The Norwegian Dawn sets sail from Barcelona on November 5, heading for Cape Town. The route is exciting, and so are the prices, starting from €1,681 per person for an oceanview cabin (or €1,564 for an inside cabin if you want to save a little bit of money). All meals are included in this price.
Norwegian Cruise Line automatically adds a crew gratuity of US$20 (~€17) per person per day to your onboard account. If you wish to adjust or remove this amount, you can do so at the reception onboard.
These prices are per person if you book for 2. If you book for three, the price for an oceanview cabin even drops to €1,249 per person – but you’ll be quite cramped in the cabin.
You won’t have to pay for any meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner (some speciality restaurants excluded), as well as cold and hot water, coffee, and tea during meals. Alcoholic drinks start from $6 (for a bottle of beer).
All cabins feature double beds that can be converted into twin beds if needed. There’s an extensive program of events and entertainment, including activities for children.
The Route
Here’s the detailed itinerary for the cruise:
| Date | Location | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 5 | Barcelona | 17:30 | |
| November 6 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| November 7 | Casablanca, Morocco | 07:30 | 16:00 |
| November 8 | Agadir, Morocco | 08:00 | 17:00 |
| November 9 | Arrecife on Lanzarote | 07:00 | 17:00 |
| November 10 | Santa Cruz de la Palma on La Palma | 08:00 | 17:00 |
| November 11 – 12 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| November 13 | Dakar, Senegal | 08:00 | 17:00 |
| November 14 | Banjul, The Gambia | 07:00 | 14:00 |
| November 15 – 16 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| November 17 | Abidjan, Ivory Coast | 07:00 | 16:00 |
| November 18 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| November 19 | Sao Tomé, Sao Tomé and Príncipe | 10:00 | 17:00 |
| November 20 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| November 21 | Luanda, Angola | 07:00 | 17:00 |
| November 22 – 23 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| November 24 | Walfischbai, Namibia | 07:00 | 14:00 |
| November 25 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| November 26 | Cape Town | 08:00 |
The Ship
Norwegian Cruise Line introduced the Norwegian Dawn in 2002, it being their second ship from Meyer Papenburg shipyard. It’s a relatively compact ship accommodating up to 2,340 passengers with a large crew of 1,032. Its speed capability of 25 knots exceeds that of many other cruise ships, advantageous for longer voyages, though in regular operation, efficiency is prioritized over high speeds.
NCL operates throughout the English-speaking world, catering mostly to guests from the USA/Canada, Australia, and England. Accordingly, the ship and service are tailored to these guests. The onboard currency is US dollars, and no cash is needed onboard as all transactions are charged to your cruise card, settled with a credit card at the end. English is the primary language on board. Basic English skills are recommended.
NCL embodies the Freestyle Cruising concept, offering many restaurants without additional charges. However, some speciality restaurants do incur extra fees if not included in a dining package.
The ship underwent renovations in 2021, adding new restaurants and making minor improvements. The cabins, understandably, remain the same and might feel slightly tighter compared to newer ships.
In the middle of the ship is a quite large atrium, featuring live music. On the upper deck, alongside the animation team’s sports offerings, is a large midship outdoor pool. The only indoor pool is located in the spa area and requires an additional fee. There’s also a large area for children at the stern, including pools.
Flights
Once you’ve arrived in Cape Town, you’ll probably want to get back to Europe at some point. Currently, the cheapest option – by far – is flying to London Gatwick with Norse for €377, including 23 kg of luggage.
Feel free to use our search form to see how much a flight to your home city would cost: