Impressions on the Dawn

[AuntieBarb]

It's been a while since I've been aboard the Dawn, but we look forward to our 6th time headed to Bermuda in June. Every time we've been on her, the main dining rooms were Venetian, Aqua and Impressions.

 

I realize that Impressions is now the Italian Restaurant. A bit disappointing, because of the main dining rooms, Impressions was our favorite and the one we found most intimate.

 

On the other hand, we had yet to ever go to La Trattoria. So I'm wondering if the menu in Impressions is the same as it was in La Trattoria or are there notable differences? Is it a pay restaurant now?

 

Thanks in advance...

[logcabin]

Hi AuntieBarb. We, too, are heading out on the Dawn to Bermuda. Leaving the week after you (June 8th), so please leave her in good shape for us.

 

I was disappointed to hear Impressions changed as well. It was by far our favorite of the main places to eat. In fact, we eat there most nights.

 

From my understanding, it is still a "free" place like La Traitoria (sp?) was. However, so was it on the Gem as well, until recently. Within the last 2 weeks the Gem has started to charge for it. I hope this is not an indication of what the Dawn will do as well.

 

I never like the Venitian much. It's pretty and all. But, too big and not as intimate as impressions.

[A.S.]

Does anyone know if you need reservations to eat in the Impressions Restaurant?

 

Thanks for any info.

[ntune]

Yes, it is a reservation needed restaurant, but it was a "free" venue as of February.

[AFT_LOVER]

as they advertise to eat when you want & what you want, but nothing about reservations other than the pay places. Even Latitudes state if before 6pm dinner no reservations needed since they are not busy. So with all this reservation stuff that is more like traditional with stated time & all.

[Sparkylok6]

I have heard that the surcharge on the Gem is only a 4 week trial. I hope so.

 

From what I gathered from the other posters that have been to Impressions of Italy, the menu is the same as it was at La Trottoria. The biggest change being the Antipasta Trolley Cart that they bring table to table and you pick what you want.

 

La Trottoria was always a reservations restaurant.

 

I still see this as freestyle because I am not eating with people I don't want to, and I am choosing the time for my reservations - not "early seating" or "late seating".

[AuntieBarb]

Well I'm happy for the "La Trattoria" venue to have a true restaurant area, opposed to sectioning off the Garden Cafe, but sad to lose Impressions as a main dining room. I'll have to complain on my comment card! LOL!

 

MACOP, let's not turn this thread into a freestyle v.s. traditional argument. :rolleyes: It's obvious specialties restaurants would lean towards reservations, because they obviously aren't large enough to accommodate a large mass of pax at the same time. There is still freedom of choice for where and when.

[scm200]

:D we were on the dawn last summer and found that the best thing to do for dinner was make reservations at any resturant we wanted to dine in. we had a family meltdown at aqua when they could not seat a party of 6 for dinner at all on the second "dressy" night without a reservation. i was told that its always a good idea to make reservations at any of the resturants.

 

:o freestyle is ok, but reservations are a good idea if you want to eat at a specific dining room (aqua) vs the venetian (actually we were told they could not seat us in the venetial either as they were too busy at the particular time we wanted to eat (i dont remember time but it was most likely before 7pm)

[NoPiratesPlease]

When on the Dawn we ALWAYS preferred Impressions as the best main DR. Sometimes Venetian which is OK, but Impressions was always the best--comfortable and intimate. I think we ate in Aqua once in 6 or 7 cruises on the Dawn--bad rep, that one. I got mistaken for the Maitre D' at Le Bistro once--a little old lady saw me in my tux and came up and started demanding her table--her daughter noticed that I was wearing a non-clip-on, non-ship-issued, non-black bowtie and studs and it was "Mom, he's a passenger too..."

[njlandlubber]

hi. just found this site and these blogs. we're sailing DAWN to Bermuda early May and would appreciate any helpful hints about all their restaurants and what's extra costs versus included in the base price. thanks !

[bakerintn]

hi. just found this site and these blogs. we're sailing DAWN to Bermuda early May and would appreciate any helpful hints about all their restaurants and what's extra costs versus included in the base price. thanks !

 

There are several postings here with the information that you want. Get to know the search option (advanced) to find what you need, and you will save a lot of time (and possibly grief).

[Krys&Cory]

It's been a while since I've been aboard the Dawn, but we look forward to our 6th time headed to Bermuda in June. Every time we've been on her, the main dining rooms were Venetian, Aqua and Impressions.

 

I realize that Impressions is now the Italian Restaurant. A bit disappointing, because of the main dining rooms, Impressions was our favorite and the one we found most intimate.

 

On the other hand, we had yet to ever go to La Trattoria. So I'm wondering if the menu in Impressions is the same as it was in La Trattoria or are there notable differences? Is it a pay restaurant now?

 

Thanks in advance...

 

Hello,

I was also disppointed when I found out that Impressions was now the Italian restaurant on the ship but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised when we had dinner there. The menu is larger then La Trattoria and the food was amazing. We ate there 3 times! Our meal at Impressions was actually better then our meal at Cagney's. There is no cover charge now but i've heard that they will start charging on the Gem so i'm assuming that they will implement this throughout the fleet.

 

I have to say that even if they did charge a cover, i would pay it. The experience and the food was completely worth it.

 

I highly recommend making a reservation though.

[Krys&Cory]

hi. just found this site and these blogs. we're sailing DAWN to Bermuda early May and would appreciate any helpful hints about all their restaurants and what's extra costs versus included in the base price. thanks !

 

The cover charge restarrants on the Dawn are; Bamboo, Tepanyaki, Sushi, Cagney's, & Le Bistro.

 

Impressions is the italian restaurant and there is no cover, and it is by far my favorite. Other places to dine for free are; the Vinetian & Aqua, The Blue Lagoon, & The Garden Cafe. There aer also buffets by the pool and sometimes in the casino.

 

There is a $20 cover at cagneys but they have 2 for 1 specials after 9pm at all cover charge restaurants. I highly recommend going to Cagney's at least once. The food is amazing.

[njlandlubber]

thanks for the info and it is much appreciated... i will look at other boards also. I've got enough time to do all my home work before we sail in May.

[cmztravelers]

I was on the Dawn two weeks ago and need to clarify a couple of posts that contain wrong information, once again. It is so frustrating to read misleading posts knowing that you may be expecting one thing and then come to find out you were totally mislead once you get on board.

 

First, the 2 - 1 dinner deal between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. is available only at La Tattoria and Bamboo. We clarified this with our concierge Anca, who even double checked for us, because we were hoping to use it a Cagney's. No such luck.

Second, it is recommended that you make a reservation for ANY specialty restaurant, though it may not always be necessary. Salsa and Impressions do not have a co-pay but most passengers don't realize that until later in the cruise and so you may be able to walk in the first few nights without a reservation.

Third, you cannot make a reservation at the main restaurant unless you are a party of eight or more. First come, first serve. We did not have a problem except on Lobster night and then we had an hour wait.

 

Hope this clears things up for you.

[Krys&Cory]

I was on the Dawn two weeks ago and need to clarify a couple of posts that contain wrong information, once again. It is so frustrating to read misleading posts knowing that you may be expecting one thing and then come to find out you were totally mislead once you get on board.

 

First, the 2 - 1 dinner deal between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. is available only at La Tattoria and Bamboo. We clarified this with our concierge Anca, who even double checked for us, because we were hoping to use it a Cagney's. No such luck.

Second, it is recommended that you make a reservation for ANY specialty restaurant, though it may not always be necessary. Salsa and Impressions do not have a co-pay but most passengers don't realize that until later in the cruise and so you may be able to walk in the first few nights without a reservation.

Third, you cannot make a reservation at the main restaurant unless you are a party of eight or more. First come, first serve. We did not have a problem except on Lobster night and then we had an hour wait.

 

Hope this clears things up for you.

 

I was on the Dawn in January and there was a 2 for 1 every night at Cagny's. In my group of 26, we all had dinner there because it was an amazing deal. This may be something they change frequently, so I would check when you go on your cruise to see if it's available.

[Krys&Cory]

I was on the Dawn two weeks ago and need to clarify a couple of posts that contain wrong information, once again. It is so frustrating to read misleading posts knowing that you may be expecting one thing and then come to find out you were totally mislead once you get on board.

 

First, the 2 - 1 dinner deal between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. is available only at La Tattoria and Bamboo. We clarified this with our concierge Anca, who even double checked for us, because we were hoping to use it a Cagney's. No such luck.

Second, it is recommended that you make a reservation for ANY specialty restaurant, though it may not always be necessary. Salsa and Impressions do not have a co-pay but most passengers don't realize that until later in the cruise and so you may be able to walk in the first few nights without a reservation.

Third, you cannot make a reservation at the main restaurant unless you are a party of eight or more. First come, first serve. We did not have a problem except on Lobster night and then we had an hour wait.

 

Hope this clears things up for you.

 

La Trattoria is now Impressions and there is no cover charge.

[AuntieBarb]

Hello,

I was also disppointed when I found out that Impressions was now the Italian restaurant on the ship but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised when we had dinner there. The menu is larger then La Trattoria and the food was amazing. We ate there 3 times! Our meal at Impressions was actually better then our meal at Cagney's. There is no cover charge now but i've heard that they will start charging on the Gem so i'm assuming that they will implement this throughout the fleet.

 

I have to say that even if they did charge a cover, i would pay it. The experience and the food was completely worth it.

 

Thank you for the feedback. We'll be certain to check out the menu and give it a try!

[AuntieBarb]

I was on the Dawn two weeks ago and need to clarify a couple of posts that contain wrong information, once again. It is so frustrating to read misleading posts knowing that you may be expecting one thing and then come to find out you were totally mislead once you get on board.

 

First, the 2 - 1 dinner deal between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. is available only at La Tattoria and Bamboo. We clarified this with our concierge Anca, who even double checked for us, because we were hoping to use it a Cagney's. No such luck.

 

Misleading posts are very frustrating. Here, contrary to what I'd already heard, I was about to believe that La Trattoria still existed.

 

We're good about making reservations. Thanks for the advice.

[DrummerD]

we were on the Dawn last week (3/2-3/9) and the 2 for 1 deal at specialty restaurants was for Le Bistro and Bamboo. Asked about Cagneys but no such luck. We had our best meal of the week at Le Bistro anyway

[CaribQween]

Misleading posts are very frustrating. Here, contrary to what I'd already heard, I was about to believe that La Trattoria still existed.

 

We're good about making reservations. Thanks for the advice.

 

I'm confused on this one too and its something I've wondered about. If you look at the ncl website and the deck plan for the Dawn, it shows La Trattoria on deck 12 and Impressions on deck 6. However, if you look at the list of "public rooms", it shows Impressions but does not list La Trattoria. If La Trattoria no longer exists, does anyone know what replaced it (the space on the ship)?

[AuntieBarb]

I'm confused on this one too and its something I've wondered about. If you look at the ncl website and the deck plan for the Dawn, it shows La Trattoria on deck 12 and Impressions on deck 6. However, if you look at the list of "public rooms", it shows Impressions but does not list La Trattoria. If La Trattoria no longer exists, does anyone know what replaced it (the space on the ship)?

 

NCL's website isn't fully updated.

 

We just sailed on the Dawn 6/1. La Trattoria used to occupy a sectioned off portion of the Garden Cafe, which is no longer the case.

 

The Italian restaurant is now in the Impressions dining room. The surcharge is $10 per person. Truly a very nice dining venue, with appetizers, soups, salads, pasta dishes with all kinds of options for sauces and a nice selection of entrees; far better than was ever offered at La Trattoria. And yes, they still serve Pizza.

 

There is also a Jazz Brunch offered in Impressions twice a week; hot cuisine and jazz music.

[unclepaulie]

I had cheese tortellini putanesca for an appetizer-it was to die for!:D

 

UNCLE PAULIE!!!!!

[CRAFTCRUISER]

We had 1/2 price in Cagney's last Nov. on the 14day New York - Miami :)