New Cruise Review - Norwegian Dawn

[Jason]

bpasdar has submitted a cruise review of the cruise this past week aboard the Norwegian Dawn. If you haven't yet read the story about what happened to the ship this past week, be sure to check out that story, posted in the Cruise Discussion forum. Thanks for the review, bpasdar!

To access the Cruise Review Directory, click the "Reviews" tab at the top of any page. Then select the cruise line/ship you'd like to browse the reviews for. If you have any questions or need help, please don't be shy and ask us for help.

[Jason]

bpasdar has submitted a cruise review of the cruise this past week aboard the Norwegian Dawn. If you haven't yet read the story about what happened to the ship this past week, be sure to check out that story, posted in the Cruise Discussion forum. Thanks for the review, bpasdar!

To access the Cruise Review Directory, click the "Reviews" tab at the top of any page. Then select the cruise line/ship you'd like to browse the reviews for. If you have any questions or need help, please don't be shy and ask us for help.

[Jason]

bpasdar has submitted a cruise review of the cruise this past week aboard the Norwegian Dawn. If you haven't yet read the story about what happened to the ship this past week, be sure to check out that story, posted in the Cruise Discussion forum. Thanks for the review, bpasdar!

To access the Cruise Review Directory, click the "Reviews" tab at the top of any page. Then select the cruise line/ship you'd like to browse the reviews for. If you have any questions or need help, please don't be shy and ask us for help.

[Suzila]

I just read the review...this was bpasdar's first cruise and unfortunately, it wasn't just the giant wave that seems to have probably turned him off to cruising.

As he reports, the itinierary was changed right from the start of the trip. Many people don't know or don't understand that the cruise lines will change the itinerary if they feel it's not safe to dock somewhere, for whatever reason, i.e.: weather. I think you should just expect this to happen and try to go with the flow. I'd rather have a changed itinerary than get on a ship and head directly into a storm. Unfortunately, it seems like the wave was quite a big surprise anyway, even though they tried to avoid it.

I've only been on one NCL cruise and that was about 10 years ago. The only complaint we had, and it really wasn't a complaint, was that the ship was older (can't remember offhand which ship it was). But the food was great and the entertainment was very good. We enjoyed that trip. Has NCL changed so much? The review makes it sound like NCL is a terrible cruise line.

I realize that the giant wave would ruin a vacation, but the way bpasdar has reported it, it sounds like the entire cruise was horrible.

Should NCL be avoided? Wondering how everyone else feels about this line. And, did bpasdar propose to his girlfriend? He didn't say. Inquiring minds (nosy people!) want to know!

Sue

[Suzila]

I just read the review...this was bpasdar's first cruise and unfortunately, it wasn't just the giant wave that seems to have probably turned him off to cruising.

As he reports, the itinierary was changed right from the start of the trip. Many people don't know or don't understand that the cruise lines will change the itinerary if they feel it's not safe to dock somewhere, for whatever reason, i.e.: weather. I think you should just expect this to happen and try to go with the flow. I'd rather have a changed itinerary than get on a ship and head directly into a storm. Unfortunately, it seems like the wave was quite a big surprise anyway, even though they tried to avoid it.

I've only been on one NCL cruise and that was about 10 years ago. The only complaint we had, and it really wasn't a complaint, was that the ship was older (can't remember offhand which ship it was). But the food was great and the entertainment was very good. We enjoyed that trip. Has NCL changed so much? The review makes it sound like NCL is a terrible cruise line.

I realize that the giant wave would ruin a vacation, but the way bpasdar has reported it, it sounds like the entire cruise was horrible.

Should NCL be avoided? Wondering how everyone else feels about this line. And, did bpasdar propose to his girlfriend? He didn't say. Inquiring minds (nosy people!) want to know!

Sue

[Suzila]

I just read the review...this was bpasdar's first cruise and unfortunately, it wasn't just the giant wave that seems to have probably turned him off to cruising.

As he reports, the itinierary was changed right from the start of the trip. Many people don't know or don't understand that the cruise lines will change the itinerary if they feel it's not safe to dock somewhere, for whatever reason, i.e.: weather. I think you should just expect this to happen and try to go with the flow. I'd rather have a changed itinerary than get on a ship and head directly into a storm. Unfortunately, it seems like the wave was quite a big surprise anyway, even though they tried to avoid it.

I've only been on one NCL cruise and that was about 10 years ago. The only complaint we had, and it really wasn't a complaint, was that the ship was older (can't remember offhand which ship it was). But the food was great and the entertainment was very good. We enjoyed that trip. Has NCL changed so much? The review makes it sound like NCL is a terrible cruise line.

I realize that the giant wave would ruin a vacation, but the way bpasdar has reported it, it sounds like the entire cruise was horrible.

Should NCL be avoided? Wondering how everyone else feels about this line. And, did bpasdar propose to his girlfriend? He didn't say. Inquiring minds (nosy people!) want to know!

Sue

[DaCruzNut]

Suzilla-

I'd bet the ship you were on was either the Sunward II or The Seaward. I was on both, and loved them!

Unfortunately, Suzilla, NCL has changed that much!

It went from being my most favorite line to my least favorite...

The food and entertainment were the best at sea!

Every meal, every snack, every bite was excellent. The service superb. They outshone my two new favorites, Celebrity and Princess.

The two production shows were almost as good as any land-based produsctions I've seen. On one night they had a mostly-dance show called "Sea Legs Goes...." (Hollywood; Circus; Broadway-the productions changed...) and, even though I'm not a big dance-fan, I thoroughly enjoyed every one. The second production show was always an abbreviated version of a famous Broadway musical. Also, excellenly done.

The Cruise Director's, and their staffs, were fabulous! I had one C.D. who remembered the names, and home towns, of most of the 800+ passengers!

Then, about 5 years ago, NCL was bought by Star Cruises, a company based in Asia and which, up until that time, ran a huge fleet of gambling ships! They introduced "Freestyle Cruising," which screwed up the food and service; and, then, had the gall to add restaurants were you had to pay extra to get the food and service that was once included, only still not as good as it was....

I was on the Norwegian Sun, for it's Inauguaral Luncheon. This is supposed to be a showcase for travel agents and others in the cruise industry. The food was practically inedible and the service almost as bad.

This was followed by a sailing on the inaugural cruise of the Norwegian Star, an experience I don't want to relive.

Oh, well, there are plenty of other lines out there.........

[DaCruzNut]

Suzilla-

I'd bet the ship you were on was either the Sunward II or The Seaward. I was on both, and loved them!

Unfortunately, Suzilla, NCL has changed that much!

It went from being my most favorite line to my least favorite...

The food and entertainment were the best at sea!

Every meal, every snack, every bite was excellent. The service superb. They outshone my two new favorites, Celebrity and Princess.

The two production shows were almost as good as any land-based produsctions I've seen. On one night they had a mostly-dance show called "Sea Legs Goes...." (Hollywood; Circus; Broadway-the productions changed...) and, even though I'm not a big dance-fan, I thoroughly enjoyed every one. The second production show was always an abbreviated version of a famous Broadway musical. Also, excellenly done.

The Cruise Director's, and their staffs, were fabulous! I had one C.D. who remembered the names, and home towns, of most of the 800+ passengers!

Then, about 5 years ago, NCL was bought by Star Cruises, a company based in Asia and which, up until that time, ran a huge fleet of gambling ships! They introduced "Freestyle Cruising," which screwed up the food and service; and, then, had the gall to add restaurants were you had to pay extra to get the food and service that was once included, only still not as good as it was....

I was on the Norwegian Sun, for it's Inauguaral Luncheon. This is supposed to be a showcase for travel agents and others in the cruise industry. The food was practically inedible and the service almost as bad.

This was followed by a sailing on the inaugural cruise of the Norwegian Star, an experience I don't want to relive.

Oh, well, there are plenty of other lines out there.........

[DaCruzNut]

Suzilla-

I'd bet the ship you were on was either the Sunward II or The Seaward. I was on both, and loved them!

Unfortunately, Suzilla, NCL has changed that much!

It went from being my most favorite line to my least favorite...

The food and entertainment were the best at sea!

Every meal, every snack, every bite was excellent. The service superb. They outshone my two new favorites, Celebrity and Princess.

The two production shows were almost as good as any land-based produsctions I've seen. On one night they had a mostly-dance show called "Sea Legs Goes...." (Hollywood; Circus; Broadway-the productions changed...) and, even though I'm not a big dance-fan, I thoroughly enjoyed every one. The second production show was always an abbreviated version of a famous Broadway musical. Also, excellenly done.

The Cruise Director's, and their staffs, were fabulous! I had one C.D. who remembered the names, and home towns, of most of the 800+ passengers!

Then, about 5 years ago, NCL was bought by Star Cruises, a company based in Asia and which, up until that time, ran a huge fleet of gambling ships! They introduced "Freestyle Cruising," which screwed up the food and service; and, then, had the gall to add restaurants were you had to pay extra to get the food and service that was once included, only still not as good as it was....

I was on the Norwegian Sun, for it's Inauguaral Luncheon. This is supposed to be a showcase for travel agents and others in the cruise industry. The food was practically inedible and the service almost as bad.

This was followed by a sailing on the inaugural cruise of the Norwegian Star, an experience I don't want to relive.

Oh, well, there are plenty of other lines out there.........

[Suzila]

I'm surprised and disappointed to hear all this Jeff, but appreciate your summary. I think it was the Seaward that we were on.

So, in that vein, I've been hoping to take a cruise around Hawaii, maybe next year. Isn't Norwegian the only line that cruises around the islands? I'm not interested in cruising across the ocean TO Hawaii. Just want to fly there and cruise around. Do you happen to know if any other line does that? I'm sure not going to take a chance on NCL if it's as bad as you say.

Thanks, Sue