Two difference Dawn's??

[WinnieinWA]

We absolutely loved the Dawn! I think she has the greatest crew on the seas! I'm positive you'll enjoy her! :) Go with an open mind and you'll have a wonderful cruise.

[murphfam4]

Love the Dawn. Leaving Sunday for my fourth time....:):D:p

 

How come you haven't joined the rollcall? Stop by!

[RareBird]

I've been on a number of cruises, RCI mostly, and I LOVED Dawn.. it was great. I loved freestyle, all the different restaurants, and the shows are MUCH better than RCI.

 

We loved her so much, we're going again in 1 month to Canada on her, I can't wait.

 

As others said, most people who complain are either traditional who want big dining rooms with large tables and set times or those who picked NCL instead of HAL by mistake.

[pcreek]

Pianoman - you forgot to mention Bimini Grill :eek:

- the BEST hamburgers ever!

(well, maybe it's the view - the ocean, the pool....)

 

We always have a lunch there at least ONCE during the trip.

 

:D

[Harleycat]

So I've been pouring through all of the Dawn reviews, and reading all (well, not really ALL) of the posts here, and there seem to be two very different Dawn's. After booking (my first ever) cruise on the Dawn, and reading all of the trashy reviews, I was a bit worried. Then I come in here, and see that many of you have sailed the Dawn more than once or twice.

 

My question? Either there are two different Dawn's (:D) or there are a lot of whiney and very vocal people out there. I'm leaning more toward the later, but I'd like to hear from any of you who've sailed the Dawn - what's your take? Good ship for a first time cruiser? What can/should I do to make the most of the ship and my trip in general?

 

Thanks for the input!

 

BTW - lovin' this board and all of the tidbits I'm getting from you folks already!

 

If I took stock of every bad review of the Dawn I would have missed one of the best vacations of my life! I'm booked on her again in October. For same fare that we paid Celebrity for a so so room, we are in an AC suite on the Dawn.

 

I take all bad reviews, hotels, stores, airlines, ships, etc, with a grain of salt. If I took all of them to heart I would not have anywhere to shop or vacation, I probably have to lock myself in my house. Yes, if I'm booking a hotel and every review says the hotel is filthy, I won't book it but if a few people "whine" about something but most think it's fine, I have no problem booking it and have never been disappointed.

 

I think some people are just born to complain and now with the internet, they've found the perfect outlet. Yes, there are times people have a legitimate complaint or problem and these are usually resolved by approaching the issue calmly..write a well thought out letter, approach staff with a smile and calmly explain your issue but when people blow things out of proportion, yell and curse and start using words like disaster it really takes away from the legitimatecy (sp?) of the issue.

[Pianoman6582]

Pianoman - you forgot to mention Bimini Grill

- the BEST hamburgers ever!

(well, maybe it's the view - the ocean, the pool....)

We always have a lunch there at least ONCE during the trip.

 

I think you hit the nail on the proverbial head--However, The BEST hamburgers in the WORLD are found in a little tavern in the village of Purdys, in the town of North Salem, NY, called the Blazer Pub. That being said, I understand how the view, the ocean, and the pool could make you believe that the burger you are eating is in fact the "best hamburger ever" (also I imagine the Dark 'n' Stormy's and Painkillers they serve by the gallon didn't hurt this illusion) I'm suspect. I'll have to investigate that the next time I'm on the Dawn... VERY CAREFULLY.... you know, three or four or nine times:D.....

And I thAnk yoU:

JWK: Burger Booster and Onion Relish Connoisseur

 

PS I think this would be a good topic for the floataway lounge... I hope this thread doesn't get moved there....

[BBTT]

Dawn was our first:cool: cruise also...6 years later, 6 cruises later, once on RCCL, once on CCL, 3 times on the dawn :):):) and she is still our favorite. maybe someone can explain what a bad cruise is-I've never seen one...oh, I forgot...I did see one- it's the one we are not taking this year because of financial obligations and my work not being very nice with the 6 weeks vacation they owe me and telling me when I can take it (not when I want to take it)..work sucks...:mad:..cruising doesn't...:rolleyes:

[Pianoman6582]

Dawn was our first cruise also...6 years later, 6 cruises later, once on RCCL, once on CCL, 3 times on the dawn and she is still our favorite. maybe someone can explain what a bad cruise is-I've never seen one...oh, I forgot...I did see one- it's the one we are not taking this year because of financial obligations and my work not being very nice with the 6 weeks vacation they owe me and telling me when I can take it (not when I want to take it)..work sucks.....cruising doesn't...

 

I thank you for giving me the BEST idea for a t-shirt EVER! "Work sucks... Cruising Doesn't" Thank you also for having that attitude. Too many people board the ships with a chip on their shoulders--looking for stuff to gripe about :eek: and reasons to request a free cruise from NCL or whatever line (I'm sure there are people like this on CCL and RCCL and all the rest).... Reading your post again gives me an idea for another idea for a T-Shirt:

"The only Bad Cruise is a Cruise not taken!" :cool: Perhaps I'll put them both on one-- one on the front and one on the back....

And I Thank you,

JWK: T-Shirt Slogan Thinker Upper and Writer Downer

[Dolphins]

We will be boarding the Dawn for the 6th time in October. We have always booked our cruises when school is in session. You cannot expect the same cruise experience during holiday periods when over 600 school age children are on board. As for that mid-winter recess week, most crew members don't refer to it as "hell week" for nothing.

[herb]

We've sailed on the Dawn and the only thing that surprised me was the fact that there was only ONE pool for all the guests... (unless you wanted to pay a fee for use of the indoor pool)

[herb]

maybe someone can explain what a bad cruise is-I've never seen one

 

okay.....We sailed on the Norwegian Sea and had NO air conditioning at all in our cabin for the whole cruise... not even a breeze from the vent! THAT was a bad vacation. I was never so happy to get out of bed in the morning and out and about... Consolation...NCL offered a $200 credit if I booked another cruise with them within the next 12 months!

[Ontheotherhand]

A $200 credit for a broken air conditioner for the entire cruise? Break their little hearts; that seems woefully inadequate to me. I had United Airlines give me a $400 credit because the in flight entertainment system in my seat was broken, and that was only for a few hours. I would have pushed for a lot more; face it, as you say, it ruined your vacation, so what were you paying your fare for?

 

Of course it might be a bit different if this was just a one night cruise and $200 was your approximate fare; but based on what you wrote, I don't think this was the case.

[laurabegorrah]

You guys (and gals) all rock! Thanks for loaning me the ship for a week Pianoman/JWK Jack of many trades. I promise to return her in the same condition she was lent to me in. :D

[ieatchickens]

 

Hi there, and welcome to the wonderful world of NCL Freestyle Cruising! Let me take a few moments to show you around, answer some of your questions, and hopefully quell some of your fears and concerns. I am not a paid NCL rep, although I really oughta get some kind of commission for all the "boostering" for which I'm (in?)famous.

 

The Norwegian Dawn was our first ship, so we consider it OUR ship, but you can use it while we're not there--we're willing to share... :D The Dawn is different from the Jewel Classes. She is a Libra Class (or Dawn Class). Her only sister is the Norwegian Star. Both ships feel almost exactly the same to walk around them. And, with a few cosmetic differences and name changes in the restaurants and clubs and what not, they are essentially the same ship. She does have similarities to the Jewels however. In fact, when My Lee and I were on the Gem (the newest and last Jewel Class), we would say things to each other like, "Oh the Gift Shop? That's where the Night Club 'should' be." (As in, the Gift shop is where the nightclub is on the Dawn) Feeling overwhelmed? Don't. Let's Focus on the Dawn.

 

Read the Freestyle Daily. It should be delivered to your stateroom or is available at the front desk. It tells you everything that's going on on the entire boat every day. If you're like us, on sea days, you won't be able to do everything. Choose wisely. The Dawn has a movie theatre. Not that we've ever found two spare hours to take in a movie. There are two main dining rooms, "The Venetian" and "Aqua." Each has a different atmosphere—the Venetian is a more traditional dining room while Aqua has a more modern, dynamic vibe to it. There is a buffet and a 22-hour a day "diner" called the Blue Lagoon (think fried, delicious, late-night, bad-for-you snack food and burgers and such). Why 22 hour you ask? Because at 4AM (we know we were there) they close the kitchen to clean it and you can only get the Room Service Menu at that time. Which brings me to Room Service. Room Service is FREE. Look at the little binder that comes in your cabin for your selections. Mozzarella sticks and mac N cheese are faves. Keep in mind the "order" of Mozzarella sticks is "3", so plan your appetite accordingly (I need at LEAST 3). All these dining options are included in your cruise ship fair. The two dining rooms, the Blue Lagoon, the Garden Café (buffet) and room service all come with your basic cruise ship ticket. If you want to try something a little more exotic, they have Specialty Restaurants that cost a little more. I am and continue to be a big booster of these restaurants. For a nominal fee of $10-$35 per person (which represents the extra cost of premium food), you can have dinner at a French Bistro (called LeBistro), a hibachi place called Teppanyaki (NOT TO BE MISSED), a Chinese place called bamboo which also has a sushi place, a mexican tapas bar called Salsa, an Italian Trattoria called Impressions, and the Steakhouse on deck 13, Cagney's. If you have a AE category room or higher, you can have breakfast and lunch gratis Cagney's. Even if you don't, have dinner there at least once. Have a Colossal Shrimp Cocktail. The Steaks are unbelievable! Pick a NY Strip, or a Filet Mignon, or go for the gusto and have a 28 oz Porterhouse medium rare. OMG--yes it's worth the acronym OMG! Have some Cagney's Fries and the Cheese Polenta. In Le Bistro, try the Beef Tenderloin. You can cut it with a fork! In Impressions, try the Lobster Ravioli and don’t forget about the anti-pasto trolley. I know this is a little specific, but trust me, I know what I'm talking about. In your state room (unless you have one of the bigger cabins, there is only one plug in the room and another that says "Razor only" in the bathroom. Instant solution--bring a power strip! Bring a battery-powered alarm clock if you're so inclined to NEED an alarm. The ship's A/C power has a funky cycle and makes even digital clocks run cahflooey (that's a technical term). The room stewards are more than happy to take requests for towel animals. Also they’ll give you as many bath towels and soaps as you need. Do the laundry special. A whole bag of laundry washed and folded for like 20 bucks. Ask for a book of matches. They have an NCL logo on them. Order the Drink of the Day in Spinaker. They'll give you a cool frosted NCL Dawn glass that you can take home with you. If you gamble, get yourself an NCL Casinos at Sea Players Club Card. Use it in the machines and present it to the Pit Bosses at the Tables to rate your play. You need to earn at least 25 points. When you've done that, they take dollar for points 1 to 1 off your bill--100 points equals 100 bucks off your bill. The best place to see the shows in the Stardust Theatre are in the balcony. There are comfy benches up there. For folks like myself who ::cough:: shall we say "have a little more to love" around the midsection, it's nice to have the wide open spaces. However, if there's a magician, you'll never be picked as a volunteer to help him out. Life is about Trade-offs. On the pool deck, ask what the Drink of the Day is. Try a Dark'n'stormy. It's Goslings Dark Rum and Ginger Beer. Make sure they make it with Ginger Beer and not Ginger Ale. if you want a panoramic view of where the ship is going, try the Spinaker Lounge on Deck 12 forward. This is also where the "New Year's Eve" Party will be. Also the Requisite cruiseship activities like Bingo. Play Bingo. It's so much fun watching little old ladies scowl at each other over their bingo cards. Don't yell Bingo if you don't have it... If you do, they'll make you stand up and do the chicken dance. I'm a proponent of this. Get to know the Cruise Director and his or her staff. They want nothing more than to help you have the vacation of a lifetime. That can really be said about all the staff (with the possible exception of the tender people at Grand Cayman--but I digress). Introduce yourself to the Captain. He'll be happy to make your aquaintance. Always call him "Captain." Even if tells you to call him by his given name, the correct response is, "Whatever you say, Captain." I hope all this has been helpful and informative if not mildly amusing. Lastly, for those who pan the Dawn as a shabby ship and her crew as apathetic and unhelpful, there MUST be two Dawns. Because on my Dawn, the Staff is helpful and kind and courteous in every way. The ship is beautiful and I always get a little misty as I walk up the gangway. Enjoy your cruise and say hello to "our boat" for us.:D

 

and I thank you:

JWK: Dawn Booster:)

 

Captain Paragraph! Captain Paragraph? Where are you? Could you swoop in and save this great post! :D:D

[BBTT]

PIANOMAN...does sound like a good t shirt-let me know when they are ready..2xl..:rolleyes:

 

HERB..never ran into anything like that...I would be very disapointed also...you would think they could have fixed it within 7 days..wonder what the fix was..

[calika89]

I just returned from Bermuda on NCL's Dawn. I, too, was nervous about the negatives, but I went with little expectations and was very pleasantly surprised. We had a great time. We sailed on the NCL Spirit last year to the Bahamas and did not have a good time. The Dawn was a nicer ship and the staff was a lot nicer. we had better people aboard the Dawn. More extended families. babies--older people--a good mix but the kids weren't rowdy or out of control.

 

the only negatives we had were Bermuda was celebrating it's 400th anniversary from slavery and it was closed for 2 out of the 3 days we were there. it seemed as though no one told anyone on the boat about this when we booked out trip but we still enjoyed the beaches etc.

the pool area is very crowded. the stadium style seating with chairs was basically packed. towels saved chairs all day although there are signs that after 30 min items will be removed. lots of kids jumping in the main pool. one day, I couldn't find a seat....I mean, not one chair...anywhere. front, back, up, down---no seat. that was a pain. I heard a lot of people complaining about the the lack of choices with the food but we were pretty happy. I didn't have to cook, clean, plan, shop, etc. I happily enjoyed some of the same meals again and again because they were great. I think the people that complain are people that just complain about everything. I'm pretty picky but also understanding that it was a large ship with a lot of people. dinner may have lasted 2 hrs on occasion but we dealt with it. the workers were very helpful. book your dinner reservations 24 hrs in advance so you get an early seating for dinner. we saw people waiting 30-45 min for a table because reservations aren't needed. they aren't needed but you should get them.

 

I highly recommend the Dawn. I went with my 2 girls - 7 and 14, hubby and in laws 70's. we got a mini suites connecting with a balcony. great room. I loved being in Bermuda for 3 days. that was perfect. bus/ferry transportation was $28 for 3 days adults and $14 for children under 15. well worth it. I was our tour guide. everyone in Bermuda was helpful. Easy to board the ship and easy to disembark.

 

I hope you decide on the Dawn and enjoy it!!

[Nekochan]

I loved the dawn. It was good enough to get me to go on another NCL. Hated the Gem - it was bad enough to make NCL my cruise of last choice.

[njhorseman]

I loved the dawn. It was good enough to get me to go on another NCL. Hated the Gem - it was bad enough to make NCL my cruise of last choice.

 

 

The two ships have more similarties than differences, so I'm curious about the specific reasons you loved one and hated the other.

[Pianoman6582]

Captain Paragraph! Captain Paragraph? Where are you? Could you swoop in and save this great post! :D:D

 

I always write my best stuff LATE... if you look at the original post, it was 11:16pm... not REALLY late, but after being in the office all day (and STILL being in the office) I may have gotten a little punchy... (may have?) I was trying to get all my thoughts into the post before I checked out for the night. I shall try to give my thoughts some more space in the future.

 

Although if I give them too much space, they might run away....

 

And I thank you

JWK:Paragraphs R Us