Chance/cost of an upsell--Breakaway (Bermuda)?

[lmintzer]

I am still debating whether I want to take my teen boys on a summer cruise to Bermuda. I know my older one, especially, is eager to try a larger NCL ship after hearing about them from a friend he made on the Pearl. I am pretty sure my kids will have a blast on the Breakaway. I'm not so sure that I will enjoy it as much, as I'm not a big fan of cigarette smoke (I was hoping to hang out at the Waterfront) and probably wouldn't pay for the spa package--not sure how much I would use it, and if iConcierge don't work well in there like on the Pearl, that wouldn't be too good. To be happy, I would prefer a non-chaotic (it doesn't have to be silent) place to hang out with a drink and good view. Or a low key activity. I am not a partier, so I can't imagine going to the bars/clubs at night--especially by myself. Though I'd probably hit up a show or two if the boys were settled somewhere.

 

Honestly, to make this experience feel like a real treat to me, too, I'd probably really enjoy the Haven experience with the lounge, pool, etc. And a bigger space for the 3 of us would be nice.

 

What do you think the chance of getting an upsell for a July cruise would be? The two bedroom suite would be what we need, as the others don't have the option of splitting the master bedroom bed into two twins. The setup doesn't work well for 3, unless 2 are a couple. Any sense of what they might charge?

 

The other factor is sea-sickness. I do like the stability of a mid-ship location. On the Pearl, I remember feeling the motion a lot more in the Spinnaker lounge than I did in our mid-ship mini-suite. I use a patch, so I will probably be okay. I guess I could pre-medicate my more motion-sick-prone kiddo to be safe.

[luckyinpa]

total guess here. there were no upsells on my cheap bahamas cruise in december because haven was so cheap

 

july is peak time with expensive cabins so my guess is you will have a much better chance than me.

 

do NOT get DOS on the BA if you are seasick prone. i was up in one during 50 winds and 15 foot waves and could barely stand. it was totally crazy. i was in haven spa suite and it was definitely better as not so far forward. but you cannot do that with 3 people unless you are on Bliss

[Son of a son of a ...]

July is prime sailing season. I anticipate that all Haven cabins will be booked without the necessity of recruitment. Spend your $$ on an aft facing balcony for alone time.

[BostonGal35]

july is prime time. i doubt you will get an upsell deal.

 

ditto the person who said to book aft balcony. we have one booked for our upcoming cruise on breakaway and i looked on YouTube and the balcony is HUGE. i cant wait!!!

 

i have used the thermal suite on breakway. it is worth the money, always quiet. i would do it if your boys are tied up with other activities, etc.

[luckyinpa]

quiet in the spa is very true! you just sit there and relax. no one screaming or yelling , there's nothing to do there but sit and relax and fight for a tile lounger :)

 

its very cool in high waves to be in the wave pool. but rough seas otherwise stink.

[lmintzer]

Thanks for the feedback. I will look into aft balconies and reconsider the spa. I think I remember reading that some aft balconies suffer from noise problems due to the clubs--even from multiple decks away. Any refs for what deck might be the quietest? Wish I wasn't "stuck" with July. Could also sail the first week of August if that is any better. But somehow I doubt it.

[luckyinpa]

well you def dont want deck 14. i read about glasses shaking because of the bass.

i think if you search aft noise you will get tons of hits

 

i was about 5 cabins from the back on 13 and on balcony the music is clear. but with the door closed you can only mildly hear the bass.

[lmintzer]

Those balconies look amazing! I was just on CC reading reviews, and people reported noise problems with 12910, 13303, 11910, and 13402 to name a few. It seems to affect quite a few decks. I really don't want to hear anything much when I'm trying to sleep!

 

Still wondering if mid-ship minis are the way to go (if I can find a quiet one!).

Maybe that plus spa.

[luvtheships]

I'm no fan of the BA

 

But I'm a big fan of my kids....

 

So take the cruise

 

Book a low midship or aft balcony.

 

If you book a midship balcony make sure it is NOT in the side where they allow smoking. I think that's near maltings

 

Don't plan on using the pool for yourself but plan on your kids loving the slides rope course and rock wall

 

Spend as much time as possible on beaches in Bermuda

 

The ship will be sailing above capacity and there will be many newbie cruisers on their every 5 year "big trip".

 

Go in July versus August because in August you get a different NYC demographic

 

Don't expect much but you may actually enjoy this ship because unless you are a frequent cruiser you really won't get why there are so many complaints about this ship

 

Infrequent cruisers love the ship

 

Those that haven't a clue what cruising is about either love it or hate it

 

Seasoned cruisers take this ship for many reasons....and just deal with its poor layout ....and accept this ship for what it is but take it for....

 

The Bermuda itin

 

The deals ncl offers (although not in July to Bermuda)

 

The longer 12/14 day winter Carib cruises

 

Lots of tri state locals seem to use this ship for a floating casino too (and love to post how cozy they are with the casino staff and how they get Haven deals and will smoke wherever they choose. Lol)

 

Or

 

An easy quick getaway

 

 

 

So be it as it may.....

 

Take this cruise if you want your kids to be happy....but trust me your experience will be nice as well

 

Unfortunately the 6/7/8 area which includes many bars as well as le bistro and the sushi place are inundated with smoke

 

However you could actually get into headliners with minimal smoke

 

Forget about taking a staircase photo though due to smoke

 

Also regarding the Haven....have you read about how families sometimes overtake this area? How crew does not enforce rules?

 

May or September I'd say go for the Haven but in July you might be severely disappointed

 

I would save my money in that respect

 

 

 

 

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Edited January 19, 2017 by luvtheships

[luvtheships]

Those balconies look amazing! I was just on CC reading reviews, and people reported noise problems with 12910, 13303, 11910, and 13402 to name a few. It seems to affect quite a few decks. I really don't want to hear anything much when I'm trying to sleep!

 

 

 

Still wondering if mid-ship minis are the way to go (if I can find a quiet one!).

 

Maybe that plus spa.

 

 

Yup this ship shakes and shimmies like you've never felt before.

 

 

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[luvtheships]

Thanks for the feedback. I will look into aft balconies and reconsider the spa. I think I remember reading that some aft balconies suffer from noise problems due to the clubs--even from multiple decks away. Any refs for what deck might be the quietest? Wish I wasn't "stuck" with July. Could also sail the first week of August if that is any better. But somehow I doubt it.

 

 

Stick with July

 

It's the demographics thing. Lol. Plus hurricanes can happen in August

 

 

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[lmintzer]

Thank you. Sounds very wise and probably quite accurate. Would really enjoy watching my kids do ropes course and slides (and would try them myself). We don't really care much for pools, so not hanging out by the pool is fine. I would do my best to avoid smoke and noise (especially in the stateroom!). I'm sure we would love Bermuda. Went to Turks and Caicos on a budget last winter. Stayed in a place that was only okay (spacious but had its issues), but absolutely made the best of that gorgeous, turquoise water! I am sure Bermuda, itself, will be amazing, and I am a planner, so would make the most of the 2.5 days there. TIA!

[luckyinpa]

Those balconies look amazing! I was just on CC reading reviews, and people reported noise problems with 12910, 13303, 11910, and 13402 to name a few. It seems to affect quite a few decks. I really don't want to hear anything much when I'm trying to sleep!

 

Still wondering if mid-ship minis are the way to go (if I can find a quiet one!).

Maybe that plus spa.

 

look at spa balconies but if i recall they are further back on 14 under the pool which is not desirable at all. too much risk for pool deck noise.

[mjkacmom]

Stick with July

 

It's the demographics thing. Lol. Plus hurricanes can happen in August

 

 

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Local schools are out July and August, hurricane season is May - November.

[luvtheships]

Local schools are out July and August, hurricane season is May - November.

 

 

Yes exactly my point.

 

But you fail to recognize something

 

The NYC cruising demographic is different in August versus July. Define different any way you wish but I prefer July.

 

 

Hurricanes season ...yup ...does start in may but since July is the choice of the op that is a better choice than August because August is closer to peak Bermuda hurricane season

 

Honestly the best weeks to cruise out of NYC is around may 1 or June 15.

 

Mostly for demographic and ship comfort/relaxation reasons. I have 1st hand experience on this

 

Btw before anyone gets all up in arms...understanding the demographics of your fellow cruisers is very important and discussed on cc constantly...so cruising based on demographics is totally an acceptable discussion

 

 

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[luvtheships]

Thank you. Sounds very wise and probably quite accurate. Would really enjoy watching my kids do ropes course and slides (and would try them myself). We don't really care much for pools, so not hanging out by the pool is fine. I would do my best to avoid smoke and noise (especially in the stateroom!). I'm sure we would love Bermuda. Went to Turks and Caicos on a budget last winter. Stayed in a place that was only okay (spacious but had its issues), but absolutely made the best of that gorgeous, turquoise water! I am sure Bermuda, itself, will be amazing, and I am a planner, so would make the most of the 2.5 days there. TIA!

 

 

You're welcome

 

As I posted I'm no fan of the ba but for my kids enjoyment I would book it again

 

Plus I have 2 cruise nexts to unload by 2020

 

 

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[luckyinpa]

you dont have to worry about bermuda and hurricanes this year . i was on the 1st BA back after the october hurricane and as the odds are stated online, you can only have a hurricane every X years :)

 

i felt so bad for the trip before ours, would have sucked to be in the turmoil of not knowing where you are going.

[tel2]

Also, if you decide you really would like the Haven amenities, you do not need to book the 2 bedroom to accommodate the 3 of you. The Aft Haven suites, which are priced much lower, are two separate rooms, two bathrooms. They can accommodate 3 easily, with two on separate pull-outs in living room, which has a full bathroom, and you in master with a terrific bath, plus the humongous balcony. While not physically in Haven you still have full Haven access.

[lmintzer]

Also, if you decide you really would like the Haven amenities, you do not need to book the 2 bedroom to accommodate the 3 of you. The Aft Haven suites, which are priced much lower, are two separate rooms, two bathrooms. They can accommodate 3 easily, with two on separate pull-outs in living room, which has a full bathroom, and you in master with a terrific bath, plus the humongous balcony. While not physically in Haven you still have full Haven access.

 

There are two pullout couches in living room? From diagram, it looks like just one. (My kids cannot share a bed!) Would be fantastic but still is 2x as much as the mini suite.

[BostonGal35]

we booked our aft balcony on Deck 9 - they are larger from what i understand than higher decks, adn no noise from up above (spice H20).

[tel2]

There is a couch that can be made into a bed, and now I cannot remember whether the chair could also be made into a single or whether we had a cot. I am sure that we had two in the living room in separate beds.

[lmintzer]

Anyone have additional information about whether it would be possible to get an extra bed brought into the living room of the Haven aft suite? I did a search, and it looked like someone had said that chairs that pull out into single beds exist on the Breakaway.

 

There is no way my boys can share a bed! That has never worked for them (no one would get any sleep). I'd be better off putting my younger one in the king bed with me (we are both small people). We've done it before, but I'm thinking he's getting a little old for that.

 

Ironically, the mini-suites, with so much less space, seem better equipped for 3 who need their own beds. Of course, the 2 bedroom Haven suite would work . . . if the price would come down!

 

TIA!

[luckyinpa]

Anyone have additional information about whether it would be possible to get an extra bed brought into the living room of the Haven aft suite? I did a search, and it looked like someone had said that chairs that pull out into single beds exist on the Breakaway.

 

There is no way my boys can share a bed! That has never worked for them (no one would get any sleep). I'd be better off putting my younger one in the king bed with me (we are both small people). We've done it before, but I'm thinking he's getting a little old for that.

 

Ironically, the mini-suites, with so much less space, seem better equipped for 3 who need their own beds. Of course, the 2 bedroom Haven suite would work . . . if the price would come down!

 

TIA!

 

actually oceanviews are even better equipped as well. 2 up and 2 down.

[lauracruises]

We have been on Breakaway twice and are scheduled for a third trip later this year. The aft balcony with my teenage girls was fine. Pull out bed and wall .dropdown with an aft balcony. I think categoryB6 . Enough room for sleeping and changing clothes. It's about the ship and Bermuda. We are all prone to sea sickness. Bonine for the kids and patches for adults have worked on all ships we have been on.

[Walsh12533]

I'm going in May out of New York....super cheap:)

 

 

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