ABOARD THE NORWEGIAN DAWN -- The scenario: The christening of
Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dawn. The setting: The ship's
1,037-passenger Stardust Theater.
The scene: Outrageous. Travel agents and assorted dignitaries
clacked drumsticks together instead of applauding and were doused
with confetti as "Sex and the City" actress Kim Cattrall christened
the vessel. Even Santa Claus made a guest appearance.
"Our cruises are like no one else's, and our christening is like
no one else's," said NCL chief executive Colin Veitch.
NCL is trying to drum up lots of excitement for the Norwegian
Dawn and the ship's summer itineraries from New York.
The line got a warm reception from retailers on board the
vessel's two-day preview cruise, despite frigid outdoor
temperatures.
Aboard the 2,224-passenger ship, nicknamed NCL's "Star of the
East Coast" in reference to its Hawaii-ported sister, the Norwegian
Star, the mood is more Miami Beach than Manhattan.
The atrium space is bright and airy and was enlivened on the
preview cruise by a salsa band.
With the line's Freestyle Cruising concept, the focus is on
food. The Dawn offers three main restaurants, but its other seven
eateries also were crowded as agents munched on sushi, Tex-Mex fare
and Italian and French cuisine.
In a nod to New York, the top-deck Cagney's Steakhouse serves up
a mean list of chops. Tell clients to drop by the adjacent Star Bar
for a pre-dinner cocktail: The views from the bar's
floor-to-ceiling windows are matched only by the sea views from
NCL's gigantic Garden Villa suites.