
With Reuben Goossens
Cruise’n’Travel
Journalist / Cruise Reviewer
Princess
Cruises
Dawn Princess
Australia’s Second Premium
Cruise Ship

Berthed at
the
Please Note: Photographs on this feature (except “Accommodations” and “360 virtual tours” and those provided by Carnival Plc/Princess Cruises) and marked “by & © 2008 Kosta Specis” were taken by the author, Reuben Goossens of cruise-australia.net and are © Copyright 2008.
As MV Dawn Princess departed
Dawn Princess’ first cruise was a 28
night Australian circumnavigation, with its first port of call being
This page contains a photographic ship review and it covers the majority of the ships public spaces. I trust that it will provide you with a good picture of what is indeed a magnificent ship. Many who will view this page may have already sailed with Princess Cruises and will already know about the excellent service that Princess is famed for! The food on a Princess ship is the ultimate and the entertainment onboard simply cannot be faulted. The author has sailed with Princess Cruises many times (at own expense) and is an “Elite Captains Club” member, and from my experiences, I highly recommend a Princess cruise. Some ask me, “Is a Princess Cruise not rather expensive?” I can honestly tell you that it certainly does not have to be, for always check the travel pages in your local weekend newspaper or with your travel agent, for there are special fares available at certain times.

Maintenance
is never ending to keep this ship in perfect shape
The ships
sheer size is evident from the size of the men on the raft
Before we board this fine ship, let’s
review a few facts about the Dawn Princess: She is the younger sister of the
Sun Princess and the two ships are the largest Premium class ships based
full-time in
Now, let’s go onboard and explore the magnificent Dawn Princess!

Dawn
Princess towers high above the apartments built at Portside

This will be
the first view you will have of the Grand Lobby if you board the ship in
Via Deck 7
– Promenade Deck
The
We walk from the bottom to the top
Externally Dawn Princess is identical to her sister Sun Princess. Internally, I soon found that there are a few slight differences, as her timber work is lighter, and she features a multitude of different art works throughout the ship. In addition her two Main Restaurants have different names.
As you board this magnificent ship the

Two glass
dome lifts are a feature of the Atrium

Deck 5 -

The
Patisserie Coffee Lounge

The
Patisserie
Photograph
by & © 2008 Kosta Specis
The

The
Patisserie
Photograph
by & © 2008 Kosta Specis
The Patisserie runs the length on the portside
of the

The
Grand Plaza Lounge looking towards the Patisserie

Purser’s (Information) Desk
Photograph
by & © 2008 Kosta Specis


Central
Staircase down to Deck 5

The shopping
arcades “Reflections” & “Latitudes” and other
Boutiques surround the Atrium on Deck 7


Looking up from
Deck 6 to the Atrium Lounge on Deck 7 and La Scala Pizzeria on Deck 8

Deck 8
is the top level of the Grand Atrium and it is the location of the La Scala
Pizzeria
The La Scala Pizzeria occupies the entire top level of the Atrium which is furnished with iron tables and chairs, similar to those seen here. This space has that typical Italian feel, although the baking and serving staff at La Scala is mostly Pilipino.

Looking
down from Deck 8
Deck 7
– Promenade Deck
Our tour commences forward and heads Aft
On Deck 7, Promenade Deck you will make many discoveries and there will certainly be a facility to please every need. There is the grand Princess Theatre forward as well as the fine Vista Lounge & Showroom aft on this deck. In addition to a vast variety of Lounges and Bars, there is a spacious Nightclub, a Photoshop, as well as an Internet Café and the ever popular Library! Not to forget the magnificent teak walk around Promenade Deck.
The Art Deco style Princess Theatre is located far forward and it seats 550 passengers. The arched stage is 11 meters wide and will host a host of Broadway style shows. The over all colour scheme is a hued red and there are large Art Deco panels on the walls that contain murals which are more visible on the second photograph.

Starboard
entrance to the Princess Theatre
Photograph
by & © 2008 Kosta Specis

The Princess
Theatre seats 550 persons
Photograph
by & © 2008 Kosta Specis

Princess
Theatre – looking forward

Princess
Theatre

A close up
of one of these panels
Photograph
by & © 2008 Kosta Specis

The
forward Hall located between the Princess Theatre and the Wheelhouse Lounge and
Bar

Portside
Passage next to the Wheelhouse Lounge

Portside
entrance to the Wheelhouse Bar
With the Wheelhouse Bar, Princess Cruises has gone back to its P&O roots as the room features many models of old P&O liners on the starboard side as well as fine paintings. In addition there are many items of memorabilia from various liners. These include a Ships Bell, a Telegraph, a Steering Wheel, brass Lamps and much more. You will discover fine leather sofas and chairs on the port side, whilst on starboard some of the seating is upholstered in fine red brocades as you will see on the photograph below. This room has a band stand and a sizable dance floor as this fine Lounge is also used for dancing.

The
superb Wheelhouse Lounge and Bar

Starboard
side of the Wheelhouse Bar

Wheelhouse
Bar, looking to port
View
a 360 virtual tour of the Wheelhouse
Bar

I have
briefly walked to the forward set of lifts and this is the stairwell opposite
the lifts on Deck 7

Dawn
Princess is blessed with a full walk around teak Promenade Deck – Starboard,
looking aft

This is the
perfect place for a morning read and enjoying the sun and the sea breeze!
– Starboard, looking forward

Between
the lifts is the entrance to the Atrium Lounge on Deck 7

Atrium
Lounge and bar (starboard)
Atrium Lounge occupies all of the Grand Atrium space on Deck 7. The colour scheme is colourful, yet somewhat muted with its rich timbers, beige carpets and blue seating, with gold metal and glass topped tables. The bar is also framed with gold and dark brown stone and a sculpture at its corner. A modern mural hangs on the forward wall, whilst the Plaza Atrium itself makes up the remainder of the spectacle. The Atrium Lounge is the perfect place for trivia and other games during the day, as well as having that quiet drink and a relaxing time, be it reading a book or just chatting with friends. However, at other times, the Atrium Lounge is used for dancing as it has a band stand and a dance floor.

A wider view
of the Atrium Lounge

The
View a 360 virtual tour of the Grand Casino
On starboard side of the

Magnums
Lounge and Bar

Magnums
Lounge – The Photo Gallery can be seen past the doors

Shooting
Stars Nightclub and Disco – amidships, portside
The Shooting Stars Night Club is a spacious room and above we see but a corner of it. The colour scheme is based on various shades of greys, but it comes alive when the lights are turned on at night when it becomes a very colourful venue indeed! It starts off as a Night Club and then it turns into the late night Disco for those who like to dance the night away!

The ever
popular Bay View Library & Reading Room - It is located portside

Aft entrance to the Internet Café
Photograph
by & © 2008 Kosta Specis

Internet
Café – is also located portside

The Vista
Lounge is the ships second showroom
The Vista Lounge is a tiered room and the venue for a variety of entertainments and shows and cabarets and guest entertainers, such as comedians, vocalists, and magicians. In addition movies are also shown here, as they are in the Princess Theatre. The Vista Lounge is also the perfect place for “Bingo.”

The
Vista Lounge is well tiered and all seats turn around and face the stage

The Vista
Bar
Deck 12
We tour aft to forward

The Beauty
salon

Hairdresser

Reception at
the “Lotus Spa”

“Lotus
Spa’ main entrance

The Gym is
large and faces out to sea as well as over the stern of the ship

A grand view
is to be had as you are working out!
View a 360 virtual tour of the Gym

Highly
trained staff is available to work with you and organise a program that will
suit your needs

The famous
between decks Lotus Pool and two Hot Tubs

This area is
simply called “The Riviera” – It has an upper pool seen in
the front, with two Hot Tubs, and there
Is a larger pool and one more Hot Tub on the
lower lever closer to the Riviera Bar

Another view
from starboard
View
a 360 virtual tour of Lido
deck & Pools

Here we see
that each deck has a facility. 1. The Riviera Bar. 2. The Balcony Grill. 3 Windjammers Bar.
Deck 14

“The

During the June 2008 refit one of the new features to be added will
be the giant outdoor movie screen
Placed in front of the funnel
Image
© Princess Cruises/Carnival Plc

Horizon
Court is a 24 hour buffet/food outlet overlooking the ships bow. In the evening
part of the
Horizon
Court is transformed in the ever popular “Sterling Steakhouse.”

Horizon
Court has a Bar, Band stand and dance floor

There
are buffets on both sides as well as one in the middle, note the superb model
of the ship!
View
a 360 virtual tour of the Horizon
Court

Another new
addition after the refit will be the new luxurious *“Adults Only
Sanctuary” with
“Lotus Spa” facilities up on Deck 15
This area is
complete with cabanas, trees and a vast range of plants, giving it a garden
atmosphere - *Extra charge applies
Image
© Princess Cruises/Carnival Plc
Deck 6
- Venetian Restaurant

The
Venetian Restaurant
Sorry
for the blurred image, my battery was running low
Deck 5
- Florentine Restaurant

The Florentine Restaurant is located directly below the Venetian
Restaurant
Photograph
by & © 2008 Kosta Specis
Accommodations
The
accommodation images were provided by: Carnival

Twin bedded cabin with balcony - Convertible to a Queen sized
bed
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 balconies 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

Suite

Outside double/twin bedded cabin

Inside twin bedded cabin
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. I was told by a past Sun Princess passenger that “They're most crowded on the last day of the cruise, and to beware for these machines are commercial units and should be used with care with very delicate lady garments.”
My tour of the ship certainly left me impressed as I had not seen her before and she is superb in every respect and I would be on her tomorrow, if I had the time! But, I am certainly planning a cruise on her as soon as I am able! In the meantime if you are planning a cruise in the near future, make sure you book a cruise on the magnificent Dawn Princess, or her sister the Sun Princess, for you will not be disappointed!

Dawn
Princess is a ship highly to be recommended, certainly
her interiors are like a luxury hotel in every respect!

all things has to be just 100% perfect and her
officers and staff ensured that it was!
In Conclusion
Dawn Princess was built in
For
further Information Email Me …
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P&O Cruises