Breakaway reviews

[cruizecrazygramma]

Looking at breakaway for end of January and reading lots a bad reviews particularly poor service. We love ncl and have been on epic and escape several times and getaway once and loved them all. Any thoughts from any me recently off breakaway?

[twan60]

We loved the Breakaway. Going again in April. Only thing we didn't like was all the "free" dining places serve the same food. Would be nice during 12 days to mix it up without having to buy speciality dining

 

 

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[garebarepups]

Been on the Breakaway twice and loved every minute of it. Going to book the Escape out on NYC in 2018 and nervous because I just love the Breakaway.

[schildiams]

Just off the Christmas cruise in the Haven and would not do it again. I will write a full review later. The food was great and the crew is very attentive but there were lots of problems. Princess, RCCL and carnival are better choices for me.

Edited December 27, 2016 by schildiams

[skeeter195]

We have been on the Breakaway 3 times. The first time it was great. The next two, the crowds,paasenger attitudes, lines and lack of space, especially when it rains were really pretty awful. We are going again this September only because the Breakaway is the only NCL ship that goes to Bermuda from NYC. The other reason we choose the Breakaway is that it is a comped cruise for us.

[luckyinpa]

i was on 2x in the past few months. bermuda and bahamas. the only service complaint i have is 1.5 hours in each of the main restaurants. the steward was fantastic, cagneys teppanyaki and ocean blue were great with great service.

 

cant really say anything at all was poor except the weather some days. oh yea, waiters dont always ask for refills on the drinks

 

oh wait, the tender process did suck to GSC. forgot about that.

[Son of a son of a ...]

Skip it and try another line.

[luvtheships]

Not a fan of the BA by any means....but....the long winter cruises out of NYC are great!!!

 

Of course did the BA in Jan 2015

 

But for Jan 2016

 

Booked the Gem over the BA ...just sayin

 

 

 

 

 

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[April42749]

i was on 2x in the past few months. bermuda and bahamas. the only service complaint i have is 1.5 hours in each of the main restaurants. the steward was fantastic, cagneys teppanyaki and ocean blue were great with great service.

 

cant really say anything at all was poor except the weather some days. oh yea, waiters dont always ask for refills on the drinks

 

oh wait, the tender process did suck to GSC. forgot about that.

 

We were on the BA last week. As far as the tender...we waited until 11:30...went to the tender deck and got right on.

[HowardK]

It could also be a question of people wanting to try something new. Hence, perhaps why the Escape is moving to NYC

[jimdicap]

Read my review--the title is appropriate. The truth is there are good things, great things, and crappy things about most mainstream lines, and the Breakaway is no exception. My advice would be to do your best to enjoy it, and let the chips fall as they may. Any cruise is better than work and sitting at home!!

[wdsted]

Unless something dramatic has happened since October, these BA reviews don't resonate with our recent experience. We had a great time and no major issues come to mind. The pool areas can be a zoo on all the mega ships but we don't sun worship so that's not a factor for us. Maybe the east coast crowd intimidates some folks? We found the service levels good, the bars and restaurants good, and nothing bizarre. Bear in mind, there are a lot of sea days on all BA sailings out of NYC. We're fine with that but perhaps that's problematic for some folks.

 

 

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[April42749]

Looking at breakaway for end of January and reading lots a bad reviews particularly poor service. We love ncl and have been on epic and escape several times and getaway once and loved them all. Any thoughts from any me recently off breakaway?

 

I was on the BA over Christmas and we found the service wonderful. Nobody was grumpy etc.

 

I drink almond milk and my husband likes it warmed up. We had it everyday....and it took 15 minutes for them to get to "the kitchen" and heat it for my husband. That was above and beyond.

 

I know service in the MDR is slow, but they make it that way because it's "your activity" for the evening. People who want to "eat and run" go to the buffet.

 

We also never had a problem in O'Sheehans.

 

Honestly....I can't think of one incident where "the staff" was rude or rushed.

 

I think the people who complain "have a problem" or unreasonable expectations.

[luvtheships]

Unless something dramatic has happened since October, these BA reviews don't resonate with our recent experience. We had a great time and no major issues come to mind. The pool areas can be a zoo on all the mega ships but we don't sun worship so that's not a factor for us. Maybe the east coast crowd intimidates some folks? We found the service levels good, the bars and restaurants good, and nothing bizarre. Bear in mind, there are a lot of sea days on all BA sailings out of NYC. We're fine with that but perhaps that's problematic for some folks.

 

 

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You actually hit on a very important aspect of the BA....

 

It's great for cruisers who don't care for pool time

 

I'll add my 2 cents....

 

It's also great for cruisers who don't mind smoke infiltrating non smoking indoor areas

 

It's great for cruisers who don't mind standing in the crowded atrium for events

 

It's great for cruisers who have high discomfort tolerance in their lower spine and therefore won't feel the metal bar going across their backs from the theater seats

 

But above all....

 

It's great for 1st time cruisers with nothing to compare to and for savvy veteran cruisers who can recognize and grab a 12/13/14 day cruise out of NYC to the deep Carib in the winter months

 

I loved the $700 per person price tag for our Jan 2015 12 day cruise.

 

So I guess the BA has some good points but for that PC/Nassau milk run....I would need to be desperate lol

 

 

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Edited December 29, 2016 by luvtheships

[wdsted]

You actually hit on a very important aspect of the BA....

 

It's great for cruisers who don't care for pool time

 

I'll add my 2 cents....

 

It's also great for cruisers who don't mind smoke infiltrating non smoking indoor areas

 

It's great for cruisers who don't mind standing in the crowded atrium for events

 

It's great for cruisers who have high discomfort tolerance in their lower spine and therefore won't feel the metal bar going across their backs from the theater seats

 

But above all....

 

It's great for 1st time cruisers with nothing to compare to and for savvy veteran cruisers who can recognize and grab a 12/13/14 day cruise out of NYC to the deep Carib in the winter months

 

I loved the $700 per person price tag for our Jan 2015 12 day cruise.

 

So I guess the BA has some good points but for that PC/Nassau milk run....I would need to be desperate lol

 

 

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Just so I'm clear on the point you're making: It's a lousy hell-hole of a ship but if you're on it cheaply for a long time, you're a savvy customer. Kind of like "I like hitting my head with a hammer because it feels so good when I stop."

 

Please consider that other passengers apply different criteria than you when they spend their vacation dollar. We are far from first-time cruisers. In fact, it's been my observation that when someone on board starts a conversation with "This is our 109th cruise..." I stop listening because what will follow Is not conversation but rather a trivia-fucused lecture meant to impress.

[jimdicap]

Just so I'm clear on the point you're making: It's a lousy hell-hole of a ship but if you're on it cheaply for a long time, you're a savvy customer. Kind of like "I like hitting my head with a hammer because it feels so good when I stop."

 

Please consider that other passengers apply different criteria than you when they spend their vacation dollar. We are far from first-time cruisers. In fact, it's been my observation that when someone on board starts a conversation with "This is our 109th cruise..." I stop listening because what will follow Is not conversation but rather a trivia-fucused lecture meant to impress.

 

so I am on my 110th cruise hitting myself in the head with a hammer reading CC and.........nobody is listening anymore...oh well...

[luvtheships]

Just so I'm clear on the point you're making: It's a lousy hell-hole of a ship but if you're on it cheaply for a long time, you're a savvy customer. Kind of like "I like hitting my head with a hammer because it feels so good when I stop."

 

 

 

Please consider that other passengers apply different criteria than you when they spend their vacation dollar. We are far from first-time cruisers. In fact, it's been my observation that when someone on board starts a conversation with "This is our 109th cruise..." I stop listening because what will follow Is not conversation but rather a trivia-fucused lecture meant to impress.

 

 

Nope the point is the BA is NOT as comfortable as the GEM

 

BUT if you aren't looking for certain things....like a nice pool area Or comfortable Spinnaker lounge and the open air casino doesn't bother you

 

AND

 

Want the longer over 10 day cruises

 

THEN

 

You can find great prices on the BA and great ports

 

HOWEVER

 

The Gem provides all that is missing from the BA plus has its own great amenities and layout

 

AND

 

Offers great 10 day winter itineraries out of NYC at great prices

 

ALSO

 

The BA is deceiving initially to all cruises...newbies and veterans....

 

It looks great and has some beautiful venues...like the Manhattan Room...but it won't be long before you realize there are no places to sit and relax like the spinnaker and that the beautiful deck 6/7/8 ocean atrium area is poorly designed because of the open air casino

 

The casino happens to be beautiful btw but should have been glass walled in all the way to the top and not half way like it currently is

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited December 30, 2016 by luvtheships

[schildiams]

I agree with everything luvtheships said. The jewel with its spinnaker lounge etc was such a better experience. No fun to pack in like sardines and stand for activities in the atrium on the ba. No fun to have no pool space. No fun to be inundated with smoke. No fun to wait on long lines for everything. The ba seems to have been built to maximize ncl's bang for their buck. How to fit as many people onto a ship with as little lounging space as possible. When it rains or is cold and all are forced indoors, it is literally miserable. And that is at least half the trip out of NYC in the fall/winter. Will never do this ship again no matter what. There is a reason why they are almost giving the cabins away.

[berrytini]

Looking at breakaway for end of January and reading lots a bad reviews particularly poor service. We love ncl and have been on epic and escape several times and getaway once and loved them all. Any thoughts from any me recently off breakaway?

Hi - we were on the BA for Christmas and the experience was very mixed. Most staff and entertainment were terrific. Our steward was outstanding and loved our spa balcony room. Food was a great disappointment - very dry and salty, except for Teppanyaki and Le Bistro. Thermal Spa was a godsend for the cold sea days. Buffet was a nightmare with a large foreign tour group basically taking it over. Other comments about smokers are on point. Best advice is to pre-reserve all dinners and entertainment to avoid long wait times. Have a great trip!

[suz1607]

A cruise is what you make it! i have been on all NCL ships [as well as many ships on other lines] and love each one because they are all different --different venues, different experiences and different people. I admit I travel more than once a year and enjoy the differences. The only thing I do not enjoy is people who do not do their "homework" and then complain about less space around pool or open casino or such things. All this is well documented on this website and others! All ships even those in the same class can be different. If we all wanted the same things this would be a very boring world.

[namesean]

Just my 2 cents. Ive been on 18 cruises. (maybe 19) Including the GEM 3 times and the Breakaway twice and I never noticed the Casino, open air, etc.

 

My quick point is, different things matter to different people. Especially different age groups, etc.

 

I also never noticed the spinnaker being WAY overly crowded, but I liked people watching.

 

One thing you guys mentioned is true... a cruise is what you make it. That and... it... its really tough to get a lounge chair on the Breakaway. ha!

 

I get more upset when they close the buffet down 15 minutes early, as I am always late, or there are no drinks at ANY station, as they are out of them here and cleaning the other ones. Things like that bother me more than a ton of people. No fruit loops. Ha. Ice Cream ran out. Their nickel and dime tactics, etc. BUT... all that said, I love it. I am hoping to go again and the deals from NYC are amazing, so... it cant be beat. I hope other cruise lines adopt NCLs pricing, I really do. The theater chairs are fine for me, I am middle aged (kind of). So again, just depends on the person or couple.

 

Just go with a positive attitude, no heavy time restrictions (an extra 100 dollars) and you'll always have a blast!!

Edited January 11, 2017 by namesean

[Jezo]

When it's docked you get charged tax on your bill even with the UBP.

 

How far out to see does the ship need to get before the tax is dropped off?

[luckyinpa]

When it's docked you get charged tax on your bill even with the UBP.

 

How far out to see does the ship need to get before the tax is dropped off?

 

people do get annoyed by this. heard one woman in haven complaining about it and thought we were far enough away that she shouldnt have been charged

 

UM. haven is $$ and you are worried about 1 dollar tax. :eek:

[WashyWashyHappyHappy95]

I was on the Breakaway in December, and the crew was fine. Everyone seemed like they were working their butts off. Busy? Yes. In a hurry sometimes? Yes. Ever anything but professional and courteous? No.

 

If you're one of the wannabe bigshots on this board that gripes about the crew not treating them like royalty, then you might find something to be complain about, but I found everyone from the waiters to my room steward to the maintenance crews painting the ship to be totally on the ball.

[luckyinpa]

speaking of maintenance. one time when i got to the port i sat in my car a bit because i was really early. the attention to detail when they open up all the balconies and wash and wipe everything down is pretty cool. just stuff you'd never think about unless you saw it.

 

and i'm still amazed in the stairwells on BA with those HUGE mirrors ive never seen anything other than perfection. no dirt/smudges/evidence of kids etc. someone must clean them hourly :)