Cruising Africa onboard NCL’s Norwegian Dawn

From spotting lions in Mossel Bay to playing a live quiz show or getting a massage in the Mandara Spa, time stretches luxuriantly between ship and shore onboard Norwegian Dawn.

Cruising around Africa on Norwegian Dawn is like dividing your time between two worlds. One minute, we’re following heavy footprints left in the grass that lead us to a herd of elephants rolling around in a pool of wet mud. Then, just hours later, we’re back onboard, sitting in the Irish pub, O Sheehan’s Bar & Grill, eating cheeseburgers and apple pie and describing the shores we’ve just explored to our new friends. That contrast between ship and shore is akin to holding onto an invisible taut rope.

Time seems to stretch luxuriantly on the 12-night Africa: South Africa & Madagascar Norwegian Dawn cruise from Port Louis in Mauritius to Cape Town. The ease of combining rich cultural and wildlife experiences with the comfort and convenience of cruising from A to B is what made this cruise such a standout.  Here’s an overview of the ship and facilities onboard Norwegian Dawn which includes everything from a rundown of rooms and suites to its restaurant and bars.

Who does it suit? | Rooms & Suites | Restaurants & Bars | Entertainment | Deck Plan | Shore Excursions | FAQs

Who is this cruise best suited to?

The cruise along the southern coast of Africa seemed to resonate with couples and my husband and I certainly made memories that will last a lifetime. Yes, kids are welcome onboard NCL’s Norwegian Dawn. But they were few and far between on my recent cruise. In terms of activities for kids, there is a Splash Academy (for a fee), an Entourage Teen Club and T-Rex Kids’ Pool. But I counted less than a dozen kids under the age of 18 onboard at the time of cruising.

Those children that were onboard tended to be travelling for a special occasion with multiple generations. All this makes those sans kids pretty happy when it comes to accessing areas such as the pool without a splash-happy vibe. Or having a nice quiet dinner. The ship seemed to attract a mostly middle-aged English crowd.

Cruise along the southern coast of Africa onboard NCL’s Norwegian Dawn.

Rooms and suites

Norwegian Dawn’s 2016 refurb got rid of most of the garish décor in the cabins in favour of a more neutral look and another small update in 2021, but it was definitely due for another zhoosing. I have since learnt that the ship also went into drydock in April 2024 (shortly after my sailing), undergoing a light cosmetic refurbishment. Renovations included refreshing the carpets, wallpaper, and tiles in select areas around the ship. Some staterooms received refreshed wallpaper as well.

NCL has some of the largest suites at sea and our accessible stateroom is very roomy indeed. It has a balcony where we spend a lot of time during our days at sea watching the waves whip into small meringue-like peaks. There’s a small flatscreen TV that offers news channels, a free movie channel and a lot of for-a-fee films as well as info on shore excursions.

The Garden Villa boasts panoramic sea views.

The cabin has ample storage with hanging space, drawers and shelves. There’s a nightstand, a mini table with ottoman stool and a mini bar that we ask to have emptied to make room for our own snacks. There is just one 110-volt outlet so bring a multi-plugger.

Our shower is spacious but the bathrooms could do with a bit more functional shelving. BYO conditioner as there is only a conditioning shampoo, shower gel, bar soap and body lotion provided.

It takes a fleet of professionals to make the Norwegian Dawn ship sing. Every time we disembark the ship the room is precisely as it was when we left the day before. It’s like a clean slate and the stewards deserve a shout-out for this.

The three-bedroom Garden Villa features a private deck.

Restaurants and bars

In addition to eating for free from the buffet at Aqua and the Venetian, O’Sheehan’s pub, Bamboo, the Asian restaurant, and in the two main dining venues, we try out the extra-fee venues that included Teppanyaki for dinner and a show, Cagney’s Steakhouse for slabs of Angus beef, Mexican Los Lobos for tacos.

The hibachi-style Japanese restaurant Teppanyaki.

While Moderno Churrascaria is known for its meat, the salad bar is also sensational. We also head to the Bimini Grill and outdoor bar to enjoy burgers, beers and live music. To La Cucina for pasta and charcuterie. And catch up with friends for a tutored wine tasting led by the ship’s sommelier in The Cellars – A Michael Mondavi Family Wine bar.

The modern dining room of Italian eatery La Cucina.

Activities and entertainment

Check the Freestyle Daily that arrives in your stateroom each morning to get an outline of the day’s activities and plot a course for party time. You can BYO your own drink to the Stardust Theater to catch a show as the stadium-style seating has cup holders. Arrive early to avoid having to clamber over people to find a spare seat as the theatre seats more than 1000 audience members.

Le Cirque Bijou entertains with death-defying acts.

You can play the live quiz show Deal or No Deal, vote for your favourite singer in Showdown (American Idol meets Motown), boogie along Soul Rockin’ Nights, or see a mesmerising magic show in Elements.

Alternatively, you can catch up with friends and be served by the ship’s sommelier in The Cellars, an intimate wine bar.  The Sugarcane Mojito Bar also has a rotating roster of live music and is a good place for a boogie.

The Dawn Club Casino Bar is really only for those who like to gamble. A safer more wholesome bet is a beanbag toss, dance class, spa treatment or seminar.

The Atrium offers an elegant space for dining and relaxation.

Deck plan

We got horribly lost on our first foray around the ship. But after a few hours wandering around Norwegian Dawn, we discovered we could just go with the flow of the fish on the carpet in the corridors to find our way from aft to fwd.

The pool is located on Lido Deck 12.

The NCL App outlines the Dawn-class deck plan which changed slightly after its refurb. You will find the Stardust Theater on Deck 6, Atrium Lobby and Photo Gallery on the Promenade (Deck 7), Library (Lido Deck 12) and pool (Lido Deck 12) as well as the Entourage teens club on Deck 13, which includes a video arcade. Gatsby’s Champagne Bar is on Deck 6 along with the Havana Club and restaurants Le Bistro (French) and La Cucina (Italian).

Le Bistro serves contemporary French cuisine.

The ship’s main dining rooms, The Venetian and Aqua are also on Deck 6. O’Sheehan’s is on Deck 8 and the Moderno Churrascaria is on Deck 13. If you’re in need of a massage head to Mandara Spa (Deck 11) which is adjacent to Pulse Fitness Center (Deck 12). Los Lobos Cantina is on Deck 12 and Cagney’s Steakhouse and Sugarcane Mojito Bar are on Deck 13.

The Mandara Spa offers hot and cold therapies.

Shore excursion highlights

One thing about sailing around southern Africa on a ship with capacity for 2340 guests is that the list of shore excursions is extensive. And the proximity to the main attractions allows us to quickly catapult from our neat and ordered cabin into a landscape stalked by beasts without the hours of gruelling overland travel.

Shore excursion highlights include the Kalaisson Temple in Port Louis.

NCL returned to African waters in 2024 for its second and longest season and the selection of destinations and immersive shore excursions makes the sailing very appealing. The new 12-day cruise route departs from Port Louis, Mauritius to Cape Town, South Africa.

Boulders Beach is a sheltered inlet frequented by penguins in Cape Town.

Along the way, the sailing itinerary includes stops at Nosy Be, Madagascar, known for its seascapes and lemurs; Richards Bay, the gateway to Zululand; Elizabeth Bay, the jumping-off point to Addo Elephant Park; and Mossel Bay, known for its windswept beaches. One of the standout experiences we enjoyed was spotting elephants in Addo Elephant Park after just an hour’s bus ride from the port in Mossel Bay.

Addo Elephant Park is a highlight on the Africa itinerary. (Image: Willie Erasmus via Getty Images )

Norwegian Dawn FAQs

Where does Norwegian Dawn sail from?

Norwegian Dawn sails from Southampton, Oslo, Stockholm, Le Havre, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Cape Town, Doha, Rome, Civitavecchia, Barcelona, Singapore, Piraeus and Laviron. It home ports in Southampton (England) and Cape Town (South Africa).

Norwegian Dawn sails to Cape Town in South Africa.

Where does Norwegian Dawn sail to?

The ship sails to Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean and Africa. If you’re looking for a getaway to sunny climes, it’s likely there’s an itinerary to suit.

Sustainable practices

Norwegian Dawn is 294 metres long and built to carry 2340 passengers (double occupancy). A quick glance at the Sail & Sustain: Our Global Sustainability Program outlines a raft of climate action strategies and targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

The program, revamped in 2022, is aiming to reach net zero GHGs by 2050 and a reduction in GHG intensity of 10 per cent by 2026. The ship produces 90 per cent of the fresh water used onboard and has a strong focus on reducing single-use plastics. Norwegian Dawn uses biodiesel blends (70 per cent marine gas oil and 30 per cent biodiesel) to operate.

The company’s strategy also includes a commitment to driving a positive impact on society and the environment. What was evident while onboard was the support and investment in local communities and tour operators.

How much does it cost to go on Norwegian Dawn?

Prices start from $4,225 per person for an inside room.

Dive deeper into NCL’s Norwegian Dawn with our extensive review of the restaurants and bars, as well as an overview of what to expect from the rooms and suites.