Just off Breakaway.....

[bsb4273]

I just disembarked Breakaway this morning. Feel free to ask any questions...

[Suze10860]

Hi there. We're sailing on her on April 3. Any overall impressions of crowds and service on your cruise? Generally a positive experience?

 

I was on the Jewel about 4 years ago, and definitely enjoyed myself. I see that you too sailed the Jewel. Did you like the Breakaway more, less or the same?

 

Thanks for your offer to answer questions!

[murph1031]

We are sailing in Nov. First time on NCL, coming from Carnival. Getting on and off the boat, how was it? Can we make a noon flight form Miami after the cruise?

Does NCL offer a service like "Faster to the fun" that Carnival sells?

[bsb4273]

Hi there. We're sailing on her on April 3. Any overall impressions of crowds and service on your cruise? Generally a positive experience?

 

I was on the Jewel about 4 years ago, and definitely enjoyed myself. I see that you too sailed the Jewel. Did you like the Breakaway more, less or the same?

 

Thanks for your offer to answer questions!

 

This was my second time on Breakaway and I enjoyed both cruises. The ship is large and there are several places to go without being overcrowded. The only exception is the pool area. In my opinion, the pool area is too small for a ship that size. We had great services on both cruises. I was underwhelmed with the the cruise director and his staff on this particular cruise. Overall, the cruise was a positive experience. I enjoyed both the Jewel and the Breakaway.

[Suze10860]

This was my second time on Breakaway and I enjoyed both cruises. The ship is large and there are several places to go without being overcrowded. The only exception is the pool area. In my opinion, the pool area is too small for a ship that size. We had great services on both cruises. I was underwhelmed with the the cruise director and his staff on this particular cruise. Overall, the cruise was a positive experience. I enjoyed both the Jewel and the Breakaway.

 

Very happy to read your positive comments. I'm in a mini with a large balcony, so that will be my "private sunbathing deck" when necessary. Great to hear that you didn't really feel overcrowded in general.

 

Thanks and I'm glad you had a positive experience.

[bsb4273]

We are sailing in Nov. First time on NCL, coming from Carnival. Getting on and off the boat, how was it? Can we make a noon flight form Miami after the cruise?

Does NCL offer a service like "Faster to the fun" that Carnival sells?

 

It is easy to get on and off the ship. They have things down to a science. I do the self assist walk off where you carry your own bags off the ship. I left the ship at 7:40 this morning and walked right through customs and out to the street. I was back home in PA by 9:45.

[kbailey1734]

We will be boarding Breakaway next week. Who was the Cruise Director? How was the weather? How smooth or not smooth were the sea conditions? I have heard of long lines, how was the tendering ashore process at Great Stirrup Cay?

[Keith1010]

how was the overall cruise?

 

Keith

[njhorseman]

We are sailing in Nov. First time on NCL, coming from Carnival. Getting on and off the boat, how was it? Can we make a noon flight form Miami after the cruise?

Does NCL offer a service like "Faster to the fun" that Carnival sells?

 

The OP was on the Breakaway sailing from NY. You're on the Getaway sailing from Miami. You should ask your question about making a noon flight on a different thread either here or on the Florida Departures board.

 

NCL doesn't sell anything similar to Carnival's "Faster to the Fun".

[ann41]

Glad you had a great time! I would like to know if there were many kids on board? My family will being on the breakaway in May and was curious about how many children, even tho we plan to be at the aft of the ship where the adults are! :D

Oh how was the dress code for the specialty restaurants? and the buffet/ main dining rooms ?

 

Any other info or tips that you think might help would be greatly appreciated...

[JerseyMouseCruises]

Where were the "less crowded areas" on a sea day?

[denatravels]

Glad you had a great time! I would like to know if there were many kids on board? My family will being on the breakaway in May and was curious about how many children, even tho we plan to be at the aft of the ship where the adults are! :D

Oh how was the dress code for the specialty restaurants? and the buffet/ main dining rooms ?

 

Any other info or tips that you think might help would be greatly appreciated...

 

 

Dress code on NCL is very casual. School will still be in session, so the ship should not be overrun by kids.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[bsb4273]

We will be boarding Breakaway next week. Who was the Cruise Director? How was the weather? How smooth or not smooth were the sea conditions? I have heard of long lines, how was the tendering ashore process at Great Stirrup Cay?

 

We had a wonderful cruise. The weather was good and we had smooth sailing. The waves were minimal. Sail away was chilly and it was a little cold on Monday morning and Saturday. The temps were in the 70's and approaching 80 in the Bahamas. Friday was gorgeous and a great pool day as we were off the coast of Florida most of the day. Be sure to book a tender group through the NCL concierge app. they use 4 tenders and each one holds several hundred passengers. GSC was beautiful. Dan was the cruise director and I was disappointed win him and e cruise director staff. Dan was not out and about much and I hardly ever saw him talking with passengers. The cruise director and assistant cruise director, Luz, we're not energetic.

[bsb4273]

Glad you had a great time! I would like to know if there were many kids on board? My family will being on the breakaway in May and was curious about how many children, even tho we plan to be at the aft of the ship where the adults are! :D

Oh how was the dress code for the specialty restaurants? and the buffet/ main dining rooms ?

 

Any other info or tips that you think might help would be greatly appreciated...

 

There were some kids on the cruise along with a number of college students for spring break. However, the ship is large and you never feel crowded. It seemed like many of the kids were involved in kids activities with Splash Academy. The dress code is relaxed and casual. They ask for no shorts in the dining room and specialty restaurant. However, we saw people with shorts each night. I wore khakis and either a polo or a dress shirt each night, but you can get away with a more casual look.

[sayla27]

Did you get a Vibe Pass? How was Spice H20.? Looking for a somewhat quieter location when my own kids are in the Splash Academy.

[KirkNC]

Welcome home, hope you had a great cruise.

[kbailey1734]

How was the variety of food options in the buffet? When we sailed on Breakaway for a CTN and the Getaway to the Caribbean last year, we felt the buffet food was pretty much the same every day. Do they change the food variety more nowadays?

[bsb4273]

How was the variety of food options in the buffet? When we sailed on Breakaway for a CTN and the Getaway to the Caribbean last year, we felt the buffet food was pretty much the same every day. Do they change the food variety more nowadays?

 

There was touch variety of offerings in the buffet for breakfast and lunch. We ate in the MDR one morning for breakfast and we often ate at Uptown Grill for lunch. They have great burgers and salads at Uptown Grill. I would recommend Spice H2O during the day as it is much quieter and more peaceful than the main pool area.

[sayla27]

Did they offer day passes for the spa? If so, how much did it cost?

[ann41]

Thank you for all the information! With Spice H20 do you need to get there early to get a chair ? I know at the main pool people have wrote that you need to be there early to grab a chair so I was just wondering about that area.

 

Any specialty resturants ? If so which ones did you like the best?

 

 

Thanks

Ann

[Sizzlechest]

Did they have many ethic-themed lunches at Modernos? German, Indian, etc?

[jessyka182]

Hi there. We're sailing on her on April 3. Any overall impressions of crowds and service on your cruise? Generally a positive experience?

 

 

 

I was on the Jewel about 4 years ago, and definitely enjoyed myself. I see that you too sailed the Jewel. Did you like the Breakaway more, less or the same?

 

 

 

Thanks for your offer to answer questions!

 

 

I am also cruising the breakaway on April 3rd and I have sailed the jewel in the past. I absolutely love the breakaway. The food from all of the restaurants is amazing. (Free and Specialty). The staff has always been nothing but attentive. Our room steward was always super quick with making our room up and even made us 4 towel dogs last vacation when he found out that I was missing my 4 pups at home.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[cruiservictor]

I know you arrived back in NY several hours early due to a medical emergency. Hope that person is doing OK.

 

I am thinking they had to close the shops and casino early, correct? What time did they shut them down?

[lenquixote66]

I have been on the Gem twice and have had problems with the bathroom as I am 6'5 and had top bend a lot. Is there space between the toilet and the walls ?How was the shower ?

[93gt408w]

Not to jack a thread. I also disembarked this same cruise. They did close the casino at midnight due to our early arrival, i also hope the person is ok as well. We also left NY late due to someone having to come off the ship before we sailed(ambulance took them right off the pier). The captain was great in letting us know about the emergencies. I cruised this same ship last year the same time and this time it seemed so much less crowded. This was my favorite cruise and i have been on a few. My wife and i were in boarding group 5 and got vibe passes, the most people we counted in there at one time was 16(absolutley perfect). We met a lot of great people this cruise and are currently booking 2 more ncl cruises for this fall and next spring. I agree with cruise director(dan-dan) being mediocre, luz was the assistant and better. Jefferson was part of entertainment staff......he was GREAT! He even selected my wife to sing a duet with another female singer we met on board........this happened at the end of the karaoke contest in the atrium........if anyone has a video of this please contact me. Overall it was both of our favorite cruise.

Ps. The tenders were a little rough at gsc and a few people fell ill due to the choppy water. Hope this helps!