Breakaway bound- first NCL cruise!

[ksteskel]

We are experienced cruisers, but are doing a last minute NCL cruise in August! Can you share any tips for dining (getting ressies, favorite restaurants), entertainment etc ...   Thank you!

[www3traveler]

Be prepared for itinerary possible changes.  Hurricane Beryl is and has caused tremendous damage in many places.

 

One of my favorite restaurants is Ocean Blue.  Even as a solo passenger, Ocean Blue is the only place that I make reservations.

 

Enjoy

[debenson0723]

1 hour ago, ksteskel said:

We are experienced cruisers, but are doing a last minute NCL cruise in August! Can you share any tips for dining (getting ressies, favorite restaurants), entertainment etc ...   Thank you!

Puruse the first couple of pages of the NCL board and you will find lots of info (there is a dining tips question literally under yours right now). YouTube will also have some great videos on the ship itself if you want to get the lay of the land.

As Mandy said be prepared for possible changes during Hurricane season. This is only the first major one and lots can happen in the next few weeks.

But mainly just enjoy your cruise. If you have sailed on the other mass market lines they are more alike than different.

[BirdTravels]

9 hours ago, ksteskel said:

We are experienced cruisers, but are doing a last minute NCL cruise in August! Can you share any tips for dining (getting ressies, favorite restaurants), entertainment etc ...   Thank you!

 

Restaurant reservations opened in April (130-120 days prior to your departure), so popular restaurants on popular days and times (e.g., 6:30 pm on a sea day) are probably scarce or sold out. You will need to go to the Teppanyaki restaurant on embarkation day (Deck 6, Mid-ship) to make reservations. 

 

Your next milestone is Day 21, midnight US Eastern time. At that time you can check-in online and select your port arrival/check-in time. You can probably also book Burn the Floor at that time. 

 

If you want to peek at the ship, the following is a link to my live post from 2022. The menus are out of date, but you can see photos of the ship and get a general idea of what the ship has via the Freestyle Dailies.

 

 

 

[PatandStu]

My sister and I loved “Howl at the Moon”. We enjoyed the piano players several nights.  I have yet to find a funny comedian on any cruise. 😞

[KKB]

On 7/4/2024 at 1:50 PM, ksteskel said:

We are experienced cruisers, but are doing a last minute NCL cruise in August! Can you share any tips for dining (getting ressies, favorite restaurants), entertainment etc ...   Thank you!

Our fav things about the Breakaway are Syd Norman's & Waterfront.

Waterfront is deck 8--seating, bars & restaurant seating around nearly the whole deck. Usually less busy early in the cruise.

Syd Norman's: they typically do 4 different shows/wk PLUS Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album top to bottom, 2 shows one evening mid-cruise. This is a show that feels like a great cover band of mostly late 70s-80s music. It is a small venue & popular, which means you need to line up 30-45 min. prior to get a good seat. You MIGHT get standing room only if you just walk in...or you might not. Like Waterfront, tends to get more busy as the cruise progresses. We sit on the end of the whiskey bar where we can see the door to Syds & grab a drink 60-90 min. b4 showtime. Once the line begins to form we jump in. Now, this is to get the seats we prefer. You can relax this timeline if you aren't choosy.

NOW, if you find the bar is full, WELL--head out to waterfront on the same side as Syd's & there is seating outside & they pipe the music out there. ALMOST as good!

Have a great time!

[stellarose33]

53 minutes ago, KKB said:

Our fav things about the Breakaway are Syd Norman's & Waterfront.

Waterfront is deck 8--seating, bars & restaurant seating around nearly the whole deck. Usually less busy early in the cruise.

Syd Norman's: they typically do 4 different shows/wk PLUS Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album top to bottom, 2 shows one evening mid-cruise. This is a show that feels like a great cover band of mostly late 70s-80s music. It is a small venue & popular, which means you need to line up 30-45 min. prior to get a good seat. You MIGHT get standing room only if you just walk in...or you might not. Like Waterfront, tends to get more busy as the cruise progresses. We sit on the end of the whiskey bar where we can see the door to Syds & grab a drink 60-90 min. b4 showtime. Once the line begins to form we jump in. Now, this is to get the seats we prefer. You can relax this timeline if you aren't choosy.

NOW, if you find the bar is full, WELL--head out to waterfront on the same side as Syd's & there is seating outside & they pipe the music out there. ALMOST as good!

Have a great time!

is getaway just like breakaway (common areas/ shows/ etc?)

[KKB]

1 hour ago, stellarose33 said:

is getaway just like breakaway (common areas/ shows/ etc?)

Almost identical tho theatre shows r different.