brian99

Is the Bacardi Bar connected to the UBP? Or are those charges separate/additional?

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We're on the Gem this May and can confirm that the USB port (2.0 ?? - unlikely 3.0) has been added/upgraded at the bedside LED lamp. It was useful - what I did not check is its output/rating, whether it's 1A or 2A ... probably good enough for most devices. I prefer using my OEM/compliant high output 3A fast charger or H.O. 4 ports charger plugged into one of the 110 or 220 wall outlet.

 

Seadog67 just confirmed that it is NOT on the Breakaway yet, so packing my 10' USB extension cable to use. The Dawn was said to have them as well, unless someone else currently onboard say otherwise - as I recalled reading a report about it.

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I put the first two days of dailies from 10/22 on my Flickr page, they're probably very similar to 10/4 already posted. I'll get to the rest during the cruise or when I get home next week.

Flickr.com /brian99

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Hi seadog. I'm on the Breakaway now too, in a haven courtyard suite. We did an aftermarket balcony last time and loved it. Boarding was awful this morning. Maybe I'll see you around.

 

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Hi seadog. I'm on the Breakaway now too, in a haven courtyard suite. We did an aftermarket balcony last time and loved it. Boarding was awful this morning. Maybe I'll see you around.

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Can someone please share the Breakaway dailies sailing to the Bahamas.

 

Thank you in advance!!

I'm on the breakaway in two days and always take pictures of the dailies, mainly so I don't have to carry around the paper copy. I'll try to upload them once I get back.

Hi...just wondering if anyone knows if you smell the ship's exhaust from the smokestacks when cruising in an aft facing stateroom...or any other disadvantages like engine noise, or vibration???

 

Thanks for any help.

I've been on Breakaway twice in aft rooms, they're awesome. Never had any smell or engine noise. There was some soot on the balcony each morning but our room steward always cleaned it up. They're the best rooms on the ship in my opinion.

Room to room calling is always free. This is what my confirmation says about unlimited calls:

Unlimited phone calls: Valid on calls from ship to shore on fixed phone in stateroom and not from wireless devices.

I've been in an aft suite and aft balcony on Breakaway and saw soot on the balcony most mornings. Your room steward will clean it each day but if you're out there in the morning just wipe it up with a wet towel. It won't take more than two minutes, a small price to pay for the amazing balcony.

I respectfully disagree. NCL is NOT setting prices on demand. If that were true they would be selling them to people like ME who book suites. Insread, the demand is NOT being met. Not even close. Hense the huge numbers sold at a discount through the bid process. This creates a huge disparity in what suites/havens actually go for.

Ships like Breakaway only have about 80 suites, have you seen stats on how many are pre sold vs upgrades?

I've only booked suites directly and don't mind paying a $200 service charge because my wife and I drink a lot on vacation. I think a better option would be to charge the 18% on drinks you actually buy, not on the entire cost of the package. I doubt very many people who have the drink package actually go through $1100 of drinks.

I haven't noticed suite prices going up. In 2014 I had a H6 on Breakaway for $5600 which didn't include any alcohol or specialty restaurants . This year I'm paying $5200 for a H5 which includes the alcohol package and three specialty restaurants. Is anyone seriously complaining that unlimited drinks for two people for 7 days is costing $223???

It will be automatically activated. Just log in using a web browser and enter your info and room number.

The internet on Breakaway is very fast, about the same as a cable modem. We were getting 25 Mbps last cruise. I don't think you'll have any issues.

Yes, plenty fast. We were getting over 25 Mbps on the Breakaway, Skype only requires 1-2 Mbps.

NCL Breakaway Internet Speed , on Flickr

Different ports have different boarding procedures. On Breakaway at NYC, CAS boards right after Haven guests.

I've heard they only book 25-35% of the tables in advance. Once you're on board you should be able to get the time you want. Install the iConcierge app, as soon as you're on the ship and sometimes while you're waiting to board you'll be able to book restaurants.

The discounts are to attract a certain group of people. In the case of an AARP discount, most of the Baby Boomers have been eligible to join for the past 8 - 10 years. Boomers are about 44% of the population but are projected to hold 70% of the disposable income over the next five years. But, they only buy about half of the consumer packaged goods. See this link for these stats.

Actually anyone can join the AARP. I joined as an "Associate member" in 2012 (was in my 30's). It was around $15 to join and I saved a couple hundred on the cruise. Maybe they stopped the discount because too many people were using it.

No they are not scheduled for this sailing. But if I upgrade, can I then add them to,this cabin. And if so is there an additional charge.

If you get the upgrade you won't know until as little as two days before sailing, that doesn't leave much time to add them. As long as the area of the ship you're in isn't over capacity, you can add them. Last time I was in a Garden Villa (2012) it was only $350pp after the first two. I assume the price has gone up since then.

I think Cagneys and Le Bistro are the best, the escargots appetizer at Le Bistro was our favorite, my wife and I each had it twice last cruise. Moderno is good if you want to really stuff yourself, we did it once but probably won't eat there again. They keep coming with 10-12 different dishes, some are good, some are average. Teppanyaki is more of a show than dinner, the food is average and the "show" depends on who is cooking for you, we do it once per cruise. I enjoyed Le Cucina towards the end of my cruise because I ate so much meat over the previous few days I wanted something different.

Cagney's, Le Bistro, La Cucina, Moderno and Teppanyaki are all included with the SDP at no charge. You will get one entree and as many appetizers as you want. The a la carte price is for people who go there without a dining package.

The only reason to tip at the beginning of the cruise is if you think you'll loose the money at the casino and not be able to tip at the end. :)

We tip based on how much we use their services, one trip we probably had room service 15+ times so we tipped the butler a lot more than when we only had room service a few times. As far as tipping based on the level of service you receive, that's a moot point because you will always get exceptional service in the Haven.

Even if you don't think you use their services at all, you should tip the butler and concierge because they get none of the DSC and do things for you that you may not notice.

Thanks everyone for the helpful opinions/suggestions! Much appreciated and enjoyed all the comments! What is probably true too is that there are variables (such as cig smoke) from week to week, cruise to cruise. I sent Cole's link for Gambee's Breakaway review to my kids. ..See what they think and try to get a vacation going! Would LOVE to book the Haven but too expensive for 5! Hopefully one day for the two of us. ;)

I've been on the Breakaway in a Haven suite and a balcony, both were great cruises. My favorite part of the balcony cruise was getting passes to Vibe ($99pp), it's adults only, always lots of open lounge chairs, two hot tubs, a bar where there's never a line and a shower. We didn't spend any time at the pool but the area around the pool is always crowded but there were usually empty loungers on the sun deck that overlooked the pool. The Haven pool is useless, I can stand in it and almost touch all four sides but I didn't book the Haven for the pool. I've never had any issues with smoke, my wife has asthma and the smoke only bothered her when we were in the casino near someone who was smoking.

The other posters are right about people who like to complain, I've seen negative reviews about cruises that I was on and had a great time.

Anyone know when all those Lagoon renovations will be done? And what exactly are they doing there?

Last I heard it's supposed to be done late October.

https://www.ncl.com/press-releases/norwegian-cruise-line-unveils-new-luxury-features-and-more-family-friendly-amenities-

Asking if the haven is worth it is like asking if flying first class is worth it, most people say no but the ones that can afford it wouldn't consider anything else. Given the choice between three balcony cruises or one haven cruise, I'd take the three balcony cruises. Personally, I'm self employed and can only take one week vacation a year so I've chosen the haven three out of four times.

If you don't mind crowds skip the haven, if you want to be pampered for a week go for it.

I definitely recommend booking an excursion to get priority tender tickets. We waited until the last minute to get tickets and were one of the last groups to be called, by the time we got to GSC there were huge lines at all the food and drink places. We skipped the long lines and went to the lagoon (now closed for renovations) and could only get 1-2 drinks before the bar was closing for the day.