Navigator or breakaway

I am planning a cruise for 2014 and being from NY I am trying to use the port closest to home. We are debating going to Bermuda, either on Navigator (we've only sailed RCL in the past) or NCL Breakaway. Any thoughts? Anyone done both? We also may be taking my 3yr old DD so the kids area is important.

Thanks in advance

I am planning a cruise for 2014 and being from NY I am trying to use the port closest to home. We are debating going to Bermuda, either on Navigator (we've only sailed RCL in the past) or NCL Breakaway. Any thoughts? Anyone done both? We also may be taking my 3yr old DD so the kids area is important.

 

Thanks in advance

Yep, both! Did the 7 night TA on broken away. Never again. That was two days after getting off NV for 29 nights. So, Navigator always. NCL never again!

Why takes too much typing. Summary: cold food; pay for too many things; the officers would not return a greeting; and the big one, the boat drill did not provide directions to the life boat.

The ship common areas were dark and always crowded and seemed like the lobby of an old hotel except ship had lots of low ceilings and felt closed in.

The crew and dinning staff were excellent but you could not even find the same waiter twice on a seven night cruise.

Looks like I asked the right person, looks like you have more cruises than I have hair.

Thanks for the advice, have always been happy with RCL should have known better. "If it ain't broke...com"

BROKEN AWAY!!! :D The perfect name for the Breakaway for sure. I been on 50 cruises in my life and I am 50 now, the Breakaway was the worst cruise I ever been on for soooo many reasons. There was too many negatives and hated the layout of that ship overall.

Ok since Petel told some negatives I like to give mine so you OP can know the truth about the Breakaway and why I never go on that ship or NCL ever again.

1- outdoor deck space and layout of the outdoors is horrible, tiny compartment areas and no space to really sit and look out at the ocean and the pool area was the smallest and smallest ship I seen in all these ships built after 2000. The interior was poorly planned, after the show in the main lounge everybody has to cram into the casino only one way to get out.

2- Breakaway did feel so crowded, too many people like sardines on top of one another

3- Staff was not friendly, we walked in hallways past room stewards nobody ever said hello or wished us a good day nothing! Never experienced this on any other cruise line. We also had to repeat ourselves a few times when ordering a cocktail, they didn't seem to understand English well, and at times we received wrong drinks such as we asked for jack and coke and was given whiskey and coke.

4- I have to be gluten free so I mainly eat meat, veggies, salad and potatoes for lunch buffet...there only was one meat carving that was the first day never had another meat carvings the remaining 6 days, the veggies all had sauces or gravies on full of gluten could not eat it, the salad bar was the smallest and least choices I ever seen on any other cruise line.

Honestly, there is a long list of negatives I have about the Breakaway and we never sail NCL ever again.

I totally agree,I will NEVER go on ncl again.Went on Breakaway in September and was the worst cruise ever,same reason that op stated and more.I am sticking to princess and royal Caribbean.

I thought the Navigator was sailing from Galveston in 2014?

Gregg

I did like Princess been awhile since last on them but I liked them very much but RC my favorite.

You might want to post your question on the NCL board as well, to get as many informed decisions as you can.

My recent cruise was on the Breakaway (first time on NCL). I thought the ship was nice and has plenty to offer especially for the kids, actually even more so than the voyager class ships have. One huge negative is that the pool deck space is small and it is VERY hard to find a lounger. It was the worst I have experienced in all of my cruises. I found the service to be a hit or miss. Staff were not that friendly, not too happy and missing plenty of smiles. Service was slow...many times there were long wait times for food or in between courses. The quality of the MDR food was definitely a step down from Royal. Personally I think the specialty restaurants are a must EVERY night on NCL....I don't feel the same way when cruising with Royal. The one specialty restaurant (LeBistro) on NCL though was excellent in both food and service. The entertaiment is pretty equal and the broadway show on Breakaway was awesome...best theater show I have seen at sea.

I will likely give NCL only one more try and as I said above it will have to be booking the $$$ restaurants most of the cruise.

IMO, overall Royal is better than NCL in many ways.

I was going to book the Getaway when she comes out, but now I'm having second thoughts..

Don't book the Getaway trust me! She is identical to Breakaway.

I love the Voyager class of ships. Always book a GS and enjoy the MDR. Spent New Years on the Mariner...fantastic. Last spring sailed on the NCL Epic. I was in a studio and ate in a specialty restauant every night...LOVED the cruise...one of my best. The entertainment was superior to Voyager class. The only problem I encountered was the pool area...it was horrid, so I went to the spa ! I spent the sea days on the aft of the ship in a comfy lounger watching the wake. If the pool area hadn't been horrible, I would have never disovered this fantastic place in the spa. I had such a good time that I've booked a cruise on the Breakaway in May...introducing my DH to this class of ship. We're in an aft suite, going to eat in a specialty restauant every night, see all the shows and play golf in Bermuda. What could be better?

I am planning a cruise for 2014 and being from NY I am trying to use the port closest to home. We are debating going to Bermuda, either on Navigator (we've only sailed RCL in the past) or NCL Breakaway. Any thoughts? Anyone done both? We also may be taking my 3yr old DD so the kids area is important.

 

Thanks in advance

If NY is your closest port, I'd do Explorer to go to Bermuda. No H2O zone, but they have the mini golf and the Promenade. I love the Promenade area on the ships. There's also Grandeur out of Baltimore, another nice ship, but less bells & whistles.

I haven't tried Breakaway yet but I was looking a few months ago for a trip in April and to me, the Breakaway seemed more expensive then the RCCL ships. (We ended up booking Grandeur)

I thought the Navigator was sailing from Galveston in 2014?

 

Gregg

Yes starting the end of this month she's sailing from Galveston on a permanent basis (except for her extensive dry dock in Jan/Feb 2014).

yes starting the end of this month she's sailing from galveston on a permanent basis (except for her extensive dry dock in jan/feb 2014).

:d:d:d

I recently read on the Norwegian boards that the reviews for Breakaway have improved recently, because there are less children now. So perhaps you have to pick your times.;)

thanks for all of the input, yes for those astute cruisers I meant explorer not navigator (I always mix them up, and I was even on the navigator once)

I do think I will post the same question on NCL, sometimes love is blind :)

Thanks to all I am and actually was already leaning to Explorer and Bermuda

I would avoid NCL and the Breakaway for all the reasons previous posted. I'd also like to add that if you're interested in a Balcony cabin, you can expect to find one of the smallest balconies you've ever seen on a ship.. Basically you have to sit sideways rather than looking out to the ocean.

Unless you plan to pay for dinner in the Specialty restaurants, you can expect horrible food. NCL nickle and dimes you for everything. Drinks are more expensive than on RCCL and they use 1 oz measured shots.. no free pour like on RCCL.

Service is hit or miss, but you find the friendly crew you're used to on RCCL.

Its very true, the Breakaway gave us the smallest balcony and you do need to sit sideways.

So many negatives I don't even want to remember them lol.

Yes starting the end of this month she's sailing from Galveston on a permanent basis (except for her extensive dry dock in Jan/Feb 2014).

Hopefully we'll see some price competition during the summer as Carnival will no longer have their monopoly then (at least for 2014) :D

Explorer to Bermuda is usually only a 5 day cruise.

I would choose the Celebrity Summit 7 days to Bermuda from NJ. We sailed on her in August, and she totally exceeded our expectations. We were blown away by the quality and quantity of live music all over the ship. We thought the demographics would be much older, but that wasn't true either.

Took the Navigator to Europe this year and came back on Breakaway.

Two very different ships. If you go for food take the RCL product if you go for entertainment take the NCL product. Other than that both ships are nice.

As the RCL has just come out of refit I would take it but either one is a great ship. I would base my decision on price if there was much of a difference.

I would choose the Celebrity Summit 7 days to Bermuda from NJ. We sailed on her in August, and she totally exceeded our expectations. We were blown away by the quality and quantity of live music all over the ship. We thought the demographics would be much older, but that wasn't true either.

My first reaction was that Summit would be a great alternative. And then remembered that the OP has a 3yo. I've been on Navigator with kids and Millennium (sister of Summit) without kids. While I prefer Celebrity over RCL, we'll be going on RCL with kids. My kids didn't want the kids' club, but played golf and the rock-climbing wall repeatedly. Your daughter won't use the rock-climbing wall, but the golf will matter to her.

I would choose the Celebrity Summit 7 days to Bermuda from NJ. We sailed on her in August, and she totally exceeded our expectations. We were blown away by the quality and quantity of live music all over the ship. We thought the demographics would be much older, but that wasn't true either.

I've done the Summit to Bermuda...the entertainment doesn't even come close to NCL Epic...assuming Breakaway is very close to the Epic. The package to eat every night in the specialty restaurants is about $112...worth every penny. The summit is old and tired...I had the same cabin on the Summit that I had several years ago and couldn't believe it...ugh!

I have a friend who just came off the Breakaway a few days ago. She wasn't impressed and said the service and the food was poor to fair. She didn't go into any more details.