Just back from the Dawn 6/26-7/3

[1025cruise]

Just got back from Dawn to Bermuda. Here are my notes/comments/thoughts/etc:

 

While this was our first NCL cruise, it was our 6th cruise overall. Previous cruises were on Princess (3), HAL (1), and Disney (1). In addition, this was our second trip to Bermuda (the first being on the HAL Veendam 4 years go).

 

Overall, we had a good time. We had the UDP, so each night, we ate in a specialty restaurant. We ate once in Moderno, three times in Cagneys, twice in La Cucina, and once at Teppenyaki. The food in all restaurants was delicious. I can't think of a bad thing to say about Cagneys. However, don't tell the waiter that you want nothing for dessert. As I am trying to watch what I eat, one night I decided to skip dessert. I received a plate, decorated, with the word "nothing" on it.

 

Our room steward was probably one of the worst ones we have ever had. I don't know if this is normal for NCL (as it was our first NCL cruise) but we found that we were lucky if we got turn down. Some nights we got towel animals, but not all. It was hard hearing about other people saying they had monkeys etc when we got nothing. He also came a lot later to service our room than we would have liked. During the day, he usually didn't come until after lunch time, and usually he did turndown just before we were turning in. In fact, on embarkation night we didn't even get turn down as we were turning in before he got to our room. Normally, we see turn down done while we are at dinner. Again, didn't ruin our cruise, but it was mildly annoying. Normally, I always feel myself inclined to leave an additional gratuity beyond the daily service charge, but this trip, I did not feel so inclined.

 

We tried to avoid the buffet at all costs. We do this for two reasons: 1. We're on vacation, serve me. 2. Portion control. Since I have a weight issue, its easier for me to go to the MDR and order a little breakfast, then it is for me to be tempted at the buffet by everything in sight. So, with this said, our morning breakfasts (except for one morning when we were too late) were in the MDR. The quality was good, as was the service. The one day we were too late, we went to the buffet, and boy did we make a mistake. It was mobbed, crowded, loud, and busy. Mental note, next time, go to Blue Lagoon (fortunately, there wasn't a next time). I staked a table while my wife got food for both of us. Unfortunately, we were in a rush as we had a spa appointment to go to, so we really had no other option.

 

For lunch, again, we tried to avoid the buffet, but on port days, that was really the only option. Food was good, and I was able to eat light, but would have preferred something else. We did do the Blue Lagoon a couple of times, but the menu was extremely limited. The other days, we did eat in the MDR.

 

Our goal for the week was R+R. With that being said, and having been to Bermuda previously, we didn't plan on getting off the ship much. We booked the thermal suite in the spa for the week. Just having a nice quiet place to relax was worth the price, not to mention the private hot tubs. Especially on the sea days when the pool was loud and crowded.

 

We did get off one day and walked around the Dockyard, and even went into the museum. But by then, we were ready for air conditioning.

 

Disembarkation was probably the toughest (besides the fact that we were getting kicked off). On Princess, they do a silent disembarkation, where, based on your tag color, you go to a specific lounge, and then are escorted to the gangway when the time has come. No announcements, no mile long lines. On HAL, we were allowed to stay in our staterooms and debark once called. On Disney, we had breakfast, and were able to walk off. This morning, we had breakfast, found a spot to stand, waited for our color, and then found the end of the long snaking line to get off. It just didn't seem efficient. However, customs was easy. All we had to was hand the form to an agent standing there and away we went. No passport check. Though, all non US citizens did have to report for immigration in one of the dining rooms.

 

All in all, a good cruise.

[Barb Nahoumi]

Thank you for your review.

 

We were on the Dawn the week before you, disembarking on the 19th.

 

Our cruise was very good, and we were happy that the singing duo, Patti & Jose were still on board. We had most of our brekfasts and dinners in the MDR, with an ocassional meal in the buffet.

 

We were lucky to have Roberto as our cabin steward, he cleaned early, and did turn-down in the early evening. We were in cabin 9156.

 

My only disappointment was with disebbarking. Why? because I really did not want to leave. Also the line was too long. I think that we marched around deck 7, 3 times.

 

Will we cruise on the Dawn again? Yes.

[brucelegs]

We love the Dawn and Bermuda - just the right size ship. I think the Dawn have those dials outside your door where you select "Welcome", "Do Not Disturb", "Make Up Room", etc? Perhaps that was not noticed.

Edited July 3, 2015 by brucelegs

[1025cruise]

No, we set the dials. Our steward was just slow.

[NanaBet]

Other than the cabin steward it sounds like you had a great time! We've been on the Dawn several times and are going a week from today. No complaints from us - we've been very lucky to have great cabin stewards.

I was wondering who the Cruise Director is and also what entertainment was held in the Atrium.

[johnlatte]

We were on the same sailing as Barb. In general it was okay, the Dawn was fine, but nothing overly special. We had Win as our steward and he was absolutely without a doubt the best we've had in all the cruises we have done. I loved being docked in Bermuda for 3 (2.5) days. My only issue was we arrived on Sunday and the following Monday was a national holiday. That made getting around tougher (but not impossible). We had UDP and UBP and ate around at all the restaurants except Moderno (bad experience on the Jewel so never again). Lots of smoking on both sides of the pool deck and up on the terraces up to the bar at the top. Nobody was patrolling it. Getting a drink at the bars was very tough. Bar crews were sour and in general looked overworked and disinterested. Le Bistro was a freak show, with ambivalent service and diners that were loud and rude. La Cucina and Cagneys was the best, Tappenyaki was meh on the food, A+ on the chef show. Never made it to Blue Lagoon. Ate breakfast at Cagneys most AMs, lunch was just whatever, whenever. All in all it was a good cruise and I would go back to Bermuda in a heartbeat, but will do it on the Getaway.

 

Great review on your trip!

[nancynana9950]

I think you mean the Breakaway. Getaway doesn't go to Bermuda. To OP, I can't imagine sailing all

[nancynana9950]

Oops. All the way to Bermuda and staying most of the time on the ship. It's my favorite place to go on a cruise but to each there own. Your cruise is what you make it.

[ALS1214]

Barb, I'm in cabin 9156 on the 10th so hoping the room steward is the Roberto as you said he was good. Hopefully we will get nightly towel animals. I look forward to coming in at night and seeing them. I had this room last year and the steward , Victor, was very good and very friendly. The only glitch was a toilet issue one morning that was fixed asap

[1025cruise]

Our cruise director was Bobby. They had a duo playing at the Java cafe, but I didn't quite care for them. The piano player at Gatsbys was good.

 

Regarding staying on the ship to Bermuda. A day at the beach is the perfect form of torture for me. I'd rather bore my eyes out with a drill. I really can't do heat for long, and I burn way to easily. I'd rather have a nice lounger in a cooler area to relax in. Also, our last vacation was to Disney World, and it seemed we were running around like maniacs to make scheduled times for things. We wanted a vacation where we had no expectations. Again, for us, it was a good trip, though I can fully understand the need people have to be taking every minute possible on the island. Just not my thing.

 

The only other thing I didn't mention was that there seemed to be a lot of "college" kids on the cruise. For the sake of their bar bill, I sure hoped they had the UBP. Let's say it made some of the activities interesting.

 

We were scheduled to eat more often in Moderno (wanted to get the most out of the UDP), but after the first night, we decided it just didn't suit us. The food did not agree with my wife, plus it seemed the service was slow, but the restaurant not crowded. I think a large table would empty the skewers before the gauchos got down to us. Also didn't like how it flanked the atrium. Our night at Teppenyaki was a last minute fill in since we had changed restaurants, and did not want to eat at Cagneys three nights in a row.

[Barb Nahoumi]

We found Clearwater to be a small shady beach with facilities, and many trees. I don't remember if they rent umbrellas & chairs, but we were comfortable there a few years ago.

 

Bermuda hs more to offer than beaches. The crystal caves, aquarium, zoo, perfumery, are just a few of the sights. We spent 1 day just riding busses & ferries to get our own tour. Some of the people we cruised with were not beach folks either.

 

Unfortunately, the Dawn is in port on Sunday, when many stores are closed. The next day was a holiday, so many places remained closed. However, we found a nice place to eat lunch in St. George, while we walked around.. When we returned to the Dawn, we hit the pool, which wasn't too crowded.

[1025cruise]

This was our second trip to Bermuda. We've been to the aquarium, the caves, and St Georges previously.

 

In all honesty, the sole reason we booked this ship was because we could drive there easily. No flying, no long drives to NY. I agree, Bermuda has wonderful things to offer. But, once you've seen them, how many times is it worth going?

[mikey806]

Als 2124. We had victor on our sailing in may 29. He was fantastic

[MAMATAMA]

We have been to Bermuda several times and we always find things to do… Its such a beautiful place… who would't want to go back…. I guess its what you make of it

[CTSandy]

We were on the same cruise as the OP and noticed all the college age kids drinking....lots! Had a great steward, friendly and asking if I needed anything else every time he saw me. Some issues on the Dawn with public toilets not working, but overall I enjoyed the trip. My only complaint was the smokiness in the casino. First trip to Bermuda, did the beach first day with my niece and her husband (I am not a beach person, but it was fun to sit under the umbrella for an hour or so). Second day we hired a taxi and spent five hours driving around the island - really enjoyed that. Last day, the kids went snorkeling and I spent the day walking around the Dockyard and doing some shopping. Loved it and am hoping to get back - perhaps this September.