This was our 4th trip on the Dawn. We like the size and and layout. The renovations were purely cosmetic - new carpet, wall decor, curtains, etc. There was still window glass cracks, rust on the balconies, etc. No changes were made in the balcony cabin bathrooms. The new mattresses were like rocks - maybe they plan on having them break in over time? We had to ask for an egg crate for the bed and still both woke up with sore hips each morning.

Once you get thru security at Boston the check in was easy. We had to wait about 10 minutes for them to call our group to board. We went right in to the Venetian for lunch. It is much brighter than before but... the art? Wow. Absolutely awful. Someone took period paintings and randomly painted splotches, lines and shapes of varying colors over parts of them and their frames. No idea what they were thinking. It turns what could be a very pleasant room into something slightly ...off.

Unfortunately, this particular trip was a cruise full of smokers. Each evening we would get smoke in our cabin through the vent systems. Supposedly no one was supposed to smoke but they did. We were no where near the casino which was impossible to even walk through on this trip due to the heavy smoke. Same with the pool deck. We do not remember smoke everywhere on this trip before - must be the luck of the draw or perhaps NCL is now attracting the last of the hold out smokers? Other lines seem to have more restrictions. Read more