Live from the NCL Breakaway May 6-16, 2023 – Spring in Italy, Greece, Malta and France Roundtrip from Rome

[Greener123]

Wow that’s rough, you basically waited longer for the tour to start than you actually got to spend on the tour. 
 

sorry you didn’t get a good experience, especially for the undoubtably high $$$$ cost. 
 

Don’t think I’ll be booking any excursions with NCL on our September sailing (same itinerary as you) 

[CCTES]

8 minutes ago, Greener123 said:

Wow that’s rough, you basically waited longer for the tour to start than you actually got to spend on the tour. 
 

sorry you didn’t get a good experience, especially for the undoubtably high $$$$ cost. 
 

Don’t think I’ll be booking any excursions with NCL on our September sailing (same itinerary as you) 

Agreed, my mother and I are going a similar itinerary in October and I will be very cautious when booking anything.

[CCTES]

I'm so grateful for all your honest opinions and tips, it really will make a huge difference in my upcoming trip with my mother. I am disappointed on your behalf though and I hope that there were lots of good to outweigh the not-so-good.  Safe journeys home!

[Sunsher28]

Thank you so much for your honest and heartfelt posts.  We are doing a similar cruise in September. This is our bucket list trip and we are so excited. We booked 3 of our excursions through NCL based on length of tour and difficulty of travel to our destination (I.e. Capri). I am so sad to hear the disappointment you have felt on most of your tours with NCL. It has me 2nd guessing our decision. 

[Sand and Seas]

4 hours ago, Happycrafter123 said:

All in all, investing 8 hours of my day to enjoy less than an hour of time in Vence was extremely disappointing.  Time is precious.  This would be like going to Walt Disney world for a full day and getting one ride done.   I do not plan to travel like this in the future, that is for sure.  I could have paid for a private taxi or tour.  I have on my last two cruises booked all excursions with NCL, and for my upcoming Alaskan one have $$$$ invested with NCL for 6 days of tours, but reconsidering that as well as what to do differently in future so that I have opportunity to enjoy the destinations I spend so much time and money travelling to.

Thanks for sharing your lovely photos & interesting review!  So much great information for us all to think about.  

Can you give us an idea of the NCL cost for these excursions?   

 

[southern reader]

@Happycrafter123 would you mind telling us what cabin number y'all had and sharing your thoughts about it?

Edited May 16, 2023 by southern reader

[QuattroRomeo]

Happycrafter, I feel your disappointment. It makes me so mad and sad that after all these years, so many cruiseline excursions continue with the same old herd mentality and make no attempt to improve. Mediocrity continues yet prices keep rising.

 

For those going to the Med later, please Read the cruise reviews on CC. Read the Ports of Call boards on CC. Join tours on your roll call. 8 people in a tour minivan beats a busload any day!

 

I really hope Alaska is a better experience for you. I see you like YVRteacher's posts, and she has several tips for Alaska after multiple cruises. There are lots of other reviews building up already as well. Check out the other cruise line reviews; the ports are the same! We have only done one Alaska sailing. I booked a trip with Alaska Shore Tours- Yukon Discovery tour from Skagway (signed up directly online with them) and it was an excellent day. 

 

[Happycrafter123]

11 hours ago, CCTES said:

I'm so grateful for all your honest opinions and tips, it really will make a huge difference in my upcoming trip with my mother. I am disappointed on your behalf though and I hope that there were lots of good to outweigh the not-so-good.  Safe journeys home!

Thank you for the well wishes!!  Life and vacations too are a lottery of experiences, I will wish you an excellent vacation too and hopefully some of the bugs will have worked out as the season goes so it is smoother for you.  I hope these tips will help your planning.

[Happycrafter123]

1 hour ago, QuattroRomeo said:

Happycrafter, I feel your disappointment. It makes me so mad and sad that after all these years, so many cruiseline excursions continue with the same old herd mentality and make no attempt to improve. Mediocrity continues yet prices keep rising.

 

For those going to the Med later, please Read the cruise reviews on CC. Read the Ports of Call boards on CC. Join tours on your roll call. 8 people in a tour minivan beats a busload any day!

 

I really hope Alaska is a better experience for you. I see you like YVRteacher's posts, and she has several tips for Alaska after multiple cruises. There are lots of other reviews building up already as well. Check out the other cruise line reviews; the ports are the same! We have only done one Alaska sailing. I booked a trip with Alaska Shore Tours- Yukon Discovery tour from Skagway (signed up directly online with them) and it was an excellent day. 

 

Thank you!  Yes I’ll be doing a lot of research in the next few days and weeks for the next one!  Luckily my Alaska journey is later in the season so time to hear hmwhat others are experiencing.

[Happycrafter123]

5 hours ago, southern reader said:

@Happycrafter123 would you mind telling us what cabin number y'all had and sharing your thoughts about it?

Cabin was 13838.  It is about half way between the aft and forward stairwells and elevators.   Room is the same as all the other standard balconies, however the placement is a little awkward for the balcony.  The ship is wider in the middle, and then narrows on the edges,  our neighbour, 13836, had an angled balcony facing in to ours, which diminished our privacy and view.  Cabin 13834 next to that would have had a more unobstructed view and privacy.

[Happycrafter123]

8 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

Thanks for sharing your lovely photos & interesting review!  So much great information for us all to think about.  

Can you give us an idea of the NCL cost for these excursions?   

 

Here is the listing of excursions.  The availability fluctuated day by day and minute by minute as folks cancelled and booked spots.  The tv in bedroom is best way to book as these don’t all show up in the app, possibly newer or locally developed.  We each got a $50 USD discount as we had the PLUS package.   
 

i had compared prices with shore excursions group and other operators but with the discount it was very comparable price wise.

 

 

 

 

[Happycrafter123]

Disembarkation instructions per the below

 

 

 

 

[Happycrafter123]

Disembarkation started about 40 minutes late with the first group called at 640ish

 

we had only carry on so left our room then.  Huge wait for elevators so we took stairs to 7.  Line up was already right across the entire 7th floor, so folks must have lined up before the announcement.  
 

we had gotten the priority service, but there was no signage so as we approached the end of the long line I showed my card to a staff member and they escorted us to an expedited departure area through the breakaway theatre on the 7th floor, which is also where the folks with tours were meeting.

 

we then had to go through a terminal but no security, exited the front of the terminal just after 7.  There was a covered area to wait for your transport with benches and also some public bathrooms that were free to enter and relatively clean.

 

we had originally arranged a 7am pick up by bobs limo, but they said that they would not wait more than 30m if we were late, and so I had moved it to 8.  The driver showed up at 7:45 and we were at airport by 8:45

 

the drive from port to airport is scenic through countryside on a highway.

 

our driver, though, stopped at one point at the port to pick up a sketchy looking hitchhiker!!!  He then took a long detour to drop him off at the other end of the industrial section of the port.  I was terrified we were going to be kidnapped or have our stuff stolen.  I have never had a private driver service or cab just stop like that to allow a stranger in and give them a lift.  !!!!    Luckily it turned out ok.

 

at the airport, long lines for entry.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 16, 2023 by Happycrafter123

[Happycrafter123]

20 hours ago, bdodd444 said:

Thanks so much for this thread.  We are on the Breakaway late July/Early August on a similar itinerary, and this has been very helpful.  We typically go on our own, so I was wondering if you happened to notice which pier you docked in Livorno?  Trying to figure out transport to train station or rental car at the port.  Did you notice nearby bus stops or rental car agencies by your pier?  Any observations would be greatly appreciated.

 

Brian

I’m sorry, I’ve looked back through my photos and don’t know for sure.  I can say the port had a larger mall like building with many shops in it, and so it is almost certain there were cabs for hire.  In general all the ports had cabs (except Santorini) and most also had hop on hop off and other tours you could sign up for/ buy a ticket for (not through NCL) just outside the port gates.

[bdodd444]

42 minutes ago, Happycrafter123 said:

I’m sorry, I’ve looked back through my photos and don’t know for sure.  I can say the port had a larger mall like building with many shops in it, and so it is almost certain there were cabs for hire.  In general all the ports had cabs (except Santorini) and most also had hop on hop off and other tours you could sign up for/ buy a ticket for (not through NCL) just outside the port gates.

Thanks very much.  I really appreciate the reply.

[southern reader]

@Happycrafter123 thank you so very much for your insight and photos! You have been a tremendous blessing, and we are all very grateful.  I truly hope your Alaska cruise more than makes up for the disappointments in this one!  Have a safe flight back and all the best to you. 

[Happycrafter123]

6 minutes ago, southern reader said:

@Happycrafter123 thank you so very much for your insight and photos! You have been a tremendous blessing, and we are all very grateful.  I truly hope your Alaska cruise more than makes up for the disappointments in this one!  Have a safe flight back and all the best to you. 

I was happy to share the experience and chat throughout, thank you for the company!!

[gatorchinsky]

Thank you for all your helpful information! Even with the issues you had, I hope you enjoyed your trip.

 

I can’t believe how long the line is/was at the airport. How long did it take for you to check in and go through security?

[gatorchinsky]

On 5/9/2023 at 10:53 PM, Happycrafter123 said:

 We did walk up to the top of the acropolis the see the Parthenon.  It was pretty and good views of Athens though an active archeological site so a lot of scaffolding and stuff.  It took 1 1/2 hours from entry to exit with many pauses for photos and the guide to talk.

 

our tour did not include the museum which I regretted.

 

It was very slippery at the acropolis given the rocks and marble.  Make sure you have shoes with very good grip.  My running shoes are too worn on the base, apparently, for this so I kept slipping, it was like walking on ice in winter.  Hubby had almost brand new shoes with close to factory level grip left so he was fine.  I wanted comfortable shoes but wish I had taken a newer pair with good grippy soles.  Similar issue to Santorini, it takes the fun out of the day when you keep slipping and have to watch the ground continuously rather than the sites.

apart from this our tour drive around a lot.

 

the tour was a small group tour and I would actually recommend it.  You can not book on app.  You would need to call and ask about it on the phone from NCL.  It was only 16 people.

 

As of right now, we are booked on the excursion The Acropolis and Leisure which seems like the same one you took. I just wanted to see what actually you see at the Acropolis? I’ve read about the Acropolis but still confused by it all. Thx!

[Happycrafter123]

19 minutes ago, gatorchinsky said:

Thank you for all your helpful information! Even with the issues you had, I hope you enjoyed your trip.

 

I can’t believe how long the line is/was at the airport. How long did it take for you to check in and go through security?

Yes, a vacation is always a pleasure, even with the bumps along the way.

 

we had managed to find a rare good deal on business class seats so splurged, so we’re able to go through expedited lines.  It took us maybe 45 minutes to an hour?
 

even for those who had done online check in, we all had to line in to enter airport, then go to the check in desk for the air carrier to check passports and give printed boarding passes.  Then we had to go through security.  Then after that passport control.

[Happycrafter123]

1 minute ago, gatorchinsky said:

As of right now, we are booked on the excursion The Acropolis and Leisure which seems like the same one you took. I just wanted to see what actually you see at the Acropolis? I’ve read about the Acropolis but still confused by it all. Thx!

the acropolis is interesting.  You see very old ruins of the Greeks.  We did book a small group tour through NCL.  Wear good shoes as the stones are slippery.  Here’s some pictures

 

 

[southern reader]

On 4/26/2023 at 7:39 PM, Happycrafter123 said:

We have low bids on Haven so unlikely to get any, but hope springs eternal so we check our NCL app about 20x per day to see if room # has changed — any of you do this?  Currently we have dinning package and vibe which we will cancel if we get the bid, to offset cost.  
 

Current plans, assuming no winning bid:

 

Hi @Happycrafter123, I hope you have made it home safely when you see this.  I have one more question.  Were you able to book Six and Burn the Floor 21 days out on your app?  If not, when  and how did you book them?  Thank you

[Happycrafter123]

2 hours ago, southern reader said:

Hi @Happycrafter123, I hope you have made it home safely when you see this.  I have one more question.  Were you able to book Six and Burn the Floor 21 days out on your app?  If not, when  and how did you book them?  Thank you

I did book six and burn the floor on the app before the cruise.  I think the day after online check in on the 20th but I could be misremembering.  It was around that time.

 

i really liked burn the floor but six wasn’t my cup of tea, still something to do in an evening.

 

we really liked the magic act, which was more of a comedy show.  It was on two nights, once in the first half and one on the last night.  Watch the dailies for notifications.  No reservation needed.

 

 

[southern reader]

1 minute ago, Happycrafter123 said:

I did book six and burn the floor on the app before the cruise.  I think the day after online check in on the 20th but I could be misremembering.  It was around that time.

 

i really liked burn the floor but six wasn’t my cup of tea, still something to do in an evening.

 

we really liked the magic act, which was more of a comedy show.  It was on two nights, once in the first half and one on the last night.  Watch the dailies for notifications.  No reservation needed.

 

 

Okay. Thank you.  Yeah, I saw a short video online of Six and wondered how I would like it as I didn't think it would be my cup of tea either. I will check out the magic show!  Hope you got home safely. 🙂

[Happycrafter123]

Made it to Montreal and waiting for our next connection.  Some more photos and thoughts to post when I settle back home.