 Expert Review |  | | | | |
| | | | | Overview
The 77,000-ton 1,970-passenger Dawn Princess is the second ship in the line's Sun class style of vessels (which also include Sea Princess and Sun Princess). Dawn Princess offers a wonderful mid-sized (at least these days -- when it launched it was considered rather large) cruise experience that hews both to Princess tradition and contemporary travel styles. The ship has the requisite multi-million dollar art collection, a nice health and fitness facility, two main showrooms, an around-the-clock restaurant, a few alternative eateries, and 410 cabins with verandahs (a low ratio today but fairly revolutionary in design when the ship was launched). What's important, though, is that folks who find they like Princess style -- one that's both casual and traditional -- but prefer a ship far more intimate than Dawn Princess' 21st century siblings, will enjoy the experience. While Dawn Princess is equipped to handle multi-generations of travelers, it's important to note that its facilities -- from spas to kids' clubs -- aren't quite as well equipped and as such the ship tends to draw an older passenger base, aside from school vacation periods. | | |  top | | | | Dining
The Venetian and Florentine Dining Rooms are virtually identical dining rooms, differing only in the color of decor and in the exquisite murals depicting Venice and Florence. Both rooms contain lovely wood and etched glass panels which create a feeling of intimate dining. There are several tables for two, four or six as well as more traditional tables for eight. The food preparation was very good on my cruise, beautifully presented and interestingly varied. I particularly enjoyed the fresh Salmon and other seafood on our Alaska cruise. Vegetarian selections were excellent and desserts superb. And pastas, a Princess signature option at every meal, were varied and always excellent. A good selection of healthy choice items is offered every night. Waiters are efficient, friendly and helpful. Many passengers opt for breakfast in the casual Horizon Court, which offers excellent hot and cold breakfast options, along with European specialties and an abundance of fruits and breads. A huge buffet lunch is also available in the Horizon Court and at night (7:30 p.m. - 4:00 a.m.) the Horizon turns into a table service bistro with a full menu of cooked-to-order items from its own galley. La Scala Pizzeria, another alternative for lunch or dinner (2:00 to 10:00 p.m.), is a lovely slice of Italy with delicious pizza and calzones. You'll also find Sundaes, a Haagen-Dazs ice cream bar ironically near the Oasis Spa and expectedly near the youth center, which charges for all ice cream and soft yogurt items and The Balcony Grill, overlooking the pool deck, which is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers hot dogs, burgers and wursts. | | | | top | | | | Public Rooms
You'll find elegantly appointed public areas, including a stunning art collection and an abundance of live foliage throughout Dawn Princess. The soaring central Atrium includes The Atrium Bar with a magnificent stained glass ceiling. It's a quiet place for people-watching and pre-dinner cocktails. You'll often encounter a string quartet or a pianist who serenades guests lingering over the lounges' cocktails or espresso. Passages Library is one of the most elegant libraries afloat, well stocked with hundreds of recent hardcover books, a paperback book exchange, CDs and audiocassettes. Warm mahogany bookcases, Wedgwood blue carpets and Old World accents create a cozy reading area, offering a great view of the sea from 13 soft leather stuffed chairs, a half-dozen of which have CD playback with headsets for whiling away the hours. The Card Room next door carries the same decor and has a dozen tables for games and bridge. Bridge competitions are held regularly under the supervision of guest masters. | | | | top | | | | Cabins
Standard outside cabins with picture windows measure 135-173 square feet. Dawn Princess has a wide selection of staterooms with private balconies, nearly 70 percent of all outside cabins. Balcony cabins measure 178 square feet including the balcony. Space inside these cabins is smaller (151 square feet), and may feel tight, particularly if shared with children. Suites with large private verandahs are 374 to 754 square feet and include a sitting room with separate bedroom, a large marble bathroom, whirlpool, and walk-in closet. There are also 372 inside cabins ranging from 135 to 148 square feet. Nineteen ADA cabins (seven outside, 12 inside) range from 212-305 square feet. Each cabin deck has a free Laundromat with washer and dryer. Detergent is available in machines for 50 cents a box (enough for a single load) and each laundry has an iron and ironing board. They're most crowded on the last day of the cruise, but beware, these machines are tough commercial units and should be used with care on delicate garments. | | | | top | | | | Entertainment
Entertainment is fairly standard cruise fare: big production revues, cabaret with comedians, ventriloquists and jugglers. Talented singers and dancers perform in both show lounges (Theater and Vista); one Theater show, "Rhythms of the City," is an award-winner and may well be the finest cruise show in the industry. Dawn Princess features two fine show venues. The Princess Theater, decorated in a rich burgundy, is one of the best production theaters afloat: state-of-the-art sound and lighting, a huge stage, comfortable theater-style seating, no distracting tables or bar service and excellent sight lines from each of the theater's 550 seats. The theater is also used for enrichment lectures and movies. The other show venue is the Vista Lounge, which is a more typical cruise ship show lounge. Slightly tiered seating with comfortable banquettes and little cocktail tables arched across the room. It's perfect for bingo and cabaret performances, but a bit cramped for big song and dance production shows. It's a lovely room with deep rose carpet and pale sienna seating. Avoid sitting near the bar in the back during show time -- the blender can crank up quite a distraction. Movies Under the Stars (M.U.T.S.), the big-screen outdoor theater that's proven so popular with the line's newest ships, will be installed aboard Dawn Princess in June 2009. Passengers can enjoy movies, concerts, sporting events and other special programming throughout the day and evening. Jammer's nightclub is open until the early morning hours and is popular with passengers of all ages. Different nights feature the music of different decades from the 50's to the 90's, as well as Karaoke. Done in gray and mauve, it has carpets with a celestial motif and neon tubes snaking across the ceiling for a startling night sky effect. Magnum's, with desert cactus window boxes and black marble sea creatures, is opposite Jammer's nightclub and makes an interesting land/sea venue for caviar and champagne. The Casino has an abundance of slot machines, plus eight blackjack tables, roulette and a craps table -- all of which stay lively in the evening. The Atrium Bar on the third level of the atrium has a magnificent stained glass ceiling just off the atrium's opening. It's a quiet place for people-watching and pre-dinner cocktails. | | | | top | | | | Fitness and Recreation
Dawn Princess' fitness facilities include state-of-the-art Lifecycle, Stairmaster, rowing machines, weights and treadmill workout equipment, located in a glass-walled health center off the stern of the ship, offering striking views while you exercise. But there is a limited number of treadmills, often requiring day-before signup (during port days, the equipment is most available after 10 a.m. and before 4 p.m.). The Oasis Spa facilities also offer free sauna and steam rooms, as well as a full range of spa treatments and services. But book early. Appointments for sea days fill up within a few hours on embarkation day. The pool deck has a choice of three swimming pools, two tiered mid-ships and one shaded by a dome aft in the center of the Spa area. All have whirlpools adjacent. There are 93,000 square feet of open deck space and during a day at sea you'll find plenty of open or secluded areas for sunning, but get out on deck early if you want a lounge chair. They're gone by 10 a.m.. Additional recreational facilities include a netted sports deck under the ship's funnel, with volleyball, badminton, paddle tennis and a half basketball court. A small golf center allows passengers to enjoy computer-simulated play on 18 of the world's top golf courses, plus two fantasy courses designed for some amusing frustration. | | | | top | | | | Family
The "Fun Zone" children's center features a cleverly glassed-in splash pool to isolate the sound of screaming youngsters from sunning adults, a castle, doll house, children's theater, a ball pit, TV with videos and computers with children's software. This area is great for children 3-8, where they participate in a supervised program of games, arts & crafts and free play. The program is offered for toilet-trained kids only. Nine -12 year olds have a more unstructured program focusing on group games like scavenger hunts throughout the ship. Teens' "Fast Lane" is a video game arcade. In the teen club, a large screen TV, dance floor, nonalcoholic bar and a cool jukebox system allow teens to create their own DJ projects under space-age lights. During days at sea, the children's programs run from 9-12 a.m., 2-5 p.m. and 7-10 p.m.. There is no extra charge. From 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. and on port days, there is a group baby-sitting charge of $4 per hour, per child. Except for one night when there's a children's' dinner in the Horizon Court, meal service is not part of the program. | | | | top | | | | Fellow Passengers
Most passengers are 40+ (Caribbean) and 50+ (Alaska and all other cruising regions); Dawn Princess also attracts more families during holidays and school vacation periods. | | | | top | | | | Dress Code
There are two formal nights per week, one semiformal and four casual nights. Because of a rather high number of UK guests, and the elegant reputation of Princess Cruises, about two-thirds of the guests wear tuxes on formal nights, but a suit is perfectly acceptable. | | | | top | | | | Gratuity
$3.00 per person, per day for room steward and waiter; $1.75 per person, per day for the assistant waiter. A gratuity for the head waiter and maitre d' is left to the guests' discretion. Guests can buy tip vouchers with their on board charge card, then give the vouchers to the appropriate personnel. | | | | top | | | | | Expert reviews are provided by CruiseCritic.com, an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation. | |  | |
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