coffeecat

I am so sorry about your daughter. I can not imagine losing a child-especially at such a young age. My mom died young at 52 from cancer. It was 15 years ago and some days it still feels like yesterday. With time, it gets easier but I don't think you can ever really "get over it".

What is hard is that you probably remember her "sick" and what she went through in the end. Over time, the memories of her actual illness will ease and you can focus on all the wonderful times and happy memories. But it will get easier-I promise.

I think it is wonderful that you are going on this cruise. At my mom's funeral I read a poem, "Ascension" by Colleen Hitchcock. You can google it. It's a short poem but says so so much. I know it by heart - it makes me cry sometimes (especially when I read posts like yours and just know how much your family must be hurting) but it makes me happy to think that she is still here.

I hope your cruise is wonderful and you are able to celebrate and remember your daughter.

Coffeecat

Gambee-Thank you so much for your amazing review and your time in putting it together! The pictures of the ship and Bermuda were amazing!

Happy cruising!

Coffeecat

Reservations for Le Bistro were made both ways - thru concierge (first dinner) and on our own (second dinner), so it didn't seem to make a difference. Le Bistro is just different on the Breakaway - much smaller (when you don't consider the Atrium space) and oddly set up - tables seem a little close together. I think the hostess was as overwhelmed by the groups as we were. It really just isn't a space easily shared by both groups and couples.

 

Never had dinner at the Haven restaurant, sorry, never even looked at the menu. The staff there was great for breakfast and lunch, though.

 

Maybe I set my expectations too high for the Breakaway. I was a bit apprehensive about sailing the Epic, and it turned out great, so maybe I was just expecting too much from the new ship.

 

Robin

Thanks Robin for your insight. From reading a lot of your posts I think we are similar in attitudes, expectations and things we like to do (i love the casino but do not play like you do-just a few bucks!!!).

I think I am going to drop my expectations for this sailing. Have always, always had amazing experiences on NCL so the bar is really high for me. We don't sail for another month and a half so maybe the ship will have found it's rhythm...it sounds like from what you were describing things are still being worked out and will hopefully be more consistent!

Thanks,

Coffeecat

We took a private taxi tour around bermuda a couple years ago. I saw three separate scenes of moped accidents. The guide said they happen all the time. I would never ever rent one.

Thanks Fishbait! I was really looking forward to your review of the Breakaway and it was great to read your take on the sailing.

We are sailing in July and have three Haven rooms booked. These were pretty pricey cabins so it makes me a little apprehensive that you felt nickeled and dimed. I have never felt that way on previous NCL cruises but I totally get where you are coming from and can imagine I would have felt the same way.

I am a little surprised by your Le Bistro experience-particularly a rude hostess. Did you make reservations on your own or through the concierge?

Anyway, thanks for writing this. I think I need to dial back my expectations slightly for this trip :).

Oh, one more question, did you ever get to eat dinner in the Haven Club? How was it? Better vs worse than specialty dining?

Thanks,

Coffeecat

Really good info, I've read on hear somewhere about suite people having party's in there suites with different snacks and finger foods is that aloud and does anyone know what they would serve. Frist time in a suite on the POA.

We have done this before for a small group of people (5-10) but I have heard of larger parties in some of the larger suites. Basically, just let the butler know ahead of time-number of people, time and what you would like (we had cheese, chips and salsa, veggies, chicken wings etc). You can order a fancier cheese plate as well or some shrimp (these would $). The parties are free unless you upgrade the menu. We had some beer and wine brought up as well (for cost). Then we just made sure the butler had a nice tip at the end of the cruise. I would let him know as far in advance as possible so there is plenty of time to get things ready.

Have a great cruise!

Coffeecat

My dad got into respiratory distress (acute congestive heart failure) while snorkeling at GSC. He has a history of heart problems/heart attack in the past. He got insurance through Steve Dasseos and trip insurance store dot com after booking which covered preexisting conditions (I highly recommend this company-they are awesome).

He swam outside of the ropes at GSC (stupid I know) and to the other side of the large rock formation there. A passenger saw he was in distress and swam back to shore to get the lifeguards. This passenger, who we never met, saved his life - of this I am certain.

The life guards got on their jet ski and pulled him from the water. He was blue and his oxygen sats were 70%. The nurse at GSC administered oxygen and they loaded him onto the tender which left immediately for the infirmary. In the infirmary he got lab work, CXR, EKG, lasix and supportive care. Spent the day there. Total bill was $1400 which was reimbursed promptly in full.

We always get travel insurance. NCLs staff was amazing through this whole event and he was just so well taken care of. Their quick actions (from the guards, to the nurse, to the ship physician) were amazing and they took great care of him. I feel like they saved his life-it could have had a much different ending were it not for the passenger that saw him and the subsequent actions by the crew and staff.

My husband also had a knee injury while sailing (we later found out that this was just a gout attack) and we saw the ships doctor for that. It was a couple hundred bucks...we had travel insurance but lost the bill or something so this was never reimbursed.

Needless to say, we are booked on the Breakaway this summer and everyone has cruise insurance! It is worth it's weight in gold for the peace of mind and something I hope we don't ever have to use!

Great review! i can not believe the waves were 40-50 ft...we had 20 or 30ft waves once and that was more than enough excitement for me.

Reinstating the service charges...now that is class.

Glad you had a great time and thanks for sharing.

Coffeecat

Gem is great! Have never been on carnival but in your situation-travelling with a beau - I would definitely want to be on NCL because you can always get a table for two for dinner at any restaurant-and lots of them are really romantic...more time to get to know each other

We will be doing a transatlantic. Does that change things and/or your responses for suite/no suite for our adult kids? :rolleyes:

Lots of ship time on a transatlantic-it would make me more motivated to get everyone in a suite.

So they cannot eat with us in the Haven restaurant or sit out by the Haven pool with us? Asking because I am wondering if it is too problematic for them to be "downstairs" and if I should encourage them to upgrade to a suite. (This is a pricey question!) :confused:

If there is any way they can get a Haven cabin this would certainly simplify things...would be worth it IMO but only if you can afford it. Am in a similar situation now as we are traveling with my brother and his family-us in a suite and them not...I am leaning towards biting the bullet and just getting them a suite so that we can all hang out as a family and not have to worry about restricted access etc. But it's not worth overextending financially...

The Haven is by key card access so you will have to let them in. You can have them up to your suite and have lunch or breafast delivered-dinner too from any of the specialty restaurants (charge for dinner).

The concierge will help make any reservations you want for any number of people. Additionally, they may help you get priority tender tickets for your entire group if you are at a tender port.

The Haven itself is limited to those staying in the actual suites (although I have read reports where some people do bring guests staying in other cabins)...seems like the Epic is more strict on this.

You can also invite them to the Epic Club for dinner and pay a 25$ surcharge for them - but someone else posted previously that the other fee venues are better than the Epic club for dinner.

Have a great cruise!

Great review and the pictures were terrific! You have a beautiful family.

Coffeecat

Excellent review! I have not been on the Epic but many other NCL ships and agree that Le Bistro is simply fantastic. Thank you for your detailed and insightful review!

Thanks for the review. Just off the Gem (Jewel sister ship) and was on deck 8 and agree that the hallways were a bit of a maze with sloping levels in some places. We had a stroller and managed okay but was always slow at the corners and turns just because I didn't want to walk into anyone. Compared to other floors where there are straight shots and no slopes I think deck 8 would be a little more difficult to get around in some cases. I would book deck 8 again because it did seem conveniently located.

THis thread is very interesting...thought I should share my family's speedo story...

Was at GSC about a year ago on the Gem with my DH, brother, SIL, and their two little girls. Brother is in his mid thirties and is actually really fit tall, and not hairy...but whiter than white. a lot of women think he is good looking. Absolutely perfect sunny day. My family had loungers in the middle near the water line and were enjoying a cold beverage. The beach was packed.

All of the sudden, my brother stands up, stretches, and announces it is time for a swim! At this point he dramatically drops his board shorts and is sporting a tiny black speedo underneath!!! Well, he just posed there and then strutted around in slow motion, casually sipping his budwieser while basking in the sun. Then he casually trotted off to take a dip in the sea.

Needless to say, the rest of us were absolutely dying and were laughing until we cried, his kids thought he was hilarious but the older one was a little embarrassed.

He definitely got a lot of good laughs from the surrounding cruisers because they knew he was doing it as a joke. I don't think too many of the woman minded though. ;) The speedo was retired after that day on the beach but we definitely made fun of him for the rest of the cruise.

Hi-larious! The story gets better though...his 5 yo daughter gets back to school and the teacher (friends with my brother and SIL) asks her some questions:

Teacher: How was your cruise?

Daugther: It was so fun!

Teacher: What was your favorite part?

Daugther: My daddy wearing a TUXEDO!

Teacher: Oh did he wear that to dinner one night?

Daughter: No he wore it to the beach!

Teacher then lost it in front of the class because she knew she meant speedo....

At any rate, this is right up there in my absolute favorite cruise memories of all times. Unfortunately for the ladies, he would kill me if I posted the picture:D

If you are looking for a good way to pull a joke on your family this is a winner!

Happy sailings, in speedos, wetsuits, or takinis, or bikinis or in whatever you choose to wear!

Coffeecat

Roveer,

We stayed in 14508...ping pong directly below (did not bother me at all but it was a little chilly on our cruise so wasn't out there a whole bunch). Personally, I would pick a cabin nearest to the A4's so that there is no visible deck below. There was also a light outside near our cabin which I kinda liked! All the courtyard family villas are the same size I believe and the rooms are wonderful!

Coffeecat

Congratulations again! Love the pictures! Are you considering a cruise now for your honeymoon?

Good luck to you both.

Coffeecat

Congratulations again! Love the pictures! Are you considering a cruise now for your honeymoon?

Good luck to you both.

Coffeecat

She said yes right?:) Congratulations on your engagement! This is a lovely story...thanks for letting us know how it went. Good luck to you and your future bride!

coffeecat

Coffeecat - We have AD's 10166 and 10664 booked on the Pearl later this year. These rooms are great for the size, the amenities and the price! We would have booked the ones on the port side, but with the number 10666...we didn't want to risk it!

Hahaha! Very funny! For the extra 12 ft I was willing to risk it and we put my dear old man in the corner one. Hopefully it will go well for us!

I am sure it doesn't make a lot of difference in the end as both rooms I am sure will be wonderful. I will try to make notes of the size differences when we sail....I can't imagine that the room sizes/configuration vary too much but we'll see.

Have fun on the Pearl-great ship!

Coffeecat

There is a small difference in the balcony. The end unit will have a rounded off front edge because it is the end cabin on the ship. We had AD 10664 in November and our balcony was a bit smaller because of the cropped corner, compared to unit 10666 next to us. However, you will only have one shared wall, which in my opinion is far better than occupants on both sides!

We have these two rooms booked on the Gem which should probably be the same. If my recollection is correct, which confirms what the above poster said, the AD in the middle will have a 100sq ft balcony and the outside will be 88 sq feet (I think) but check this with NCL/TA for exact dimensions. Not a big difference...you may like not having neighbors on both sides. We opted for the inside one for the bigger balcony when we booked.

Coffeecat