Breakaway vs Epic

[david_sobe]

Just curious to hear from someone that has sailed both ships and what the comparisons are. From what I see of Breakaway, it is very similiar to Epic. However it has some better features like the Waterfront, etc.

But the casino format, ocean place, ice bar, cirque dreams, and Haven areas seem similiar to Epic.

 

Any differences? Which did you like better and why?

 

THANKS

[KeithJenner]

I've been on both recently, and they are very similar.

 

I'm currently writing a review of my recent Epic trip with some comparisons to the Breakaway. I hope to write some more tomorrow, so it's slipped down the list a little at the moment. When I continue I will be concentrating a little more on the ships themselves.

 

I'm not sure which ship I prefer at the moment, but safe to say I really like them both.

[retiring soon]

Hi all!

 

I was on the Breakaway Inaugural to Bermuda & have been on Epic 3 times so I found myself comparing the 2 a lot.

 

Yes, the waterfront is a nice addition but not one I was particularly interested in.

 

I preferred the casino on Epic as there were only 4 quarter slots that I found on B.

 

I liked the Cirque seating on Epic where I sat in the balcony. Seems to me the higher priced option on B is not as good seating as the less expensive.

The show itself was very good but had no audience interaction that I remember or any dialogue.

 

The ice bar on B seemed incomplete & sort of empty. The drinks were good tho'.

 

I really preferred the Spice H2O on Epic with it's seating & the food outlet on the way to it where I'd stop to pick up a snack to take back to my studio cabin. That reminds me the studio lounge is much smaller on B & doesn't have the same food options.

 

I really did like Breakaway especially Bermuda & sailing from New York City, options you don't have with Epic.

 

Hope this helps & doesn't sound too negative.:o

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[riclop]

Hi all!

 

I was on the Breakaway Inaugural to Bermuda & have been on Epic 3 times so I found myself comparing the 2 a lot.

 

Yes, the waterfront is a nice addition but not one I was particularly interested in.

 

I preferred the casino on Epic as there were only 4 quarter slots that I found on B.

 

I liked the Cirque seating on Epic where I sat in the balcony. Seems to me the higher priced option on B is not as good seating as the less expensive.

The show itself was very good but had no audience interaction that I remember or any dialogue.

 

The ice bar on B seemed incomplete & sort of empty. The drinks were good tho'.

 

I really preferred the Spice H2O on Epic with it's seating & the food outlet on the way to it where I'd stop to pick up a snack to take back to my studio cabin. That reminds me the studio lounge is much smaller on B & doesn't have the same food options.

 

I really did like Breakaway especially Bermuda & sailing from New York City, options you don't have with Epic.

 

Hope this helps & doesn't sound too negative.:o

 

~ Jo ~ :)

Thanks for your honest opinions.

[david_sobe]

Hi all!

 

I was on the Breakaway Inaugural to Bermuda & have been on Epic 3 times so I found myself comparing the 2 a lot.

 

Yes, the waterfront is a nice addition but not one I was particularly interested in.

 

I preferred the casino on Epic as there were only 4 quarter slots that I found on B.

 

I liked the Cirque seating on Epic where I sat in the balcony. Seems to me the higher priced option on B is not as good seating as the less expensive.

The show itself was very good but had no audience interaction that I remember or any dialogue.

 

The ice bar on B seemed incomplete & sort of empty. The drinks were good tho'.

 

I really preferred the Spice H2O on Epic with it's seating & the food outlet on the way to it where I'd stop to pick up a snack to take back to my studio cabin. That reminds me the studio lounge is much smaller on B & doesn't have the same food options.

 

I really did like Breakaway especially Bermuda & sailing from New York City, options you don't have with Epic.

 

Hope this helps & doesn't sound too negative.:o

 

~ Jo ~ :)

So while you love Bermuda you prefer Epic?

[xenagurl]

I've been on the Epic twice, the last time was in April a couple of weeks before we head on the Breakaway. I find that the Breakaway is more open and airy which is nice. However the Epic has a chicness to it that I feel the B-away lacks, thought the latter has a cosmopolitan feel.

 

All in all I'd take the B-away over the Epic but that is mostly because it leaves out of my home port, but the Epic runs a close second. They're honestly too similar for me to have a strong preference for one over the other. The water slides are great on both and that's my main focus...joking...sort of.

[Cubechick]

I definitely preferred the Breakaway. I love that she has plenty of outdoor space and ocean views unlike the Epic (which felt like a floating Vegas hotel to me).

 

I loved the Waterfront and what they accomplished there, and loved 6-7-8 Ocean Place which really brings the social areas to the center of the ship. Very easy to navigate.

[Gothencruiser]

We're very curious about your cruise NCL Star Norway & Faroe Islands 9/13 since we're booked on the next one (9/14). Please tell us about the cruise :-)

[Cubechick]

We're very curious about your cruise NCL Star Norway & Faroe Islands 9/13 since we're booked on the next one (9/14). Please tell us about the cruise :-)

 

Here's a link to the review I wrote:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=228937

 

Also, in my blog I posted daily, with pictures.

 

It was a wonderful trip.

 

If you have specific questions, I'd be happy to answer them. :)

Edited December 15, 2013 by Cubechick

[crusinmama06]

I have to agree with the others about the waterfront - that really did it for me. I sailed Epic last year and then Breakaway this year. And although I loved both - the waterfront and the connection to the ocean (that and the fireworks) - we really liked the Breakaway.

[barnacle_boy]

Decor:

Epic is sort of a bridge between what I like to categorize as the "Veitch Era" and the "Sheehan Era." Although Veitch drove NCL into the ground before being removed as CEO, the ships built under his administration were revolutionary in many ways. It's a shame that they also look like unrestrained "retro modern" nightmares; not as bad as Farcus's Carnival creations, but still an obnoxiously rainbow colored hell. Sheehan has a very different vision for what NCL ought to be, and the first ship built entirely within his control, Breakaway, exhibits this through and through. He has said on several occasions that his sights are set upon the premium market Princess and Celebrity. Thus, it is no surprise that Breakaway's decor has more in common with upscale lines than ships within the current fleet. Restraint and subtlety rule with an iron fist compared to Dawn and Jewel Class ships. As a result, the onboard atmosphere is worlds apart. Epic occupies neither group entirely, but has a little of each. Colors are not brash, and while the beginnings of the toned down browns and beiges of Breakaway are apparent, they aren't quite there yet. The gaudy, whimsically oversized furniture similar to that on the Jewel Class appear in a variety of venues as well. Patterns are contemporary, but still very flashy.

 

Layout:

Epic and Breakaway share a lot of similarities in terms of their layout. Do not let the NCL hype fool you, Epic has its own "Ocean Place," in a way. Both ships have most of their public rooms on three decks that meet around a central atrium with a massive chandelier. Unfortunately, the one on Epic only has a staircase that connects the two uppermost decks, while the lower deck is isolated and used as seating for the Taste MDR. It should be noted that Breakaway handles passenger flow considerably better than Epic. Obviously the largest difference in layout is Breakaway's Waterfront. The Waterfront is a masterpiece. Multiple windscreens keep wind under control in even the harshest of conditions. I was out on the Waterfront while balcony divider were flying off the ship elsewhere, and felt only a gentle breeze. The outdoor dining is a wonderful concept. I've done it both in port and at sea at several specialty restaurants and they've all been enjoyable. It's great even if all you want to do is take a leisurely stroll and admire the view.

 

Facilities:

Epic has the largest casino onboard any ship in the world, but the Breakaway casino isn't small by any means. They are both massive and, realistically, you're unlikely to notice much of a difference between the two. The icebars are more or less the same; the layout and shape are somewhat different but I don't remember feeling one was superior over the other. The spas are very different. The one on Epic is located aft at the stern of the ship, and is considerably larger with more facilities. Saunas have gorgeous views out to sea through floor to ceiling windows, and there's an aft lanai area that overlooks the ship's wake that is perfect for cooling off and relaxing. The spa on Breakaway is located forward and is smaller. The salt room is truly overhyped. Those familiar with salt rooms know that it takes multiple treatments over a much longer period than seven days to be able to get any noticeable results. Saunas are tucked away in an alcove and are robbed of those wonderful sea views.

 

Shows:

Just so that you know my bias before I delve in here, I will say that I generally dislike NCL entertainment choices. I do not like Blue Man Group, Legends, Burn the Floor, and I absolutely loathe Rock of Ages. For what it's worth, I think I'll equally dislike Legally Blonde the Musical (seriously?! why?!) when I see it on Getaway next year. Cirque is a different matter altogether, though. I hated it on Epic, but I loved it on Breakaway. The variety of the acts and the overall presentation seemed much more finished. The VIP seating was especially wonderful. Second City is hit or miss. Some groups are painfully hilarious while others are merely painful. If Slam Allen happens to be onboard, regardless of ship, he and his band are worth seeing. While it may not measure up to land based firework shows, the one on Breakaway is respectable. I though it was worth seeing again on my second Breakaway cruise.

 

Haven:

Considerably better on Breakaway, in my opinion. The retractable glass roof makes the outdoor courtyard actually useable in windy/rainy/cold conditions. Epic has large windbreaks behind the mast that are supposed to prevent the courtyard area from turning into a wind tunnel, however in practice the area is uncomfortably windy at sea far too often. Although the Haven onboard Breakaway is smaller, the ultimate result is an intimate space that, combined with the more tasteful decor, feels way more upscale than anything you'd expect from NCL.

 

Regarding Vegas:

Both ships feel like they take a lot of inspiration from Vegas decor and amenities. Incidentally, Apollo Group owns a substantial amount of both NCL and Caesar's Entertainment, although I doubt this has much influence on NCL's ship designs. I happen to visit Vegas and cruise fairly regularly, and if I had to draw comparisons, I'd say Breakaway is like Aria while Epic is like the Octavius Tower at Caesar's.

[mrobstad]

Interesting review, and due to your acknowledgement of Slam Alllen as a great show, I hung on your every word!

[Medtech2]

Just curious to hear from someone that has sailed both ships and what the comparisons are. From what I see of Breakaway, it is very similiar to Epic. However it has some better features like the Waterfront, etc.

But the casino format, ocean place, ice bar, cirque dreams, and Haven areas seem similiar to Epic.

 

Any differences? Which did you like better and why?

 

THANKS

I have always been one of those who liked the curved walls and separated bath facilities of the Epic. Since we were in a mini on the Breakaway that had more space and a great bathroom it's hard to compare, but I still liked the look of Epic better.

 

While I enjoyed walking the waterfront on the Breakaway, Epic's Spice2O just blows BA away, as does the Spa.

 

Bliss was also so much better on Epic.

 

I don't gamble but the horrendous smoke on Breakaway just RUINED the interior spaces! On our Epic sailing the air cleaners kept up with the casino smoke, not to mention smoke was pretty contained to the casino area, and not in the restaurants.

 

I have to say that NCL management just does not "get it" here. If you want to allow smokers in the casino, fine, but SEGREGATE IT!

 

As far as crew, while both were great and the Captain was the same for us, and he is a very nice guy to talk with, the crew we had on the Epic just blew us away with their smiling positivity. They as a whole were caught up with the freshness and innovativeness of Epic and it showed. Klaus was HD on our Epic cruise and he really has an edge with remembering people and making them feel special.

 

I loved visiting New York and Bermuda. When we sailed Epic she alternated East and West Caribbean and so we did a B2B. That was amazing. We are booked on the Getaway for only one week as she will not be doing alternate routes. I don't believe Epic does any more either and that is a shame. Alternate routes are a great way to encourage people to extend their cruises and spend more money! Our Epic cruise had a very large B2B contingent!

 

Entertainment wise Slam Allen was on our Epic cruise but was on vacation from BA when we were there. What a disappointment as he is great. I enjoyed both ships entertainment. All was different and all were enjoyable to me. This is so much better than all ships offering the same shows! What would be the motivation to sail different ships if the entertainment was the same?

 

Foodwise the MDR's are the same but the buffet food on the Epic was better to me. Whether they are different now or whether 3 years between the 2 sailings was the difference I do not know.

 

At this point I like Epic more but don't have the time or money at the moment to repeat a cruise on her, as my goal is to sail all the ships at least once... :)

[DGP1111]

. . . As far as crew, while both were great and the Captain was the same for us, and he is a very nice guy to talk with, the crew we had on the Epic just blew us away with their smiling positivity. They as a whole were caught up with the freshness and innovativeness of Epic and it showed.

 

Just to add my two cents to that stated sentiment . . .

 

I've done multiple previous sailings on Norwegian EPIC, and have yet another one booked for February (and looking forward to it).

While the onboard crew might not have been perfect, for several of those they came pretty darn close. I've strongly stated that, for me, Norwegian EPIC balances itself on a strong foundation of onboard crew and management.

 

.

My initial goal was to do a very full pictorial recap of my September sailing on Norwegian Breakaway, but I eventually couldn't pull together the correct words for the complete experience without it becoming a potentially controversial thread.

 

The ship has some points of magnificence, including several design elements that will hopefully be repeated on many/all future builds.

 

But it was that 51% of the onboard crew/management that made me shake my head in disbelief all the while thinking, "Whoa, could you possibly be more ignorant?" that made me abandon any hope of replicating my EPIC recap from a few years ago. :(

Just wasn't gonna happen.

 

.

[Cubechick]

Just to add my two cents to that stated sentiment . . .

 

I've done multiple previous sailings on Norwegian EPIC, and have yet another one booked for February (and looking forward to it).

While the onboard crew might not have been perfect, for several of those they came pretty darn close. I've strongly stated that, for me, Norwegian EPIC balances itself on a strong foundation of onboard crew and management.

 

.

My initial goal was to do a very full pictorial recap of my September sailing on Norwegian Breakaway, but I eventually couldn't pull together the correct words for the complete experience without it becoming a potentially controversial thread.

 

The ship has some points of magnificence, including several design elements that will hopefully be repeated on many/all future builds.

 

But it was that 51% of the onboard crew/management that made me shake my head in disbelief all the while thinking, "Whoa, could you possibly be more ignorant?" that made me abandon any hope of replicating my EPIC recap from a few years ago. :(

Just wasn't gonna happen.

 

.

 

We had the same feeling. We sailed both the Epic's maiden TA and the Breakaway's.

 

While the Epic had a myriad of "hardware" problems (televisions and phones not working, cabins not complete, etc.) the crew was phenomenal. On the BA it was the opposite. Minor physical issues with the ship, but the crew seemed all over the map. There were a few stars of course, but so many seemed out of place, not knowing what they were doing...

 

Although I do prefer the BA as a ship (as stated) I have to agree that the Epic's crew was superior (and we had the same experience last year when we sailed the Epic a second time).

[cruisingcasinos]

Just curious to hear from someone that has sailed both ships and what the comparisons are. From what I see of Breakaway, it is very similiar to Epic. However it has some better features like the Waterfront, etc.

But the casino format, ocean place, ice bar, cirque dreams, and Haven areas seem similiar to Epic.

 

Any differences? Which did you like better and why?

 

THANKS

David, Thanks for asking the question. I am curious to read the various responses. Thanks to everyone who shared their opinions!

[maja651]

David, Thanks for asking the question. I am curious to read the various responses. Thanks to everyone who shared their opinions!

Ditto! :)