NH Cruisers

Lemonade and unsweetened tea is always available too.

I stay the same weight. I do so much stairs and all. I also know I can eat when ever I want so I don't need to eat like a pig at the three main meal times.

75 Days till Dawn to Bermuda!

Overall experience, I prefer NCL over CCL. I did enjoy my Carnival Dream cruise a lot though. As stated earlier, I tend to agree that the food on the different cruise lines in the MDR and Buffets are more similar than not. I could be blind folded and brought to a MDR and I may not realize what cruise line I was on, except till the waiters start singing and dancing like on CCL. The variety of Specialty restaurants is what brings me back to NCL, an the friendly service of the folks on the Dawn is very welcoming. I feel you really can't go wrong regarding what ever cruise line you sail. Perks, price and ports may be a deciding factor for you. My favorite destination is Bermuda, my favorite ship is NCL Dawn, I live 50 miles from port. Loyalty points for your past cruises account for something too.

I may be in the minority... I like the Dawn over the bigger Breakaway class ships. Better service in my experience, especially when sailing in a suite. Service all around seems more personal on the Dawn. The ship may be mid-size, but it is still massive. I don't get to relax so much because there is so much happening.

Things will get stolen if your not watching and protecting your valuables. You alone are responsible for your personal possessions. Don't blame cruise staff or the cruise line if your valuables get stolen. Crimes of opportunity, don't give any opportunities.

After sailing BREAKAWAY, I found I really enjoy the DAWN more than I thought. I personally would sail DAWN 92,250 GRT over the much larger ESCAPE 164,600 GRT. The 90,000-100,000 GRT ships seem to me to be the perfect balance and size for a cruise ship. For reference TITANIC was 48,000 GRT.

The service from the Concierge and Butler if you sail in suites is much more personal on the DAWN in my experience. The Haven is nice, just not really utilized to its potential and thus reducing the space for non-Haven guests. The DAWN has no Haven, but they do have a spa that I prefer over the BREAKAWAY class ships.

My vote goes to DAWN. Spend Sunday exploring the Dockyard and beaching. Monday in St. George, Tuesday in Hamilton. All is good when in Bermuda, my favorite destination.

Did I mention... you don't need to make reservations to see the nightly shows in the theater on DAWN. The DAWNs theater seems much nicer and larger on DAWN too.

Space ratio: higher the number, less crowded it feels aboard. ESCAPE 31.5, DAWN 32.8 both at full capacity. Dawn should feel a little less crowded.

Mark my words, you will have a good time either ship. I personally prefer and love the DAWN. No accounting for taste I guess.

This next cruise Sept. 8th to Bermuda from Boston, will be my first cruise as a platinum guest. I plan on doing the BTS tour.

Someone had told MrJenny that guac and margaritas were comp if you were UBP when visiting the bar at Los Lobos. False? Sounds too yummy to be true. And golly, it is hard to imagine someone not being able to find something to like on that menu... *swoon*~

So... even with the UBP the margaritas are not covered?

Corn tortillas tacos! Those are my favorites.

If we could only know the details, there may have been circumstances beyond their control. Or maybe they are habitually late for everything.

Spa package is worth the price if you use it daily. Once or twice? No. Personally can't imagine cruising with out taking advantage of the Spa Package.

Passenger space ratio: Ship tonnage divided by max. passengers. The higher the number, the less crowded it feels aboard ship. EOS is 138194 GT carries 3938 passengers all beds full ratio 35, Sun 78309 GT carries 2323 passengers all beds full ratio 33. Gross ton is 100 cubic feet. So on Sun a passenger has 3300 cubic feet of space, theoretically, to themselves. The EOS has a little more. That said, the EOS is one of my favorite cruise ships. I would personally chose EOS if the itineraries were the same or close. Explorer does have a lot of viewing areas, both inside and outside.

I think every Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle I have ever attended, the Hotel Director gives a fairly detailed briefing. That is really the only time I have heard the actual passenger count on the current cruise.

You will notice that when you pre book, the charge will be $0.00. When you arrive at the restaurant you tell them who in your party has the UDP, those that don't pay A La Carte. It's pretty simple, you'll see.

I would book a non smoking ship to cruise on. I don't smoke, never have. That would be cool. I book cruises though still that they are not non smoking, so either way. The advances they have done over the years has been welcome to me. I just avoid the smoky areas, except the casino to lose my allowed $100 gambling cash.

I am happy they don't want dishes outside in the hallway. Looks like the slums. I am on vacation and don't really care to see that garbage littering the hallway to my stateroom. I am probably of a minority here. When NCL instituted the room service fee, I was elated. Hallways became a lot less cluttered with dishes and food garbage. It still happens, but to a much lesser extent. I remember one cruise I was on, a full pizza with one slice gone was outside the stateroom next to mine in the A.M. every day of the cruise. I don't know if that would have been the case had a fee been imposed at the time.

The resurrected "Old Thread"... got me again!

 

It's interesting to me that people say not to get a pass on a port-intensive cruise. I think it's the difference between utilized the spa as simply a place to relax and enjoy the atmosphere and using it because it takes away the pain! The more port-intensive the cruise, the higher priority a spa pass is for me. I'm on the Epic in Sept for a Western Med cruise that has only one sea day. I wouldn't even consider not getting a spa pass for that one!

Fully agree!

I personally never book a cruise unless I am happy with the price. If the price drops prior to final payment... thats great, I take advantage of it. If it goes up, I couldn't care less. I am locked in. I try not to busy myself with what others pay, it will only get me thinking I should have worked harder for a better price. I shouldn't feel that way though, because if I booked, I was willing to pay the price.

That said... I never book with the expectation the price will drop before final payment. Prices have increased quite often though.

If you are into it... Do the spa. Only way to go for me.

Spa is worth every penny IMO. Can't imagine cruising without the Spa Package. Forward hasn't been a problem for me.

NCL gives me exactly what I paid for. If I want more I pay more, less I pay less. When I book a suite I am booking for the space and get extra services that come with it. I do not expect to have gratuities paid on the same things non suite passengers have to pay for. I am thrilled that I do not need to pay for them on my Sept. cruise, but I would have paid them without fuss none the less. A cruise is an expensive vacation. If it is going to break the bank to pay gratuities, just maybe some other type of vacation may be what you need. Camping or a 4 day all inclusive perhaps.

Couple years back we took a week long vacation in Fl. Jetted down, rented a car, stayed with relatives for a couple nights, Hotel a couple nights, visited Daytona speedway, Kennedy Space Center, Big Cat Sanctuary in Tampa. We ate at fast food joints and a couple chain brand steakhouse. That vacation cost us as much as the cruise on RCCL Explorer of the Seas 7 night in a balcony including air fare, we took the year prior. That opened my eyes to the true value a cruise CAN be. Gratuities? I will gladly pay 'em.

103... to the Dawn...out of Boston

 

 

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2 weeks after me.

The room is also rather close quarters if you want a private meal.

La Cucina and Le bistro changed places during the last refit in 2016. So is it rather close now or prior to the refit? I felt Le Bistro had kind of tight quarters last time on Dawn, prior to the refit.

What did you get at La Cucina that was particularly good?

Osso Buco and a Chianti wine... My favorite meal ever on any cruise ship. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, Holland America, Carnival and NCL included. Maybe it was a particularly good night. Tomahawk Rib Chop (med. rare) in Cagney's gets an honorable mention.