While sitting in one of the oversized deck chairs overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, I realized how important it is to take the time to treat ourselves.  As I sail on the Norwegian Dawn, I smile thinking about our clients who have already been lucky enough to enjoy what the Dawn has to offer.  I also realize how excited I am to share this experience with our new and existing clients who will join one of our tours on board this wonderful ship.

This was my first time experiencing Norwegian Cruise Lines. This trip was a Familiarization trip with my colleague Jacqueline and it did not disappoint.  I have traveled with Princess Cruises in the past and while both voyages were enjoyable, I enjoyed the flexibility Norwegian has to offer.  I wanted to share my experience on the Norwegian Dawn with you!

Ports of Call

New Orleans was our departure port for our 5-day Western Caribbean Cruise.  It is also our departure port for our New Orleans & Western Caribbean Cruise Tour in November 2017 (click HERE to learn more).  While visiting New Orleans, we stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites Convention Centre.  The hotel was located in a stunning historic warehouse with beautiful hardwood floors and industrial style ceilings. While the lobby showcased the historic building the rooms were cozy, modern, and well appointed. The hotel is also a short 5-10-minute walk from the Riverwalk Outlet Mall.  The Riverwalk is attached to the cruise port, has free WiFi, various souvenir shops, and a Café du Monde.  A stop at Café du Monde for their world-famous beignets is a must! (Jacqueline and I may have had them twice…)

We were also able to enjoy a plantation tour during our time in New Orleans.  We decided to visit the Laura Plantation, a historic Creole sugarcane plantation built in 1805.  This is one of the only plantations in the area where a few of the slave cabins are still standing and are included in the tour.

 

During the evening, we decided to partake in a ghost walk of the city.  This was an excellent opportunity to see the city at night and, of course, dig deeper into the city’s rich history.  If you’re lucky you may stumble upon a firework show like we did that evening.  In New Orleans, you can easily register to have a parade or firework show for almost any occasion! The city is always celebrating something.

During our cruise, we stopped in Progresso, Mexico.  We opted to participate in a shore excursion to Dzibilchaltun Mayan Ruins.  This was a great way to learn about the local culture and experience the Mayan history.

In Cozumel, Mexico, we opted to enjoy a beach day on our own.  Cozumel is stunning; the crystal blue water was perfect for a morning of snorkeling.  In Cozumel, the port offers lots of shopping and dining opportunities right off the pier and beaches for laying out or snorkeling are short taxi rides away.

To make the most of your ports while on board the Dawn with Target Tours, be sure to check in with the Target Tours office to see what shore excursions your Tour Director plans on taking part in.   You can sign up directly with our office or wait until you get on board the ship and sign up at their Shore Excursion desk. (Keep in mind if you wait until you get on board, we cannot guarantee you will be on the same shore excursion as the any Target Tours organized excursion.)

The Norwegian Dawn

Cabins

As previously mentioned, I have cruised with Princess before.  While on board the Caribbean Princess, we stayed in an Inside cabin.  During the cruise on the Dawn, I experienced an Oceanview cabin.  The cabin was bright and a bit more spacious compared to the Inside cabin I had been in before, and it was the perfect size for two people.  Our cabin was located on deck 8 with easy access to O’Sheehan’s Pub, The Venetian Dining Room and the Atrium.

Dining

For those of you, like me, who want to enjoy your meals but not over indulge, take advantage of breakfast, lunch, and dinner offered in the complimentary dining rooms like the Venetian or O’Sheehan’s Pub. I chose to eat there as I was better able to control the amount of food I ate compared to the buffet as the portion sizes were very reasonable. This way I left each meal feeling satisfied but not stuffed.  For busy port days and disembarkation day, enjoy a quick breakfast at the Garden Café which is cafeteria/buffet style.  The Garden Café is also a great place to grab a quick snack midafternoon or later in the evening as it is open 24/7.

There are seven specialty dining options available on board the Dawn. Specialty dining restaurants either have a cover charge (one flat fee for the entire meal) or are charged A La Carte (different charges for different plates) that you purchase above and beyond what is already included in your cruise.  For example, you can find a mix of Mexican flavours at Los Lobos (pictured above) or classic French at Le Bistro.  Whatever you are in the mood for there is something for you.  Los Lobos is a new addition to the Dawn’s specialty restaurant family located on Deck 12.  They offer many options ranging from ceviche to homemade salsa and tortilla chips, to pork or seafood tacos.  This was by far my favourite meal on board.  I can still taste the delicious Mexican corn and the warm chocolate cake.   This is a must try if you enjoy Mexican flavours.

Onboard Activities

What I often hear when speaking to potential clients is “What is there to do while on board…?”  “Will I get bored…?”.  The answer is a definite no!   From the time you sail away there is always something to do.  Be sure to join your cruise director and staff on the pool deck for your sail away party.   The entertainment was outstanding and it was the perfect way to set the tone of the cruise.  Make sure you experience Elements, Band on the Run, Showdown, and The Second City Comedy Show in the Stardust Theatre often in the evenings during the cruise.  There is also bingo, trivia, and Deal or No Deal games that happen at various times throughout your cruise and you must pay a fee to participate.   If you are looking to sit back and relax, find a lounge chair and enjoy the live music on top deck.

 

Find a place to enjoy the sunset

My favourite part of any trip is finding the most amazing sunsets.  I think my favourite sunset during this adventure was embarkation day.  As we were exploring the ship after the sail away party we were able to snap a few pictures of the sun setting over New Orleans as we were sailing down the Mississipi River.

Cruising with Norwegian was a completely different cruise than I had experienced in the past.   I loved the atmosphere the Dawn had to offer.  We had the opportunity to enjoy each of our meals when we wanted to which allowed us the freedom to catch the shows we wanted to see.  I enjoy cruising because you unpack your suitcase once and do not have to worry about repacking it until the end of your trip.  Cruising also gave us the opportunity to explore the ports with the options of shore excursions or on own.

Whether you are looking to enjoy a day full of activities or a day laying by the pool with a good book, cruising is for you.  We love that we can offer flexibility to our clients and can’t wait to see you on board our next cruise tour!

 

-Katie, Receptive Tour Coordiantor