Just Back from our AMAZING Breakaway Cruise Aug.23-30!

[landv]

This was our first time cruising with Norwegian and we were very impressed with the Breakaway. Before we cruised, I had many questions and I found the answers and advice on this forum to be very helpful, so I thought I would add my experiences. It is a bit wordy, but I hope it is helpful!

First of all, the ship is immaculate even in the very public areas. The entire crew was very friendly and helpful. The food was delicious and plentiful. The shows were top notch!

 

Freestyle Cruising: My advice is to make reservations and pre-book everything you can before your cruise. You will have the opportunity to make reservations even for the complimentary restaurants on MY ncl. Do it! We saw people having a 30 minute wait sometimes because they did not make reservations before the cruise. If you wait to reserve until on the ship, you will be told the only available slots are at 5:30 or 9PM. By making reservations online, we were able to choose our time, usually at 6:30 or 7:30. Pre-book your complimentary shows, like Burn The Floor, Rock of Ages and Second City Comedy Shows. Definitely book Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy ahead of time. Our reservation for the Cirque show was moved to another night once onboard, but they re-scheduled it for us.

 

 

Our Cabin: We stayed in cabin #12908, which is an aft balcony. The cabin itself is big, but the balcony adds about half again to the living space. The balcony had two lounge chairs, two regular chairs and a small table. The view is spectacular! It is very private, and it does has an overhang so both sun and shade can be enjoyed. We found the bed to be quite comfy with four big pillows. There was ample storage space in the closets, with shelves tucked away along the wall. The refrigerator is stocked with soda, juice, and water when you arrive, but you can ask your steward to empty it for you otherwise you will pay for what you drink. The bathroom is also big with shelves and hooks for storage. The shower has a glass door with places to store your showering necessities along the wall. Shampoo and shower gel are provided, but bring your own conditioner. We loved this cabin, but I do have to advise that you can hear the music from the SpiceH20 dance parties into the wee hours of the morning, so if this may bother you, you may want to bring earplugs.

 

The Ultimate Beverage Package: If you like to have a few drinks while lounging poolside and then a few more with dinner and at the casino, then definitely choose the Ultimate Beverage Package! Most mixed drinks were @$9.00 each. Every day there were drink specials as well.

We chose the UBP as our promo when we booked in February and the gratuities were included. Some people have said their gratuities were not included, but I think it is based on when they booked. I called NCL for clarification before we left. We never had to wait at any of the bars. We especially liked sitting at the tables on The Waterfront, Deck 8.

 

Dining: We ate in the complementary restaurants. Each restaurant had the same menu, but we liked the atmosphere at The Manhattan Room the best. Taste was our second favorite, and Savor was our least favorite. The Garden Cafe has a huge assortment of everything you can imagine, and we sometimes ate lunch there. Definitely try a burger at The Uptown Grill! They have great design your own salads too.

 

Food Allergies: I have to say I was very, very impressed with the way the crew deals with specific dietary needs.

I have a nut allergy. Before I cruised, I notified NCL and they made note of my allergy. At my first meal, and every meal after, I told my server about my nut allergy. They noted my cabin number and allowed me to pre-order my meals in advance, so the food could be prepared in a nut free environment or so they could make adjustments with ingredients. It is trickier if you eat at the buffet because cross contamination is out of the cruise lines control, but even there you can request information about ingredients if you are not sure.

 

The Thermal Spa: Ok, we debated on this one because it was an additional $179.00 per person for the whole cruise if you book before the cruise ($199 onboard). It.Was.So.Worth.It!!!! Only 120 passes are sold so it is rarely crowded.

On the first day and the sail away day from Bermuda we had to wait for a few minutes for the thermal lounge chairs but that was it. Inside there is a thermal pool, with pulsing jets along the side of the pool. To make the jets work, find and press the little white buttons along the deck of the pool. We didn't know this until about the third time we were in the pool!! While it is not a swimming pool, it is so relaxing to just be in the warm bubbling water. The facility also has a steam room, a sauna, a solarium and a salt therapy room along with a rainshower room and an aromatherapy shower. Towels and robes are provided, as well as cold water and hot tea. The women's locker room has showers, lotion and hair dryers. It was a wonderful way to end a long day of sitting in the sun, drinking, playing bingo, gambling, eating, betting on artwork, going on excursions...you get the picture!! Lovely, and a highlight of the cruise.

 

Adult Only Areas: There were a lot of kids on this cruise. Most times it was fine if their parents were involved in parenting, but there were many who were running around unattended. As the cruise went on, most children were involved with the Splash Academy. But, if you need a quiet spot, go to Spice H20. There are plenty of lounge chairs, very crowded, but adults only. There is a very nice water/shade feature for cooling down, but no pool. The bar was great though!

 

In Port Days: There are specials at the spa with reduced prices. Plenty to do on board if you don't go ashore. The slides and rope course and rock climbing wall are closed until later in the day.

 

The Casino: There is a both a smoking and a non-smoking area. The casinos are open all day while at sea and it opens at 9PM when in Bermuda. My Lucky slot machines were Zombie Attack and Wild Tornado! These are located in the smoking section along the wall near the dealers tables. We won enough money on these two machines to be able to play for several nights. Fun, but smokey.

 

The Excursions: I was trying to do so much research regarding bus and ferry details that I was getting stressed pre-cruise. Don't Worry. Go to Shore Excursions and ask for the bus/ferry time and rate schedule. They will also give you a little booklet with a map and other information about Bermuda. Everything is very close to the end of the pier. Taxis, shuttles,excursions. It is not complicated.

 

While in Bermuda we chose the SNUBA experience and the HorseShoe Bay Beach Transfer. There SNUBA experience takes place in Snorkel Park, just a 10 minute walk from the pier. Snorkel Park rents lounge chairs for $10 and beach chairs for $5. Umbrellas are available as well. This is a small beach, but it was not too crowded and very pleasant for snorkeling or playing in the water.

 

We decided to take the transfer to HorseShoe Bay Beach through the ship. The excursion was leaving at 10:30 on Friday and not returning until 2:30, so we wanted to play it safe. You can take your own transportation for a few dollars less, but this shuttle delivers you right to the beach. If you take the public bus, you have to walk down and then back up a hill to the beach. Shuttles are available to bring you up and down for $2.00 each way. This beach is gorgeous, with pink sand and turquoise water. Three hours was plenty under the Caribbean sunshine! Chairs and umbrellas are available for rent for $11.00 plus deposit each. The bathrooms were surprisingly clean for a public beach. Showers are available. As others have said, walk to the left for more privacy.

 

Coconut Rockets Fly Boarding: This is not a NCL excursion, but it happens right outside along the pier. Watch as people are strapped into boots and then skyrocketed out of the water! It is pricy, at $170.00 per half hour, but soooo amazing and worth it!!! Calin is one of the young men who is on the jet ski next to you and he will guide you into a fabulous once in a life time experience. Highly recommended!

 

DON'T MISS THE BOAT (literally!)

The most important tip I can give you is:

BE ON TIME OR BETTER YET BE EARLY FOR EVERYTHING!!

You will get the best seats and you won't have to wait in line.

This is especially important on Friday when you leave Bermuda! Four people on my trip missed the boat! It will not wait for you! These four people were literally on the pier at the door of the little building and the ship pulled away leaving them behind!! Once those gang planks go up you are out of luck. We saw many "runners" on the pier, and a few taxis speeding up the pier to deliver late passengers. The ship leaves at 3PM and they mean it! I later heard these folks were able to have a tug catch up to the ship at the tune of $1000 per person.

 

Overall, it was an amazing trip! Of course, there were a few glitches, but my advice is bring it to the attention of the staff and move on to enjoy your vacation.

We had a slight problem with an excursion and we were refunded 30%. NCL wants your business and they want you to be pleased, so bring it to their attention and they will compensate.

 

We can't wait for our next NCL cruise! Hope these tips and observations help with your own planning! I have all the dallies, if you need more info. just ask! Happy cruising!

Edited August 30, 2015 by landv

[paulapatti4]

Thank you for the review. I'm on the 10/4 cruise and appreciate it when folks take the time to post a review-it helps me plan especially with shore excursions.

[sunbird21]

Thanks for the review!! You covered a lot of the topics I wondered about.

 

Question re: flyboarding...did you or someone in your party do it? I have been eyeing that....how long were you in the air? Did you feel secure?

 

Also, did they seem to be honoring the check in times at the pier?

 

Thanks,

Stacey

[worktocruise610]

This was our first time cruising with Norwegian and we were very impressed with the Breakaway. Before we cruised, I had many questions and I found the answers and advice on this forum to be very helpful, so I thought I would add my experiences. It is a bit wordy, but I hope it is helpful!

First of all, the ship is immaculate even in the very public areas. The entire crew was very friendly and helpful. The food was delicious and plentiful. The shows were top notch!

 

Freestyle Cruising: My advice is to make reservations and pre-book everything you can before your cruise. You will have the opportunity to make reservations even for the complimentary restaurants on MY ncl. Do it! We saw people having a 30 minute wait sometimes because they did not make reservations before the cruise. If you wait to reserve until on the ship, you will be told the only available slots are at 5:30 or 9PM. By making reservations online, we were able to choose our time, usually at 6:30 or 7:30. Pre-book your complimentary shows, like Burn The Floor, Rock of Ages and Second City Comedy Shows. Definitely book Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy ahead of time. Our reservation for the Cirque show was moved to another night once onboard, but they re-scheduled it for us.

 

 

Our Cabin: We stayed in cabin #12908, which is an aft balcony. The cabin itself is big, but the balcony adds about half again to the living space. The balcony had two lounge chairs, two regular chairs and a small table. The view is spectacular! It is very private, and it does has an overhang so both sun and shade can be enjoyed. We found the bed to be quite comfy with four big pillows. There was ample storage space in the closets, with shelves tucked away along the wall. The refrigerator is stocked with soda, juice, and water when you arrive, but you can ask your steward to empty it for you otherwise you will pay for what you drink. The bathroom is also big with shelves and hooks for storage. The shower has a glass door with places to store your showering necessities along the wall. Shampoo and shower gel are provided, but bring your own conditioner. We loved this cabin, but I do have to advise that you can hear the music from the SpiceH20 dance parties into the wee hours of the morning, so if this may bother you, you may want to bring earplugs.

 

The Ultimate Beverage Package: If you like to have a few drinks while lounging poolside and then a few more with dinner and at the casino, then definitely choose the Ultimate Beverage Package! Most mixed drinks were @$9.00 each. Every day there were drink specials as well.

We chose the UBP as our promo when we booked in February and the gratuities were included. Some people have said their gratuities were not included, but I think it is based on when they booked. I called NCL for clarification before we left. We never had to wait at any of the bars. We especially liked sitting at the tables on The Waterfront, Deck 8.

 

Dining: We ate in the complementary restaurants. Each restaurant had the same menu, but we liked the atmosphere at The Manhattan Room the best. Taste was our second favorite, and Savor was our least favorite. The Garden Cafe has a huge assortment of everything you can imagine, and we sometimes ate lunch there. Definitely try a burger at The Uptown Grill! They have great design your own salads too.

 

Food Allergies: I have to say I was very, very impressed with the way the crew deals with specific dietary needs.

I have a nut allergy. Before I cruised, I notified NCL and they made note of my allergy. At my first meal, and every meal after, I told my server about my nut allergy. They noted my cabin number and allowed me to pre-order my meals in advance, so the food could be prepared in a nut free environment or so they could make adjustments with ingredients. It is trickier if you eat at the buffet because cross contamination is out of the cruise lines control, but even there you can request information about ingredients if you are not sure.

 

The Thermal Spa: Ok, we debated on this one because it was an additional $179.00 per person for the whole cruise if you book before the cruise ($199 onboard). It.Was.So.Worth.It!!!! Only 120 passes are sold so it is rarely crowded.

On the first day and the sail away day from Bermuda we had to wait for a few minutes for the thermal lounge chairs but that was it. Inside there is a thermal pool, with pulsing jets along the side of the pool. To make the jets work, find and press the little white buttons along the deck of the pool. We didn't know this until about the third time we were in the pool!! While it is not a swimming pool, it is so relaxing to just be in the warm bubbling water. The facility also has a steam room, a sauna, a solarium and a salt therapy room along with a rainshower room and an aromatherapy shower. Towels and robes are provided, as well as cold water and hot tea. The women's locker room has showers, lotion and hair dryers. It was a wonderful way to end a long day of sitting in the sun, drinking, playing bingo, gambling, eating, betting on artwork, going on excursions...you get the picture!! Lovely, and a highlight of the cruise.

 

Adult Only Areas: There were a lot of kids on this cruise. Most times it was fine if their parents were involved in parenting, but there were many who were running around unattended. As the cruise went on, most children were involved with the Splash Academy. But, if you need a quiet spot, go to Spice H20. There are plenty of lounge chairs, very crowded, but adults only. There is a very nice water/shade feature for cooling down, but no pool. The bar was great though!

 

In Port Days: There are specials at the spa with reduced prices. Plenty to do on board if you don't go ashore. The slides and rope course and rock climbing wall are closed until later in the day.

 

The Casino: There is a both a smoking and a non-smoking area. The casinos are open all day while at sea and it opens at 9PM when in Bermuda. My Lucky slot machines were Zombie Attack and Wild Tornado! These are located in the smoking section along the wall near the dealers tables. We won enough money on these two machines to be able to play for several nights. Fun, but smokey.

 

The Excursions: I was trying to do so much research regarding bus and ferry details that I was getting stressed pre-cruise. Don't Worry. Go to Shore Excursions and ask for the bus/ferry time and rate schedule. They will also give you a little booklet with a map and other information about Bermuda. Everything is very close to the end of the pier. Taxis, shuttles,excursions. It is not complicated.

 

While in Bermuda we chose the SNUBA experience and the HorseShoe Bay Beach Transfer. There SNUBA experience takes place in Snorkel Park, just a 10 minute walk from the pier. Snorkel Park rents lounge chairs for $10 and beach chairs for $5. Umbrellas are available as well. This is a small beach, but it was not too crowded and very pleasant for snorkeling or playing in the water.

 

We decided to take the transfer to HorseShoe Bay Beach through the ship. The excursion was leaving at 10:30 on Friday and not returning until 2:30, so we wanted to play it safe. You can take your own transportation for a few dollars less, but this shuttle delivers you right to the beach. If you take the public bus, you have to walk down and then back up a hill to the beach. Shuttles are available to bring you up and down for $2.00 each way. This beach is gorgeous, with pink sand and turquoise water. Three hours was plenty under the Caribbean sunshine! Chairs and umbrellas are available for rent for $11.00 plus deposit each. The bathrooms were surprisingly clean for a public beach. Showers are available. As others have said, walk to the left for more privacy.

 

Coconut Rockets Fly Boarding: This is not a NCL excursion, but it happens right outside along the pier. Watch as people are strapped into boots and then skyrocketed out of the water! It is pricy, at $170.00 per half hour, but soooo amazing and worth it!!! Calin is one of the young men who is on the jet ski next to you and he will guide you into a fabulous once in a life time experience. Highly recommended!

 

DON'T MISS THE BOAT (literally!)

The most important tip I can give you is:

BE ON TIME OR BETTER YET BE EARLY FOR EVERYTHING!!

You will get the best seats and you won't have to wait in line.

This is especially important on Friday when you leave Bermuda! Four people on my trip missed the boat! It will not wait for you! These four people were literally on the pier at the door of the little building and the ship pulled away leaving them behind!! Once those gang planks go up you are out of luck. We saw many "runners" on the pier, and a few taxis speeding up the pier to deliver late passengers. The ship leaves at 3PM and they mean it! I later heard these folks were able to have a tug catch up to the ship at the tune of $1000 per person.

 

Overall, it was an amazing trip! Of course, there were a few glitches, but my advice is bring it to the attention of the staff and move on to enjoy your vacation.

We had a slight problem with an excursion and we were refunded 30%. NCL wants your business and they want you to be pleased, so bring it to their attention and they will compensate.

 

We can't wait for our next NCL cruise! Hope these tips and observations help with your own planning! I have all the dallies, if you need more info. just ask! Happy cruising!

Thanks for the review. Am going in November & love to hear stories from people who loved it.