Breakaway: NYC to Bahamas November 2015. advice please?

[Cloudyrain]

Hello!

 

I just wondered if any of you experienced Bahamas/Breakaway/New York cruisers could help with my questions, or point me in the right direction :)

 

We are considering going on the Breakaway in November this year from New York to the Bahamas (in a spa balcony if I can squeeze and extra few pounds out of Mr C!). I understand that it's the tail end of hurricane season and therefore itinerary could be subject to change, and i also expect NYC and the first/last day of the cruise to be less than warm :)

 

What I'm stuck with is:

- If we went on a Thanksgiving cruise would it be full of children? We like lively and aren't children hating, but I don't want to be on a floating crèche :D

- if itinerary does change do they just add extra sea days, or cruise to alternative ports? I understand that this could be different at different times: we have cruised 5 times and on 3 times we have had itinerary changes so think I'm cursed with them :)

- would it be sunny enough to walk around in shorts and vests in the Bahamas/Port Canaveral?

- does anyone know of any detailed reviews of this cruise on here? I know there are the normal reviews on the main review section, but I was thinking of the detailed long ones that people do on here. I have loads saved in my favourites for the Epic and Spirit, but I can't find any for BA.

 

Sorry for asking what might seem silly questions, but I have searched on here and can't find the answers. Plus flying across the pond is a massive thing for me to do and im probably feeling more anxious about it than i would if we were just popping over to the med.

 

Thank you!

[Ozzie's Mom]

Those aren't silly questions.

 

- If we went on a Thanksgiving cruise would it be full of children? We like lively and aren't children hating, but I don't want to be on a floating crèche. You're going to have more children during holidays and school breaks than you will at other times. We typically cruise February and September for that very reason -- and we're careful not to book during Spring Break.

- if itinerary does change do they just add extra sea days, or cruise to alternative ports? I understand that this could be different at different times: we have cruised 5 times and on 3 times we have had itinerary changes so think I'm cursed with them. Wow. Three out of five. The captain wants to maintain the published itinerary and he makes decisions about changing as they are warranted. If he can skirt the storm and still get you to there, he will.

- would it be sunny enough to walk around in shorts and vests in the Bahamas/Port Canaveral? It will be warm enough in the Bahamas, yes. https://weatherspark.com/averages/32...nd-The-Bahamas Florida, probably. https://weatherspark.com/averages/31...-United-States Whether the sun shines on any given day is another thing.

- does anyone know of any detailed reviews of this cruise on here? I know there are the normal reviews on the main review section, but I was thinking of the detailed long ones that people do on here. I have loads saved in my favourites for the Epic and Spirit, but I can't find any for BA. Reviews are here http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberre...hip&ShipID=642 or your can use the search feature to find specifics. I prefer to scroll and read. :D:D:D

[Cloudyrain]

Thank you :)

 

Re: reviews - I know where those are, and I have used the search function, but I was thinking of the ones with the pictures and all the details that are on the forum: Like those that Mitsgurly and CruiserBruiser have done. In fact I wonder if they have done BA reviews. May have answered my own question there, I will go and stalk a few people :D

 

 

 

Sorry, another question about UBP (I haven't been on the forum for a few months because I didn't think we would get another cruise for a while and I was trying to stop thinking about cruising - turns out I'm addicted, though I could be addicted to worse things!). I have read a few comments that people have said about paying grats on UBP now. I have just checked the UK terms and conditions and it says that 18% gratuity is included in the package, so am I safe to assume this grats change is affecting the US passangers and that we are escaping (for now!)

 

Thank you! :D

[mjkacmom]

The first week of November will most likely have as many kids as Thanksgiving week (and they will all be fro New Jersey).

[hansolosmom]

Thanksgiving won't have that many kids. It might be like a summer cruise, but nothing like Spring break.

 

Normal weather in NYC that time of year is 40-50F so long pants and a jumper would be good to have. Down south you'll be fine with shorts.

 

I hate to say it but if you would have to be rerouted I'm not sure where you'd end up. A couple years ago the ship ended up doing the Canadian ports because the ship couldn't go south due to where the hurricane was. (It could have been a Royal ship I'm thinking about) really from NYC there are 3 basic itineraries: the one you're doing, Bermuda and Canada. Usually the last of the Bermuda cruises are in Oct. I'm not sure why but if. The hurricane were in the Atlantic you may not be able to go there either.

 

Your fine with the beverage package if you had to pay the gratuities you would have already done so when you booked.

 

I've seen a couple Breakaway reviews but I think they're mostly the Bermuda run in the summertime not during the fall.

[conandrob240]

We were on BA 2nd week of November last year and will be going the same cruise Thanksgiving week this year. Yes, there will be a lot of kids that week because most schools have 2-3 days off.

 

It is very rare to see a hurricane in November especially the end so I probably wouldn't give that much thought.

 

By the first sea day when you wake up, if it's sunny it will be moderately warm. Probably not pool weather but maybe 60 degrees. To get an idea, look at the weather for Virginia or North Carolina. In general, it's still warm in FL that time of year. 70s are typical during the day. Our day was in the 80s and some of us went into the water at Cocoa beach. The Bahamas absolutely will be nice and warm, typically around 80 degrees.

 

I don't think I did a full review but happy to answer questions.

 

We had a prwtty cold sail away and last day-30s and 40s but the week after ours saw some temps in the 60s in NYC. You never know what November can bring

Edited August 21, 2015 by conandrob240

[bbryan5]

ANYTIME school isn't in session (summer vacation, spring break, parent/teacher conferences, winter recess, ect, ect...) there will be a larger number of kids on board. Parents try to limit the number of days their kids miss school, so naturally they book vacations when the kids are home. Exactly how many kids will be on board, of if they will be a great annoyance, is anyones guess :D:D

[mking8288]

Our friends got a decent discount and will be on the Breakaway this Thanksgiving, sailing under the CAS program (Casinos at Sea) - they are expecting school-aged children, as some NY area parents will be taking them along - we won't be joining them, already done the BA twice & got other plans.

 

Done the NY-Caribbean run on the GEM in 2012 first week in November, right after Hurricane Sandy & embarkation day, blinding wind/rain & wet snow sailing out of NY harbor with a rare Noreaster - didn't divert or sail around the big storm as the Captain steer the ship into the storm making a fast & hi-speed run, and then out of & headed south ... gale force cross-wind 50 knots across the ship's bow, raging 20' to 30' sea, sometimes 40' with strong waves - going 24.5 to 25 knots with the tail wind, took us 15 to 18 hours to get out of harm's way - our submarine porthole window view was deck 4 Fwd, port side and relatively smooth under the conditions - never felt unsafe with Captain's navigational skills and we're hugging close to shore/land (usually 50 to 100 miles further out on those shipping channel) Typically, ship sail further out into the Atlantic heading for San Juan, PR as the 1st. port stop.

 

Long story short, very unlikely to run the risk for a major hurricane and even less odds for ship diverting.

 

Done this "milky" run routing out of NY a few times - in September, mid-February, early March & late March, as well as late April/May - on the Dawn, Jewel, Gem and the Breakaway - typically (true for November) weather will be warm enough for shorts & to be outdoors by Day 2's afternoon - returning, the last full Sea Day is usually chilly. Cape Canaveral is usually warm & nice enough, 60's and 70's - maybe reaching 80's - good enough for shorts & sandals ... even warmer for Nassau, in the low/mid 80's and very comfortable & not humid.

 

Pulled the link for a # of BA's Florida-Nassau reviews earlier: (please use these as a guide & not definitive on anything, as many changes going on with NCL - in case you didn't noticed all the hot button issues here on CC)

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2173062&highlight=breakaway+review (general tips)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2172366&highlight=breakaway+review

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2090162&highlight=breakaway+review

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2197389&highlight=breakaway+review

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2189381&highlight=breakaway+review (pix & review by yours truly :D )

 

There are pix under my SIGnature for BA's 2014 review, 2012 on the GEM headed for the Caribbeans and 2011 on the Jewel on the Bahamas/Florida route. ;) Happy reading.

Edited August 21, 2015 by mking8288

[HarpHarp]

We did this cruise the week before Thanksgiving in 2013. I'd suggest you avoid Thanksgiving week if you can.

 

As for the weather, it was great, summer clothes wearing weather after the first day. BUT on our first trip to the Bahamas in November, it was cool, below 70F & rainy the whole time.

 

We got back to NYC in very cold weather & the customs folks were not happy because the heat in the customs area hadn't been turned on early enough. Poor folks were freezing.

[Cloudyrain]

Thank you very much everyone, that's really helpful :)

 

I didn't realise that children would be off school on Thanksgiving - I just thought it was one day off work/school like a bank holiday. So do all schools have the whole week off as standard? I just googled it and found a school holiday timetable for an American school being closed Monday 23 to Friday 27: is this a national thing? Maybe if it is we might be better the week before :)

[gymbomb]

Thank you very much everyone, that's really helpful :)

 

 

 

I didn't realise that children would be off school on Thanksgiving - I just thought it was one day off work/school like a bank holiday. So do all schools have the whole week off as standard? I just googled it and found a school holiday timetable for an American school being closed Monday 23 to Friday 27: is this a national thing? Maybe if it is we might be better the week before :)

 

 

It varies a lot between schools. Almost all will have Thursday and Friday off some will also have Wednesday, and some will have the whole week. But since kids already have 2-3 days off it is not unusual for parents to pull them for the rest of the week if they want to travel.

 

 

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