Dawn Questions

[McFins]

Hi there.  I love the Gem and Pearl and am contemplating the Dawn for the 9 day from Quebec to NY next fall.  I've searched the boards for some of the differences between the Gem and Dawn and know that there is no Great Outdoors or Spinnaker Lounge.   Wondering if those who have sailed on the Gem or Pearl and the Dawn could provide their opinions (or anyone who has sailed the Dawn who cares to share their opinions).  The type of info I am most interested in is below.  I do know that I can research the NCL website for the actual specifications---I am more interested in folks opinions on how they felt about it.     Thank you all in advance for always being so helpful

Spa - is it similar to the Gem/Pearl?   Co-ed?

Cabins - do the mini suites have a tub like the Gem?    Would you pick balcony room over a mini suite (i.e. I would on the Gem/Pearl due to the tub and because all mini suites were on deck 11 under the busy Deck 12) 

Casino - is it similar to the Gem/Pearl --- larger/smaller

Outside space --- other than your balcony or the pool area --- are there any outdoor spaces?

 

[BirdTravels]

The ships are very similar. We did New England on the Dawn a couple of years ago (after her refirb) and loved the trip. 

 

The Dawn spa has unisex locker rooms with steam and sauna. The coed area has a lap pool with warm water, 2 jacuzzi and stone loungers. There are unisex relation rooms. 

 

Casino is the same. 

 

Outdoors is essentially the same. 

 

We we would always pick a mini, but a balcony is fine. 

 

Overall, the ships are all similar. 

 

They would have have all changed, but our dailies are on 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2316021-norwegian-dawn-new-england-dailies-080916/

 

 

Spa

 

Edited December 2, 2018 by BirdTravels

[McFins]

Thank you so very much Bird! 

[MusterDrill55]

The Dawn has unisex locker rooms? 

[rtkenmore]

4 minutes ago, MusterDrill55 said:

The Dawn has unisex locker rooms? 

No.  They are separate. 

[newmexicoNita]

We have been on several Jewel class ships and on Dawn twice with the third sailing coming up in Feb. The Dawn is smaller but i think the cabins may be a little larger. Most ships are pretty much the same in my opinion. I feel more comfortable on the Dawn with the exception, we were not at all impressed with the spa, but that has more to do with the attitude of the employees than the spa itself. Will not bore you with details. Let's just say, we will not waste our money again. Also the 8th deck has a strange layout, which makes it a bit tricky to do from one side of the ship to the other. It takes awhile to figure out how to get to certain places. But it isn't the end of the world. In fact nothing is the end of the world until the end of the World as our pastor told us in church a couple weeks ago. 

 

The positives for us about the Dawn, the size, the friendliness of the crew and the smaller size, plus we absolutely love spending time having a drink or 10 at Gatsby's. 

[rjmols]

We have done both the Dawn and the Gem and have even though we enjoyed both we preferred the Gem.  We missed the outdoors area and the spinnaker lounge.  

 

[bonvoyagie]

Was on the Pearl in 12 to AK and the Dawn in 16 to Canada/New England. The Dawn has no Haven, no front lounge, and no Great Outdoors buffet. I found that on my Canada/NE cruise I did not miss the Great Outdoors, and Haven I did miss not having a forward observation area.

 

O'Shehans on the Pearl was only 1/2 of the deck, Modernero was on the other half of the deck. On the Dawn (and now the Pearl) O'Shehans is on the whole deck and Modernero is up next to Cagneys. On the Pearl we had such poor service here we did not use it very often, on the Dawn we often went there for a mid day snack or lunch - great food.

 

The Dawn was the role model or prototype for the Jewel class ships and still has the two largest suites on the sea.

 

We will be on the Gem in around 400 days - heading south so will love having the front obs and perhaps the Great Outdoors.

[FLAHAM]

17 hours ago, newmexicoNita said:

We have been on several Jewel class ships and on Dawn twice with the third sailing coming up in Feb. The Dawn is smaller but i think the cabins may be a little larger. Most ships are pretty much the same in my opinion. I feel more comfortable on the Dawn with the exception, we were not at all impressed with the spa, but that has more to do with the attitude of the employees than the spa itself. Will not bore you with details. Let's just say, we will not waste our money again. Also the 8th deck has a strange layout, which makes it a bit tricky to do from one side of the ship to the other. It takes awhile to figure out how to get to certain places. But it isn't the end of the world. In fact nothing is the end of the world until the end of the World as our pastor told us in church a couple weeks ago. 

 

The positives for us about the Dawn, the size, the friendliness of the crew and the smaller size, plus we absolutely love spending time having a drink or 10 at Gatsby's. 

The Dawn is nearly identical in size (tonnage) and passenger capacity to the Jewel class ships.

[newmexicoNita]

5 hours ago, FLAHAM said:

The Dawn is nearly identical in size (tonnage) and passenger capacity to the Jewel class ships.

thank you; You are right, the Dawn just feels a little smaller.  

[Barb Nahoumi]

 

I can't tell you about the spas on any of the ships, because I don't go to them.  However, I have sailed on the Dawn, Gem, and Pearl.

 

Besides your balconies and pool deck, these ships have the promenade decks for additional outdoor space.  My husband and I use them whenever we can.  I love the fact that the Gem still has the Spinnaker lounge still intact, whereas it was removed on the Dawn to create more suites.

 The Gem has two pools, but the Dawn only one.  Still, I found the crew on the Dawn to be one of the best.

[McFins]

Thank you all so much for your insight.   Much appreciated.    

[mainepaddler]

In addition to the points already made, I will add that the Dawn has Los Lobos. The food there is delicious, but it is also fun to just hang out at the bar. 

[Sand and Seas]

We love Los Lobos on the Dawn and have to agree that the Dawn staff was really great!