Breakaway Western Caribbean questions

[trouble1964]

I have never cruised in January before, so can anyone advise what the temps will be like, as far as what type of clothes to pack? Will it be warm enough to snorkel? Are the pools heated on board? 

 

We were on a different cruise line in September, and they didn't leave printed dailies in the cabin. You had to ask for them, and then you might get it, or you might not. Does NCL still print them, or is it only on a phone app now? I prefer the printed ones so I can write on them. Do you have to request printed? 

 

Is there a laundry special during a 7 day cruise? It's been a few years since we cruised with NCL, and got used to having it on the other lines we've been on the past few times. 

 

Lastly, does anyone happen to have a photo of the salad bar at Moderno? The site said it has a lot of items on it. Is it like Texas de Brazil's salad bar? The last time we ate at a churrascaria on a ship, it wasn't that good to us, but we enjoy the experience of Brazilian food, and I love a good salad bar. 

 

Thanks in advance! 

[pandncruisers]

Since you will be leaving from New Orleans it will be cold probably in the upper 50s on the first and last day of the cruise but it does warm up by the time you get farther south.  The water is warm enough for my husband to snorkel but I am a sissy so for me the water is a little chilly but I do get in.  Not sure if the pools on the ship are heated as we don't get in them.                                                                                    We prefer then printed ones and last month on the Bliss we had them in our cabin every day just ask       I believe there is a laundry special but we never use it.  I don't have a pic of the moderno salad bar but it is fantastic lots of meat, cheese, soup, and so many different types of veggies I usually just eat from the bar and skip the meats that they bring around.  We actually are on a b2b on the breakaway in  January

[rjm11]

The Moderno salad bar also had sushi and soups last time we were there... that was pre pandemic though. It was quite a good salad bar. Our cruise this past June had printed Dailies in the cabin each day- we never had to ask for them.

[Juncti]

Pretty sure the pools aren't heated. I know last year we managed a Haven bid and the pool in the Haven was ice water. Probably high 60's if I had to guess. I kept doing alternating temperature runs, steam room or hot tub, then icy pool lol

 

That said even their hot tubs aren't very hot, probably low 90's. 

 

When you get to the ports, the water is cool for sure, but definitely usable for snorkeling or swimming. The pool at the NCL Island in Belize is quite chilly, not sure why but we've been a number of times and that pool is always chilly. You need to kind of just go for it, and then get used to it. 

 

We've done Moderno on breakaway, it's not great. Probably my least favorite of the options. I like Fogo and Texas de Brazil on land, but the Moderno doesn't come near to that. Although the grilled pineapple is quite nice. If you do go, save some room, ask for the grilled pineapple and some scoops of vanilla ice cream. Quite the combo. 

[trouble1964]

On 12/8/2022 at 2:45 PM, Juncti said:

 

We've done Moderno on breakaway, it's not great. Probably my least favorite of the options. I like Fogo and Texas de Brazil on land, but the Moderno doesn't come near to that. Although the grilled pineapple is quite nice. If you do go, save some room, ask for the grilled pineapple and some scoops of vanilla ice cream. Quite the combo. 

 

We had TDB last week, and I do love the pineapple. Never thought to try it with ice cream though. 

 

I see you are from NOLA......and speaking of food, where can we pick up a Central Grocery muffaletta to take back home the morning of the 15th? We are driving (live about 6 hours away). 

 

[dbrown84]

They do still deliver the dailies and they still have the laundry special 

[ggTexasGal]

We cruised in November, and also just returned from a 9-day cruise.

Laundry special: $29 to fill (now smaller) bag!

[MagnoliaBlossom]

We were onBA last week and yes the dailies are delivered each evening with turndown service.

 

yes, there was a laundry special (7 day) for 19.95.

 

weather is usually warm once out of the Gulf but bring a wrap or light jacket.  We found the ship air conditioning was set on “meat locker” so I needed a wrap for inside.   As someone said  OLA will be cool, and likely cold.  Add to the temp is the humidity and wind off the water and January can be pretty miserable if you’re not prepared.

 

super dittos to stopping at Central Grocery!  I was raised in NO and a muffle attack from there is a national treasure.  They are huge, though, so order a half, which DH and I then half and it’s plenty.  If you’ve saved room for desert, or get one for later, cross the street and head left to the praline shop for a tasty treat.  Aunt Sally’s is the name, I think, but your nose will lead you there.

[laudergayle]

12 hours ago, trouble1964 said:

 

We had TDB last week, and I do love the pineapple. Never thought to try it with ice cream though. 

 

I see you are from NOLA......and speaking of food, where can we pick up a Central Grocery muffaletta to take back home the morning of the 15th? We are driving (live about 6 hours away). 

 

The Central Grocery is still closed after hurricane damage from Ida.  But here is the list of places you can get a muffuletta. https://centralgrocery.com/

[trouble1964]

On 12/18/2022 at 9:03 AM, laudergayle said:

The Central Grocery is still closed after hurricane damage from Ida.  But here is the list of places you can get a muffuletta. https://centralgrocery.com/

 

They sure are taking their time getting the building reopened. Part of the experience is standing in the line and inhaling all the smells! 

 

Looks like Sidney's or Rouse's will be the best place for us to try to get one. 

 

DH wants to disembark early and eat breakfast in NOLA. I have to go to the Tiffany store and pick up a repair (not trusting mail service when I can walk in and get it) and they don't open until 11. Do you know of a good breakfast place close by any of those businesses that we could stop at? We would wait until lunch, but would like to be home before dark, if possible. 

[laudergayle]

12 hours ago, trouble1964 said:

Do you know of a good breakfast place close by any of those businesses that we could stop at?

So many good food choices in NOLA.  We enjoy Cafe Fleur De Lis at 307 Chartres St…which would be between Tiffany’s and Sydney’s on Decatur.

[Luvmypups]

On 12/24/2022 at 8:26 PM, trouble1964 said:

Do you know of a good breakfast place close by any of those businesses that we could stop at?  

We love Willa Jean for breakfast and there is a Rouse’s across the street. 

[dbrown84]

On 12/24/2022 at 9:26 PM, trouble1964 said:

 

They sure are taking their time getting the building reopened. Part of the experience is standing in the line and inhaling all the smells! 

 

Looks like Sidney's or Rouse's will be the best place for us to try to get one. 

 

DH wants to disembark early and eat breakfast in NOLA. I have to go to the Tiffany store and pick up a repair (not trusting mail service when I can walk in and get it) and they don't open until 11. Do you know of a good breakfast place close by any of those businesses that we could stop at? We would wait until lunch, but would like to be home before dark, if possible. 

I'll put a word in for Mother's.  It's on Poydras, right down from the casino

[MNcruisingcouple]

2 hours ago, Luvmypups said:

We love Willa Jean for breakfast and there is a Rouse’s across the street. 

 

Another recommendation for Willa Jean!!  I'm trying to figure out how many times I can get there in February.

[cheersforbeers]

Does anyone have info on SIx showtimes and days of the week it’s showing 

Thanks 

[rjm11]

can anyone comment on how embarkation has been out of NOLA this year? I heard last year it was a mess- but that some of that was all the added paperwork checks for COVID. Is it any better? What about specifically for the Haven? How has that gone? Trying to decide what time to show up....

[RocketMan275]

2 hours ago, rjm11 said:

can anyone comment on how embarkation has been out of NOLA this year? I heard last year it was a mess- but that some of that was all the added paperwork checks for COVID. Is it any better? What about specifically for the Haven? How has that gone? Trying to decide what time to show up....

I can't give you any optomistic reports.

 

We were on Breakaway last March.  We arrived at the port at about 0945, well within our assigned checkin times.  The line for security was at least a block and a half long.  The line didn't start moving until 1100 or a bit after.   At first I thought the delays were for COVID.  We were stopped three times while in the security line to show our cruise documentation, our identification, our COVID test results, and our COVID vaccinations.  

 

Now this is just my opinion, but after doing more research, I believe that the delays were not caused by COVID but are indemic to NOLA.  There is a very small sitting area for those who have completed checkins and waiting to board.  It's my impression that once this area is full, they stop checking people through security because there is no where for them to go.  It apears that once the ship is cleared and passengers can begin to board, they start processing people through security and allow them to checkin.  This normally happens sometime after 1100.

 

I've talked with several people who have cruised from NOLA on Breakaway in the last few months.  They report that while no one is checking COVID paperwork, the lines are still there, that boarding is often delayed until after 1100.  See post #24 and later in this thread for typical reports.

I know the ususal advice is to get an early checkin time and arrive at the port as early as possible in order to get onboard as soon as one can.  It appears to me that arriving early at the NOLA port only means one of  two things.  Either you will get to spend a couple of hours sitting in the few plastic chairs or you will get to spend a couple of hours standing in a long line of other passengers.  

 

We are back on Breakaway this March and in the Haven again.  Now this is just my opinion again but we are planning on remaining at the hotel until they kick us out at 1100.  We will park our car, shuttle to the port, and check our bags with the porters.  We intend to scope out the lines.  If the lines are short and if they are moving, we will get in line and checkin.  If, as I suspect, the lines are still long and barely moving, we will go upstairs and cruise the mall.  Maybe get some beignet or have lunch.  Then we will return to check in.

 

We saw no special provisions for high status or Haven passengers.  Every one waits in the long security line before they can check in with the cruise line.  

 

Once we cleared security, the Haven checkin desk was straight ahead and no one was in line. The four of us were all in the Haven and our checkin took less than five minutes.  We were then directed to the Haven waiting area which was to the right of the Haven checkin.  It was a small room with more plastic chairs.  No one was waiting there when we arrived.  There was an assortment of snacks, soft drinks, and coffee.  We were escorted aboard immediately and taken to the Haven.

 

perhaps if you ask,  you might be able to go directly to the Haven checkin since they did the same COVID checks there too.  I have no heard that anyone was allowed to do that.

 

 

Edited December 26, 2022 by RocketMan275

[tallyho8]

My wife is handicapped, on a scooter, and when we got there we saw no place to sit. I asked an attendant and she pointed to 2 chairs in the rear next to the roped off Haven area and said that was the handicapped section. We sat there along with several others who were in wheelchairs or had walkers.

 

About 20 minutes later an attendant came by and said that we had to move because the Haven area was full and they needed that area for Haven passengers to sit and that the handicapped people would have to stand up and wait. Nobody moved. She kept telling us we had to move but everyone refused. They could have gone to another area nearby to ask people who were not handicapped to move.

 

A few Haven passengers came into the area and told us we had to move because we were just regular passengers and they were "Haven". This was our 57th cruise and even though it was the first cruise for some of them, they thought they were too good to sit among us "regular passengers" even though there was a special area for the Haven passengers, roped off, with signs, and we were sitting in an area that we were told was for handicapped people.

 

After threatening to call security and still no one moving to let the "high class" people sit, the attendants gave up and instead let the Haven people go directly on the ship. It used to mean something when you achieved the status of being a Diamond member, with your own waiting area, but now you are just one of the "regular passengers" compared to a first time cruiser in the Haven. I think this was our last Norwegian cruise.

[RocketMan275]

11 hours ago, tallyho8 said:

I think this was our last Norwegian cruise.

Was this your first cruise from NOLA?

It sounds like most of these issues were caused by NOLA port personnel who do not work for NCL.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

We sailed on 12/4 and it was a mess in spots.

we arrived at 9:30 and went straight through security.  Line was relatively short and we were through it in 7-8 minutes.

 

went to the Diamond line and only had two people ahead of us and there were many desks open.

 

no special seating area as in the past, only the side room for Haven.  The problem is that the waiting area is simply too small for a ship this size.  There were not enough seats for everyone so people gravitate toward the front, which clogs up the works when boarding starts and people with their massive bags will not move.  So what if their boarding ticket seats 35.

 

announcements are made bu someone who does not know how to use a microphone and only makes the announcement one time, so of course no one knew what was said.

 

but the actual processing was very quick and easy, it’s just crowd control in the waiting area.  These employees are not cruise line staff so not NCLs fault, but the port needs to get a grip on security in this situation.  I will say everyone was very friendly, especially the two ladies who cleaned continuously in the restrooms.

[tallyho8]

13 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

Was this your first cruise from NOLA?

It sounds like most of these issues were caused by NOLA port personnel who do not work for NCL.

I have cruised from New Orleans over 20 times. If these people in the NCL uniforms are not direct employees of NCL, they most definitely are taking instructions from NCL.

[BirdTravels]

59 minutes ago, tallyho8 said:

I have cruised from New Orleans over 20 times. If these people in the NCL uniforms are not direct employees of NCL, they most definitely are taking instructions from NCL.

The shore personnel are employees of the local agent. They are not NCL employees. Same at most ports. 

[trouble1964]

I have a friend that did this itinerary in December. It was her first cruise. She said that it took about 3 hours from the time they arrived at the terminal until they were on the ship. I have NEVER had to wait that long on any line. Maybe it being her first cruise, she hadn't done the online registry?? I don't know because I didn't think to ask her. 

 

Our boarding time is around 1:30 I think. We did a cruise out of Port Canaveral in September and arrived at our appointment time (different line) and were on board within 30 minutes of being dropped of at the terminal. 

 

 

 

 

[beachmiker]

On 12/27/2022 at 6:34 PM, tallyho8 said:

I have cruised from New Orleans over 20 times. If these people in the NCL uniforms are not direct employees of NCL, they most definitely are taking instructions from NCL.

This is the point most everyone seems to ignore. Seems a bigger venue and more seats might actually help the situation.

[RocketMan275]

On 12/27/2022 at 8:34 PM, tallyho8 said:

I have cruised from New Orleans over 20 times. If these people in the NCL uniforms are not direct employees of NCL, they most definitely are taking instructions from NCL.

That wasn't the problem.  For example, as I pointed out earlier, we had to show our boarding passes, vaccination proof, COVID test proof at three different points while standing in the security line.  At the time NOLA was strictly enforcing masking mandates.  NCL was not.  Therefore, the masking requirements stemmed from NOLA port personnel not NCL.  Once we arrived at the checkin desk, NCL didn't ask for proof of vaccination or COVID.  Once again, had to be port personnel and not NCL giving them instructions.