Norwegian Dawn

The 2002-built Norwegian Dawn cruise ship is NCL's second Dawn-class liner, together with Norwegian Star.

The vessel (IMO number 9195169) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311307000) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Miami (Florida USA), NCL is a publicly traded company listed on the NYSE (NYC). NCLH’s major shareholders include Apollo Global Management (USA), Genting Group (Malaysia), and TPG Capital (USA). In 2017, the NCL brand held a worldwide cruise market share of 8.7% (passengers) and 8.4% (revenue). NCLH (shipowner) also owns the brands NCL, Oceania, and RSSC-Regent.

The 2350-passenger Norwegian Dawn was the third ship in the NCL fleet designed to showcase the line’s Freestyle Cruising concept. Beyond flexible dining, Freestyle Cruising emphasizes guest choice and a relaxed atmosphere, including no formal dress code. In mid-2011, Dawn underwent a refurbishment that added 50 cabins and introduced a new restaurant, the Brazilian Steakhouse. Various public areas were reconfigured, including the gift shops, art gallery, atrium, and the location of the Spinnaker Lounge. These upgrades increased the ship’s capacity by 100 passengers.

Overall, Norwegian Dawn offers a calm and welcoming environment, designed to appeal to a broad range of travelers, including first-time cruisers who may be hesitant about traditional cruising.

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Dawn staterooms (1170 total, in 33 categories) include 173 Suites, 364 Balcony, 250 Oceanview, and 383 Inside cabins. Most cabins measure 140-165 ft2 (13-15 m2). The largest accommodation is the 2-Bedroom Garden Villa (2285 ft2 / 212 m2, plus a 3610-ft2 / 335-m2 terrace).

The ship has 14 decks, of which 11 are passenger-accessible and 9 contain staterooms.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

In addition to the two main dining rooms, Norwegian Dawn offers 10 speciality and complimentary restaurants. Cuisine ranges from premium steaks and classic French bistro dishes to Asian and Teppanyaki-style cooking. Food quality is consistently high, with dishes prepared to order. During peak dinner hours (6:30–8:30 p.m.), service may slow slightly, particularly when ordering desserts. Speciality dining reservations can be made only 24 hours in advance, so early booking is recommended for popular venues such as Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse), Cagney's (American steakhouse), and Le Bistro (French).

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Dawn restaurants and food bars:

• Venetian Restaurant (476-seat aft dining room; complimentary; Freestyle dining)
• Aqua Restaurant (314-seat forward dining room; complimentary)
• Le Bistro (86-seat French speciality, dinner-only; reservations-only; US$20 cover charge)
• La Cucina (186-seat Italian speciality; reservations-only; US$15 cover charge; includes outdoor waterfront seating)
• Bamboo (98-seat Asian restaurant; complimentary)
• Sushi Bar (17-seat venue inside Bamboo); Sake Bar (8-seat bar inside Bamboo)
• Teppanyaki (18-seat Hibachi-style Japanese speciality; reservations-only; US$25; open for lunch and dinner; features live cooking)
• Moderno Churrascaria (146-seat Brazilian steakhouse; reservations-only; US$20 cover charge; outdoor waterfront seating)
• Los Lobos Cantina (Mexican restaurant)
• Garden Cafe & Kid’s Cafe (426-seat indoor buffet; complimentary; includes kids’ area)
• Topsiders Bar & Grill (248-seat poolside venue)
• O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill (sports bar and pub)
• Cagney’s Steakhouse (speciality dinner venue for premium steaks and seafood; reservations-only; US$30 cover charge; Kids Menu available)
• Bimini Bar & Grill (135-seat outdoor snack bar)

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Norwegian Dawn offers a wide variety of activities during sea days, including bingo, arts and crafts, art auctions, and wellness seminars. Evening entertainment is a major highlight, with nightly shows held in the Stardust Theater. Performances range from Broadway-style productions to variety acts. Spanning Decks 5–7, the theater is styled after a European opera house and provides a comfortable viewing experience.

The Dawn Club Casino, located on the approach to the Stardust Theater, features slot machines and traditional table games. Additional onboard facilities include a spa, fitness center, Internet cafe, three pools (including the kids’ T-Rex Pool), and seven jacuzzis. Signature entertainment may also include NCL’s FIREWORKS show, “Rock of Ages”, “Cirque Dreams”, and the magicians’ production “Illusionarium”.

Additional amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, the supervised “NCL Kids” program, Wi-Fi/Internet access, and laundry services. NCL Dawn’s standard gratuity is US$12 per person per day. The ship also allows onboard weddings.

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Dawn lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults:

• Stardust Theatre (1037-seat show lounge with Broadway-style performances; two grand shows nightly)
• Aloha Atrium (two-deck midship hub with the 63-seat Aloha Bar)
• Gatsby’s Champagne Bar; Havana Club (cigar lounge); Wine Cellar; The Pearly Kings Pub (84-seat English pub); Java Cafe (57-seat coffee and tea bar); Internet Cafe; Star Bar
• Dawn Club Casino
• Spinnaker Lounge (457-seat aft lounge and nightclub); Bliss (observation lounge)
• The Galleria Shops (duty-free retail); Port o’ Call (perfume and cosmetics boutique); Photo Gallery & Shop
• Mandara Spa (beauty salon, treatment rooms); Lap Pool; Oasis Pool; T-Rex Kids’ Pool; El Dorado Fitness Centre; Jogging Track; Golf Nets; Combined sports court (basketball, volleyball, tennis)
• T-Rex Kids’ Centre; Video Zone

Itineraries

Norwegian Dawn’s itinerary program is based on Caribbean roundtrips from USA homeports, including Tampa Florida and Boston MA, visiting destinations in Bermuda, the Western Caribbean, and Canada/New England (seasonally).

The ship is also deployed in Europe (Mediterranean and Baltic/UK), homeporting in Southampton England, Copenhagen Denmark, and Stockholm Sweden.

For the winter seasons 2023–2024 and 2024–2025, Norwegian Dawn was deployed in the Red Sea and Africa, offering 7-, 9-, 10-, 11-, and 12-day itineraries departing from destinations such as the UAE (Dubai), Qatar (Doha), Mauritius (Port Louis), and South Africa (Cape Town).

NCL Dawn was originally intended to enter service as "SuperStar Scorpio" for Star Cruises (the GHK-owned Asian brand). However, it was later decided that she would be delivered to NCL instead. Dawn is the first NCL ship to feature hull art and is the lead vessel in the Dawn Class, with her only fleetmate-sistership being Norwegian Star. The inaugural cruise departed on December 7, 2002, and the liner was christened in NYC. Her godmother is Kim Cattrall (US actress).

Itineraries 2017-2018 changes

For the 2017-2018 season, NCL Dawn was repositioned from Port NOLA (New Orleans) to Tampa Florida. She was subsequently homeported in San Juan Puerto Rico (Nov 12, 2017, through Jan 7, 2018) for 7-, 10-, and 11-day Southern Caribbean roundtrips.

NCL Dawn refurbishment 2016 review

The deckplan changes following the ship’s 2016 drydock (May 8 to June 3, in Freeport Bahamas) included:

• Major renovations to Dawn Club Casino and Stardust Theater (both on Deck 6), the Atrium lobby and Photo Gallery (both on Promenade Deck 7), the Library (Lido Deck 12), the entire pool deck (Lido Deck 12), and Entourage (teens club and video arcade on Deck 13).
• (Deck 6) The restaurants Le Bistro (French) and La Cucina (Italian) switched locations. Both were updated with new carpeting, furniture, signage, and decorative lighting.
• (Deck 6) The main dining rooms (“The Venetian” and “Aqua”) were extensively refurbished with new carpeting, wood flooring, wall coverings, artwork, ceiling finishes, lighting, and signage. Their furniture was reupholstered.
• (Deck 6) Gatsby’s Champagne Bar received new flooring, furniture, artwork, decorative lighting, window treatments, and a new chandelier.
• (Deck 6) Havana Club (cigar bar) received new furniture, humidor, tile flooring, and draperies.
• (Deck 7) Bamboo Asian Restaurant received new carpeting, wood flooring, lighting, furniture (tables, chairs, barstools), and updated artwork. The Teppanyaki Room was doubled in size, more tables were added, and its flooring and décor were changed. A divider was built between the Teppanyaki Room and Bamboo Restaurant.
• (Deck 7) The Pearly Kings Pub (84-seat English pub) was replaced by The Cellars (wine bar, in partnership with the Michael Mondavi Family).
• (Deck 7) Spinnaker Lounge was renamed Bliss Lounge and fully redesigned with new carpeting and furniture.
• (Deck 7) Tides (a new boutique jewelry store) was added in the atrium lobby. The Ports O’ Call shop was renamed Tradewinds.
• (Deck 8) The Blue Lagoon buffet restaurant was replaced by O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill, a large 24-hour sports bar and pub offering complimentary burgers, hotdogs, and desserts.
• (Deck 8) To accommodate O’Sheehan’s, Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse) was relocated to Deck 13, replacing the former Star Bar (88-seat cocktail bar). Moderno received new furniture, décor, wall coverings, window treatments, and themed artwork.
• Mandara Spa (Deck 11) and Pulse Fitness Center (Deck 12) were redesigned and updated. The Spa received new treatment rooms, a barbershop, nail salon, a Thermal Suite (with 8 heated loungers), and a spa pool.
• (Deck 12) A new à-la-carte Mexican restaurant was added – Los Lobos Cantina.
• General renovation of all public areas, including new carpeting, upgraded elevators, and refreshed public restrooms.
• (Deck 12) Garden Cafe (buffet restaurant) was redesigned and upgraded with new flooring, furniture, decorative lighting, artwork, wall finishes, and signage.
• (Deck 13) Cagney’s Steakhouse was redesigned to provide additional space and received new furniture, artwork, décor, carpeting, lighting, and wall finishes.
• (Deck 13) A new Sugarcane Mojito Bar was added.

All passenger cabins were refurbished with new carpeting, bedding, furniture, flat-screen TVs, draperies, and artwork. The Haven Garden Villas (Deck 14 suites) received new flooring, bedding, furniture, lighting, ceilings, décor, and 42-inch HDTVs. The hull was also repainted.

Drydock 2016 was part of NCL's “Norwegian Edge” fleetwide upgrade program (a 2-year project budgeted at USD 400 million). Each drydock costs approximately USD 35–40 million.

NCL Dawn refurbishment 2011 review

The deckplan changes following the major 2011 drydock included:

• (Deck 12) The Cinema was converted into meeting rooms.
• (Deck 8 – new restaurants) Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse) and Blue Lagoon (buffet).
• (Deck 7 – venues relocated and converted into passenger cabins) the Photo Gallery, Galleria Shops (Tax-Duty-Free), Spinnaker (observation lounge), and the former card/conference rooms.
• (Deck 6) “Impressions” (Italian restaurant) was renovated and renamed “La Cucina”.