This was a ten night cruise to Barbados and other islands in the Lesser Antilles. It was our third time sailing on the Dawn, our tenth with NCL and our thirty-third cruise overall. We live on the Southwest coast of Florida so cruising out of Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami is most convenient. We usually drive over to Miami the day before the cruise to avoid any last minute rush or unanticipated travel glitches. We stay one night in a Quality Inn near the airport which allows free parking for up to 30 days and also offers free shuttle service to the port. There are several excellent Cuban restaurants nearby to help set the mood for a Caribbean cruise and the hotel includes a complimentary breakfast.

Then, it's off to the port arriving around noon to see an undisciplined line of humanity snaking out of the building, down an alley, back up the alley and ending about another 300 feet later. Somehow, the majority were inside within 15 minutes. Check-in at the counter was also seamless and efficient and it should be since they conduct this rodeo multiple times each week. The good news ends there. Having successfully side-stepped the photographers minefield we arrive at the Garden Cafe, better known as the Feeding Trough, at peak feeding frenzy. NCL offers a bag check service for carry-on's but few take advantage of it, preferring to double-park their stuff under the crowded, undersized tables and in the sparse traffic aisles. This circus occurs on every ship on embarkation day. To avoid this you can grab a poolside table and take turns bringing food back or check to see if the main dining room happens to be open for lunch while in port. It rarely is.

From here on we'll hit the high points and low points only. I assume you don't care to hear about anything that's considered average, standard, mundane or simply boring. Read more