Undecided on the NCL-Dawn(Bermuda) with a 3 yr.ld and 1 yr.old

[NewYearsEveBride]

OK. So I need any tips, advice, feedback. I am hesitant going on a cruise with my 2 kids (3 and 1 years old) cause they are so young. They both goto bed early and I would not leave them with a babysitter so we would not have any real nightlife.

 

1. WOuld I have to get a suite to feel comfortable and roomy enough?

2. What if the kids get motion sickness?

3. Where do they sleep?

4. DO u have to wait very long for a table for dinner.... since it is a freestyle type boat?

5. DO i have to bring carseats for when we goto the island?

 

I also read some negative feedback about the DAWN. I am kinda limited cause I only will take a cruise out of NY or NJ right now.

 

TIA:)

[SaySumthing]

I can only speak to my own experience, and I have not yet cruised with kids, but I am in May. My boys are 1 and 3.

 

We are going NCL, too, because I think that the freestyle dining will work out best for our family (no set dinner time). Also, take reviews with a grain of salt. Especially complaints about food. Think about what is really important to you on a vacation. If 5 star cuisine is important, NCL is not the best for you. If a lot of options and styles of food are more your speed, then it may be. You aren't going to get super fancy food at all meals, but for me, I wouldn't on a regular vacation with kids, either. We'd be eating fast and convenient options. I think you will find that on NCL. Again, I'll answer your questions, but they're just what we're planning, not what we have already done.

 

1. WOuld I have to get a suite to feel comfortable and roomy enough? We are getting a suite for comfort, but we're going to Alaska, and that is important for me with that itinerary. For a shorter beachy cruise, I would probably get a smaller cabin.

2. What if the kids get motion sickness? My understanding is kids under 4 generally don't get seasick

3. Where do they sleep? You can order a "crib" (ie pack and play) for one or both kids and they can also sleep in the beds. If you get a mini suite or bigger you'll have two single beds that push together and a couch that converts to a double bed. If you get a balcony or smaller you will probably have two singles that push together and two that come down from the ceiling. You can always pull a mattress off a bed and stick it on the floor, if you're concerned about fall safety. Depending on your kids' sleep situations, this may be fine, or you may all be miserable.

4. DO u have to wait very long for a table for dinner.... since it is a freestyle type boat? I've read tons of complaints about this, but I've read as many that say that they've never, ever had to wait for a table on multiple cruises. I think the key is to keep in mind that if you go right when they open or right after a show, you may have to wait. Also, the buffets are often crowded because there are only so many tables available.

5. DO i have to bring carseats for when we goto the island? That is going to depend on what you are doing. We're going to Alaska and taking several tours that include extensive land portions, so we're taking both of ours. It is a decision you'll need to make and there are lots of threads on this board about that vary issue.

 

GL and have fun planning your trip!

[lolakat]

I traveled on the Dawn with my 7mo daughter last year so my experience is not quite the same as yours but I'll give you my opinion/experience on your questions.

 

1. I don't think you "need" to get a suite. I've read a lot of posts on here of families traveling in all types of cabins including inside cabins with 4 people. That being said we do get a suite. I think it is nice to have the extra room expecially since the pack n play takes up so much space. We get an AB which is nice b/c you can put the crib in the master bed/bath area and close the door so you can watch TV in the living room which the baby sleeps.

 

2. You can try non-medical treatments for motion sickness if it happens..ie go to a lounge in the center of the ship, get some fresh air. You can also try to get a cabin located low and in the center of the ship. I would personally try to avoid meds for my DD but if the sickness was severe I would consider it.

 

3. DD slept in a pack n play provided by the ship and will again in a couple of weeks. She is 18 mo. For the 3 yo it would depend on the type of cabin you have. You could use the mattress on the floor as suggested above, you could use a sleeper sofa, you could use the sofa itself but turn it toward the wall if you are afraid of DC falling off.

 

4. We made reservations every night for dinner and never had to wait for a table. If you are on a full ship reservations are a good idea. Another suite benifit is you can make reservations for the whole cruise on the first night so you can always get the times you want (or at least to ones that suit your kids best)

 

5. You will not need a carseat if you plan to travel on the buses and watertaxis b/c there is nowhere to install it anyway. If you plan to use private taxis you might be able to install it. On Bermuda the bus service is excellent and drives to the beaches are short so I got away with not using the carseat at all. If you will be taking transfers to the pier before or after your cruise you will need a car seat for those. The seat fit will in the closet in the AB and was out of our way.

 

Have a great cruise

[lamolesky]

Some great advice you got! As long as you are prepared and know that this cruise will not be like the ones you went on before kid then you will be okay. For me it is cruise with the kids or no cruise at all, so we go and we have a great time. Can I go out dancing and gambling at night, no. Do we have to go to the cabin in the afternoon for a nap, yes. We put our kids in the kids club for dinner time (after we fed them at the buffet) and we went out to a nice relaxing dinner. You really need it after all the togetherness! Of course your little one isn't old enough for the kids club but taking one kid to dinner is easier than two. I have lots of pictures, menus, daily's, etc from the Dawn, take a look. Also, again just like the other person said, don't go by all the reviews. It seems to me that the people who have bad times write the most reviews. Also some people will never be happy if everything isn't perfect. We had a great time on the Dawn, one thing isn't going to make everyone happy. I hope you go and enjoy yourself!

[loveysbydesign]

I can only speak to my own experience, and I have not yet cruised with kids, but I am in May. My boys are 1 and 3.

 

We are going NCL, too, because I think that the freestyle dining will work out best for our family (no set dinner time). Also, take reviews with a grain of salt. Especially complaints about food. Think about what is really important to you on a vacation. If 5 star cuisine is important, NCL is not the best for you. If a lot of options and styles of food are more your speed, then it may be. You aren't going to get super fancy food at all meals, but for me, I wouldn't on a regular vacation with kids, either. We'd be eating fast and convenient options. I think you will find that on NCL. Again, I'll answer your questions, but they're just what we're planning, not what we have already done.

 

1. WOuld I have to get a suite to feel comfortable and roomy enough? We are getting a suite for comfort, but we're going to Alaska, and that is important for me with that itinerary. For a shorter beachy cruise, I would probably get a smaller cabin.

2. What if the kids get motion sickness? My understanding is kids under 4 generally don't get seasick

3. Where do they sleep? You can order a "crib" (ie pack and play) for one or both kids and they can also sleep in the beds. If you get a mini suite or bigger you'll have two single beds that push together and a couch that converts to a double bed. If you get a balcony or smaller you will probably have two singles that push together and two that come down from the ceiling. You can always pull a mattress off a bed and stick it on the floor, if you're concerned about fall safety. Depending on your kids' sleep situations, this may be fine, or you may all be miserable.

4. DO u have to wait very long for a table for dinner.... since it is a freestyle type boat? I've read tons of complaints about this, but I've read as many that say that they've never, ever had to wait for a table on multiple cruises. I think the key is to keep in mind that if you go right when they open or right after a show, you may have to wait. Also, the buffets are often crowded because there are only so many tables available.

5. DO i have to bring carseats for when we goto the island? That is going to depend on what you are doing. We're going to Alaska and taking several tours that include extensive land portions, so we're taking both of ours. It is a decision you'll need to make and there are lots of threads on this board about that vary issue.

 

GL and have fun planning your trip!

So how did your cruise on the Dawn go!!!!:)

[deanna1178]

I have been on the Dawn before and we are going to Bermuda on the Dawn with our 1 y/o next week! This will be our first cruise with ds :-) The Dawn is on of the my favorite ships...the staff is amazing, I liked the food and especially the freestyle dining.

 

1. WOuld I have to get a suite to feel comfortable and roomy enough?

I don't think so, we got a balcony room. We had a suite on our last Dawn cruise..definitely more room. We started to get a mini-suite this time simply for the separating curtain btw the couch and bed just for a little privacy but we went with the balcony instead. If we had 2 littles one...we probably would go for a suite, especially to give you and dh more things to do while the kiddos are sleeping.

2. What if the kids get motion sickness? agree with pp...I didn't think they could. You can always get the pressure point wristbands to take just in case. Those help me.

3. Where do they sleep? We had the option to request a pnp or a crib. We are opting to carry our on pnp just for my peace of mind :-P I can't help with the 3 y/o but I have seen other posters suggest the mattress on floor or turning couch to face wall.

4. DO u have to wait very long for a table for dinner.... since it is a freestyle type boat? we didn't on our previous cruise....we waited maybe once for 5 minutes. You can make reservations as soon as you board at all the speciality restaurants. Also if you go before 7 or after 9 there shouldn't be much of a wait at all.

5. DO i have to bring carseats for when we goto the island?

We are not. The water taxi's and buses dont' have a way to install the carseats as it is.

 

I really enjoyed the Dawn..I have been on Carnival and RCCL and both times I was comparing just about every aspect to the Dawn and the great service we received while there. I really enjoyed the food too....and eating whenever we wanted!! We didn't have to rush to get back to the boat because we had the early seating, it was great!! and to have so many more breakfast/lunch/dinner options was great!!

 

We are sailing to bermuda on the dawn next sunday...when are you thinking? I will be sure to post a review for you when we get back!

[karen_cpa]

We are going on the Dawn in October with our daughter, who is turning 2 the day before we set sail.

 

We opted to go for a mini-suite. At the very least, we wanted a balcony cabin, so that when she is sleeping, we could be on the balcony with a drink or a book or something. The $$ difference between a balcony and a mini suite was minimal (I think $60 for the week), so we went with the mini suite. It also has a tub, which will make bathing her easier.

 

We requested a crib for her to sleep in, which I imagine is just going to be a pack-n-play.

 

We did not plan on bringing her car seat as we have heard they are not compatible with Bermuda's buses and ferrys.

 

Hope that helps!

[bbcruiser]

Best to call NCL or your TA. In 2006, when we booked our cruise on NCL Star with a 6 month old and 3 y.o., they told us we would have to get a Penthouse Suite (with the kids bedroom). They assume anyone under 2 will be in a crib, so if you book anyone under 2, it needs to fit a crib and extra bed for the other child. Only Penthouse (or Garden Villa $$$$:eek:) will work for that accommodation. We booked with TA and that's what they told us. We loved the extra room and privacy of the suite. We moved the crib around the suite so that we could have privacy when our 6 month old napped and 3 y.o. was in Kids Crew.

 

My sister-in-law runs into same problem when booking cabin for their family of 5. At least one or both kids usually sleep with them when they travel, but the cruise lines won't take that into account and they have to book a room that can sleep 5. Apparently, they don't make exceptions for the sleeping situation you plan to use :o

 

I believe on NCL full suite guests can make reservations for the main dining rooms as well. We never did and never had a wait. Our most recent cruise on NCL Pearl, we waited maybe 2-5 minutes, even when the dining room was pretty full. Not sure about the Dawn, but on the Pearl, they have flat screens where you can check to see if there is a wait for parties of 2, 4, 5, or 6+ and list how long the waits are for those parties. One time, we noticed the wait for the smaller dining room was 1 hour, but in the larger dining room, there was no wait. Since they have the same menu, we opted for the larger dining room.

[CanadianTwosome]

I just went to ncl.com and searched for a cabin on the Dawn with a 1 and a 3 year old, and you can rest assured that everything from insides on up was available. Do you need the space of a suite? I don't, but that's just me, and I don't have to worry about what to do while my child is having nap time or early bed time. I do think it's not a bad suggestion to have at least a balcony if you think you'll want to sit outside while your baby is sleeping. Your three year old will be welcome - and have a great time - in the Kid's Crew.

 

Whether or not you have 'night life' depends on what you're into. One of the things I loved about having a baby (as opposed to a 6 year old, for instance) was that you can pretty much take them anywhere, within reason. As long as you've got a carrier that they can sleep in, you can head up on deck and enjoy a cocktail under the stars with your partner - or even a few friends if you've met some on board. Sure, you might not be able to go barhopping or hang out in the casino, but what do you do when you're at home? Sometimes the best part of being on vacation is just being away from home and responsibilities - even if you're doing similar things - personally, I LOVE sitting quietly looking at the ocean, especially compared to the alternative - sitting quietly at home looking at snow... or hanging out on CC WISHING I was on a cruise. :p

 

Freestyle dining is definitely different from traditional, and my family loves it. We are among those who have never experienced a wait... however, we also tend to eat early and cruise at off-peak times. When you consider how many people a ship holds, it's not really surprising that sometimes there are waits to eat in the main dining rooms. It's similar to heading to a land restaurant during peak dining times - you go with the understanding that there may be a wait. (again, I'd much rather be waiting for a table on a cruise ship than standing in a waiting area at home) The daily actually notes the busiest times so you can try to avoid them - but as Deanna1178 noted, before 7 and after 9 are generally pretty safe. The buffets on NCL are also very good, with 'action stations' where foods are cooked to order, and they have special buffets for kids that are lower to the ground and have things like chicken fingers, hot dogs, and nice, bright veggies. :) I also completely agree with Deanna1178 about how nice it is not to have to worry about what time dinner is served - not only are there two main dining rooms to go to at your leisure, but there is a 23 hour spot for quick orders, the action station buffet, and 24 hour room service. It's REALLY hard to go hungry on NCL!! (or any line, for that matter) As for reservations, I believe anyone can make them, though there may be some stipulations such as time or party size. The specialty dining options are good, too, if you want to indulge. (my personal favourite is Teppanyaki, with Cagney's running a close second)

 

To BBCruiser: Your sister in law's issues booking for five have nothing to do with whether the cruise line considers sleeping arrangements. They could all sleep curled up on the balcony as far as the cruise lines are concerned. Life boats, on the other hand, are a primary consideration when determining cabin capacity. Five people (of any size, in any sleeping arrangements) in a cabin designated for four means that there is one extra body to be accommodated in a life boat, and those safety standards are not negotiable.

[cb at sea]

Very young children seldom get motion sickness---they are naturally "unsteady'--the movement won't bother them!