Better than most cruise lines

Item: Norwegian Dawn
Rating: 5
Author: swimcoachgeorge

Norwegian Dawn Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

swimcoachgeorge

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 10

Overall rating:

5 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (New Orleans Roundtrip)

Sail date: January 22, 2017

Ship: Norwegian Dawn

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: 5575

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

Great cruise with 4 ports in 7 days..I do not think any other cruise line does that. We took all our excursions from the internet, not the cruise line. Bigger bang for the buck, the only thing is that you have to walk to a specific destination..No one is there to greet you at the end of the pier because of the politics of the "official cruise line excursions." Just to be honest, here is how the cruise lines works: 1) Lure you in with a unbelievable price (ie $400 per person), 2) Then add to that Taxes, port fees and whatever else, well add another $400 per person, 3) Additions: Take the $100 all you can drink per person, 4) Excursions: additional $500 for 2 with 3 excursions, 5) During the trip you will give them a credit card for incidentals including $13.50 per person, per day for the tips, additional drinks or boat supplies/purchases not covered. So this is the best true expense scenario, still a great trip, just an honest bottom-line cost compared to the lure of "just $400" By the way if you are single, just double that..you will be paying for 2 anyways...so take someone else!

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Cut cost by interior cabin without a window because you don't live in a cabin. You just go there to sleep. Middle of the boat and lower down is the most stable, the higher the floors the more away you are from the center of gravity thus more rocking and seasickness.

Ports of call

New Orleans, Louisiana

3 out of 5

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5

Coxen Hole, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

5 out of 5

Harvest Caye, Belize

5 out of 5

Costa Maya (Mahahual), Mexico

5 out of 5

33 Comments

Gwbigdog 1 year ago

Thanks for sharing your cruise.

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BunnieBear 7 years ago

A cruise was the only sensible way for us to tour Alaska.

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clferr 7 years ago

And dont forget if you have to fly, rent a car, meals, entertainment are all extra if you stay at one hotel!

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Pyrate 7 years ago

Yeah. Cruiseship is basically a floating hotel, except you get free food, entertainment, and adventures by going from place to place hassle-free. All for the same price-per-night you would pay in some hotel somewhere.

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clferr 7 years ago

i cant understand why the OP thought that excursions were extra. research would have told them also about the daily service charges, etc. cruising is still in my opinion the best way to travel.

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esm54687 7 years ago

I just noticed your profile and you are from UK.... please make sure to read your specific T&Cs because sometimes they are a little different (like you didn't have to pay 18% gratuity on the cost of the UBP.... your's was truly a free promo). Everyone will see a sales tax on drinks charged to their stateroom (even covered by the UBP which is charged by the local state or city... typically 6%)... this is only when you are in port and this is NOT an NCL charge (they just collect it and pass along to the tax agency)

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BunnieBear 7 years ago

Thank you. I've paid in full now but can see I've still got a lot of budgeting to do for both shore excursions and extras on board.

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esm54687 7 years ago

Bunnie: not if you stay under the $15 limit. If you decide to purchase something that is $18 then you will pay $3 plus 18% on that $3.

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BunnieBear 7 years ago

We didn't buy the UDP it was part of the booking promo. Will we still have to pay the 18% on drinks?

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eddiemac1 7 years ago

I can't see the original post that's why. Still won't cruise ncl tho

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esm54687 7 years ago

Demosmom: Lololol. You're fine... you will have an awesome time.

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esm54687 7 years ago

Eddie: that's great but posting Carnival and RCCL policies on an NCL thread confuses newbies....

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Demosmom 7 years ago

esm54687: my husband already told me to relax. Just getting anxious. Thank you.

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eddiemac1 7 years ago

it does on RC. That's why I don't cruise on NCL

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esm54687 7 years ago

Here are the NCL T&Cs for the UBP: - Norwegian's Ultimate Beverage Package includes a variety of spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass and bottled or draft beer up to and including $15 USD and unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and the Great Stirrup Cay. A 20% discount will be applied to all bottles of wine purchased on board. The Ultimate Beverage Package does not include room service, package sales, ship specific promotions or beer buckets, designated Super Premium brands (subject to change), bottled wine, mini bar purchases, bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, select Lavazza coffee beverages, energy drinks, vending machines, wine stations or spirits, cocktails, draft or bottled beer and glasses of wine over $15 USD. One beverage per person per transaction. Package can be used in all restaurants, lounges, bars and Great Stirrup Cay. Any items over $15 USD will receive a $15 USD discount and the guest will be charged the difference to their account. Ultimate Beverage Package is not available for purchase on charters, sailings that are two (2) days or less, the Pride of America or Harvest Caye. An 18% gratuity and beverage service charge will be added to all package purchases; your check may reflect applicable VAT and/or taxes for certain ports or itineraries. Packages must be purchased by all qualifying individuals residing in the stateroom or additional staterooms under the same method of payment for the entire length of the cruise. Packages may not be shared and are non-transferable and non-refundable. You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase any alcoholic package and to consume alcohol. See the terms of our guest alcohol policy. Other terms and conditions may apply. Guests purchasing this package on board during the dates of March 1st through April 15th will only be able to purchase on embarkation day. Please note that rates are subject to change at any time at the discretion of Norwegian Cruise Line.

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esm54687 7 years ago

Demosmom: you may still get anything over $15 but you just pay the difference plus 18% gratuity of the difference; no limit to the amount of beverages you may order / consume (order something and you don't like it then just order something else without it counting against you, etc); does NOT include LavAzza specialty coffee (latte, espresso, etc); does NOT include bottled water; does NOT include fresh squeezed juices......

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Demosmom 7 years ago

So I'm cruising NCL. First timer. Hopefully I should be all set.

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BunnieBear 7 years ago

It doesn't cover coffees made for you like cappuccino which really surprised me. So I can have an Irish coffee with cream and a shot made for me but not a simple coffee made with milk? Weird!

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eddiemac1 7 years ago

esm, no but some people not familiar with cruising don't know that.

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eddiemac1 7 years ago

Yes, beer, wine, cocktails, frozen drinks, sodas, water, specialty coffee(unless it's starbucks) and fresh squeezed juices. if you're on carnival branded ships, there is a 15 drink (only alcohol) limit per 24 hours. 6am-6am. all other cruise lines don't have a limit.

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Demosmom 7 years ago

Bottles? So as long as I just get beers, a mixed drink, a glass of wine as a single transaction up to $15 per transaction I should be ok? Or not? Will it stop after I reach after I reach a certain daily allowance?

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esm54687 7 years ago

do any cruise lines include bottles in their drink packages?? If you need a bottle, just strap your fit bit on and make a circuit of all the bars and pour into an empty gallon container

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eddiemac1 7 years ago

it doesn't include bottles of liquor or wine

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Demosmom 7 years ago

I got the unlimited adult beverage package and it's not unlimited?

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eddiemac1 7 years ago

4 ports in 7 days

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GIL155 7 years ago

and some do 24/7 (lol)

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eddiemac1 7 years ago

taxes and port fees are 400 per person. I don't know where you get that from

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eddiemac1 7 years ago

most of them do 4/7

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Pyrate 7 years ago

I know. Either way they get you. Get a cheap room so no perks and expensive booze. Get a more expensive room and get a drinks promo. I checked both versions when booking, but the better room was still $200pp (so 400 bucks). I am sure we will not drink that much worth of booze on ship, especially once in port, when I want to be on ship only to sleep. I just wish you could pick individual days for UBP, then I'd do first 2 and last 2.

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esm54687 7 years ago

Pyrate: if you get the UBP as a promo then it's about $100 for the 18% for the week not per day..... it's only if you purchase it is when all people in stateroom must also get it.

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Pyrate 7 years ago

The all you can drink I saw was about 80 bucks per person per day. And if one gets it then everyone in the room gotta get it. Anyhow, I would probably be permanently blitzed to try and get my monies worth.

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esm54687 7 years ago

and that applies to all cruise lines not just NCL.... even land based resorts have their fees.... Port fees are not NCL fees but charges that the country you're visiting charges for the privilege of visiting via cruise ship.

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GIL155 7 years ago

Yes - cruise cosrs can certainly add up. You spellef them out pretty good. Ka-ching$$$$.

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