*LIVE PHOTO BLOG* - Ben the Bendy Man's Breakaway Adventure April 28 to May 4, 2013

Maiden Transatlantic Day 2 - Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 3 pm

Malting Beer & Whiskey Bar on the Waterfront

Ben with his new friends Jelyrose(left) and ?Carlos?(right). Our limber lemon-colored smiling seaman spent much of his time on The Waterfront outside Maltings enjoying ocean view where he met his new friends Jelyrose (Bartender) and ?Carlos?(Barstaff) braving the brisk chilly ocean crossing in their warm jackets. The transatlantic crossing so far couldn't have been smoother.

Thanks for the pictures of the Humidor. The drinks for the tastings aren't full drinks? Is it worth the money to go?

Thanks for the pictures of the Humidor. The drinks for the tastings aren't full drinks? Is it worth the money to go?

Yes, but i prefer the martini tasting which is usually 4 x 1/2 martinis :D. The 5 mini margaritas are worth it if you aren't picky about your tequila :D. Never been to a wine, beer, or whiskey tasting. You can't tell from the picture, but there were more people to the left and behind me. The margarita tasting we very popular.

Enjoyed your review, thanks for taking the time to write and post it.

Enjoyed your review, thanks for taking the time to write and post it.

Thanks Pathfinder :)

Maiden Transatlantic Day 2 - Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 6 pm

Solo Travelers, Dinners in the Manhattan Dining Room

Each evening, Ben went to the solo gathering in the Studio Lounge at 5 pm to meet up with new friends before dinner. This evening was a little different. Meaghan, the hostess for solo travelers, arranged a group dinner for all of us in the Manhattan dining room at 6 pm. As we arrived, we are quickly led to four large tables to the left of the Manhattan Band who were playing on the stage.

Our famished flexible figurine enjoyed conversing with his new cruise companions over dinner. His dinner friends were very nice and had such interesting stories to tell. His dinner service on the other hand was rather slow but the food was very good. The waitstaff were pleasant but still learning their paces. However, dinner service in Manhattan on future nights was remarkably better. Norwegian's shakedown crew was learning fast.

Manhattan Main Dining Room

Left side - Daily Specialties that change each night. Right side - Classic Selections that are the same every evening.

The Manhattan Band

Maiden Transatlantic Day 2 - Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 6 pm

Solo Travelers, Dinners in the Manhattan Dining Room

French Onion Soup

Greek salad

Braised lamb shank is served every night and quite popular. Yum!

Some more views of the Manhattan Main Dining Room

Ben didn't catch the name of this waiter. He's excellent and was Ben's waiter in Manhattan on several other nights.

Maiden Transatlantic Day 3 - Friday, May 3, 2013 at 6 pm

Ben's luck runs out at the Breakaway Casino...

Ben spent the next day exploring and taking pictures of other areas of the ship. Passing through the Breakaway Casino, he was tempted to place a bet on the roulette table but unbeknownst to our silly smiling celebrity, he wasn't actually allowed to bet *ON* the roulette table. So our undeterred adventurer swiftly stood, smiled, and scurried away before the surveillance sent for security. Ben decided to take refuge inside Headliners for a game of bingo but no luck there either.

Fortune wasn't favoring our free-spirited fellow and he'd lose more than his just a few dollars and a chance to yell "BINGO!" Sometime during the day, his forgetful photographer misplaced his camera memory card with all the Ben's vacation pictures... again (he had lost his camera in Rotterdam and buy a new one). Several times each day, he would remove the memory card from the camera to transfer photos onto his tablet to edit and upload... And now it was misplaced and missing.

Fortunately, Lady Luck finally did shine on Ben and around midnight, his amnesiatic assistant finally retraced his steps back to the Internet Cafe where the Albert Truter and Serge Veselinovic were waiting with the missing memory card in hand. Needless to say these guys are some of Ben's Vacation Heroes!

Breakaway Casino

"Do you feel lucky... Ben?"

Ben with Vacation Heroes Albert Truter and Serge Veselinovic of the Internet Cafe

Maiden Transatlantic Day 3 - Friday, May 3, 2013 at 6 pm

Fire and Ice, Slam Allen Band

After recovering all his vacation photos, Ben pointedly prodded his personal paparazzi to take some more. When he was finished, he settled down in the Atrium Cafe to edit and upload them while enjoying a passionate performance by Fire and Ice. He didn't catch the name of the singer but she was amazing, full of passion, and sang her heart out.

As if the evening couldn't turn out any better, Ben went to the Fat Cats Jazz & Blue Club. Ben just LOVES the blues and he had heard many compliments about the Slam Allen Band but they were so much better than imagined. Words just don't do them justice and it was a real treat.

Fire and Ice heat up the Atrium

Fat Cats Jazz & Blues Club

Slam Allen Band

Everyone can't help but get up and dance!

Maiden Transatlantic Day 3 - Friday, May 3, 2013 at 6 pm

La Cucina, Mixx, Taste, Savor

More wandering about - La Cucina is across from Fat Cats, and some pictures outside the Taste and Savor dining rooms, and the Mixx Bar in between the two.

La Cucina Italian Restaurant

Savor Dining Room

Mixx Bar

Taste Dining Room

Maiden Transatlantic Day 5 - Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 1 pm

Lunch at O'Sheehan's (24 Hour) Neighborhood Bar & Grill

The next afternoon, after checking to make sure his photographer still had his camera and memory card, Ben wandered over to O'Sheehan's to meet up with his friends for lunch while taking pictures along the way. O'Sheehan's is open 24 hours and serves pub and comfort foods. We gathered by the bar for drinks while we waited for everyone to arrive. Service was a little slow here but after we were seated on the restaurant side, service was quick and smooth. We were seated by an ocean view window enjoying our burgers and fries, buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks, and other goodies.

678 Ocean Place

O'Sheehan's Neighbor Bar & Grill - Entrance

O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill - Overlooking the Atrium below

Maiden Transatlantic Day 5 - Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 1 pm

Lunch at O'Sheehan's (24 Hour) Neighborhood Bar & Grill

Pub and game rooms.

Maiden Transatlantic Day 5 - Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 1 pm

Lunch at O'Sheehan's (24 Hour) Neighborhood Bar & Grill

O'Sheehan's restaurant seating across from the bar and game room.

Maiden Transatlantic Day 5 - Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 1 pm

Lunch at O'Sheehan's (24 Hour) Neighborhood Bar & Grill

Ben enjoyes his Blue Moon witbier with slices of orange and Buffalo Wings... A bit too much?

"O'Sheehan's Burger" with smoked bacon and chedder cheese

Diane's Corona and Mozzarella Sticks

...and her Chicken Pot Pie

Maiden Transatlantic Day 5 - Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 3 pm

Exploring the Sundeck

After lunch, Mark offered to show us around the Sundeck and Vibe Beach Club on Deck 17. (He was trying to get back into our good graces after managing to get an exclusive Breakaway Inaugural Silk Lanyard for himself... but not one for everyone else... as well as almost knocking Diane off her stool at the Margarita Tasting). Ben was quietly bemused with Mark's attempt to slowly regain our favor (especially that of the ladies) but he was suddenly surprised when he ran into Dhruv Bogati tending bar. He was delighted to see his Vacation Hero from Norwegian Star on board and happy for his friend's well-deserved move over to NCL's newest ship.

After ordering some drinks, we lounged around for an hour, relaxing and chatting on what turned out to be a gorgeous day. After worrying about rough seas before the trip, Ben was amazed as he gazed up at sunny blue skies and across the calm seas while the Breakaway gently sailed across the Atlantic. We then continued exploring more of the sun deck, strolling past the pools, watching people brave the impressive rock wall, navigating the ropes course, and plunging down water slides.

Ben's thrilled to run into Dhruv Bogati.

Choices... choices!

Crossing the Atlantic on a perfect day.

Lounging on the sundeck

A leisurely stroll towards the Sports Complex

Maiden Transatlantic Day 5 - Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 3 pm

Sports Complex (Rock Climbing Wall, Ropes Course, and more woohoo!)

Maiden Transatlantic Day 5 - Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 3 pm

Towering Water Slides!

Ben was disappointed when they turned him away from the rock wall and ropes course. Apparently there wasn't a harness small enough to would fit him and there was a height restriction too (Are they saying he's short?!?) So instead he had to content himself with simply observing the humans as they climbed and rapelled down the rock face, and carefully navigate the ropes course while Kevin Sheehan stood nearby taunting and calling his typist "a wimp". :p

Our enthusiastic explorer (and his manservant) weren't going to be defeated so easily. Doing an about face, they marched intently towards the water slides, bruised egos and all, determined to redeem themselves in the eyes of Norwegian's big kahuna.

When they reached the top of the towering waterslide, they were confronted by yet another sentinel of safety who stared at Ben disapprovingly and warned that Ben "might get stuck". Undeterred, Ben innocently smiles while explaining to the crewman that they were only there to enjoy the view. Meanwhile, Ben patiently waited for an opportune moment...

Ben's skinny knees start to wobble from vertigo as he tries to sneak his way to the top of the waterslide

Ben eyes the waterslide enviously "I'm not that short!"

Ben distracts the waterslide monitor shouting "Oh look! It's your boss Kevin Sheehan!"

Maiden Transatlantic Day 5 - Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 3 pm

Ben Takes the Plunge!

Yippeeeeee...

...eeeeeeeeeeee

...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Loving Ben's review! Curious George, who travels with us would like to meet Ben!

Loving Ben's review! Curious George, who travels with us would like to meet Ben!

Thanks psyfi! :D Ben remembers reading about Curious George and would love to meet one of his childhood heroes! Maybe that's who he got his curious mischievous nature from (and so far hasn't gotten into trouble for it... only many odd stares, a few bemused smiles, and the occasional suspicious disapproving glare from security). :D

Maiden Transatlantic Day 5 - Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 3 pm

Ben Takes the Plunge!

 

 

Yippeeeeee...

 

...eeeeeeeeeeee

...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Kyle - where are you? You left Ben HANGING -(Ooops! sorry-that was previous review). You left Ben SLIDING!!!!!!

Hi awesome cruise enthusiatists and bendable buddy fans!

 

Ben the Bendy Man is back! For the past week, our intrepid adventurer has left The Big Apple, crossing the Atlantic, and been having a fantastic journey trekking across Europe to join the new Norwegian Breakaway on her maiden voyage back home to the Breakaway's new home port of New York City!

 

Our flexible friend left on Sunday April 21st and has been blogging and photo journaling his most excellent adventure through Iceland and Netherlands. He's now blogging live aboard the intercity hispeed train from Amsterdam to Rotterdam where the Breakaway is waiting to board her first paying passengers tomorrow.

 

If you'd like to read and view pictures from the start of his journey, you can friend Ben on Facebook (link in signature)...

 

Otherwise, Ben will be doing his best to blog his journey aboard the Breakaway barring possible exhorbitant satellite wireless fees or technical difficulties. Would be nice if Norwegian gave their number one flexible figurine friend, 3 pts shy of platinum member, and amateur photo journalist some free minutes, ... hint hint nudge nudge.

 

Just been looking at the photo blog we love bendy man yeaaaaaaaa go bendy man go :):):)

Juls :)

maiden transatlantic day 5 - saturday, may 4, 2013 at 3 pm

ben takes the plunge!

 

yippeeeeee...

 

...eeeeeeeeeeee

...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

you are a nuttt!!!lMaooooooo...did you really send him down the slides???????rotflmaooooo

I Will Be Sailing The Breakaway In October!! I'm Also Sailing Solo, In A Studio Cabin, On the 11th Floor.

What Room#, Were You In??

I Will Be Sailing The Breakaway In October!! I'm Also Sailing Solo, In A Studio Cabin, On the 11th Floor. What Room#, Were You In??

I was in 11549. I would try to get a cabin somewhere in the middle, not the cabins on the ends forward or aft. Otherwise, you might hear slamming of the entryway doors when the stewards begin their morning routine although I didn't actually hear anyone complain. It's just to me, the slamming seemed loud from the outside and I can't imagine they don't hear it. Then again, most solo travelers are out of their cabins by 10 am because there's a solo coffee mixer each morning.