Dawn Review: Oct 5-12 - New England/Canada

[seluased]

Hi! Just off the Dawn from a 7 night Canada/New England sailing. Just a quick review from a newbie NCLer, a solo traveler, and a first time cruiser as an adult.

 

Ports

 

Boston, Massachusetts

Portland, Maine

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Gaspésie, Quebec

La Baie, Quebec

Quebec City, Quebec

 

Ship

 

I didn't realize just how big the Dawn was! For some reason I thought it was a smaller ship. Wrong! One lap around the promenade deck was over a quarter of a mile. Very nice decor; everything clean and nice. Very confusing layout though; I have no sense of direction and by day 6 was still getting lost. I'd be walking along, thinking "I'm going to the Stardust Theatre," only to end up at the Spinnaker Lounge on the opposite end of the ship and have to turn around. Oops. Same thing on deck 12; I'd leave the buffet wanting to go to the pool and wind up at the spa. Kinda fun to explore, though.

 

My one and only complaint was no huge atrium with wide, open spaces, like I had on Celebrity and Carnival. I understand the reasoning, though: why waste space when you can fill every nook and cranny with more restaurants? There was nothing wrong with the layout; it just makes it a little claustrophobic and hard to navigate when you can easily see around where everything is. I think that's an NCL thing, though. Wouldn't stop me from cruising NCL again, though.

 

Cabin

 

My little bitty inside cabin was just perfect. My steward left me a towel animal every single night, and the cabin was always perfectly clean with plenty of towels. They met my request to empty the minibar and keep the two beds separate. I slept like a rock every night. No window is very disorienting, though! I woke up almost every day at 5am and just got up cause I was awake. My room location, deck 9 midship, was perfect. No outside noise at all, and very convenient to everything (3 floors below the pool/buffet deck, and two floors above the main promenade deck). I was five doors down from the midship stairs, so very accessible.

 

The space was just fine for one person, but would have been cramped with two, and I can't imagine it with three. Closet is big, but only three little drawers. Everything was very clean and nice though. Had to drape a towel over the tv at night though to cover the red light on it.

 

Food

 

The food in the MDRs and buffet was very good. Nothing outstanding, but all very good. Never once needed the Pepto I packed along just in case. :p I loved the variety in the buffet. And the MDRs for dinner were always nice; I never felt rushed, nor did they take too long (45 minutes on average I'd say). I usually mixed and matched from the menu that changed each night, and the menu that stayed the same. My favorites were the spring roll appetizer, the Greek salad, the lobster on the first night, and the cheesecake dessert. At the buffet, for lunch, I loved the pretzel rolls, Indian food, and fries. Breakfast I usually got a bagel with cream cheese and lox, and bacon and fruit. Did MDR once for lunch (club sandwich--good), and twice for breakfast (the french toast was amazing and would have been perfect if it didn't have raisins in the bread!).

 

I never once got room service, and it was usually too cold to go to the pool deck for cookout (I think they only had it going to the first 3-4 days anyway). I got ice cream once; a nice treat. Never went to the buffet for dinner or late at night, and couldn't do the chocolate night cause I was too full. Ate a snack at Blue Lagoon just once (wonton soup and wings).

 

The two specialty restaurants I went to for dinner were by far the best. Everything from the decor, the attentiveness of waitstaff, and food was miles above MDR. At Cagney's, I had the crab cakes, wedge salad, filet w/asparagus & mashed potatoes, and the dessert sampler. So so so so good! Best meal of the week, definitely. I then ate at Moderno and just as good. So much food! I couldn't sample all of the meats. Everything was delicious though (except the beans, I didn't like the beans). And I only got a few things from the salad bar cause I mostly just wanted the meat. ;)

 

I ate two meals off the ship. A lobster roll in Maine cause I just had to ;), and my excursion in Nova Scotia included a lobster lunch.

 

As for the bars, I don't drink, so no clue how the prices/drinks measure up. I did the soda program and was very pleased. No one made me feel bad for ordering a soda and being on the program. I got a lot of Shirley Temples which I was glad were included. Only wish it were Coke instead of Pepsi. I had one instance, at Cagney's, where my soda was flat and tasted bad, but the waiter got me a new one poured from a can instead of the fountain, so all good. I never used the refillable mug; just got glasses.

 

Overall, the food is very good, but if you want excellent, you do have to splurge on a specialty restaurant. But even if you don't, you'll never go hungry, and best of all, you won't get sick (or at least I didn't).

 

Entertainment

 

Excellent! I went to the main show in the Stardust every night and loved them all. I didn't know what to expect but it was all great. The cruise director, Ken (I think??) and his assistant, Fish, were great. I only went to one non-Stardust show (comedy troupe in the Spinnaker). I didn't go to any late-night dance parties or art auctions or bingo or the casino or anything. The cruise attendance was all older (like, way older, like I was the youngest one on board by about 20-30 years, and there were about 5 kids I saw all week), so the late-night crowd didn't really exist and I just didn't feel like staying up to be one of ten in the lounges.

 

I mostly just ate by myself, and found places to sit and read. It was too cold for the pool so I have no idea how it was; it looked nice though. The pool deck was always wide open. No pool deck activities all week except sail away cause, hey, Canada in October.

 

Excursions

 

All very well organized and worth the money. Very impressed. I did three for the five ports we were at (the last two ports I got off the ship to use the free wifi at the port, and then went back on). The weather was cold but nice all days (except our day at sea we had rain). I think it rained later in the day at one port but was back on board and didn't really notice. If you go to Canada in October bring a jacket! It was like 35 and windy out.

 

Misc

 

Very good time overall. Not sure I recommend going solo or not; got kinda lonely, and no one my age to mingle with. And definitely a different experience going to Canada in October versus a warm, sunny beach cruise. Mainly no outside/pool activities, and the crowd was very much elderly (no offense; just the way it was). I'm 29 and felt very, very young, but wanted this cruise for Prince Edward Island (have always wanted to go). I did enjoy it very much just cause I wanted a relaxing vacation. Mostly I would curl up in a window seat or at a bar and read.

 

I know smoking is a hot button issue here, and as a non-smoker who hates smoke, I had no problems. Maybe it was the crowd, but I rarely encountered smoke. Even when I wanted to do a lap around deck 7 where it's allowed usually people weren't out there. My one and only complaint about it was on the pool deck, right at the area where you leave the buffet or stairs and head to the pool. You have to go through a narrow area to get outside, and right at the corner people liked to smoke, and you couldn't get by it without having to walk through it. I just wish it wasn't allowed right in that corner and just allowed further back at the tables by the windows (don't know if this description makes sense). Basically, have it allowed where people can easily avoid it, rather than in place where everyone has to walk by to get outside and are forced to breathe it in. Otherwise all was fine. I learned to access the Stardust from the second level rather than the first where the casino is. Never went in the casino.

 

I think that's it! Had a wonderful time. I still feel like my house is rocking a bit.

[bob brown]

Hi! Just off the Dawn from a 7 night Canada/New England sailing. Just a quick review from a newbie NCLer, a solo traveler, and a first time cruiser as an adult.

 

Ports

 

Boston, Massachusetts

Portland, Maine

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Gaspésie, Quebec

La Baie, Quebec

Quebec City, Quebec

 

Ship

 

I didn't realize just how big the Dawn was! For some reason I thought it was a smaller ship. Wrong! One lap around the promenade deck was over a quarter of a mile. Very nice decor; everything clean and nice. Very confusing layout though; I have no sense of direction and by day 6 was still getting lost. I'd be walking along, thinking "I'm going to the Stardust Theatre," only to end up at the Spinnaker Lounge on the opposite end of the ship and have to turn around. Oops. Same thing on deck 12; I'd leave the buffet wanting to go to the pool and wind up at the spa. Kinda fun to explore, though.

 

My one and only complaint was no huge atrium with wide, open spaces, like I had on Celebrity and Carnival. I understand the reasoning, though: why waste space when you can fill every nook and cranny with more restaurants? There was nothing wrong with the layout; it just makes it a little claustrophobic and hard to navigate when you can easily see around where everything is. I think that's an NCL thing, though. Wouldn't stop me from cruising NCL again, though.

 

Cabin

 

My little bitty inside cabin was just perfect. My steward left me a towel animal every single night, and the cabin was always perfectly clean with plenty of towels. They met my request to empty the minibar and keep the two beds separate. I slept like a rock every night. No window is very disorienting, though! I woke up almost every day at 5am and just got up cause I was awake. My room location, deck 9 midship, was perfect. No outside noise at all, and very convenient to everything (3 floors below the pool/buffet deck, and two floors above the main promenade deck). I was five doors down from the midship stairs, so very accessible.

 

The space was just fine for one person, but would have been cramped with two, and I can't imagine it with three. Closet is big, but only three little drawers. Everything was very clean and nice though. Had to drape a towel over the tv at night though to cover the red light on it.

 

Food

 

The food in the MDRs and buffet was very good. Nothing outstanding, but all very good. Never once needed the Pepto I packed along just in case. :p I loved the variety in the buffet. And the MDRs for dinner were always nice; I never felt rushed, nor did they take too long (45 minutes on average I'd say). I usually mixed and matched from the menu that changed each night, and the menu that stayed the same. My favorites were the spring roll appetizer, the Greek salad, the lobster on the first night, and the cheesecake dessert. At the buffet, for lunch, I loved the pretzel rolls, Indian food, and fries. Breakfast I usually got a bagel with cream cheese and lox, and bacon and fruit. Did MDR once for lunch (club sandwich--good), and twice for breakfast (the french toast was amazing and would have been perfect if it didn't have raisins in the bread!).

 

I never once got room service, and it was usually too cold to go to the pool deck for cookout (I think they only had it going to the first 3-4 days anyway). I got ice cream once; a nice treat. Never went to the buffet for dinner or late at night, and couldn't do the chocolate night cause I was too full. Ate a snack at Blue Lagoon just once (wonton soup and wings).

 

The two specialty restaurants I went to for dinner were by far the best. Everything from the decor, the attentiveness of waitstaff, and food was miles above MDR. At Cagney's, I had the crab cakes, wedge salad, filet w/asparagus & mashed potatoes, and the dessert sampler. So so so so good! Best meal of the week, definitely. I then ate at Moderno and just as good. So much food! I couldn't sample all of the meats. Everything was delicious though (except the beans, I didn't like the beans). And I only got a few things from the salad bar cause I mostly just wanted the meat. ;)

 

I ate two meals off the ship. A lobster roll in Maine cause I just had to ;), and my excursion in Nova Scotia included a lobster lunch.

 

As for the bars, I don't drink, so no clue how the prices/drinks measure up. I did the soda program and was very pleased. No one made me feel bad for ordering a soda and being on the program. I got a lot of Shirley Temples which I was glad were included. Only wish it were Coke instead of Pepsi. I had one instance, at Cagney's, where my soda was flat and tasted bad, but the waiter got me a new one poured from a can instead of the fountain, so all good. I never used the refillable mug; just got glasses.

 

Overall, the food is very good, but if you want excellent, you do have to splurge on a specialty restaurant. But even if you don't, you'll never go hungry, and best of all, you won't get sick (or at least I didn't).

 

Entertainment

 

Excellent! I went to the main show in the Stardust every night and loved them all. I didn't know what to expect but it was all great. The cruise director, Ken (I think??) and his assistant, Fish, were great. I only went to one non-Stardust show (comedy troupe in the Spinnaker). I didn't go to any late-night dance parties or art auctions or bingo or the casino or anything. The cruise attendance was all older (like, way older, like I was the youngest one on board by about 20-30 years, and there were about 5 kids I saw all week), so the late-night crowd didn't really exist and I just didn't feel like staying up to be one of ten in the lounges.

 

I mostly just ate by myself, and found places to sit and read. It was too cold for the pool so I have no idea how it was; it looked nice though. The pool deck was always wide open. No pool deck activities all week except sail away cause, hey, Canada in October.

 

Excursions

 

All very well organized and worth the money. Very impressed. I did three for the five ports we were at (the last two ports I got off the ship to use the free wifi at the port, and then went back on). The weather was cold but nice all days (except our day at sea we had rain). I think it rained later in the day at one port but was back on board and didn't really notice. If you go to Canada in October bring a jacket! It was like 35 and windy out.

 

Misc

 

Very good time overall. Not sure I recommend going solo or not; got kinda lonely, and no one my age to mingle with. And definitely a different experience going to Canada in October versus a warm, sunny beach cruise. Mainly no outside/pool activities, and the crowd was very much elderly (no offense; just the way it was). I'm 29 and felt very, very young, but wanted this cruise for Prince Edward Island (have always wanted to go). I did enjoy it very much just cause I wanted a relaxing vacation. Mostly I would curl up in a window seat or at a bar and read.

 

I know smoking is a hot button issue here, and as a non-smoker who hates smoke, I had no problems. Maybe it was the crowd, but I rarely encountered smoke. Even when I wanted to do a lap around deck 7 where it's allowed usually people weren't out there. My one and only complaint about it was on the pool deck, right at the area where you leave the buffet or stairs and head to the pool. You have to go through a narrow area to get outside, and right at the corner people liked to smoke, and you couldn't get by it without having to walk through it. I just wish it wasn't allowed right in that corner and just allowed further back at the tables by the windows (don't know if this description makes sense). Basically, have it allowed where people can easily avoid it, rather than in place where everyone has to walk by to get outside and are forced to breathe it in. Otherwise all was fine. I learned to access the Stardust from the second level rather than the first where the casino is. Never went in the casino.

 

I think that's it! Had a wonderful time. I still feel like my house is rocking a bit.

Thanks for your nice review....sorry, you did not find company aboard.

As for smoking...IIRC, smoking is limited to the portside of the pool, so if you exit the buffet to starboard, you should not have to 'run the gauntlet' of smokers.....

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the review.

[gertiesmom]

Thanks for the great review!

[herdingdogmom]

Thanks for the review Cindy. Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet. I am older than you are but was by myself most days on this trip.

 

The earlier poster is correct about the smoking area on the pool deck. It is only on one side. I often walked over to the other side to avoid it. And I also stayed out of the casino.

 

It was much colder than I expected. I wish I had brought a knit cap or headband and scarf. I managed to come down with a cold Friday and am now fighting it like crazy.

 

Please try cruising again - maybe on a more active, warm location itinerary.

 

Beverly

[seasy going]

Thanks Cindy for your review of the Dawn. You did a very nice job describing your experience. We're looking forward to sailing on the Dawn in February out of Tampa and hope one day to cruise to Canada as you did.

[NYGirl1002]

Thanks for your balanced and interesting review.

[roger001]

Thanks for the review. We would like to do that cruise sometime. And the Dawn, which we haven't been on yet, is our next cruise booked already.

[medicalma'am]

Thanks for your review. We are thinking of booking this itinerary next year. I am glad to know it was cold. I will have to pack like I did for Alaska!

 

So, as a first time NCL cruiser, did you like the differences from the other lines you have cruised?

[Julienatul]

Thank you for your review! I started cruising as a kid too and now do as an adult. I love it!! I have tried solo cruising since I have young kids but one day I am defintely open to it.