Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	422
Accommodation	200	156
Food	400	289
Service	400	284
Entertainment	100	66
Cruise	400	303

How this score is created

Norwegian Dawn (sister to Norwegian Star, which debuted in 2001) was constructed in 64 sections, (“blocks”). It is a state-of-the-art vessel for Norwegian Cruise Line, and features a “pod” propulsion system.

The hull displays interesting logos on top of its white paint, depicting the ship’s itineraries: the port side features the cruise itinerary from New York to the Bahamas and Florida, while the starboard side features the winter itinerary from Miami to the Caribbean. Dolphins, the Statue of Liberty, and representations of the four original paintings displayed on board (the Impressionists Matisse, Renoir, Van Gogh, and the pop artist Andy Warhol). It is a colorful concept, and makes the ship easy to spot in a sea of similar-sized ships in port.

Facilities include a large Dawn Club Casino gaming area, an Internet Cafe (with 24 computer stations and internet connection), a 1,150-seat showlounge with main floor and balcony level, a 3,000-book library, a card room, a writing and study room, a business center, conference and meeting rooms, and a retail shopping complex measuring 20,000 sq. ft (1,800 sq. meters).

As in sister ship Norwegian Star, a good deal of space is devoted to children’s facilities (the T-Rex Kids’ Center and Teen Club) – all tucked well away from adult recreation areas, at the aft end of the ship. Children of all ages will get to play in a superb wet ’n’ wild space-themed water park (complete with large pool, water slide, and paddle pool). There’s a room full of cots for toddlers to use for sleepovers, and even the toilets are at a special low height. Teens, too, are well catered for, and get their own cinema (with DVD movies), discotheque with dance floor, and their own whirlpool (hot) tub.

With so many dining choices (some of which cost extra), your final cruise and dining experience will be determined by how much you are prepared to spend. To make the most of your cruise holiday, you will need to plan where you want to eat well in advance, and make the necessary reservations, or you may be disappointed.

More choices, including more dining options, add up to a very attractive holiday package, particularly suitable for families with children, in a very contemporary floating leisure center that really does provide ample facilities for you to have an enjoyable time. The dress code is casual – very casual (no jacket and tie needed, although you are welcome to dress formally if you so wish). There is no suggested dress code on the daily programme.

While the initial cruise fare seems very reasonable, the extra costs and charges soon mount up if you want to sample more than the basics. Although service levels and finesse are sometimes inconsistent, the level of hospitality is very good – made so much better and brighter by the addition of a great number of Asian female staff rather than the surly and inconsistent Caribbean Basin staff still found aboard some NCL ships.

Despite the company’s name, Norwegian Cruise Line, there’s almost nothing Norwegian about this product, except for some senior officers. The staff, incidentally, includes many Southeast Asians who already have service experience aboard parent company Star Cruises’ big ships.

Cruising aboard large ships such as this has become increasingly an onboard revenue-based product. The ship is full of revenue centers designed to help you part with even more money than what is paid for in the price of your cruise ticket. You can expect to be subjected to a stream of flyers advertising daily art auctions, “designer” watches, “inch of gold/silver” and other promotions.

Gratuities for staff (cabin attendants, dining room waiters, etc.) are automatically added to your onboard account at $10 per person, per day; you can, however, reduce or otherwise amend these if necessary before you disembark, but in May 2005 the gratuity became a non-adjustable “service charge.” In addition, a 15% gratuity is added to all bar and spa treatment accounts. The onboard currency is the US dollar.

Although the suites and junior suites are quite spacious, the standard interior (no view) and outside-view cabins are very small when compared to those of other major cruise lines such as Carnival or Celebrity, particularly when occupied by three or four persons; the bathrooms, however, are of quite a decent size, and have large shower enclosures. Music played in some areas bleeds through into others; for example, Latin music played in Salsas (on the second level of the lobby) is heard throughout the lobby and the internet café on the third level of the lobby and is most disconcerting. Communication (particularly between some of the Asian staff and passengers) is weak. Standing in line for embarkation, disembarkation, shore tenders and for self-serve buffet meals is an inevitable aspect of cruising aboard all large ships – even those designated as “Freestyle”.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008