Jump to content

Pepper's review of the Dawn - LONG!


WaldosPepper

Recommended Posts

Review

I’m constructing this review by using a basic outline of topics in order to keep myself organized, but I’m not placing each area in any particular order of importance.

Embarkation

Having arrived after the Concierge had conducted the Priority Embarkation, we were delighted to find that after indicating our cabin number to an NCL employee in the terminal, we were whisked through the process with the assistance of Jan, the Assistant to the Concierge, and our Butler Putu. As we passed through the Customs Hall, it appeared to be a very well organized process for everyone else, albeit a slow one. We considered ourselves very fortunate not to be required to wait in the chairs, or online. Jan and Putu did a wonderful job getting us through the process rapidly, and onboard via a forward entry, while other passengers were lined up waiting to board at the midship gangway. Putu escorted us directly to our cabin, all the while answering our questions about his homeland of Indonesia, his family, his career with NCL and how much he loves his job!

Once inside our AB, we deposited our carry-on bags, took a tour of the suite with Putu explaining the various features available on the TV’s, use of the cordless telephone, and use of the controls in the most amazing shower you’ll ever see. Seeing that we were quite hungry and anxious to get some lunch, Putu suggested that we head down to the Venetian for lunch, and he would visit us again later to answer any additional questions, and fulfill any special requests we might have.

Needless to say, our first impressions of the ship and crew were nothing short of awe. I have no doubt that the embarkation process is quite a bit more stressful for those in standard cabins, or for non-Latitudes guests, so we felt extraordinarily privileged to be treated in such grand fashion.

Introductions

Immediately after lunch we returned to the cabin and were promptly visited by our team of Cabin Stewards – Denson Robinson, and Cenen Samille who introduced themselves, made a point to indicate that they were not quite finished preparing our cabin and promised to have the entire suite ready before the end of the Safety Drill.

Putu arrived moments later, as did Concierge Alex. We spent a few moments inspecting the cabin with Putu, locating a few very small problems which he documented in his notebook. Then it was time for Alex to review his services and provide his card with contact information. We enjoyed a very lively chat with him and made arrangements to dine at LeBistro with our family members traveling with us. Alex was familiar with them as well, as they were staying in an Owner’s Suite, and he had just recently met with them.

We were quite pleased with the entire process of introductions, and even more delighted to see that Denson and Cenen kept their promise to have our cabin ship shape! While we were chatting with Alex and Putu, they arrived with our missing couch, which completed the setup of our suite. Moments later they returned with an engineer who was tasked with repairing the shade over the whirlpool, which provided privacy between the tub and balcony area. Every issue was resolved before the ship left the pier. We were now ready to enjoy sailaway!

Cabin Stewards

Denson and Cenen make a wonderful team, keeping our stateroom in pristine condition at all times, and delighting us with their outstanding senses of humor and obvious camaraderie with one another! They went out of their way to make certain we were pleased with every aspect of their services, providing prompt refills of bath products and ensuring we had a bucket full of ice at all times. They quickly learned our daily routine and made certain not to disturb us unless absolutely necessary. We enjoyed chatting with them in the halls, where they never failed to ask about our day, and wish us good afternoon or evening. Towel animals appeared in our cabin nightly, with the exception of the last night, and they employed terrific imagination with the use of sunglasses, mints, and various articles of clothing, making each animal unique and hilarious! Special requests were met with cheerful, prompt response, and we responded generously with tokens of appreciation for their exceptional service!

Butler

Throughout our voyage, Putu Adlai made this vacation truly special with his genuinely gentlemanly manner, and eagerness to fulfill our every wish. Our fruit bowl was attended daily, and always contained a great variety of sumptuous fresh fruits. We enjoyed breakfast in the suite on all port days, and Putu quickly realized that we’re very fond of bananas with our cereal. On the third day, a second bowl of fruit – containing nothing but bananas, magically appeared with our breakfast delivery, and remained throughout the rest of the cruise, with daily replenishment. Putu was extremely attentive to our every need, and often managed to anticipate our desires. We thoroughly enjoyed having him as part of our family during our sailing, and were sad to say goodbye to this delightful gentleman. Anyone fortunate enough to sail with Putu as their butler will surely enjoy this attentive, yet unobtrusive gentleman and his wonderful service.

Concierge

Alex Forbes, a remarkably lively young man from Australia, delighted us from our first introduction and throughout the cruise, with his cheerful desire to make this vacation the very best. We enjoyed conversations with Alex several times each day as he worked to arrange our dining reservations, show times, shore excursions and special events. This young man is truly tireless, perpetually cheerful and accommodating. We quickly learned that it’s quite easy to make Alex blush, and enjoyed every opportunity to induce! I’m reasonably certain that Alex has found a way to clone himself, as he is literally all over the ship, at all times. Rarely did we finish dinner without a visit from Alex dropping by to check on us and make sure we were enjoying our meal. Several times we had plans to attend shows immediately after dinner, and Alex worked with the Maitre’D and waitstaff in an effort to properly time our meal. As we often enjoyed our meals enough to order multiple appetizer courses, we were unable to make the show despite Alex’s efforts, thus we learned to make our plans a bit earlier so as not to drive the poor man insane!

Several times during our sailing, we called upon Alex to make some special arrangements, and each time our requests were met with a cheerful response and a rapid result. On the occasions where these arrangements involved guests staying in non-suite categories, Alex made notes of their cabin numbers and made all the necessary contacts for and with those guests as well.

This was Alex’s second sailing on the Dawn, and it’s abundantly clear that he wasted no time getting to know his way around and making himself comfortable with the staff. Our experiences with Alex were not only enjoyable, they were truly memorable!

Accommodations

Traveling with our 16 year old son, we found our AB Penthouse to be absolutely ideal. We thoroughly enjoyed the spacious living area, extremely luxurious master bedroom and bath area, while our son enjoyed his privacy having his own bedroom and bath. Storage areas are cleverly placed throughout the suite, with drawers and cabinets in great abundance in the master bathroom, bedroom, closet and in the built-in bar area. Having all these areas made it easy to stow away our music CD’s and DVD’s within easy reach, but nicely out of sight. As a result, it’s easy to keep the entire suite tidy, while having easy access to whatever you need. We were quite impressed with the décor and found the color schemes to be in great harmony with the exotic wood of the walls and cabinets. Our only complaint was the furniture in the living room and dining room areas. Unfortunately the furnishings are designed more for style than comfort, and relaxing on the couch for an afternoon nap was out of the question. We also found the upholstered areas of the couch, chairs and dining chairs to be badly in need of attention as a result of staining, and wear. Fortunately, the balcony is equipped with a pair of very nice teak loungers which feature nicely upholstered, full-length cushions which were quite comfortable and provided the perfect escape for an afternoon nap or a relaxing morning cup of coffee. We spent far more time on the balcony than in the living room, and were grateful to have that option.

There is a pair of beautiful pocket doors which can separate the master bedroom and bath from the main living area. They secure in place nicely for quiet or privacy, and stow away just as securely with a pair of floor locks which come in handy when the seas are rough. For additional coziness, the bedroom features a pair of heavy drapes which can be drawn to block out virtually all light, providing another ideal location for a peaceful nap on a sunny afternoon if one is so inclined. We found our bed to be extraordinarily comfortable, and had no trouble fall into a deep sleep snuggled into that wonderful duvet. As our son is over six feet tall, he had chosen to use the pull-out bed in his room, as opposed to the Pullman. He was less impressed with the comfort of his bed, as it is quite hard. Nonetheless, he was so exhausted most evenings that he managed to find slumber rather quickly, thus he didn’t notice the firmness after that first night.

The location of our stateroom afforded us wonderful peace and quiet, as we were situated directly under meeting rooms. Very late on two nights toward the end of the cruise, we did hear quite a bit of racket from above, as apparently the young folks were on the loose, and enjoying a bit of rough-housing! Fortunately, they must have been promptly discovered, as the racket only lasted a moment or two each time.

We did notice the creaking of the ship when seas were rough, but unlike some others we found the sound to be rather interesting, and soothing. On one particularly rough night we did awake to some unknown noises, but they too quickly disappeared, and we promptly returned to restful oblivion. We often also enjoyed the sound of the sea, as we were able to have the balcony door open many nights. The freshness of the sea air, and the soothing sounds of the seas lulled us into sweet dreams, followed by the sounds of seabirds each morning, welcoming each new day. Our port side location also afforded us magnificent sunrises as we journeyed south, adding another wonderful element of enjoyment to our already delightful accommodations.

Dining Venues

During the course of our voyage, we sampled nearly all the dining venues onboard, and as a general rule were pleasantly surprised with the quality of our meals. Although many of our “old favorites” are now missing from the main dining room menus, we were always able to find several appealing selections, and thoroughly enjoyed most of what we ate. A few items that stand out in memory are the Chateau Briand served on the first formal night, the Prime Rib served on the second formal night, and the Filet Mignon in both Cagney’s and LeBistro. Meats were prepared as ordered, and across the board were quality cuts. As always, the offerings in the buffet were a bit ordinary and uninspired, but the few snacks we enjoyed there were tasty, and the one breakfast there provided a tasty made-to-order omelette, some nice crispy bacon, and a wonderful selection of fresh fruits which I enjoyed immensely. I managed to sample an amazing variety of breads during our sailing, and as usual I found all of them to be wonderful. NCL’s breads and pastries, especially their croissants, never fail to delight my palate!

One issue that I found particularly irritating throughout the trip was coffee service. I rather enjoy a cup of coffee between dinner and dessert, but apparently this is a virtual impossibility aboard Norwegian’s vessels. Despite repeated requests, and rather specific instructions, I was repeatedly disappointed when dessert arrived well in advance of coffee. More than once I found myself expressing displeasure over this seemingly very simple request which could not be satisfied. I also found the strength of the coffee to vary wildly throughout the ship, and I attribute this to lack of attention. Coffee onboard is made in machines which allow adjustment for strength. The frequent cleaning of these machines is probably resulting in the adjustment being changed unintentionally, and I suspect no one is monitoring the adjustment levers. NCL could save a few dollars on their coffee budget if someone monitored these levels a bit more closely, and the result would be a far more consistent product, and a lot more happy coffee lovers!

Purser/Latitudes Desks

On the numerous occasions I visited the Purser’s Desk to check on my account, make adjustments to the restrictions on my son’s card, or drop off envelopes for delivery around the ship, I found the staff very pleasant and eager to be helpful. This is a vast improvement over our experiences onboard the Majesty, where we usually found the staff to be surly and unable to fulfill even the simplest requests with a smile. Bravo to whomever is responsible for training these women, as they are not only pleasant and friendly, they are extremely knowledgeable, and very eager to accommodate even the smallest request. Unfortunately they were unable to resolve the issue with my son’s card, and he remained unable to make any purchases without our being present and providing express permission. We never determined what the problem was, and it remained a mystery to those trying to rectify the issue as well.

We also found the staff at the Latitudes Desk to be equally cheerful and helpful. Brent and Julie are a wonderful team, and both are quite up to speed with the new Bonus Rewards Program. We were afraid that with the advent of this program, all focus would be strictly directed there, and were pleasantly surprised that our other questions were well-received and promptly and thoroughly answered. Brent is a particularly lively young man, and we enjoyed a number of casual conversations with him whenever we ran into him elsewhere on the ship. It’s abundantly clear that he and Julie both thoroughly enjoy their work, and they make every effort to accommodate their guests.

Entertainment

I cannot comment on all the entertainment, as there were so many options that it would be nearly impossible to enjoy them all. We did make a point to attend both of the Jean Ann Ryan Productions, and found both to be excellent quality entertainment, with each show leaving us eager for more. The quality of the dance numbers, and the talent of the current cast, made for some eye-popping moments which left us wondering “how on earth do they make their bodies DO that?” Great costumes, great talent, great music.

We were delighted to learn that Rudi Macaggi came aboard in St. Maarten, and made a point to attend both is stage shows in the Stardust, as well as his appearance at Liars Club. His insane antics, paired with his hilarious sense of humor, left us laughing for hours afterwards. His trademark “I like you” became an oft-heard phrase the last few days onboard, a sign that his shows were memorable to all who had the pleasure of attending. I suspect that the Liar’s Club was much funnier than usual, purely by virtue of Rudi’s presence on the panel. His acrobatics resulted in the complete collapse of the panel’s table, and caused the entire audience to erupt in laughter, and the Cruise Director to be rendered helpless with laughter as well.

We never managed to make any of Bud Anderson’s shows, much to our chagrin they were always scheduled smack in the middle of our dining times, or while we were otherwise occupied at another venue. Based on his participation in the Liar’s Club show, I would guess that his routines are quite funny, and I regret that we didn’t manage to see more of his work. Magician Greg Gleason’s act was good, but considering we only saw him on the next to the last night at the variety show, and he was following Rudi onstage, we probably were not as impressed with his work. Rudi is a really tough act to follow, and after such hilarity and excitement, the magic was a bit boring in comparison.

Officers

From the top down, this crew is the most friendly and approachable of any we have ever experienced. We enjoyed multiple opportunities to converse with the Hotel Director, Food and Beverage Director, Cruise Director, Head Chef, Chief of Security, Crew Captain, and the Captain. We enjoyed their presence at our Cruise Critics meeting, where they answered questions quite openly and thoroughly, welcoming all of us to participate and ask questions. It was immediately clear that they all enjoy meeting their guests, and make every effort to provide insights, in addition to engaging in conversation about the ports of call, the ships facilities, and their careers aboard the various NCL vessels.

We enjoyed the pleasure of dining with the Captain one evening, and found him to have a delightful sense of humor, and a vast knowledge of Military and Maritime History as well. Three hours flew by as he answered our myriad of questions, and regaled us with dozens of interesting tidbits. Afterwards, he often stopped to chat with us when we would pass in the corridors, and each time we were treated to his delightful laugh, and invariably heard his favorite word, smashing!

We also enjoyed a tender ride alongside Security Chief Simon, who wanted to know every detail of our day in Samana. He was delighted with our tales of adventure, and asked a lot of questions. This being a relatively new port for NCL, he was particularly interested in how we had been treated ashore, and which operators we had done business with. We learned from Simon that all the Security Officers onboard NCL’s vessels come from the UK and it’s territories, and all are trained at a particular facility, which is why they’ve been chosen.

During each of our encounters with these various Officers, we felt as though they were truly interested in our experiences and opinions, and they genuinely cared about the safety, comfort and enjoyment of all their guests.

Overall Impression

Overall we were very impressed with nearly every aspect of the ship and crew. The few small issues certainly would not deter us from sailing NCL in the future, and in fact were far outweighed by the multitude of excellent aspects of our cruise.

There’s one in every crowd!

As with any large gathering of people, every sailing will result in at least one person who causes you to walk away scratching your head, and wondering where on earth they came from. This sailing was no exception, and one day while I was at the Latitudes Desk speaking with Julie, an older woman came up and interrupted our conversation. I’m not sure what country she was from, but her accent and extremely high-pitched voice made her extremely difficult to listen to. “How much cost this cruise?” she asked. Julie made every effort to try and understand what this woman was asking, but each request for clarification was met with the same line. Eventually the woman became irate. “How much cost THIS cruise?” she demanded! Brent appeared magically, and attempted to discern what the woman was trying to ask. I watched in amazement as Brent and Julie desperately tried to figure out what the woman wanted to know. Thinking that she wanted to know what the balance on her account was, they suggested that she ask at the Purser’s desk. This was met with a volcanic eruption of rage as the woman insisted that she’d already been over there, and they sent her here! (little wonder – they probably couldn’t figure out what she wanted either!) After much ado, it was determined that she really wanted to know why her cabin was $300 more than a cabin on a different deck. She insisted that it was an identical inside cabin, and that the occupants there had paid a total of $600 less than she had, and she demanded to know why. It was suggested that perhaps there was some confusion as a result of the exchange rates from the various currencies, but she insisted that was not the case, and she was being robbed! In a display of amazing patience and polished professionalism, Brent managed to get her to finally tell him her cabin number, and the number of the other cabin which she insisted was the same. After producing a huge, illustrated Deck Plan, Brent attempted to show her the rather large difference between the two cabins, while Julie and I stood back and watched in wonder as this woman refused to believe what she was being told, and became increasingly more agitated. It’s tough enough to deal with an irate guest, but when their voice is pitched high enough to pierce an eardrum, it’s a wonder that Brent was able to remain steadfastly professional and calm. Ultimately she decided that no one was willing to help her, and that everyone onboard was a complete idiot! Never again she declared, pounding her fist on the counter. In a super-human display of patience, Brent tried one more time to assuage this woman’s anger, but alas she was not to be soothed. She stormed off, exclaiming “Yes, alright then, CHEERS” as we three gazed on in complete confusion.

I extended my hand to Brent and congratulated him on his incredible patience and professionalism. I offered to buy him a drink, but of course he had to decline the offer as he was working. I’m happy to report that I did not cross paths with this guest again, as I’ve no doubt she would have used the opportunity to bring the matter up again, and I was not equipped to deal with that level of stress on my vacation! I’m thankful I didn’t run into any combative insane guests, as did our friend Shoreguy while he was a passenger on the previous cruise! I guess there really is “one in every crowd!”

I’ve tried to cover every area, but no doubt have left out something. I’ll be happy to answer questions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've had the pleasure of sailing with both Alex and Cenan. I miss Alex and hope to sail with him again soon. There has to be more than 1 of him! He really is everywhere! While the room stewards on my Spirit 12/2005 sailing were okay... Cenan was memorable (12/2004, 5/2004). I hope to sail the Dawn with these wonderful people again soon!

 

Thank you for the reviews! It was like being there!

 

Sharon

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Blah, Blah, Blah,....Blah....Blah.

 

You regale us with everything that is wonderful about this cruise while you are enjoying it. Now you just want to rub it even further. :rolleyes:

 

PE<---enjoys cruising with people with this kind of Lifes Attitude...:cool:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've had the pleasure of sailing with both Alex and Cenan. I miss Alex and hope to sail with him again soon. There has to be more than 1 of him! He really is everywhere! While the room stewards on my Spirit 12/2005 sailing were okay... Cenan was memorable (12/2004, 5/2004). I hope to sail the Dawn with these wonderful people again soon!

 

Thank you for the reviews! It was like being there!

 

Sharon

 

Better book quickly - Alex will leave the Dawn when Claudio returns from vacation. It sems he is doing a series of 2 month shots on different ships. If I recall correctly his current plans have him on the Jewel this summer in Europe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Blah' date=' Blah, Blah,....Blah....Blah.

 

You regale us with everything that is wonderful about this cruise while you are enjoying it. Now you just want to rub it even further. :rolleyes:

 

PE<---enjoys cruising with people with this kind of Lifes Attitude...:cool:[/quote']

 

And I fully expect you to exact your revenge beginning promptly on the 28th of May! :eek: :p :D Careful there, you! Or I'll make some phone calls to a few old friends in a certain city!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Better book quickly - Alex will leave the Dawn when Claudio returns from vacation. It sems he is doing a series of 2 month shots on different ships. If I recall correctly his current plans have him on the Jewel this summer in Europe.

 

Your recollection is exact! ;) I can't imagine how difficult it must be to change ships every two months! :eek:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've had the pleasure of sailing with both Alex and Cenan. I miss Alex and hope to sail with him again soon. There has to be more than 1 of him! He really is everywhere! While the room stewards on my Spirit 12/2005 sailing were okay... Cenan was memorable (12/2004, 5/2004). I hope to sail the Dawn with these wonderful people again soon!

 

Thank you for the reviews! It was like being there!

 

Sharon

 

Cenen is indeed very memorable, as is his work partner Denson! Thorougly enjoyable gentleman, both with a very quick wit, and an amazing memory! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

we sailed with both Claudio and Alex. They are both amazing, Really made our trips. We have been on many cruises and have never received the services that these gentlemen offer, NCl can really be proud. We are sailing again Apr. 26 and next Nov. Anyone know who will be on board-Alex or Claudio?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pepper,

Thanks for the great review.

Quick question: do certain cabins get special boarding privileges?

I'll be sailing on the NCL for the 1st time in May. Booked a mini-suite on the Dawn.

 

Thanks Again!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

we sailed with both Claudio and Alex. They are both amazing, Really made our trips. We have been on many cruises and have never received the services that these gentlemen offer, NCl can really be proud. We are sailing again Apr. 26 and next Nov. Anyone know who will be on board-Alex or Claudio?

 

 

We're sailing Sep 3rd on the Jewel (Med) any idea who is scheduled as Concierge? We really like Claudio, but don't know any of the others.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pepper,

Thanks for the great review.

Quick question: do certain cabins get special boarding privileges?

I'll be sailing on the NCL for the 1st time in May. Booked a mini-suite on the Dawn.

 

Thanks Again!!

 

Glad you enjoyed it!

 

If memory serves me correctly, the mini-suites do not get to take advantage of the Priority Boarding, but I could be mistaken. We were in an AB, and we arrived later than expected, so we missed the first boarding. I'm sure someone else will be able to confirm. If we'd have managed to get there on time, I would be able to answer myself. :o

 

I think you're going to LOVE the Dawn! Fabulous ship! :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We're sailing Sep 3rd on the Jewel (Med) any idea who is scheduled as Concierge? We really like Claudio, but don't know any of the others.

 

Claudio will be back on the Dawn in mid April sometime, at which point Alex will go to the Jewel to relieve their Concierge for a two month vacation. I believe the Concierge on the Jewel is Ruth, so she would be back onboard for your September sailing. By all accounts, she's wonderful too! :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm sorry but this made me howl, rofl :D

 

I had to stop reading... but I'll be back

 

lol missing couch

 

I guess it is pretty funny when you look at it, isn't it? :p I had mentioned in my daily blog, but forgot to mention in this review, that our couch had been removed for the previous occupants, who aparently needed the space to accomodate a rollaway bed. When we arrived onboard, we couldn't figure out why the room looked so strange. Then it dawned on DH that we had no couch! :eek: Even though it was the single most uncomfortable piece of furniture I've ever sat upon, it was still better than the big empty hole! :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

LOL, It was just so surprising that it was gone! I can understand them needing the space for the rollaway though.... I can't believe they didn't replace it before you boarded.

 

I enjoyed your review, very well done. Do you have pics anywhere?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Glad you enjoyed it, and had a good laugh to boot! :p

 

Apparently the sofa had been stored somewhere down in the hold so far back that getting to it was impossible during the process of offloading luggage, etc. They did return it rather rapidly, and were quite embarrassed about the whole situation, and very apologetic! ;)

 

I've got a ton of photos, and I'm still sorting through them. I'll post a link in my signature once I've gotten them loaded onto webshots.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Mimi! And thanks especially for getting all that frigid air out of here just in time for our arrival home! :D

 

I'll bet you can't wait for 4/26 to get here! Are you going south a day ahead, or leaving the morning of your sailing?

 

We stayed in southern CT the night before and it really made sailing day so much less stressful! ;) I just wish I'd chosen a different hotel! :eek:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What a fantastic review, Waldo! It was exceptionally well-written and very entertaining. While we will be mere balcony occupants, I am very much looking forward to our cruise next fall. :)

 

Wow! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I really enjoyed living it! :D Believe me, this was definately a once-in-a-lifetime trip for us, and in the future we'll be returning to "mere balcony" type accomodations. ;) I'm reasonably certain that no matter what category we were in, we'd have enjoyed an amazingly wonderful cruise! This ship is just wonderful!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail Beyond the Ordinary with Oceania Cruises
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: The Widest View in the Whole Wide World
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...