[ Cruise Reviews ]  [ Port Reviews ] [ Cruise Chat ]  [ Cruise Links ]  [ News ]

Ed McDonnell

Age: 55
Occupation: Retired
Number of Cruises: 6
Cruise Line: Norwegian
Ship: Dawn
Sailing Date: December 7th, 2003
Itinerary: Bahamas

This is about the most beautiful ship I have ever seen. Attention to detail was outstanding. The service in all areas was impeccable from the cabin steward to the store personnel. The food however was just average and showed much room for improvement in variety as well as preparation. The ship was very stable providing a very smooth ride even in rough seas. Every staff member seemed to be genuinely concerned that you were pleased with the ship and its service. The senior staff were available on a daily basis and not hidden away. The variety of resturants was vast and it was impossible to sample them all. Out favorite was the Aqua which was small and intimate as was the Impressions. One night we tried Cagneys steak house which carries a $17.50 per person surcharge and decided that it was not worth the extra charge. The steak was not prepared per request however the service there was also very good.

Embarkation was a nightmare as it usually is in New York with an overlap of oncoming and outgoing passengers. Disembarkation was not a whole lot better again due to the port not the ship. It has improved somewhat since I was last there in 1995 but still needs vast improvement. Parking at the pier is $24 per day. Driving to the pier is its own adventure.

The balcony cabin we had was very nicely set up with adequate storage space, a small refrigerator and a safe. The bed was the most comfortable I have ever experienced on a cruise ship. The bathroom is unique in that it is sectioned into three seperate areas including a good size shower.

The freestyle cruising experience we had was very welcome. Being able to dine when and where you want made this seem more like a land based resort. Even though Norwegians tipping policy is to charge $10 per person per day to your onboard account we found the friendliness and service from the crew to be outstanding and among the best we ever had. The servers couldn't do enough to make sure you were satisfied.

The atrium and other public areas were breathtaking and very well maintained. The ship is so large that I found carrying the small map of the ship around made finding things much easier.

I would recommend this ship for everyone from first time cruiser to the more experienced cruisers.

The photo staff were available whenever you wanted a photo however they did not seem to be always around pushing photos.

Room service although having a limited menu was fast and pleasant.

The prices in the ships shops were high however if you watched for the daily specials you could save a great deal.

Coffee onboard although always fresh was extremely stong.

We really hated to see the cruise come to an end.

Ask a Question About NCL, Norwegian Cruise Lines