Some tips for Breakaway!

[shadowlover]

Just off the break away and wanted to share some things I wish I had known so perhaps can be of help to someone else! For sailaway we went to deck 16 after eating lunch and sat all the way to the right on a comfy bed. It was shaded and a great spot! Make sure you save it quickly after boarding.

We booked a large balcony cabin on deck 9 and were sooo glad we did. There aren't any quiet comfy places to sit like I remember from the allure. Spent a lot of time on the balcony so very worth the investment!

Think like you would in disney and do things opposite what most do...eat at off hours. Get to the ropes course 30 minutes prior to open and you will be first in line. You can stay on it for as long as you like which is why the line is so slow! Go on the water slides late afternoon and you will have no line.

The pool is so small so I don't understand why people want to get a chair right near it...sit in spice h2o which is much nicer and quiet!!

Bring a nose plug if you hate smoke-I'm really serious.

Bring a pillow to sit on the uncomfortable chairs- your bottom will thank you.

Cash is needed in Bermuda to buy the transportation passes- no credit accepted!

DO NOT rely on your tv for your room statement. Get a hard copy of your charges and credit early in your sailing. On the tv it appears that all on board credit goes directly to the daily service charges making you think you have no credit left to spend and more reluctant perhaps to spend. We found out the last night that we had 80 dollars of NON REFUNDABLE credit that had to be spent or lose. Son had no trouble spending it in the gift shop but still...I thought this was deceptive and misleading.

Found a free wifi hot spot in Hamilton!! It is at a french bistro down the street from the ferry dock. I think it's called Bouchee. It was closed but we sat outside at their tables and enjoyed catching up.

Do not accept inside cabins on deck 9 forward. You can hear the noise/music from the shows in the theatre all afternoon and night long as though you were sitting in the show. Sister had cabins 9441 and 9445. Thought it was disgusting that they sold these cabins knowing full well we couldn't be the first to complain.

Don't worry about finding seats in the garden cafe- never a problem. Food is great.

I can not stress how poorly designed the ship is with the casino smack dab in the middle of the atrium. The noise and horrid stale smoke smell is such a shame you could cry. Quite clear to me that this ship was mainly built to make money not for the pure enjoyment of the paying guests. All the restaraunts have "outdoor" seating right below the casino which, again, is open to everything allowing the smoke to drift down while eating. We are just not used to this in this day and age. Does NCL just not know the dangers of second hand smoke??

Go to the gym late afternoon-it's empty at that time. The gym is way too small for the ship.

Try not to be bothered by the lack of enforcement on kids not being in the hot tub etc. They don't enforce any rules on the ship, good or bad. Oh, but they did enforce the no one under the age of 16 in the health club to exercise. Really? My poor athlete neice had to have her mom fight for this at guest services.

We had a great time because of our room and being on vacation to bermuda however I will never sail this ship again. I LOVED the allure...I was totally spoiled on her. sigh...

[bingo3]

Thanks for your tips! Having sailed RCCl 3 times, I am afraid I will find myself comparing too, but I like the itinerary of this ship.

debbie

[cruisendave]

We are very particular about smoke, and really didn't feel it was nearly as bad as your experience.

[shadowlover]

We are very particular about smoke, and really didn't feel it was nearly as bad as your experience.

 

Wow...where did you hang out?

[crusintony]

Uh-oh I'm booked for Jan5 sailing. Based on your info on the smoke issue I'm thinking I should cancel !!!

[Godiva830]

I agree with you about the smoke. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but to a non smoker it's gross!! I tried to avoid going on the floor with the casino. I did eat at the noodle bar and you can smell it there. I didn't like that.

[Cruisercl]

Thanks for the Breakaway review :)............I have pretty much the same observations about (been on several) the RCCI ships.

I have been on the Breakaway.

 

This is a really good comparison; looks like everyone has their own 'things' they are looking for and things they may or may not like when cruising. It gives everyone a heads-up.

It really tells me we are all looking for a great vacation with what works best for each of us!!!

 

Happy cruising all!!!:D

[camp85]

I am another one that is very sensitive to cigarette smoke and found the Breakaway casino to be less smokey than a Vegas casino. If I wasn't at a table with somebody it really wasn't that bad taking into consideration it is a casino. Maybe it was just my sailing.

[joie1016]

I go on the BREAKAWAY in 2 weeks and always go with an open mind. I don't pay attention to what most people have to say as everyone is different and what bothers one might not bother another. This is only one persons opinion .:)

[roe2ship]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the Breakaway. My experience with the smoke smell was no where as bad as yours. Sure, walking through from one end to the other on deck 7 is smokey but other than that....I thought it was fine.

 

I do agree with you that the gym is too small.

Edited September 2, 2013 by roe2ship

[nkwoman]

Right outside the ship in the Naval Dockyard is a frozen yogurt place. They have free wifi..so get some dessert and connect.

[Dspcentury]

Shadowlover~I just upgraded to a large balcony on deck 9..What was your cabin number?

[mdwcruises]

Thank you for the tips!

 

I am pleasantly surprised that the garden cafe is never crowded. That is great news! :D

[shadowlover]

Shadowlover~I just upgraded to a large balcony on deck 9..What was your cabin number?

 

Our cabin number was 9732 and we were very pleased with it. You can fit at least two lounge chairs and two regular chairs but I forgot to mention that you have to ask/plead with your cabin steward to bring you a lounge chair. We found one right outside our room which was great! I think no one would bother you if you carried some up from the pool deck.

Couple other tips I forgot.. As we were in a forward cabin the cafe was pretty far away so I went in search of coffee in the morning. There is some yummy coffee in the atrium cafe for a nominal charge but also O'sheehans has breakfast and take out coffee or juice every morning. I loved that.

The shows you should pre book however we had no trouble getting into any show we wanted to see. We didn't even have to wait in a standby line.

I loved the mushroom quesadilla appetizer in the dining room...yum! We liked the Manhatten room the best. Service was chaotic and not what you are used to on other ships however everyone was very pleasant. There is a chocolate decadent desert with a fruit compote one night that is out of this world delicious. I really didn't care for the desserts other than this in the dining room which is good for me!! In the buffet the cobblers and rice pudding are also delicious!

You can get off the ship in Bermuda as early as 8am if they dock as quickly as we did. The ferries hold a lot of people so never fret. They have plenty of busses so don't worry about getting where you need to be.

If you do a jet ski tour- book it on your own with sommerset bridge water sports and do the early bird special. It's at 8 am but it is truly the best. We were the only ones on the tour-the three of us. Harry was our guide and he gave us an awesome tour. You can snorkel right off the jet ski if you ask him.

[nycruise]

"As we were in a forward cabin the cafe was pretty far away so I went in search of coffee in the morning."

 

The exact reason we always book a cabin below the Buffet. We do breakfast and lunch at the buffet and find we save a lot of walking through those long monotonous hallways. On the Breakaway we were on deck 11 aft not far from the elevators and it work perfectly for us.

 

 

Pretty much agree with your tips and agree that the Breakaway was designed with the idea of producing revenue over passenger comfort. To squeeze 5000 passenger on to the ship is truly criminal.

[pe4all]

I enjoyed your tips. We were on the 8/18 sailing, and also had a large balcony. (9728 - right near you!) I also felt the gym was too small, and this was the first ship gym that had no shower facilities attached, (unless you bought the spa pass) which was a pain for us. There is also coffee and danishes set up in the casino, so you can grab a to go cup there.

The only problem I had with my cabin was the fact that I was standing on my balcony at 8 a.m. the first morning in Bermuda, watching the people stream off the ship - when I got totally soaking wet! I looked down, but it wasn't raining on the dock - so I looked up - and waaay up towards the top deck was a scaffold with a window washer doing his job! Since our balcony was extended beyond the others, I got a good shower! My dh and dd were cracking up, and I was laughing also! After I changed, I called guest services and told them what happened - laughing the whole time. The woman kept apologizing, offering to take my clothes for cleaning, etc. Again - I was laughing, and just said that the other ships (CCL and Disney) put notices in our mailboxes when they were going to clean the balconies - could the guy at least have shouted "heads up!" After we left the ship and explored Bermuda a bit, we came back to our room and sitting on my bed was a bottle of wine and chocolate-covered strawberries. My dh called guest services to thank them, and say it wasn't necessary. I was very impressed with the gesture.

[Starry Eyes]

We are very particular about smoke, and really didn't feel it was nearly as bad as your experience.

 

I am rather sensitive to smoke, and also did not have so many problems.

 

I do agree with the OP, about the method of avoiding crowding. i think part of the reason I enjoyed the ship so much is that we are in the habit of intentionally scheduling to avoid crowds. At sea, we tend to use sit down breakfast and lunch services, finding it more relaxing than the presumably bustling buffet. I used the watersides in port with no waits at all. Going to the rope course early is solid advice. If we like to sit out in the shade, consider getting an aft balcony. Our deck nine aft had a huge balcony, mostly covered, so we could sit in shade and much of the balcony stayed dry during a rain.

[Starry Eyes]

I enjoyed your tips. We were on the 8/18 sailing, and also had a large balcony. (9728 - right near you!) The only problem I had with my cabin was the fact that I was standing on my balcony at 8 a.m. the first morning in Bermuda, watching the people stream off the ship - when I got totally soaking wet! I looked down, but it wasn't raining on the dock - so I looked up - and waaay up towards the top deck was a scaffold with a window washer doing his job! Since our balcony was extended beyond the others, I got a good shower! My dh and dd were cracking up, and I was laughing also! After I changed, I called guest services and told them what happened - laughing the whole time. The woman kept apologizing, offering to take my clothes for cleaning, etc. Again - I was laughing, and just said that the other ships (CCL and Disney) put notices in our mailboxes when they were going to clean the balconies .... My dh called guest services to thank them, and say it wasn't necessary. I was very impressed with the gesture.

I was on your sailing. DH and I both remember being notified that windows and balconies would be cleaned and warning things out there could get wet. DH read the notice to me the day before we arrived in Bermuda; he thinks it came with or in the daily. I am sorry you missed the notice and got soaked, but I am glad guest services made a nice gesture after the mishap.

[cemetery-man]

From photos I've seen it appears that the deck areas look rather congested and maneuvering around all those lounge chairs plus all the people could be a little tricky. What I didn't see was any tables/chairs around the pool area. On my last cruise I enjoyed a nice place to sit with a table and enjoy several drinks as I watched the family at the pool or anywhere for that matter. Any such places? With my damaged back, lounge chairs and me don't get along.

[Godiva830]

The yogurt place gives you 30 min free with a purchase and you need to use the 30 min from when you sign in. It's a better deal at the Bermuda Arts Center. It's across from where you get the busses. It's $2 for 2 hours or $5 for 12 hours. They give you a username and password and you log in and out of their wifi. The connection was good. We FaceTimed back home and went on the web.

[Godiva830]

I go on the BREAKAWAY in 2 weeks and always go with an open mind. I don't pay attention to what most people have to say as everyone is different and what bothers one might not bother another. This is only one persons opinion .:)

 

I did the same thing...went with and open mind and was excited about sailing on the Breakaway!! A lot of the things people complain about on here aren't as bad as they make it out to be. A little bit knit picking ;) have a great time! You will enjoy the ship.

[pattycakes]

The smoking really sucks. This week was really full -- I think they said 4700 passengers with triple and quad counts. I don't mind outdoor smoke -- it's the enclosed area smoke that bothers me so I avoided the casino and the bars in that area and hung out outside which I really enjoyed. They do not allow smoking at the bar but they do within 10 feet. All of the outside tables at Fat Cats have ashtrays so plan accordingly.

 

Spice is the way to go for adults only quiet (but crowded) space. Get there by 10. If you prefer the entertainment at the pool sleep there overnight ;) Also, if you want a cabana head up to 17 forward early where there are also some cushioned beds and chairs. There are about 6 of them near the Haven in public space. There is also a large shower (to cool off) and bar on that level -- there is access to an additional sundeck from 17 that is great for taking pictures of the sunset.

 

If you want to avoid the crowds, watch the fireworks from Shakers outside bar on 8 or anywhere nearby on the open deck.

 

If you really like the ship photos, insist they take your room number! Too many people were finding strangers in their photo bin and too many weren't getting the photo they ordered. Serious mess. I had one photo of me and one of someone else and that was it!

 

Download the iconcierge app in port or before! Once you are at sea and don't have access you can not do it unless you buy their internet package (I was told this by Customer Service so if anyone had a different experience, please advise). Also turn off your wifi at the NY port -- the NCL wifi interferes with your regular internet access while in port and jams it up (at least it did mine). Otherwise, bring a highlighter for the daily and set a phone alarm to notify you if there is an event you really want to go to. Manually change your phone time settings (Hamilton Bermuda) to ensure you're in sync with the ship and keep your phone in airplane mode to avoid charges.

 

Spa Pass isn't worth it in my opinion. If you'd like a general spa day do the one day pass in port. It was crowded with chair hogs. There were times when 1 or 2 chairs were empty with a total of 12 people in the spa including the sauna/steam and salt rooms. This ship is the first I've been on that didn't have steam and sauna access for gym users. Classes are steep -- Spin/Fly is $30 per.

 

I had a studio on 9. The lounge was nice and they coordinate solo events like dinner and the Ice Bar -- the studio is functional but as someone said I could hear the music -- if I turned on the bridge channel though it covered it and I wasn't in the room enough for it to bother me. The worst thing about the studios is the closets. You can hear others opening and closing -- so if next door gets up at 5:30 a.m. and can't figure out where their stuff is between the 2 closets and opens and closes them 20 or 30 times, you will be woken up.

 

Lobster tails -- just the tails -- at the Garden Cafe on dress up night (Monday). The Garden Cafe is crowded -- but it's manageable -- again it depends on what time you go. There are wine dispensers and a bar so you can enjoy a cocktail with your mac and cheese ;) - they have a carving station at lunch and dinner, plus an Asian station and they had a German station for lunch on Saturday. The nicest thing about Cuccina was the outside table -- we experienced no smoke and the sunset was beautiful; even if the food was simply mediocre the service was great. The Manhattan Room food was salty when it came to the main dish as others have said. I also found it dark. Cirque was excellent -- the food was fine but I hated trying to eat and watch a show in the dark! It was impossible to cut your food and not miss something above. Bistro was hit or miss: 2 in our group didn't eat their entrees (lobster (extra fee) and duck) and service was mixed. Savor was ok -- better than Manhattan in my experience.

 

Bring a portable beach chair! Horseshoe is jammed packed and if you don't get there early even the coves are taken. Bring your own water and muffins from the ship and head over to Warwick or Stone Hole down the road or the public beach at Elbow which doesn't have chairs (I think I read you can pre-reserve chairs at the resort -- check the destination boards). If you have the bus pass, you can do Elbow (or any south shore beach) and take the bus into Hamilton for a walk about and then catch a ferry back to ship :)

 

Wifi: you can purchase the TBI in dockyard for $15 for 3 days or most bars and restaurants will give you the access code. The TBI signal is the best by the convenience and yogurt stores. Not the most convenient way to access wifi but doable.

 

Cemetery-man: go to Spice H20 -- on the first level there are wicker chairs with cushions and tables that you can hang in instead of lounge chairs. And the Uptown Grill is nearby for breakfast and lunch or just take the stairs down one for direct access to the Garden.

 

Added: You can use any card to keep your electric on when not in the room -- I used a AAA card when I needed to charge my phone.

Edited September 2, 2013 by pattycakes

[pe4all]

I was on your sailing. DH and I both remember being notified that windows and balconies would be cleaned and warning things out there could get wet. DH read the notice to me the day before we arrived in Bermuda; he thinks it came with or in the daily. I am sorry you missed the notice and got soaked, but I am glad guest services made a nice gesture after the mishap.

I guess we missed it somehow - but even Guest Services didn't know there was a notice anywhere! Either way, no harm, no foul - and Guest Services definitely was on top of the situation!:D

[pe4all]

The best hint I can offer if you is to get a Vibe Beach Pass if you don't mind not being near the pool/loud music. It was well worth the money, and gives you a "private" bar/shower/2 hottubs and loungers for all who have the pass. They pass around fruit skewers, cold towels, and squirt you down if you are hot. We spent hours there every day, and didn't have to fight for loungers.

[pattycakes]

The best hint I can offer if you is to get a Vibe Beach Pass if you don't mind not being near the pool/loud music. It was well worth the money, and gives you a "private" bar/shower/2 hottubs and loungers for all who have the pass. They pass around fruit skewers, cold towels, and squirt you down if you are hot. We spent hours there every day, and didn't have to fight for loungers.

 

They were sold out by 11:30. I don't regret not getting one at the end of the day. I never had an issue getting a chair at Spice and at least they have the waterfalls to cool off in. Food and drink was easily accessible at Spice and there was no blaring music and it was also a kid free zone as well.