Just came back from a cruise aboard Norwegian Dawn. Weather and seas were great.

Embarkation - For those of you who cruised prior to being able to enter information on line (10 to 12 years ago). Remember the long lines outside the building that turned into rows of seats where you waited and then became another line to secure your room key. Norwegian Dawn brought that back. I really do not know how long embarkation took but it was the longest and least organized in at least 10 years. When they finally took our row of seats, it took talking to 4 employees and we still weren"t sure we were in the right line.

When we went through security, they asked if there was any liquor in our bags. I answered yes 2 750 ml bottles of wine. The reason I had that wine was that the NCL agent I had talked to said that was permitted. She failed to tell me that there was a $15 corkage fee per bottle even if you intended to consume it in your room. I have taken wine on many other cruise lines and they only require a corkage fee if you take the wine to the dining room. I told them to hold it until after the cruise where I could take it home and uncork it for free. I guess people don't tell her that because the girl had a really hard time complying with that request. Read more