A Review of Breakaway with Pictures + Myths and Facts

[nickthecruiser]

Nice informative review. Thanks for sharing.

[tiffygirl]

Hi Tiffany! Was nice meeting you! So sad to be going back to work tomorrow!

 

The cruise ship DJs always disappoint, so maybe I've lowered my expectations. lol

 

Fabulous meeting you as well...I was suppose to go back to work yesterday, but your other half wore the me hayle out on dance floor all week so it finally caught up with me and i feel the pain of my age, so i could not move my body yesterday so i had to call in from work :D:eek:...but i had a fabulous time...yes the DJ selections had me CONFUSED and scratching my head many times...

[igfan]

Great Review! I liked the ship a lot better than the Epic but I do think I like the smaller NCL ships as well....I do not think I could handle being on that ship with 5000 people! My next cruise is on the RCI Oasis and I sure hope she is not booked at capacity either.

 

Sorry we didn't get to meet you! I did see you walking around with the "boys" it looked like you were having a blast! Also loved your wedding video! :)

[debt]

Is there a jazz brunch on the Breakaway and did you happen to take a picture of the menu for the Raw Bar? :)

[tiffygirl]

Great Review! I liked the ship a lot better than the Epic but I do think I like the smaller NCL ships as well....I do not think I could handle being on that ship with 5000 people! My next cruise is on the RCI Oasis and I sure hope she is not booked at capacity either.

 

Sorry we didn't get to meet you! I did see you walking around with the "boys" it looked like you were having a blast! Also loved your wedding video! :)

 

Hey Sandy,

 

I thought the Breakaway was about neck and neck with the Epic..slight edge to the Epic, i like h20, bliss, and gym on the Epic, but i loved the waterfront on Breakaway plus the staff was wonderful...i would cruise either one again and again..

 

When is your Oasis friends/fam cruise? your daughter was telling me about it, I thought she said May ....so I wanted to price it...but i have the date wrong i think because it was tuesday :) so i know my date is wrong!

 

Anyhoo do you mind emailing me at tiffygirl23@gmail.com with the details

 

thanks,

Tiff

[younglegend]

Hey Sandy,

 

I thought the Breakaway was about neck and neck with the Epic..slight edge to the Epic, i like h20, bliss, and gym on the Epic, but i loved the waterfront on Breakaway plus the staff was wonderful...i would cruise either one again and again..

 

When is your Oasis friends/fam cruise? your daughter was telling me about it, I thought she said May ....so I wanted to price it...but i have the date wrong i think because it was tuesday :) so i know my date is wrong!

 

Anyhoo do you mind emailing me at tiffygirl23@gmail.com with the details

 

thanks,

Tiff

I forgot about the gym! It was terrible! Way too small..

[younglegend]

Is there a jazz brunch on the Breakaway and did you happen to take a picture of the menu for the Raw Bar? :)

 

I didn't see any mention of a Jazz Brunch in the dailies. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pics of the Raw Bar menu. I do have pics of the space.

[Luckynana]

While on our NOLA cruise on the Star last October, the smoke from the casino was so awful...twice I tried going in but left shortly after. Just walking past the casino was horrible. I was hoping it would be better on my Breakaway cruise next month, but it surely doesn't sound like it. That's too bad....:mad:

[tiffygirl]

I forgot about the gym! It was terrible! Way too small..

 

I was surprised on the gym...they separated the weights from cardio equipment completely.....very different.... even still, I enjoyed the ship.

 

I am having a very hard time deciding where I want to sail next year....I love the mega ships, but the dawn and sun gets good reviews. I loved the pearl as well.....breakaway is a possible do over too....SMH

[Dandelion Sunflower]

Thanks for your review, I wish we could have been on your cruise a week later, because there is definitely a difference in the facts when the ship is at capacity. I was surprised to see the show pics, our shows were completely full and you had to arrive 35 minutes early for good seats, earlier for the best seats. The waterfront chairs, or what few comfortable ones there were,were usually filled by the same people napping for hours. I think myths and facts vary from cruise to cruise. It looks like cruising in the more off season is the way to go based on your review!

[younglegend]

Thanks for your review, I wish we could have been on your cruise a week later, because there is definitely a difference in the facts when the ship is at capacity. I was surprised to see the show pics, our shows were completely full and you had to arrive 35 minutes early for good seats, earlier for the best seats. The waterfront chairs, or what few comfortable ones there were,were usually filled by the same people napping for hours. I think myths and facts vary from cruise to cruise. It looks like cruising in the more off season is the way to go based on your review!

 

Capacity does make some difference, but not all. Based on your comments about "good seats," "the best seats" and "comfortable ones," it seems that your expectations of an exclusive experience on a mega ship at the height of the season may also be to blame.

 

It's like going to an amusement park or resort in the height of the season and not expecting crowds.

[younglegend]

I was surprised on the gym...they separated the weights from cardio equipment completely.....very different.... even still, I enjoyed the ship.

 

I am having a very hard time deciding where I want to sail next year....I love the mega ships, but the dawn and sun gets good reviews. I loved the pearl as well.....breakaway is a possible do over too....SMH

 

I'm thinking Getaway or possible Quantum!

[OceanBlue123]

Capacity does make some difference, but not all. Based on your comments about "good seats," "the best seats" and "comfortable ones," it seems that your expectations of an exclusive experience on a mega ship at the height of the season may also be to blame.

 

It's like going to an amusement park or resort in the height of the season and not expecting crowds.

We have been cruising in the summer for years because of the kid's schedules. I have never seen a pool deck as cramped and crowded as Breakaways. One of the reasons we cruise, instead of going to Disney, for example, is because cruise ships have limited capacity and usually do not exhibit such a big difference between in and out of season crowds. Not Breakaway. Maybe it is because they allow the ship to get so over crowded in the summer. 3,900 vs. 4,800 passengers is a HUGE difference!

[Dandelion Sunflower]

We have been cruising in the summer for years because of the kid's schedules. I have never seen a pool deck as cramped and crowded as Breakaways. One of the reasons we cruise, instead of going to Disney, for example, is because cruise ships have limited capacity and usually do not exhibit such a big difference between in and out of season crowds. Not Breakaway. Maybe it is because they allow the ship to get so over crowded in the summer. 3,900 vs. 4,800 passengers is a HUGE difference!

 

I agree. On other ships we were able to get chairs even when the ship was sold out. To the OP, I admire that your willing to dispell some of the irrational complaints we've all seen, but to say that the ship wasn't crowded when you were on a non sold out cruise during the school year is comparing apples and oranges.

[ldlewis45]

On the other hand, though, I've never seen a cruise ship's pool deck that wasn't terribly over-crowded, and I've sailed on small, med-large, large, and mega-sized ships. They're ALL terrible, but you can usually find a lounger away from the pool, and the Breakaway was no different. I will say that I was surprised that there was only one pool.

 

Even on my sailing, which was over capacity at around 5,000 passengers, I could always find an empty (or almost empty) area to relax in. The water front was usually fairly empty, as was Maltings and some of the other bar areas. There were usually a lot of empty loungers every time I went up on deck, too (but I usually just used my balcony).

[igfan]

Hey Sandy,

 

I thought the Breakaway was about neck and neck with the Epic..slight edge to the Epic, i like h20, bliss, and gym on the Epic, but i loved the waterfront on Breakaway plus the staff was wonderful...i would cruise either one again and again..

 

When is your Oasis friends/fam cruise? your daughter was telling me about it, I thought she said May ....so I wanted to price it...but i have the date wrong i think because it was tuesday :) so i know my date is wrong!

 

Anyhoo do you mind emailing me at tiffygirl23@gmail.com with the details

 

thanks,

Tiff

 

Hey Tiff...

 

our Oasis cruise is May 10, 2014! And I think you are thinking I'm Diane as her daughter Chrissy was on the Breakaway with us. Margaret and I do not have any kids so must be Diane! lol I couldn't keep up with staying up late....I wish I had done so now so we could have seen you more! lol You should cruise with us! :) I'm mgsb@aol.com I think we sail out on Saturday from Ft Lauderdale. I don't think Diane and Donna(my cousins) were not to fond of NCL. :( I was hoping they would like it. I'm sorry we missed all the action in the bliss lounge. I would def do the breakaway again since we are so close to NYC. I doubt I would do epic. I want to do the smaller ships too I love the Pearl and Dawn.

 

Anyway so nice meeting you and it was so much fun doing all the stuff with you guys! :)

[tiffygirl]

Hey Tiff...

 

our Oasis cruise is May 10, 2014! And I think you are thinking I'm Diane as her daughter Chrissy was on the Breakaway with us. Margaret and I do not have any kids so must be Diane! lol I couldn't keep up with staying up late....I wish I had done so now so we could have seen you more! lol You should cruise with us! :) I'm mgsb@aol.com I think we sail out on Saturday from Ft Lauderdale. I don't think Diane and Donna(my cousins) were not to fond of NCL. :( I was hoping they would like it. I'm sorry we missed all the action in the bliss lounge. I would def do the breakaway again since we are so close to NYC. I doubt I would do epic. I want to do the smaller ships too I love the Pearl and Dawn.

 

Anyway so nice meeting you and it was so much fun doing all the stuff with you guys! :)

 

Oh i know you and Margaret :D You and margaret won the slot pull jackpot:D Margaret saved my a$$ on the slot pull and i am forever grateful. You are right So it must have been Chrissy then. So i put Chrissy with you instead if Diane. Lol im going to get it right eventually..but at least i had her in the right family!

 

Did Margaret win the ipad out of the machine in the casino??? Haha!

 

Im sorry they didn't like ncl. I thought NCL really rocked on this cruise.

 

Im not a night owl but on vacation i never sleep. Lol so no worries, if we cruise together again, i will make sure i keep you up into the wee hours! Lol

 

Thanks for the dates. I will hit you up by email as i have completely hijacked legends thread. (sorry:o)

[Laszlo]

I am having a very hard time deciding where I want to sail next year....I love the mega ships, but the dawn and sun gets good reviews. I loved the pearl as well.....breakaway is a possible do over too....SMH

 

Hey Tiff

 

Were doing the Dawn in November, can't wait!. The Sun is doing the same itinerary for 2014

[GPPhilly]

I loved the Waterfront but one thing that I found to be an issue was that some of the areas were a smokers haven. The smoke at some areas of the waterfront were an issue if I was to spend a lot of time there.

 

It really was rarely crowded

[Nalagh]

#8 Bliss is not as good as on the Jewel Class

 

#9 The staff is rude and disingenuous - MYTH

This couldn't be further from the truth and those who've spread this rumor should be ashamed. Nearly the entire staff was very friendly and helpful. EVERY SINGLE STAFF MEMBER that we came in contact with greeted us and even attempted to personalize their greeting. The consistency and seemingly genuineness blew me away. That said, there are always bad apples. Specifically the bar staff at 21 Bar were not very friendly or helpful. We did encounter a few at O'Sheehans who wouldn't go out of their way to get you something if they had to.

 

I could not agree more!

 

Very creative and well written review! I am really enjoying it!

[roe2ship]

We have been cruising in the summer for years because of the kid's schedules. I have never seen a pool deck as cramped and crowded as Breakaways. One of the reasons we cruise, instead of going to Disney, for example, is because cruise ships have limited capacity and usually do not exhibit such a big difference between in and out of season crowds. Not Breakaway. Maybe it is because they allow the ship to get so over crowded in the summer. 3,900 vs. 4,800 passengers is a HUGE difference!

I agree.

Breakaway was the first and only ship that we had to change our plans one afternoon because NO LOUNGERS were available.

[igfan]

Oh i know you and Margaret :D You and margaret won the slot pull jackpot:D Margaret saved my a$$ on the slot pull and i am forever grateful. You are right So it must have been Chrissy then. So i put Chrissy with you instead if Diane. Lol im going to get it right eventually..but at least i had her in the right family!

 

Did Margaret win the ipad out of the machine in the casino??? Haha!

 

Im sorry they didn't like ncl. I thought NCL really rocked on this cruise.

 

Im not a night owl but on vacation i never sleep. Lol so no worries, if we cruise together again, i will make sure i keep you up into the wee hours! Lol

 

Thanks for the dates. I will hit you up by email as i have completely hijacked legends thread. (sorry:o)

 

Hahaha NO she didn't win that iPad. I almost killed her when we found out she swiped her card 70x!!!! I should know not to leave her alone in the casino!

 

:) ok and sorry for hijacking your thread legends!!:o

[younglegend]

I agree.

Breakaway was the first and only ship that we had to change our plans one afternoon because NO LOUNGERS were available.

 

No loungers where? There are a total of 5 public sun decks on Breakaway (pool lower, pool upper, Spice H20, Freestyle deck 18, FWD deck 17). Did you try all of those places?

[tiffygirl]

No loungers where? There are a total of 5 public sun decks on Breakaway (pool lower, pool upper, Spice H20, Freestyle deck 18, FWD deck 17). Did you try all of those places?

 

Most folks like to be near the pool. so yes. that area is prime real estate, but agreed with you, there are a TON of loungers everywhere on the upper decks. So i find it VERY hard to believe that EVERY SINGLE LOUNGER on the Breakaway was completely in use....LOL

[dcipjr]

Great review. We had a similar experience to yours, and we sailed in mid-August.

 

Yes, there were 4000+ people on the ship, but generally the ship didn't feel crowded, except on a couple occasions. We did look for a lounger on the second sea day without success (and we tried all the sundecks). But it wasn't a big deal -- my wife actually caught the sun on our balcony, instead, and I went for a walk on the Waterfront (which I agree was quiet and a good place for a stroll).

 

We had different kind of crowd problems -- I found some (not all, of course!) of our fellow passengers to be quite obnoxious. Sitting in the buffet, it was easy to overhear people were whining and complaining about the most minute details. Meanwhile, the sparking, blue sea was outside, the sun was shining, and we were on vacation. You'd think it would be hard to complain in a situation such as this, but people found a way.