Fabulous week on the Breakaway 10/6/13

[MCAT48]

Breakaway

 

who: me (Amanda) and husband (bill)

We've been on a total of 5 (now) cruises all on ncl.

I wrote this during my cruise and some after. My husband posted his review too (mrwilliamt) but I wrote this so I'm posting it, not to mention it's from my own POV! Lol :)

 

Embarkation- we arrived around 930 10; very well organized. They had us check in by deck number. We were on deck 5 so checked in in the very very back of the terminal. Check in went very fast. We took our picture and then sat and waited to be called. We were given number 20!! A mans voice came on the loud speaker and said they may begin boarding around 1130...rooms may be ready by 12. I don't remember what time we got on the ship but they called number 2 3 5? I think then after it was 20!! When we went to scan our cards they would not work: were told to goto the guest services desk! We went to the Main restaurant For lunch, then went to guest services to fix our cards.

 

Room- we had cabin number 5649 an inside cabin located on deck 5. When booked an inside guarantee and we were assigned this room. There are double set of insides on the breakaway. Our room was located right down the hall by the elevators. When we first went into the room it felt smaller than most of the inside rooms we have had on the gem or star, but the room itself was beautiful. The bathroom seemed larger than most other rooms maybe because the toilette area is not closed off and the toilette is not sideways like I've seen before!

 

The one thing that we noticed right away is there are no drawers in the room. "Where are we going to put all our clothes?" I remember asking, feeling somewhat annoyed. I got over that annoyed feeling fast when a knock came at the door around 3 pm. It was our room attendant trying to move our suitcases into our room! I think my bag weighed more than he did! After a quick introduction and asking him to remove the items from the fridge we started to unpack our stuff. There were plenty of hangers for us both. There is shelving in the closet, there are tiny nooks on the wall by the bed, and there is also another area for storage on the side of the table that I didn't notice till day three! Low and behold there was plenty of space for us to put our clothing! Also there is plenty of storage in the bathroom. And I almost forgot there is an ottoman that can also be used as storage!

 

We finished unpacking right before muster drill at 3:30. We went up to deck 6 where our station is located. They are listed In the daily and also announced on the loud speaker. It wasn't until about 345 that the drill started and then was quickly over.

 

 

Entertainment- the first night we went to see howl at the moon - dueling pianos this was amazing! I've never been to a piano bar or a dueling piano bar so I did not know what was to be expected. If you've never been its two men playing the piano and singing the songs that are requested. There are slips of paper on the tables to take up to request songs. If you want your song played first, leave a tip with the paper! These guys were very good there were three men altogether that would shift places. They had drums, pianos, a tambourine and the one guy played the harmonica! We left after the drunks started rolling into headliners. This one girl would walk up to the stage dance and then try to pull strangers up to dance with her, it was funny at first then it just got old because she wouldn't stop. We wanted to leave because the seats were not very comfortable but we realized we picked really bad seats if you want to make a up obvious exit by not walking in front of the stage! We got a little stuck by finally got out. This was the first night of the show, we will make sure to have a seat by the door when we go again!

 

We went and saw them twice and it was great both times.

 

Fire and ice-

This was not really for us but a lot of people really enjoyed this group. It's a woman singing mo town, Michael Jackson, Tina turner, Whitney Houston, stuf lime that and a man playing the piano thing. They played at fat cats some night and In The atrium, and the last night in the theater.

 

Rock of Ages: having seen the broadway production on Broadway and also the movie I knew what rock of ages was and was about and I was excited to see this show on sea. With that said I would most certainly recommend this show to those who like 80s music, and do not mind scandalously dressed women, and sexual innuendos. There were many older people and children in the theater in the beginning of the show and a good majority of them left during the show. There is a description of the show In the freestyle daily and I suppose no one read the part where it said not recommended for children. I guess the stage design that says "live nude girls" and "bourbon lounge" or whatever it was did not give that away to parents or those who may be offended!

 

"Game shows"- one thing I wasn't too fond of is when they would have these shows in the atrium. It seems like a really strange place to have this. It gets very crowed fast. There is not enough seating for everyone. If you want to sit up top looking down get there about 30 minutes early.

 

 

Bar service- during the sail away we opted to not go up to the sail away party but instead stay on deck 8, the waterfront and watch the manhattan side pass us by. We sat by maltings bar, the smoking section. There was one server coming around ever so often asking if we wanted drinks, we didn't.

At night outside bar by fat cats, maybe asked once if we wanted drinks.

Casino I saw people walking around, maybe one or two, not saying anything but they were holding trays.

Osheehans bar - we watched the jets game day two up on deck 7 and sat at the edge seating to watch the game on the big screen, not once did anyone come around and ask if we wanted anything. I had to goto the bar to get a bucket of beer! Gosh forbid I had to get up! I know it sounds like nit-picking but really! I did not want to lose my seat because those seats were all filled up!

 

This is my only real complaint (I'm writing this on the third sea day at about 8 am), there is not enough people coming around asking if you want a drink! I know most complain that usually there are tooo many people bothering you for bar service but there must be some happy medium. They could at least have one person go around every half hour or so especially when you are showing a football game on a giant screen tv! I did however see them going around taking drink orders in the atrium which is ridiculous that they'd do it in the atrium but not at a pub! They were also giving out popcorn down below during the football game. Oh well!

 

 

Food-

 

Buffet: there were quite a few options it seemed but there wasn't always things I really wanted so I usually just got a cheeseburger. The second night was seafood/lobster night and it was packed as soon as it opened. I would recommend getting there early or going later in the night on seafood night!

 

Manhattan dinning room: we went there one night on prime rib night, the prime rib was very good. This was also the night the dancers were performing, burn the floor. We were seated on the outside of the dining room so all I could see were heads bobbing up and down. We were given a table for two in the back where they bring the food. There were large round tables for maybe six that had only 2 or three people sitting in them. Anyway the food was good. Ordered some drinks, the waiter seemed a little awkward when I asked to order bar drinks and when he went to give me the champaign menu and I said I don't want that I know what I want he seemed a bit annoyed whatever! Every time we'd say thank you for something he wouldn't respond and just walked away...weird.

 

Le bistro- one of my favorite meals on any Ncl ship that has it! I always tend to get the same thing: scallops, duck, and creme brûlée! We also got the escargot to split and a chocolate fondue for two to split. Our waiter, Ronnie, was great. He kept telling us to order more if we wanted more. He was entertaining throughout the meal joking around with us and we enjoyed it very much. All the staff at le bistro was great and the food as always was amazing! There was a French couple behind us and the manager brought out the only French speaking server to talk to them, they spoke English too but they seemed to enjoy speaking with this fellow in their native language

 

Uptown grill- we ate breakfast here almost every morning. They have breakfast sandwiches, eggs,hash browns, some pastries, bagels.very good and never seems to be crowded. For lunch there were sandwiches and made to order things like meatballs and stuff.

 

La cuchian-

This is another specialty restaurants that is one of my favorites. For 15 pp it is quite a bargin. You cannot get a three course Italian meal on land for only 15$ pp anywhere that I know of. Our service was good throughout the meal. We ordered a pizza to split at the table, we each had an appetizer, I got the fried calamarie and my husband got the tomato and mozzarella both very good. For my entre I got the steak which was amazing with the garlic butter they put on top. For dessert I had the ice cream with espresso. This meal was Great and I would recommend this to everyone.

 

 

 

Spice h2o- spent the mornings up there in the hot tub then lounged for a few hours. Almost everyday we were they only ones up there til about 9, on port days there was never anyone up there, less than a Handful. It's a great spot to get away from people and just relax with no loud music or children screaming. the last day in Bermuda since we stayed on the ship we were up at spice for maybe more than 6 hours. We were the first ones up there. They have large beds in the front and also large umbrellas so we drug an umbrella and put it I between two bed loungers and were able to stay out longer since we were under the umbrella. It was a great day. The last sea day there was maybe 10-15 people out in the morning but got a little crowded, but there were still loungers. We were approaching a large dark rain cloud and everyone got up and ran for the inside!

 

Casino-

The casino on this ship is very large and there is always slots or table games to be found. I'm a smoker so the smoking doesn't bother me too much. One night I won over $500 on a penny slot :) and another night I won $760 on a 1 dollar slot, betting three dollars! I had though I won $7.60 but when I realized it was $760 I quickly printed my voucher and ran!! Lol this was the first time I've ever been lucky on a cruise!! Lol

 

Staff- all the staff members I've come into contact with were friendly and and always had a smile on their face.

 

Our room attendant was great. He was very friendly and would always leave a towel animal lol he made great animals, ones I've never seen before!

 

 

Ropes course-

Max weight 300 pounds this course is huge! If you are not afraid of heights then try it. I did not but it looks cool. My hubby tried it he made it up the steps and came right back down lol!

 

 

 

Mini golf- we did not get to play because when we went up they were doing maintenance work on it :( it looked cool though it was under the ropes course on the sports deck.

 

Bermuda-

We didn't really get off the ship much in Bermuda. We've been there a few times and I really just wanted to relax. We did goto the new fun golf! It is not like regular mini golf where there's a clone or something to get around however they model each of the 18 holes after real golf course holes throughout USA, Bermuda, and I forget where else. The cost was 15$ per person. There is a coupon for buy one get one free in the clock tower mall and most likely the information booth at the pier. The course is very hilly and there is a lot of stepping up and down. I tripped going over the little bridge course because I thought it was an even thing but it wasn't got a nice bruise on my knee as a souvenir :) there is a place to get drinks and snacks and the worker offered to take our photo by the fun golf sign :) Bermuda is full of great people, really!

 

 

Disembarkation- this was the fastest we have ever gotten off the ship. We ported in NYC around 645 am and were off the ship a little after 730. Amazing! Home before 10!!

[tvguy72]

Very nice review. Thank you for posting.:D

[blosoom]

Hi...thanks for the review...can't wait to read more...we have that same inside room on the Nov 3rd sailing 5649

[BSR]

Enjoyed reading your review and we will be sailing on the Breakaway next Sunday. Can't wait!:)

[MCAT48]

Hi...thanks for the review...can't wait to read more...we have that same inside room on the Nov 3rd sailing 5649

 

It was a very nice room. I thought the location was perfect buffet, spice h2o, casino, manhattan dining room was right up the elevator. Did not hear anything above us at all it's right by the elevators too so no noise from that either.

[caseympierce]

Any idea how many people were on your sailing? We are in the Oct 27th sailing, wondering if the overcrowding/sold-out bookings are less of a problem now that it is later in the year

[mrwilliamt]

This was a sold out cruise. 4,000.

[MCAT48]

Any idea how many people were on your sailing? We are in the Oct 27th sailing, wondering if the overcrowding/sold-out bookings are less of a problem now that it is later in the year

 

The cruise was sold out but it certainly did not seem like it only on the seafood night at the buffet! :) I didn't spend much time T the pool deck though mostly stayed in spice h2o but when we did goto the pool area there were plenty of loungers

[flhawkeye]

Our butler told us 4,200 on the cruise and that included 250 children. Every cabin was sold but not full berth capacity. I was told that most of the cruises for the next 6 weeks are sold out due to a new itinerary. But, it should be nothing like the summer sailings.

[MCAT48]

Ooooo

 

[susea4000]

Thanks so much! I have been envisioning my upcoming cruise and love to read posts that confirm it will be great! I can deal with the bar service, especially if I win something in the casino!

[MCAT48]

Thanks so much! I have been envisioning my upcoming cruise and love to read posts that confirm it will be great! I can deal with the bar service, especially if I win something in the casino!

 

I'm sure you'll have a great cruise :) and I really hope you do! I can't wait to book our next trip on the breakaway with our two boys!

[MCAT48]

We saved our dailies so I will try to post them tomorrow

[Highboy90]

Nice review. Thanks for sharing! :)