Bigger is not Better - NCL Breakaway disappointed

[AEckhardt]

I have been on both the jewel classes and on the breakaway, and I found the ships of both sizes to have their own perks! Personally, I absolutely loved Breakaway and would gladly sail her again! We chose to purchase the bubbles package and the ultimate dining plan, which coved 95% of the dining choices, knowing we prefer the specialties. It was a good deal for us! I stay away from the classes, on board gift shops, tastings, etc, and did not feel nickeled and dimed one bit! None of this is any different from the other ships. My only complaint is that they show all the charges per drink and they are then voided days later, which makes it difficult to keep track of. I saved every single receipt and planned on reconciling the final bill, but never got around to it. It's 6 weeks later, and I'm already more focused on our next sailing, the Gem, in September.

[KirkNC]

We agree, bigger is not better.

[KeithJenner]

Bigger doesn't necessarily mean better, nor does it have to mean worse. There is far more to a ship than just its size.

 

I'm not sure what my favourite NCL ship is, but it's either the Epic, Getaway or the Spirit. My least favourite which I've sailed on is the Pearl, which is smaller than the Epic/Getaway but bigger than the Spirit.

 

It's interesting that in the OP's original list of issues, the positives (ship/stateroom) were ship specific items, whereas one of the negatives was actually an issue with the NCL policy rather than anything specific to the ship (they would have been just as unlikely to just get one UBP on any of the ships).

 

It seems that the issue wasn't actually about charging for shows, but more for the number of extra charge items available on the Getaway. The Jewel also has a large number of speciality restaurants. As for charges for the other items, this does seem to annoy some people. For those of us who aren't interested in most of these activities, it is actually a positive, so that one is largely personal preference.

 

Reports of issues with guest services appear for all ships, but probably are more common for the larger ships. Perhaps this is an issue for those ships with more staff/guests.

 

My wife has a theory that there is a difference in staff/guest interaction on the bigger ships which is a two way thing. We find that we tend to get chatting to staff more on the smaller ships than the big ones, and the reason is that we are more likely to spark that conversation on those ships with less people. I think this is a difference in the atmosphere between big and small, and I can see why it would put some people off the bigger ones.

 

It's worth trying them though. I originally sailed on the Epic expecting not to like it much but had a great time. Whilst I'm looking forward to the trips we have upcoming on the Jade and Spirit, I'm looking forward to the Getaway and Escape just as much. I wouldn't want to go without either.

[BermudaBound2014]

Thanks for taking the time to share your opinion :)

[Jay Sam]

Bigger is not better was a lesson many of us learned four years ago after the Epic (disaster). BA and GA are just more of the same.

 

Epic (disaster), Oh yeah. Well I wouldn't call it a disaster, but it was not my favorite ship, or staff by far. Took Star too, and not great. Was hoping Getaway/Breakaway would correct some of the Epic's problems, but maybe not. Would like to try one of those ships. Maybe 3rd time is the charm?

[JasonV1]

A definitely agree on Vibe. My needs are fairly simple, and in my case the Solarium (16+) on Royal ships is a big plus for the wife and I. Each one has a pool, and the ones on the Oasis class have 2 hot tubs as well.

 

Yeah the Royal Solarium's aren't exclusive or capacity limited (can be an issue on sea days), but it is quiet enough, has a bar inside (on all but Oasis class boats), and is part of the base fare.

 

Cirque is different since it is designed for a small group of people, yet requires similar amounts of money as the larger shows. At least it is sold as a specialty dining experience, even if the food isn't as "fancy" as the other ones.

 

I did spend more money on-board the Epic than any other cruise to date (and this was before UDP/UBP), so I have to admit that to get the full experience it can get expensive fast. These days aside from drinks and dining we spend little on-board, although I can see buying more photos than normal on Getaway since they have such a large number of unique opportunities.

 

Nickle and diming (for lack of a better term) isn't new to cruising, it seems many things I like to do are inexpensive up front and filled with lots of (optional) opportunities to up-charge. Perhaps this is because people have different ideas of what a vacation should be these days, meaning that a simple relaxing vacation has given way to needing constant Internet access and/or be continually entertained. I still prefer something simple, although I do plan on specialty dining and drinks as I eat simple/drink very little at home (which is why I can afford to cruise 3x a year).

 

 

I agree about the specialty dining. The charge is good because it limits access to those things in a fair manner. As long as the regular dining options are good, it's perfectly fair. However, there are quite a bit of "upgrades" especially on the new ships. Vibe, Haven, specialty dining, Cirque, etc. You don't HAVE to pay for those things to have a good time, but it can give a negative impression.

[emcelh]

I can't remember off the top of my head what other show, I'll look for my Dailies, if you look at the dailies more than 50% of the activities there are additional charges for, which is a far contrast of cruising 5 years ago.

 

 

You may be right but keep in mind that, 5 years ago, ships didn't offer as many options as the newer mega ships do.

[Winston Wolf]

Let me start with our cruise on the Jewel was perfect, which is why we chose NCL again for our sons Graduation Gift/Trip.

 

Bigger is not better..... Dining services we far below acceptable, it took 3 hours for 4 of us to eat each night, there was never an assistant waiter, had to ask for water refills, never was offered a chefs recommendation, and rarely did the server even provide their name.

 

Shows .... Since when do they charge to attend shows?

 

Ship ..... Beautiful, clean well kept

 

Stateroom.... Awesome

 

Guest Service..... Below average

 

Training and Staff Knowledge .... unacceptable, my bother wanted to purchase the Caps and Corks, he was told every person in his stateroom over 21 would have to purchase that package or better, he provided them with a letter from my sister in laws doctor which stated she is 20 weeks pregnant (and she is showing) , they would not accept the letter as a waiver.

 

To each their own. I thought Breakaway was fantastic. Had great service (except for one afternoon at OSheehans) and never waited to be seated to eat.

 

As for the Corks and Caps...not sure what you're griping about. The policy is the policy. To my knowledge there is't a pregnancy clause (or sobriety clause, or a "I'm just not into drinking" clause...).

 

Also, they only charge for the shows which serve meals. How could you not know that well in advance of your cruise?

Edited July 1, 2014 by Winston Wolf

[dread_pirate]

For me, it was the "bigger" and the design of the Breakaway that wasn't for me. It always just seemed so LOUD.

 

Putting the casino on the middle floor of the atrium area, with the specialty dining below? IMO, not a good design choice due to the allowance of smoking in the casino. There was no way to sit in or even walk through that atrium when the casino was open and avoid the smoke. Putting a nightclub type venue, with activities, with the only entrance through the casino? Again, issues with smoking. Casinos should be enclosed, and there should always be a way to avoid them to get anywhere you want on the ship.

 

One pool area (OK, I know there are technically 2 pools) for a ship that big? That was also a problem for me.

 

O'Sheehan's was OK, but not if there was an activity going on in the Atrium area.

 

I found the food acceptable and the service very good. I loved the solo studios, and the solo studio lounge.

 

Now if only I liked the ship!

[EasyPeasy]

The daytime Wine Lovers show has a charge.

 

Why do people get so defensive and upset when people don't like what they like? OP didn't like the Breakaway and it was her perception that too many shows/ activities had a price tag attached to them. You can comb the dailies and provide proof that only 40% have a fee. So what? Doesn't change how it felt to OP.

 

 

I admit that I find this baffling as well.

[ibcnusoon]

I'm more surprised that they charge for the gym activities, but whatever.

 

I just cruised on Carnival and they have upcharges for gym activities, like Tour-de-Spin classes and yoga and pilates ($12 per class). Other activities, inlcuding use of gym equipment, was free.

[KeithJenner]

I just cruised on Carnival and they have upcharges for gym activities, like Tour-de-Spin classes and yoga and pilates ($12 per class). Other activities, inlcuding use of gym equipment, was free.

 

 

As I understand it, that's how it is on the Breakaway.

 

This is just what I have heard. I don't actually even know where the gym is. :)

[Cruisercl]

OP, I am sorry too that you were disappointed with your cruise on the Breakaway.

I have been on bigs ships and I have been on small ships; we really just love the cruise we are on and don't really compare it to others. This includes sizes of ships and different cruse lines. Every single one offers something different.

 

I have been on the Breakaway and loved it; we choose not to do many extra things, which IMHO appears you are calling 'nickel and diming'. We always pretty much get what we paid for; we don't really expect much more especially when crusing is much less expensive than it used to be.

 

I believe your experience on the Breakawy will help you in your future decisions on cruising; what you would like and what you would not. Everyone's vacation preferences are different.

 

I hope you enjoy your next cruise. :)

[Sizzlechest]

I just cruised on Carnival and they have upcharges for gym activities, like Tour-de-Spin classes and yoga and pilates ($12 per class). Other activities, inlcuding use of gym equipment, was free.

 

Are these classes that popular that they need to charge a fee to limit attendance? If not, the fee is silly since it creates a scarcity when it doesn't need to exist. On my last cruise (on a smaller NCL ship), I wanted to do a beer tasting, but every time I tried, it was canceled due to lack of interest. It's dumb because if they'd lower the price, maybe more people would come and some of them might order MORE drinks past the samples.

[Bars7816]

How could it possibly take 3 hours to eat dinner each night? Just askin'. We loved the Breakaway and Epic and Pearl and every other cruise we've taken -- what's wrong with us??:D:D

[Love my butler]

How could it possibly take 3 hours to eat dinner each night? Just askin'.

 

Ask the insanely slowwwwwwwwwwwwww, very poorly trained, waiters...........

[LrgPizza]

 

Bigger is not better..... Dining services we far below acceptable, it took 3 hours for 4 of us to eat each night, there was never an assistant waiter, had to ask for water refills, never was offered a chefs recommendation, and rarely did the server even provide their name.

 

We had excellent service in the MDR on the large ship Getaway and were in and out in just over an hour. On the contrary, on the Spirit which is the smallest ship in NCL's fleet, we had HORRIBLE service, rude and inattentive servers, and it took well over 2 hours to eat a meal there.

 

My point is that the bad service can't automatically be attributed to the size of the ship. There are lots of reasons that might have happened (none are okay, though).

[TracieABD]

How could it possibly take 3 hours to eat dinner each night? Just askin'. We loved the Breakaway and Epic and Pearl and every other cruise we've taken -- what's wrong with us??:D:D

 

I will say (and I am aware this is not the Breakaway, but it is NCL), it took me an hour and 15 minutes to get soup and salad on the Spirit. I have never experienced such slow service. The waitstaff were very nice, they were just absolutely overworked.

[DGP1111]

Yes, to each their own, loved my past cruise on the Jewel, disappointed on the Breakaway.

 

Unfortunately, I felt pretty much the same way with my Norwegian Breakaway experience. The NCL sailings just prior to it were almost perfection, and those following were almost perfection.

Loved loved loved Bermuda, but it truly seemed like the majority of crew/staff that I encountered on Breakaway had played hockey before the mandatory helmet rule. :rolleyes:

 

Why do people get so defensive and upset when people don't like what they like? OP didn't like the Breakaway . . .

 

Just the way it is on the majority of cruise boards. Even with plenty of photo and video documentation to back up any negative experience there will be those who say, "Well, you must have done something wrong to bring about that situation."

 

.

[AEckhardt]

I'll chime in that we had an absolutely fantastic cabin steward, Ronald, (14738) and our favorite bartender was Jeffery over at the Maltings outside bar. He always greeted us by name and knew what we preferred to drink. Adrian, the concierge, was nothing short of amazing... These were the staff that made our trip on the Breakaway phenomenal! Honestly, I can't remember the name of any staff member or situation I felt was rude, slow, or just in satisfied with!

[Jay Sam]

We had Julito on Epic in April of 2011 for our cabin steward. Amazing service, the best room steward we ever had. Helpful, friendly and remembered our names from the beginning.

[cruise_alot123]

Let me start with our cruise on the Jewel was perfect, which is why we chose NCL again for our sons Graduation Gift/Trip.

 

Bigger is not better..... Dining services we far below acceptable, it took 3 hours for 4 of us to eat each night, there was never an assistant waiter, had to ask for water refills, never was offered a chefs recommendation, and rarely did the server even provide their name.

 

Shows .... Since when do they charge to attend shows?

 

Ship ..... Beautiful, clean well kept

 

Stateroom.... Awesome

 

Guest Service..... Below average

 

Training and Staff Knowledge .... unacceptable, my bother wanted to purchase the Caps and Corks, he was told every person in his stateroom over 21 would have to purchase that package or better, he provided them with a letter from my sister in laws doctor which stated she is 20 weeks pregnant (and she is showing) , they would not accept the letter as a waiver.

 

We were on the Breakaway in March and it never took more than 1.5 hrs to eat at the MDR and to say "it took 3 to 4 hrs to eat each night" just pure exaggeration. Since this is a 7 night cruise why would you go back night after night if you knew "it took 3 to 4 hrs to eat each night"? Makes no sense. People are constantly complaining every little thing about the cruise instead of enjoying the cruise. There are many free great shows on the cruise such as "Burn the Floor" and "Rock of Ages" and etc.. Also, just to say the "Guest Service..... Below average" also makes no sense because not all services are a like and some services are better than others and not all of them are "Below average". We had great services from the casino to most everything which we had no complains.

 

We have been 30 + cruise and 6 of them on NCL and will be going again on the Gem in September and no such thing is a bad cruise. Life is short so enjoy while it last.

Edited July 2, 2014 by cruise_alot123

[AEckhardt]

I absolutely agree cruise_alot123!

[luvtheships]

I have to say that for all the years I have been reading CC as well as all the years I have been cruising going back to the 1970's.....if I have experienced in my estimation less than 5% of the complaints that I have read about here, it is a lot.

 

 

I have gone on some cruises completely clueless...and had a fabulous time

 

I have gone on some cruises with concerns based on reading these boards...and had a fabulous cruise with none of the issues mentioned on the boards

 

I have gone on cruises with everything totally laid out from daily clothing to hour by hour port schedules.....and had fabulous cruises

 

I have gone with little planning..and been totally satisfied and safe in port and managed to still get a day pass at a resort! LOL

 

 

So what I guess I am saying is that:

 

1. Some people just should not cruise or travel in general because they can't appreciate or handle it

 

2. Some people should stop thinking that cruising is like the "days of old" and either take it for what it is or just book Cunard where they still have somewhat of a class system.

 

and finally...which I actually have always done anyway..

 

3. Read reviews with a grain of salt, realizing that some folks just don't understand cruising and that many cruisers and their reviews are from people who are on their "cruise of a lifetime" and just have incredibly impossible to meet expectations of what a cruise should be.

 

4. However, I do know that many longtime, savvy cruisers can have a bad cruise, and will review as such. Fortunately, those reviews are easy to spot because they are clearly written and pinpoint the problems accurately and also give suggestions for improvement.

[khaide612]

On my last cruise (on a smaller NCL ship), I wanted to do a beer tasting, but every time I tried, it was canceled due to lack of interest. It's dumb because if they'd lower the price, maybe more people would come and some of them might order MORE drinks past the samples.

 

$15 for 5 beers plus games and prizes is a pretty good deal. In my experience travelling with beer lovers, they have passed on the beer tasting due to the selection of beers being sampled and not due to the price. I do agree that it should be cheaper though. Martini tasting is $15 for 6 samples though now you get a smaller sample size.