Kroozen

Thanks for the spread sheet. Its a huge help. I called NCL, and I was able to switch to a Mini Suite with a large balcony.

Thanks. I had that feeling too, but I just wanted to confirm.

I am booked in a mini suite on deck 12 of the Breakaway. I've been hearing about the size of the balconies, and I'm wondering if we should switch to a mini suite with a large balcony on deck 8. Is there a big difference between the size of the balconies?

Like others have stated, you should be all set. Most drinks are from $6.50 to $9.50.

I'm going on the Breakaway for the first time next month, but I can answer your questions as they pertain to almost every other cruise ship.

1. Lounge chairs right next to the pool DO fill up quickly. In my experience, If you're not out by the pool by 10am, you won't get a lounge chair right next to it. HOWEVER, there are plenty of spots in the vicinity of the pool, so you'll be able to find a chair somewhere, but it might not be right next to the pool. Some people reserve their chairs with towels, but as you can imagine, this cause a lot of angst among your fellow passengers. My favorite place to lounge is on the promenade deck. On the Breakaway its called the waterfront. Think of it as a giant covered porch that wraps around the ship. You're under cover, so the sun isn't right on you, and you're down near the water so you can hear the waves.

2. Most ships, including the Breakaway have wifi. There's also an internet cafe that you can sit in to access the internet. Ships used to charge by the minute, and it got very expensive, very quickly, however, I hear that the Breakaway charges based on the amount of data you use. A few e-mails shouldn't break the bank.

Going on Breakaway next month. Booked a balcony guarantee, ended up getting a mid-ship mini-suite.

Can anyone tell me what the Spa is like on the Breakaway? Are the steam rooms co-ed?

I booked a balcony guaranty 48 days prior to sailing. 2 days later, my TA called me and asked if I wanted an Aft Facing Mini Suite for the same price. Naturally I took it…

I just received a phone call from my PCC. There was a price drop for my upcoming cruise on the Breakaway. Although they wouldn't offer a refund for the price difference, they did upgrade us from a balcony guaranty to a mini-suite! I know there isn't much of a difference between the 2, but still pretty excited :-)

Does the Breakaway have a behind the scenes tour? ?Ive seen it offered on other cruises, and I always say I'm going to do it, but I never do. Hopefully this will be the time that I do it!

I've booked directly with the cruise line and I've also booked with online travel agencies. The only advantage that I can think of to booking directly with the cruise line is that you don't have to deal with a middle man if you have any questions or issues. I always book with whoever is offering the better deal.

I'm sailing on the Breakaway, and its available on there. I think we'll all get it for our phones. There will be 4 of us, so it sounds like it'll come in handy. The price doesn't sound too bad.

Has anyone used the iConcierge app? I was just reading on the NCL website, and it says it can be used to contact other cruisers, view your on board account, read the free style daily, book restaurants, etc. Anyone ever use it? It seems like it might be a good way to stay in touch with other people in my group without having to leave notes on their door and leaving them messages on their phone.

Hello,

Can anyone tell me if there are steam rooms & saunas available for free on Breakaway? I like to sit in the steam room after a workout, but I'm not too keen on paying $200 for the thermal spa. THANKS!

Rather than doing a day by day review, I’ll break the review up into separate sections. I’m just doing a brief review, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask. We had a great cruise to Bermuda, and we can’t wait to sail again.

EMBARKATION:

Embarkation was a breeze. I’m gold status, but my boyfriend is Platinum, so we had express embarkation. It took exactly 30 minutes from the time the shuttle dropped us off at the terminal until I was standing in the centrum of the Grandeur. There was a line for non-priority boarding, but there were only about 20 people in line. There was no line for priority boarding.

DINING:

We bought the specialty restaurant package for $55 per person, which allows you to dine in Giovanni’s Table, Chops, and Izumi. The package also gives you a $20 credit towards Izumi. All the specialty restaurants were delicious, but my favorite was Giovanni’s. We ate most dinners in the main dining room. The food was very good, but the service seemed to be lacking. Our waiters were fine, but they seemed very rushed and didn’t spend too much time explaining the menu. We felt that the Windjammer was lacking variety, and seemed to have the same foods daily. There was nothing really wrong with it, but it seemed like RCCL is cutting corners and trying to save money. Also, the windjammer was completely closed off in between meals. The doors were closed, and you couldn’t even walk through. If you wanted a snack, you had to go to Park Café or Latte-Tudes. (The roast beef at Park Café was AMAZING.)

THE SHIP:

The Grandeur is a smaller ship than most of the ships in the fleet, but she is in great shape. The ship felt empty on most days, and there were always plenty of chairs on deck. The solarium was great, and seemed to be empty most of the time. The theater has great seats, and they were very comfortable. The casino was a good size, though it was very smoky, especially at night. We smelled sewage in the centrum when we first got on, but then never smelled it again for the rest of the week. Our cabin was an interior cabin, midship on deck 2. It was small like expected, but it worked for us. The bathroom seemed A LOT smaller than the bathrooms on other cruise ships, especially the shower. I’m 6’2, and I was just too cramped in the shower. I ended up showering in the spa every day. (There are great showers in there.) There was always cleaning going on, and the crew was doing a great job keeping the Grandeur in tip top shape.

ENTERTAINMENT:

We went to see two comedians (I can’t remember their names), and they put on a very good show. We attended most of the events put on by the activities staff, and they did a good job keeping everyone engaged and entertained. Don’t miss the aerial show in the centrum….it’s very good. We played Bingo, trivia, and went to the game shows. There was always something to do if you wanted to keep busy, or you could just lounge by the pool and enjoy the sun.

Hello,

I just got off the Grandeur today. Any questions? I'm in the process of writing a review, but figured I'd answer questions in the mean time...

You could always forge his signature....No one would be the wiser.

I cruised to Bermuda a few years ago, and I'll be going again this week...I think there are pro's and con's to sailing to Bermuda...If you like waking up to a different port every morning, then Bermuda may not be for you. Most ships are there for at least 1-2 nights. On the bright side, this allows you to slow down a little bit and really get a taste for the island. I like the fact that once the ship docks, you can use it as a floating hotel, and come and go as you please. In other destinations, it feels like a mad dash in the morning to get off the ship right when it docks, but I didn't feel that way when I was in Bermuda.

If you've been looking at vacations in Bermuda, a cruise will likely be best deal. Many things in Bermuda are expensive, so don't go there searching for a bargain like you can do in the Caribbean or Bahamas. However, along the same lines, no one is waiting for you once you get off the ship trying to sell you things...No one is trying to sell you drugs, braid your hair or trying to get you in their taxi. The locals are friendly, and they do not harass you.

The last time I went to Bermuda, it was the end of August into early September. The weather was warm (mid 80's), but it wasn't oppressive like the Caribbean is in the summer. We had great weather and calm seas the entire way. Weather is so hard to predict, but I have heard that the Caribbean is generally calmer. I'll be arriving in Bermuda this weekend, and I've been checking the weather reports...As of right now, the forecast is low 70's. Many locals will think it's too cold to go in the water, but I'll probably try to get some beach time in.

Ships that sail to Bermuda leave from Northern ports (New York, New Jersey, Maryland) so it may not be as convenient if you live in a southern state and prefer to drive to a port in Florida. However, these ports are generally less crowded than ports in Florida (Port Canaveral, Miami, Fort Lauderalde, Etc.)

Welcome to Cruise Critic! You just found one of the best resources available to answer all of your cruise questions.

Typically, I don't even like driving to the port on the same day that the cruise leaves, let alone flying. This past October, I was spending a week in Las Vegas and my luggage was lost by the airline. It was bad enough having to shop for a new wardrobe while on vacation, but if I were flying in for a cruise, and it was leaving that same day, I would have been in a whole heap of trouble. (By the way, my luggage was never found and it took almost two months to get a settlement from the airline.) Your 3pm departure flight after your cruise is fine, but I would never recommend flying in on the same day that your cruise leaves. Even with a non-stop, direct flight, I still wouldn't do it. I know plenty of people do it and don't have any issues, but it only takes one delay or a lost suitcase to ruin your whole vacation...I'm cruising to Bermuda this Friday, and even though I'm only a 6 hour drive from the port, I'm still leaving the day before just in case....

Horseshoe Bay & Tobacco Bay both have changing facilities & restrooms. The facilities were larger and nicer at Horseshoe Bay, but the ones at Tobacco Bay were fine as well.

I went to Tavern by the Sea on my last visit to Bermuda. I didn't dock a boat there, but I saw other people doing so. If I remember correctly, the menu was a bit limited, and expensive, but it had great water views.

Limit the time that you spend in the casino, and set a daily limit for yourself. I budget for $20/night for the slots...Once it's gone, it's gone...I just get up and leave. Also, don't buy anything from the shops unless there's something that REALLY REALLY want. But even then, don't buy it right away...Think about it, and then come back in a day or two...As far as drinking goes, just limit yourself...I'll usually have a drink of the day or 2, but that's it for the most part. Maybe a cocktail at night. Also, take advantage of your carry on allowance for beverages...I'm not sure about Carnival in particular, but most cruise lines allow you a few bottles of wine and soda/water to be taken on board. Why pay $2.50 for a can of soda when you can carry on a 12 pack for $5? Charges for specialty restaurants can add up rather quick, so pick 1 or 2 that you want to try, and stick with that. Don't book excursions through the ship, but do some research ahead of time and book them on your own. You'll almost always save quite a bit of money...

I usually have around a $500-$600 balance for a 7 night cruise...I've never pre-paid gratuities, or had more than $25 in OBC, so I'm pretty happy with $600 for 2 people for 7 nights.

Oh no! Thank you for the heads up!