Norwegian Dawn Cruise Reviews - Reviews

Went on the new Breakaway last year and you know what? I liked it but loved the Dawn even more on my return to her. After such a big ship like the Breakaway, the Dawn felt so much more inviting. The food is much better now too. A few months ago they upgraded the menu. I was happy with the food before but was very happy now. Garden cafe was the same, but dining room was a step more. They had a steak there that was as good as anything in their specialty restaurant.

We had a few minor issues that took away from the cruise but I have learned to roll with stuff. Just deal with it on the boat and when you get home, write a letter to NCL and tell them the issues you had. Or let the lobby desk know while on the boat and they will probably toss you a bottle of wine to say sorry. They are great with wanting to work with guests once you're home though, and will often send a credit for a future cruise in apology. Hey, they can't control everything but wish they could.

Like always, the entertainment was fantastic. My wife and I our now loyal NCL guests. One more cruise and we're Gold members, which will be nice. Been on Royal and Carnival and we find NCL is the best for our personal needs. If you live in the Boston area and want an easy trip to Bermuda, the Dawn is a simple and easy way to do it. Black Falcon Port is run very smoothly. Parking is right next to ship if you need it too.

You don't have to spend thousands on a cruise. Get an inside cabin and spend all your time on deck, and by the time you return to the room at night, you won't care about anything but wanting want to sleep.

see you next cruise!

This was our first cruise, and we loved it.  The crew of the Dawn were amazing and so very friendly.  The shows were amazing, except for the stand up comic, however this was his last cruise of his contract so don't worry about him.  The food was some of the best I have ever had.  I only have a few negative things.  In our room the bed had a few stains and hair on the sheets before we ever used the bed and the bathroom was not very clean.  We mentioned this to our room steward in passing and when we returned to our room, about an hour later, the room was spotless.  The only other thing was the placement of the Java Cafe.  It is very crowded and my average wait time to get a cup of coffee was 10 minutes.  If they had more staff and did not hold so many activities there it would have been a lot better.  Even with those few things it really didn't effect how much we enjoyed the cruise.  For a video of our cruise click on the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuZXuQSwKC4

Bermuda was FANTASTIC! The staff was wonderful. The fellow guests were a sour point with drunk teenagers telling and causing a constant commotion. No security to be found. Broken toilets for 4 days!!  I will sail NCL again but I hope this will change! Overall, great cruise!

I liked this cruise because I thought it was a nice way for a family to travel together; however, there were a lot of high school students on board and I think they took over the pool area. I  believe that the DJ encouraged poor behavior with his choice of music.

We enjoyed most of the cruise.  This was our second cruise aboard the Dawn. The crew is very friendly and helpful. The food was just ok but there were long lines at times in the dining room and the pool area was way over crowded. We paid extra money for a room with a balcony but our next door neighbors were smoking both cigars and cigarettes on their balcony, We could smell the smoke in the corridors so I assume smoking was a factor in their rooms as well. No relaxing and  reading on the balcony.  5 out of the 7 shows were fantastic, we really enjoyed them.  There was plenty to do to entertain ourselves and loved trying the drink of the day which were very good. This cruise is very convenient if you live in the Boston area and the price is right.

All food discusting especially desserts and he specialty restaurants were not better. Shows mostly were not entertaining.staff was not friendly. Alcohol drinks were not good and typically had little alcohol 

my husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary.We took a 7 day cruise on norwegian dawn. I have to say it was the best vacation I have ever been on. We always go with a travel agent but decided to try an online site the name is cruiseonly.I have to say the price was unbeatable everything went very smooth.The person I talked to for the initial booking went out of his way to give me as many amenities as he could.I am already looking at my next cruise.The only problem was next time I will have to take a 2wk cruise instead of a wk.

We had a great cabin steward who was very attentive And friendly. We purchased the specialty dining plan andthoroughly enjoyed all of the restaurants. Teppanyaki, LeBistro, Cagneys and La Cucina were all excellent. There was plenty of seating at the pool area. The shows were very entertaining and I liked not having to make reservations like on the breakaway. The only reason for 4 stars was the disembarkation process was a crowded mess and the dining room for breakfast took us over 2 hours.

what we expected. notice more cuts in food  etc. no bread served in dining room for lunch. desert in garden cafe limeted. chocolate night not so chocolate . no information left in our room the last night about disemarcation. be for that no notice left of time change

We arrived to find our stateroom was still dirty and had items from the last cruise. Our room was warm and we had the air conditioning worked on 3 times with no improvement. There was inconsistant info regarding dress code for restaurants. There was miscommunication about reservations leaving people waiting in long lines. There was limited seating around the one pool on the cruise. Very little for the kids to do on the deck.

Excursions were overpriced and limited. We went for a fraction of the price to the same beaches on our own. People on the island were friendly and helpful.

The food was good and service was good. The shows had good variety (magic, acrobats, comedy, improv, song and dance).

We thought it would be better.

I loved the NCL Dawn.  Great ship...and AMAZING people.  Leaving from Boston was really great because of the people.  Being from New Jersey, I have a lot of options for cruise ports (Bayonne, New York, Baltimore, etc.).  However, we chose Boston and what a GREAT choice!  Everyone was extremely friendly and pleasant.  The cruise staff was awesome.  Specifically Stephen (Assistant Cruise Director) and Leo Fernandes (Aqua Dining Room).  They really were AWESOME people.  They were extremely friendly and very personable, and made you feel like family.  I know that it's part of their job to be friendly and talk to people...but they really go above and beyond their job!  They are TRULY genuine, good-hearted people.  I can honestly say that the only thing I was disappointed in that they do NOT do on the Dawn, compared to other cruise lines, is dance during dinner.  Every other cruise that I've been on (Disney, Royal Caribbean and Carnival), they entertain you by doing a dance during dinner.  And usually you have your same waiter each night for dinner.  Soooo, we just requested Leo when we were at Aqua.  ;-)  If Leo and Stephen come to New Jersey, I hope they will look us up....they treated us GREAT, and I would love to return the favor.  Thanks NCL.  GREAT VACATION!  ;-)

Food was not the best - I'd say it was like the food I got in college. 

Our room smelled really bad. 

Activities were fun. 

Drinks were great. 

Magician was horrible. 

My wife and I were cruising from Boston to Bermuda on Norwegian Dawn 7/4-11/2014.

1. On 7/5/2014 my wife burnt her hair with hair dryer in our cabin. I called 00 house service to report the problem. The hair dryer got overheated (spiral turned bright red hot). I requested maintenance man to step in and replace the dryer. Needless to say that such malfunction may not only cause serious injury but a fire as well. Instead someone in poor English started explain me how to use dryer. As retired Electrical Engineer I have elementary understanding os its function and use. Besides we've use dryers and similar deviced for many years. Nobody showed up.

We complained to Customer Service. After awhile someone showed up, checked the dryer and confirmed that it's too hot. He spoke to Room Services and nobody showed up. Later dryer worked ok though we never received any feedback concerning the issue. I had never expienced anything like thay in my previous cruises. We had not filed complain to save our own nerves.

2. We arrive to Bermuda 7/7/2014 one day later. Customer Service explained me that Hurrcaine Arthur caused delay. But ship's information bulletin/paper that informed of cruise news and activities failed to inform about changed schedule and publish updated itinerary. I had to acquire personally.

3. There were no beach towels for rent at the gangway. They were always available in the pase as well as drinking water (for purchase). There was neither on this cruise. On my request I got an advice to get to the 12th deck (pool deck) and get both items there. I was at the front of the ship on 4th deck and had to go to the rear of the ship to 12th deck and back. This is nothing but mockery and insult. And this is not crew creativity. We have not filed complain to save our own aggravation.

4. Departure time from Bermuda had been changed without advanced announcement in information leaflet. As a result our plans for second day and Bermuda were messed up.

The staff was very polite and met all of my needs. The Captain and staff with their expertise made us feel that there was not a hurricane outside our balcony.

The biggest fault was ths SMOKING.  I WAS UNABLE TO ESCAPE THE SMOKE ON MY BALCONY AND THEREFORE IN MY ROOM.  I PAID EXTRA TO ENJOY THE BALCONY AND ENJOY THE QUIETUDE OF THE OCEAN BUT THAT WAS NOT WHAT I EXPERIENCED. I was unable to use the outside pool and needed to pay extra for the Spa.  Many of the talks were given in areas where smoking also kept me from attending. I was unable to walk the track or play shuffleboard due to smokers.

It would seem to me that there should be places for smokers as the cigar bar which cut down on smoke.  In this day when we know second smoke causes cancer and is not beneficial to those who have allergies that the needs of all could be met better than they are on the Dawn

I have been on other Norwegian cruises in the past and have been very pleased that is why I suggested to my daughter that we cruise on the Dawn.  On both the Alaska and Carribbean cruses I did not notice any smoking.

The 6/27 Boston-Bermuda sailing of the Norwegian Dawn provided a completely relaxing, enjoyable and hassle-free vacation experience.  From an embarkation process that was easy and efficient to an equally efficient debarkation process that had me and my luggage off the ship, into my car and en route home in about an hour, the entire week was characterized by things being done well and very consistently in every venue on the ship.  The ship itself was immaculately clean and in excellent repair.  The cabins and bathrooms were clean, fresh and appealing.  Every staff member was welcoming, friendly and helpful.  The breakfast buffet was a feast every day, and the food and the service in the various restaurants was very good to excellent.  Despite carrying 2700 passengers that week (more than the "normal" double occupancy capacity of 2300), the ship and hotel operations maintained high standards for service and responsiveness.  The only thing that would have been better would be an additional day in Bermuda.

The staff on the ship was outstanding.  All very helpful, friendly and professional.  The activities onboard kept us busy.  The shows were very entertaining.  The family really enjoyed this cruise.  A lot of fun for everyone.

Buffet not recommended. Poor service and a shortage of food items. Staff gave a I don't care attitude. Do not open according to schedule. Poor mgt.

Great service. Nice variety of a activities. Dining options were good. Ship got into port an hour early and disembarking while on the island, as well as at the conclusion of the cruise, was easy. 

Liked: Most part, everything was as expected. Food, entertainment, cabin up keep, staff was overall good. Food in main dining was all most the same every day from starter to main course to desert. I was planning to enjoy dineer in main dining room throught the seven days, but had to go in Garden Cafe for the change.arnival, No more Lobster tail dinner ( Is this part of cost reduction of NCL?)

ZeeGomes of gift shop was very helpfull inmerchandising selection and purchase.

Compare to Carnival, Carnival offered better food choices, and also washer/ dryer facility. Because of this, we did not pack too many clothes and travelled ligh. 

The service on this ship was very good.  Our room attendant, Gusti, was always around with a pleasant greeting and kept our stateroom in very clean shape.  At the restaurants, the service was also very good. No waiting for any of our food or drinks and all were served by very pleasant people.  The only waiting you can expect is at restaurants that are inclusive on the cruise.  This is just the same as if you go to a restaurant at home without a reservation.  They hand you a pager and send you to a bar (but with a complimentary glass of champagne ).  This I did not like.  This being my 10th cruise, and the first time at free style dining, gave me my opinion that I don't care for the free style dining.  You lose the connection you get on other cruises with your favorite wait staff.  We weren't able to get seated after the first night with the wait staff we liked so well in the Venetian.  The food was mediocre on the ship except for Cagneys Steak House and Bamboo Restaurant which were both fantastic.  But, when you pay for a cruise, there didn't used to be paid restaurants and the meals on other lines were all great!  The pasta sauce was the most like jarred sauce possible, even at the Italian Restaurant.  Surprisingly, they had no night where they served lobster tails in the main restaurants.  That was shocking as every cruise I've gone on until now has had that lobster tail night.  Both main restaurants were good, the Venetian and Aqua.  Very different atmospheres from one another with Venetian giving the classic formal feel and Aqua a more modern contemporary feel. On board they have the Java Cafe (not complimentary), where they have confections made by Carlo's Bakery of the Cake Boss fame.  Worth trying if you've never had the confections most definitely, but an example of paying if you really want higher quality.  In short, this line gave me the impression that they would serve chain food for the cruise price, where the other lines I've cruised had high quality food everywhere and the specialty restaurants were more quaint in atmosphere as opposed to having to pay extra for a high quality meal.  The ship itself is in very good condition and really there are no complaints here.  The shows were good quality shows with a nice variety.  From a cirque de soliel type of act to second city comedy, the entertainment was comparable to other cruises.  Plenty of activities are offered all day everyday, so if someone is bored, it's their own fault.  However, again, you pay quite a lot for these games.  $30 to go bar hop at 5 bars on board.  $20 for a deal or no deal ticket, the cruise direction pushing scratch off tickets for $5 each at every venue, I heard one woman say Bingo tickets were $70 although I did not play so cannot confirm this.  The Casino had a mix of slit machines and tables so a nice variety of gambling fun.  They had tournaments you could enter, as other ships have had also. As far as Bermuda goes, once and done is my opinion.  You don't need more than two days at this very small island with not much to see and expensive prices.  Horseshoe Bay Beach is worth experiencing but if you're  not a sun worshiper, that's where it stops.  Not a lot of historic sites to see at all. We went on a deep sea fishing expedition (not offered through the cruise line) with Reef a Fishing.  This was well worth the $100 a person for 4 hours of fishing with guaranteed catch.