Second time on the Breakaway - 5 Tips

Just off the Breakaway on Sunday. It was my second time sailing her with the last being September to Bermuda in an Aft Penthouse. This time, we were in a FWD Penthouse suite, so will have some comparisons of the two as well. Not a full review as there have been many of those, but just some tips and thoughts.

Overall, Breakaway is still my favorite NCL ship. It’s a refinement of the Epic concept, but overall has smaller public spaces.

The weather was terrible nearly the entire cruise. Going down, a cold front was moving through the entire country and carried with it high winds that swayed the ship like I’ve never felt before and this was my 10th cruise. I have never had to take motion sickness medicine, but had to this time.

TIP #1: Motion sickness medicine (not Dramamine brand), is available at the front desk for free. The main reason I avoided taking it before is because I didn’t want to sleep away my cruise, but this kind DID NOT make me or my friend drowsy (even with drinks)! Its effectiveness lasts for 12 hours.

Fireworks were postponed twice due to rain and wind, but were eventually performed on Friday night. Typically is performed on Wednesday night with the Glow party.

We missed the private island due to high winds (tendering would be unsafe), but were able to dock and overnight in Nassau instead so all was not lost.

TIP #2: The Atlantis Aquarium is FREE at nights! Just walk right in and explore for yourself, if you’re ever in Nassau late.

Casino was as stiff as always and there were terrible odds at the tables. Blackjack is now minimum $50 for 6 deck shoe (was $25 min last September). $6, $10, $15, and $25 are automatic shuffle. $15 and up pay 3:2 for Blackjack. $6 and $10 pays 6:5.

TIP#3: If you are promised a free drink card (as I was), be sure to get it in writing! I did not and had to wait 2 days for the casino host to contact the Miami office to verify.

The FWD Penthouse was nice, but I much preferred the AFT penthouse. The FWD Penthouse had a ton of hull noise, especially with the high winds. And you felt the rough seas much more so than the aft. The balcony is incredibly small, and you cannot see the water line nor can you see directly in front of you from the balcony, as the hull blocks your view. You can see the front from the porthole int he bedroom. That said, being closer to the Haven is a plus.

NOTE: One butler covers all 10 FWD Penthouse suites (same setup for AFT suites). That’s a ton for any one person, so keep that in mind when you’re running them ragged or if he’s constantly on his phone. The night butler covers all 80!! suites, so be patient when ordering late night room service. Our night butler was out of breathe when he arrived with our food, so we asked if he just ran from the back and indeed he had. Apparently the ship layout and galley are much less efficient and smaller than on Epic, which causes some issues.

Tip #4: In the Haven, you can order room service off the menu. Order whatever you want. They’ll do everything they can to get it to you. My husband loves pickles and one night was craving fried pickles. We called our butler and, bless his heart, he delivered literally fried pickles (no breading) to our room. We also ordered french toast, which is not on the menu, nearly every morning.

Pools:

I hate the pools on the Breakaway. They are small, congested, un-inspired and in general poorly designed. Why NCL chose to clutter the pool deck with large service areas and “The Marketplace” is beyond me. It makes the area feel cramped and un-relaxing. Add in the fact that they do Nickelodeon shows on the stage in the middle of the adult pool and it is just a total waste. Why not do Nick shows in the kiddie pool area?

The Haven pool has its own problems. I wish they would designate one of the hot tubs as adults only. We had a lot of kids (surprising since it was the week before Thanksgiving), and at times there were two or three in each hot tub. The splash pool is a real waste of space. There were architects onboard and in the Haven Courtyard with plans on the first day, so maybe they are changing some things. The Haven Courtyard was consistently cold, even when it was warmer outside, not something you want when you’re swimming.

Shows:

We saw both Burn the Floor and Rock of Ages (for the second time). I enjoyed Burn the Floor more than I expected, partly because it wasn’t a long show - 45 minutes. That’s the perfect duration for my NYC attention span, even on vacation. Sad, I know! I believe the show on Wednesday was longer.

Rock of Ages was good, but they’ve added some scenes since my last cruise and it just felt much too drawn out.

Tip #5: We didn’t make reservations for either, but were able to get in because they reserve extra seats for Haven guests. The theater was full for both shows, so if you’re not in the Haven, you might not be as lucky. There was a very long line for standbys.

Bonus Tip:

Uptown is great and sort of a hidden gem. You can get made to order burgers and fries including Veggie and Turkey burgers. They are really good burgers. You can also get made to order tossed salads like many of the salad shops in NYC. You won't be disappointed!

Happy to answer any questions.

I am going on the Breakaway 12/7, and with the great fares we sprang for an aft balcony, which I know I will love. That being said, I am looking to keep expenses very low. What fun things are there to do in Nassau that aren't official excursions and aren't expensive. If you have any tips for Port Canaveral, I'd love to hear those as well. Thanks!:D

If you have any tips for Port Canaveral, I'd love to hear those as well. Thanks!:D

We are sailing the Breakaway Nov. 2015.

In the past to Port Canaveral we did an air boat excursion. I recommend that if you have never done it.

Also nice beaches and of course NASA.

If I remember right, there was a cheap (couple $'s) bus to the beach and tourist area from the ship.

Eat at fishlips.

I am going on the Breakaway 12/7, and with the great fares we sprang for an aft balcony, which I know I will love. That being said, I am looking to keep expenses very low. What fun things are there to do in Nassau that aren't official excursions and aren't expensive. If you have any tips for Port Canaveral, I'd love to hear those as well. Thanks!:D

I would say Cable Beach, but it is under construction with a large new hotel being built there. If you want to try local food don't miss The Fish Fry. It's a strip of locally owned restaurants that are all inexpensive. Also check out the rum cake factory. Both are not too far from the port.

FYI, the non-drowsy pill they give you at the front desk is meclizine, or Bonine.

Also sold as non-drowsy Dramamine.

We take one the night before the cruise and every night, just to be sure!

It's great stuff.

I am going on the Breakaway 12/7, and with the great fares we sprang for an aft balcony, which I know I will love. That being said, I am looking to keep expenses very low. What fun things are there to do in Nassau that aren't official excursions and aren't expensive. If you have any tips for Port Canaveral, I'd love to hear those as well. Thanks!:D

One of the last times we were there last year we decided to just walk the streets and take in the locals living and play area's, spoke to folks out caring to their lawns and gardens, saw the poverty but also saw a lot of beautiful old buildings. It was an enjoyable day and surprisingly felt very safe.

Other than we usually stay on the ship and enjoy the quietness.

Thanks for those extra tips, were in a forward M6 on the 8th floor (Large balcony) 12 day Jan 4th we always do Aft, or Aft Penthouse, this will be first time forward as well as side of ship, praying for smooth waters. But did get a script for meclizine Just in case, never took sea sick pills before, but others who have taken this say it's the best!

I kept watching your cruise saying the sun has to come out!!! those seas need to calm down!! But all and all sounds like you didn't let it darken your cruise! Is it really a LONG walk to elevators Or is it just like being Aft to get forward... LOL

Take the #10, I believe, jitney to Cable Beach. I get a day pass at the Melia, and a $5 frozen drink across the street at the Daquari Shop!🎉

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Thanks for the mini-review. We were in an aft penthouse a few weeks ago and everything, including the weather, was great. I agree the pool is too small and the haven pool is almost useless but there weren't many kids in the haven so one hot tub was always available. I love Bonine. I've been on two deep sea fishing trips and I got seasick both times so whenever I cruise I take a Bonine in the morning and one at night and never had any problems, even during Hurricane Sandy.

Thanks for those extra tips, were in a forward M6 on the 8th floor (Large balcony) 12 day Jan 4th we always do Aft, or Aft Penthouse, this will be first time forward as well as side of ship, praying for smooth waters. But did get a script for meclizine Just in case, never took sea sick pills before, but others who have taken this say it's the best!

I kept watching your cruise saying the sun has to come out!!! those seas need to calm down!! But all and all sounds like you didn't let it darken your cruise! Is it really a LONG walk to elevators Or is it just like being Aft to get forward... LOL

Both elevator banks on the Breakaway are centrally located, so it's never too long of a walk. It's the same distance from both ends. Helps make the ship feel smaller than it is.

The FWD Penthouse is still very nice so enjoy! Hopefully you have Jonathan as your butler. He was great!

Thank you all for your suggestions!

What is "The marketplace?" I see it on the map but there doesn't seem to actually be anything there in any of the pictures I've seen of it.

What is "The marketplace?" I see it on the map but there doesn't seem to actually be anything there in any of the pictures I've seen of it.

It is this waste of space on the pool deck where they sell t-shirts, beach bags, sunblock, and some cheap trinkets. I really wished it was not there!

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Thanks for the the tips!

NOTE: One butler covers all 10 FWD Penthouse suites (same setup for AFT suites).

That is definitely good to know. We'll be gentle with him/her ;)

We also ordered french toast, which is not on the menu, nearly every morning.

French toast is on the Haven/Cagney menu, hence definitely available.

Same as Eggs Benedict...jummy ;)

I hate the pools on the Breakaway. They are small, congested, un-inspired and in general poorly designed. Why NCL chose to clutter the pool deck with large service areas and “The Marketplace” is beyond me. It makes the area feel cramped and un-relaxing.

I don't understand this either. It seems they waste a lot of space with something that people would actually use.

The Haven pool has its own problems...The splash pool is a real waste of space.

From the pictures I've seen, one really wonders who came up with that. Instead of those chairs they could have had a really nice lap pool there that with more people using it would have accomodated a lot more people. One has to wonder if there is something below it which would have caused them not to be able to make it deep enough for those sections.

The epic has a floor where those 6 loungers-in-the-pool are standing and thus that gives quite a bit more space for people to be in too.

There were architects onboard and in the Haven Courtyard with plans on the first day, so maybe they are changing some things.

Fingers crossed ;)

Uptown is great and sort of a hidden gem. You can get made to order burgers and fries including Veggie and Turkey burgers. They are really good burgers. You can also get made to order tossed salads like many of the salad shops in NYC. You won't be disappointed!

Burgers for me and salad for the lady, great tip :)

Here's some additional random notes I saw on the Breakaway on my cruise-

If you're a smoker and don't like to smoke at the casino, there's 2 sections on deck 15 at the main big pool that not clearly labeled for smokers. Both are enclosed with posh straw chairs, easily accessible to the two bars there to get a drink with your smoke (if you enjoy that - I'm not a smoker, just personal observation :p)

If your a 1st solo traveler on NCL and plan to go the solo meetings on deck 10; they usually start at around 6pm (check the dailies for actual times). They will prop the studio lounge door(s) open for the soloers that are not in the studio rooms. Also another note about the studio lounge, its ridiculous tiny on the Breakaway; so if about 30 people are in both sections of the lounge, it will be cramped.

Another about the solo meets - if you haven't made plans for dinner or shows the Solo Coordinator(s) will do it for you. Even if the show / restaurant is has no seats, they will make an effort to get you in.

If want eggs benedict from the buffet in the morning, it in the front section in one station only. Uptown grill is the only place in the morning to get the big vanilla, chocolate, lemon cinnamon rolls please eggs sandwich rolls.

Speaking of the Uptown Grill, its extremely windy up there in the morning even more so than the outdoor sitting at the Garden Cafe. So if its extremely windy outside, it will feel like a wind funnel up there.

There's a runner's track on deck 16 that's sometimes roped off in the morning, that seems to be in the wrong place next to the stairs and Uptown grill entrance. Be ware, you will might get knock over there in that very small section.

They put up all the sun loungers at night, so the only seats to sit down are the posh straw seats in the evening is at the forward, smoking sections and Spice H2O (and in Spice there's always a party there). Speaking of the chairs at forward, its the giant round sofas that seats 2-3 people overlooking the water.

The only good time to swim because the pools are so tiny and hot tubs cramp is in the evening or early in the morning time. The hot tubs are actually heat and pool is sea water mixed with chlorine. And the showers to wash off are actually heated too, so good to know when its cold outside. Also the main pool is closer to about 7 feet, not 5 feet as labeled on the ruler in the pool (it doesn't count the metal bars that above the ruler / pool).

Casino was as stiff as always and there were terrible odds at the tables. Blackjack is now minimum $50 for 6 deck shoe (was $25 min last September). $6, $10, $15, and $25 are automatic shuffle. $15 and up pay 3:2 for Blackjack. $6 and $10 pays 6:5.

 

Can you expand on this--first you say that the minimum is $50 but then you go on to say there are auto shuffle tables for less. So am I to ascertain that just because the 6-deck shoe is not automatically shuffled the table minimum is FIFTY DOLLARS per hand??? but the tables with an automatic shuffler is a whole lot less? seems weird and i suppose i kind of understand, but it still seems odd.

On another note, i've done a minimum of research on this ship, but maybe you can help me--are there any indoor pools? We are doing a 2-nighter at the end of Jan and it will be freezing so i don't think i'll be doing any outdoor swimming. LOL

No indoor pool except the Haven and maybe the spa? Never entered the spa so I'm not sure about that...