Because of the horrible and unsettling announcement 4 hours into the voyage that some poor soul had fallen overboard, this became a very complicated and difficult cruise to truly enjoy. However the following are some observations on the May 11 NCL Dawn sailing out of NYC to Bermuda:

Embarkation: traffic around and into the pier can be a problem so allow plenty of time. From arrival time (about noon) at the pier to boarding was about an hour; rooms were ready about 1:30 PM. Luggage arrived about 5PM. Ship: our room was inferior compared to other ships we have sailed on. The carpet was worn and stained, the mirror behind the bed had 2 big grease stains on it and hadn't been cleaned in a while; the balcony was very dirty. However in general, the public areas on the ship were very clean and in great shape. Cabin Steward: she never introduced herself and we finally sought her out in the evening. While she was friendly enough, our simple requests for a bottle of water or filling the soap dispenser always required several reminders. I always give an advance tip of $40 but this time it had no affect on the level of service. Entertainment: this was a big disappointment. The 3 Jean Ryan productions were good, especially "Band on the Run" which is a new version of a show we have seen before. Bollywood was also good and very creative; the Miami show was entertaining. All the rest was pretty bad; I have see better piano players at high school recitals. Dining: I am not sure of the value of the NCL upgrade called "2.0"; the food was much the same as our experience on the NCL Star in 2007. The Venetian and Aqua dining rooms were very well run; service was great and the food very good. Bamboo has a similar menu to PF Chang's (Asian fusion) and the food is also very good. Impressions is well worth the modest $10 cover charge; the food is excellent. Salsa is one of the better venues but if I hadn't befriended some of the staff, I would have never gotten a table. It seemed like they were doing a favor by accommodating diners, but by 9 PM the place was usually empty. Cagney's was a huge disappointment; a long wait and very over-rated. Again, getting seated seemed like some over-complicated ordeal While seating is a little close, the Blue Lagoon serves some great appetizers, burgers and wings. Although we usually avoid buffets, there is a Deli station in the buffet restaurant that prepares some great NY style sandwiches! Casino: some of the staff were very poorly trained and unfamiliar with pay-off procedures and gambling rules. However free drinks are finally offered (to players with an NCL players card) and no fee is charged for obtaining money against your ship-board account. We won about $800 on slots and another $1,000 on table games; some was returned to the casino but most was applied against our account. Staff: Friendly but nearing the end of their contract and no doubt anxious to go home. This is a very tough job and you have to respect them for maintaining such a positive attitude with so many over-demanding and over-indulgent passengers. Disembarkation: NCL does such a great job with this; the colored tags drive an efficient and painless process. On the final day, we had a nice breakfast in the Venetian and afterwards waited for about 45 minutes in our cabin for our color to be announced. From then, it took less than 45 minutes to clear US Customs, retrieve our luggage and be on our way to the Newark airport. Weather: be forewarned, there is a reason why the price for a spring cruise to Bermuda is so low. While the weather on the island may be pleasant enough, the Atlantic is very unpredictable anytime but can be particularly hostile during this time of the year. While on the ocean to and from Bermuda we experienced storms, gale force winds and waves from 18' to 42' almost the entire time. One afternoon, my wife and I were sitting at the window by Le Bistro and the ship hit a wave that covered the entire window and we were virtually looking into the ocean, A passenger walking in the hallway actually got wet from sea water that penetrated the window seal. Another time, I was standing on our 10th floor balcony watching the ocean and suddenly I was looking at a totally white wall of ocean spray. I loved this wild aspect of the cruise but I am sure I was in the minority. Bermuda; beautiful, safe, historic; without a doubt one of the best ports we have ever visited. Conclusion; the Dawn is a very good ship that offers great value. Feel free to email with any questions.