First let me say that although we have cruised before on a couple of different lines, it was the first time for us on NCL.
Day minus 1: We drove from Toronto to New York and arrived in Manhattan about noon. We did a "test drive" to the port then went back under the Holland Tunnel to NJ, getting a hotel in Secaucus for the night.
Day 1: We arrived at the pier about noon and I must say, contrary to my fears of a busy and harried experience, it was an absolute breeze. Dropped our luggage at the designated spot at the front of the pier, DW got a baggage handler while I went to park the car which was up the ramp to the parking area right beside the Dawn. After parking it was as simple as going down an escalator and I joined my DW in line to board. Here we met a family from CT and hit it off instantly. We were on the ship by 1:45 and in our room (#11638) by 2:00.