kroozbuddy

My pleasure -- we tried them three times and three times is enough -- my vacation money is too valuable to waste on nonsense. My "negative vibes" (viewpoints actually) were nothing like what we had to experience onboard all week by those around us.

 

I'll be glad to make room for y'all -- and enjoy the better service on the other lines ;) Happy travels.

Life (and events in it) are what you make of it. We were on board as well last week and made some awfully good lemonade out of the lemons provided.

Neither have I. And I will be very disappointed if I can't give our review.

 

As for how it all went -- yes, I can agree that the Captain and crew kept us very safe in extremely calm waters for the majority of the cruise. And yes, we were aware when we boarded the itinerary had changed -- but losing 25% of our cruise monies wasn't an option for us since NCL offered nothing else. And yes, I am one of the ones who would have MUCH preferred to go north. The following is the opinion of four of us and what we saw and experienced.

 

We were traveling with another couple and enjoyed the food (to a point) and the shows especially (do not miss "Choir of Man"). We made the most of it with each other, but life onboard was not great and we seemed to have to work for every little nuance like salt and pepper and silverware every single morning at breakfast! Bones in three different fish dishes, shells in the lobster dishes more than once, and their version of eggs benedict in the MDR was to have the yellow be hard boiled! Our room steward was horrible -- when we checked into our room there were no hand towels or toilet paper! The room was not finished nor had it been vacuumed. The desk was covered in spilled coffee and sticky stuff that came right off with a wet wipe! They sent in another room steward to finish cleaning up and scrub our bathroom with bleach (don't ask).

 

Unlike the Breakaway, we found this ship incredibly noisy. The walls seemed thin and we could hear our neighbors on both sides, including their TVs, and above and below! The door slamming was the worst -- it sent on 24/7 and was incredibly loud and annoying. (and who thought it was a good design to have the doors open in the hall :confused:). Lots of cigarette smoking going on all around the rooms, and the worst filtration ever throughout the casino and on upper decks.

 

Anyway, as far as skipping Nassau - we would have taken that in a heartbeat over any of the other ports they gave us -- where the feel like temps were around 105!

 

GSC -- where I ended up getting heatstroke (and we were only there for 2-1/2 hours) was nothing like we expected! Because they tender in, we had to wait in the theater an hour before we were called and we waited to get off the ship until 12:30. We are not beach people, but the only other island we have visited is Disney's Castaway Cay (where they can dock). This island was very raw compared to that. Instead of nice little huts with nice merchandise and ship stuff, they had Bahamians with tents set up around the beach area near the launch. There prices were high and the merchandise quality not great. There was very little shade anywhere and the food was served in a metal building with no fans and stifling heat. Even the hangers you sat in with the picnic tables there were no ceiling fans to move air. We could not wait to leave. It didn't feel or look like NCL has sunk anything into that island to make it better -- even the lighthouse was in pieces.

 

Port Canaveral -- again, another feel like 100 degree day. Every excursion was expensive and since most things closed at 6 p.m. -- and they got in at 1 pm. -- we chose the bus to Disney Springs. We got a total of 3-1/2 hours there. Except for the terrific Mexican dinner our mates bought, it wasn't worth it.

 

Then they announced they were skipping Nassau. That's the first time we started to see visibly irate passengers and lots of verbal complaining and shouting. The line at guest services got very long that night and the next morning. While they gave us a whole $30 each for Bermuda port fees, they offered nothing for Nassau's cancellation. At least Nassau would have been a full day stop -- we could have gone to Atlantis or visited the museums and even taken a cab to the Fort.

 

We made the most of our time onboard and enjoyed each other's company and some of the food - but we really felt nickel and dimed as everyone has stated about NCL. They didn't even offer us drinks or an onboard credit or anything to smooth over passenger angst. A lot of anger started to be expressed when passengers who visited guest services for answers and comps were told the decision was mad not to do anything onboard and they would have to contact corporate headquarters when they returned, and were even giving out pre-printed cards with the address! Unbelievable.

 

It didn't help when we got home and saw what RCCL and Carnival gave! After they cancelled Nassau, they really should have stepped up and had a chance to show some real customer service. We were told onboard that they cancelled Nassau to get ahead of the storm, but a previous poster said at a Q&A the Captain slipped and said it was because there was no space for us in Nassau. IF that is true, that makes it all the more worse and shows what knee jerk decisions they made.

 

All in all, we paid Bermuda cruise prices for five days at sea and two crappy ports. We noticed a definite disconnect many times between us and the crew -- who sometimes not only appeared clueless, but also abrupt. The waitstaff for the most part were awesome, however. All four of us decided we weren't sailing NCL again -- didn't like Pride of America and the Breakaway was just okay. This was not a stellar experience by any means -- cancelled ports or not. Going back to Princess and Carnival and Disney! ;)

So long, more room for us on NCL, and less negative vibes

When you overnighted in NYC, did you stay in the harbor or anchor out at sea?

Thanks for your reply!

Right at pier 88, we could see the glow from time square, then in the morning we got to laugh at all the people commuting to work

So who's ready for Nassau? I know I am. Even if Flo doesn't hit Bermuda directly, the surrounding seas will not be fun.

From our uses of one so far, (Old Navy) it has given us one virtual number to use with just that company, so you better monitor fraud with a specific number/company combo.

As for the double charge aspect, we are paying out account off in cash on the final night, so there should be zero charges.

Still looking for someone that has tried this before.

Now you can upload CC info when you check in online.

Does anyone have any experience with using a virtual CC number (Capital One) to put on their cabin for the week?

October of 2016 we were booked to sail to Bermuda with Hurricane Nicole nearing the island. We boarded at regular time, had our muster drill, then we were told that "Bermuda was not an option". So we overnighted in New York and sailed out at about 8 in the morning to Cape Canaveral and a 6 hour stop in Nassau.

43 mins late, that costs them money, had to be something.

Port Bermuda webcam states "Issue on board." Anyone on this sailing that can elaborate?

Wait wait wait... Lobster is back at Teppanyaki and Cagney's?!?!

Absolutely can, just walk up to the bar and order.

Has anyone tried the phone version in New York?

Mr. Worldwide: everywhere

Johnnie Walker Black with a splash of ginger ale, no ice: before dinner

Miami Vice: by the pool

We also disembarked this morning from the Escape. On our previous Breakaway cruises, it’s been a totalnightmare getting off so we planned ahead and decided to go as early as possible and drag our bags ourselves. We got to the 7th floor around 715 as the boat pulled in and waited right in front of the OSheehans bar. Best decision ever. We were off the boat and in our car about 15 mins after the gangway opened.

 

What they should do is within each color group, assign a number with each luggage tag and basically order everyone by that number. So within The Green group everyone is assigned a number and they will let you go by number. That way there’s no drama with people cutting in line and you know where you have to be.

 

 

But of course they won’t do this....they really don’t care or enforce the rules. They just want you off the boat. Plenty of people with Orange and Brown tags in front of us when we had Green

Exactly how RCI does it from AnthemOTS.

I can access ... you need to register or/and log in as it's member access.

Care to elaborate? I can't figure it out...

My wife and I have been discussing an event from this cruise, is it normal for DB to run out of beer at the end of the cruise? or was it a TA thing?

We were booked on Breakaway's Inaugural trip to the Bahamas. Watched her being built on ship yard webcams. Studied deck plans, and planned every aspect of our first cruise. We even got up at 2:00AM the morning she arrived in New York harbor (from Orange County NY) to watch her arrive. Also visited her at the pier twice before ever stepping foot in the terminal. Now 4 cruises completed on her it truly started to feel like home. By the way, we do plan to go see her one last time in October when she stops in before NOLA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks SD for the boozy goodness, I might need to pack an extra bag for disembarkation...

I will. Check back tomorrow as it is a seaday and they will open back up and I will check them out.

 

 

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Ok thanks. Boarding in 30 days. Have to see how much extra money I have to scrape together.

Any chance you can get some pics of the duty free liquor deals?

I was on this cruise and the OP's description was accurate. What was not mentioned was NCL gave a $200.00 cabin credit for the change in itinerary, that was a joke and insulting. We, who were aboard paid for three night in Bermuda, one of the reasons the Bermuda loop is so much more expensive is the port fees. NCL changed the itinerary to a Bahama's trip. Port fees are much less in Nassau as the Breakaway is homeported/registered there. Port Canaveral's fees Don't even approach the Bermuda fees. BTW Both Ports were still recovering from Hurricane Matthew. Nassau's shops weren't open for the most part and Port Canaveral had just gotten their light/power back the day before we arrived. When we boarded on Sunday we were told there MIGHT be an Itinerary change and were never given the opportunity or option to reschedule or rebook our cruise. It's my feeling we're entitled to a refund of Bermuda Port Fees and perhaps a cruise credit for a future cruise. Our travel agent is of the same opinion. so we'll see what pans out. The Breakaway is overcrowded and under staffed. The crew makes the best of what they have but the ship itself is enough to put you off on cruising on "MegaShips" ever again, and considering the direction NCL is going perhaps not on NCL again.

I was also on that sailing, and we were all given $29 of refundable credit given back for the port fees.

Thank you djny1077.

Game shows, contests times and days, like "Not so newlywed" and "battle of the sexes" "mr sexy legs" etc.

Title kind of speaks for itself. Who's got them? I call myself looking around first and came up empty. Also does anyone know the current Cruise Director and possibly if that person would still be on for October 9th sailing. Thanks all.