Directions to MDR for lunch on Dawn

[mking8288]

We were "fooled" twice, until a friend told us about the MDR. Been doing the MDR eversince. Other lines do not open MDRs for embarkation. That disappointed us on Royal last year.

Couldn't come up with another word so I used the term "fooled" - crews were probably just following their marching orders up the chains of command. That, they're literally "positioning" themselves in the corridors leading toward the AFT MDR - you just couldn't go past Blue Lagoon in those days without them "offering" to help you.

 

Our 2nd. time on the Dawn (2005) they even had the English Pub (since remodeled, I think, into the Gallery or something else on deck 7 AFT portside) set aside for guests to leave their carry-on luggage, without dragging them into the MDR as staterooms were usually not ready until 1:30 PM or later.

 

Yulp, not just Royal - Carnval do that too but then we learned about the hidden section upstairs to their Splendor ship's buffet that served a pretty decent BBQ baked chicken, sweet corn, muffins & things - and it was nice to sit in the "attic" - kind of like the Uptown Grill experience on the Breakaway, most newbies simply had no idea until midweek or later that it even existed.

 

We missed the Dawn - and even the Staff Captain from the BA that we chatted with agreed that the smaller ships are preferred by many pax (he recently transferred from the Pearl) - it's a fine ship & introduced many in the N.E. region to cruising year-round out of NYC.

[meglet]

Could we keep it as just our/CC-ers little secret that the MDR is open? It IS so nice and wouldn't be the same if hundreds knew about it.

[Cruzinnana47]

It's taken us a few years to get with the program, but NOT eating in the buffet is a lot calmer on disembarkation day. Did it on our 1st few cruises, but finally wised up. So much more relaxing way to start vacation in the MDR and by the time you're done eating, your stateroom is usually ready and you don't have to sclepp up the elevators or stairs to the buffet with carry-ons!

 

OP - Sure you will enjoy the Dawn--less pax than the new "mega-ships" and easier to relax on and find a quiet spot or two, IMO. Have a great trip to Bermuda!

[cliffd64]

The reason the staff encourages people to go to the buffet is not magic or some sort of cost reduction (as this has been going on since our first NCL cruise in 2002), it's merely an effort to keep down the log jams of people from the embarkation entrances. Basically if they can get you up to the pool deck and out of the way, embarkation runs a little better. There is no concerted effort to keep people out of the main dining rooms, basically they just want people away from the the congested areas near the entrance to keep everyone moving :)

Edited April 24, 2015 by cliffd64

[biker@sea]

Could we keep it as just our/CC-ers little secret that the MDR is open? It IS so nice and wouldn't be the same if hundreds knew about it.

 

No we can not .

 

We are here to pass on to our fellow travelers the advantages we have found through our experiences .

 

Such as the free " Dining with an officer " drawing that anyone can enter @ guest services . :)

[Relax Cruiser]

Going on the Dawn in a couple of weeks time, do we have to pay for the MDR? Is it the Venetian that is the MDR?

 

Sorry total newbie here for cruising!!

[cliffd64]

The MDR are always complimentary... breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In the case of the Dawn, lunch is usually in the Venetian on embarkation day...

[michaellasdad]

No we can not .

 

We are here to pass on to our fellow travelers the advantages we have found through our experiences .

 

Such as the free " Dining with an officer " drawing that anyone can enter @ guest services . :)

 

 

What is dining with an officer all about? I have been reading these boards for a few weeks and have never heard of this, tell me more please.:)

[biker@sea]

Go to your C.C. Meet & Greet or Guest services and ask if you could be put on the list for Dinner with a random Officer . Plus 3 or 4 couples .

Edited April 24, 2015 by biker@sea

[michaellasdad]

Go to your C.C. Meet & Greet or Guest services and ask if you could be put on the list for Dinner with a random Officer . Plus 3 or 4 couples .

 

 

Thanks for the tip, i'll go to guest services next Friday when we board:D