Norwegian Dawn Review
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Additional details
We are a semi-retired couple from Toronto, Canada. This was our 13th cruise, only 2nd on NCL. We chose this based on itinerary, price, and positive reviews from repeat guests on this ship, as evidenced on Cruise Critic active forum postings.
Sailing from Tampa let us enjoy 3 nights at the Sheraton Riverwalk, where many other Cruise Critic members were staying. Meeting up with them in person was like starting the cruise party "on landâ€. We used the hotel shuttle to visit Ybor City, Channelside, and Walmart. We followed the non-stop news coverage of the tragic Boston marathon events on every TV channel. We were glad when the lockdown ended while hurting for the innocent dead and injured at our final destination port.
Embarkation was congested around 11:30am until more luggage carts arrived to clear the backlog. Once we dropped off our 2 suitcases and found our way to the escalator at the end of the terminal and through security, it was much faster with no lines.
Cabin Review
Mid-Ship Balcony
Good location, adequate size, the shower stall roomy, but the toilet enclosure was very tight with a sliding door and its jagged edge aluminum frame and jamb. We brought our own soap and shampoo (only a dispenser was available for both). The bed was firm, but we got used to it without requesting a mattress cover. The balcony offered privacy and had a slight overhang for shade. We needed ten more hangers for the closet. There is a light inside the closet, but it takes a few seocnds to start. The flat screen TV offers limited channels, and the remote only has a channel up/down key. If you hold it down it will move quickly through the channel numbers. There is a crew entrance across the hall, so on occasion we heard some conversations as they were moving about.