Back from Breakaway 5/24 - 5/31

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Just back from breakaway today. Love the ship. My third time on her never gets old. Just a couple FYIs. Had dinner in cagneys asked if I could take my desert. Waiter said he would check thinks they changed back policy. When he came back we were told they would send it to my cabin, no problem. O'Sheehans has a to go area for you to take your food. Was told by the host they changed the policy back again. So all is good food wise.

 

Was in an M6 mini suite large balcony 8134. Great balcony and bathroom. Balcony had 2 loungers, 2 chairs and a large table when we arrived. Our room steward Owen was fabulous. Always working and available. We made sure we tipped him well. Great guy.

 

Casino was not as crowded as in my past cruises. I was always able to get a machine I wanted or table. No huge wins this cruise from what I saw. There certainly were lots and I mean lots of people smoking just hanging around they were not playing no one said anything to them about it. Convenient locations to smoke on deck 8 waterfront by Maltings, deck 15 pool bar and enclosed area, vibe bar and spice H2O also allowed smoking by bar area.

 

Lots of chair hogs were in full force. Very crowded on sea days. Bermuda was a bust. Weather was horrible. Very very windy. Went to horseshoe beach snd got sand blasted. Also went to snorkel park beach and basically the same thing. There is free wifi at Bonefish Grill in bermuda port. Food was fabulous everywhere we ate. I strongly suggest making reservations before your cruise because it was impossible to get a table for Le bistro for any night and there were just 2 of us. Other restaurants had limited times available but were able to eat at cagneys, LaCucnia, tepanyaki and Modernos. MDR was also very good. Only place that kind of left a lot to be desired was O'Sheehans. Got a corn beef sandwich and it had one slice of corn beef on it lol really? Didn't bother to complain I still ate it. Wings were terrible they were soggy I like them crispy. Other than that breakfast was good in there. Burgers great at uptown grill. Buffet nice. Variety for breakfast s and lunch. Actually made it to Modernos for breakfast buffet fabulous alternative to buffet.

 

Geri

[linny11]

Thanks for the review. On my way to the port now!

[Dave85]

Thanks for the review. On my way to the port now!

 

Enjoy your cruise! Breakaway's a great ship.

 

OP, thanks for the review. Glad to hear that everything is back in order food wise.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Enjoy your cruise! Breakaway's a great ship.

 

OP, thanks for the review. Glad to hear that everything is back in order food wise.

 

Yes I was happy about it. Sorry such a short review I have done 2 longer ones for my two previous breakaway cruises so thought I would just do a short one.

[david_sobe]

Welcome home

Thanks for the review. You are a Breakaway expert now ;)

[Dorhead1230]

Thanks for the review, Geri! Just out of curiosity, did you try to get a reservation at Le Bistro as soon as you got on board and it was already sold out, or was it at some point during the cruise that it sold out?

 

Sorry to hear no big hits for you in the casino, but maybe you were just leaving some for me, so thanks [emoji12].

[ncklhaus]

Yes I was happy about it. Sorry such a short review I have done 2 longer ones for my two previous breakaway cruises so thought I would just do a short one.

 

Nope. Sorry. You need to do a "real" review with pictures. Your fellow CC's insist. LOL!! :D

But seriously, I'd like to read another one.

[mking8288]

Welcome home & thanks for that O'Sheehan update - I missed trying that Corned Beef, but one slice of meat won't it for most, unless it's just a starter ;) Was service good and slow as always, or improving. When we aren't in a hurry, OSH is the ideal spot to sit & wait, and do people watching.

 

Someone just sailed the Epic and mentioned that F&B Director reported they had 1,000 UDP on that sailing ... that isn't surprising with the upcoming summer sailings - add the Platinum and CAS players with the offers, yeah - especially if they need to shuffle the wait teams and the chefs around, assuming that they can do some of the prep in the main gallery. :D

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Thanks for the review, Geri! Just out of curiosity, did you try to get a reservation at Le Bistro as soon as you got on board and it was already sold out, or was it at some point during the cruise that it sold out?

 

Sorry to hear no big hits for you in the casino, but maybe you were just leaving some for me, so thanks [emoji12].

 

 

It was on the 2nd day I tried to make all my reservations. Not a good move on my behalf.

 

Geri

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Welcome home & thanks for that O'Sheehan update - I missed trying that Corned Beef, but one slice of meat won't it for most, unless it's just a starter ;) Was service good and slow as always, or improving. When we aren't in a hurry, OSH is the ideal spot to sit & wait, and do people watching.

 

Someone just sailed the Epic and mentioned that F&B Director reported they had 1,000 UDP on that sailing ... that isn't surprising with the upcoming summer sailings - add the Platinum and CAS players with the offers, yeah - especially if they need to shuffle the wait teams and the chefs around, assuming that they can do some of the prep in the main gallery. :D

 

 

I found service speed much better than my past breakaway cruises in all restaurants. OSH was great for people watching and service wasn't a problem at all. It was the food that wasn't great except breakfast loved the French toast so yummy

[Ilovesailing]

Re casino smoke because the casino is open to the atrium does the smoke rise into the atrium area?

[nancynana9950]

Welcome home. Do you know what time the buffet in Moderno's opens for breakfast?

[hansolosmom]

Thanks for the review. I just booked a March cruise, so I'll look up the longer ones you did. Glad to hear you enjoy the ship.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Welcome home. Do you know what time the buffet in Moderno's opens for breakfast?

 

Yes Nancy 9 am it's great try it

 

Edit. Not open on port days which kind of stinks

Edited May 31, 2015 by FootballParent

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Re casino smoke because the casino is open to the atrium does the smoke rise into the atrium area?

 

 

Sorry can't help you with this. I am a smoker so I'm not the right person to ask this question.

 

Geri

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Thanks for the review. I just booked a March cruise, so I'll look up the longer ones you did. Glad to hear you enjoy the ship.

 

 

My first breakaway cruise was in March. I would suggest getting the spa pass for that time of year if you like being in a pool and relaxing. Lose warm days with that time of year.

 

Geri

[whenisthemidnightbuffet?]

Thanks for your review and all of the current updates. Sorry the weather didn't cooperate in Bermuda this time. Welcome Home.

[hansolosmom]

My first breakaway cruise was in March. I would suggest getting the spa pass for that time of year if you like being in a pool and relaxing. Lose warm days with that time of year.

 

Geri

 

Thanks for the tip. I love those heated loungers

[Rileyz]

Sandblasted indeed in Bermuda! I have never been in so much pain on a beach. Fourth time there and have never experienced winds like that. Re: food, I walked out of the buffet with food and had no issues. We stayed in the haven and it was great. However, we had cabins 16106, 16108, 16110, and 16104 and you can hear lots of noise late at night and starting around 5 am. Chairs, footsteps, it lasted a while each day. The enjoyment of the haven overshadowed that annoyance but I might try other cabins next time.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Sandblasted indeed in Bermuda! I have never been in so much pain on a beach. Fourth time there and have never experienced winds like that. Re: food, I walked out of the buffet with food and had no issues. We stayed in the haven and it was great. However, we had cabins 16106, 16108, 16110, and 16104 and you can hear lots of noise late at night and starting around 5 am. Chairs, footsteps, it lasted a while each day. The enjoyment of the haven overshadowed that annoyance but I might try other cabins next time.

 

 

How about walking back on the ship? I'm a big girl and didn't know if I would make it with that wind. It was crazy lol

 

Geri

[punkincc]

Glad the cruise was good. It's a shame about the wind in Bermuda. I just have a couple questions.

 

As far as the specialty restaurants where you ate, were there several empty tables, or was in fact the entire restaurant full? Just asking, because we have always had good luck just walking up and getting in and I have seen several report the places seem half empty although it was difficult to get a reservation. I would think they would not book to 100% capacity.

 

Did you order room service at all or talk to anyone who did? Still waiting for confirmation of whether or not the delivery fee is waived if you order a drink with your order.

[Dorhead1230]

It was on the 2nd day I tried to make all my reservations. Not a good move on my behalf.

 

 

 

Geri

 

 

Thanks! That's still pretty early for it to be 100% sold out for the week. I am going to plan on checking out iConcierge when we're waiting to board in the Manhattan terminal (assuming we can pick up the ship's WiFi already at that point) to see the MDR menus for the week and then book any specialties based on that. I am sure there will be a lot of pre-cruise bookings, but I don't want to book before the cruise so I'll hope for the best with doing it right at the beginning!

[Rileyz]

Even haven guests were having a hard time getting reservations if that tells you anything. The specialties seemed full the two times I dined in them.

[mking8288]

We ate in LeBistro last year and again this year (twice) with reservations done on the ship, and, both times - saw empty (small) tables for 2's and 4's that sat vacant for 60 to 90+ minutes while we dine there, and, given the pace of service & claims of "backup" in the (their own mini) gallery - and no extra wait team available (including the bar runner/wine steward) - there is simply no way to fill the restaurant & serve everyone seated in a reasonable manner (and, it was really before UDP's fully kicked in)

 

As for using iConcierge to book, we checked in early at the pier's Haven area as Platinum and found the BA's WiFi intranet signal, but it was not solid enough to activate & do anything. Once boarded & seated in the MDR for lunch, I quickly began the specialty restaurant booking routines while waiting for the starters, and managed to find openings and booked them - there're far fewer choices by the morning of day 2, mostly 9:30 PM or 9:45 PM, etc. with a few 5:30 PM. Ours were 5:45 PM and 7:30 PM midweek.

 

For anyone sailing on the BA/GA, download this free APP ahead of saling, install it first and activate once on the ship, then take advantage of the easy access to book - however, there is no reminers and details don't appear as a banner for reminder purposes, need to call & have them check-it to reconfirm after booking.

 

For a hot breakfast, OSH is the place to go in the morning - just don't expect it to be rushed - that big power (country) breakfast is loaded with carbo & calories for sure

[Dorhead1230]

We ate in LeBistro last year and again this year (twice) with reservations done on the ship, and, both times - saw empty (small) tables for 2's and 4's that sat vacant for 60 to 90+ minutes while we dine there, and, given the pace of service & claims of "backup" in the (their own mini) gallery - and no extra wait team available (including the bar runner/wine steward) - there is simply no way to fill the restaurant & serve everyone seated in a reasonable manner (and, it was really before UDP's fully kicked in)

 

 

 

As for using iConcierge to book, we checked in early at the pier's Haven area as Platinum and found the BA's WiFi intranet signal, but it was not solid enough to activate & do anything. Once boarded & seated in the MDR for lunch, I quickly began the specialty restaurant booking routines while waiting for the starters, and managed to find openings and booked them - there're far fewer choices by the morning of day 2, mostly 9:30 PM or 9:45 PM, etc. with a few 5:30 PM. Ours were 5:45 PM and 7:30 PM midweek.

 

 

 

Thanks! That was my other possible plan. We are casino guests, so we will be among the first on the ship, and we always sit down for a MDR lunch upon embarkation only. So, I figured if I couldn't get iConcierge working in the terminal, I would take care of it while we are sitting down for lunch.