Norwegian Dawn Cruise Reviews - Reviews

Just came home from the Boston to Bermuda cruise! It was so much fun and I have no complaints. The food was delicious, drinks were strong, entertainment was excellent! There was plenty to do on the ship and in Bermuda! We had perfect weather too! Already planning to do it again next year!

Always an amazing cruise bartenders extremely nice, food was good and our room was so convenient. Staff was always helpful and I love every second of it.

like i said before, if you want to go a low budget cruise without all the fluff and good entertainment, the Dawn is a good cruise.

Embarking was a breeze. It was pouring by the time we got to the terminal so I dropped off the luggage and my family and went to park the car and by the time I got back we were passing security and boarding within 20 minutes. Once on the show we went to have a late lunch at O’Sheehans but were interrupted due to the 3pm lesson. The hostess should have told us that we would have to clear the dining room at 2:55pm before sitting us down at 2:40pm. The bar on deck 13 was really crowded but if you know how to handle a crowded bar like us you will find a seat and be happy. The food at O’Sheehans was ok not much to rave about but my teenage girls liked the wings and went back every chance they got. The only restaurants that I would frequent next time would be Cagney’s and La Cucina. I tried Moderno’s but it was just ok. There was plenty to do as far as activities and you will never be bored unless you really tried. Bliss lounge was fun. We went just about every night to listen to music and hangout. Disembarkation was a breeze because I pick the pink tags and we were the last color getting off. The room was clean and cozy and we were never without clean towels or bed sheets. Christian mad sure if that! The buffet was ok, I went for breakfast and then an afternoon snack. My 14 & 16 year old girls made some friends and went about doing there own thing with dinner reservations a few times. Overall we enjoyed the cruise and will definitely try another Norwegian ship again.

We returned from the Boston to Bermuda cruise a week ago. This was our second time doing this particular cruise, and overall, we loved it! Getting onboard was so easy this time...we were told to choose a time, which we did online. We got there at our appointed time and it was a breeze! Our luggage arrived shortly after we got onboard; there was an issue with my husband’s CPAP machine missing but they were right on it and it arrived soon after. Onboard, we had awesome days at sea. The pool area is always crowded and somewhat small; people go up there at the crack of dawn to save seats. We know this and don’t usually use the pool area, we go to the hot tub at the front of the ship ~ it’s less crowded. Our kids used the pool and the hot tubs that were near the pool. Again, this is the main “hub” and it’s always crowded. There was always a “line” for drinks at the bar in this area and it went slow...it always took awhile to get a drink and my suggestion for NCL would be to be implement some sort of “line” system, maybe with ropes or something, as people gathered in a “clump” and you never really knew who was next which led to confusion and some “disagreement” between cruisers ~ seems like a simple fix. The food onboard was “so-so”; we weren’t overly impressed! The buffet was rather boring and had lots of the same things repeatedly and everything sort of tasted bland. There was always pizza, though, and sometimes there was something that was surprisingly tasty! We are at Carney’s and although the meal was good, the quality and quantity seems to have gone downhill since we last ate in there 5 years ago. Overall, we weren’t very impressed with the food. There was one place we ate a few times, opened 24 hours, O’Sheehans, I believe, that was ok...I enjoyed the fish and chips and my son liked the burger, although he likes anything! We also had them deliver the complimentary breakfast each morning (muffins, fruit, coffee) ~ it was always great and you can order the night before on a card you leave outside your door and they’ll deliver it the next day at the time you choose! Our room was great, always clean and comfortable. We had a balcony room, the kids were across the hall in an inside cabin ~ I liked their bathroom better - more open! Our cabin attendant was always pleasant! We also attended many shows onboard and we really enjoyed them all. We saw a magician, a comedian, Elements, and another show; we usually had dinner and went to the 9:00 show. We would usually go a little early; some of them got crowded. We also went to the casino briefly and played Bingo. I thought Bingo was expensive but...we were on vacation! We didn’t win 😝. There is so much to do on the ship, you can be as busy as you want to be...or not! My one disappointment was that we booked this cruise as a graduation gift for my daughter and brought her and my son along. They have a “teen club” which we thought would be great for them. It ended up that the club was only for 13-17 year olds; because my daughter had turned 18, she couldn’t participate and was lumped in with the 18-25 year old age group...that was not her scene; she would have enjoyed hanging with her brother and the others in the teen club. Maybe NCL could give 18 year olds the choice - many are not ready for the whole “drinking/partying” vibe that most in the older group were into. My daughter was fine, though, and found other things to do on the one or two occasions when her brother hung out at the teen club. That’s all! Happy cruising!

Overall the cruise was great. Food and drinks were very good. Didn't feel drinks were watered down. Staff very good. Small pool, tough to get seats on last 2 days at sea. But by then we could use a break from the sun. Not a heck of a lot for the kids (14 & 15). But they Met other kids thru teen center every night. Enjoyed their freedom. Cruise was convenient we didn't have to fly (5 of us)to get there.

I just got off my third cruise on the Dawn to Bermuda! I love the size of the ship as it is just right for me and my 15 year old. Already booked again for his 16th Birthday as we celebrated his last 4 birthdays on cruises! The teen club is wonderful. I love the aft/balcony rooms!

A lover of Bermuda and nice to visit once again.....

Had a great time on the Boston to Bermuda cruise. Enjoyed the entertainment, the staff members were always pleasant and the food was good. Unlike some of the reviews, we found the food in the Cafe to have a different menu everyday. Breakfast was only somewhat different but the variety is enough to try something new daily. There were plenty of places for quiet reading on a lounge chair and plenty of things to keep you busy. We did find that staff was not well informed so it does pay to double check with another member, if you have a question. We couldn’t find a soda vending machine and were directed by 4 members to different places. This time, asking another member didn’t work because we never found it. The iConcierge app is a must if you want to communicate with fellow travelers, see a running total of expenses as you go, know the locations of events and have a handy list of daily activities. Several improvements could be made to the app, such as descriptions of activities and closing times. The best tip we received was to take a shoe hanger with many pockets to hang on the bathroom door. All toiletries, aspirin, lotions, etc. were visible and kept the counter clear in a small space. We didn’t use the WiFi or soda package right away. When we tried, we were told they weren’t in our records. I had a printout of Norwegians confirmation of the purchase but we had to wait 4 days for the Customer Service to honor the purchases because Headquarters isn’t open on the weekend and they needed them to confirm. With only 3 days left, we cancelled it. Bermuda was beautiful and everyone was pleasant. A cab or shuttle to Horseshoe beach cost $42 each way. Our cab driver to Crystal caves was nice enough to wait for us to drive us back. I stepped on coral at Snorkel beach after one step into the water. Bring water shoes!

EMBARKATION About as straightforward and easy as we have had on a cruise. We started and ended in Boston (I'll do a separate review on the port). We arrived at the port around 10:00 and were on board between 11:00 and 11:30. I'm a frequent cane user and decided to use one on the cruise this time. Seeing my cane, the folks at the port let us board a little early with the "special assistance" group. That was a new thing for me but I, somewhat reluctantly, have to admit it was quite helpful. Our luggage showed up at our room sometime before 2:30, which was about as early as it ever has. We made sure to tip the luggage handlers well when we dropped off our bags. SHIP The Dawn is an older ship but it is well maintained and is kept well functioning and very clean. The layout takes a day or two to get accustomed to, but no more that that. The ship is elegant and beautiful, with common spaces that are understandably smaller than the Breakaway- and Epic-class ships. There are sufficient elevators for the number of passengers. The one negative that NCL needs to address is the cigarette smoke odor in Gatsby's and on the passageway above. It's not repelling but it is unpleasant. It was not so 'thick' that it caused any issues with my asthma, but did caused us to choose other places on the ship to 'hang out'. BALCONY CABIN Our port side, forward balcony cabin was 10528. It was sufficiently roomy, the bed was firm and about as comfortable as we've had on a cruise ship. We had no issues with doors, odors, bathroom fixture operation, or anything else. Our room steward, Anil, kept the room impeccably clean, was warm and charming, and was very helpful. A request for distilled water for my CPAP yielded a gallon jug in short order. We made sure we tipped him well both on the first day and on the evening before disembarkation day. Although it was just forward of the forward elevators, there was no 'traffic-noise'. We always make sure to pick rooms that have cabins above and below so there were no noise issues at all. We love the ocean views, sounds, and breezes from the balcony and firmly believe the cost of the balcony cabin is worth it for all that can afford it. On the other hand we've had both balcony and mini-suite staterooms and, with just the two of us, have found no substantial advantage to the slightly larger mini-suites. Might be different for 3 or 4 travellers sharing a stateroom. DINING We took most of our meals in the Venetian main dining room. The food was always excellent, there was always a selection of new entrees on the menu each day. The staff was attentive, friendly, and fun - especially if you took a few moments to get aquainted with them. Occasionally we had meals in O'Sheehans. It was also very good and the wait staff was great there, too. The food and staff were also great in the Bamboo Asian fusion restaurant. Topsiders is good for what it is: Fast and filling. We choose to reserve the Garden Buffet for snacks and meals when you're in a hurry and only ate one full meal there. It was all good, we have no complaints, the 'Washy-washy, Happy-happy' folks are a hoot, but it will likely never be our first choice. The Atrium bar staff was amazing. The staff in the Sugar Cane Mojito bar was kind enough to take time to educate us on mojitos and help us pick out a couple to suit our tastes. Despite the occasional claim on the forum that the drinks are 'watered down' we found them to mixed 'just right'. There are enough dining and bar venues on board we didn't get to all of them, even over a 7 day cruise. ENTERTAINMENT We love the nightly production-style shows the smaller ships offer and the production cast on the Dawn was talented and energetic. For us it's a 'must see' every evening they are on stage. The magician was amazing and very entertaining. Others will have a different opinion, but the comedienne did not align very well to our style of comedy and we chose other entertainment over her show. The thing you trade for the great production shows is that there are fewer 'club-style' venues than on the larger ships. Jose and Patti were excellent and packed the Grand Atrium every evening. The other entertainers on board were also good, but fewer and less diverse than on the larger ships. We still prefer the smaller ships, but will cruise again on the large ships if the timing and itinerary work out, and will enjoy their advantages when we do. DISEMBARKATION Again, disembarkation went about as well as it ever has. We always have few enough bags we do the walk-off option. We stood on a constantly moving line for 45 minutes or so, and were off before 9:30. OVERALL We found the staff to be as fun and friendly as any cruise and maybe more so. Everyone from the wait staff, to the photographers, to the bartenders, to the Cruise Director's staff was great. The Dawn has a lot to offer and we would definitely choose the ship again given the right time and itinerary.

Overall a great trip! First time on NCL and would do this itinerary again!

This cruise is especially awesome because of the freedom you get by docking for a few days. It's really nice to be able to come and go when you like. This was the second time on the same itinerary and ship. Several upgrades have been made to the ship. We really enjoyed the added specialty dining. We had the ultimate drink and dining package which really added to the enjoyment of the cruise. Overall, the cruise was fantastic! The staff was - as usual - amazing! Especially our room steward that hung birthday decorations and gave me a birthday cupcake. The view from our balcony was great! It was so relaxing to sit out and read with the sound of the ocean in the background. I much prefer this to the loudness in the pool area and sun deck. It was also very enjoyable to have the balcony slider open at night so you could hear the water as you sleep. It would be really nice to see more substantial free activities on sea days. It gets old when everything you do they are trying to sell you something. There was a craft available one day, but it was when we were in port. The library has really limited hours if you want to check out a book. Our room was for the most part great. The bed was comfortable and room was a decent size. The rooms do not seem to have gotten any upgrades recently. It would have been really nice to have another power outlet. Only one in the main cabin and one in the bathroom. My husband didn't like having to charge his apple watch in the bathroom. Additionally, the thermostat in the room left much to be desired. The buttons were worn out and the thing blinked all the time. This is an issue when you are a light sleeper. I had to cover it up with an envelope. Some times when we came in, it would be sweltering hot - the "quick cool" button worked well but the up and down did not.

Loved this cruise ship! Our cabine with an oceanview Window was perfect! A little bit bigger than expected, enough place for everything ! In front cabin 8510 felt the sea a bit more.... the buffet in the morning was always the same , not much variety. . The same for lunch time!!!! But in the evening , wow! The dining room was amazing, everything i eat was very good! Specialy dining was perfect ! We did the Moderno! Brezilian restaurant, Teppaniaki and la Cucina ! !! The best of all...... Shows looked very good, we saw maybe two!!! The shows are at 7h pm or 9 pm, we went to eat at 7h30 so , sometimes it had already started. .. ate at O'sheanns for fish and ships!! Yummy! Tried the drinks of the days.... very good! Bring your own straws!!!! Paper straws! They dont give any at the bar, they want to savez the ocean, afread they will fly in the sea..... So of you drink a frozen drinks , you really need straws ! ! Found at dollars store!!😆 Loved the smaller ship, i find the service is more personnalize. .. thanks to Steven our steward, who was simply perfect!❤

My sister felt sick the first day we arrive on Bermuda, think it's something she ate at Horse Shoe beach! So we stayed most of the first night and the next day till afternoon! Things happend! 😯😔 So didn't see that much , saw the beach, the port and a bit of Hamilton ! Wish we would have spend another day on the beach! Ho well! Will have to go back!😀😊

overall an excellent first cruise. Specialty restaurants were excellent and main dining rooms were good. The staff on NCL was so friendly, smiling and polite.

Room was filthy especially bathroom, and bed had pee stained duvet in duvet cover. Ship had running water issues one night. Smell of sewer on balcony . Balcony privacy door broken. Spent a lot of money for this cruise and for a second time extremely unhappy and disappointed with Norwegian Dawn Ship. Not enough staff to get the kind of service for money you spend. Newly renovated ship was very disappointing. Buffet was same everyday. Loved Bermuda but won’t be going back on Dawn.

I liked most of the cruise. The boat is beautiful but a bit small (one pool only) but we knew that from the start. The service and the staff is amazing. The food: if you pay extra it is worth it, the MDR is also very good. Besides that it is just ok. Bermuda looks great. You do not see poverty. The houses are well maintained and colourful with nice flowers and nice curb appeal. They have a gorgeous beach called Horseshoe bay. A must see if you visit Bermuda. Hamilton is only a 20 minute ferry ride and it is worth the the trip of you like to shop. Now, my negative point have nothing to do with the boat itself. We found it to be very wavy, from the first night and through the whole cruise. Our room was in the front of the boat and we believe this is why. This made us very ill at ease and it prevented us to enjoy our time on the boat. We did not sleep well aside from when we were in port. The boat seems to pick up speed at night so nightime was worse. Only when were were on the deck pool or when we were in the middle of the boat did we not find it so bad. Then I got sick for 24h on our only full day in Bermuda so that also stopped us from visiting the island. So can tell you that Horseshoe bay is one of the most beautiful beach I have seen, the port area is very nice and has plenty to do and shops and Hamilton is nice to see. If you don't mind the waves, you might enjoy this cruise. Also think this is an older ship so there are not much activities to do besides from hanging around the pool or inside activities which we did not choose to do since we wanted to enjoy the beautiful weather.

What an awesome time we had on the Dawn. Literally one big party by the pool that continued to Bliss at night. Bartenders were great aswell!! 06/01/18

Compared to previous cruise lines and ships we’ve been on, Norwegian Dawn was overly underwhelming. The biggest and most disappointing problem was the constant loud noises that we heard from inside our cabin day and night. I did mostly get over it though, and Bermuda was breathtaking.

We had an amazing time! Loved Bermuda! The time on the boat was really good, spent time at the pool listening to music, having lots of drinks and enjoying the sunshine. We relaxed!