Just off Breakaway 3-16

[melissac25]

Hi! Just returned home from an AMAZING week on the Breakaway. I'll write a full review a little later....I just wanted to hop on quick and let everyone know that if you're hesitating to book because of some negative reviews, hesitate no more! The ship is absolutely gorgeous and the service could not have been better! We sailed at full capacity and had NO issues whatsoever with crowds, lines, chair hogging, dining, or room service. We did have a bit of an issue (ok, a big issue) with some spring breakers but at no fault of Norwegian. I'll expand on that in my review, but for all those complaining of no Ultimate Beverage Package during spring break cruises, be thankful!! I can't imagine these people with unlimited drinks!!! Be back soon :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Cruzncutie]

I was on the same sailing. Looking forward to reading your review.

 

 

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[Pocketpeach]

I'm sailing next week. I cannot wait! Looking forward to reading the review. Just have one question. When do you have to get off the ship when you return? I'm trying to figure out when to tell car service to pick me up. Thanks!

 

 

 

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[CruisinClerys]

Just got off the same sailing. Also had a great week even with a toddler in tow! Service was great with a few slow restaurant service exceptions.

 

 

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[melissac25]

I'm sailing next week. I cannot wait! Looking forward to reading the review. Just have one question. When do you have to get off the ship when you return? I'm trying to figure out when to tell car service to pick me up. Thanks!

 

 

 

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You can choose what time you get off. You can keep your luggage with you the night before and walk off with it around 7:30am or you can pick a colored luggage tag that corresponds with a debarkation time, and leave your luggage outside your stateroom the night before so you can pick it up in the port when you get off. These times range from around 7:45-10:30am. We picked the lavender ticket that was the last possible debarkation time (10:30) because we didn't want our ride to have to get up too early to get us. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in Savor and waited about an hour to get off.

 

 

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[bingo3]

Thanks and looking forward to your and other reviews! Those of us waiting to sail must live vicariously through your trips! LOL! :D

debbie

[vacation luvver]

You can choose what time you get off. You can keep your luggage with you the night before and walk off with it around 7:30am or you can pick a colored luggage tag that corresponds with a debarkation time, and leave your luggage outside your stateroom the night before so you can pick it up in the port when you get off. These times range from around 7:45-10:30am.

Theoretically, it's supposed to work this way, but this morning (I was on the March 16 Breakaway, too), it did not. We were given the yellow luggage tags because I am Latitudes Gold, which meant that we would be in the first group to leave after the people who walk off with their luggage. But when we got down to Deck 7, the deck with the gangway, we were not allowed to get off the ship. There were walk-off people there, too, and they were not allowed to get off the ship. And then two more groups came down, and all of us had to stand there and wait and wait and wait to be allowed off the ship. We had a car waiting for us. We finally got into the car at 10:00 AM.

 

We had a great time, and we didn't have any bad encounters with any spring-breakers. I guess we hung out at different places. The food was great. The lobster and seafood dinner was on Day 2 in the buffet (not in the dining room), and I had four lobster tails, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one. Ordinarily, I eat practically every dinner in the MDR, but on this cruise, I had only two dinners there, because there was so much to do in the evening, and I didn't want to spend a whole lot of time sitting in the MDR waiting for my food to arrive.

 

It's been suggested that we get the chicken pot pie and the Buffalo wings at McSheehan's. Both of them were great, as were the fried mozzarella sticks, the bacon cheeseburger, and the corned beef sandwich. I didn't try anything else there, but I bet their other food is great, too.

 

We enjoyed the Welcome Aboard show, Burn the Floor, Second City, the magician, Rock of Ages (although a lot of people on the cruise did not seem to like it), the jazz band in Fat Cats, and Burn the Floor. Plus we really enjoyed listening to the piano player, Carlo Nuschi, and went to both of his 2 1/2 hour sessions. Make sure you see the jazz band! It's not to be missed!

[meatball_nyc]

Thanks for the quick review.

I'm glad to hear positive things! We can't wait to cruise on Breakaway!

 

Note to self (again): wait till the last minute to be off the ship. I probably will NOT want to leave. They might have to carry me off kicking and screaming ;)

 

Happy Cruising!

 

 

Robin

Norwegian Breakaway July 2014

Every Day at Sea is a Great Day

[elliemaej]

Looking forward to your review as well. I was traveling with one of those spring breakers (DD turned 21 on Nassau day). Only the last night did they seem to bother me. But again, I may have been hanging in different places also.

 

I really enjoyed the cruise. I will also try to do a review as this was my first NCL cruise (mostly Disney/RCL and one Carnival).

I didnt think that i would like the freestyle concept but really found my self loving not having to be tied down a dinner seating.

 

We did not make any reservations all week and never had a wait for a MDR or Specialty.

Loved our cabin (B6/9726). Every crew member we encounter was friendly and helpful.

I highly recommend the Margarita tasting with Don Julio/Margarito/Augustus. He as so much fun (yum yum) :-) we went back for the second tasting on Saturday.

 

All in all a great week. Even if it snowed. (hubby made a snowman on the balcony)

[melissac25]

Theoretically, it's supposed to work this way, but this morning (I was on the March 16 Breakaway, too), it did not.

 

Yes, we did notice long lines to get off the ship while we were sitting in O'Sheehans waiting.... It seemed like things didn't clear up until around 9:45. This is when they told us we could go ( we were scheduled to leave around 10:15).

 

 

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[gelo7]

Welcome back.

[English101]

 

Note to self (again): wait till the last minute to be off the ship. I probably will NOT want to leave. They might have to carry me off kicking and screaming ;)

 

 

Yes, we did notice long lines to get off the ship while we were sitting in O'Sheehans waiting....

 

What is the latest you can stay your room? (We're in a suite, if that changes anything. I DO understand they need to change over the rooms.)

 

Is anything open while waiting to leave? I haven't been on a cruise in 10 years. :eek: I remember having to stay in a certain area and it was BORING! Lol Of course I didn't have an iPhone back then! ;) I also didn't have children back then! :rolleyes: We do not need to catch a flight and would prefer not to have to wake up early but we do have almost a 2 hour drive home. Just trying to figure out our options.

 

Also wondering about luggage. If I walk off WITH luggage, that's the earliest debarkation? Any other group needs to have luggage out night before? Any chance this is different for suites? Again, just trying to understand procedures.

 

Thanks in advance! :)

Edited March 24, 2014 by English101

[melissac25]

Welcome back.

 

 

Thanks!!

 

 

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[melissac25]

What is the latest you can stay your room? (We're in a suite, if that changes anything. I DO understand they need to change over the rooms.)

 

Is anything open while waiting to leave? I haven't been on a cruise in 10 years. :eek: I remember having to stay in a certain area and it was BORING! Lol Of course I didn't have an iPhone back then! ;) I also didn't have children back then! :rolleyes: We do not need to catch a flight and would prefer not to have to wake up early but we do have almost a 2 hour drive home. Just trying to figure out our options.

 

Also wondering about luggage. If I walk off WITH luggage, that's the earliest debarkation? Any other group needs to have luggage out night before? Any chance this is different for suites? Again, just trying to understand procedures.

 

Thanks in advance! :)

 

 

I didn't have a suite so I can't speak for that, but we had to be out of our balcony room by 8:30am. I always like to stretch out the last moments of the cruise as much as I can, and I live about 90 min from the port so I was in no rush to get off. We left the room by 8:00 and had a sit down breakfast at Savor until about 9. Savor stops letting people in at 8:30 but you can go to the buffet or O'Sheehans until 9. The photo store on deck 8 closes at 9:30 so we went up there to take one last look at our cruise photos, then grabbed a seat at O'Sheehans to wait for our color to be called. By the way, for some reason cell service stinks in this area of the ship, but they play a video of memories from your cruise week on the huge screen in the atrium while you wait to disembark- this was such a nice touch and parts of the video brought tears to my eyes, we had such an awesome time!

 

If you want to walk off with luggage they call you down around 7:30, but as the OP mentioned there are lines of people trying to get off so you'll probably have to wait anyway.

 

You're gonna have sooooo much fun!!!!

 

 

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[melissac25]

Thanks for the quick review.

I'm glad to hear positive things! We can't wait to cruise on Breakaway!

 

Note to self (again): wait till the last minute to be off the ship. I probably will NOT want to leave. They might have to carry me off kicking and screaming ;)

 

Happy Cruising!

 

 

Robin

Norwegian Breakaway July 2014

Every Day at Sea is a Great Day

 

 

Haha, they basically had to drag me off this morning!!! My 15 year old daughter had tears in her eyes at the thought of it all being over, she met so many new friends!

 

Now I'm jealous I don't have one to look forward too! I better fix that!!!

 

 

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[elliemaej]

We are breakfast at the garden grill early then went back to the room to shower. We left the room at 8:30 and went to o'sheehans to wait for our red tags (9:30) to be called. As soon as we found a spot by the bar, one of the staff came by and said if we were ready to leave we could. All colors tags were cleared at that point. We had no real reason to stay (other than not wanting to go home) so we headed out.

Except for the delay in getting on the escalator to the baggage area (there were 2 ladies metering the traffic on the escalator), it was quick and painless. Found our bags quickly, grabbed a porter and were thru customs quickly. Home by 10:30.

 

 

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[onlylee]

Theoretically, it's supposed to work this way, but this morning (I was on the March 16 Breakaway, too), it did not. We were given the yellow luggage tags because I am Latitudes Gold, which meant that we would be in the first group to leave after the people who walk off with their luggage. But when we got down to Deck 7, the deck with the gangway, we were not allowed to get off the ship. There were walk-off people there, too, and they were not allowed to get off the ship. And then two more groups came down, and all of us had to stand there and wait and wait and wait to be allowed off the ship. We had a car waiting for us. We finally got into the car at 10:00 AM. QUOTE]

 

We went to Savor at 7:45, ate, went back to our stateroom, got all of our luggage and did self walk off at 8:30 and were in the car by 9:30. We left from the Aft gangway. Perhaps the delay was right after that? I did not like having to be picked up across the street (48th and 12th). Fortunately it wasn't raining and my husband was able to find us once I told him to turn left right after the ship :-).

[vacation luvver]

Perhaps the delay was right after that?

Yes, it was. My friend and I headed down to Deck 7 from the buffet at about 8:40 AM.

 

I did not like having to be picked up across the street (48th and 12th).

That didn't bother me. My car service company told us as they dropped us off on March 16 that when the cruise was over, we should get a porter to take us across the street to 12th Avenue and 48th Street. No problem with that. Then I called the driver and told him that we were on the south corner, and he found us very quickly.

[cruise crew member]

getting off the ship waspainless we walked off before 8am no lines easy as pie had towait for our pick up about 30 min but still home before 10am..

now the ship way to big for usonly 2 elevator banks lots more walking from aft to forward...waste of money for VIBE cushions were water loged couldn't sit in vibe they made no attempt to dry them had to fight for refund for the day $11.00 ea, several couples in our group of 7 were summoned to the service desk for supposed problems with their credit turns out there was no problem however our days were interrupted....no complaints about the food very O.K. but not great never changing menu never offered a shrimp cocktail once...if you wanted pie alamode had to pay extra for scoop of ice cream....must say the casino was fun won a little money...rock of ages was o.k...comedy show also o.k. games in atrium again o.k. ...pool area small don't understand theory behind only 2 pools

 

after being a Princess cruiser I can't recommendNCL there is no comparison

Princess has class and distinction NCL is all about nickel and diming you sorry

different strokes for different folks

[turquoise 6]

We are sailing next week. I forgot it was

Spring Break.

I am curious what big issue you had?

Was the unlimited beverage package

Suspended?

[suometar]

We are sailing next week. I forgot it was

Spring Break.

I am curious what big issue you had?

Was the unlimited beverage package

Suspended?

 

I am not the OP who mentioned issues with the spring breakers, but my husband and I were on the same cruise and our issue with the spring breakers was a lot of yelling and commotion in the hallway outside our room at 3 AM the last night of the cruise. And it wasn't because of the UBP because that is (wisely) not offered during spring break season.

[Cruiser Bruiser]

I'm looking forward to hearing about your good time on board the Breakaway. Only 440 days til I get to step aboard her myself.

 

Lots of spring breakers on the Pearl two weeks ago, and besides their domination of the pool and the odd, loud group passing by our cabin late at night, I was surprised that they were all pretty well behaved. Some even told me they took a cruise because they wanted a "classy" spring break. :cool:

[jerseyralph]

What is the latest you can stay your room? (We're in a suite, if that changes anything. I DO understand they need to change over the rooms.)

 

Is anything open while waiting to leave? I haven't been on a cruise in 10 years. :eek: I remember having to stay in a certain area and it was BORING! Lol Of course I didn't have an iPhone back then! ;) I also didn't have children back then! :rolleyes: We do not need to catch a flight and would prefer not to have to wake up early but we do have almost a 2 hour drive home. Just trying to figure out our options.

 

Also wondering about luggage. If I walk off WITH luggage, that's the earliest debarkation? Any other group needs to have luggage out night before? Any chance this is different for suites? Again, just trying to understand procedures.

 

Thanks in advance! :)

 

For last week's Breakaway cruise, we chose the red luggage tags (9:30 debarkation) and put our luggage out before we went to our 8 pm dinner reservation Saturday night.

 

We got up Sunday morning at about 7-ish, showered, finished packing, checked emails and left our stateroom at about 8 am.

 

We went down to O'Sheehan's and were seated immediately for breakfast.

They serve the full menu on departure morning. They stop serving about 9 am, but do allow you to sit there and refill your coffee. There is a large pot with take-out cups and lids on the counter.

 

The line to get off the ship seemed to keep growing and for awhile, did not appear to move at all. We have no idea why. We just kept reading emails and drinking coffee. They called for red tags to head off the ship around 9:40-:45.

 

We then literally walked off. Only had to wait at the top of the terminal escalator for Customs. We got a porter to haul the luggage and he took us to the express Customs line and to the car we went.

 

If you choose to cart your own luggage, you need put nothing out the night before.

 

We have taken suites on other cruise lines and the procedures were the same except we had earlier debarkation and a place to wait that was private. We have not done a suite on Norwegian and am not sure of their protocols.

 

Sometimes I feel like debarkation got more complicated when the cruise lines implemented self-debarkation. I am not at all sure what the rush is, but many people choose it and have a hard time getting those big pieces of luggage down those escalators. And in NYC there are escalators!

 

A few cruises ago we watched a young couple with two tiny kids try to manage all their luggage, the kids and a double wide stroller getting off the ship in NYC. They refused our help and stalled the line for quite sometime. People behind us were getting angry. Finally we quietly asked for help from the staff and they were taken to an elevator.

 

For those who might be interested........

doublewides do not move well through the Breakaway's narrow hallways.

[Winchester Ranger]

So what was the deal with the Spring Breakers ?

 

Avoiding those guys was one of the reasons we booked for May.

[bingo3]

OP: Did you have a B6 (large balcony) category room and if so, what did you think? Did you have loungers or just chairs? Thinking about upgrading. Thanks!

debbie