All about the Norwegian Dawn

Norwegian Dawn cruise ship
Norwegian Dawn

The Norwegian Dawn was built in 2002. It was renovated in 2016. It's considered a small size ship. Coming in at 965 ft long and 125 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 2.7 football fields, as wide as 2.4 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 12-story building.

Norwegian Dawn Overview

Norwegian Dawn Size and Passengers

The Dawn can hold 2,340 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Dawn has a space ratio of 35. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship has less space per person than average.



Norwegian
Dawn
ClassDawn
Gross Tonnage82,250
Length965
Beam/Width125
Passenger Decks12
Passengers (double occupancy)2,340
Crew1,032
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.3
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)35
Norwegian Dawn Space Ratio
30 35 52

The Dawn is one of two Dawn-class ships currently sailing with Norwegian. The Dawn is very similar to its sister-ships; Star, although each ship may have some differences.


Norwegian Dawn Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Norwegian Dawn. You have 12 different dining options to choose from. Of those options, 4 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 8 options have an additional fee. Some of those options are a set price and some have a la cart menu pricing. Only 33% of the dining options are included meaning you might spend more while on the ship due to the additional fees.

RestaurantRestaurant TypeCostType of Food
Atrium CafeQuick serveA la cartCoffee
BambooSit downIncludedAsian
Bimini GrillQuick serveIncludedAmerican
Cagney's SteakhouseSit downA la cartSteakhouse
La Cucina ItalianSit downA la cartItalian
Le Bistro FrenchSit downA la cartFrench
Los LobosSit downA la cartMexican
Main Dining RoomSit downIncludedDinner
Moderno ChurrascariaSit downFlat feeBrazilian
O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & GrillSit downIncludedIrish Pub
Sushi BarQuick serveA la cartSushi
TeppanyakiSit downFlat feeAsian

Norwegian Dawn Bars and Drinks

Gatsby's Champagne Bar on the Norwegian Dawn
Gatsby's Champagne Bar on the Norwegian Dawn

Norwegian Dawn has 9 different bars and lounges where you can enjoy a beer or cocktail.

BarLocation
Bimini Bar & GrillDeck 14
Bliss Ultra LoungeDeck 7
Cellars Wine BarDeck 7See Menu
Gatsby's Champagne BarDeck 6
Java CafeDeck 7
Juice BarDeck 12
Sake BarDeck 7
Sugarcane Mojito BarDeck 13See Menu
Topside BarDeck 12

Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.

Norwegian also serves the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

Pools and Hot Tubs on Norwegian Dawn

The main pool on Norwegian Dawn
The main pool on Norwegian Dawn

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Norwegian Dawn has a total of 2 pools and 5 hot tubs. 1 of the pools is exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access it or you need to book a certain class of cabin.

Norwegian
Dawn
Total Pools2
- Pools - General Access1
- Pools - Adults Only
- Pools - Exclusive1
Total Hot Tubs5
- Hot Tubs - General Access5
- Hot Tubs - Adults Only
- Hot Tubs - Exclusive


Norwegian Dawn Features and Activities

There are quite a few things to do on the Dawn. These are the main amenities that are available. Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge.

Norwegian
Dawn
ArcadeA la cart
BasketballIncluded
CasinoA la cart
Cigar BarIncluded
Fitness CenterIncluded
Jogging TrackIncluded
Shows - musical reviewIncluded
SpaA la cart
Splash parkIncluded
Thermal SuitesFlat fee

Cruise Costs

Norwegian is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.

Norwegian Dawn Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Norwegian ship.

Norwegian
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$20.00
Tip added to drinks & services20%
Soda Price$3.50
Domestic Beer Price$7.00
See drink menus
Drink Package Price$109
Learn more
Internet Plan$29.99 - $39.99 per cabin per day, with $5 for each extra device
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a More at Sea fare. Through this program, guests receive open bar, a discount on excursions, some free internet, and some meals at specialty restaurants. If you book using this promotion, you'll be responsible for the gratuities on the dining and drink package. If you won't be using these options, booking a "sail away" rate that doesn't include the More at Sea benefits is considerably cheaper. Also, most of these benefits are the base packages; you can spend more to upgrade to better alcoholic drinks or faster/more wifi.

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