The Great, Good, Bad and Ugly of my 12/6 Dawn Cruise

[NLH Arizona]

This is my great, good, bad and ugly review of the Dawn December 6th cruise.

 

Great

• My aft penthouse suite
  
• Butler, Orlando – Been with NCL for 17 years.
  
• Room Steward, Eric – Has also been with NCL for 17 years.
  
• Concierge, Patrick
  
• The Entire Crew – Everyone had a smile on their face and the service was outstanding. Sometimes they give what they get; a litle respect, a smile and a kind word goes a long way.
  
• Went to Guest Services a couple of times during the cruise to get copies of my bill and was always treated respectfully and with a smile.
  
• Meet and Greet – Jannia (CJR10) put together a great meet and greet with fantastic name tags and a fun game of bingo. The turnout was awesome. Thanks Jannia for all your hard work and I really enjoyed meeting you, Chris and Alex.
  
• Sail-A-Way party – Thanks to Linda and Ron (Candydane) for putting together a great party.
  
• Casino – Even though my spa treatment was well over the $150 credit, they picked up the entire thing. They also picked up all my charges, but some additional tips I had given out. Ended up being a winner….the first sea day, I won $2,754, so I was able to play on their money the rest of the cruise and able to take some money home as well.
  
• Cagney’s – Had three dinners there and they were all fantastic, as the food was well prepared, tasted great and the service was exceptional.
  
• Teppanyaki (Concierge had already made the reservations by the time I boarded, but had him change the times and there were no issues) – had two dinners there and both were great. The first dinner with other cruise critic members Brian and Jan (rvsullivan), Connie and Jim (Ohiotek) and Jorge and Dawn (hammockqueen..) was a lot of fun and the company was awesome. Jorge, thanks for all the information on Cuba. The second dinner with Brian and Jan (rvsullivan) was fantastic and we had a great time and lots of laughs. Loved dining and cruising with others who were very positive about their cruising experiences. The food is always well prepared, great tasting and you get a nice little show.
  
• Beverage Service – never waited for a drink on the pool deck (disclaimer, didn’t sit out on the pool deck at either sea day) or any of the bars.
  

Good

• La Cucina – Had two dinners there. Food was good, not great, but the company was great Brian and Jan (rvsullivan)...lot of fun and laughs. Am really looking forward to the new menus at this restaurant.
  
• Had a spatopia treatment (stone massage, scalp massage and mini facial), the treatments were good, but not great and also had my hair washed and blown dry twice, both times it was were really good. I wrote no sales pitches on my on my paperwork and no on tried to sell me anything.
  

Bad

• I don’t think the buffet was nearly as good as the buffet on my previous cruises on the Pearl or Jewel. Seemed like the food was the same every day.
  
• Disembarkation. On every other cruise, suite passengers were always allowed to disembark prior to the rest of the passengers, but on this cruise, they started both groups at the same time. Still fast for me, as I was able to get a porter and he went around and got me into his special taxi line, where I could bypass the long line.
  
• Beverage Service in the Casino was really slow, when one server was on duty.
  

Ugly

• The man smoking on his balcony which was right below mine. I did say to him that smoking was not allowed and there is a $250 cleaning fee if caught, when he looked up and saw me.
  
• Nothing to do with NCL, but some passengers just don’t have manners.
  
• Not NCL, but the Port Of New Orleans is a total mess. Last year, it was so easy, this year not efficient at all.
  

 

Miscellaneous

• The Dawn came in late, so our embarkation was backed up. Got on the ship at 12:30 or so. Not a big deal for me, as there were some Cruise Critic members sitting around me and I got the chance to meet them.
  
• Latitudes Perks: Dinner for two, wine and cheese party, behind the scenes tour, laundry, priority disembarkation, cocktail party. Only used the laundry.
  
• Didn’t seem like folks were having an issue making dinner reservations.
  
• I’m sure the ship had some cosmetic issues, but was having too much fun to notice nor would I let those kind of issues ruin my experience. One couple, that was in Harrah’s after the cruise, said that the pool needed work and the railings in the theatre were in disrepair and that they were treated disrespectfully at Guest Services.
  
• Now that Bamboo is a complimentary restaurant, it was packed.
  
• Love that I saw only a very few trays and/or plates in the hallways. Thanks NCL for turning this around.
  
• There were quite a few children onboard and it was a pleasure to cruise with most of them, especially the little boy at the meet and greet who was going to go with me LOL!
  
• Since I’d been to all the ports but one, I choose to stay onboard the ship on port days….it was wonderful!!
  
• Loved the grumpy passenger at Guest Services, she was telling everyone how awful her cruise was and the first words out of her mouth to Guest Services was, I am not pay $13.50 a day for me or my sister.
  

Captain: Teo Grbic

Hotel Director: Alain Magnier

Food and Beverage Director: Andreas Sommerfeld

Cruise Director: David Klooster

Guest Services Manager: Ana Maria Haza

Executive Chef: Alistair Fonseca

Restaurant Manager: Mihaela Mocan

[pathubia]

Thanks for posting.

 

Congratulations at winning in the casino. My biggest win to date was on the old Norwegian Majesty. I won $675 the last day.

 

Casino bar was the worst. Not only did so many people have the UBP, but add on the free drink card that the CAS people have made for long waits.

 

My husband is a smoker and I booked a family suite without a balcony so he wouldn't be tempted to smoke on the balcony.

 

I visited guest services a couple of times to have my room charges printed out too. I hate surprises at the end of the cruise.

[Ctrinh225]

Glad you had a great time. Was on Dawn for the CTN. Will be on her for 9 days next year after the renovations. The crew was absolutely wonderful. I too won some moolah in the casino but my experience with bev service was excellent. She came every 30 minutes to check on us. The only thing was they closed the casino early and one person told me I had to cash out NOW even though the announcement said I had 20 minutes. I told him I can't bc I was in a bonus. Haha and he stood behind me the whole time! Bamboo was free but not very good food but service was great. Loved Cagneys and Lebistro!

Did you get a chance to talk to anyone about the dry dock and what are the plans for her?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NLH Arizona]

Glad you had a great time. Was on Dawn for the CTN. Will be on her for 9 days next year after the renovations. The crew was absolutely wonderful. I too won some moolah in the casino but my experience with bev service was excellent. She came every 30 minutes to check on us. The only thing was they closed the casino early and one person told me I had to cash out NOW even though the announcement said I had 20 minutes. I told him I can't bc I was in a bonus. Haha and he stood behind me the whole time! Bamboo was free but not very good food but service was great. Loved Cagneys and Lebistro!

Did you get a chance to talk to anyone about the dry dock and what are the plans for her?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Service was good in the casino when the young lady was on, but when they young gentleman was there, it was really, really slow...sometimes you just didn't see him around.

 

No, sorry didn't ask about the dry dock.

[pathubia]

At our meet and greet we were told the pearly kings was going to be changed to a Wine Bar and that Moderno (and maybe Blue Lagoon) was going to be changed to a Pub. Moderno is moving to the Star Bar.

 

We are booked on the last cruise before the refurbishment, May 8 for a 10 night cruise. It will probably be held together with bandaids by then.

 

Alain said that once the passengers leave the ship on May 18 they will be getting rid of all the mattresses, curtains, not sure if he mentioned rugs and just dumping everything.

[Daenerys T]

Glad you had a nice time.

[PoolSlider]

I loved my relaxing Dawn cruise at Thanksgiving. I think the Port of Nola chaos is caused by shoehorning the cruise terminal onto a convention center / shopping mall / hotel complex. But in that Nola kinda of way it works for us. On the one hand, you have people from usually 2 ships exiting and entering at the same time in a small tight place in a tight window of time. On the other hand, it's right in the center of the tourist area and out of towners can get to a great variety of hotels and attractions quite easily without even taking a taxi. Here's the cultural difference, when I go to the French Quarter I always expect that there will be an impromptu 2nd line or party-of-one out to entertain so I accept the inconvenience as a matter of life here. If Nola ever became Efficient and Smooth it will have lost its irrepressible soul.

[Meredithe]

Thanks for your beautiful review! We sail on the Dawn in 24 days!

[mypleasure]

Thanks for the info, I found it very useful as I sail in January.

[Shawnino]

Thanks for a review that is both informative and concise. Clear, straightforward, well written. So much more useful that the ones that start "Four days before our cruise DH and I couldn't decide what to eat for dinner so we threw caution to the wind and had a sandwich, which we never do on Tuesdays..."

[Oakman58]

Thanks for a review that is both informative and concise. Clear, straightforward, well written. So much more useful that the ones that start "Four days before our cruise DH and I couldn't decide what to eat for dinner so we threw caution to the wind and had a sandwich, which we never do on Tuesdays..."

 

That one made me LOL.

[nanwel]

Thank you for your pleasing review of the Dawn - I was a little worried after reading some comments from other cruisers. I have a family trip booked for March. I have been on around 30 different cruises, the ship is not the entire vacation, just the means to making it good or bad.

Have been on cruises where something goes off during a cruise, not the fault of the ship or all of the crew - sometimes something just does not work or set well - not something I would slam the whole ship for! Or, let it ruin my whole family vacation.

Seems like you are the type to have a great time where ever you travel! Thanks for the uplifting update!

For those that think new carpets or furniture make the cruise - stop cruising!

[rollo89]

I was on the same cruise and did notice that service in the casino bar was slow at times but I found a slot attendant and they flagged a server down rather quickly.

 

The ship goes into dry dock in May, I believe.

 

This was my 3rd time on this ship this year and had a blast. Nothing really to complain about except I did not like the new DJ they had. DJ Franco was really good. Dingo Dave does a great job as cruise director.

[Meredithe]

Thanks for a review that is both informative and concise. Clear, straightforward, well written. So much more useful that the ones that start "Four days before our cruise DH and I couldn't decide what to eat for dinner so we threw caution to the wind and had a sandwich, which we never do on Tuesdays..."

 

totally made me giggle... 204 days to do a 7 day review... :D

[pathubia]

This is my great, good, bad and ugly review of the Dawn December 6th cruise.

 

Great

• My aft penthouse suite
  
• Butler, Orlando – Been with NCL for 17 years.
  
• Room Steward, Eric – Has also been with NCL for 17 years.
  
• Concierge, Patrick
  
• The Entire Crew – Everyone had a smile on their face and the service was outstanding. Sometimes they give what they get; a litle respect, a smile and a kind word goes a long way.
  
• Went to Guest Services a couple of times during the cruise to get copies of my bill and was always treated respectfully and with a smile.
  
• Meet and Greet – Jannia (CJR10) put together a great meet and greet with fantastic name tags and a fun game of bingo. The turnout was awesome. Thanks Jannia for all your hard work and I really enjoyed meeting you, Chris and Alex.
  
• Sail-A-Way party – Thanks to Linda and Ron (Candydane) for putting together a great party.
  
• Casino – Even though my spa treatment was well over the $150 credit, they picked up the entire thing. They also picked up all my charges, but some additional tips I had given out. Ended up being a winner….the first sea day, I won $2,754, so I was able to play on their money the rest of the cruise and able to take some money home as well.
  
• Cagney’s – Had three dinners there and they were all fantastic, as the food was well prepared, tasted great and the service was exceptional.
  
• Teppanyaki (Concierge had already made the reservations by the time I boarded, but had him change the times and there were no issues) – had two dinners there and both were great. The first dinner with other cruise critic members Brian and Jan (rvsullivan), Connie and Jim (Ohiotek) and Jorge and Dawn (hammockqueen..) was a lot of fun and the company was awesome. Jorge, thanks for all the information on Cuba. The second dinner with Brian and Jan (rvsullivan) was fantastic and we had a great time and lots of laughs. Loved dining and cruising with others who were very positive about their cruising experiences. The food is always well prepared, great tasting and you get a nice little show.
  
• Beverage Service – never waited for a drink on the pool deck (disclaimer, didn’t sit out on the pool deck at either sea day) or any of the bars.
  

Good

• La Cucina – Had two dinners there. Food was good, not great, but the company was great Brian and Jan (rvsullivan)...lot of fun and laughs. Am really looking forward to the new menus at this restaurant.
  
• Had a spatopia treatment (stone massage, scalp massage and mini facial), the treatments were good, but not great and also had my hair washed and blown dry twice, both times it was were really good. I wrote no sales pitches on my on my paperwork and no on tried to sell me anything.
  

Bad

• I don’t think the buffet was nearly as good as the buffet on my previous cruises on the Pearl or Jewel. Seemed like the food was the same every day.
  
• Disembarkation. On every other cruise, suite passengers were always allowed to disembark prior to the rest of the passengers, but on this cruise, they started both groups at the same time. Still fast for me, as I was able to get a porter and he went around and got me into his special taxi line, where I could bypass the long line.
  
• Beverage Service in the Casino was really slow, when one server was on duty.
  

Ugly

• The man smoking on his balcony which was right below mine. I did say to him that smoking was not allowed and there is a $250 cleaning fee if caught, when he looked up and saw me.
  
• Nothing to do with NCL, but some passengers just don’t have manners.
  
• Not NCL, but the Port Of New Orleans is a total mess. Last year, it was so easy, this year not efficient at all.
  

 

Miscellaneous

• The Dawn came in late, so our embarkation was backed up. Got on the ship at 12:30 or so. Not a big deal for me, as there were some Cruise Critic members sitting around me and I got the chance to meet them.
  
• Latitudes Perks: Dinner for two, wine and cheese party, behind the scenes tour, laundry, priority disembarkation, cocktail party. Only used the laundry.
  
• Didn’t seem like folks were having an issue making dinner reservations.
  
• I’m sure the ship had some cosmetic issues, but was having too much fun to notice nor would I let those kind of issues ruin my experience. One couple, that was in Harrah’s after the cruise, said that the pool needed work and the railings in the theatre were in disrepair and that they were treated disrespectfully at Guest Services.
  
• Now that Bamboo is a complimentary restaurant, it was packed.
  
• Love that I saw only a very few trays and/or plates in the hallways. Thanks NCL for turning this around.
  
• There were quite a few children onboard and it was a pleasure to cruise with most of them, especially the little boy at the meet and greet who was going to go with me LOL!
  
• Since I’d been to all the ports but one, I choose to stay onboard the ship on port days….it was wonderful!!
  
• Loved the grumpy passenger at Guest Services, she was telling everyone how awful her cruise was and the first words out of her mouth to Guest Services was, I am not pay $13.50 a day for me or my sister.
  

Captain: Teo Grbic

Hotel Director: Alain Magnier

Food and Beverage Director: Andreas Sommerfeld

Cruise Director: David Klooster

Guest Services Manager: Ana Maria Haza

Executive Chef: Alistair Fonseca

Restaurant Manager: Mihaela Mocan

 

No more Dingo Dave?

[NLH Arizona]

No more Dingo Dave?

Yes, David Klooster is his real name.

[pathubia]

Yes, David Klooster is his real name.

 

LOL, thanks!!

[scott in maine]

what was disembarkation like? I mean specifically timeframes. We've had some reports that it took HOURS before the ship was cleared and folks were still in queue for customs at noontime -- meaning so many missed flights! We're on this sailing in a few weeks and have a 1pm flight and getting a little ancy. Just looking for some additional data points.

 

thanks!

[NLH Arizona]

what was disembarkation like? I mean specifically timeframes. We've had some reports that it took HOURS before the ship was cleared and folks were still in queue for customs at noontime -- meaning so many missed flights! We're on this sailing in a few weeks and have a 1pm flight and getting a little ancy. Just looking for some additional data points.

 

thanks!

That was the prior cruise; they got in late.

 

I was in a suite, so not sure about others, so I was one of the first off.

[CJR10]

Nancy great critic

I especially liked the Meet and Greet comments lol. Now the Casino was not nice to me. I need someone to pay off my credit card :(

 

I am so glad I got to meet so many GREAT people through CC. It made the trip that much special. Hope to see ta again.

Hey I know you can book the RC Serenade leaving out of Port Everglades on 2-15-16 and you can give me some of you casino mojo:p

[NLH Arizona]

Nancy great critic

I especially liked the Meet and Greet comments lol. Now the Casino was not nice to me. I need someone to pay off my credit card :(

 

I am so glad I got to meet so many GREAT people through CC. It made the trip that much special. Hope to see ta again.

Hey I know you can book the RC Serenade leaving out of Port Everglades on 2-15-16 and you can give me some of you casino mojo:p

Would love to join you guys on the cruise, but I'm leaving in less than 3 weeks for a Celebrity cruise, so another one is out of the question.

 

It really was a pleasure meeting you and your family and I hope we get to cruise together again.

 

BTW, I still have my name tag...you are so creative.

Edited December 16, 2015 by NLH Arizona

[rvsullivan]

I'll chime in here also. Great review Nancy and I concur!! Disembarkation for suites was a mess in NO, no issue with the port, but the HD for the second year in a row mishandled it completely. Another item regarding the Platinum dinners, the tickets still allow in writing that they can be used in any restaurant except Cagney's and Teppenyakki, otherwise go to any specialty. We never had an issue with getting a drink at any bar in less than a couple of minutes and they were a huge number of UBP cruisers on board. And it only took one card to get two drinks per couple after we left NO, taxes were the issue while in NO, so both cards there.

The cruise before us had an issue with one engine. Rather than cause any delays, the brought engineers on board that sailed with us and fixed everything while we sailed. In fact part of our return we cruised at over 24 knots, really flying for a while!!

We had a great time and met some fine people on this trip, the name tags were amazing!!

Haven't heard from Connie or Jim yet, hope they are feeling better???

[NLH Arizona]

Hey Brian, glad to see you are home safe. It was a pleasure meeting and spending time with you and Jan.

[CJR10]

I will also sound my little chime.

I had prepaid a shuttle to take us to the airport and when I asked where I had to go to get it I got about 4 different directions. Then one guy told us we had to walk the street and go around the corner. There was a bus loading and they told us to hand our prepaid ticket over to them and get on the bus. It was the NCL shuttle. We did not pay for that but we got on anyway because they told us to. As we were driving to the airport we saw the shuttle I had prepaid for pass us. Lol we got to the airport anyhow.

[RiotAct]

Thanks for a review that is both informative and concise. Clear, straightforward, well written. So much more useful that the ones that start "Four days before our cruise DH and I couldn't decide what to eat for dinner so we threw caution to the wind and had a sandwich, which we never do on Tuesdays..."

 

Awwww come on, those can be good too :D