PCLMassachusetts

Great review. We were on the same cruise at the end of July in a family suite with balcony and loved it. We also had a great time and this was our favorite cruise yet. I could see myself doing it every year. Bermuda is wonderful.

Just a little clarification. Since the dry dock, breakfast and lunch for suite passengers is now served in Moderno with overflow seating in Cagney's.

Thought the breakfast/lunch was served in Cagney's?

Just off the Dawn at the end of July. After the dry dock, breakfast and lunch for suite passengers was moved to Moderno, with overflow seating in Cagneys. This is for the "buffet" portion of the breakfast. Moderno is now located next to Cagney and it already has the buffet table so this way they do not have to set up a temporary buffet table in Cagneys for the breakfast.

We just got off the Dawn last week. We were in a suite but did not go to the cocktail reception with the Captain. I believe it was on Saturday (of a Fri to Fri) cruise and I also think it was in Bliss. We went to this reception on our previous Dawn cruise and just did not find it all that interesting. Unless you want really want your picture taken with the Captain. The cocktails were things that I would not choose to drink and this time we had the UBP so we chose to do other things at that time and drink what we wanted.

Um' okay. I thought it was a little out of hand a few times. The mornings were usually calm but in the afternoon it got a little crazy. Were you lucky enough to see the fight in Bliss also? More drunk teens.

don't get me wrong, I like to drink and have fun too, but I believe they should rethink allowing 18 year olds to drink.

I did not witness the fight. And I agree with you about the drinking policy.

I hope your cruise goes better than mine did last week. The pool was like a scene out of Caddy Shack or Animal House. 18 year olds and booze on a ship is not a good combination. It was like a Frat party daily and the pool water was disgusting. Oh, and if you are not already deaf you will be after the music by the pool stops. Enjoy!

We were on the same cruise as you and didn't find the pool "scene out of Caddy Shack or Animal House" at all. Just a bunch of people having a good time. It is a cruise ship pool, not a private backyard pool. There was definitely more younger people than in our previous cruises but we found them all to be well behaved.

I'm still trying to decide between NCL Dawn and CCL Splendor and I'm down to dollar to dollar and upcharges.

 

NCL is including this drink pack but this is the list of exclusions on their website:

 

"The Ultimate Beverage Package does not include room service, package sales, ship specific promotions or beer buckets, designated Super Premium brands (subject to change), bottled wine, mini bar purchases, bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, select Lavazza coffee beverages, energy drinks, vending machines, wine stations or spirits, cocktails, draft or bottled beer and glasses of wine over $15 USD. One (1) beverage per person per transaction. Package can be used in all restaurants, lounges, bars and Great Stirrup Cay. Any items over $15 USD will receive an $15"

 

I guess I don't understand what IS included if you can't get "spirits, cocktails, draft or bottled beer." Can anyone help?

The answer lies within your own question. Spirits, cocktails, draft or bottled beer and glasses of wine that are $15 or under are included. If it is over $15, say $19, you get credited the $15 and only pay the difference ($4).

Thanks for posting but even after clicking on the thumbnail they are still far too small to read.

Anyone with first hand knowledge of it is still on the ship and due to return tomorrow, July 8. You should try to bump this to the top sometime next week and maybe one of them will have the info. I am going on the Dawn on 7/15, if not answered by then I will try to get back to you.

Great review. We are sailing on the Dawn in 8 days and very much looking forward to it. Sailed her a couple years ago out of NOLA and weirdly we did not experience any of the bathroom issues that are posted on here so frequently. Although, we really didn't use the public facilities too much, always found it easier to just go back to the cabin for the most part. Looking forward to seeing the changes first hand post dry dock.

According to stevenj the tip was part of the perk. Whether this is true or not I don know.

While I can't speak for the OP I can tell you that I received the UBP as well as the UDP before it became the SDP when I booked our cruise (leaving in 9 days). This was before the perks were changed and at the time that I booked the gratuity was included, so it is possible to have the package and not have paid the gratuity.

Would Capri's be okay? I assume jeans for men are a no?

Jeans for men are fine. Capri's are also ok

I was just off of the Dawn. I wasn't aware of the dress code at the Venetian. I wore nice golf shorts and a polo and nothing was said to me.

While in Bermuda the dress code is different. "Bermuda shorts" are allowed which are basically golf shorts.

As others have mentioned already, if you do not like Pepsi do not waste your money on the soda package. There are no Coke products on NCL.

Still can't charge the 18% if they don't supply the soda card tumbler

 

never mind

If you have the UBP as the OP stated, they are going to charge you the 18% regardless of if they pour it into a glass, the NCL tumbler, or your own travel mug.

SO, in answer to the OPs question, I would think that they may pour it into your travel mug. Because as Triptolemus pointed out there really is no difference between that and the NCL soda pkg tumbler that people use all day, barely rinse out in their bathroom sink and then return to the bar to get more soda poured into.

What a cool review and you proved that with the right attitude you will have a good time.

As far as breakfast, the only option would be if you were staying in a suite. If so then the breakfast in Cagney's is available to you. If not then you just have the buffet, MDR or room service.

On the Dawn there is no actual Carlos Bake Shop. Some of his items are available in the Atrium Cafe. I have had much better at local bake shops so I don't think they are worth the price. Personal preference.

We found every dinning venue on the Dawn very good. The MDR's and the specialty restaurants. Pick what you are in the mood for each night and enjoy.

I seem to remember from our Dec cruise that each show had two times. I believe the earlier one was around 7pm and then the later one was around 10pm (maybe 930).

I believe that you are correct in that it was most likely an introductory offer. The only mention of the discount in the Lattitudes Rewards Benefits regarding a discount on logo itens if for onboard.

"Onboard Discounts:

10% discount at Duty-Free Shop on all Norwegian Logo merchandise, good for one purchase only. Cannot be combined with another additional discount or coupon. On Pride of America only, 10% discount on any item excluding sale items, alcohol, tobacco and onboard entertainer products (including their CDs and DVDs); Free work of art for attending art auction; 30 free minutes with 250-minute internet package purchase; 15 free minutes with 100-minute internet package purchase. Latitudes Rewards guests aboard Norwegian Breakaway will receive 20 free MB's with 1,000 MB internet package; 10 free MB's with 300 MB internet package. "*

Just going strictly off of memory but I believe the main pool was open until 8 or 9pm on both the GEM and the Dawn

While on our last Dawn cruise we were sat with another group at Teppanyaki. Someone in the other group mentioned that she had a shellfish allergy. I am not sure how they accommodated her but she was able to eat with no issues. People in our group, as well as hers, ordered dishes with shellfish.

Just make sure that you let them know and you should be fine.

Sorry I can't help you with your specific question but I can try to address your concerns with being near the elevator/stairs. We were on deck 12 adjacent to the elevator bank/stairs. This is a fairly busy deck with the pool and all. We never had any problems with noise due to the elevators or stairs.

We got several escorts from the concierge thru secret hallways. A bridge tour and more. You really had none?

Nope. But we didn't ask for any either. The Concierge greeted us each morning at breakfast and made a couple dinner reservations. Nothing out of the ordinary and no strings were pulled to get into reservations that were not available. In fact one time we were told that nothing was available for that night/restaurant. We weren't upset because we didn't really expect any special treatment, just ate somewhere else that night.

Not so fast there. If the family of five ate most of there breakfasts and dinners in the suite, then $350 would have been in order. [emoji12]

You are correct Leavethekids. I was referring to our situation where we ate no meals in suite, had a dvd brought to the room at night and a tray of snacks each afternoon. Had we used the Butler more, we would have tipped more.

The bag of laundry special is usually towards the end of the cruise. I believe on our last it was the 2nd to last day. It really does not help you with being able to pack less. We used as a way to have less laundry to do once we got home.

We loved the Gem