NCL Dawn for the first time

[Jamaicamecrazy13]

We have cruised RCCL Grandeur and Sovereign, and Carnival Destiny, but never NCL. We chose the Dawn because we can drive to it. We were hoping to book 7-7-07 for our 5 year aniversary on the 12 of July, but that cruise is sold out. We are now planning to go later in July and were wondering if anyone can tell us how NCL measures up to the other lines /ships we've been on. It has been over five years since we have cruised too!!! We are so excited and looking forward to relaxation and great food. Any comments? :)

[Don Haynes]

While I have cruise Carnival, and it does things slightly differently than NCL, in my opinion a cruise is a cruise. They all do the same things, push drinks, sell excursions, take photos, have shows, feed and dine you.

 

The main difference is NCL's freestyle dining, no set table or dinner mates. You choose when and where you wish to dine. NCL has optional formal nights, you choose whether to dress to the nines or dine resort casual.

 

The Dawn is a very nice ship, fairly new. You'll enjoy NCL as much as any other major cruise line. Some love freestyle, some don't.

 

I would rate Holland American and Princess a cut above NCL, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean. But just a cut.

[immargaret]

We have cruised RCCL Grandeur and Sovereign, and Carnival Destiny, but never NCL. We chose the Dawn because we can drive to it. We were hoping to book 7-7-07 for our 5 year aniversary on the 12 of July, but that cruise is sold out. We are now planning to go later in July and were wondering if anyone can tell us how NCL measures up to the other lines /ships we've been on. It has been over five years since we have cruised too!!! We are so excited and looking forward to relaxation and great food. Any comments? :)

 

The 7-7-07 DAWN cruise isn't sold out, there are cabins in every category available. I loved our 4th of July cruise on the DAWN this year, and can't wait to get back on the DAWN in Feb.

[Dolphins]

You might want to sail a few weeks earlier before the school vacations as there will be many children on board in July, not exactly conducive to a romantic anniversary cruise.

[i'llbesea-ingyou]

We celebrated our 10th anniversary on the Dawn a few weeks ago and it was a wonderful experience. The food was terrific, the room was beautiful, the crew was fantastic and we had a wonderful time overall. You are going to love the Dawn! She is a beautiful ship and we can't wait to book our next cruise. Enjoy and happy almost 5 years!!!!:)

[trish1c]

I'll be going on the Dawn for the 1st time next month but have cruised other NCL ships & RCI's Majesty which is the sister to the Sovereign.

 

I thought they were similar. Obviously freestyle is different & I like it sooooo much better. There are no signing waiters.

 

I did miss the cold soups on RCI.

 

The overall quality of the food was better on NCL, IMO, but the staff didn't seem to get it to the tables as fast. I could always tell it had been under a heat lamp.

 

NCL has an amazing chocolate buffet. I also thought the individual staff members were friendlier & I was thrilled that there weren't as many silly games, group participation stunts & screaming CD's.

[BarbCT605]

I did miss the cold soups on RCI.

Good news -- it's been reported that the cold soups are back on the new menus.:)

[silkhair1]

Good news -- it's been reported that the cold soups are back on the new menus.:)

 

I noticed that too. I love the cold soups, but my DH thinks they are gross.

[silkhair1]

Good news -- it's been reported that the cold soups are back on the new menus.:)

 

I noticed that too. I love the cold soups, but my DH thinks they are gross.

[whatawonderfulworld]

Good news -- it's been reported that the cold soups are back on the new menus.:)

 

Op first: we took our first joint (DH w/me) cruise in October and chose the Dawn because we could take the LIRR train right to the ship...almost. We loved it...please do go to the specialty restaurants - there is a surcharge but the food is excellent. We also enjoyed the food in the main (no surcharge) restaurants - we went to every one except the Italian restaurant.

 

BarbCT605 - I've read alot here about folks being happy that the cold soups returned. Do they mean with dinner? I had the cold soups for almost every lunch (and loved ever single one of them) just this past October. Can you shed some light on this for me? Thanks!

 

Ciao,

 

W A W W

[BarbCT605]

BarbCT605 - I've read alot here about folks being happy that the cold soups returned. Do they mean with dinner? I had the cold soups for almost every lunch (and loved ever single one of them) just this past October. Can you shed some light on this for me? Thanks!

 

Ciao,

 

W A W W

Yep -- cold soups at dinner. (Thanks to missjanet for posting the new menus.)

 

I hardly ever had lunch in the dining rooms, so my frame of reference is definitely dinner. Actually, the only time DH & I have lunch in a dining room is at the Venetian after embarking.

[Guest BeckyThane]

BarbCT605 - I've read alot here about folks being happy that the cold soups returned. Do they mean with dinner? I had the cold soups for almost every lunch (and loved ever single one of them) just this past October. Can you shed some light on this for me? Thanks!

This is not Barb, but...

 

Cold soups... just four words... "Smoothie in a Bowl." YUM!!!

 

I think they had cold soups at dinner most nights. I had lunch in the Garden Cafe one day and they had a cold soup there, too.

 

Now I'm hungry. Darn. :p

[missjanet]

Those cold soups were addicting!! I ate lunch at the sit-down restaurants every day & I think that a couple of my favorite cold soups were served at lunch. My favorite was this peach soup with chunks of dried apricots in it - boy, was that good! Unfortunately, when I asked for the menus they only gave out the dinner menus. I wish I could have gotten the lunch menus, too, because there were some good things on them, like those soups. Please give them a try, even if you've never had anything like them before.

 

Becky, I have to agree with you - "smoothie in a bowl" is the perfect description for them!!

 

Janet

[trish1c]

Cold soups... just four words... "Smoothie in a Bowl." YUM!!!. :p

 

Hey Becky -- Does this mean you & Barb will still talk to me if I pour rum or vodka in my cold soup & drink it rather than eat it? :D

[DaisyL]

To the OP: We have cruised out of NY on NCL Dawn, CCL Legend, and Celebrity Horizon/Zenith and really enjoyed them all. We find cruising out of NY, all 3 of these ships had the same passenger mix and any ship will have many kids in the summer.

 

We especially love the Dawn for the Freestyle dining. We like dining with our own group(or just ourselves), going to any one of the 3 main dining rooms when we feel like it, and not having to wear formal attire to dinner.

 

If you have the option, consider cruising when the schools are in session. Now that we are empty nesters, it's much more relaxing and romantic to travel without many kids on board. Our cruise in May, on the Dawn, was probably one of the best cruises we have ever been on.

[Guest BeckyThane]

Hey Becky -- Does this mean you & Barb will still talk to me if I pour rum or vodka in my cold soup & drink it rather than eat it? :D

I don't care, so long as you share. :D

[dmk446]

Hi Becky! Go Navy! Beat Army! :D

[Brenda33]

The cruise in general was a very nice time on the Dawn....just as any other cruise line. Embarkation was a slice of heaven. The only thing very negative I would have to say is that the food does not measure up to other cruise lines.