jackinav

2 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Of course! 

 

Closest and yummy (they did have some sort of flooding which might impact their operations) - Sullivan St. Bakery - 533 W. 47th St.

 

Amy's Breads - 672 9th Ave. 

 

Those are our two favorite, close to the pier. There is always Black Seed Bagel at Chelsea Market or down by WTC. Both of those are within walking distance on a nice day, with limited luggage...Black Seed at WTC is a straight taxi ride down 12th Ave. though. Even I wouldn't really recommend venturing there on foot. 

 

We won't be partaking in any of these this times, since our hotel is offering breakfast and we're arriving to the pier right at boarding time on a shuttle. 

Thank you! We're taking a shuttle too, but not sure when it's dropping us off. It's nice to have those options !

On 12/22/2022 at 9:15 AM, cruiseny4life said:

This is such a great review. I really appreciate you sharing your family's experience , especially after reading some of the reviews (which I try to take with a grain of salt). 

 

7:30's a little early, but I'll take it! We know of a couple great bakeries in Hell's Kitchen that are within walking distance of the pier that we can settle into for a few hours until check-in.

Can you please share the names of those bakeries? We'd rather check our bags and settle in somewhere more comfortable than the departure lounge while waiting for the ship to be cleared. Thanks!  

19 hours ago, edrussell said:

I cannot tell you the cost now, but I can tell you I hope they have fixed the process.  If you search my posts you can read about the experience my wife and I had getting PCR tested at the Baltimore terminal.

Thanks Edrussell.  I read your post a few days ago and wondered how things got so messy at the end of the cruise. I think you were the among the last to get the test for free, but became the Guinea Pigs for the new process. We were tested on board Anthem in December and it was fast, streamlined and as pleasant as a swab up the nose could be!  Here's hoping Baltimore will drop the price and tighten up the process soon. 

Does anyone know how much is being charged for post-cruise PCR and fast-PCR tests at the Baltimore terminal? The RCI website is vague and I've only seen prices posted from FLA ports. I know a number of fellow Canadians are bringing self-administered Covid tests with them, and there are a few off-site options available at varying prices in Baltimore. We're trying to decide on the option that's most reliable, easy and cost -effective, while hoping rules will change soon! 

3 minutes ago, jamscckmc said:

How can you tell which ones are porthole cabins? Does the picture come up with a porthole rather than a window?

I check websites that offer information on cabins, and search cruise critic and Google for a cabin number. I found this info about deck 2 : 

- Staterooms 2008 to 2014,2508 to 2514,3000 to 3014,3500 to 3514 have two portholes instead of window 

We had no problem with a porthole. It's harder to look through but the payoff is extra storage space. 

How far forward? We were in a "porthole" cabin last year. When the ship hit some rough seas we woke up in the night to loud random noises that kept us from sleeping soundly. It sounded as if equipment was rolling or bouncing around nearby. We called the front desk to ask if anything could be done and were offered earplugs.

The next time seas got rough, the noise had vanished, so it may have been a random event or someone followed up on our phone call. 

We stayed in a forward inside cabin three months later and it was quiet. I like being at the front of the ship and we'll be there again next time.

From what I recall, the engine noises and vibrations are about the same as you hear elsewhere on board.

Expect to feel some motion in rough seas if you are far forward and hear muffled "thuds" when the ship moves though the waves. Most of the time, it's the same as any other cabin. 

I had read (on one of the cabin advice sites) that the forward rooms were bigger, but ours have not been. If it's a porthole cabin, you'll find a sizable shelf under the "window". It's big enough to sit on , store items or stow your suitcases. That's probably where the extra space is.

We did this in April. It's a great way for first-time visitors (like us) to get a look at some of the city. We also took the beach leg and got off for a while to wander around. There's someone on each bus who will point out the sights and help you get off at the right spot. Earbuds are provided. Buses pass by marked stops every half-our or so.

I looked at the Hop-on website first but chose to buy the excursion through RCL because it was discounted at the time and included transportation to the area where the routes originate.  

It's basically an extensive guided tour that's also a circular bus route. Sit on the top deck if weather permits. You'll see more. 

If you have a specific place in mind (to visit) for the day (ie South Beach), it would probably be cheaper and quicker to uber or taxi. If you're trying to see a lot of Miami in a short time, I'd recommend the hop-on hop-off bus.

That sounds like a good plan and from what I've read, one can walk to the Central Station. Thanks!

Thanks Va4family!

This April we'll be spending a day in Miami, and it's our first time. We're considering booking the Hop On Hop Off bus through RCI because the price seems to be the same as what's offered on the HOHO home page.

Does the ship-arranged tour start from the port or do we still have to make our own way to the central station? Thanks!

Does anyone know if the Beach across from the Airport is back open? Maho Beach?

We (DH and I) were just on Maho beach (Sunday Jan 28). It was too rough to swim, but we would have been in the water if not. There's plenty of sand, but more big rocks than before. The Sunset Bar is open for business and has been expanded to include a small sheltered swimming pool with lounge chairs (for a reasonable fee). The beach and bar were quiet (only one ship in town that day) so we had a lot of space to ourselves. The airport is being rebuilt and there aren't as many planes coming in, but I had checked ahead and knew there were a few big ones scheduled that day(including the KLM airbus). It's sad to see the amount of destruction still evident along the route, but there's also a lot of rebuilding and yes- Maho is still there!

We are sailing on her in Jan 2018....hoping due to Christmas break a few weeks before, that the amount of kids will be limited. I love kids, don't get me wrong...just not a ton of them everywhere running up and down halls, screaming in the dining rooms etc. Yes, I am a mom so I do understand.

We were on the Jan 2 cruise this year. I think there were about 400 children on board (according to a member of staff) and most of them were well-behaved.

Ncklhaus, my DH and I were on the same cruise and it was our first with NCL. One of the reasons we decided to take the plunge (after reading a few negative reports) was your detailed 2016 review of Breakaway.

We loved the ship and had a great time, and we're following this thread and enjoying the pictures- especially since mine turned out so badly!

Thank you for continuing this review, considering what's been going on behind the scenes. I wish you all the best!

We also took the Cosul tour. We loved approaching the Pitons by boat. Every aspect of the tour was great, including the cold drinks and hot bread with melted cheese on the drive back.:)

Most of my cruises have been on RCI (my DH and I are now Diamond)and HAL, and until earlier this month, Adventure OTS was the largest ship we have been on. We decided to try NCL because the price was right, the drink package was a great add-on and we wanted to cruise out of NYC.

I can only compare my previous cruises with the Breakaway. Some of the public areas are more crowded than on RCI and certainly HAL ships, and it felt as if smokers were given more places to light up- although that may be because of the ship's design and because I'm allergic to smoke. The drink package is great although you may also have to wait a little longer to get served at some bars. NCL seems to have more wandering bar staff around the ship. No matter where I sat, there was always someone passing by to see if I wanted a drink. Impressive.

I thought NCL had better food and selection in the Buffet, but RCI and HAL won in the dining room. Freestyle dining is perfect for us, and we never had to wait longer than ten minutes to be seated.

NCL had the best entertainment by far. There was a younger crowd on our cruise, and more children than I'm used to seeing on a longer January trip. The staff was as pleasant and hard-working as on other lines and our (balcony) cabin seemed roomier and had more storage areas and a bigger shower.

We had lots of reservations, especially after reading some negative reviews about BA, but everything ran smoothly. Checking in was fast and easy and we didn't have to wait at all. Our self-disembarkation took less than an hour. From start to finish, it was a great cruise and there's no doubt we'll be back on an NCL ship in the future!

I was on the same cruise. First time on NCL after several on RCL and a couple on HAL. This was by far the biggest ship my my DH and I have ever been on. After reading a few negative reviews, I was a little worried about some of the regular complaints (Smoke, disembarkation, food etc..) but my husband and I had a great time and would do it again.

The food was better than expected but we weren't wowed by La Cucina (mainly a sub-par chicken dish and a server who may have been new to Italian restaurants) and thought the server at The Noodle bar must have been having an awful day to be so curt and unsmiling. All outside areas were packed on sea days (hard to find a nice place to sit as we were packed like sardines) and the smoke smell did keep us from spending much time at Maltings and the Casino but aside from that- WOW. NCL handled the crowds very well and the staff were smiling, courteous, helpful and hard-working.

Food ranged from good to great, and we never waited more than 10 minutes at any venue. Sometimes the wait for bar service was longer, but not because anyone was standing around. Servers also wandered the crowds everywhere on the ship.

I'd read complaints about buffet crowding and food variety, but if you walked to areas away from the exits, there were always tables and very few lines. The food selection may have been similar every day, but there were so many different things to choose from and the staff were swift to clean tables and replenish supplies.

We also had no trouble getting into any of the free shows we wanted to see, although it was often standing room only in the main theater. Great entertainment everywhere you turned. Never a dull moment... and don't let crowds keep you from the "Dancing With the Breakaway Stars" in the Atrium. I think I got the best laughs of the cruise there- and there were many!

Disembarkation was quick and easy with self-assist. Even at 7:30 am the line was LONG but once it started moving, were were off the ship quickly.

Now I'm battling a crippling case of PCD, but I'm glad I gave NCL a try. We'll be back!

Does anyone know what the Vibe price would be for a 13 night Breakaway cruise?

Thanks for the reply!

I'll be on BA for the first time in January. When does (on-line) booking for shows/specialty restaurants usually start?

We disembarked Serenade on January 25 and it was the worst process ever. From the time we left the assigned waiting lounge to the time we grabbed a taxi, we spent about two and a half hours standing in very slow lines. It was a fantastic cruise and we have absolutely no complaints, but I'm not happy to have to leave any ship, so it's not the best time to make it so difficult to go!:(

It was our honeymoon cruise on Vision from Fort Lauderdale in 2013. Not only memorable for the great ports, lovely ship and fantastic weather, but also because of the people we met. Schooner bar piano player Oliver drew in a lively crowd and the bar staff were top notch!

Close 2nd: Legend the year after. It was our first diamond cruise and we were upgraded from an outside to a balcony. WOW!

It's The Schooner Bar for me. Always our first stop on board, and the go-to venue in the evening. Earlier this month there was a piano player and a guitarist who alternated shorter shifts in the evening. During the day, you'll find beautiful views of the ocean and a few gatherings for trivia or napkin folding.

Best of all, you'll be served by AWESOME bartenders Duane and Ronald!:)

Lol. Do you know where Caption Rob is now?

The recent "Current Captains" thread says it's Rhapsody. He really stood out because of that wacky sense of humor. I hope I'm aboard one of his ships again one day.

I can't remember who the captain was on this occasion, but on a stop in Curacao, we were told about the swing bridge that allows pedestrians to explore the other side of town. The bridge was often closed to let water traffic through and our Captain told us to make sure we crossed back over the bridge well before sail-away time. If we wanted to stay a little longer, he suggested we bring a camera so we could get a lovely picture of the ship... as she sailed away!

Just about anything Captain Rob said during his daily updates was a source of amusement on my two cruises on Enchantment OTS out of Baltimore. Picture a stand-up comic who became a captain. Everything seemed to stop when he made his announcements which were filled with amazing facts such as "The closest land mass is.....the pier". :D

I have to agree with you as well on how great this ship was and how amazing all the staff are.

 

Capt. Mareck was quite personable and it was enjoyable to see a captain "let down his hair" and belt out a few tunes.

 

The specialty restaurant manager, Dejan, is also a tremendous asset to the ship as well as the staff at Lattitudes.

 

The only disappointing thing I can say about our last trip, and it is beyond the control of Royal, was the attitude of a specific Pinnacle member who made a complete jerk of herself in Giovannis by yelling and demeaning the staff because the Oso buco (sp?) was unavailable and how dare they offer her a menu that didn't have everything available to her.

 

She even went to the extreme of yelling " Don't you know who I am, I'm a Pinnacle member with 1982 cruise days".

 

First time i've had the displeasure of running into that.:mad:

I wonder if that person was on Brilliance of the Seas a couple of years ago. We were disembarking in Boston, and had to join the usual line that ran from the theatre and down the promenade deck to the exit. Through an open door, we heard a woman yelling at a crew member, "Don't you dare send me to the end of this line. I am a G##d#m PINNACLE member! I DO NOT wait in line for anything!!!" HRH Madame Pinnacle was brought into the line just ahead of us. I'm sure the crew would have loved to have offered her the "express" disembarkation over the railings.