on the web cams and following both Pepper and Shoreguys reports.

We sailed on Dawn in Feb and were not pleased with the Atlantic seas...we are trying Spirit in April and are hoping the Atlantic is a bit more calm. Nice to know a few Granite Staters are on the CC boards!

Pep glad all is going well. Thanks for posting. Have a great time.:p :rolleyes:

We knew you would! This is why it has taken so long to check in! :p

Sea conditions will improve as time goes on. Interestingly enough you're in between systems and enjoying the swells (which are always relaxing IMO) although it is a bit breezy. Never seem to calm those breezes on this journey...well except cane season there's quiet periods but they aren't free if you know what I mean.

The sun set about 28 minutes ago looking at our real time tracking maps showing the terminator passing over the port bow. Of course it moves about 1,000 mph so nobody really notices the crossing. ;)

Have a great time and remember the first stop after two full sea days LOTS will be anxious to get off and they tend to congregate in those stairwells. It was so bad on our cruise that we had to report an official hazard.:eek:

Cheers,

Norman

Good morning! We are somewhere nearly level with the southernmost portion of Florida, enjoying 75 balmy degrees. Although you’d never know it – winds are listed as force 8 – Gale force, and seas are listed as rough. You should know that we’ve had these or similar conditions most of the trip according to the ship’s television, but I’ve yet to find one person who thinks it feels the slightest bit rough. We’ve felt very little motion, even here on Deck 11. Sometime overnight, the winds shifted – until then they were coming from the ESE, and now they are WSW. I can feel a bit on my port side balcony now, and the wind-tunnel effect was amazing a few moments ago!

Our CC meeting was incredibly well attended. So much so that I never met everyone! Fortunately we’ve got another opportunity, as one of the members is occupying the GV, and has invited all the members to a Fat Tuesday party. We’ll have much more time to mingle and get to know one another there, providing we can do so before the effects of any libation take hold.

So far we’ve enjoyed meals in Venetian, LeBistro and Impressions. Both lunches in Venetian were excellent, with adequate choices to keep everyone happy. Dinner in LeBistro was superb, however we did have the same issue as many others – our chocolate for the fondue arrived stone cold. We sent it back and it returned much the same. We ate it and enjoyed it nonetheless.

Dinner last night in Venetian – formal night. Alex made arrangements for nine of us to dine together – and made a point to arrange for a table that was particularly accessible as one member is in a wheelchair. The lines were so long waiting to get in, that he arranged to meet all of us in one of the staterooms, and escorted us directly to the table. We did receive some nasty glares from some who were waiting in that line, and under the circumstances I can understand. Dinner was absolutely superb to the last detail – Chateaubriand was so amazing that four of us actually ordered a second serving.

Alex must have cloned himself, because this man is everywhere! To any who have cruises planned on the Dawn, and will be fortunate enough to enjoy his services – be prepared to be amazed. In addition to being spoiled by Alex, we are doubly spoiled by our butler, Putu! We got stuck in traffic on embarkation day and did not arrive until after the Suite guests had been boarded. An NCL employee made a phone call and in about two minutes he appeared, ushered us past every line, and right to our stateroom. What probably took an hour or more for other folks, took us less than eight minutes! He’s been on top of every detail of our stateroom since we boarded, and accommodates even the smallest requests in very short order. Our fruit basket has been replenished once already, and the daily treats he brings have each been delightful.

We’re having an absolutely marvelous time, and being spoiled rotten in every way. Poundage is already adding to our waistlines so today we start exercising a bit more. We’re enjoying every aspect of the journey and the ship. Housekeeping is on it’s toes in every department, and the ship is spotless. For the most part staff is extremely attentive, professional and efficient. Weather is fabulous. Food is wonderful. AB Penthouse is beyond description. How on earth did I get so lucky?

great update! we're going on our very first cruise 3/5 on Dawn. we have an AB penthouse..was looking forward to it. after reading your review i'm REALLY looking forward to it! can't wait! have a great trip!

Thanks for posting. Getting anxious to go. We are following the dawn on the cams.

Hi Pepper,

Enjoy yourself as we did on the 2/12 Dawn. You were great on the CC website and deserve a GREAT vacation. Look forward to reading your comments. Watch those calories :p

Fil

Pepper ~

Relax and enjoy!

You earned it ;) Couldn't happen to a nicer person!:)

Have a great trip and enjoy a few for those of us who are in the colder regions....