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With a new day comes a new Dawn ..... and the Suite life 6/1/12- 6/8/12

Zimomiller

By Zimomiller,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Zimomiller

Zimomiller

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Cruising on the Dawn - Day 1 pre-sailing

 

My son’s iPhone awoke us all at 9 am belting out ‘The bird is the word”. This is a very annoying song and anyone from Michigan or that was a Tigers fan will remember this becoming an anthem for Mark “The Bird” Fidrych a pitcher for the Tigers in the mid-1970s.

 

Mom and I scrambled around while the kids pretended not to be awake and began the awkward task of repacking for the second time this trip. We eventually left our room at 1045 after a quick run for bagels from Starbucks and headed down to grab a van to the cruise terminal. Heck we even knew the way to the pier as we had just been there the prior evening to dine.

 

I was surprised how busy the unloading area was when we arrived at 11. But it was controlled. Very orderly, helpful people, friendly porters. We were reminded at least 3 times to make sure we had our passports in hand and not in our luggage that was about to go aboard.

 

You will see all the boarding area, checkin area, holding area, suite lounge area in the link below to my pictures of the day. I tried to catch as many details as possible.

 

We breezed through the security scan which was clearly more focused on finding booze than weapons. As we left the scan area we found the suites, gold and platinum Latitudes check in line to our right where a woman with a clipboard checked off our suite and name and we were handed off to a gentleman that took us to a desk for passport scans and boarding card pictures. We had to drop off the health forms as well there.

 

Once the check in was complete we were escorted to the suite lounge. It was already very busy and not much more than an area carved out from the main floor by those belted barriers that we are all familiar with at airline check in.

 

There we met Virginia our concierge and Caesar our butler. About 15 minutes later (a little before noon) we were escorted on the ship by Caesar. Our suite was ready to go so we piled in.

 

Mom was thrilled to see the suite had a huge balcony and she promptly parked herself on it while we explored the cabin.

 

I took a detailed video tour of our cabin and balcony and these pictures will be posted in the link below as well.

 

I gave Virginia a call with all our dining ressies for the week which she graciously wrote down and told me that we would receive a written confirm later but not to worry as they were already confirmed.

 

Lunch at Cagney’s was quick and easy. The only disappointment for me was that the seared Ahi burger was a seared swordfish burger. The carrot cake was good, but not as good as on the POA. Shrimp cocktails were not yet available when we arrived at one, but by the time we were done they were so that is what my son had for dessert.

 

The day is gorgeous here in Boston. Clear blue skies, temps in the low 70s. Our suite is hot and the a/c ineffective so far so we have closed the drapes as we have a full sun view and it is clearly overpowering the system. We shall be having someone look at this soon as even my wife who is never warm is complaining…..

 

For those of you sailing in SD suites I went to the floor above and took photos of each of the balconies starting with 12520, 12522, 12524, 12526, 12528. Yup you can easily see down to them from above. But they are very good sized and well placed.

 

Just getting the announcement as I speak that it is time for the mandatory MUSTARD DRILL so I will be signing off soon so I can get this posted with the links to pics.

If I find time I will try to post an update but I will likely post most of the review when we return.

 

Link to pics of boarding the Dawn and suite 12520 photo survey:

 

http://travel.webshots.com/album/582900583tRZjpu

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jimswims

jimswims

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Enjoy you cruise. Looking forward to reading and seeing more. We will be on the Dawn on 8/3. I have been on the ship 2 times before but this is our first in the the family suite. Right now I am booked just a few forward from where you are as we are without a balcony. Maybe an upsell is in the cards this time.

 

Great weather here in Boston today!

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herdingdogmom

herdingdogmom

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Thanks for posting the pictures of the suite. We are next door with no balcony in October. In one of your photos of the balcony looking forward, it looks like you can look right into the windows of the cabin next door. Is that the case or are the windows tinted well?

 

Have a terrific time in Bermuda and on the Dawn. I can't wait for your review - they are always so fun to read!

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McDebbie

McDebbie

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I saw the pictures on your other thread, I really prefer the aft balcony but think I will keep the sd suite for the bathroom and all the space. Hope you all are having a great time. Take pictures of 12022 if you get the chance! ;)

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Zimomiller

Zimomiller

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Thanks for posting the pictures of the suite. We are next door with no balcony in October. In one of your photos of the balcony looking forward, it looks like you can look right into the windows of the cabin next door. Is that the case or are the windows tinted well?

 

Have a terrific time in Bermuda and on the Dawn. I can't wait for your review - they are always so fun to read!

 

The windows in the SD and SJ suites are well tinted and ther are very large easy to use curtains as well. I do not recall being able to see in the suite next to ours.

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Zimomiller

Zimomiller

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I saw the pictures on your other thread, I really prefer the aft balcony but think I will keep the sd suite for the bathroom and all the space. Hope you all are having a great time. Take pictures of 12022 if you get the chance! ;)

 

I am with you as I prefer aft facing penthouses but it was an economical no brainer this time to get a SD suite cabin for the 5 of us

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Chesneygirl

Chesneygirl

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I am with you as I prefer aft facing penthouses but it was an economical no brainer this time to get a SD suite cabin for the 5 of us

 

Welcome back!!!

I can't wait to read your review!!

 

We have an SD suite booked for our July cruise and an opportunity presented itself this week for an upgrade to an SC suite. We declined it. I am hoping we made the right decision.

 

I am curious to know your overall thoughts on this suite.

But in particular, the balcony. I am a little concerned about it not being covered.

 

There are still 3 SC suites available for our sail date, so it's not too late for me to make the switch! :)

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Zimomiller

Zimomiller

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Welcome back!!!

I can't wait to read your review!!

 

"It will be a couple days before I start writing again. Gotta recover from post cruise trauma first. I need a vacation."

 

We have an SD suite booked for our July cruise and an opportunity presented itself this week for an upgrade to an SC suite. We declined it. I am hoping we made the right decision.

 

"I think you will love the SD, We did. Plenty of room. Large balcony."

 

I am curious to know your overall thoughts on this suite.

But in particular, the balcony. I am a little concerned about it not being covered.

 

"Plenty of room for 2 loungers, a couple chairs and a table. The lack of cover was never an issue for us. Note there are some size of balcony differences for the SD suites. We had 12520 and it was plenty large"

 

 

There are still 3 SC suites available for our sail date, so it's not too late for me to make the switch! :)

 

See my answers in the quotes above

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LAFFNVEGAS "Live from...." Rare

LAFFNVEGAS

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Welcome Home Zimomiller, I too am looking forward to your review, we are scheduled to be on the Dawn in November in an Aft SF Suite and needing some reviews that have been recent to get me excited. :) Mostly because am am on the fence if to keep this cruise or switch to the HAL Zuiderdam. I know they are not even close :D

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Zimomiller

Zimomiller

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Does the TV have a DVD player attached or combo with the TV? Need to know if I should bring movies for the kids.

 

Thanks.

 

The TVs in the SD suites have a DVD player built in and a binder llisting the DVD library onboard that your Butler can bring for you.

 

We brought our own DVDs anticipating that we would have a player

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