Back from Breakaway today

[Frankie C]

This is off topic from the balcony smoking issue... I was curious since you are just off the Breakaway what the food/menu was like at the noodle restaurant that previously had a fee and is now included? If you, or others who have sailed since the change, can let us know that would be great :-)! Thanks

 

 

Yes, noodle bar (Shanghai) was complimentary. Menu was a little bit more limited than when it was a pay restaurant according to other threads. Not to beat a dead horse as this topic is getting old but we didn't eat there because we found the smoke smell from the adjacent casino to be unbearable, lol. Sorry smokers ;).

 

Interestingly, Ncl uses the casino as a muster station and we sat in shanghais during the drill. A lot of people who were with us noted a strong stale smoke smell. I think the casino in the middle of the atrium and other public spaces allows the smoke smell to easily travel to other areas.

 

 

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[PelicanBill]

Fair point on the gratuity for cupcakes and cigars, but do you typically tip for a bartender to hand you a beer? Same amount of work.

 

A bartender, and a waiter, are tipped because their base pay is below standard wages and tips make up the difference.

 

I expect the person behind a counter selling goods to be paid standard wages and a tip is not to be expected.

[Cancruizer]

Yes, noodle bar (Shanghai) was complimentary. Menu was a little bit more limited than when it was a pay restaurant according to other threads. Not to beat a dead horse as this topic is getting old but we didn't eat there because we found the smoke smell from the adjacent casino to be unbearable, lol. Sorry smokers ;).

 

Interestingly, Ncl uses the casino as a muster station and we sat in shanghais during the drill. A lot of people who were with us noted a strong stale smoke smell. I think the casino in the middle of the atrium and other public spaces allows the smoke smell to easily travel to other areas.

 

 

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Thanks for the info about Shanghai. Yes, I had friends on the ship in March and they warned us about the musty smokey odour near the Casino and in the Atrium... too bad. Oh well, hoping it won't bother us too much.

[Dorhead1230]

Yes, noodle bar (Shanghai) was complimentary. Menu was a little bit more limited than when it was a pay restaurant according to other threads. Not to beat a dead horse as this topic is getting old but we didn't eat there because we found the smoke smell from the adjacent casino to be unbearable, lol. Sorry smokers ;).

 

Interestingly, Ncl uses the casino as a muster station and we sat in shanghais during the drill. A lot of people who were with us noted a strong stale smoke smell. I think the casino in the middle of the atrium and other public spaces allows the smoke smell to easily travel to other areas.

 

 

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If you happened to notice, was the noodle bar open only at night, or was it ever open for lunch? Thanks in advance for any info.

[Frankie C]

No did not notice. It was listed in dailies but I don't remember specific timing.

 

 

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[CTSandy]

If you happened to notice, was the noodle bar open only at night, or was it ever open for lunch? Thanks in advance for any info.

 

 

We were on Breakaway last week and the noodle bar was only opened in the evening - I believe at 5:30. We definitely would have had lunch there if they were open during the day...ate there one evening and the menu was limited but good. I think there were four or five choices for appetizers - one of us had crispy spring rolls and the other had steamed dumplings - and there were a few choices of noodle dishes, a few choices of noodles in broth and two desserts. We enjoyed it but there was definitely smoke odors from the casino. We also went to the "meet the officers" in the theater one of the days and two different people complained about how smoky the casino was.

[Tiggertastic]

This is off topic from the balcony smoking issue... I was curious since you are just off the Breakaway what the food/menu was like at the noodle restaurant that previously had a fee and is now included? If you, or others who have sailed since the change, can let us know that would be great :-)! Thanks

 

Thank you, as I was reading down I was trying to work out how this ops review had turned into a debate about balcony smoking. Then I realised how easy people do that.

 

So back to the topic, I know it's now 18% not 15 but I'm sure that gratuity has always been charged at Carlos bakery. It is a lot for minimal service and maybe there should be a tip jar but there are no cash transactions and lots of people only carry their cruise card

 

I'm sorry that the experience was not as good

 

Did they have fireworks on your trip?

[Dorhead1230]

We were on Breakaway last week and the noodle bar was only opened in the evening - I believe at 5:30. We definitely would have had lunch there if they were open during the day...ate there one evening and the menu was limited but good. I think there were four or five choices for appetizers - one of us had crispy spring rolls and the other had steamed dumplings - and there were a few choices of noodle dishes, a few choices of noodles in broth and two desserts. We enjoyed it but there was definitely smoke odors from the casino. We also went to the "meet the officers" in the theater one of the days and two different people complained about how smoky the casino was.

 

 

Thanks for this info! Now I am going to be really annoying...did the noodle bar stay open late at night, by any chance? I only ask because I am used to the noodle bars in Atlantic City being some of the places that stay open the latest.

[hpecorari]

So they stick the smoky stinky casino in the very middle of the ship so that the smoke can permeate most other areas, then they ban smoking on balconies. Hmm, it looks like common sense isn't so common after all. ;)

 

We have cruised with NCL before and when the Breakaway was coming out I wanted so badly to try her out. After the first cruise I read the reviews about the centrally located Casino and all the problems with the smoke rolling through the rest of the ship. I can't see us cruising on her now knowing about that casino smoke situation.

Lorie

 

I believe all the new ships are like this: Epic, Breakaway, Getaway, and now the Escape I think as well.

 

Harriet

[tumblew467]

I believe all the new ships are like this: Epic, Breakaway, Getaway, and now the Escape I think as well.

 

Harriet

 

Hi Harriet,

 

(sorry off topic)

do you know who is HD and concierge on BA now. I leave nxt weekend on BA. thanks liz

I did post on the 2015 captain idenity board ..but no one has answered.

[hpecorari]

Hi Harriet,

 

(sorry off topic)

do you know who is HD and concierge on BA now. I leave nxt weekend on BA. thanks liz

I did post on the 2015 captain idenity board ..but no one has answered.

 

I do not. I haven't been on the BA in over a year. There was a thread about that....let me see if I can find it:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2143874

 

After giving a quick look I don't see anything new posted there for the Breakaway.

 

Harriet

[Papa_Bob_New_Jersey]

We will be on the Breakaway for 2 cruises. In which areas of the NCL Breakaway Waterfront is smoking permitted?

 

Thanks,

Bob

[antsnanny]

Im laughing over hear because I just got off RCL Quantum of the seas and paid a gratuity on a drink made at the Bionic Bar to a Robot !

[CasinoCruzGirl]

We will be on the Breakaway for 2 cruises. In which areas of the NCL Breakaway Waterfront is smoking permitted?

 

Thanks,

Bob

 

Bob

 

In front of maltings and fat cats. There is a bar and tables and nice comfy chairs

 

Geri

[AEckhardt]

We will be on the Breakaway for 2 cruises. In which areas of the NCL Breakaway Waterfront is smoking permitted?

 

 

 

Thanks,

 

Bob

 

 

Smoking is allowed on the waterfront outside the cigar bar, near Maltings.

[conandrob240]

[quote name='Winston Wolf']Fair point on the gratuity for cupcakes and cigars, but do you typically tip for a bartender to hand you a beer? Same amount of work.[/QUOTE]

Totally different. A person working as a supermarket or store cashier/ clerk generally makes minimum wage or higher as the store pays. A waiter or bartender generally makes the whopping $2.35 an hour minimum wage excuse it is a tipped position.

I understand this isn't the case on a cruise hail but your example doesn't hold water.

On a cruise ship, it was assumed ( at least by me) that, other than for bartenders, the daily service charge covered all the service employees on the cruise- waiters, stewards, etc. as they add gratuities for more and more things- speciality dining, bakery counter, cigar stand and so on, this becomes less and less clear. Who is the DSC going to then?