tchrsbnz

I've done lots of Chef's Tables and it's never been on formal night. You should be safe to have your birthday celebration on the first night, formal night, or the last night. It's always on one of the "off" nights! But they never let you know for sure until you board the ship. Hope you have a great time on your vacation! Three more weeks for me! :):)

Assuming you are using paid WiFi onboard the BA, not cellular data, for simple text msg. daily and not leaving it ON 24/7 - 300 MB is plentiful, equivalent of 300 minutes ... based on the current plan.

 

NCL is in the process of changing and rolling out a newer 3-tier plan, including a social media text only messaging (no pictures or graphics) for $5 a day (someone reported it at $10 a day). Some messaging app will "push" them out to the subscriber while others will deliver when logged in and you won't missed the messages (Skype, FB messenger or Hangouts and similiar VoIP apps).

 

My advice, check back here a month before your sailing to see what's the latest offering and package pricing, etc. You can always add another 300 MB to your plan if the initial 300 MB isn't enough. No credits or refunds given to unused data.

Thank you much for those tips! I was thinking that 300 might be enough. I've never purchased a data plan on a cruise, but traveling solo, I think I'll be expected to keep in touch!

I need a little advice. I will be sailing on the Breakaway in October. I plan to send about 5 texts per day on a 7 day cruise just to keep in touch. Other than that, I won't use any internet. Would the 300 mb package be sufficient or would I need the 1000mb? What has worked best for those of you that have had either of those packages?

Awesome review! I have 7 months, 7 days, and 5 hours until my second adventure on the breakaway.......:D

Hi Kathi. You have plenty of reason to be excited and no reason to be scared. You will have a great time especially on the Breakaway. Be sure to attend the Solo meeting in the early evening in the Studio Lounge even if you're not staying in a studio.

 

Thanks for that information! I'll be glad to see a role call for my cruise! As of now, there still isn't one for Oct. 29, 2017. I didn't realize that I had already posted and posted again a few minutes ago in my excitement.....so please just excuse that! :')

Hi! I'm Kathi from North Carolina. I'm recently divorced. I'm used to doing two cruises a year and decided that I just couldn't live without cruising. It's too late....I'm already a cruise addict! I found a really inexpensive cruise on Norwegian Breakaway from New York in October. I've been on that ship before- in November 2013. I swore I'd never go on such a cold cruise again... However, I loved the ship and couldn't miss that deal. I just had to book! Just this week, I upgraded from a solo room to a balcony for $42! So, this Carolina girl is going to fly by herself to NYC and hop on a great big ship!! I've never felt so independent and I love it! If I don't make it back to NC, hopefully, someone out there will start a search party...

Your daily planner on the first night will list something like "Solo Cruiser Meetup" and the location will be a bar. Get there at the time listed or slightly before. You'll meet other solos right away. (Sit by yourself and smile at any newcomers will help.) Within five minutes of the set time, the official NCL solo coordinator will show up. They're actually a member of the cruise staff and will be in uniform. Keep a lookout for them. He/She will take you and the others down to the Studio Lounge where other solos will be waiting. (These will be the Studio stateroom guests....some Studio guests will meet up at the bar not knowing...) Then the meeting will officially take place.

 

 

The next nights, you'll be told to just meet at the Studio Lounge. The NCL coordinator will prop open a door. They will tell you which door. OR they may have you meet every night at that bar and be escorted down....just check the planner.

 

Feel free to partake in the Studio Lounge nibbles and bar, if applicable, during the meeting. And get the NCL coordinator's phone number in case you want to make a change to your solo-gathering related reservations, like shows and dinners.

Thank you so much for your help! Knowing what to do makes me feel so much better. I get along with everyone and look forward to meeting new people. I almost didn't upgrade because I didn't want to lose the activities of the Studio Lounge. Now I can drink my coffee and wine on my balcony and I can meet other solos! One more thing....Should I make dinner and show reservations for myself- just in case I have to go alone- or play it by ear? Or is it too difficult to change a reservation? What's your advice?

You're going to be just fine! I've been on a few solo cruises and many land vacations by myself. My next cruise is to Alaska and since I booked a balcony and already paid for a second passengers, I decided to gift a dear friend who's going through a rough divorce and take her with me. I'd be dishonest if I said I haven't had second thoughts a few times since I invited her! LOL. That's how much I love cruising solo. As long as you're open to it (people can tell) fellow passengers will strike up conversations with you and there are also the solo meet-ups where you'll find people to have dinner with it if you don't want to dine alone. Also, be sure to check out your roll call and if there's a meet and greet, you'll meet other Cruise Critic members on board.

 

Few of my friends have called me brave (it's usually strangers) because my friends know how much I love to cruise and how independent I am. :D

Thanks so much for that encouragement. I am really excited about it! I'm already saving for my next cruise! I've recently had a friend tell me she wanted to go. (Everyone seems to think I need company!) I had to tell her that I "needed to do this for myself". I'm looking forward to participating in lots of activities- my ex never wanted to participate even though I was active in my roll-calls. I think I'm most looking forward to having a neat, organized room! I hope you have an amazing time in Alaska. That's on my list!

I'm in my mid forties, and thanks to a divorce, it will be my first solo cruise. I originally booked a solo room, but upgraded this week to a balcony. Although it was only $42 more, I paid much more than double occupancy. I'm really nervous but excited. Vacationing solo is a big step for me! It seems that Norwegian really helps the solo cruisers. I'm surely hoping I can join in some of the solo festivities!

I originally booked a studio cabin, but then discovered a balcony was only $47 more. Of course, I upgraded. But, still, it's so much more for a single to cruise. I understand if I can't participate in the solo activities, but I'd love to be able to participate in some activities! I promise, I won't eat any snacks! lol! How would I go about seeing if I could participate in, at least, some dinners? It's my first solo cruise and I'm so afraid of not talking to anyone the entire cruise!

Hi! I'm Kathi and I will be going on my first solo cruise on the Breakaway in October. Everyone thinks I'm crazy to go by myself. I'm newly divorced and I can't bear the though of never cruising again, just because I'm single. I'm a little scared, but even more excited! I'm looking forward to meeting others who love to cruise!

I love this thread! I divorced a year ago. My ex and I always loved cruising together. However, my boyfriend does not love the idea of cruising. I couldn't stand the thought of life without cruises, so I booked a solo cruise. Although I'm mid-40's, my parents seriously disapprove. I've gotten every imaginable rude comment. I am a little afraid to cruise by myself, but I refuse to die waiting to go on a cruise with someone else. Besides, I love the idea of doing what I want to do....for the first time ever. As I'm a teacher, I've gotten "How can you afford to do that?" I do scrimp and save every single month. I am on a budget. I do have to choose the cheapest cruise possible. But it is SO worth it because cruising is my favorite vacation. Thanks for all of your inspiring stories! I am looking forward to my first solo cruise!

I have absolutely no idea! When I was on the Breakaway in 2013, I did all of the tourist attractions. So I'm going to keep reading the forum for ideas...I'm just going to spend one night, so I won't have lots of time.

I'm leaning towards the Viceroy in Central Park or the Hyatt in Times Square. I don't know much about the different areas. The prices are reasonable, considering it's NYC. It's turning out to be an expensive vacation, but I only do it once a year. I might as well do it right!

Comic Con is often that weekend, jamming up the west side.

 

Pray your flight is on time -- it is hurricane season in NYC & we've had rough weather these past Octobers.

 

Personally I think you are being penny wise & pound foolish. Use a site like Hotwire. Pick a 3+ star hotel for 1 night in Times Square or Chelsea; you can get 1 for about $100 per night plus tax & fees. Give yourself a margin for error. Isn't worth $100 not to miss the ship because there was a flight delay?

Thanks so much for that advice. I decided that I'll fly in the morning before. I just don't want to risk it. Besides, it would be a shame to go all the way to NYC and not be out and about in the city! I do plan to look for something in Times Square. Besides, I'd love to be one of the first at the port.

I may have to do that, too! I'm a wine lover and it sounds fun! I don't eat red meat, but the shrimp sounds tasty!

I live 15 minutes away from LaGuardia.

Realistically, flights are often delayed arriving and departing from LaGuardia, although at that early hour it shouldn't be too bad.

In terms of finding your luggage, there should be no problem as luggage retrieval is easy.

Currently there is massive construction going on at the airport and on any given day traffic can be severely backed up at the airport both going in and coming out. Traffic in and out of the airport and on the adjacent parkway is generally a mess abut varies from day to day

( some days it is not bad and other days it is horrendous). Construction will be going on for several more years. If you plan on taking a cab to the port I highly recommend hiring a car service prior to your flight as cabs often have a hard time getting into the airport due to the construction.

If you are flying out the day of disembarkation, allow extra time to get to the airport.

Thank you much for that helpful advice. I feel better now! I was originally considering getting NCL to pick me up, but I think I will go with a car service. I've been in huge airports, where I had to take trams from one section to another and I can't remember anything about LaGuardia. I guess for picking up luggage, I'll just follow the crowd getting off of my plane! October can't get here fast enough!

It looks like you're flying in the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend. Sundays are the lowest traffic day of the week, particularly in the middle of a 3 day weekend.

 

Did you buy independent cruise insurance that will cover your trip from door to door?

That's good to know! I will be flying in on Sunday. I didn't buy insurance, but I might look into that. I've always flown in a day early with no problems, and I'm wishing I'd done it this time. It might be worth it just to bite the bullet and change my reservation.

I will be cruising on NCL in October. This is my first solo vacation ever. To save money, I am flying in the day of the cruise. My flight is expected to arrive at 8:30am. Will I be able to navigate the airport to find my luggage, find transportation to the Manhattan port, and still be able to be there fairly early? Any suggestions that might ease my anxiety?

My husband and I are in our 40s. We cruise twice a year because we love being on the water. We have no children, but did travel with two other couples. With all of the less than great reviews, I was expecting the worst. However, our cruise exceeded any of our expectations!

Hotel: We stayed at the Ink 48. We tend to splurge just a little on hotels, as this is part of our "vacation experience". We always love Kimpton Hotels for the amazing service they provide. The Ink hosted an evening wine reception and offered $15.00 to use towards the minibar. There was a rooftop bar with the most amazing views of the city. This hotels was not in Manhattan, but we easily walked to the city with no problem at all. The morning of departure, we were so excited to see the Breakaway arrive outside of the window of our hotel room. With the ship so close, we were able to see the people departing. Because we were so excited, we couldn't wait any longer, and walked to the port about 9:00am.

Departure: We were able to roll our luggage very easily from the hotel to the port. We were latitude members and didn't have to wait in line to check in. We did have to wait until eleven to board the ship, but found that the time passed by quickly. There wasn't a lot of seating, so I suggest that you arrive early. You have to wait somewhere, right? We were in the first group to board. Super easy!

Ship: The ship was beautiful and elegant. It reminded me of the nicer hotels. Not tacky, or flashy....just lovely. Although such a large ship, it was easy for us to find our way around. We loved the touch screens that helped you find the locations of different places. We didn't have a problem finding a lounger on the ship. To me, it was too chilly to use the pool. I can imagine that it would be too small in warmer weather. I would probably opt for Vibe passes if I were to go during that time.

Activities: We couldn't possibly do all of the things that appealed to us. There simply wasn't enough time! We did see Fire and Ice. The talent amazed me. I didn't see anything that offensive. Unfortunately, the seating was so comfortable, that I fell asleep before it . I was just too relaxed from a day of fun! As we were traveling with other couples, we opted to spend evenings sipping wine on our balconies instead of seeing shows. We did venture to Fat Cats one night. We enjoyed listening to the jazz and blues entertainers. On our cruise, the weather was cool, so rather than getting the Vibe passes as we had planned, we purchased spa passes. We went in the mornings for a couple of hours and then again before getting ready for late dinners. We saw the most beautiful sunsets while relaxing in the spa's hot tub! Money well spent! My husband just loved Sam, the spa manager. She listened to all of his jokes and put up with his shenanigans. We participated in the margarita tasting and the martini tastings. We had much fun! The bartenders were awesome! We even got extra shots of tequila in our drinks. The tastings were crowded, so arrive early.

Service: The service, throughout the entire ship was top-notch. The staff went out of their way to make sure we were happy. We tipped everyone that treated us well and received free bottles of wine for our party of six every single night. We treated our servers with thoughtfulness and respect and we received it back, doubled. We even had wine delivered to our room a couple of nights, unexpectedly. By the time we left, we felt as if the staff were our family. We particularly liked Alex, who managed O'Sheehan's. We even looked him up on Facebook to stay in touch.

Cabin: We booked a mini suite. It was bigger than the balcony rooms I have been in on other ships, so I was very satisfied. The balcony was small, but very adequate for the two of us. We used our balcony a lot! I had no problem finding enough storage space and I packed enough for a family of four. The safe was small, but I felt comfortable leaving my ipad out. No one bothered a thing! The only one complaint about our room was that there was no outlet in the bathroom. I prefer not to have to dry and style my hair in the same area with my snacks and drinks. But, we managed. I understand that the rooms can't accommodate many outlets. I packed an outlet extender and an extension cord. I requested a bathrobe and ice. My requests were all met with a smile.

Dining: I didn't frequent the buffet often. I had a breakfast of fruit and coffee (beware...the coffee is STRONG) delivered to the room so that I could eat on my balcony. We either ate at O'Sheehans or the Uptown Grill for lunch. A couple of times, before dinner, we ordered the international cheese tray. Delicious! We found that we loved the Manhattan dining room because of the more formal atmosphere. The food was excellent. We could have eaten there every night had we chosen not to pay extra for the other restaurants. We peeked into Taste and saw that it was more family oriented, although we didn't dine there. We did dine in Cagney's and in La Cucina. Both were fabulous. My least favorite (but still excellent) was Tappanyaki. It was just too noisy for my taste. I really enjoyed the selection of flavored hot teas and flavored waters.

Excursions: We ventured out when we arrived at Nassau. We'd been there many times. We browsed at the Straw Market. That place scares me! We walked to John Watlings Distillery where we sampled rum. We plan to go back in January. So much fun! We had a couple of cocktails on the balcony while we were there. On the way back we sampled chocolate at the chocolate factory. We found a brochure on an interesting food tour that we might try next time.

Disembarkation: We carried our luggage off of the ship at 7:15. The elevators were crowded, but we were patient. Once we left the ship, going through customs was a breeze.

We found the people in New York to be very pleasant and friendly. In an entire week, we didn't find a single person that was not friendly and helpful. We can't wait to book this cruise again when it goes to Bermuda. I do think that the secret to a successful cruise is a positive, grateful attitude. A bad day on a ship is much better than a good day at work! You are on vacation! Another secret is cruising during the off season. November is a little cool for me, so next time, I will cruise in late September or early October. I give this cruise a "10"!

We were on that sailing as well. We LOVED every minute of the trip. We, too, had the spa passes. Perfect for cool weather. I probably saw you in the spa, because my husband and I were there all of the time. I couldn't have asked for a better experience and will definitely sail the Breakaway again!

not something i would have thought of... peanut butter?

That is definitely not on my list! I packed some things tonight for our Breakaway cruise. I didn't finish because I couldn't bring myself to iron! Have a great trip!

Thanks so much for your review! We are excited to sail in one month. Question.....Was there only one " dress up or not " night or two?

Thanks so much for posting pictures! We are staying at the Ink in November before we cruise. After seeing your pictures, I am even more excited! :)