Question About the Breakaway

[Booman14]

Hello all, 

How does Norwegian compare to other cruise lines? My family and I have been on the Carnival Magic, Breeze, Dream, Conquest, Triumph, and Holiday.  We wanted a change so we booked the Breakaway out of Miami.  Can you please let me know the main differences between the cruise lines and the ships?

Thanks in advance. 

[Booman14]

Anyone out there?

[ProfCruise]

We switched to NCL after a bunch of cruises on Carnival.  You might find my review on the Breakaway helpful.  This was our first on NCL, so I talk a lot about the differences. 

 

https://profcruise.com/norwegian-breakaway-ship-review/

[mdsgu]

My wife is Platinum (and I'm almost there) on Carnival.  We are only Silver on NCL.  We've sailed on the Spirit twice, the Escape, and the Breakaway.  Up until this last cruise (Breakaway at Thanksgiving), I was of the opinion that they are more similar than different -- I find the MDR food on Carnival to be better.  Our T'giving cruise wasn't nearly as relaxing as it should have been because the service aboard Breakaway was terrible.  We've sailed much more on Carnival and have never had across-the-board bad service.  We were already booked for our European cruise this coming May on NCL, or we would have looked elsewhere, so I guess NCL is getting a shot at redemption.  We'll see how it pans out.

[happy cruzer]

You are sailing from Miami?

 

We just sailed from New Orleans.

 

One big difference is the buffet.  Breakaway was set up like 4 short lines that were similar with a few different areas like a kid's food area.  The food was hot on the buffet, it seemed to be set out in smaller batches than Carnival.  There is theme each night.  Carnival has Guy's and Blue Iguana.  Breakaway has the burgers in the buffet area.  Breakaway also has O'Sheehan's for 24 hour pub style food.

 

The Main Dining Area on Breakaway seemed a bit more formal.  Guests dress casual but the service is quiet and professional, no singing waiters.  Again food seemed a bit better than Carnival.

 

You can not carry on water or soda on NCL.

 

Most of the rest compares fairly well.

 

Do a search on Breakaway and you will see some reviews with more details.

 

Good Luck!

[Booman14]

Thanks everyone!  We are excited for the change.  Carnival is great, but sometimes you need a little something different.  

Have a great one!

[davy jones]

We have sailed the Breeze and Breakaway and enjoyed both.  

 

My comparison.  Other opinions may respectfully differ.

 

Cabins (Standard) - Breeze cabins are larger.  The balconies are also larger than the minuscule balconies on the Breakaway.

 

Service - Good on both.

 

Entertainment - Breeze has more daytime activities spread throughout the ship.  Breakaway holds most indoor activities in the overcrowded and loud atrium (USE THE THEATER or LOUNGES).  Breakaway production shows are clearly superior to the Carnival's canned production shows.  Both have stand up comedy and piano bars, which will vary according to the entertainers and your personal taste.

 

Dining - Again, according to personal taste.  Breeze offers scheduled dining, but has a my time dining option in a different dining room.  Breakaway is freestyle, but reservations can prevent waiting for a table.  Both ships MDR food can be hit and miss.  I will call the MDR food equal.

 

I prefer the Breakaway buffet over the Breeze buffet.  However, the Breeze has some lunch options that I like (BBQ, Indian, Deli, Guy's Burgers, and Burrito Bar).  Carnival pizza is better.  Breakaway has O'Sheehans as a 24 hour option that we enjoy greatly.  Overall, Breakway casual dining is bit better than Carnival.

 

Ship - Both have some quirks in the layout.  Up on the pool decks, the offerings are similar. 

[Carol1560]

I just did breakaway and I am platinum on Carnival.

The breakaway is much nice ship than Carnival.  It is a mega ship but..............I love the seaday brunch on Carnival, I think Carnival has a better menu in the MDR. 

 

The rooms are smaller on NCL.  Their shower is nice.

 

 

[gooch47]

We haven't been on a Carnival ship in ages and ages so I can't compare them but:

 

Food was fine, service seemed slow.  We don't do buffets.  The Manhattan Dining Room was nice but I thought Savor and Taste Dining Rooms were a little bland.  Strange decor.  We loved the live entertainment in the Manhattan.

 

We had a balcony cabin and I was amazed at all the storage space and the size of the bathroom.   The shower was more than adequate.

 

The balcony was small but accommodated us two quite well.

 

Our only complaint was the cigarette smoke smell in the casino.  It was overpowering.  And unless you went up a deck and over or down and over you had to pass through it to get from aft to the central atrium area.

[MJSailors]

More alike than different.

Enjoy your cruise!

[misguy]

21 hours ago, Carol1560 said:

I just did breakaway and I am platinum on Carnival.

The breakaway is much nice ship than Carnival.  It is a mega ship but..............I love the seaday brunch on Carnival, I think Carnival has a better menu in the MDR. 

 

The rooms are smaller on NCL.  Their shower is nice.

 

 

One thing that many don't know about is that on sea days on the Breakaway they have themed buffet lunches in Moderno, on our 10-day cruise, we had Mexican, Spanish, and Barbeque themed lunches.  Eating outside Moderno's for one of these lunches was our favorite place.  These buffets are free.

[misguy]

21 hours ago, gooch47 said:

We haven't been on a Carnival ship in ages and ages so I can't compare them but:

 

Food was fine, service seemed slow.  We don't do buffets.  The Manhattan Dining Room was nice but I thought Savor and Taste Dining Rooms were a little bland.  Strange decor.  We loved the live entertainment in the Manhattan.

 

We had a balcony cabin and I was amazed at all the storage space and the size of the bathroom.   The shower was more than adequate.

 

The balcony was small but accommodated us two quite well.

 

Our only complaint was the cigarette smoke smell in the casino.  It was overpowering.  And unless you went up a deck and over or down and over you had to pass through it to get from aft to the central atrium area.

The secret to avoiding the smoke was to go outside on deck 7 and you had a freeway that ran bow to stern with no smoke and no traffic.

 

[BullyLvr]

I’ve sailed on Carnival 4 times .....Dream twice, Magic and Fascination. We’ve been on NCL twice, Gem and just off Breakaway from New Orleans last week.  I’d certainly sail Carnival again, but not from New Orleans which is only an hour away for me. Don’t flame me, my opinion .....but my experience has been that the demographic from NO on Carnival consists of a lot more young, rowdy, loud and often rude people, and rude groups of people. Not everyone of course but yep, much more noticeable. This wasn’t the case on Breakaway. Same length cruise, much the same itinerary.  As others have said, much was similar but by far, the entertainment on NCL this cruise was much better than anything I’ve seen on Carnival. And the ship was much cleaner.  Often tables were much slower to be cleaned in the buffet on Carnival and messes were not attended to as quickly, public restrooms not as tidy.  Maybe the cruises I sailed were short staffed, not sure ......but I certainly noticed. I also felt that NCL had many more late night food options and liked that OSheehans was 24 hours.  

[gooch47]

2 hours ago, misguy said:

The secret to avoiding the smoke was to go outside on deck 7 and you had a freeway that ran bow to stern with no smoke and no traffic.

 

Geesh.  I never thought of that.

[Booman14]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the kind responses.  I hate asking questions on these boards anymore because you always have that one person that has to be a jerk! 

My wife and I are super excited about our upcoming cruise...  Sad it's 7 months away!!! ☹️

Have a great one!

[PelicanBill]

Sailed Carnival and Royal a number of times then 4 in a row in Breakaway.  Love the ship - mostly for entertainment and dining options.  And that it sailed from NY so many years.  

 

The lines still compare well, with each having a slightly better rating in different areas and always according to personal preferences. I am sure you will find things you like about NCL and this ship.

[misguy]

Here is a short video of the Manhattan Room, which was our favorite venue to eat at on the Breakaway.  In the playlist there are more Breakaway videos.

 

[linbobky]

On 3/4/2019 at 3:16 PM, happy cruzer said:

You are sailing from Miami?

 

We just sailed from New Orleans.

 

One big difference is the buffet.  Breakaway was set up like 4 short lines that were similar with a few different areas like a kid's food area.  The food was hot on the buffet, it seemed to be set out in smaller batches than Carnival.  There is theme each night.  Carnival has Guy's and Blue Iguana.  Breakaway has the burgers in the buffet area.  Breakaway also has O'Sheehan's for 24 hour pub style food.

 

The Main Dining Area on Breakaway seemed a bit more formal.  Guests dress casual but the service is quiet and professional, no singing waiters.  Again food seemed a bit better than Carnival.

 

You can not carry on water or soda on NCL.

 

Most of the rest compares fairly well.

 

Do a search on Breakaway and you will see some reviews with more details.

 

Good Luck!

we just got off the breakaway this morning. i know food is a different of opinion. the buffet was the worst we have ever had on any of our 28 cruises, on carnival and ncl. the food was cold for the most part. the mdr food was very good and the irish pub food was always good.  you will have to make up your own mind. happy cruising.