Live from the Dawn Owners Suite 10506 12/1/05 Cruise-A Review

Day 1 -- Our friend picked us up at 10:15AM and we left for the ship. We got to the pier at 11:20AM and it was a madhouse. I got a porter to check our bags and proceeded to the VIP area. At about 12:15pm, a NCL rep called for all Garden Villa, Owners Suites and Penthouses to follow her. They escorted us to the front of the lines and to the check-in and then to the key pick-up desk. Since we were in an Owners Suite, we were escorted to a table where Claudio was greeting the VIPs. He welcomed us back to the Dawn and even remembered us from our previous cruise. It was his first on the Dawn. He called for Carmen (Our Butler Supreme) to escort us onto the ship and to our cabin. Carmen came and we kissed and hugged. She was so excited to see us again so soon. When she opened cabin door, she said, Welcome Home. We unpacked our carry-on and it was off to The Venetian for lunch. It wasnt crowded at all, as this cruise looks and seems like a newbie cruising one. Lunch was good, and I tried trout for the very first time. We came back and our luggage was waiting for us. We unpacked and Carmen brought our booze and mixers just before the Muster Drill. My wife was dying for a Bloody Mary, but had to wait until the drill was over. Our Muster Station is the Stardust Theater and it wasnt as crowded as on our last cruise. Back from the drill and the Tiki Bar is now open. I poured a Jim Beam and Diet Coke and made her a spicy Bloody Mary.

The ship was delayed leaving until 5:45pm. We pulled away from the pier and were on our way. Tried to sail away on our balcony, but it was just a bit chilly at 5:45pm. I had told my wife we would get two Dawn hooded sweatshirts when the Galleria opened, so we didnt pack any. Well, the Galleria opened 1 ½ hours late because of the delayed sailing and it seems a new company is taking over and everything is on sale, but they dont have any sweatshirts. Boy, I hope the warm weather gets here soon. Read more