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

NCL - Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Dawn Cruise Review
Bermuda

Hank Schleckser
Age: 68
Occupation: Retired
Number of Cruises: 4
Sailing Date: June 3rd, 2007

Port and Embarkation: We decided to drive to the port of Philadelphia since we live in New Jersey. We were pleasantly surprised by the clear instructions, the large number of friendly guides, the convenient parking ($10 per day) and the well organized embarkation procedure. We arrived at about 2:30 PM and most of the passengers may already have been on board but the experience was excellent.

Stateroom: We were pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to a mini-suite on deck 9. The boat is clearly far from new but the room was neat and clean. There was a bottle of champagne in our room and a small bowl of fruit which made us feel welcome. There was a rather sparse selection of entertainment on the TV but we didn’t spend much time in our room. The room was made up at our convenience and we always found our bed turned down with a complimentary chocolate on the pillow.

Watering Holes: We were very disappointed with the smoking policy on the ship. Every venue allowed smoking or was half smoking which was not enforced. My wife and I are sensitive to smoke and therefore were not able to enjoy the lounges and some of the entertainment. This was a big disappointment for us.

Entertainment: There was entertainment every night which we generally enjoyed. The dancers and vocalists were enthusiastic and talented (obviously not Broadway class). There was an almost boring sameness with the shows. There was a comedian and a featured vocalist who were a notch above the other entertainers. There were only 8 regulars in the troupe which was rather thin.

Dining: Although there were flashes of brilliance dining was a disappointment. Breakfast in the main dining room was usually cold and service was slow. We generally skipped lunch opting for a snack in the early afternoon. The buffet was really unappetizing with limited selections poorly presented. Hamburger preparation was criminal. The ice cream bar and afternoon tea were nice. Dinner was generally ok. Special restaurants were hard to get into and the selections were limited. We ate in the Italian restaurant. It had no veal dishes, no ribs or chops and no steak. Selections were limited to pasta with vegetables, pasta with cheese and/or meat sauce and chicken. My lasagna was straight out of the microwave. The wine list was pricey and loaded with expensive wines. Other cruises we’ve been on focus their wine list in the $25-$35 range. This list was much more expensive. Consequently very few cruisers enjoyed wine with their meal. A weeklong glass for soft drinks (water and iced tea were free) was $63  (WOW). Room service was limited but on time and as advertised.

Shore Trips: We opted to see Bermuda on our own. The island is safe, the people are friendly and the public transportation system is great. Go on your own and save a pile of money.

Disembarkation: Extremely well organized and efficiently run. Great job!!!

Overall: Norwegian Dawn is not a terrible ship. However I would book with another cruise line if I have a choice even if it costs a little more.






 

Ask a Question About NCL, Norwegian Cruise Lines