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Fuzzlekins,Sorry, I didn't mean to give you more travel anxiety with all my information/opinions on the Dawn.But I just wanted to give you my feelings and take on a few different aspects of this cruise. The Dawn was our first "free-style" and it was quite a different experience. While we enjoy the traditional cruise method very much, we found we like both styles for different reasons. I guess it depends on what type of vacation experience you are looking for. Free style was nice in that you could eat when, where and with whom you wanted and not have to dress up (My other half hates to wear a jacket & tie)....it may sound trivial, but I found having to plan ahead for dinner and make reservations a nusiance. (If you didn't reserve early for the specialty restaurants all the better dining times were gone and unless you were a suite passenger you could not reserve more than a day ahead) There were several dining options that did not require a reservation, but for what I felt was the better quality food and service you needed to go to the reservations only extra fee restaurants. If I were taveling with a group I might go free-style again, but otherwise I'd choose traditional, as we found we were eating at the same time as we would be for late seating traditional dining anyway. I did miss the friendships made at the traditional dinner seatings and having the same servers that know your preferences.......In my opinion, if you are looking for a casual unstructured experience then free style might be the right choice for you, but I feel you sacrifice quality in many areas for that freedom.As far as extra money needed for the "unknown" (drinks, excursions, etc) can run into quite a bit and cruising is different from the all inclusives in that respect. We only used room service once daily at the most and tipped around $2 for each delivery. It is not necessary to tip extra anywhere above the tips that are automatically added to your bill. (Unless you are in a suite and then you need to tip your Butler & Concierge) But some of the staff will go "above & beyond" trying to please you in which case an extra gratuity would be appropriate. But I don't think the extra funds needed for the unexpected would be that much. But if your Travel Agent didn't advise you about the extras (tipping, drinks, excursions, etc) that are part of the cruise experience they aren't doing their job and shame on them!Post Edited (07-18-03 14:18)
Fuzzlekins,
Sorry, I didn't mean to give you more travel anxiety with all my information/opinions on the Dawn.
But I just wanted to give you my feelings and take on a few different aspects of this cruise. The Dawn was our first "free-style" and it was quite a different experience. While we enjoy the traditional cruise method very much, we found we like both styles for different reasons. I guess it depends on what type of vacation experience you are looking for. Free style was nice in that you could eat when, where and with whom you wanted and not have to dress up (My other half hates to wear a jacket & tie)....it may sound trivial, but I found having to plan ahead for dinner and make reservations a nusiance. (If you didn't reserve early for the specialty restaurants all the better dining times were gone and unless you were a suite passenger you could not reserve more than a day ahead) There were several dining options that did not require a reservation, but for what I felt was the better quality food and service you needed to go to the reservations only extra fee restaurants. If I were taveling with a group I might go free-style again, but otherwise I'd choose traditional, as we found we were eating at the same time as we would be for late seating traditional dining anyway. I did miss the friendships made at the traditional dinner seatings and having the same servers that know your preferences.......In my opinion, if you are looking for a casual unstructured experience then free style might be the right choice for you, but I feel you sacrifice quality in many areas for that freedom.
As far as extra money needed for the "unknown" (drinks, excursions, etc) can run into quite a bit and cruising is different from the all inclusives in that respect. We only used room service once daily at the most and tipped around $2 for each delivery. It is not necessary to tip extra anywhere above the tips that are automatically added to your bill. (Unless you are in a suite and then you need to tip your Butler & Concierge) But some of the staff will go "above & beyond" trying to please you in which case an extra gratuity would be appropriate. But I don't think the extra funds needed for the unexpected would be that much. But if your Travel Agent didn't advise you about the extras (tipping, drinks, excursions, etc) that are part of the cruise experience they aren't doing their job and shame on them!
Post Edited (07-18-03 14:18)
