Summit or Breakaway ~ New York or Bayonne?

Anthem is great for teens.

I'm prolly in the minority here but I would not take the Anthem to Bermuda because it only stays for 1 night. Both the Summit and Breakaway stay for 2 nights. My choice of those 2 would be the Summit because it stays slightly longer than BA. Whatever cruise ship stays longer would always be my choice,

SBtS

I'm prolly in the minority here but I would not take the Anthem to Bermuda because it only stays for 1 night. Both the Summit and Breakaway stay for 2 nights. My choice of those 2 would be the Summit because it stays slightly longer than BA. Whatever cruise ship stays longer would always be my choice,

 

 

SBtS

I would normally agree with you and I don't like Breakaway because I think the pool areas are lousy and the ship is smokey because of the poor design of the casino which opens to the central public areas but I remember thinking when I was on Breakaway that if I were a kid I would love the ship. If I were taking teens, I would probably take them on Anthem or Breakaway.

We have done both Anthem and Summit to Bermuda. While I preferred the Summit, a 17 year old would most likely prefer Anthem - much more to do.

Consider the ease of getting to the port too. I have no problem going to Bayonne from Connecticut (Summit or Anthem) but I will NOT drive into NY for Breakaway.

anyone going out of NJ/NY really needs to watch videos of anthem. i have to admit i was tempted by the 5 day to bermuda, but i dont think id be happy missing out on one day in bermuda. and NCL was just too much in sept. for me. so i'm doing a bahamas december cruise dirt cheap with anthem.

i did not really like the breakaway bahamas in december because i was spoiled by bermuda. also the bad weather really proved the BA is not a bad weather ship. i've watched many videos of anthem and that clearly is a cold weather ship. right now they have same price OV as balcony sale going on so i signed up. i feel i may have found a new ship plus rumors are NJ is much easier to em/disembark. and parking is definitely cheaper. also just watching the anthem videos its apparent they have many more places to just sit and hang out inside. a must for cold weather. or even bad summer weather. also i really didnt compare the width of the ships but it seems so much wider than the BA

it stinks that anthem doesnt do the 3 days in bermuda because if the ship turns out to be as nice as i think, i'm gonna be stuck in a quandry.

Luckyinpa:

You are right that Anthem is designed for cold/bad weather. We were on the Anthem for the Hermine cruise in September. We left NJ early as everyone was on board and booked due East at top speed. The captain recorded TV updates for us so we knew the plan. Early Sunday we turned South and clipped the Eastern edge of Hermine. Very cool. I had a perfect seat in the solarium as we enter the storm. We rocked and rolled for about 4-5 hours (just as the Captain had said we would) but never felt like we were in any sort of danger (contrary to what that woman told the press that met her on the pier in Bermuda). Seriously. We were fine. Plenty to do indoors. Different layout. Some like it and some don't, but for going out of NJ in the Winter it is really is a great ship.

Which would you select .... and why?

 

Both spend about the same amount of time in Bermuda.

 

I assume the sailaway from New York is breath-taking, how is the sailaway from Bayonne?

 

I know Summit is older (we were on her many years ago when she was "it" ... now she's an old lady). We've stayed away from the larger NCL ships because of too many people, however, we're considering Bermuda in May, so perhaps there will be less people, certainly less kids (don't you think:o).

 

We're just in the beginning stages of planning. So any help you can give me would be appreciated.:)

Personally I LOVED the Summit. Still had fantastic views of the Statue of Liberty and you may still get a birds eye view! One thing to consider going to Bermuda in May/June 2017 is they are hosting the America's Cup. Bermuda is already crowded but will likely be even more so this May/June. As far as kids go - yea less kids on the Summit for sure. Never felt overly crowded.

I have been on the Summit three times to Bermuda. Aqua class each time. Treated like royalty. I too have heard complaints from breakaway passengers while in port. Never a bad word about the summit. Going to try the anthem in may. Just because.

My thoughts...Sailing out of Manhatten is speculator, the trip down the Hudson River with all the skyscrapers than pass Lady Liberty and under the Verrazano Bridge. Sailing out of Bayonne is nothing special. It is also easier to get to the Manhatten port via public transportation and a short taxi ride than Bayonne which requires multiple changes in public transportation and a longer taxi ride. If driving you can park at both places. The Manhatten port is off of the West Side Highway so not really complicated to get to.

Consider the ease of getting to the port too. I have no problem going to Bayonne from Connecticut (Summit or Anthem) but I will NOT drive into NY for Breakaway.

Driving to the Breakaway is a piece of cake, right down the west side highway, right into the parking garage.

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I sailed Celebrity Summit to Bermuda and loved the ship. It was my favorite cruise ever. In June I am sailing the NCL Breakaway to Bermuda with my kids and grandkids. Chose the Breakaway because it has good ratings for cruising with kids. I just hope it is half as good as Summit was. I was on Summit again last fall for eastern Caribbean on chartered Blues Cruise. Really pleased with the ship. But sure we will all have fun whatever the ship is!

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I am concerned about the impact of Americas Cup on Bermuda cruise. Anyone have insight in to how badly it will impact port excursions?0

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to the comment about getting to the BA. i drive in from PA. did it 2 times so far. its so ez on a sunday its not funny. i was 1 hour early 1st time i went there. its very close to the tunnel and i think you make about 3 turns and you are there. getting out is just as ez. one turn and you are in the tunnel to NJ.

i'm going to NJ for anthem on a thursday in december and back the friday before christmas. something tells me it wont be as traffic free as the BA was

Haven't been on the Summit but we sailed on the BA last July and loved it so much we are doing it again this summer. We found no issues with crowds as we don't have kids with us. The only time smoke bothered us was late at night at the bar outside of maltings. We have sailed the Jewel and have decided we love the large ship as there is so much more to do.

My wife and I cruised Breakaway this January but have neverbeen on Summit so I can’t compare the two ships. I can however compare the experience at thetwo ports. I would not sail out of NewYork again unless the cruise price was substantially cheaper than the comparablecruise out of Bayonne. This past Januaryon Breakaway, our debarkation process was as follows. After our group was called, we waited 5-10minutes to scan off of the boat. We thenmoved to another line where we waited 40 minutes outside in 30 degree weather toget into the port building. There was a bypassline for disabled passengers and those accompanying them. A couple with a toddler was denied the use ofthis line so the toddler had to wait in cold. Once we got in to the building we waited 20 minutes in another line togo down the steps. At the bottom of thesteps, we waited 10 minutes in yet another line to be allowed to enter the partof the massive room where our luggage was spread throughout the room. We had six bags and none of them were neareach other in this room. After we foundall of our bags (some were damaged by either the crew or the stevedores), therewas one final line to pass through customs. Fortunately this line could be bypassed bypaying a porter to cart your luggage. The two times we debarked in Bayonne, we had to wait in line to scan offthe boat, passed directly to the area where our luggage was stored intact andgrouped together, then proceeded to the customs where we waited in a short linebefore being cleared and on our way. Inmy experience, the process in Bayonne is much more considerate of thepassengers than New York. We had awonderful 14 days on Breakaway to relieve our stress only to have it returnedby the Manhattan Cruise Terminal or Norwegian, whichever is responsible for thedebarkation process. I would not recommendsailing out of Manhattan, even though the sail away was amazing with theskyline, the view of Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty. From Bayonne the Statue of Liberty is visiblebut at a distance. Binoculars or areasonable camera can make up for the distance.