Norwegian Dawn Review

Third Cruise on Dawn, but Not the Best

Review for Bermuda Cruise on Norwegian Dawn
User Avatar
Mary01
6-10 Cruises • Age 60s

Rating by category

Cabin
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service

Additional details

Sail Date: Jun 2016
Cabin: Mid-Ship Inside

I went on this cruise to Bermuda with two friends. This was our 3rd cruise on the Dawn. On the positive side, the ship has recently been renovated and looks really good. Embarkation was smooth and efficient. Our inside cabin was small as we expected but was clean and comfortable with a good amount of storage for a small space. Our cabin steward, who told us to call him "S" was very attentive and did a great job. The food was good and we enjoyed the entertainment, especially the husband and wife duo "Twice as Nice." We loved Bermuda. We went to Horseshoe Bay Beach and went shopping at the Royal Dockyard and in Hamilton. We didn't do any organized shore excursions but took a van to the beach for $7 each way and the ferry to Hamilton for $9 round trip. Frog and Onion is a great restaurant/pub at the Royal Navy Dockyard where we had a drink.

On the negative side, we saw some changes since our last trip on the Dawn in 2014. We heard there is a relatively new CEO and he seems to be trying to cut costs, which is having an impact on the ship. We heard many similar complaints from other passengers. The level of service has dropped considerably. The staff works very hard but it appears there have been big cuts in the number of them. There are only one or two people going around serving drinks at the pool, where there used to be several of them. (Irene is one of the few and she does a great job). The lack of poolside servers results in long lines and waits at the bar. There is also a long wait for dinner orders to be taken and for the dinner to arrive. There are no busboys clearing tables as on previous trips so waiters have to do it, This means more work for them and longer waits for food. There are also just less waiters. Some of the public restrooms were not cleaned often and there were toilets not working and/or wastebaskets overflowing. There is now a $7.50 charge for room service which used to be free and specialty restaurants are a la carte pricing and expensive where they used to be a reasonable flat fee. It is also very difficult to get a reservation. There is no more poolside barbecue.

I am not sure if I will cruise on Norwegian again. I would probably have to get a good deal to do so. It's too bad because I do like the casual atmosphere on the ships and the anytime dining. It was my first choice when cruising. Hopefully, they will raise their standards again.

Cabin Review

Mid-Ship Inside

Cabin IB
15 Helpful Votes
previous reviewnext review

Find a Norwegian Dawn Cruise from $716

Any Month

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.