Fresh off the Breakaway 11/20 - 11/27

[hokies111]

As far as I can tell using a porter will likely not cost you more than a few minutes (as long as your bags are portered on time ).

 

Pretty much right before customs, the line breaks to allow you to pick up your luggage in the center. During that time people behind you without luggage to pick up may pass you and go straight to the actual customs line .

 

But it shouldn't take you more than a minute or two to find your luggage, so it shouldn't really make much of a difference . It would be as if you got in line originally a few minutes later .

[Hpycmpr]

Do you have copies of the Dailes to share?

[luckyinpa]

Do you have copies of the Dailes to share?

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2425691

[hjsi]

Hi. We ate due on the breakaway 16th Dec. Do you mind answering loads of questions?

1. How many "dressing up tuxedo" evenings are there ?

2. I see there are shows to pre book. Only 2 are free. Are there other shows? Entertainment on at night?

3. I tried pre booking meals but can't get us all on same table. Can we still eat together at other restaurants?

4. As it will be cold what is there to do during the day? We are a family of 4 (2 teenage girls)

Thank you.

 

 

I'll post a full/detailed review at a later time. This was my 2nd time on the Breakaway, first time to Bahamas (other trip was to Bermuda last year September). Overall it wasn't the greatest cruise, compared to my 1st time --but we made the most of it. Traveling in November where it was cold caused there to be a lull in activities until we were very close to Florida where the temperatures then increased and it was packed outside in the pool/lounge areas/hot tubs (which was to be expected).

 

I thought Dan Dan (Cruise Director) was very good compared to the other Cruise Director I had last time (Silas(?)). We also had captain Hakan S. who we had last year, he's cool too. The entertainment on the boat is a little dry, there isn't too much variation, its pretty much watching singing, dancing, or trivia. Last time they had movies throughout the day in all areas this year it was only one movie at almost midnight, when we were already tired. I went to Cirque Dreams and it was very entertaining but the set menu is a little unattractive IF you aren't interested in what they're serving.

 

We were "luckily" the first set to go to Great Stirrup Cay after it was closed for quite some time. I was feeling worried about it not being open but the tendering process alone and the fact that it rained made me feel like we could have skipped it and did overnight in Nassau. Just a preview of the tender process we picked 11:30 for our time and didn't get on a boat until almost 1:00 pm due to.. who knows. The seas were very rough and water even came into the boat on the way back (so I assume that played a role) but they didn't even check if people were in the right "reserved" tendering group. After the rain the water was cold and the sun tried its best to come out. We (and most other passengers) ended up leaving by 3pm to avoid the long line back, and of course still waited on a long line. On the way back it was even worse as far as waves and 1 or 2 kids on our boat were crying so if you have children the process may scare them.

 

We did Orlando Eye as our Florida Excursion only b/c the 4 hours time limit wouldn't allow you to do much else ( I really wanted to go to Disney but it didn't make sense). I booked tix for Atlantis Aquaventure online ($$ saver when you do it through them vs the company and take a cab). They warn in the Freestyle Daily about safety (in 2 places on the front cover :eek:) but the cab process seemed very safe, there was a dispatcher and security personnel in the area where the cabs were going. The drivers were liscned and had ID around their necks. Didnt take too long to get out to Atlantis or back on the boat. There were also 2 other boats in port and plenty people walking to the cabs there were about 6 people besides us in the cab.

 

If you have general questions I'll try to answer.

[agargoyle]

does anyone have historical experience to confirm the horrible tendering is a system problem rather than a 'we are open again and forget how to do this' problem?

 

i have to say the reviews are almost scaring me away in 2 weeks

 

id probably wait 1 hour in the theater then give up.

 

HI, we have not done the Breakaway for some time but we did do about 6 cruises on her. First is you are in the Haven or Suite or a cabana reserved you will be escorted to the tenders, it used to be no matter what time you wanted to go -- just tell your butler.

 

We missed GSC a couple of times due to bad weather,.

 

I think this experience is a SNAFU. If the island just opened up again possibly they did not have enough tenders in place. There usually are at least 3 running. Could be that the seas got rough quickly and the process was slowed down. (No excuse for no communications to the passengers). All food and drink supplies need to come from the ship so that could have slowed things down if they needed extra due to being closed.

 

The last time we were on GSC there were two places to eat. The main one on the main beach and one over by the lagoon. The lagoon area is a walk (they used to have a small tram) but much quieter and fewer children. It is away from the noise and hustle and bustle of the main beach.

 

I love GSC and always try and get on the very first tender. We have had to wait but no more than a half hour due to the time needed for the tender to get back to the ship.

 

Will be interesting to see how it goes on future cruises.

[agargoyle]

So I've never self assisted as we've always flown to port but upcoming cruise we are able to drive- so is it possible to have them take your luggage off, go to breakfast and carry your own carry ons off after breakfast? And potentially avoid the long lines?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

HI, IN NY there are a lot of walk offs and that process takes awhile. We usually finish up our packing of our carry ons in the morning (toileteries, charging cords, etc.) then go get a bite to eat. Not sure what is open on the Breakaway now on disembarkation day. Go back to the room, take a bathroom break and then head to the common areas to wait for our number/letter to be called. If you have a balcony and can view the teminal you can see when it thins out from the walk offs (walkoffs handle all their own suitcases including any big bags.)

 

When you get to the terminal to find your suitcases, grab a porter. They have special lines to go through customs and we have never had more than a 10-15 minute wait (usually much less) since we started grabbing a porter. I believe they will also go with you to your car. We always tip well because of the nice benefit. One time when one suitcase was "lost" the porter was extremely helpful.

[luckyinpa]

HI, IN NY there are a lot of walk offs and that process takes awhile. We usually finish up our packing of our carry ons in the morning (toileteries, charging cords, etc.) then go get a bite to eat. Not sure what is open on the Breakaway now on disembarkation day. Go back to the room, take a bathroom break and then head to the common areas to wait for our number/letter to be called. If you have a balcony and can view the teminal you can see when it thins out from the walk offs (walkoffs handle all their own suitcases including any big bags.)

.

 

if i recall you get numbers on friday for disembark sunday?

 

if you do self assist do you definitely get ahead of the others? no clue how cold it will be but standing on the terminal walkway for a long time does not thrill me. so getting out early would be a good option.

 

are colors/numbers etc really enforced. i just picture people trying to get off before they are supposed to and wonder if the clog up the lines?

[lovedestiny]

Hi. We ate due on the breakaway 16th Dec. Do you mind answering loads of questions?

1. How many "dressing up tuxedo" evenings are there ?

2. I see there are shows to pre book. Only 2 are free. Are there other shows? Entertainment on at night?

3. I tried pre booking meals but can't get us all on same table. Can we still eat together at other restaurants?

4. As it will be cold what is there to do during the day? We are a family of 4 (2 teenage girls)

Thank you.

 

1. There is one "night" called Norwegian Night Out where you CAN dress up, but it's not required. Also you will find others dressing up at night for a number of things, dining out or taking professional pictures, celebrations..it varies. I was on the Thanksgiving cruise, and I noticed people were dressed up on that evening (a Thursday) while we dined in the Manhattan Room. But trust me if you don't dress up at all that's fine too. I didn't dress up on the Norwegian Night out this yr.

 

2. The shows onboard are Burn the Floor & Rock of Ages. They also have Cirque Dreams which is a paid dinner show. Other entertainment @ night is in the atrium (game shows, live singing, battle of the sexes etc.), live music at fat cats (jazz), and Second City is a comedy group who has their shows @ Headliners (scripted and impromptu - kids version and adult version). They may also have a few other little things in the theater. They showed movies in the atrium late night as well. [You have to sign up for the comedy show]

 

3. It seems like they're limiting pre-booking for dining b/c the same thing happened to me, I couldn't book a place to eat it was kind of first come first serve. I was able to book for the 1st night at "Savor" but thanksgiving day it was limiting the pre-book to tables of 2 for the Manhattan Room. When I went to the MR they said its 1st come 1st serve. If you are booking for paid dining (Moderno, Tepanyaki etc) you can do that when you board by Guest Relations. If you're unable to book preboked you go when you're ready to eat, if the dining room is full they will give you a beeper that vibrates when a table is ready. I notice a lot of people go when the places open @ 5:30 so I wouldn't recommend going to the specialty places just then.

 

4. If your daughters are teens under 17 under there is a teen program called Entourage, where they can basically do their own thing. I usually see groups of them walking together around the boat. They have parties and things for them to do throughout the day.

 

If not, there are a lot of things to do you have to plan your own days at sea using the Freestyle Daily you get in the evenings. They have a card room to play board games, they have some or you can bring your own, there's an arcade ($$$). Every day the activities change. There's also a movie channel if they just want to hang in the room.

 

**Your best bet is to book all you want to do once you arrive on the ship. You can do it by your TV or you can do it by those screens by the elevator. You will need your room key to scan to reserve for anyone who is not in your room so someone from the other rooms (if you're in a group needs to be present - to use their card).

[lovedestiny]

Link to my review: http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=555493&et_cid=2764671&et_rid=174325932&et_referrer=Boards