We traveled the Norwegian Dawn on its 7 Day journey to Bermuda and back to Boston in October. There were highs and lows to the trip. We gave it an average score as a result.

Embarkation was relatively easy although TSA screening was not. There were long lines for security before we even got to the NCL desks. Seems they did not have enough people staffing the port even knowing there was a ship aiming to leave port that day. How can you have only 3 screeners with x-ray machines for 1500 people? NCL should also have sent some warnings about having to go through security before even getting to their own ship desks. Disembarkation was a breeze as was going past customs officials. apparently NCL was using old customs forms with erroneous information about Cuban Cigars. You can bring in up to 100 without having to report them to officials.

The ship has been refurbished and was clean and felt new. There was new carpeting, new upholstery, new lighting, new restaurants and remolded old ones. Some new spaces were created and different public spaces were created. Some of the remodel worked. A new Wine Bar, a new Mexican specialty restaurant, new lounge on deck 9. Lack of comfortable seating for groups of 4 or more did not. The Atrium was used for more activities including the movie screen but seating did not accompany the usage. Outdoor deck seating was really only loungers unless you were at a bar or buffet where you could have a chair. Not everyone can access a lounger comfortably. Quiet spaces were few and far between. The cigar bar has been moved to a central location near the entrance to two specialty restaurant sand a bar and a public space that had health lectures, classes and games. Not a good choice at all. Read more