Which ships?

[ziggyuk]

I just got back from the Breakaway and while the ship was lovely, I would not sail the Breakaway class again as they lack most the things I like.

I love the Jewel class ships and love the Encore, what everyone likes is subjective so this is what I look for in a ship and what I felt was missing on the breakaway.

The biggest missing area on the Breakaway was the Spinnaker Lounge, I love an area with big windows where you can spread out, enjoy a drink and the views.

Live music at the bars, I love the Jewel class having live music at each of the bars, you just walk around and find a singer, musician or band you want to listen too. The lack of a Spinnaker lounge meant the Atrium was crowded with no seats when anything was happening.

I loved Syd Norman's and Headliners but as they were fixed time shows they had to be booked or have to be stood in line to get in for a short show that mostly clashed with dinner or the main theatre show, unlike the Jewel class where you just find music you like at a bar after Dinner or the show without fixed times, tickets or lines.

I also felt there were not enough bars and that they were too small and crowded on the Breakaway, probably as there was no lounge everyone went to the bars or atrium in the evenings.

One of our friends went on the Prima's first TA an had similar complains, the Atrium & bars being crowded and unable to get a seat and lack of music venues, so I don't think the Prima class will fit or needs either.
 

 

With this in mind, which ships are like the Breakaway class and don't have a Spinnaker/observation Lounge (I believe the removal of this is key to the crowding at other venues). I'm thinking of the Escape, Joy & Bliss etc
I am on the Spirit next which appears to have all the venues I look for on a ship.

Edited December 20, 2022 by ziggyuk

[shof515]

Escape does not have the observation lounge. This is on the Joy, Bliss, Encore, Prima

[dexddd]

Ships are like food, often subjective to peoples' tastes.

 

We stayed in best room on BA and the ship not our favorite.  We would not spend money to go on BA or GA again.  BA just too crowded and poor flow.  We did Escape and loved it.

 

Also did Prima and a nice ship.  That does have observation lounge but the few times we went through it was like a nursing home with folks spread out sleeping taking up every bit of furniture they could put a body part on.  It is a tough balance if having public venues and revenue generating spaces.  

 

That said, we too love Spirit and have sailed twice and would go again but prices too high.

[KeithJenner]

From what I know of you, I think you will love the Spirit.

 

We also like the Jewel class, but Spirit is probably our favourite.

[ziggyuk]

20 minutes ago, shof515 said:

Escape does not have the observation lounge. This is on the Joy, Bliss, Encore, Prima

That is really useful, thank you, I hoped the joy and Bliss would be similar to my experience on the Encore.

[ziggyuk]

22 minutes ago, dexddd said:

Ships are like food, often subjective to peoples' tastes.

 

We stayed in best room on BA and the ship not our favorite.  We would not spend money to go on BA or GA again.  BA just too crowded and poor flow.  We did Escape and loved it.

 

Also did Prima and a nice ship.  That does have observation lounge but the few times we went through it was like a nursing home with folks spread out sleeping taking up every bit of furniture they could put a body part on.  It is a tough balance if having public venues and revenue generating spaces.  

 

That said, we too love Spirit and have sailed twice and would go again but prices too high.

 

Thank you, I assumed the GA would be the save as the BA and probably avoided for my tastes.

[ziggyuk]

2 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

From what I know of you, I think you will love the Spirit.

 

We also like the Jewel class, but Spirit is probably our favourite.

 

Thanks Keith, as soon as I got back from the BA I have to re check the venues and I agree, I think we will love the Spirit.

Interesting it has two pubs, the Local and Harry's pub, odd to have two.
The Spinnaker lounge also looks like it has great unobstructed views too.

[hallux]

43 minutes ago, ziggyuk said:

That is really useful, thank you, I hoped the joy and Bliss would be similar to my experience on the Encore.

Bliss, Joy, Encore and Escape are Breakaway+ ships, all but the Escape have the Observation Lounge (which is GORGEOUS) and segregated smoking area in the casino, and all but the Encore have Spice H20.

 

On the Bliss and Joy it seemed like there was always music playing in several locations around the ship - DBH, Sugarcane, Cavern Club, OL, Atrium - any combination of those...

[ziggyuk]

5 minutes ago, hallux said:

Bliss, Joy, Encore and Escape are Breakaway+ ships, all but the Escape have the Observation Lounge (which is GORGEOUS) and segregated smoking area in the casino, and all but the Encore have Spice H20.

 

On the Bliss and Joy it seemed like there was always music playing in several locations around the ship - DBH, Sugarcane, Cavern Club, OL, Atrium - any combination of those...

 

Brilliant thank you.
It appears just the BA, GA and Escape will not be a good fit for me.

[hallux]

52 minutes ago, ziggyuk said:

Escape

For what it's worth - I'm giving the Escape a try in March.  I've LOVED the Joy and Bliss but I wanted a different itinerary.  If I do a PC transit it will be on one of those two, though.  I haven't tried the Encore, but I don't like that Spice was removed...

[Turtles06]

6 minutes ago, hallux said:

For what it's worth - I'm giving the Escape a try in March.  I've LOVED the Joy and Bliss but I wanted a different itinerary.  If I do a PC transit it will be on one of those two, though.  I haven't tried the Encore, but I don't like that Spice was removed...

Just know that the transit on those big ships will go through the new locks, not the original, historic locks, which many consider more interesting, especially for a first transit. 

[bluesea777]

1 hour ago, ziggyuk said:

It appears just the BA, GA and Escape will not be a good fit for me.

 

Throw in both the Star and Dawn to the list. No forward observation lounges (they were removed in favour of Family Suites (which are indeed very nice). Their Spinnaker (now called Bliss Ultra lounge) is on deck 7 aft - dark with no windows! These two are our least favorite ships, except for the Family Suites.

 

 

[ziggyuk]

1 hour ago, bluesea777 said:

 

Throw in both the Star and Dawn to the list. No forward observation lounges (they were removed in favour of Family Suites (which are indeed very nice). Their Spinnaker (now called Bliss Ultra lounge) is on deck 7 aft - dark with no windows! These two are our least favorite ships, except for the Family Suites.

 

 

 

Oh wow, thanks for that, I would have assumed those two ships would have had the lounge.

Its now BA, GA, Escape, Star & dawn.

[ChiefMateJRK]

12 minutes ago, ziggyuk said:

 

Oh wow, thanks for that, I would have assumed those two ships would have had the lounge.

Its now BA, GA, Escape, Star & dawn.

Epic and POA also lack observation lounges.  I'll avoid the six non-HI ships.  I will sail the POA again just to revisit HI.  I don't consider that one a "real" cruise.

Edited December 20, 2022 by ChiefMateJRK

[ziggyuk]

54 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Epic and POA also lack observation lounges.  I'll avoid the six non-HI ships.  I will sail the POA again just to revisit HI.  I don't consider that one a "real" cruise.

 

Thanks again for this increasing list, I might have to brave the POA one day just for the location 🤩

 

My no go are now BA, GA, Escape, Star, dawn & Epic 😲

[MagnoliaBlossom]

6 hours ago, KeithJenner said:

From what I know of you, I think you will love the Spirit.

 

We also like the Jewel class, but Spirit is probably our favourite.

We loved the Spirit.  Beautiful, classy ship.

[bluesea777]

2 hours ago, ziggyuk said:

 

Oh wow, thanks for that, I would have assumed those two ships would have had the lounge.

Its now BA, GA, Escape, Star & dawn.

 

... and Epic.

 

[ziggyuk]

33 minutes ago, bluesea777 said:

 

... and Epic.

 

 

😂There will be nothing left.

BA, GA, Escape, Star, Epic, POA & dawn

[ziggyuk]

7 hours ago, KeithJenner said:

From what I know of you, I think you will love the Spirit.

 

We also like the Jewel class, but Spirit is probably our favourite.

 

54 minutes ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

We loved the Spirit.  Beautiful, classy ship.

You are getting me excited about my upcoming cruise 🤩

[bluesea777]

6 minutes ago, ziggyuk said:

 

😂There will be nothing left.

BA, GA, Escape, Star, Epic, POA & dawn

 

BUT, we'd go on any of these last 4 ships if the itinerary takes preference over the ship itself.

 

We like the BA, GA and Escape because of the Waterfront.

 

 

Edited December 20, 2022 by bluesea777

[ChiefMateJRK]

19 minutes ago, ziggyuk said:

 

😂There will be nothing left.

BA, GA, Escape, Star, Epic, POA & dawn

That's the exhaustive list.  All other NCL ships have observation lounges.

[J0Y0US]

I will just add that Epic is considered one of the best Havens because it has a workout room, sauna, and outdoor dining area.

 

You might not cruise Haven ever but thought I would add it in there if someone reads through.

 

We are on Epic month and it would be a drawback if you were not Haven (but the Haven room on our specific cruise was much different in pricing than booking multiple balcony rooms on NCL, RCL, Carnival, and was cheaper than Disney).