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It's been an exhilarating journey to say the least! I want to share everything I've learned and hope to make your next cruise vacation as enjoyable as possible. Guests are encouraged to wear casual clothing such as jeans, shorts, and t-shirts in public spaces (not swimwear!). At night, guests are free to dress as they like in most areas of the ship.
Norwegian Epic Cruise Ship First-hand Expert Review - Cruise Critic
Norwegian Epic Cruise Ship First-hand Expert Review.
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 14:54:12 GMT [source]
Find a Norwegian Sun Cruise from $609
While they are in fact smaller than mega-ship pools, the way the Dawn creatively has seating around the pool makes up for the actual size! In a unique “stadium style” seating arrangement around the pain pool and various spaces with loungers, it’s easy to actually get a space in a time where chair hogs run wild. Another nice touch for some downtime is the current movies often screened in the Bliss Lounge. For people looking for a ton of onboard activities, they might be a little bored on the Dawn. The ship is more relaxed and less back-to-back “things to do” all day long. The Dawn has two dining spaces called Aqua and Venetian.
More about Norwegian Prima
There are also plenty of activities and programs geared towards children of all ages, including supervised activities for younger kids, video games, sports, and more. When you disembark, you will see the bathrooms and restaurant. You travel down a platform staircase to the beach where there is assistance with chairs and umbrellas. The all-inclusive does not include all types drinks. Four types of mixed drinks were included but nothing for beer and other mixed drinks. The all-inclusive meal was served around the upstairs restaurant.
Norwegian Breakaway Deck Plans Spread Out Venues, Leave Cabin Areas Quiet
If you find yourself with a dining credit to spare, it’s a fun activity with expected food quality. Paying for it, however, doesn’t seem like a great value. See the Teppanyaki Menu As for the sushi, it’s generally good, but being a sushi snob, it’s tough for me to pay real money for cruise ship sushi these days. On the Dawn, there is a generous space dedicated to the thermal pool / suite area which includes a small heated pool, whirlpool, hydrotherapy, and heated loungers.
I didn’t sign up for any of the spa treatments but Pam did. The staff is outstanding, always keeping the space spotless and supplied. I will definitely book a spa pass next time I cruise this ship.
Today's Birthdays - Enjoy your day!
We left a substantial tip for our cabin steward. At full capacity, the ship can hold 5,218 passengers, most of whom are from the United States. You'll find yourself sharing the ship primarily with couples and groups of friends, with families and little ones dominant during the holidays and summer breaks.
Norwegian Dawn Bars and Lounges
We have gone on this itinerary (Ports) three other times so the ports were a non-issue to us. Another positive thing was we could drive to the Port of New Orleans in just under 6 hours which was a GREAT benefit, especially on our drive home. Also, for whatever reason knowing I was driving allowed me to sleep the last night with far less stress. Airports give me stress because I almost lived in them in my career. You begin by boarding a pretty nice boat with comfortable seats and a/c in the main cabin.
Norwegian Jade Cruise Ship Review First-hand Expert Review - Cruise Critic
Norwegian Jade Cruise Ship Review First-hand Expert Review.
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 14:54:13 GMT [source]
While the cabin may lack windows, the large mirror on the wall behind the bed reflects a world of possibilities 😂😂😂. The number of restaurants on the Dawn is pretty shocking given the size of the ship! Amazingly, after the refresh of the Dawn, all of the “go-to” specialty dining restaurants are represented! Cabins on decks 10, 11 and 12 are great for light sleepers, as they’re not shared with any loud public venues and are located above and beneath other rooms.
The price varies based on cruise length, but we were offered a pass for $139/person for a 7 day cruise prior to embarkation… which is quite a good deal compared to some of the larger and newer ships! Day passes are available as well (check for current pricing). Balcony cabins are 160+/- square feet, plus an additional 37-square-foot veranda. These staterooms have a small pullout sofa, which can sleep one person though it’s not the comfiest place for sleeping. It’s worth noting that the pullout sofa is quite firm.
While Escape preaches a "freestyle" cruise experience, reservations are highly recommended and help reduce wait times, though expect lines to be part of the Norwegian Escape experience no matter what. The downside of this is the activities cut into the pool deck, which has a tiny pool and only a small amount of space to lounge. Introduced as the first ship in NCL's Prima Class in 2022, Norwegian Prima is purposely designed to feel like a swanky resort instead of a cruise ship. Unfortunately, unlike the ‘good ole’ days’ – you no longer get access to the thermal suite when purchasing a service from the spa. Very short-sighted in my opinion, but hey, it’s not my business – but it will contribute to not purchasing a massage or other treatment now. Inside cabins are ‘cozy’ and have about 140 square feet and a large mirror on the wall behind the bed instead of a window.
For a more traditional cruise traveler, that approach can seem like nickel and diming, but for those accustomed to resort stays, it's quite similar. If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll find that the Dawn is a decent choice for families. Even though a kids club exists, there aren’t many kid-friendly spaces on the ship like there are on newer larger cruise ships. There is a distinct lack of outdoor recreational space geared towards children, there is still a small dedicated kids pool in the rear of the ship.
The main theater, Prima Theater & Club, is located all the way forward on decks 6 and 7. This is a multiuse space, with seats that can be removed to turn this spot into a late-night dance club. Fans of live music won't want to miss Syd's Pour House, which has nightly shows, including a full rendition of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album. The Haven -- Norwegian's luxury ship-within-a-ship suite complex -- is the best yet on Prima. Most notably on Deck 11 the cabins in the center of the deck may experience some noise during breakfast and dinner service from the buffet above.
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Norwegian Breakaway restaurants are spread over multiple decks, allowing for easy access to food from all corners of the ship. And for those who wish to enjoy their meals in the privacy of their cabin, room service is available around the clock for a flat rate. You'll find plenty of young families onboard Norwegian ships, especially during holidays and school breaks. Our choice of the NCL Breakaway out of New Orleans on December 4, 2022, was pre-determined. Last year on the NCL Joy for our family vacation, my wife won the Slot tournament which gave her an entry into the “Casino’s at Sea” Slot Tournament finals for “Winner takes all $100,000.00”.
On European cruises, North Americans still dominate but you'll find more people from the United Kingdom and other European countries. One ship, Norwegian Joy, was designed specifically for the Asian market, and the vast majority of passengers on this ship will be from China. Known for its "freestyle" cruising, the laid-back Norwegian experience is all about choice, offering one of the largest selections of dining and entertainment venues per ship. Plus, with Norwegian's Free At Sea offer, every cruise fare includes a choice of things like free Wi-Fi, specialty dining, drinks or excursions. Can’t remember what I ordered at Savor, but it was very good.
