Back from Dawn 2/24-3/3

[Warmer Climes]

We overall enjoyed our second cruise on the Dawn. This was our seventh NCL cruise, ninth cruise total. There were five of us and we were in a two bedroom DOS- cabin 12000.

 

Embarkation was delayed because the Port of Tampa was closed due to fog. NCL did a great job keeping us updated via text messages, calls and email. Our hotel (Renaissance International Plaza) was very helpful in accommodating our delayed departure and communicating with Ship or Shore (our shuttle to the port.). We finally got in a long line at 7:00 pm, and were then taken from the line with other suite guests (thanks to Reggie Ford!) to security and then through to the suite check in area. Things went by quickly from that and we were taken to our suite by our butler, Ruan, who gave us outstanding service all week.

 

This suite is in what used to be the Spinnaker lounge. It has a large bedroom with floor to ceiling windows, a living room/dining room, two bathrooms and a second bedroom with a double fold out couch. Our two 6'+ sons slept in that room and it was a tight fit but doable. Our daughter slept on the living room area sofa. They all said the sofa bed was comfortable.

 

FOOD: I thought that the food was very good, the best I have had on a cruise. I don't expect Michelin star food- it's not what I have paid for and there are thousands of people who have to be fed every day. This was the first cruise I have taken that the steak was cooked to my done ness request, and this was true in Cagney's as well as the MDR. We ate in Cagney's for breakfast some mornings and in the buffet on others. I am not a big breakfast eater- scrambled eggs and fruit is about it- so I wasn't really interested in the other offerings but my sons loved the breakfast menu, which included steak and eggs (my Primal eating son's favorite) and Crab Cakes Benedict (my other son's favorite.) we ate lunch at Cagney's a couple of times. Personally I would be just as happy at the buffet but my kids like the atmosphere of Cagney's. We ate dinner at Aqua the first night (very good food and service); Moderno's the second night (worth the up charge); Bamboo the third night (the best food we had); the Venetian the fourth night (more on that follows); La Cucina the fifth night (ok but bland for my taste); back to Bamboo the sixth night; and the buffet on our last night.

 

The food was fine in the Venetian on our one dinner there, but the service was very chaotic. We had about a 20 minute wait which was fine as we were given a pager and we had gone at a peak time. We were seated at an eight top table (5 of us) but the remaining three place settings weren't cleared off. Every server who went by asked us if other people were coming. Then they started taking things off the table- one took a glass, another a plate. Then they picked up one of the extra chairs and carried it over my head! It seemed mad. Again, the food was good except my daughter's pasta seemed like it had been sitting a while.

 

More to come!

Barb

[francina]

Thanks for the nice review. Enjoyed it so far and can't wait to hear what else you have to say.

[Warmer Climes]

Dawn 2/24-3/3 review continued:

 

SERVICE: excellent everywhere. Our concierge was Ryan and he was very pleasant. We don't require much from the concierge but he was willing to help and he escorted us off to the tender in Belize. Our butler Ruan was great- he seemed to live in the hall outside our door along with Garfield, our cabin steward. The service in all areas of the ship was very friendly and helpful. Our sons were not very happy with one server in the Blue Lagoon who didn't want to seat them because she was somehow convinced that they were staff (?) Other than that I would give the staff a definite A for service.

 

SHOWS: I went to only two- the magician and Bollywood. I did not like the magician at all. A few years ago we were on the Jewel and the magician was Jean Pierre Parent and he was amazing. I found this magician irritating. Bollywood was ok for what it is. Not my cup of tea but they certainly are excellent gymnasts. I thought the lead singers were a little off key. My son went to Second City and thought it wasn't the greatest.

 

OTHER ACTIVITIES: Our M&G was great- thank you, Laurie, for setting that up! The ship's officers were all on hand and I can say that this is one area that NCL has it all over Royal Caribbean. They truly are interested in the satisfaction of CC passengers. Go to your M&G!!!! Fran organized a slot pull and that was fun. Other than that I am not a casino person, I don't do bingo or the art auction, and I am tired in the evening so I can't comment on the games. Up early, go to the gym (a very good one), breakfast, walk deck 7, play cards with DH, lunch, walk deck 7, read in beautiful cabin, dinner, drink a G&T, bed.

 

PORTS: Roatan- back to Maya Key. This is a favorite place for us. The beach is quiet, there are plenty of loungers, snorkeling in available, the animals are great, the lunch is delicious.

 

Belize- we split up here. The men did the ship excursion Jungle 4x4 and caves and Rosie and I did the Eco Park Horseback riding. The 4x4's were old rattle traps and one of my sons was nervous about getting back t the ship on time as they also stopped for a swim in the river, but they had a great time overall. There is no lunch provided and it's a very long day, though. We loved the horseback excursion and I usually hate the horse thing. The tour guide was interesting on the bus ride, the horses were in good shape, the lunch was delicious. We enjoyed their beautiful pool afterwards.

 

Costa Maya- my older son, Rosie and I went to Dzibanche with The Native Choice. This is our second excursion with them and believe me, they are the QUALITY way to see the ruins. There were 11 guests in the van, which is new. We were the only people at Dzibanche, probably because it is a little further than Kohunlich and Chacchoben. Very interesting ruins, very informative guide. My husband and younger son just walked around Gringo City (I hate to call it Mahahual because I was there when it actually was a village.)

 

Cozumel- my sons went on the ship excursion to Tulum and they hated it. Three busses, a guide who hardly talked about the ruins and only wanted to shuffle them into gift shops. The ruins were fabulous but the experience was not. DH, Rosie and I walked around Cozumel. This is my daughter's shopping day. We ate lunch at Jeanie's which was delicious ( turn right when you get off the pier) and bought Coke at the Mega grocery store to take on the ship (home of Pepsi products).

 

DISEMBARKATION: I had late flights so I booked the ship's tour of Tampa excursion. The guide was fine, the bus driver was crabby, it was cold...

 

That's about it. I am going to post some pictures but I wanted to get this up while it was fresh in my mind.

 

Barb

[Warmer Climes]

One other topic related to this cruise- would I do the Dawn again? My husband and I would but our kids (27, 22 and 14) thought the nightlife was dull. Our older son was with us on the Sun last year and he said he really missed the Latin band that played every night in the forward lounge. The demographic on this ship was probably retirement age as the week we need to cruise is school break only for NH, I think.

 

We were on Epic in 2011 and I didn't care for it in some ways but we have decided to book it for 2014 because the entertainment is better, I think it will have a younger demographic for those who stay up past 10:00, and my son wants a studio cabin again.

 

All the reviews I read about how the Dawn has bad food, tired facilities, etc etc...I was right to ignore them. The ship is beautifully maintained, the crew is excellent and my main problem with the food was making sure not to overeat.

 

Barb

[hotlipss]

Thanks for your review!Looking forward to the pictures!:)

[gelo7]

Nice review.

[Julienatul]

Thank you for your review. We will be sailing two weeks from Sunday on the Dawn and cant wait. We sailed Epic last year and loved it. We may do it again in the fall.

[NewEnglandNANA]

Thank you nice review!

I am ignoring the bad reviews for our trip too:D.

[marshabear]

nice review!!! Glad to see something about Bamboo!! We want to give this a try in a few weeks but haven't read anything about it one way or another....the menu appeals to us and you're stating it was "the best food" makes us sure we will try it!! :)

 

hoping we don't have the delay you had in embarking but if so, we will go with the flow...after all, we will be on vacation!! :)

 

 

 

 

Marsha

[awaywego0000]

One other topic related to this cruise- would I do the Dawn again? My husband and I would but our kids (27, 22 and 14) thought the nightlife was dull. Our older son was with us on the Sun last year and he said he really missed the Latin band that played every night in the forward lounge. The demographic on this ship was probably retirement age as the week we need to cruise is school break only for NH, I think.

 

We were on Epic in 2011 and I didn't care for it in some ways but we have decided to book it for 2014 because the entertainment is better, I think it will have a younger demographic for those who stay up past 10:00, and my son wants a studio cabin again.

 

All the reviews I read about how the Dawn has bad food, tired facilities, etc etc...I was right to ignore them. The ship is beautifully maintained, the crew is excellent and my main problem with the food was making sure not to overeat.

 

Barb

 

Thank you for the review. We will be on the Dawn in June 2014. Glad to hear the ship is maintained beautifully and the food is good. Our daughter will be 10 when we go on our trip. Hopefully she will enjoy the kids club.

[Warmer Climes]

Thank you for the review. We will be on the Dawn in June 2014. Glad to hear the ship is maintained beautifully and the food is good. Our daughter will be 10 when we go on our trip. Hopefully she will enjoy the kids club.

 

My daughter LOVED the kids club on Dawn when she was that age. I hope you enjoy your cruise.

[wvfrogg]

All the reviews I read about how the Dawn has bad food, tired facilities, etc etc...I was right to ignore them. The ship is beautifully maintained, the crew is excellent and my main problem with the food was making sure not to overeat.

 

Barb

 

You are so right, Barb! And although the Epic wasn't my favorite, I can see where your kids would love it -- they are at the age where there is mega things to do on the Epic. It was great meeting you and I agree that the Dawn is a great ship!

[TryingCruising]

Thanks for sharing! I enjoyed your review and it's helping to get me even more excited for our sailing this weekend. I hope to see pics before we leave :)

[Warmer Climes]

All the reviews I read about how the Dawn has bad food, tired facilities, etc etc...I was right to ignore them. The ship is beautifully maintained, the crew is excellent and my main problem with the food was making sure not to overeat.

 

Barb

 

You are so right, Barb! And although the Epic wasn't my favorite, I can see where your kids would love it -- they are at the age where there is mega things to do on the Epic. It was great meeting you and I agree that the Dawn is a great ship!

Hi Fran,

 

When we cruise with a variety of ages I have to try to choose something that will appeal to all of us. I found Epic very loud, more chair hogs than any other cruise, less sea feel than any other ship...but I am not 22 and I go to bed early and I am not looking for other young people to have fun with. So I will do Epic again- never say never!

 

Great meeting you, too, and I hope we cross cruising paths again!

 

Barb

[mtns2sea]

Thanks for the review.

[justcake]

Thanks for the review. I would love to see your pictures as we will be in the exact same cabin in August. We are filling it up with 6 people (4 adults and 2 kids). The last time we were on the Dawn was in 2006 and I know I will miss the Spinnaker but am happy I get to experience the forward facing cabin. Also, thanks for the note about Bamboo....we never know which speciality restaurants to choose from so it is nice to know that others enjoyed it.

[Warmer Climes]

Thanks for the review. I would love to see your pictures as we will be in the exact same cabin in August. We are filling it up with 6 people (4 adults and 2 kids). The last time we were on the Dawn was in 2006 and I know I will miss the Spinnaker but am happy I get to experience the forward facing cabin. Also, thanks for the note about Bamboo....we never know which speciality restaurants to choose from so it is nice to know that others enjoyed it.

 

I have finally uploaded our pictures to Snapfish so I will post soon. You will love this suite! Pay attention when the butler demonstrates the Lavazza coffee maker- it makes delicious coffee but there is a technique to it.