This was our first experience with NCL. We were a bit nervous about how well they would do since we usually travel on smaller cruise lines. From the moment we got on the ship everything exceeded our expectation. We would definitely sail on the Dawn again. I still don't think I want to go on one of their very large ships but the Dawn was perfect. Large enough to have fun activities and small enough that you don't have to fight the crowds.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Very well organized. We were not in any special class and it went quickly.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
La Bistro- Perhaps the best lamb chops I have ever had
Cagney's- My meal was sub par but they worked hard to fix it. Others were great
Tappanacki's- Great fun Food was ok but the chefs put on a heck of a show. Worthwhile
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We used the pool and the hot tubs. They were not crowed and in great shape. The spa was first class.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
We skipped the formal shows but went to the dance class, karaoke, and Latin night at Bliss. All were very well done.
Children's Programs
We did not have kids with us
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Most of the staff were very helpful and did a great job. The one really weak area were the bars. Everyone is on a package and everyone is drinking for "free" . Lots of crowds at the bar. They seem to keep a lid on the drinking by under staffing the bars.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Everything was clean and nice. The only thing I saw that surprised me was one threadbare step on the stairs. It caught my attention because it was so out of place with the rest of the ship. First class experience overall.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The mid ship Mini Suite is a great way to go. The living area is just a bit larger but the bathroom is much larger than other cabins. Well worth the extra cost. The balcony was a bit larger as well. The only complaint I have about the cabin is that the table on the balcony was about the size of a dinner plate. We love having breakfast on the balcony and you did not have room to do that. I really don't understand the thinking by whomever designed that layout.
Ship tip
Go for a mini suite. It was well worth the upgrade charge.
Note about this cruise. We did not book it to see the ports it visited. We really just wanted to spend some time relaxing in the sun with a few friends. That said, Nassau is not one of my favorite places. I have been there before and I would have just as soon stayed on the ship. We went into town for an hour and then back to the ship.
This was one of the days that made our trip special. We didn't have much in the way of expectations for this day but.... The beach was fabulous. The food service was extraordinary. The transfers from the ship were well organized. Definitely exceeded our expectations.
Key West is more fun at night, but we did some shopping and walked around a bit. Had lunch on Duval street and it was fun. We spent most of the day on the ship.
I have been on a number of cruises and this was the most organized process I have ever experienced. We were off by 8:15 and made our noon flight with time to spare.
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