NCL Dawn Dec W Caribbean

[COSCruisers]

We were brand new cruisers on the Dawn on December 15 to the Western Caribbean from Tampa.  We had a great time.  I will try to add some information that would have helped me as a new cruiser.  It is the only way to travel!

[COSCruisers]

Our travel agent recommended one of the smaller ships so we would not be overwhelmed by crowds and lines on our first cruise.  That was a very wise choice!  Dawn was just the right size.  Plenty of amenities and restaurants but very manageable size.  Honestly, I had buyer's remorse after booking.  I do not swim or hang on the beach, and we were going to the Western Caribbean.  I was never disappointed on the ship or lacking of something enjoyable to do.  Our adult daughter traveled with us so we booked a mini-suite with a balcony.  It was plenty spacious for the 3 of us.  The only drawback was her pull out bed from the sofa was right in front of the balcony door; the walking space at the foot of her bed was not wide enough for my big feet.  The steward put up her bed the first day of the cruise, but thereafter it was left out all day.  Another minor disappointment was there were no towel animals.  I was really looking forward to these for the daughter, but, alas, perhaps that has been deleted from NCL.  It's not a big loss considering all the other amenities on the ship.

 

We sailed from Tampa what seemed like a bit late--30 minutes or so following the Carnival ship that was hit in Cozumel out of Tampa.  The actual boarding seems a bit chaotic, but it just takes a while and patience in the lines.  We were able to drop off our carry-on bags in the stateroom.  The checked bags were delivered in a very timely manner.  We got a light lunch in the buffet.

 

It was great going up on deck to watch the departure with a drink.  The wife and daughter were not so much into that; they enjoyed their drinks in loungers in the shade.  I had made reservations in advance for the Aqua MDR that night since I thought we really wouldn't know what we were doing.  At no time on the cruise did I feel inadequately dressed wearing a casual collared shirt and casual pants; having to dress up had kept me off cruises for decades.  If that is a concern for you, you have no worries.  Like most first timers, we way over packed.  A couple of collared button-down shirts, casual pants, plus whatever more casual clothes--shorts, tank top or two, etc.--you need for excursions or water sports is all that is needed.  I did take a light jacket that I never needed even on the deck at night, but we were returning to Chicago in December.  I would recommend umbrellas and rain poncho to be safe along with a broad-brim hat for the sun.

 

After a bit of exploring the ship and making spa appointments for wife and daughter for facials the next day, we retired to our stateroom.  For me there is no better place that relaxing on the balcony enjoying a cup of coffee, and that's where I was as we sailed out to sea from Tampa.

[COSCruisers]

The galley crew went all out decorating for Christmas.

[All-ready2cruise]

Very nice start, thanks for doing this.  I sail on the Dawn end of March.

[Jonslola]

My very first cruise was on the Dawn as well, it's the perfect ship to get you hooked on cruising!

[ParrotheadG]

Thanks! we're on the Dawn in 13 days!  Looking forward to more posts!

[COSCruisers]

One of the things that I found most helpful from the previous poster was seeing the dailys--the newspapers that show the day's activities.  I suddenly felt confident that there were indeed activities I would enjoy.

[COSCruisers]

Day 2 was a sea day.  While my ladies were being pampered in the spa with facials, I went to the Port and Tour Talk.  This was a good presentation about upcoming excursions.  I had already pre-booked our excursions so for me this was probably not a good use of time.  However, if you have not booked your excursions in advance, this would be very beneficial.  I attended the Digital Camera Class immediately following.  This was presented by the photo shop manager.  It had some very good techniques for point-and-shoot and full-fledged DSLR's.  I met the girls in the buffet for a delicious lunch.

 

In the afternoon we went to the Jackson Rayne Magic presentation in the Bliss Lounge.  He explained at the start that this was more workshop that show.  It was very interesting and entertaining.  

 

The buffet on Dawn is FANTASTIC!!!  I am a big hamburger fan, and the hamburgers here are to die for!  After dinner we went to Soul Rockin' Nights--a great musical.  There were no reservations; you just showed up and walked into the theater.  It was a very enjoyable evening topped off with drinks at O'Sheehan's.  We are not late night folk so we retired to our stateroom where the daughter watched a movie, I hung out on the balcony, and the wife relaxed reading.

[COSCruisers]

My wife got seriously seasick at the end of Day 2 evening.  Thankfully, she had gotten a prescription of Scopolomine before sailing.  Although she was out of commission for Day 3's shore excursion, the Scopolomine had calmed her stomach by the following evening.  She had not expected to get seasick.  I would highly recommend getting a prescription from your physician before sailing.

[COSCruisers]

Day 3 we were at Costa Maya.  Our excursion was to the Kohunlich ruins--a very fascinating site.  The ride was rather lengthy, but the guide did a great job with local information on the way.  The ruins are about 1500 years old and are only partly unearthed in the jungle after being discovered in 1969.  It was hot and humid here even in December.  Daughter and I enjoyed the excursion and found all the information very interesting. I am afraid of heights, but I was able to climb this pyramid with the rope railings provided.  The site has one of the best preserved Mayan ball courts anywhere.

 

Back at the ship we enjoyed dinner at the buffet in deference to wife's seasickness of the night before.

[COSCruisers]

In the evening we enjoyed a fantastic show by the aerialists in theater followed by our O'Sheehan's drink.

 

One of my favorite people on the cruise was the bartender at the wine and mixed drinks bar at the buffet.  I wish I would have gotten his name.  He was from India.  He mixed an incredible Jack and Coke and had a very friendly, outgoing personality.  I looked for him nightly.

[COSCruisers]

Day 4 was our day in Belize.  We had booked the excursion to the Mayan Cultural Center.  After a brief ferry ride to the mainland and an hour bus ride we arrived at the center.  The Mayan lady there explained and showed typical life in a Mayan home.  We ground our own corn and made our own tortilla.  A change of building and we learned about the musical instruments and other facets of Mayan life.  A delicious lunch followed.  There a lady was selling coconut rum.  She actually cut the coconut and filled it with the rum.  Sadly, our time there was drawing to an end before daughter and I had a chance to fully enjoy the wine.

 

We then went to a nearby cacao farm.  The owners' son took us up the hill past the cacao trees and showed us the beans allowing us to taste them too.  His sister demonstrated how the dust from the husks is wind winnowed out.  Bus and ferry ride from Independence Village followed.

 

That evening was another great theater show "Showdown."  The music and singing were great.  We ended the evening with dessert and drinks at O'Sheehan's while enjoying a tribute night in honor of The Beatles and Queen.

 

 

[Nikkimouse]

Thank you so much for sharing. I'll be on the dawn in about a week I love seeing the dailies to get an idea of what the offer.  

[Dayana]

Thank you for sharing.  Great review.  Pay rime I was on the Sawn was 2006.  So it’s a brand new ship to me now.   5 more weeks and counting.   

[Lovetotraveltami]

Dawn was our first ship and would sail with her again.  Thanks for the review.

[ParrotheadG]

Thank you so much for posting Dailies!!  we'll be on the Dawn one week from tomorrow, and it's great to see what we can expect!  Appreciate your time doing this!

[thedriver23]

Thank you for the info - we are on the Dawn Mid feb.

 

all helps with the planning.

[roger001]

Excellent.  We've been on the Dawn once and loved her.  Will be on her again next month.   For your next cruise, if towel animals aren't made available, just tell your cabin steward.  They will still be glad to make them for you knowing they are appreciated.  So many cruisers are repeat customers and don't really care for the animals.  Seasick, recommend meclizine (over the counter Bonine).  Take one the evening before the cruise and then two or three a day during the cruise.  Needs to be taken before you get sick though.  Non drowsy for most folks.  Really glad you enjoyed it.  Sounds like you cruised looking for the positive...and not just the few things that you may not have cared for.   Our next will be out 23rd and still love them and all the crew that make it so wonderful.  

[purpleally]

Any chance you have anything with the opening times of restaurants, bars, coffee?  Thanks. 

[COSCruisers]

Day 5 of our cruise was Roatan.  I wondered before and early in the cruise about changing time zones.  NCL follows local time zones.  There is plenty of notice given in both the daily and in announcements to set clocks back or move ahead and we moved to new time zones.

 

We hit rainy conditions in Roatan.  The shopping is right at the foot of the pier.  

 

We had booked the Gumbalimba Park monkey excursion.  It began to rain hard right after we left the enclosed areas of the park.  We had umbrellas and ponchos, but we were still soaked.  We really enjoyed the time with the birds and the monkeys.  Because the weather was inclement, on of our guide's planned excursion had been cancelled.  She had joined our scheduled guide so they both were with our group.  Each contributed information for us as well as shared their camaraderie.  We enjoyed seeing sloths and iguanas.  In fact, one of our guides had quite a palate for iguana.  There was also a small history museum in addition to the insectarium.

 

There was lots of beautiful scenery in the park.  The pouring rain was unfortunate; I think on a nice day there would be tons to do and see there.  A bus (or several) run shuttle back to the pier so you can stay after the tour officially ends.

[roger001]

12 hours ago, purpleally said:

Any chance you have anything with the opening times of restaurants, bars, coffee?  Thanks. 

They are in those Dailies that he posted.  

[thedriver23]

Thanks again for the info

 

I now look forward to the dailies daily - all adds to the excitement 

[purpleally]

12 hours ago, roger001 said:

They are in those Dailies that he posted.  

Oops. Totally missed it. Thanks

[COSCruisers]

Day 6--Cozumel or Not

 

After a rough night sailing we almost arrived at Cozumel.  This was the day that the two Carnival ships collided in port.  Our captain announced that it was too windy and too dangerous to dock that day; this was about an hour before the two Carnivals had their incident.  A revised daily was rushed out with augmented activities.

 

We enjoyed a relaxed day aboard.  For me there's almost nothing better than enjoying coffee on the balcony while we are sailing.  In the we enjoyed "The Secret Life of Pets 2" in the Stardust Theater.  Our daughter went to see "Crazy Rich Asians" later in the afternoon while we napped.  After another great dinner in the Aqua MDR, we went to the theater to enjoy "Elements."  It was booked as the best show onboard, although, honestly, I enjoyed the two musical productions more--a personal preference.  We capped the evening with a drink up at the Topsiders Bar.  Even though we missed Cozumel, it was a very enjoyable day.

[thedriver23]

It’s a shame you missed Cozumel, however safety has to be everyone’s priority and given what happened with the Carnival incident - it appears the correct decision was made.

 

thanks for all your info