philamike

Your photo review was Absolutely Outstanding with all sorts of great details.

 

Did you get a pic of the hallway with the door open...just wondering how much of the hallway it used...also did the door stay open or did you have to hold it open...could the door be opened rapidly or did it only open slowly?

 

I'm guessing the reason for the interior hallways was to not have doors on both sides of the hallways open...Looking at the deck plans on your deck 11, I noticed that there were 2 interior cabin hallways, rather than just one like yours, toward the bow with the cabins length going fore to aft.

 

Glad I found your review post, and began looking for more based on your signature info. :):):):)

Take a look at this pic of the hallway:

You'll see "alcoves" where there are a pair of cabin doors. So when the doors swing out, they don't enter the hallway space at all. (The doors are also a little narrow.)

The one area that has two interior hallways is the studio cabins. Otherwise there is only the single hallway for interior cabins.

- Mike :-)

Mike, I have a silly question. I 've heard there are no drawers in the cabins. Is this true? I thought I saw on one pic they had drawers under the sleeper sofa. Thanks!

Yes that's true -- no drawers, but there are shelves and other places for storage (including a cabinet on the side of the desk). I did notice drawers under the sofa in a balcony room, and as already noted, it held the bedding for the sofa bed.

- Mike :-)

Posted the rest of the photos tonight! Whew! :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/philamike/collections/72157633491298788/

I'm ready to go back!

- Mike :-)

Hello again! I've uploaded my newsletters and menus to Flickr, along with a few miscellaneous items. Note: to view the text, you may need to enlarge the image. When viewing an image, right-click the image and select a larger size or "Original."

Newsletters: I'm missing Day 1. Also, only Day 3 has pages 3 & 4, because these pages were virtually the same for every day of the trip. Also included is the disembarkation flyer.

Menus: Somehow I forgot to get Le Bistro, but just about all the other specialty restaurants are here. Also got the main dining room lunch menu (same for every day) and the bar menu used across the ship.

Misc: Ropes course rules, laundry rates, spa rates, etc.

(I'll be adding some more photos from the trip as well.)

- Mike :-)

Hi all -- thank you everyone for showing your appreciation for my live blog! I apologize for not getting menus and newsletters up yet. Work has been busy post-vacation, and I'm helping out my parents this weekend while my dad recovers from some recent surgery. (He's doing very well!) I should have everything posted during the coming week.

- Mike :-)

Do you have any information on water drinking stations or do you have to get it at the bar or restaurants???

I don't recall seeing water fountains anywhere, but you can just go up to any bar and ask for a glass of water. And there are water and ice dispensers in the Garden Cafe and outside the Cafe on the pool deck.

- Mike :-)

Does Mike or anyone know how much a taxi ride is from Penn Station to the Breakaway pier? We'll be taking the Amtrak down from Boston in late July.

That situation with the taxi driver had me concerned.

Thanks!

Joanna

My ride from the pier to Penn Station cost ~$11. But of course it always depends on traffic!

Thanks, Mike. The info you've provided will help us all when it's our turn to cruise on this beautiful ship. Looking forward to your posts regarding dailies and menus. What did you eat at Cagneys that last night?

I started with a crab salad, then the pea soup -- the soup was excellent, as it resembled lentil soup rather than the cooked down pea soup that you'd find in a can. My entree was the 18 oz. bone-in ribeye steak, with an au jus sauce. Soooo good! It was perfectly cooked.

And dessert was the Oreo cheesecake. It's huge! It could be half the size, and still be too much. But also tasty.

- Mike :-)

Welcome back, Mike! Thanks so much for this live blog...it was an awesome read with the perfect amount of real helpful information.

 

I have a question, please.....What is that screen in the atrium used for all day? I seem to recall that some other NCL ships would use this screen for Nintendo Wii games at scheduled times. Any info on that?? Thanks!:)

Yes, Breakaway also has Wii games here. Some presentations/Q&As take place in the Atrium during the day. Otherwise, the screen repeats videos (no audio) about New York City, the Rockettes, etc.

- Mike :-)

Jenny105: re: aft balconies. I only saw the one, but maybe the photo wasn’t the best representation as it does seem very roomy.

Missmet31: re: large balconies. Yes I saw one, and they are very comfortable compared to the standard ones.

Tiffygirl:

re: Ocean Blue cost. Yes, I did think the $35 cover was worth it. Philly has great restaurants, a night out at one of them will cost much more. So I was able to get gourmet-quality food at an affordable price; plus the service was really great.

Re: Second City Family Reunion. Yes it is a lunch. Choice of salmon or chicken for your entrée. $20 cost. I don’t know what day they will do it on the regular cruises, but it will definitely be a sea day.

Re: spa and vibe passes. Sorry I wasn’t able to find this out for you. Perhaps you can post your question on the main NCL board and someone will know.

Re: Moderno vs. Cagney’s. I may need to rethink this, as my dinner in Cagney’s last night was the best I’ve had compared to other Cagney’s experiences on other ships. But they are a bit hard to compare, as they are different styles of restaurants. Let’s just say both are excellent. :-)

Riknat: empty space on deck 10. Hmm, if there was a balcony there, I didn’t hear about it. I’m inclined to say that it’s not, though.

JaneBP: re: Facebook contact. Thank you! I’ll respond back to you later today or tomorrow.

Macfin: re: hot dogs. Yes I found the hot dog cart yesterday on the Waterfront!

Luvcruise50: re: kids programs. I’m sorry I can’t comment much on the kids programs, but I can tell you that any shows with adult themes are clearly stated as such in the Freestyle Daily newsletters.

Kollegekreed: re: Howl at the Moon. Yes they were on board, and yes you were correct – I simply didn’t have time to see them! But I heard they were great.

Sdmike and dmwnc1959: re: photos. Awesome!! Thank you for posting those! :-)

7leagueboots: re: punching bags. I bet the crew uses them more than the passengers – helps relieve frustration! :-)

Statue of Liberty:

World Trade Center:

Midtown Manhattan:

A tug boat keeping an eye on our turn:

Docking into Pier 88:

Goodbye, Norwegian Breakaway!:

Tuesday, May 7 - Arrival in New York City

Greetings from Amtrak train 125, regional service from New York to Philadelphia. It’s almost 12 noon, and I’m on my way home after disembarking Norwegian Breakaway a few hours ago.

The captain told us yesterday that he expected the ship to pass underneath the Verrazano Narrows Bridge around 3 am this morning, so before going to sleep I set my alarm for 3:30. (I wasn’t interested in the bridge, just the arrival into Manhattan.) The alarm rang, and I quickly threw on some clothes and sneakers and ran up to the top deck. Unfortunately, I had missed the Statue of Liberty by about five minutes, but managed to take a few distant photos. We were presently passing by lower Manhattan and the almost completed new World Trade Center. Quite a few other passengers were also on deck in the chilly pre-dawn morning, gaping at the dark skyscrapers as we silently glided past. As I was studying the skyline, a shooting star briefly arced overhead.

As we approached Pier 88, the ship seemed to stop for about ten minutes. I had descended to the Waterfront on deck 8, starboard side. We started moving again and slowly crept into our berth across from the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. I returned to my cabin, reset my alarm for 8:15, and went back to sleep.

Sometime before 7 am, Julie the Cruise Director started making announcements on the public PA system in the hall. First, the express walk-off option was now available – this is for passengers who are carrying their own luggage off the ship. Then Julie would periodically call luggage tag colors, inviting passengers to disembark. David, another passenger from Philly, and I were on the same Amtrak train, so we decided to return together. We met at the forward elevator bank on deck 11, and proceeded to deck 7.

Passengers were being queued and released off the ship in stages, as to not flood the terminal with a large crowd. We arrived at the tail end of a group that was just debarking, said goodbye to a couple staff, and stepped off the ship onto the gangway. Time for a few last photos of the ship before entering the terminal. We realized why we had stopped for those ten minutes before docking: two lifeboats on the port side had been lowered to make room for the two gangways for the terminal! We waited in a line for about ten minutes to enter the terminal, then descended a set of escalators into the baggage area.

Norwegian spent over a billion dollars on a new ship and marketing for it, but unfortunately didn’t offer any money to spruce up the NYC terminal. It was dank and depressing. (Photography is not allowed in customs/immigration areas, so I don’t have a photo to show.) We collected our bags and entered a winding but moving line towards the passport control officers. It took a total of 45 minutes to go from the ship to the curb. Taxis were across the street and plentiful, and we grabbed one to take us to Penn Station.

So that completes my trip to Germany and the Norwegian Breakaway inaugural transatlantic! The cruise exceeded my expectations, as virtually everything was completed and ready for us. The staff and crew were incredible, but as this was Norwegian I already knew they would be. What surprised me the most was that I did not mind being at sea for six days straight. I never got bored, and the fact that I only read one of the five books I brought with me is evidence of that!

Besides a business trip to San Francisco later this month, my only other planned trip is a week at the beach with my family in July. I’ll need to start planning a trip for the fall. Any suggestions? :-)

CEO Kevin Sheehan:

Crew Talent Show:

A foggy day today:

Sabrett hot dog cart on The Waterfront:

The Quest game show:

A foggy night, too:

(I'm out of Internet minutes and will answer questions tomorrow...)

Monday, May 6 - Sixth Sea Day

It was a calm morning on the pool deck of Norwegian Breakaway. Several passengers strolled around the quiet decks, while a few were nearby on the ropes course. Suddenly a blood-curdling scream pierced the still of the morning! It seemed to echo off the ship’s bridge and reverberate through the pool area. What could have caused this horrifying exclamation? Had someone gone overboard? Did a crew member stumble upon a grisly murder scene? Or perhaps a passenger looked at their bar bill from the past seven days? Whatever could it be?

* * *

The good news is that the water was almost as smooth as glass today, but the drawback is that the calm weather created a light fog that enshrouded the ship for most of the day. Due to this, temperatures never warmed up out of the 50s. Still a lot of people on deck today, just with some extra layers on.

Jake and I had planned to wait until today to do the waterslides, betting that we would have had our warmest weather today. But despite the less than optimal conditions, we met at 11 am to brave the water park.

Breakaway has five water slides. The blue one is the tamest, which starts about two decks high, is open on top and has several wide curves. The yellow and purple slides are both four-story-high enclosed-tube spirals. The yellow one takes a wider path, and is gentler than the purple’s tight curves which gives a strong G-force towards the end of the chute. The other two slides (red and blue) are twin freefall slides – you start about 40 feet up in a capsule. Suddenly the floor drops and you descend into a near freefall, then slide UP into a wide banked curve before descending again to the outflow area.

I was leery about the freefall, as I hated the idea of suddenly dropping down. Jake wanted to do that one first, so I stayed on the deck to take pictures of his splashdown. He ascended up the flights of stairs. From where I stood, I could see the capsule door of the red slide open and close. A few moments later… “AAAAAAAAAUUUGGGHHHH!!!!”

Within seconds, Jake splashed into the slide’s exit area and came to a stop. A look of bewilderment was on his face. He may have said something to me, but I didn’t hear it due to the loud sound of laughter emanating from my mouth.

Jake regained his composure, and went for another go on the freefall slide! But his reaction sealed the deal for me – I would not be trying it. After his second plunge (and yes, he screamed just as loud this time) we tried out the other three slides. The blue slide is very gentle. The yellow slide is long but still pretty tame. But the purple one really speeds you up and you feel some pressure on your body towards the end. I think they call that one “The Whip,” and it’s aptly named. Thankfully, the water in the slides is heated, but once we emerged the chilly air quickly got to us. I toweled off and retreated to my room for a hot shower.

After lunch in the Garden Café and a little reading, I went to the Breakaway Theater at 2:15 for a presentation/Q&A by Kevin Sheehan, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line who is on board this week. Kevin talked about joining Norwegian five years ago, and finding the fleet’s signature “Freestyle Cruising” concept unevenly executed. The company quickly retired a few of its older ships and redeveloped Freestyle Cruising into a consistent product fleet-wide. They also had one ship on order, Norwegian Epic.

But with a sudden downturn in the economy in late 2008, Norwegian was at a crossroads. They bucked the trend and decided to order some new ships. That gamble paid off, as the economy has been recovering and they are able to introduce new ships into the market, while their competition is now hurrying to catch up. Breakaway is the first of these new builds, with Getaway debuting in January 2014. Another ship will be built and introduced in October 2015, and Norwegian has an option for a fourth ship that would debut in early 2017.

Kevin spoke of the company’s financial success. They just completed the 19th consecutive quarter of adjusted growth, and the company had a successful initial public offering earlier this year. Kevin cited the IPO as an affirmation of the work they’ve done to build up the company.

He also spoke of the decision to put Breakaway in New York City. While other lines have put older ships there, Kevin saw an untapped market eager to be offered a first-class experience.

Kevin highlighted the features of Breakaway, and the packed audience gave spontaneous applause at the mentions of Burn the Floor and The Waterfront.

One interesting tidbit: at the inaugural ceremonies this Thursday, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg will attend. His only condition for attending was that he wanted to introduce the Rockettes, who will be the Godmothers of the ship.

Following the presentation was the Crew Talent Show. I absolutely love these on Norwegian’s ships. The crew is the company’s best asset, and this gives a few of them a chance to show off some hidden talents. We were presented with song and dance from several crew members, a small magic show and the juggling talents of Simon, the Assistant Cruise Director. After the show, I found a nice padded seat in the Shakers area of the Waterfront, and continued reading my e-book.

I met Dave for dinner at Cagney’s at 6 pm. After last night’s dinner in Ocean Blue, Dave gave some constructive feedback to Klaus, the executive Hotel Director onboard for the inaugural, about the distracting business meeting going on next to us. Klaus offered us a complimentary dinner in Cagney’s for this evening! We graciously accepted.

I’ve been to Cagney’s on a few Norwegian ships, but tonight was my favorite experience. I noticed a revised menu since a year ago, with some nice new offerings. (I’ll post the menu after the trip.) The pea soup was especially tasty, and the Oreo cheesecake was decadent!

We joined a few friends in Shakers for a drink, then proceeded to the Atrium for the Quest adult game show. This is a staple on several cruise lines. It is billed as an “adults-only scavenger hunt,” where passengers form small teams and the assistant cruise director asks them to present an item or an action. Some of the requests can be a bit raunchy, e.g. “A woman’s bra!” or “Two men kissing!” Normally, this is held in a venue where access can be restricted and children wouldn’t be present. Quest was supposed to be held in Spice H2O, but due to the chilly fog we were sailing through, it was moved to the Atrium. Because this area is central and can’t be access-controlled, tonight’s Quest game was modified to be tame and relatively family-friendly.

We ended the night in Bliss and said our goodbyes to new friends…until we re-connect on Facebook, of course!

Mulege: re: balcony size. If anyone has spoken with corporate, I haven’t heard it. There’s a session with Kevin Sheehan this afternoon. Maybe someone will raise the issue there.

Alg7334: re: coffeemakers. There are no coffeemakers in the inside cabins, and I believe they are not in oceanview either. Get your bribe money out! :-)

PalmBeachOrBust: re: scooters. I’ll see what I can find out. I’ve seen a few puttering around the public areas with ease. The hallways are narrow, and I can tell that a service cart would need to be pulled out of the way for a scooter to pass. (But each pair of doors has an alcove where a cart can easily be moved into, to allow a scooter to pass.)

Ihopfar: re: standard menu offerings. I’m not aware that the menus are any different among the three dining rooms. I’ve only been in Manhattan.

Lyndamr: re: cocktail glass size. They seem to be normal size. I never got the impression that they are trying to skimp.

Bugsy4271: re: tour. Yes they offer a ship tour. I know it’s expensive, but I don’t know the price. Platinum Latitudes members get it for free.

Alic74 & shgmd: re: wifi. Wifi is available in all cabins and throughout the ship.

Time Plan #1 250 Minutes / $100.00

Time Plan #2 100 Minutes / $55.00

Time Plan #3 30 Minutes / $12.00

Time Plan #4 15 Minutes / $8.25

Macfin: re: extra beds. It may vary by specific cabin category, but it’s likely that one bed is a bunk that your stateroom attendant lowers from the ceiling, and the other is your sofa which converts to a bed.

Wasasalad: re: smoking. Smoking is permitted in the casino and in several designated outdoor areas. You are also allowed to smoke cigarettes only on your balcony.

Pachesos: re: sauna and steam room. I believe they are only available in the hydrotherapy section of the spa, but I could be wrong.

Cruisin2sun: re: class fees. Zumba is free. They actually do it in the Manhattan Room restaurant. These classes are noted that a fee applies (sorry I don’t know what the fees are): Chiball Fire Yoga, Flywheel Indoor Cycling, TRX Suspension Training, Body Sculpt Bootcamp.

Igfan: re: walking around the entire ship. Not possible on deck 7, as only the sides have the open decks. On deck 8 (The Waterfront), you can walk around the rear of the ship but not the front. (And yes, the Glow Party is just as fun as the White Hot Party!)

Uncleboo: I’ll answer your questions in this post. :-)

1. do you have any daily programs and mdr menus and room service menu?

I will post daily programs and specialty restaurant menus after the cruise. The MDR menus aren’t different from other NCL ships, so I’m not taking photos of them.

2. are there alot of trivia sessions and other games?

Yes, especially on this transatlantic. You’ll be able to see on the schedules when I post them.

3 did you go to carolos bakery? how was the treats? how were the prices?

Went there yesterday. Prices aren’t posted, but I know that cannolis are $3. (And yummy!)

4 do you know what brand of tea they serve?

Haha – I’ve had tea almost every day, and didn’t notice the brand! I think it was Lipton? But the ship was provisioned in Germany for this sailing, so things will probably change after NYC.

5 do they have a pizza place? is it free or do you pay for it?

They have 24/7 pizza delivery, and it’s $5. I think the Garden Café also has pizza.

6. did you try the soft serve free ice cream was it good?

Didn’t try it, but saw others enjoying it. Looked good. :-)

7. are there candies on the pillow?

Yes, for Latitudes members only.

8 are the fireworks shown every nite?

Just one night during the cruise, during the 80s party at Spice H2O.

9. are there free movies in room?

There is one movie channel. There are also options to buy movies on-demand.

10. is there a movie theatre on board?

No, nor are they showing movies in any public venue.

11 did they have any interesting lectures?

Just the basic shopping lectures.

12. did the ship feel crowded?

No, but we are only three-quarters full. Haven’t been any long waits at the elevators.

13 how is the library?

Small, but it’s out of the way and very quiet.

14, is there an adult section by the pool?

Not by the pool, but Spice H2O in the rear of the ship is adults-only.

15, any new policy about chair hogs?

If there’s anything new, I haven’t seen it.

16. do they have chicken and other food at out side grill?

The grill is towards the back and looks very nice. It is mostly protected from the elements. They have quite a few offerings, including the typical burgers, etc.

17. what was the best dessert you had?

Probably the chocolate soufflé at Ocean Blue last night!

So there *IS* a bowling alley! (A mini one.) It's tucked in the back of O'Sheehan's. There's also a pool table and an air hockey table, and a few video games:

Burn the Floor ovation:

Monkfish entree at Ocean Blue:

Dancing with the Breakaway Stars:

Ready for the ropes course:

I survived the Plank!:

Shanghai's...right next to the casino:

Getting closer to NYC:

Sunday, May 5 - Fifth Sea Day

It was a glorious day today – the sun was shining brightly and the seas are again calm. The weather should stay this way for the remainder of the cruise. For a northern transatlantic route, we have been extremely lucky with the weather!

I got up at 8:30 this morning, showered and proceeded to breakfast in the Garden Café. At most times in the buffet restaurant this week, it’s been a little difficult to find open tables. And since this ship is only three-quarters full this week, I can see this being a problem during regular sailings. But the seating just outside the Garden Café on the pool deck has been plentiful, and this is where I sat this morning.

At 10 am, I met up with Jake and several new cruise friends for another go on the ropes course. With the nice weather, quite a few people were on deck today. Since I gained the confidence on the course a few days ago, traversing the elevated segments was pretty easy. I even tried a few of the rope-only segments, which I had avoided my first time on Wednesday. And the plank was much easier to do this time, although still a bit unnerving.

A couple notes: everyone had to step on a scale and get weighed today, which wasn’t done earlier. If it’s any consolation, the scale was in kilograms and the numbers are lower than in pounds. :-) Your harness gets double-checked before you start the course, and again before you do the zip line. And thank goodness for this – as I was about to start the course, the staffer noticed that a strap had been caught in one of the two clips that secures the harness to the tether, and it wasn’t closed! It’s obvious that the ropes course staff is looking out for passengers’ safety.

After the course, Jake’s mom joined us and we did a round of mini-golf. This nine-hole course is underneath one-half of the ropes course. Various sea-based sculptures dot the course, and provide obstacles on many of the greens. One interesting flaw: all of the golf balls are white, so when you are playing in a group, it’s easy to forget whose ball is whose.

Later, we had lunch at Shanghai’s, as Jake and I knew a server there from an earlier cruise on the Dawn (Roro, from Indonesia). This is an a la carte restaurant, and you order by filling out a paper order form. Appetizers included pork pot stickers and shrimp dumplings, and entrees included noodle, fried rice and soup dishes. I had steamed pork pot stickers and spicy seafood udon soup. All were delicious. Shanghai’s is unfortunately located adjacent to the casino on deck 7, and all during the meal you heard the various bells and beeps from the slot machines. And smelled the cigarette smoke. It seems that Shanghai's could have easily been walled off from the casino (even with a glass wall), and it’s disappointing that they didn’t do this.

Instead of dessert at Shanghai’s, I went to Carlo’s bake shop to try one of the cannolis. There are no prices posted, and I wondered if they haven’t been set in stone yet. My cannoli was $3. And it was delicious. The bake shop is also where the gelato window is located on the Waterfront, and we noticed that the freezer case glass was shattered. The staff said it happened yesterday, all of a sudden on its own. Must have been a defective piece of glass. Hopefully they’ll be able to get it replaced in NYC.

I took advantage of the great weather this afternoon and brought my iPad to the Vibe beach club. Vibe is open to the public during the cruise, and it features nice padded loungers and chairs. I found a chair that had some shade and finally started reading one of the e-books I had downloaded before the trip. (Stephen King’s “Carrie” – I’ve seen the movie but never read the book; a new movie version is coming out this year, so I thought I’d read the original before I saw it.) I read about a third of it before succumbing to the sun and the gentle sway, and started dozing off. I then returned to the cabin for a proper nap.

Later, I met up with Jake, his mom and a few other cruisers to queue up for the 7 pm performance of Burn the Floor in the Breakaway theater. Around 6:40, two very long lines had formed that extended past the elevators and past O’Sheehan’s. Julie the cruise director made her way down the lines, informing us of a technical issue in the theater that was being fixed. Shortly thereafter, we were let in to the theater, and the performance started about ten minutes late. Burn the Floor consisted of 12 dancers and two vocalists (the female vocalist was especially fantastic!). The dancing was very high-energy and they put on a tremendous show. This is definitely a highlight of Breakaway’s entertainment offerings. The show lasted about 50 minutes.

We got a drink at the Friends of Dorothy gathering at Shakers, then Dave and I went to dinner at Ocean Blue. (Dave and I have a mutual friend in the Philly area, and we had actually met at the friend’s birthday party last summer, unaware that we were both planning this cruise. We made that connection about a month before sailing.) Ocean Blue is a new restaurant on the Norwegian fleet, with the menu set and overseen by former Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian. With a $35 per person cover charge, I had high expectations. The menu is upscale gourmet, with some very unique combinations of flavors. I started with grilled prawn panzanella (heirloom tomatoes, taggiasca olive vinaigrette), and then monkfish loin (forbidden rice, cauliflower, pine nut yogurt). We both ordered the dark chocolate soufflé for dessert, and were warned that it has a 15-minute prep time. (But it took less than 10 minutes.) The food was delicious, and complemented by the impeccable service. All plate placement and clearing were done in unison by several staff, and during each presentation our server described everything on the plates. (I will be posting menus after the cruise.)

One drawback to the experience – seated next to us were three employees of the AV vendor on board, conducting a dinner meeting. Based on what we overheard, they were planning the videos that would be part of the inaugural events in NYC after this cruise. But hearing them talk business, and the project manager’s frequent phone calls to others on board via her house phone, was rather distracting to our dining experience. After the meal, Dave brought the issue to the attention of one of the Norwegian executives on board. He was then offered a complimentary dinner in Cagney’s for tomorrow night! Once again, evidence that Norwegian really goes the extra mile for customer satisfaction.

Following dinner, we regrouped with friends in the Atrium for “Dancing with the Breakaway Stars,” based on the similarly-named television show. Eight cruise staff are paired with volunteers, and compete in a series of short dance styles. It was very entertaining. The Atrium wasn’t the best venue for this event, though, as there is seating for only about 75 passengers, and many had to stand on the periphery.

We closed the night with some dancing in Bliss. One more day at sea before sailing into New York City!

Green eyed lady: re: bed placement. I can’t confirm for sure, but I think what the others have said is accurate.

Patter44: re: outdoor seating. I didn’t get a photo, but will try to remember the next time I pass through. But it’s very similar to Epic, if I recall correctly.

Zlacruising: re: bowling alley. Well it’s a big ship so maybe I simply haven’t found it yet! :-) I’ll look for it tomorrow.

Lyndamr: re: dining room. I’ve only eaten in Manhattan Room. I’ve looked inside the other two – they are nice, but they simply don’t have the style that Manhattan Room offers, so that’s clearly my favorite. I’ll be posting menus after the trip. Those need to be high-resolution to see the text.

Joanc88: re: activities. Don’t worry, you will not get bored! In fact, I still haven’t opened any of the several books I brought with me! Norwegian has excellent kids programs, too. As for my favorite restaurant, I think Moderno (Brazilian meats) is the best.

Lyndamr: re: beverage package. I’ve been hanging out with a couple folks who have the beverage package, so I’ll ask them for the details. I can only confirm that Grey Goose cocktails are $6.75. :-)

Karoo:

Re: tortilla crisp. The item isn’t gone, it’s just not available on this sailing. I asked a server if it was due to an avocado shortage in Germany, and she said yes. (The ship was provisioned there for this cruise. It’s unusual to see condiments with German labels!)

Re: strawberry cheesecake. Yep, still there. The dining room menus haven’t changed from other Norwegian ships.

Re: zipline. You can, except that you have to get over to the zip line platform, and that will take a few segments on the ropes course.

Latitudes Rewards reception:

Cirque Dreams ovation:

80s Party:

Fireworks!:

Saturday, May 4 - Fourth Sea Day

We are still rocking today, but not as much as yesterday. The sun is out and it’s actually quite nice outside. I had looked at a marine forecast earlier today online and it appears that these swells are diminishing and that we’ll have smooth sailing on our last couple days.

I called guest services this morning to report the two T-shirts missing from my laundry. The operator said she would relay the message to Housekeeping. One minute later, the phone rang and a Housekeeping supervisor (Devon) asked me the shirts’ colors. About 15 minutes later, Mary Ann, my stateroom attendant, knocked on my door with my clean shirts in hand. Whew.

I met up with Jake and his mom, and we went to the Spiegel Tent for The Second City’s “Dysfunktional Family Reunion.” Other ships in the fleet offer a for-fee lunch show with Second City that’s an interactive murder mystery, and this new show was debuted for Breakaway. (I had never seen the murder mystery one, so I can’t compare it.) The cost is $20.

The performance offers a set lunch menu, but you do have a choice of entrée: roasted chicken or salmon. Also served were a salad with shrimp and chocolate eclairs for dessert. We were seated next to a couple who were dissatisfied with the menu. Very dissatisfied. In fact, think of the two most bitter and negative people you know –now picture them on your vacation, sitting next to you. They are exactly the kind of passengers you don’t want stuck at your table. In my previous 21 cruises, I’ve been pretty lucky with my random tablemates and have met some truly wonderful people, so perhaps I was overdue for a glimpse of how some in society choose negativity over positivity.

The wife of the couple got up to talk to staff at the door. A couple minutes later, a server came around to get our entrée orders. The gentleman (I use that term loosely) of the couple chose to take out his aggravation on the server, strongly suggesting that the offered menu was an insult and throwing his napkin onto the table in front of him. The server asked what else he would like to have and was graciously offering to substitute anything else. The gentleman refuted the offer and said he needed to wait for his wife to return, to see if she wanted to stay. The server calmly responded that he would get the supervisor. (I passed a handwritten note to Jake: “Is this part of the show?”)

About a minute later, the wife returned just as Elena Cornea, the supervisor, came onto the scene. She calmly reiterated what the server offered, to serve them anything they wanted and offered some suggestions. The wife was more amenable than her husband and took up Elena’s offer, which I think placated the husband’s concerns. Together they selected an alternative lunch menu.

I thought Elena did a fantastic job diffusing the situation, and never allowed the couple’s negativity to affect her responsibilities. She quickly and effectively worked on a solution, when I think many others would have simply told the couple to go “F” themselves! On my way out, I approached Elena and thanked her for her great work. (I also got her name so that I could write out a “Vacation Hero” commendation card for her.)

But back to the show… The performance presents five members of the Fullerton family, plus one person’s fiancée, who are on board the Breakaway with many relatives (us) for a family reunion. As each cast member introduces their character, we were prompted for suggestions to help fill in the story. As the show progresses, the cast incorporates a lot of improvisational comedy, such as creating a song on-the-spot. Slips of paper placed on every table asked attendees to write in some advice our mothers gave us – these were collected and randomly used during one scene, with many funny moments. A few audience members were also brought up on stage to participate at times. The show works very well with a cruise audience, and I think Norwegian has another success with this new offering. (I think even the Grumps next to me enjoyed it. Or maybe they were just happy to leave and get on with terrorizing other parts of the ship…)

I wrote and posted my blog entry for yesterday, then I strolled around the open decks. Quite a few people were outside enjoying the sunny weather – passengers were playing mini golf and trying out the ropes course.

At 5:15, I met up with Jake and his mom for the Latitudes Rewards gathering, offered to passengers who have earned Gold or higher status. It was held in Fat Cats, and Fire & Ice provided entertainment. Captain Haavard welcomed the attendees, and introduced Martin (Food & Beverage Director), Julie (Cruise Director), Sonja (Asst. Hotel Director) and Denis (Hotel Director). Waiters circulated with complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

Jake and I had reservations for the Cirque Dreams dinner show tonight at 9 pm, but we still went to dinner in the Manhattan Room with his mom around 6 pm. We figured we would get a better meal in the dining room than with the fixed menu at Cirque Dreams. I had a salmon tartar and prime rib. I skipped dessert, knowing I’d get it at the show.

We got a drink at the Friends of Dorothy gathering at Shakers, then queued up for the Cirque Dreams show at the Spiegel Tent (second time we were there today). We had “standard seating,” which at $30 costs $10 less than the “premium seating.” But the standard seating uses the booths in the back that surround the round venue, and I actually found this better than the cramped tables on the floor. We were lucky that there were no poles blocking our view. We sat with two very nice couples: one from Germany, and one from California. The dinner menu: tomato, mozzarella and prosciutto salad; coconut shrimp and beef tenderloin; and a dessert sampler trio.

Cirque Dreams premiered on Norwegian Epic with a circus theme. The show for Breakaway was redesigned with a “jungle fantasy” theme. All the servers had feathered hoods and accessories that resembled tropical birds. The lights dimmed, and then we were treated to 75 minutes of nonstop acrobatics, stunts and gymnastics. The performers emerged wearing very elaborate animal costumes, and an upbeat soundtrack kept the pace of the show. The Jungle Fantasy show definitely met the expectations set by Epic’s circus show, and it focused more on the stylized performances rather than Epic’s comedy.

Following dinner, we proceeded up to Spice H2O for the 80s party. A lot of passengers had gathered here, as this party also featured something else new to Norwegian’s fleet: fireworks! (Disney Cruise Line is the only other brand that offers pyrotechnics at sea.) As fire is the #1 risk at sea, many fire and security staff were on hand to make sure the show went off without a hitch. The extreme port side of Spice was cordoned off. Later we would see that a few errant sparks would land here, and the safety crews would make sure they were stamped out.

A number of 80s songs played during the party, and the entertainment staff got people dancing and also performed Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” About 45 minutes into the party, Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” offered the perfect segue for Julie to introduce the fireworks show – the lights were extinguished and the first rockets launched! They are launched from the port side just forward of Spice H2O, and the best views were from the dance floor of Spice. (Otherwise, rear port side balcony cabins would get the best views. Aft cabins actually would not, as most rockets exploded while they were still to the left of the ship.) The show lasted about seven or eight minutes, as an 80s medley played over the speakers. After the show, quite a few people continued to dance on deck. I left around midnight.

Turning the watch back for the fifth and final time tonight! We’ll be on Eastern Daylight Time for the remainder of the cruise.

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the live blog. It is especially appreciated by us that are on the first few Bermuda runs.

 

Are they offering Zumba and the spin classes? If so, what times?

 

Have a great time!

Flywheel Indoor Cycling at 9 am. Zumba at 1 pm.

www3traveler: re: fees for ropes course / waterslides. There is no fee for either the ropes course or the waterslides. You do need to sign a waiver for the ropes course, but I’m not sure about the waterslides. We haven’t done the slides yet.

Gambee: re: aft balcony. It was on deck 13.

Peteukmcr: re: mini-suite tubs. I don’t recall the specific stateroom, but it was deck 12 midship. Perhaps this was a “family mini-suite” with the tub? (ah yes, roe2ship has confirmed this. Thanks!)

Lyndamr: re: coffee makers. They are not Keurig machines. I think they take the ones that are like round pouches.

Green eyed lady: re: hump balconies. I’d say the balcony is about 50% larger, as it’s the same size as a standard balcony plus the extra space provided by the angled railing. If it’s the same price I would definitely switch. (looks like others answered your other question. Thanks!)

JoePiz: re: pizza and bowling. Pizza is delivered 24/7, and there’s a $5 charge. 16” cheese, vegetarian or pepperoni. I think they deliver anywhere, so even poolside you can get a pizza. There aren’t any bowling alleys on Breakaway. I think there are a couple air hockey tables in O’Sheehan’s. Plus a full arcarde near the sports complex.

Dirtgirl: re: zipline. Sorry to hear about your injury. You don’t go very fast on the zipline portion, and the brake is hardly noticeable. I’ve been on regular ziplines and know what you mean about those brakes; this is nothing like those. You can also bypass the zipline portion and enjoy the rest of the course.

Educators2: re: great outdoors. I also loved that spot on the Pearl, but unfortunately the Breakaway doesn’t have it. (Neither did Epic.) But there is seating between the Garden Café and the pool deck that is outdoors and largely protected from wind/rain. It’s not the same, but it’s something…

Crashing through the waves!:

Some rough seas today:

An empty Spice H2O:

Glow Party in Bliss: