The Norwegian Dawn is a bare bones ship compared to some of the larger ships with all of their “extras” such as water slides, aqua parks etc. but for those who like a more relaxed cruising experience with an excellent assortment of ports of call in the Southern Caribbean, this is an excellent ship to cruise on. For a ship it’s size, it has a nice assortment of dining venues, entertainment and venues. The ship was also beautifully refurbished in 2016 and has a very nice “feel” to it. Here are some additional observations:

EMBARKATION: From San Juan, this was the smoothest embarkation of the seven cruises I’ve been on. It took less than 15 minutes to go through security and check in. After a short time in the waiting area, we were on ship in about a half an hour. Being on a smaller ship speeds up process compared to the Gem and Breakaway.

CABINS: While nothing fancy, our balcony was more than adequate for the two of us. One important thing to note. There is only one outlet in the room and it was not near the bed. For those who need to use CPAP, this can be challenging. Also for those who have other electronic devices that need charging, having one plug is a hassle. I highly recommend being a surge protector or extension chord for your devices. My recommendation for Norwegian is to add USB plugs and outlets on their next refurbishment. Read more