NCL Dawn and GSC Villa Detailed Review...with Photos and Videos

[mking8288]

Nicely done review, great job.

[amygutman]

On 6/22/2019 at 9:52 PM, AlexandNessa said:

Enjoyed your review, thanks! 

 

We are on 10506 in 3 weeks, primarily to try the Villas and see our favorite butler who is now on the ship. 🙂 We were in 10006 a few years ago, and I have to say I like its blue bathroom better, not a fan of that teal/green. 😅

I am so happy for you - Isidrio was awesome, and he will be on the ship for a few more months. Give him a big hug from us!

[amygutman]

On 6/22/2019 at 10:12 PM, FLcruisergrl said:

Great review! We were in villa 26 last week and miss it already! The first thing I did when we got home was book another villa for our December cruise!

I literally have my calendar marked for the 120 day mark for our November cruise on the Bliss so I don't miss out on booking the villa area again 🙂

Amy

[amygutman]

On 6/23/2019 at 9:56 AM, Pitzel said:

In the past, there was a $50 credit to order items off of the cabana food/beverage menu. Did you get a credit for the villas, or have they done away with the credit?

I suspect you can use the $50 for the cabana or the food - but do not know for certain.

We used out $50 credit for the cabana itself. 

Maybe someone else reading this forum can answer your question - I do not want to steer you wrong. 

Amy

[amygutman]

On 6/23/2019 at 11:11 AM, AlexandNessa said:

Oh right, I'm curious also. We've always had one, but like you, I heard they did away with it. 

 

Also, Amy, can you tell me what shower amenities they have, like body wash, a shower pouf? A shower before heading back sounds good, but not if I have to lug a toiletry bag! Thanks! 

No poufs, but wash cloths, towels, and shampoo / body wash  - installed in the shower itself in dispensers. There is of course soap by the sink as well. 

No toiletry bag needed unless you cannot live without your pouf 🤣

Amy

[amygutman]

On 6/23/2019 at 1:11 PM, kitty-sail said:

I know what you mean about the pool. Have been Haven only mega ships for the past 5 yrs and decided to try the Dawn recently. I didn't miss the Haven restaurant but I did enjoy the Haven pool and lounge area.  Booked another Dawn cruise for end of yr,  because I so enjoyed the small ship - plus Roel and the very friendly smiling staff really made a difference.  To compensate for the lack of Haven pool/ lounge, I'm getting spa passes which I think will fill the pool void.

I think that is a great option for adults - but unfortunately our son is 10 and cannot access the thermal spa. 

Roel was a joy, and if not for the pool, I would book the Dawn again in a heartbeat. 

The Haven restaurant is not a deal breaker (though, good lord, the threads about three cheese ziti delivery to the Haven restaurant are making me giggle), but I have to admit - the Haven on the Escape's outside area is awesome for the views. 

Amy

[amygutman]

On 6/23/2019 at 1:19 PM, mking8288 said:

Nicely done review, great job.

💝 That means a ton to me - thank you.

[Pitzel]

18 minutes ago, amygutman said:

I suspect you can use the $50 for the cabana or the food - but do not know for certain.

We used out $50 credit for the cabana itself. 

Maybe someone else reading this forum can answer your question - I do not want to steer you wrong. 

Amy

 

We stayed in a large cabana in 2016, which was prior to the $50 per port excursion credit. At that time, they offered all cabanas a $50 credit towards food and beverages from the pre-order cabana menu. It sounds like that credit may have gone away recently 🙁

[Pitzel]

23 minutes ago, amygutman said:

I literally have my calendar marked for the 120 day mark for our November cruise on the Bliss so I don't miss out on booking the villa area again 🙂

Amy

We are almost 250 days out on the Bliss (next Feb) and we were already able to book a villa. I would check now, if you haven't already!

[kitty-sail]

1 hour ago, amygutman said:

I think that is a great option for adults - but unfortunately our son is 10 and cannot access the thermal spa. 

Roel was a joy, and if not for the pool, I would book the Dawn again in a heartbeat. 

The Haven restaurant is not a deal breaker (though, good lord, the threads about three cheese ziti delivery to the Haven restaurant are making me giggle), but I have to admit - the Haven on the Escape's outside area is awesome for the views. 

Amy

We loved sitting upstairs outside on the Escape. Spent many afternoons & evenings socializing and meeting wonderful people.

[kitty-sail]

1 hour ago, amygutman said:

💝 That means a ton to me - thank you.

Wonderful review. Very informative.

[kitty-sail]

55 minutes ago, Pitzel said:

We are almost 250 days out on the Bliss (next Feb) and we were already able to book a villa. I would check now, if you haven't already!

The top end suites seem to book very early and closed out quickly.

[tomservo]

Great review, thanks so much for taking the time to put this together. When I did my first CC review of the Getaway, I had no idea how much time and effort goes into one of these (and I still need to finish it ). Really appreciate the review of the Villas, I reserved one right away after reading all the posts here about it.

 

I did have one quick question/concern - I've seen a few posts on here complaining about sand fleas and other biting insects, did you guys run into any issues with that, or did you use insect repellent and not worry about it?

[FLcruisergrl]

4 hours ago, amygutman said:

I literally have my calendar marked for the 120 day mark for our November cruise on the Bliss so I don't miss out on booking the villa area again 🙂

Amy

You should be able to book now! It was available for ours and we’re 180-something days out.

[tomservo]

On 6/22/2019 at 7:54 PM, amygutman said:

the waiters not only bring your drinks to your loungers (of which there are plenty and all are shaded), but right to the water’s edge. Talk about service!

 

Is there drink service to the Villas as well as the loungers on the beach? And just to triple check, drink service to the Villas area is included in the drink package? Just don't want to get tripped up by weird exclusions, like how if you order drinks to your room on the ship it's not included in the drink package.

[tomservo]

2 minutes ago, FLcruisergrl said:

You should be able to book now! It was available for ours and we’re 180-something days out.

Mine's in March 2020 and I was able to reserve one. I did it over the phone and didn't have to put anything down.

Edited June 24, 2019 by tomservo

[Laszlo]

Great review and great news about a pier finally being built!!!

[ahd]

We were next to y'all, Amy (and my daughter's back is in one of your pics lol) and had a great time too!!!  (And i recognize y'all from modernos although pretty sure we never spoke). Villas were crazy $$, but very nice. Can't imagine it will be so peaceful once zip liners are passing through there soon though 😞

[expectthebest]

On 6/22/2019 at 7:32 PM, amygutman said:

EMBARKATION / DISEMBARKATION

Easy as pie. 10 minutes in line through the screeners, right into the Suite line and check-in. 5 minutes later as Suites / Group 1 was boarding, we were checking in, then 10 more minutes for our private escort up the elevator onto the ship. We spoke to folks who were Platinum Latitudes and folks who were on their first cruise; both stated that despite what looked like long lines in the terminal, they did not have to wait long to board the ship. Our rooms were ready at 1130 – and all rooms ready by 1300. We have found the NY port has always been efficient even with mega-ships. I did notice that the parking lot was full – this would have been an issue if we were driving but we live 90 minutes away and use a car service to avoid any parking snafus. Disembarkation was simple as well – we chose to self-disembark and were off the ship and through customs in about 30 minutes. Despite arriving at the port at 0330(!), due to an issue with NY customs, no one was allowed off the ship until 0845. The self-disembarkation option was scheduled to start at 0730, so there were a number of cranky passengers liming the hallways. Not NCLs fault, but there were limited updates as to the length of the delay.

Amy!!! Love love loved reading and absorbing everything you wrote about!!! The videos were wonderful as well!! 

I can tell you and your family had a great time. I’m so glad you went so in-depth with the GSC villas.. it was nice getting a first hand look into how NCL is managing to keep up with what Royal is doing right down the road.

normally my wife and I would never consider spending $500 for a separate villa but you sold us on it. 

Mom the breakaway we LOVED the haven pool... so def agree that the pool is missed on the dawn but it is a chance to experience the haven-ish feel on the dawn without the haven price tag.

Thank you for letting us relive our past cruise ( 30 days ago already!!) through your point of view.

 

safe travels,

Mark

 

 

[amygutman]

On 6/24/2019 at 3:18 PM, Pitzel said:

We are almost 250 days out on the Bliss (next Feb) and we were already able to book a villa. I would check now, if you haven't already!

282 days...AND WE JUST BOOKED!!!

Good lord - thank you so much so letting me know...such good karma!

Amy

[amygutman]

On 6/24/2019 at 4:05 PM, kitty-sail said:

We loved sitting upstairs outside on the Escape. Spent many afternoons & evenings socializing and meeting wonderful people.

It's so fun, I agree!

Not a huge socializer, but despite the pervading theme on CC that most Haven-ites are rich, entitled A--holes, this happily middle-class worker loves meeting folks from all walks of life with all sorts of interests.

Plus ...that view! Oy...I just love that view!

Amy 

[amygutman]

On 6/24/2019 at 4:12 PM, kitty-sail said:

Wonderful review. Very informative.

🙂 TY so much...I'm thinking about doing something similar for our Gem trip...Amy

[amygutman]

On 6/24/2019 at 7:00 PM, tomservo said:

 

Is there drink service to the Villas as well as the loungers on the beach? And just to triple check, drink service to the Villas area is included in the drink package? Just don't want to get tripped up by weird exclusions, like how if you order drinks to your room on the ship it's not included in the drink package.

We had the UBP, so it was as simple as "here's my card" and then just cover tips. 

The fridge was stocked with tons of water (we didn't have a specific water package), but we brought soda from the room.

There are certainly tons of wait staff / butlers in the villa area, but I suspect if you don;t have the drinks package, the drinks are not included. Maybe another poster can give a definitive answer?

Amy

[amygutman]

On 6/24/2019 at 6:51 PM, tomservo said:

Great review, thanks so much for taking the time to put this together. When I did my first CC review of the Getaway, I had no idea how much time and effort goes into one of these (and I still need to finish it ). Really appreciate the review of the Villas, I reserved one right away after reading all the posts here about it.

 

I did have one quick question/concern - I've seen a few posts on here complaining about sand fleas and other biting insects, did you guys run into any issues with that, or did you use insect repellent and not worry about it?

We actually brought the repellent bracelets just in case, but it was a bug-free day - which really surprised us from our prior trips in which there were a ton of sand fleas. 

 

it may be weather related though - it was particularly dry on the day we were there. 

 

Thanks for the kudos - it was hard work, but honestly, it was a good excuse to really pay attention to details and look back over photos from a great week. 

 

Amy

[amygutman]

On 6/24/2019 at 7:01 PM, tomservo said:

Mine's in March 2020 and I was able to reserve one. I did it over the phone and didn't have to put anything down.

I just booked!

Had no idea it could be booked so early,. 

Thanks my CC friends! Amy