This was our 9th cruise, 4th with NCL. After positive experiences on the Spirit and absolutely FABULOUS EVERYTHING on the Jewel, we booked the Dawn.
We booked waaaaay in advance and were pre-assigned our "balcony" room which appeared to be in the perfect location; midship forward. The pictures on-line looked just fine and it was an upgraded balcony room. Expensive, but we thought worth it since it WAS a 9 day cruise.
EMBARKATION: A breeze. Zip, you're on.
8526 Sold as upgraded balcony. HOWEVER, is a partially obstructed view balcony. Balcony has large steel plate window cut out with a plexiglass "rail." Horrible looking with rust streaming down the chipped white painted steel. No picture of that anywhere in NCL literature or internet. Not the normal aluminum railed balcony. DON'T BOOK!!!! A real excitement killer!