Norwegian Dawn

[IdRatherBCruisin]

Anyone cruised on Dawn lately? We leave September 3 on British Isle cruise and I am just looking for some truthful insight into this ship. Reviews are pretty bad and I would like to be prepared😂 thanks!

[MagnoliaBlossom]

I’ve seen some pretty good reviews for the Dawn, but the Star is not faring as well.

[BirdTravels]

37 minutes ago, IdRatherBCruisin said:

Anyone cruised on Dawn lately? We leave September 3 on British Isle cruise and I am just looking for some truthful insight into this ship. Reviews are pretty bad and I would like to be prepared😂 thanks!

Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Mostly Fake News. 

 

The Dawn is fine. An smaller, older ship... more traditional cruising. People who want to compare it against a new shiny ship will be disappointed. 

 

Your cruise is sold out. The ship will be sailing well over capacity (as most are now)... often more than pre-pandemic levels, so expect crowds. If you need specialty dining reservations, those should be your top priority upon embarkation. Plan to dine early in the MDRs to avoid the crowds. 

 

Have a wonderful cruise. We'll be cruising that week also... but in a different part of the world. 

[complawyer]

we got off the dawn on aug 15th after b2b 19 days from southampton to copenhagen, copenhagen to stockholm. you have nothing to worry about, it's a fine ship.  maybe without the bells and whistles of the newer, bigger ships, but personally i sail for the itinerary and the price, We were in the 2 bedroom suite, and all was fine. the entire staff couldnt have been any nicer or more accommodating.to our needs. our steward (jonah) was amazing, the butler (alan) was top notch.

 

one night in the mdr, they had a greek salad that was  great. the next night i asked this lovely lady (elizabeth) if they could make me another one, and the few times we went back to the mdr (remember this was a 19 at cruise) she made us a greek salad.

 

so, as they say in the old country  "not to worry", and remember any vacation is what you make it, regardless of land or sea. 

[Ken the cruiser]

We were on the Dawn this past Feb for an 11-day Caribbean cruise. All was fine with our Club Balcony cabin other than the mattress set definitely needed replacing. But the food was tasty and the shows were fun, and that’s always a good thing. 😁

[KDebreuil]

I was just on the Dawn Aug 15-24. We chose the cruise for the itinerary, not the ship.  The ship was sold out, but rarely felt very crowded.

 

The ship lacks a forward viewing lounge, or a "great outdoors" space.  The midship elevators are always busy, so use the stairs, or forward or aft elevators.  We had a lot of short port days on our cruise, so everyone was arriving back at the last minute.  Do not be late, we did leave passengers behind in at least 2 ports.

 

I was not able to meet a 'dietary specialist' and had to ask everynight for pre-orders.  The dietary person has been nice on previous cruises as they were able to make suggestions and knew of having things like gluten free english muffins on board (the Spirit had these, the Dawn did not).  The sundeck was nice, and there were always chairs available.

 

Overall, the Dawn was not one of our favorite ships.  Our favorites are the Jewel class ships.  Although it is 'close' in design to the Jewel-class ships, it is missing some places, and is harder to navigate than the Jewel class ships.  

 

The crew were still friendly, and seemed to go out of their way to try to remember individual guests and make a connection.

 

Feel free to ask me any specific questions, and I'll do my best to answer.  

Edited August 27, 2023 by KDebreuil

[Adventures ahead]

Sailing NCL for first time and on Dawn in October.

 

Can you find out early on the cruise when shows will be in the Stardust Theatre? Do you need to reserve seats for it, or for any other entertainment venue? Do any charge a fee?

[gerry1.10]

9 hours ago, KDebreuil said:

I was just on the Dawn Aug 15-24. We chose the cruise for the itinerary, not the ship.  The ship was sold out, but rarely felt very crowded.

 

The ship lacks a forward viewing lounge, or a "great outdoors" space.  The midship elevators are always busy, so use the stairs, or forward or aft elevators.  We had a lot of short port days on our cruise, so everyone was arriving back at the last minute.  Do not be late, we did leave passengers behind in at least 2 ports.

 

I was not able to meet a 'dietary specialist' and had to ask everynight for pre-orders.  The dietary person has been nice on previous cruises as they were able to make suggestions and knew of having things like gluten free english muffins on board (the Spirit had these, the Dawn did not).  The sundeck was nice, and there were always chairs available.

 

Overall, the Dawn was not one of our favorite ships.  Our favorites are the Jewel class ships.  Although it is 'close' in design to the Jewel-class ships, it is missing some places, and is harder to navigate than the Jewel class ships.  

 

The crew were still friendly, and seemed to go out of their way to try to remember individual guests and make a connection.

 

Feel free to ask me any specific questions, and I'll do my best to answer.  

Do you still remember who the officers were on your sailing? Please list.

 

Thanks

 

 

[www3traveler]

No, on The Dawn there is no need to make reservations for the theater entertainment.  The theater doors will open 30 minutes prior to the show beginning.  Just go in and find yourself a seat.  All entertainment is free.

 

Relax and enjoy your cruise.

[mugtech]

9 hours ago, KDebreuil said:

.

 

The ship lacks a forward viewing lounge, or a "great outdoors" space.  

 

Overall, the Dawn was not one of our favorite ships.  Our favorites are the Jewel class ships.  Although it is 'close' in design to the Jewel-class ships, it is missing some places, and is harder to navigate than the Jewel class ships.  

This is why we have never sailed the Dawn nor the Star.  As inside cabin people we would miss the forward viewing lounge.  Have had many enjoyable cruises on the Gem and the Jewel.  It would require a great itinerary at a great price to book the Dawn.

[JakTar]

My (overlong?) post about a recent cruise on the Dawn entitled, "A Voyage Around My Father...land (on NCL Dawn)" appears just above your post.

[Travelling2Some]

We did the Baltic Capitals cruise in June (Copenhagen to Stockholm) and the Dawn was fine for that itinerary, which had zero sea days.  The lack of the Great Outdoors and the forward viewing lounge would definitely deter me for a less port-heavy itinerary.  As it was, we did not miss them at all even with an inside cabin.

[9tee2Sea]

on my las cruise in Feb, there was a great piano player/entertainer in the lounge by Le Bistro.  Played a wide variety of songs, many sing alongs, told jokes ( spoke very fast, so hard for me to understand), and even put together a ship choir that performed in the Atrium.  The Dawn is very laid back, which makes for a very nice vacay.  Don't go in expecting WOW and PIZAZZ. Go in expecting a very relaxed cruise, where YOU make your own fun ( No water slides, or Go Carts).

[fstuff1]

I like the Dawn better than it's sister ship, Star.

They added Los lobos to Dawn pre-covid.

 

No idea why they didn't do that to Star?

 

Dawn's production show is called Elements. It is my fav in house ncl show.

Female Show dancers do acrobatic stuff above the audience heads on a swing.

 

Joy has the same show but it's done on stage :(

[9tee2Sea]

On 8/29/2023 at 7:44 AM, 9tee2Sea said:

on my las cruise in Feb, there was a great piano player/entertainer in the lounge by Le Bistro.  Played a wide variety of songs, many sing alongs, told jokes ( spoke very fast, so hard for me to understand), and even put together a ship choir that performed in the Atrium.  The Dawn is very laid back, which makes for a very nice vacay.  Don't go in expecting WOW and PIZAZZ. Go in expecting a very relaxed cruise, where YOU make your own fun ( No water slides, or Go Carts).

M Bad, I got my ships confused.  I got the Dawn confused with Jade.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I had a great time on the Dawn in July cruising the British Isles. As it was a port intensive itinerary, I did not miss the forward facing lounge. I also did not buy a spa pass because I knew I would be busy every day. Meals were standard NCL quality and the addition of Los Lobos on the Dawn was great. It was nice not to have to make reservations for the theater shows, though admittedly, with the exception of Elements on the Dawn, there are better shows on other ships. The Dawn never felt crowded so there was hardly ever a long wait for drinks. The children on board were well-behaved, unlike what I've experienced over Spring Break sailing in the Caribbean. 

 

[Kierste]

Did the Dawn last summer for a Baltic cruise, and she was lovely. I have a review around here somewhere 🙂.  We have done NCL big ships and small ships and the only thing I think hubby missed was The District. As for DD and I, we loved the ship and had a great time.  Go and enjoy!

[Coastalbreezes]

I love the Dawn. Sometimes it is nice to sail on what I call an "old school ship". Everything is smaller and seems less congested than the new larger ships. I only have one negative and that is the lack of indoor bars to enjoy a cocktail before dinner. We loved Gatsby's but if you didn't get a seat at the bar or a table/chairs nearby by 4:30 p.m. you were likely not getting one until much later in the evening.