Just booked the breakaway and I'm new to ncl

[Koolaid33]

I just booked a cruise to Bermuda for this summer but I know nothing about ncl. I have sailed carnival and royal but never ncl. I will be on the breakaway out of nyc. What all Is the import stuff that I need to know about ncl and breakaway?

 

Do they have soap and shampoo in shower?

 

Do you have to make reservations for all shows? What about dinner? Don't plan on eating at speciality dinning.

 

What drinks are available at buffet? Juice, lemon aid?

 

24 hour free ice cream?

 

Pizza?

 

Overall is ncl comparable to other cruise lines? Excluding freestyle dinning?

 

Thanks for your help!

[fshagan]

You'll get all sorts of opinions, of course, but the general thought is that most of the mass market cruise lines are more similar than they are different. Because you've cruised two lines previously you won't find the little differences that jarring as you would if you had cruised only one line!

 

Soap and shampoo is in the shower, but it is the liquid kind out of a dispenser on the wall.

 

If you are dining in the free main dining rooms you don't need a reservation, ever. Just show up when you like to eat, and they will find you a table for your party. If you have a really large party it can 10 to 20 minutes for them to get a table together, but for a couple the only waiting is usually the line to check in and get escorted to your table for two. We never have waited longer than 10 minutes, even in the busiest times. NCL's service in the main dining rooms is slower than what we have had on the other lines we have been on (Princess and Disney). It can take two hours to finish dinner, but if you tell your wait person that you have a show to catch they will speed it up for you.

 

For the big, broadway style shows they do recommend reservations. We have winged it several times. Usually, if the theater still has room, they open it up a few minutes before show time and let walk ups in.

 

I don't remember all the drink choices through out the day at the buffet, but my recollection is they have coffee, tea, water, fruit punch or lemonade. I only recall seeing actual juice in the mornings, but I could be wrong on that. There is soft serve ice cream that is almost 24 hours a day; it is usually closed for cleaning at some point for a few hours. There is also a hard, scooped ice cream station in the buffet that has shorter hours.

 

Pizza is available from room service, but you pay a delivery charge for it ($8 I think). Pizza is also usually available at some of the casual food places on the pool deck on most ships.

 

The things I think you will find different are Freestyle dining, the choice of music venues if you like live music, and the entertainment offerings. Entertainment like the regular shows in the smaller theaters always seems better to us on NCL.

[BirdTravels]

What all Is the import stuff that I need to know about ncl and breakaway?

Exactly 90 days from sailing (100 days if you are in the Havens), book your specialty dining and main theater shows online. Try the ropes course, walking the plank over the edge of the ship and the water slides.

 

Do they have soap and shampoo in shower?

Liquid dispensers for body wash and shampoo in showers. Some ships have started to give out bars of soap (one small hotel bar for the cruise).

 

Do you have to make reservations for all shows? What about dinner? Don't plan on eating at specialty dinning.

90 days out, book seats at the Rock of Ages and Burn the Floor. Once onboard, you can book a comedy show at Headliners. You can pre-book dining times in the MDR for faster seating, but it is unnecessary. You will have a short wait during peak dining times.

 

What drinks are available at buffet? Juice, lemon aid?

Breakfast: Orange, Cranberry, apple juice.

Lunch/Dinner: Ice Tea, flavored waters.

 

24 hour free ice cream?

During Lunch, Dinner, and all night, you can order desserts at O'Shehans. During Lunch and Dinner, soft serve and scooped ice cream is available at the buffet. O'shehans offers 24 hour dining.

 

Pizza?

At the buffet. Room service has a $7,99 service charge for each delivery.

 

Overall is ncl comparable to other cruise lines? Excluding freestyle dinning?

Freestyle casual atmosphere is what is great.

 

Have fun!

Edited June 13, 2016 by BirdTravels

[karenpstok]

most of your questions were answered but there is lemonade at the buffet drink stations for lunch until 1130pm when the buffet closes. from 930pm-1130pm they have late night snacks in the buffet which includes pizza and soft serve icecream. After 1130 there is just o shehans which is pub type food. Then if you really need pizza after 1130 the room service pizza is available for a service charge of $7.95. If you want to see the comedy shows, book them as soon as you get on the ship as they book up fast. The other shows you can book 90 days before or book as soon as you board. There are big touch screens close to the elevators that you can book shows, dinners and shore excursions on or some stuff can be done on your tv screen in the room. Have a great time!! I love NCL and their big ships