Breakaway: never been so happy to leave a ship...

I hadn't reserved any, didn't feel like dealing with a line or the crowds, and honestly we kind of think the shows are cheesy. On all ships. That said, Bollywood on Dawn was a fantastic show. We loved it.

Jai Ho! My daughter and I still do our Bollywood impression!

Sorry about your trip. I felt the same way on my July Breakaway trip. I think the luster is off cruising for me. I can't imagine the Escape with even more staterooms to public space.

I thought that with all the bells and whistles I would be entertained, but found myself bored with a lot of the entertainment and hated that I had to reserve everything.

The only time I found the Haven area relaxing was in the very early morning, but there was often lots of trash blowing around that had not been cleaned up from the night before.

Hope your next vacation (as well as mine) is better!

You actually can find out how much space there is per person. There is actually more on BA than Dawn. But I have no idea where that space is actually located. And if everything is crowded into one place (poor design) you can throw those numbers out the window.

It's actually broken down by the different small public spaces spread out in Decks 6-7-8 and decks 15-18. But Haven suites and plus their courtyard takes up overall public space for everyone on decks 15 & 16 - So, it's a case of damn if do, damn if you don't. *shrug*

In other words, Haven guests gets the space that would had benefited everyone on the sundecks, literally locked behind access key access that only they can get to. No offense - I wouldn't complain if I was them regarding any spacing, since it's about hundred of them in their 1/3 private deck enclave to the thousands spread out in the public areas.....That's what you basically paid for and that's what you got over the other 'masses', just saying...

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I believe all the frequent cruisers will start to avoid the really big ships and they eventually will get the idea. Hopefully!

I agree, at some point, wasting precious vacation time at Guest Services isn't worth it.

 

I regret all the time I wasted at Guest Services on the Getaway last summer. NCL had assured me that our balcony cabin was across the hall from the entrance to the studio cabin area (where my mom was staying), as their deck plan indicates. There was no door there, as it turns out, which was a major pain the whole week. Since we couldn't switch cabins (full ship), I tried to get some type of OBC as compensation.

 

I wasted about 3 hours standing in line at Guest Services and talking to reps there who were not helpful, understanding, or apologetic, and who kept promising to contact me once they'd received feedback from their boss. They never contacted me, so back to Guest Services I trudged again and again.

 

I never got any OBC, but during part of the time I spent at Guest Services, for example, I missed taking my son to the pool to play on the slides with some friends he had met. I wasted those 3 hours instead of enjoying my vacation.

 

I finally got some future cruise credit after emailing a complaint to NCL when I got home. After I use up that credit, I don't plan to sail with NCL again.

You really expected to get OBC for a misprint like that? :eek::rolleyes:

3 hours? thats just nutz:eek:

You really expected to get OBC for a misprint like that? :eek::rolleyes:

 

3 hours? thats just nutz:eek:

I believe all the frequent cruisers will start to avoid the really big ships and they eventually will get the idea. Hopefully!

Ditto on both points. [emoji52] You're both saying it alot nicer than me....

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You really expected to get OBC for a misprint like that? :eek::rolleyes:

 

3 hours? thats just nutz:eek:

I was thinking the same thing.

You really expected to get OBC for a misprint like that? :eek::rolleyes:

 

3 hours? thats just nutz:eek:

We love the extra options large ships provide. RCI spreads the interest around the ship, so no place gets jammed.

The poster did get future cruise credits after writing to NCL. I think the cruise lines are far too quick to give someone something for small issues. All that has done, is make people think they can get something for every little thing that they don't like and they are willing to spend 3 hours of their vacation trying to get something. I think the cruise lines need to start using these little words "we are sorry" more often and stop handing out OBC or future cruise credits to everyone who has a issue.

We need a like button!:)

The poster did get future cruise credits after writing to NCL. I think the cruise lines are far too quick to give someone something for small issues. All that has done, is make people think they can get something for every little thing that they don't like and they are willing to spend 3 hours of their vacation trying to get something. I think the cruise lines need to start using these little words "we are sorry" more often and stop handing out OBC or future cruise credits to everyone who has a issue.

True but with that level of crazy cray-cray at Guest Services - tossing $250 for a future cruise that they might never take because they still have to pay for the remaining balance for the trip, to shut them up; is a extremely small price to pay for one's employees safety and wellbeing. Just saying - some people don't really think ahead nor look at half, let alone most of the possibilities /consequences / flip side/ hidden costs (money and/or emotional wellbeing) regarding themselves. Especially when they think they got something for free for complaining - some cases it's completely free, but NOT all cases .

That particular situation that was posted earlier - pretty much guarantee the NCL is going to make money off them even if they picked an interior. Why? Still gotta pay the hundreds in fare anyway to use the OBC.....and if they don't cruise with them, still better because NCL doesn't have to deal with them anymore. Win-Win all around for NCL. *Shrug*

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I think the cruise lines need to start using these little words "we are sorry" more often and stop handing out OBC or future cruise credits to everyone who has a issue.

Jai Ho! My daughter and I still do our Bollywood impression!

 

Sorry about your trip. I felt the same way on my July Breakaway trip. I think the luster is off cruising for me. I can't imagine the Escape with even more staterooms to public space.

 

I thought that with all the bells and whistles I would be entertained, but found myself bored with a lot of the entertainment and hated that I had to reserve everything.

 

The only time I found the Haven area relaxing was in the very early morning, but there was often lots of trash blowing around that had not been cleaned up from the night before.

 

Hope your next vacation (as well as mine) is better!

Lol @ Jai Ho! The Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack is terrific, I walk the dogs to it all the time.

I might be off cruising, too. The BA broke me! Ugh I'm sick just thinking about it.

I have a Carnival cruise coming up but I can totally deal with a smaller ship.

The "mega ship" trend has really changed the way my husband and I feel about cruising. We love the QM2 but that's about as big as we want to go. So we've decided that after our TCM Classic Cruise we will just cruise much less often, so that we can enjoy a cruise line with smaller ships such as Azamara. Better to enjoy the quality on a ship sized for our needs even if it takes longer to budget for the considerably higher cost. NCL was one of our favorite lines until so many recent changes under the new management made even the smaller ships (such as the Gem) less attractive to us. Unfortunately we now seem to have "champagne tastes" on a "beer budget"! I guess we were totally spoiled by the way cruising used to be several decades ago.

Not quite true. There are *many* people that sail 3-4x per year and book only in The Haven. My wife and I are part of that group ;). That is where you find the peace and quiet. In fact, I wouldn't trade The Haven for anything. That is the reason why we went to NCL in the first place.

You are, and I mean no disrespect, an exception. Most people can't afford the Haven, period, let alone 3 or 4 times per year. If you could not travel in the Haven, would you still say its a quiet and peaceful ship with places to relax?

The "mega ship" trend has really changed the way my husband and I feel about cruising. We love the QM2 but that's about as big as we want to go. So we've decided that after our TCM Classic Cruise we will just cruise much less often, so that we can enjoy a cruise line with smaller ships such as Azamara. Better to enjoy the quality on a ship sized for our needs even if it takes longer to budget for the considerably higher cost. NCL was one of our favorite lines until so many recent changes under the new management made even the smaller ships (such as the Gem) less attractive to us. Unfortunately we now seem to have "champagne tastes" on a "beer budget"! I guess we were totally spoiled by the way cruising used to be several decades ago.

I saw an old commercial for how cruising used to be, It looked boring, now it's fun,wild and much cheaper allowing people on all income levels to enjoy cruising.

You are, and I mean no disrespect, an exception. Most people can't afford the Haven, period, let alone 3 or 4 times per year. If you could not travel in the Haven, would you still say its a quiet and peaceful ship with places to relax?

I agree with you completely. I am cruising on the haven in November, this will be my first and likely my last time in New Haven. It is way overpriced. I also doubt there's very many people who can Cruise 3 to 4 times a year in the haven. On my last cruise I met at a family that was extremely well off, and Cruised 4 times a year, they stay in the lowest class room and the husband told me himself we stay in the cheapest room so we can afford to Cruise this many times a year.

Big ships are not for everybody. I loved the Breakaway, Epic , and the Getaway. Probably likes the Breakaway more because of the Bermuda trip, but don't let one review sway you. Do your research and look at what you like to do. I never thought the ship was that crowded, but we don't sail at high volume times like the holidays and summer. I am going on the Jade soon and I don't know if we will

be bored or not after sailing the big ships of NCL, but hey if I am bored on a ship it's much better then being at work.

So far I've done the sky and the epic and I like the epic much more. To me the big ships are awesome, I'm getting ready to do the escape in November and I can't wait.

Thanks, OP, for an interesting review. I love the Jewel-class ships, and I love freestyle. That said, I might be willing to try the GetaBreakaways, provided the cost fit my budget and they sailed anywhere I'd want to go. They currently sail to unacceptably hot destinations, and aren't under consideration for that reason. From reading other reviews, it seems the huge NCL ships require a fair amount of pre-planning and reservation-making even for shipboard activities, and I don't want to be bothered with that on vacation. I'd definitely do an inside or oceanview on the megaships instead of the suite or Haven nonsense. All that "luxury" is lost on the likes of me. I've almost always been able to find isolated cubbyholes onboard cruise ships to get away from the crowds, even on RCI.

I believe all the frequent cruisers will start to avoid the really big ships and they eventually will get the idea. Hopefully!

I think you are right. There will be an emerging market of people who fall in the middle: uninterested in the increasingly crowded NCL (and similar) behemoths, yet not inclined to go for the higher end, higher cost Crystal and Seaborn experience. I imagine that HAL and Celebrity are the likeliest to fill this expanding niche.

Thanks, OP, for an interesting review. I love the Jewel-class ships, and I love freestyle. That said, I might be willing to try the GetaBreakaways, provided the cost fit my budget and they sailed anywhere I'd want to go. They currently sail to unacceptably hot destinations, and aren't under consideration for that reason. From reading other reviews, it seems the huge NCL ships require a fair amount of pre-planning and reservation-making even for shipboard activities, and I don't want to be bothered with that on vacation. I'd definitely do an inside or oceanview on the megaships instead of the suite or Haven nonsense. All that "luxury" is lost on the likes of me. I've almost always been able to find isolated cubbyholes onboard cruise ships to get away from the crowds, even on RCI.

I'll take an aft corner suite on the Spirit or any Dawn or Jewel class ships and I'm a happy camper.

Thanks, OP, for an interesting review. I love the Jewel-class ships, and I love freestyle. That said, I might be willing to try the GetaBreakaways, provided the cost fit my budget and they sailed anywhere I'd want to go. They currently sail to unacceptably hot destinations, and aren't under consideration for that reason. From reading other reviews, it seems the huge NCL ships require a fair amount of pre-planning and reservation-making even for shipboard activities, and I don't want to be bothered with that on vacation. I'd definitely do an inside or oceanview on the megaships instead of the suite or Haven nonsense. All that "luxury" is lost on the likes of me. I've almost always been able to find isolated cubbyholes onboard cruise ships to get away from the crowds, even on RCI.

I didn't really realized that knowing exactly what time I wanted to go watch a show on the Breakaway and just reserving it via the TV in the cabin / Kiosks around the ship or just showing up was too much planning. Also didn't realize that just showing up to event that was listed in the dailies only was 'reserving' especially when 8 different events are happening at the same time at different locations like say 3pm at Bliss, Headliners, Theater, Bar Lounge, Atrium, Spa, Le Bistro, La Cucina - for example.

Personally, I like that Breakaway-class ships are doing milk runs in Caribbean for now - it's totally makes up for the poor pool/sundeck & Haven area-hogging design (Yes, those 100-something suites on decks 15 & 16 takes up alot of prime real estate since those decks are where the bulk of sundeck /pools are at). At least, the Breakaway-class ships have plenty of hidden quiet places to relax at and get away from the crowds - Why, the people complaining didn't bother to like walk around / explore the hidden gems; well, not my issue to resolve. At least, I know where most of the quiet places are onboard, like the sofabeds on deck 16 at front, lol.

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So far I've done the sky and the epic and I like the epic much more. To me the big ships are awesome, I'm getting ready to do the escape in November and I can't wait.

I am amazed when people post how bad the Breakaway (insert other ship) is and are experts without trying or being on the ship. I had a great Breakaway trip and made a fun filled donation to their casino, danced the night away till dawn, ate at a great variety of restaurants saw Rock of Ages for a third time (NY, London and Breakaway), had more than enough to drink, got a massage, ran up a big bill and won at Bingo!

I can say my worst cruise never was at a point that I wanted to get off, with the exception of captaining the jungle cruise at Disney.

Every ship has it's pros-cons but I always seem to have/ or should I say, allow myself to have a great time.

May the time never come that "issues" like "Breakaway salt in the soy sauce, HAL shutting down and going to bed at 10pm, Princess trying new restaurant ideas, Disney kids, Cunard sailing too formal", prevent me from trying something new and enjoying myself. Life is for living and cruising!

MrMan

Interesting thread....

I'm have surgery soon and was thinking of going on the BA "to recover".

I'm probably better off staying home and going to a casino, have massages and B'way shows for a week.

I didn't really realized that knowing exactly what time I wanted to go watch a show on the Breakaway and just reserving it via the TV in the cabin / Kiosks around the ship or just showing up was too much planning.

That'll work for me, especially the "just show up" part. Perhaps those other reviews about pre-planning and reservations were overstated. Not the first time THAT'S ever happened;)