NOTE: I will post the Dailies I have in this stream tomorrow. Also, please forgive my spelling and grammar.
Some contexts of our cruising experiences in the past. My wife and I have gone on 25 + cruises over 43 years. Our first five and last five on NCL. As time has gone on, we have wanted more of our Cruising Experience. We started with the most inexpensive inside cabin during our honeymoon 43 years ago. Five years ago, we found the NCL Haven and loved it. The Haven Premium was a bit to much for us on this cruise so we did a Club Balcony Suite on this cruise. Two cruises ago, November 2021, we did the nicest Haven Cabin (The H2 Haven Deluxe Owners Suite) with our two (2) adult children. That was our 43rd wedding anniversary. It was also wonderful to have our kids joining us. The older we get, the better we enjoy family and friends joining us when we cruise. On to the NCL Breakaway review.
Our choice of the NCL Breakaway out of New Orleans on December 4, 2022, was pre-determined. Last year on the NCL Joy for our family vacation, my wife won the Slot tournament which gave her an entry into the “Casino’s at Sea” Slot Tournament finals for “Winner takes all $100,000.00”. We have gone on this itinerary (Ports) three other times so the ports were a non-issue to us. Another positive thing was we could drive to the Port of New Orleans in just under 6 hours which was a GREAT benefit, especially on our drive home. Also, for whatever reason knowing I was driving allowed me to sleep the last night with far less stress. Airports give me stress because I almost lived in them in my career. I will overview this cruise review into parts. I hope you like it and it helps you.
Pre-Cruise Hotel: I know this is a NCL Cruise Ship review, however our experience over the decades has to do with our extensive planning to make the trip the best it can be. We ALWAYS get to the port city the day before because we almost missed the ship “ONLY ONCE”. We stayed in the French Quarter Marriott Renaissance. It was OK, but that is my feeling about most New Orleans Hotels. It is about the city not the Hotel. By doing a “Pre-Cruise” hotel, it allows you to get to the Port early which for us is a must especially at the Port of New Orleans.
Parking at the Port: I dropped my wife off at the Hotel, then drove the car to the “Park Place Parking”. I pre-paid for the parking online so it was kind of easy. I highly recommend this parking because when you come out of the ship, the “White Parking Buses” are waiting for you. Less than a 5-minute drive. When coming from your hotel to the port, your Uber driver will know the short cut to miss the crazy traffic around the port of New Orleans.
Embarkment Day: I did my online check-in at midnight 21 days prior to the cruise. I did this to get to the earliest check-in time because that gets us in and seated quickly. My check in time was 09:30 AM. We were NOT in the Haven VIP area this time, so this was even more important. In the NCL Haven, when you are past security, it you get priority embarkment day check-in. We were in a Club Balcony Suite (MA) this cruise. We got to the port at 09:00 AM and had to wait for the security to open at 09:30 AM. We were second in line through security. The check-in process was about 5-minutes. It was a bit longer because we had Pre-Purchased a week Vibe Beach Club Pass with Cabana and they had to give us our wrist bands. More on the Vibe Beach Club later. As is my habit, we sat right outside the entry door which gave us quick access to boarding when it opened. That was about 11:00 AM for those interested. Because we got to the port early, our boarding group was #1. This is way we had this strategy. Works every time.
Once On Board: I got my wife a table at O’Sheehans for lunch and I went to change a Specialty Restaurant Reservation as quickly as I could. The strategy is for Haven Guest, you can book specialty restaurants 130 days in advance; Suites/Club Suites is 125 days and all other is 120 days. One of my reservations had to change because of a conflict with the slot tournament finals. Take note, most reservations are not available at this late time when it is close to the cruise sailing date. I was lucky. You got to the “Headliner” room to make the changes for most everything as a hint to everyone cruising on the NCL Breakaway in the future. I want this review to be as strategic an approach as what happened during our cruise.
Vibe Beach Club: After lunch, we immediately went to the Vibe Beach Club. I do all the planning on our vacations, so my wife simply depends on me for where to go and what to do until she gets her sea legs. She had never been to the Vibe Beach Club before because we were always in the Haven Area which has their own “Adults Only” sundeck. We also paid a little bit more for a Vibe Cabana which by the way comes with two; week long Vibe Beach Club passes. This decision was one of the best choices I made for the week. The Vibe has a bar feet from the cushioned lounge chairs which is a plus and better than the Haven sundeck which has no bar. The Cabana comes with two bottles of water per day, which is nice. The Vibe crew were incredibly awesome. When you get there, they ask if you want an umbrella; they bring frozen fruit spears; and ice water. Every few minutes they ask if you want a drink from the bar. There are two oversized hot tubs with sunshades over them, so it is like having an umbrella. This area is for adults only, so it is also very quiet, which at our age is a plus. The Vibe is a Non-smoking area. The main pool on the pool deck was always packed as normal but the Vibe was never crowded. My wife’s comment was, “Money well spent!!” We stayed in the Vibe until 02:00 PM when they said our Club Balcony Suite was ready. It is important you carry-on luggage has bathing suits and sunscreen if you choose to do this approach as we did. There is a bathroom and shower for your changing needs. Just think it through so you can relax quickly.
Our Club Balcony Suite (MA): Cabin #13232 which was dead center of the ship. More on this below but I wanted to keep it in sequence for those reading this review. This was my second time in a Club Balcony Suite. My first time was on the NCL Joy, as a solo cruiser, in March 2022. The beds can be separated with the nightstand in the middle of the two beds. Or they can be together for a king bed. The bathroom had a large sink with two faucets, a walk-in shower, and a little storage under the sink. The shower needed some work, but it was acceptable. The water pressure and hot water was great. Better than at my home. You get two bath towels but can ask for more. The soaps are in dispensers, which is common. The suite storage was acceptable for two (2) people but might have been tight if we had a third. On that note, a third in this cabin would be very tight but doable. The bed was very comfortable. The LCD TV with digital information was easy but please remember the movies have a cost. The closet has a small safe but not big enough for a laptop. I always have all the “For Sale Items” taken out of my suite on day one so the mini-Refrigerator can be used for other items as needed. The small couch was comfortable, but we rarely used it. The Balcony was small with two chairs and a small table enough for two. This Club Balcony Suite comes with a complimentary bag of laundry. Give your room steward the laundry at least two days before you leave. Some down sides were not enough outlets and none by the bed which was a negative. Also, the outlet by the desk would go off needing maintenance when my wife used her personal dryer. The phone system was rarely used but don’t expect to get to guest services on it. You will wait forever. I give this Club Balcony Suite (MA) a 3 out of 5 stars.
Dining and Food: We did the “Free at Sea PLUS” package so we had four (4) Specialty Restaurant Meals. I will discuss each separately because it has been an area most folks want to hear about. Remember food is personal and not every feel the same way about dining.
Complementary Dining:
1. Main Dining Room: Great hot breakfasts with very good coffee. Service was wonderful. Dinner was OK and enjoyable, the service was great, but the quality was average at best. About what you would expect. That said, it is a great place for Breakfast but look at the times so you don’t miss the dining window. The time changes every day. I am an “egg to order” guy and they were always perfect. My wife is a pancake or French Toast lady, and she said it was just OK. Her grits and the Hash Browns special was her favorite. I rate this 3.5 out of 5.
2. Buffet: As with any buffet, you must pick and choose what suits you. We used the Buffet for breakfast one day. The eggs to order at the egg station were great. I love certain dry cereals, so I was happy. My wife could make her grit just the way she liked it. Surprisingly the small waffles were better here than the larger ones in the main dining room. We had several lunches at the Buffet. My wife who is picky loved the pizza. Who would have thought that? I love the carving station with the mashed potato’s expect the day they had Pork Roast which was dry. All and all good food and better than I have remembered it in the past. My wife’s favorite thing was the soft served ice cream. Everyone washed their hands. Kids nor adults touched any of the food that I could see. So that is a positive from the shutdown. Quick, easy, and plentiful. I rate this 4 out of 5.
3. O ’Sheehan’s: A fan favorite. The fish & chips, hamburgers and chicken wings were great. FYI, you can order Ice Cream Shakes for $4.00 if you want. The wine selection is awful however I did not expect anything different. This place gets crowded at mealtimes especially when you’re initially board. It is also open 24/7. We had many lunches while playing gin when it was not busy. I rate this 4 out of 5.
4. The Noodle Bar: We had dinner here on two (2) of the three available nights that we did not have Specialty Restaurants. We loved it and could not wait to get back. They always have a wait because it is complementary. Get a seat at the cooking bar for Dinner and a Show. Very interesting. Food is relative but we love everything. You must know, my wife loves this kind of food and so do I. I highly recommend it but be there 30 minutes before they open. They serve in shifts. I rate this 5 out of 5.
Specialty Dining Restaurants:
1. Cagney’s Steakhouse: I have had mixed results from Cagney’s depending on the ship. The NCL Joy, it was outstanding. This ship, the NCL Breakaway is was average at best. The service was outstanding as always. The portion sizes are huge. The restaurant itself is lovely. The food was way over cooked. This was not just my opinion it was others who ate there as well. The bread was average as well, yet the butter was outstanding. My recommendation is ordering the meat temperature under what you want. If you want Med Rare, order Rare. I had the Prime Rib, and my wife has the ribeye. Good not great and again over cooked. The sides are all good and so are the salads. The dessert my wife loves was Crème Brulé, and it was not good at all. However, the Chocolate 7-Layer Cake was over the top GREAT. I attempted to purchase a Chocolate cake slice last night and was turned down. I rate this 3 out of 5.
2. Ocean Blue: This was the highlight meal of this entire cruise. That is funny because in November 2021 on the NCL Joy, we did not like it. This trip everything from the bread to the fish was excellent. Everything was cooked perfectly. I had scallops for an appetizer, salmon for my main. My wife had the Linguini and loved it. To say we both were surprised would be an understatement. Even the desserts were very good. I rate this 5 out of 5.
3. Le Bistro: This restaurant is also a hit or miss. Before covid it was my favorite. Now it is good. I got the scallops, and my wife got the escargot appetizer, both were very nice. My wife got the sole and I got the Lamb Chop/Shank which I always love. My wife said the sole was good, but the sauce needed something. The bread here was great. The service and dining experience was great. I drink my weight in Champagne in this place with the Premium Plus Beverage Package. We skipped dessert and got soft served at the buffet later that evening. We usually eat here because it is a perk from American Express Platinum Card members. This time it was because of the “Free at Sea PLUS” program. I rate this 4 out of 5.
4. Teppanyaki: We always save Teppanyaki for the last night dinner. It is a dinner and show. Usually, the food is good and tasty. This time it was not good from start to finish. The fried rice was tasteless, the steak had an off flavor, the chicken was just chicken nothing special, the salad was just Cole slaw. Again, we loved this place on the NCL Joy. The inconsistencies are surprising. I rate this 2 out of 5.
The Premium Plus Beverage Package: I have written op-eds on cruisecritic.com for this subject as I have also done with the NCL Haven VIP Luxury Experience. Before I begin let me say, I would still do this upgrade. Especially since it is now part of the Free at Sea PLUS package. My wife drinks wine exclusively. She likes nice wine but not necessarily expensive stuff. Her favorite at home is Josh Chardonnay which is buttery. The better Chardonnay was very hard to find and with two days left, no more was left. Every time we would hear the excuse it was a supply chain issues. They had no Crown Royal halfway through the cruise. I like Tequila 1942 which I have had no issue getting on my last few NCL cruises. Not a bottle onboard. If you are REALLY PICKY, skip this package for now. Wait for things to clean up from a supply chain standpoint. Yet, every single day we did several Starbucks, bottled imported water, I did high end spirits. It seems that NCL has stopped doing Shooter drinks fleet wide due to how long I take to make them on a filled ship. Baily’s is now $16.00 so you have a small extra charge with the regular beverage package. Please understand, we had as many alcoholic drinks as possible that we wanted. Look up the article I wrote on how to approach this package during normal times. Where in the past I would give this package a 5 out of 5. This time it was 3 out of 5.
Entertainment:
1. Six: One of the best Broadway shows I have ever seen on a cruise ship. Happens night two and three. Four shows that are at 07:30 PM and 10:00 PM. I rate this as 5 out of 5.
2. Burn the Floor: This is another GREAT show that is also amazing. It happens on the last two nights of the cruise at 07:30 PM and 10:00 PM. Get your reservations for both Six and Burn the Floor the moment you get on board. You can reserve them on your cabin TV screen. I rate this 5 out of 5.
3. Dueling Piano’s at Headliners: This show is a complete bust. We left after just a few songs. Not only were they below average musicians, but they contently were also asking for tips by referring to their tip jars. I rate this as 1 out of 5.
4. Martini Bar Entertainer: This gentleman was great, and I highly recommend having a martini with him. The Martini bar is always crowded to get there and get a seat. He looks like just an average guy then he begins playing and his true talent comes out. I rate this 4 out of 5.
5. The Beer Pub: This place is hoping all the time. You must stand online to get in like the Cavern Club on other NCL ships. Worth the wait so plan a night there. I rate this 5 out of 5.
6. Internet: I had Unlimited Streaming which was an upgrade to the “Free at Sea PLUS” program which just comes with Unlimited not streaming. It is a cruise ship so the internet even at its best is average. The hardest part is when you only have one internet program and two folks in the cabin that want to use it. You must figure out how to put it on your device. Apple Phones you got to the NCL App and your account then internet. On your Microsoft computer you go to Chrome for some reason and put it in a website. Apple computers just go on and go to any website. It takes a couple of times to get used to it. I rate this as a 3.5 out of 5.
Ports: I have been to all these ports many times in the past. This time we only got off the ship at the private island and Roatan. We spent most of our time on the Vibe with the view of the island. Please understand that we used to live at the beach, so sand is familiar to us.
1. Private Island: Easy walk, no issue getting a lounge chair by the pool with an umbrella. Service for drinks was very easy. The pool was kind of cold but once you got in, you were fine. I love this pool has a bar in it. Like we need more drinks, LOL. I love this island. It is well organized, in great shape and clean. My favorite thing to do on this island is Zip Lines and the very expensive Beach Villa which was sold out early. The Pool cabanas are not worth the money in my opinion. Our strategy is to get some sun, take a dip in the pool and go back to the ship for a late lunch. If the drink package worked on the island, I would rate it higher. I rate this as a 4 out of 5.
2. Roatan: Not my favorite place from experience so unless you are on an excursion, be careful. We just got off the ship to take a walk in the protected area. It started to rain so we found shelter at a small bar to have a beer. My wife looked next door and grabbed me. There was the place she wanted me to go. You take your beer, sit on a bench, and put your feet in water where little fish eat your dead skin off your feet. With my feed, they were completely full I assure you. We really enjoyed the walk and the experience. In the past we did the Jolly Rodger Snorkeling and the All Inclusive Over the Water Bungalow. Referring to the Bungalow, the bus ride there is horrible, then you do some shots, have lunch, do some more shots. The ride back is GREAT. I rate this as a 3 out of 5.
Dis-Embark: I was expecting a nightmare because my history tells me what was going to happen. I was very pleasantly surprised. The key is to get your luggage tags from Guest Services on the morning of the last full day. Read the sign and remember your color. Self-explanatory. Listen for your color to be called. Follow the instructions. From the time our color was called, it only took 10 minutes. Everyone on this filled ship was kind, patient and nice to each other. Once we got our luggage, the white bus for our parking lot was just out the door. Now if you are in the Haven, it is even easier because the take you down the service elevator and escort you out. I am rating this as a 5 out of 5.
Conclusion: We had a great time and relaxed. Everyone must remember no cruise is perfect. When things go wrong or are not to your liking, just be flexible. I see way too many folks upset at the smallest things making the rest of their week go purely. We are done with this Itinerary and next year we will go for 10 days to the Mediterranean on NCL’s sister brand Oceania. If I do NCL again which I am sure I will, I will only go on the Encore, Bliss, or Joy. I like the layout better than the Getaway or the Breakaway. I rate the entire cruise experience as a 4 out of 5.
Cruise well and enjoy every single moment.
@New2cruise2022 My experience was when I order something, the server or the bartender first asked for my cabin card which is coded with a P+ symbol. They would smile and suggest even nicer spirits or wines. I also don''t care about the Ledger. We think the same. The only time I had an issue was the main dining room when I ordered bottle water. The serve said it was not par of our package and I said, check again. This is the Premium Plus package. He came back a minute later and apologized. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.
