THE NORWEGIAN DAWN
Me and my sister Amanda took the Norwegian Dawn on a 7-day cruise to Bermuda.
The Norwegian Dawn was christened in Manhattan in 2002 by none other than Kim Cattrall:
Because when you need to christen a starship, it is only logical to pick a Vulcan:
The Norwegian Dawn is also the ship that’s home to Rosie O’Donnell’s R Family Vacations, a cruise designed for gay and lesbian families with children.
While the Norwegian Dawn is only 74 feet longer than the RMS Titanic, it is nearly twice as heavy at 92,250 tons, compared to 46,328 tons. (Perhaps all those added lifeboats?)
It also comes shockingly close to scraping the bottom of the Verrazano Bridge:
The rooms are also super roomy. Shouldn’t all rooms be roomy by name alone?
And it even had TV! Which came in handy when being rocked to sleep to the gentle sounds of a Law & Order marathon. We may have also stayed in bed to watch Definitely, Maybe one day. Don’t judge us! It was such a cute movie! And it was our dang vacation! We could do whatever we want!
Did you know that the Norwegian Dawn is the ship that made national news in May of this year when a female passenger fell over the railing off the coast of New Jersey? She was never found.
The urinals also have excellent views, which I may or may not have snuck Amanda in to see:
The Norwegian Dawn also comes equipped with an Imperial-class shield generator, which I was sure to take a picture of:
Because even on vacation, I’m still a dork.
NOW TELL ME SOMETHING I DON’T KNOW
I got up in the middle of the night and could not go back to sleep. After playing with the computer and eating, I decided to go grocery shopping. The store is really different at 4:30 in the morning, but I didn’t care. Then, there was the shocking discovery that my store did not have fresh corn. I had to go to another 24 hour Kroger to get my corn. This Kroger used to be an A&P. They tore down the A&P that had been there since 1960 and built a super big A&P. My mother shopped in the old A&P every Thursday afternoon for 36 years, until they tore it down to build a super big store. She went to the Kroger with no corn while this was happening. Then the new A&P was finished. My mother died a few months later, and within six weeks, A&P closed all the Atlanta stores. The supersize store became an all night Kroger, and they had fresh corn for me this morning.
Sounds like a fabulous cruise! I’m glad you had a good vacation. In response to yesterday’s post in which I’m totally too lazy to comment on seperately or even read the comments:
Number of times I missed Craig last week: 16 billion minus 42
(Oh, and thanks for putting the Vulcan picture in your post. It put me in a good mood!)
I am going to recycle my comment as part of a post at my blog.
The spell check suggestions for puntabulous are: fabulousness, accountableness, accountability, nebulousness, insurmountably.
I love the handles for the urinals. “Keep ‘er steady, boys — wouldn’t want any unsightly oversplash…”
But I gotta tell you, those little barriers between the urinals are way too short — with my shy bladder, ain’t nothin’ coming out if someone’s standing beside me. 
What’s that line that Tyler Durdin says? “Don’t look at me. I can’t go when you’re looking at me.”
And that shield generator is awesome! Of course, it appears to be a simple Class II, but, hey, I guess there’s no real threat of being attacked by anything larger than a T-65.
Now for something you don’t know:
The worst shipping disaster in history claimed the lives of nearly 10,000 people when the Russian submarine S-13 sunk the German liner Wilhelm Gustloff during WWII. The ship was evacuating mostly civilians and refugees from the Eastern Front as Russia advanced.
The Russians claimed the hospital ship was not adequately marked and also carried 1,000 military troops. None of that was confirmed, but kept the captain of the submarine, Alexander Marinesko from being tried for war crimes. Not even a month later, Marinesko and the S-13 sunk another German ship, the Steuben, which was transporting wounded soldiers, killing over 3,000 people.
Yay! Kim Cattrall! I’m so glad she made it to a Puntabulous post!
I love the urinals with a view! What a great idea. And Dave S. is right about the barriers being too short. But I don’t use urinals anyway. lol.
Something you didn’t know:
In my fam, we have 4 siblings, and we an amazing b-day coincidence.
Sis Gabriella – August 6
Bro Pasquale – August 7
Sis Talita – December 13
And me – December 14
Only two parties a year!
I don’t know a thing about cruising (well….not on a ship anyway), but I DO know Vulcans. Did you know that when originally written, the part played by Kim Catrall was supposed to be Lt. Saavik? From the earlier movies? Also, the Next Generation episode “Cause And Effect” had the Enterprise stuck in a ‘causality loop’ and kept the Enterprise repeating it’s destruction by a collision with another ship, and them having tim reset itself. The other ship, USS Bozeman, was captained by Kelsey Grammer. Standing beside him was a Vulcan woman, also meant to be Saavik, but they didn’t have time for the subplot, not was the actress available.
And yes, I AM way too much of a Star Trek geek for my own good, thanks for noticing.
Looks like you guys had a great time. And best of all, no one was killed.
HUGS….
Chambleee54: I really liked your story. And I think “nebulousness” is my favorite.
Dave S: Agreed. The barriers were much too short. But the view was too good to pass up. (The view out the window, not the view out the corner of my eye. Pervert.)
Nicky: December 14th? Hmmm, I know what your parents did on St. Patrick’s Day!
I’m sure it’s a “perspective” illusion, but it looks like a guy as tall as you would be flashing the dolphins when using those urinals.
And the handgrips are a good idea, but you know without them people would be having sex right there.
“the Norwegian Dawn is the ship that made national news in May of this year when a female passenger fell over the railing off the coast of New Jersey”
Wasn’t that Lois Griffen?
And women being in danger on boats makes me think of Pushing Daisies now…. not real news.
(I’m commenting too much. lol)
Wow, a lot more people died in this week’s Teach Me Something Tuesday.
(Worry Craig. 13,001 people were killed [and counting].)
Nicky: Handgrips prevent sex?
Ryan R: Yeah, I was confused about that part too. Nicky, would you care to explain?
Great photos! I love that you are using your tallness skills in the first one and the little hint of your elbow in the 6th.
I noticed the same thing Dave S. did about the dividers, perhaps the view is so spectacular to dissuade peeking? I noticed the handles too, how embarrassing would it be to pee on someone else’s leg?
Nicky: The birthday thing is pretty neat. I know a family of 4 (mom, dad and 2 siblings) who all share the same birthday.
Polt: I actually did know about the Kim Catrall character, I have a friend who is at least as big a Star Trek geek as you.
With the handgrips there, there’s simply no room on that window sill for sex. Unless you’re either a contortionist or enjoy some discomfort.
Of course, Nicky does yoga, so there’s a chance he could be flexible to pull it off…
In 2005, the Norwegian Dawn was hit by a rogue wave (21 m, or roughly 70 ft, tall), damaging windows on the 9th and 10th floors, and doing some flooding.
Don’t worry Craig, no one was killed.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Freak-wave-pummels-cruise-ship/2005/04/18/1113676675687.html
I can think of a scenario where the handgrips would be handy.
Like during a rogue wave
TwoPi: I looked up rogue wave, you taught me something!
The urinal was first patented in the United States by Andrew Rankin on March 27, 1866. In some regions of Japan, particularly the industrial zones of Honshu, many urinals feature a voice-activated flushing system. These flush systems are triggered by the word “wash!”, “fire” or “destroy the grime” in over 30 different languages. It’s amazing what a little trip to wikipedia can teach you.
Yeah, Dave S. is right… just sex on the windowsill. Everyone enjoys some of that.
And I don’t think you’d have to be a contortionist to enjoy that. Well, you can have one contortionist and one really tall guy I guess. That might work.
Stand and face the window, that way you can both enjoy the view. That way the grab bar serves a purpose other than crushing the smal of your back.
Nicky: I guess that goes to show how much sex *I’ve* had — that sill looked kinda small to me.
But I guess, where there’s a will there’s a way…
All of this talk about having sex on that window sill is ridiculous.
There is a perfectly good hot tub on the top deck.
In Japan, many women were embarrassed by the sound that was made while a toilet was, umm, in use and so would flush the toilet several times to mask the sound. This became a problem because so much water was being wasted, and so noisemakers are installed in most toilets where, with the press of a button, you can simulate the sound of a flushing toilet.
Dave S. – How little sex *you’ve* had?
Since it’s TMST I guess ya’ll can know I’m a virgin. lol
Now I totally know what to get my 8 yr old son for Christmas!
Do they sell these on ebay?
Virgins rule! Way to go Nicky!
I want a pee noise masker (totally the official term) too!
Craig: If I can find them on ebay, I’ll get you one for Christmas, too!
Sweet! They should have various sounds also. Like jungle sounds, rain, or the theme to 2001: A Space Odyssey. It might confuse anyone listening on the other side of the door, but that just adds to the fun!
Nicky & Craig: Virgins *do* rule! I was one until I was 24.
And a pee noise masker would totally rock! No more pressure to pee at just the right pitch and duration!
“Well, you can have one contortionist and one really tall guy I guess. That might work.” Well, we got Craiggers, so that fills the really tall guy part…now just to find a contortionist…
And geez, I never knew what a slut I was until I saw all the virgins on here. Well, no, that’s not true, I always knew what a slut I was…but just having it confirmed here is distressing to me.
If anyone FINDS a pee noise maker, get me one too. As long as it’s portable. Just thinking of all the fun i could have with that in a public restroom is making me giggle. OOOOH, what if they make a Pee Noise Maker, with customizable sounds! SWEET!
HUGS…
I’m somewhat obsessed with cruise ships, myself. Especially ones christened by Kim Catrall.
Polt: You’re not bad. You’re just blogged that way.
The urinals are scaring me. Glad you had fun.
Nicky: You’ve never had alcohol and you’re a virgin. That is so cool! I really admire that about you.
But why do I feel so dirty now?…..Don’t look at me, I’ve been bad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzO1mCAVyMw
Not entirely accurate (eww, flushing with your hands? That is what your feet are for!) but entertaining.
Okay, I offered Nicky the chance to come up North and get drunk all legal like in the last post but I think I’ll shy away from further offers. I think I’d be arrested for even making the offer on the internet at my advanced age.
You may know this but Kim Catrell is Canadian (or was anyway – not sure if she renegged on the citizenship to make mucho dinero in the south). We seem to have a Canadian theme going, Canadian beer mentioned in the last post and now Kim Catrell. Yeah, Canadians are drunk and slutty. Sheesh.
Oh and I loved the urinal view. Those stalls for us girlies usually don’t have windows but maybe its an idea for the next generation of cruise ship. Complete with handles, I can see those coming in handy in certain situations.
Great video john! I especially enjoyed the urinal position etiquette!
“While the Norwegian Dawn is only 74 feet longer than the RMS Titanic, it is nearly twice as heavy at 92,250 tons, compared to 46,328 tons.”
These are actually gross tonnage numbers, which are measures of interior volume, not weight (1 gross ton = 100 cubic feet). Although the weight of a passenger ship is perhaps not immaterial, it is less important for operational and tax purposes than knowing the profit-making space aboard.
And the ladies thought they had it tough with the bathroom sounds and extra flushing.
Interesting! Thanks Mike!
Wow John, I hd no idea that going to the bathroom was so complicated for guys. I have a new appreciation.
We were just in NYC this weekend moving our son there and went by your ship in port. It certainly is impressive. I may have to give a cruise another try. Years ago we sailed on NCL Southward. The pool had whitecaps in it due to rough seas. I was seasick for days.
Wow, I don’t even remember talking about how I never drank before. lol.
Yeah, I’m an alcohol free virgin. Hurray.
Maybe I’ll have my first ever alcoholic drink during my wedding, then lose my virginity, all in one night!!
I love the urinals. Why, it’s almost like you’re peeing straight into the ocean!