Charbie

She was in drydock but it did not run 4 days later than planned. They were replacing makeup mirrors, some bed mattresses, not all, reupholstering furniture and some carpet and sanding and refinishing.

Thanks for the info. That doesn't seen like that much work. How many days was she actually in dry dock? I read a live from the ship review from a passenger review saying that work was still going on during last weeks cruise - and that some areas were closed off.

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Our Veendam cruise leaves in 23 days. (Woo hoo! :D) Today my TA offered us:

 

1) Free upgrade from an FF on A Deck to a DD on Main or a free guarantee up to the Lower Promendae (can't remember which category).

 

We have been on the LP on the Volendam. We prefer not to be on the LP.

 

2) $40 each OBC to remain in our originally booked room--the FF on Main Deck.

 

(There has been a price decrease since we booked on 24 February.)

 

or

 

3) an upsell to a Verandah cabin for $180 each.

 

Since the cruise is port intensive, and we are traveling with family who we know will keep us out of our room no matter what kind we have, we declined. But if we'd been traveling alone, we would have jumped at that! I thought it was a pretty reasonable offer.

 

I had originally called the TA so I could order distilled water for my husband's CPAP. It's a large online TA, so I doubt they would have contacted me about the price drop if I hadn't called them to contact Ship Services.

 

I am happy with our upgrade from the FF to the DD.

 

Robin

Hi Again Robin,

What is the date of your cruise? And for how many days? We are on the 5/10 sailing of Veendam. (7 days, Quebec to Boston)

And by the way -- my TA told me that I would never get offered an upsell because I am single occ. She suggested I ask at the port when I am checking in. Even if this is true - which seems ridiculous, I am not EVER using her again!!!

Karen

The Veendam just came out of dry dock, so she should be in good shape for us in June. We're spending time in Montréal before-hand, so it works well for us.

Hello Sue, I am sailing on the Veendam in 10 days. I understand - as you mentioned - she was just in dry dock (ran 4 days later than planned??), but have not heard exactly what was done to her.

I read somewhere that she has a fresh coat of paint AND all new beds .. but no pictures, etc. Maybe there will be updates next week - since I guess everyone that is sailing on her now may be the first group since dry dock ... ??

Any other info??

thanks,

Karen

I am very proactive and will make a couple of calls a week, not everyone can do that, I am retired so I have the time for research. I start with an inside and work up form there. Actually got a cruise for $100pp above my original inside and this was for AQ. I also have never received a phone call.

Don,

Do you use a TA or PCC?

Karen

Thanks Dave & Barbara - I am going to go back to only using a PCC with the cruise lines. I have one with NCL that I have always used, so not sure why I haven't stuck with that method. Also - it reminded me that the one up-sell I did get with Celebrity we were booked directly with the cruise line.

Also - Thanks Robin for your info. I also keep in regular contact with this new TA -- but like I said, I am not real happy with her response time. It sounds like you are on the ship right before we are. You must be sailing from Florida. I would have liked to do that too, but friends I am traveling with only had the week of 5/10 to travel. I am hoping to get an offer of an up-sell, and I will take it!! My travel mates convinced me to book an inside cabin near them --- I booked an inside cabin just one time out of all of my cruises, and swore never again -- and I am already regretting that I let them talk me into it!

keep your fingers crossed for / with me!

Karen

I did a quick check and there are still 30 balcony suites (Veranda & Lanai only) available on our cruise which is only 31 days away. Is there a way to determine if they will be offering upsells based on this type of information?

by the way, I have only been offered an upsell one time - on our one and only celebrity cruise, and we took it.

This is the first time we have used this particular TA and so far I am not happy with her response time when I call or email her -- so sadly, I think we are going to look to find a new one.

Karen

I have not sailed on HAL since 2002, and I do not remember being offered an upsell. Do you get your calls or emails only if you book directly thru HAL, or is it also possible thru a TA? (we have gotten calls from TA for NCL on two cruises, but only directly from Celebrity once.)

Thanks, just wondering what I might hope to expect.

Karen

Like the man/wife singing team called Arvin & Emily. They used to sing on the Spirit when it was in N.O but have moved to the Dawn.

I would LOVE it if you were correct about Arvin and Emily, since they are my favorite entertainers and I will be on the Dawn in less than 3 weeks! I just did an internet search, and I believe you may be right!!! I can't wait!!

Thanks,

Karen

Some roll calls are very busy as soon as a person books and then NOTHING!!! It is very discouraging!!! You feel like a bug when you post more often that the others, but it is just that your excited! M & G are organized as well as other mingle stuff. Why join the roll call when your are not interested in mingling with others on your cruise. Just go on your cruise and don't worry about who's on it and don't enroll!!!!!!!!! :mad:

I have met some amazing people through these roll calls, and also been able to jump onto GREAT tours (some of the best I have ever been on!) that people have booked and are just looking for an extra couple to join and share the costs.

I also keep in touch with a few that I have met on these boards, and that is fun too!

I do admit that when the roll call is slow, it does get a little disheartening, but it never stops me from "bump"'ing the thread to the top with a new post!! I can always think of something to add.

The best roll calls I have been on have been with Celebrity - more people are active, it seems, and a REAL camaraderie is formed before the cruise .. and it's fun seeing all your new friends onboard from time to time. I have found that NCL is hit or miss .. I am not sure why not as many people are on the roll calls - they (NCL crew) do an amazing job at the meet and greet every single time I have participated! The roll call specifically for Boston to Bermuda - at least on the weeks I have gone in the last 3 years - are very sparse. I wish it was more, but it isn't, so there is nothing I can do about it. I will just try to connect with the few that are on-line chatting, if they want to.

so, anyway -- I think the poster above - LaWeezy - just might be a party pooper!! (just my opinion ... which could be changed if we happen to run into each other afloat some where ... :p)

ttyl,

Karen

We were told by our steward that he could not open the balcony dividers. I asked at the Guest Services desk and had it open within the hour. If the policy has changed for some reason then the worst you will be told is no! ;)

Did you have the divider open while you were in port? It has been my experience that it is not allowed for safety reasons while underway, but while docked in port they will gladly open them for you. I am hoping that is still true since we are in Bermuda for two+ days, and it will be nice to have the balcony divider open while there, at least. We too booked side by side cabins, but no connecting cabins were available (on deck 11) at the time we booked.

Karen

This is a fun thread!

My 1st cruise was aboard the Costa Flavia in 1980 to the Bahamas. 3 girlfriends made all the arrangements and we celebrated my divorce being official/final during the trip! It was so much FUN! We stayed in a tiny little inside cabin - all 4 of us. The Flavia was only 15,465 GT and only 557 ft. long (built in 1947) ... I can't believe it was such a small ship, considering the GIANTS we sail today! But I became HOOKED just the same.

Again, thanks for starting this FUN Thread!

Karen

Thanks to OP for starting this as we are looking at the Dawn for a May cruise out of Boston.

 

We have never been on NCL nor tried free style dining. We have been on many Celebrity, Royal, Holland, Princess and Carnival all using traditional dining. We want to try NCL and this looks like a good cruise for us to try.

 

We are non-smokers so I guess we well look at an oceanview. We prefer balcony but I can not go out there if a neighbor is smoking so it will really be a waste to get one.

 

A few questions: Are lounge chairs on open decks a problem to get? Prefer shade but more an issue of getting one with only a porthole.

 

Any time dining; do you have to make a reservation every night, just show up what is the "real" deal on how it works.

 

I am sure the staff is fantastic, but as a cruiser on other lines what should I expect, we tend to be loyal to X as we have had more on that line and we will miss our perks but we want to leave from closer to home and this is our only option.

 

We love cruising and all cruises on all lines are great, we aren't picky, but want to know what to expect/ask for. I will miss most our free booze but maybe we can work up to it on NCL too.

 

Any thoughts?

Linda

Hello Linda, You are most likely back from your May cruise, and I hope you discovered that sailing NCL from a closer port can have it's advantages. If I had to rate my favorite cruise lines I would probably say #1. Celebrity, #2. NCL (mostly because of Freestyle and service), #3. Holland, #4. RCCL .. I have never cruised on Princess - but hope to some day soon, and I will probably never sail on a Carnival Ship again (even though I know that Carnival Corp. actually owns many cruise lines, including Holland & Princess).

I do miss having regular table mates for dining, and will probably sail Celebrity again soon with some friends who enjoy the more formal nature of this line .. so when I begin to miss it, I join them on one of their many cruises, probably early next year. However - I LOVE the flexibility of just going to dinner when I feel like it! The screens that show the wait times at the different dining rooms are always accurate in my experience. Plus, sometimes you can get into a specialty restaurant for a reduced price at the last minute if they are not booked for the evening. We have done this on a couple of occasions at Teppanyaki on the Jewel and again on the Spirit.

During the days at sea - there is usually a problem getting deck chairs near the pool - for two or more people. If you are on deck for an hour or so by yourself, you should have no problem at all getting one chair. I don't think any line will ever solve the problem of CHAIR HOGS ... those who go out before breakfast - leave all their stuff, and return much later to use the chairs - leaving many times during the day but never taking their "stuff", so the chairs are never available. It can be frustrating, but I just decide to not let it bother me. I never behave this way, and I believe that most people don't either.

I am also a non-smoker, but I have to have a balcony. Even in the colder climates -- I bundle up and spend time out there on every single cruise!

I am heading to Bermuda for the 3rd year in a row in August with family. They all live in the Boston area and only like this cruise because they do not have the cost of flying anywhere. I on the other hand have to fly from San Diego CA. But, I always spend time in New England in the summer, and this cruise is always so much fun for us! Can't wait!

take care,

Karen

There is a partition that opens between the two. Just follow the track!:D

I remember you!! We sailed on the Star together in 9-09, didn't we?? The candy lady was there??? (Diane I think her name was.)

Thanks for the info on the partition between the bed and the sofa.

So, you and your wife will be on the Dawn next year? I am thinking of going to Bermuda again with my sister and her husband. They want to book this cabin and have me stay on the couch or the murphy bed, but it looks like the couch would offer more privacy ... we'll see. Not sure yet.

Karen

No trundle bed.

1 king

1 murhpy

1 fold out sofa

 

Plenty of open floor space with all 3 beds in use.

Thanks for the GREAT pictures! Can you tell me if there is a screen that opens between the king bed and the sofa bed? It appears to be - there seems to be a track on the floor in your photo.

thanks,

Karen

Here are the AB names on the Dawn: :D

 

Cabin #11010 - "Emerald"

Cabin #11020 - "Jade"

Cabin #11030 - "Sapphire"

Cabin #11050 - "Topaz"

Cabin #11060 - "Garnet"

Cabin #11510 - "Ruby"

Cabin #11520 - "Diamond"

Cabin #11530 - "Opal"

Cabin #11550 - "Pearl"

Cabin #11560 - "Amber"

 

Our FAVORITE AB on the Dawn is the "Jade". We stay in it every time we cruise on the Dawn.......:D :D :D

Hello Suesan Jean, It just so happens that we are sailing in less than two weeks in the Jade AB cabin on the Dawn. Why is it your favorite? Is it any different from the others? We stayed in an AB suite on the Jewel 3 years ago, it was wonderful!

thanks for any suggestions or hints you have for us.

Karen