A New Dawn: Entertainment for the whole family on Norwegian Cruise Line's new ship.

An early morning mist ambles over the Atlantic as a flock of seagulls take to the tangy salt air gliding in loose formation. The Norwegian Cruise Line's brand new Dawn, with more than its share of charm, has set sail to the gentle pace of sun-washed seas, white powder beaches and dazzling sunsets. Wintering in the Caribbean and summering in New York, the ship will spend the year in all the best places.

The rising of the new Dawn once again offers NCL's signature Freestyle Cruising, allowing you to dine where and when you want, to dress up or dress down, and disembark at your leisure, among other features. The 2,240-passenger ship boasts suites, mini-suites, staterooms with balconies, and the exclusive Garden Villas, the largest and most opulent suites at sea. Accommodations are perfect for families, with extra closet and drawer space in all staterooms and a broad range of connecting staterooms and mini-suites.

Achieving a new standard of artistic beauty on the high seas are the priceless original paintings from four of the world's greatest masters - Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet and Pierre-August Renoir - exhibited onboard. In addition to the Dawn's Impressionist artwork, pop-art pieces by Andy Warhol are displayed throughout the ship.

Something For Everyone

For the adults, the lulling rhythm of the sea days belongs to you. Partake in the Lifestyle and Healthy Living Programs that feature everything from health and wellness programs and cooking demonstrations to an Internet Café and world-class shopping. Stay Hollywood thin using the Sports Deck's basketball, volleyball and soccer court and the two-deck Fitness Center with state-of-the-art cardiovascular workout equipment, a jet-current exercise pool, indoor lap pool, whirlpool and hydrotherapy pools. Reward your efforts at the awesome El Dorado Spa operated by Mandara, offering such exotic treatments as Hot Stone Massage, Sea Algae Detox, LT Oxygen Lifting Facial and Aromastar Ocean Wrap.

There's a good age-mix onboard, with the most dominant range from late 30's to mid 50's. And although the dress code was "resort casual," the chic crowd opted to dress for dinner. The variety and choices of restaurants definitely enhanced the enchantment for all.

For the younger set, the Dawn is a vacation superstar with NCL'S popular Kids Crew program providing a wide variety of activities for children and teens. There is plenty of room to maneuver with 5,500-square-feet of facilities, more than any other ship sailing from the Northeast. Kids will get totally caught up in their own safe space where beautiful, functional quarters are designed specifically for the young set's fun and comfort. The ship features the T-Rex Childcare Center, a supervised facility for children (ages 2-12) including a jungle gym, a children's playroom with ball pit, Flicks Movie Theater for kids who love the silver screen and Clicks, a computer learning center equipped with five terminals. Doodles, is where arts, crafts, puzzles and games beckon young artists to work on their creations. Snoozes sleeping area is ready to accommodate a quick nap in between all the excitement.

Outdoors there are safe, protected play areas awaiting them. T-Rex Pool, a Jurassic-themed children's pool, boasts a dino-riffic water slide, hot tub and wading pool just perfect for the little ones. Kids Café features pint-sized tables and chairs, and their very own buffet table laden with kid-sized pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries and sundaes. A full staff of qualified, responsible, and loving counselors complete the picture. No separation anxiety here!

Teenagers (ages 13-17) will be happy to find that they're not bit players on the Dawn, with shipboard amenities created specifically for them. A 1950's-style diner inspired the The Teen Club which features a disco with a video wall showing the latest music video hits. There's also a cinema and Video Zone - a huge arcade with 25 of the latest video games. This is the best private area for video games and socializing that we've seen onboard any ship.

Bon Appetit!

To tempt the palate, culinary masterpieces from exotic foreign cuisines to classic American favorites are prepared in 12 different restaurants. The signature Le Bistro, a French restaurant replete with an art collection of 19th and 20th century masters, features nouvelle cuisine and French classics. Select nightly from a sushi bar, a steak house, Tex-Mex and Tapas, among other choices. Italian specialties, lighter fare and buffets are also available.

Let Them Entertain You

Start off a magical evening enjoying star-spangled and state-of-the-art productions in the multi-tier Stardust Theater, with a traditional European opera house ambiance. Show-stoppers include the super hot "Rave," combining the energy and excitement of Miami's South Beach with fiery musicians and flamenco dancers that rock the seas. With the kids (ages 2 and up) being cared for at the group babysitting until 1am, night owls can fill the Spinnaker Lounge, an energetic nightclub and dance floor. Experience the hottest trend from the sizzling Miami club scene - pulsating Pechanga parties, mixing hot Latin rhythms and revelry. Dawn Club Casino lets the good times roll with roulette, blackjack, craps, Caribbean Stud Poker, slots and video machines.

Itineraries and Ports of Call

From May through October, seven-day cruises roundtrip from New York to the Bahamas and Florida are the ultimate cruising experience. Exhilarating ports of call include the sights and tin pan sounds of Nassau 's pristine beaches; the Bahamas, a stop at NCL's private island Great Stirrup Cay (an exclusive retreat of soft white sand and crystal-clear water), Miami, and Port Canaveral, Florida. In Miami, enjoy water sports like wind-surfing and scuba diving, airboat rides in the Everglades or shopping at South Beach's trendy boutiques. Orlando (near Port Canaveral) offers a myriad of family-themed activities from the Kennedy Space Center complex to the city's ever-popular theme parks.

Through mid-May, seven-day cruises sailing out of Miami have you greeting the sunrise on the shores of the Caribbean. Western Caribbean ports of call include Ocho Rios or Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. Eastern Caribbean ports of call encompass San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, BVI and Great Stirrup Bay, Bahamas.

The cruises now port in Charleston, South Carolina and leave for the Caribbean. With the inclusion of Charleston, the program now offers cruises for 13 ports including Baltimore, Boston, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Orlando (Port Canaveral), San Juan, Seattle, Vancouver, New York, Miami, Houston and Honolulu.

Photos by Mel Greenberg

For reservations and more information contact your travel agent or NCL in the U.S. and Canada at: 866/234-7350 or visit their website at: www.ncl.com