frostrambler

I’m in the same .... boat. Not really but I booked last minute on the Escape for Sunday, and I really want a reservation for Cagneys but it says not available to book. I guess all online reservations are done, but I remember that you can also reserve more spots they hold on the ship. I used to use the NCL app on board to reserve, I plan to connect to ship WiFi once I’m checked in and still waiting to board and finish reservations that way.

Thanks for the quick replies, shame about the forward deck. What’s weird is I don’t think I got charged the 20 percent, the amount I was charged matched the price advertised. Hmm okay, thanks!

Hi, my first time on a Breakaway plus ship, will be on the Escape to Bermuda on June 9th. Just did a last minute booking this morning for a solo traveler at like 950 bucks for a balcony room, sounded good so I did!

Ive cruised on the Dawn and and on the Breakaway many times, but I’ve always had the sail away perks of 3UDP and UBP. This time I decided to do the cheap booking with no perks. No biggie since I rarely drink alcohol anyways. I bought the soda package, and 3 restaurant dining package. Although I’m a bit confused, I paid 91 dollars I think for the 3 restaurants dining package, the website says gratuity should have been included, but was it? I only got charged the 90 some bucks, didn’t see any 20 percent extra charge. Should I be adding gratuities during the trip then or are they really included? I don’t remember adding anything extra with the perks UDP package, I just prepaid regular gratuities and the alcohol package the last times I sailed. How does the bought UDP package differ from the perks UDP package?

Also, is there a forward observation lounge on the Escape? I know Breakaway only had it on the top deck, but I thought Breakaway plus had it enclosed? Is that only Haven?

I was on this cruise - had a good time - a ton of kids on mid-winter break so a little too loud and crowded - we stayed away from the buffet because its overstuffed and the food selection and taste gets worse every year on NCL - however the MDRs food was amazing (except last cruise night in Manhattan room was poor quality and service). Specialty and MDR very strong this time - Taste and Savor was great for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Definitely noticed some annoying elements on the cruise this time - they were playing very loud music and "dancing" on deck 8 outside a few times - people generally avoided the area where they were.

The ship is starting to look a bit rundown, cracking paint in some areas of the cabin and dirty tiles - the steward for my room forgot to clean the bathroom on the first day, forgot to bring us beach towels, and forgot to put a bed cover on for unpacking - was pretty decent the rest of the trip, but only on the second to last day did they really clean the room well. Always had a slightly lingering urine smell around the cabin (101248) - don't know what that was about. Breakaway's drydock will hopefully fix some of these issues. Overall I love the ship, sailed on her for four times, and even though the crowd, staff, and ambiance changes, the ship is great. Current captain is a bit boring (had a much better one in 2015 who was so lively and exciting on ship announcements - don't know who he was, but was awesome, loved talking about how ships need to be in water!)

Gonna book an Escape cruise for later this year to try out a breakaway plus vessel - maybe Bliss in late 2019?

3 days till Friday on the Breakaway!

10 I think - Feb 16th on the Breakaway!

Unfortunately.... they do weigh you for the slides if you appear above weight. I was on the Breakaway July 2016 and they weighed me for the non-drop slide - they now enforce a limit of 300 pounds on ALL slides, not just drop slide.

Know how I know? I was 320 (6' 2") and they did not let me go - kinda embarrassing to have to walk back down in front of everyone lol.

Whats interesting is that when I was on the maiden breakaway voyage to Bermuda (I think it was April 2013?) they only weighed for dropslides and let me go on the regular slide with no issue - I was absolutely suprised at the change.

I am going to be on the Breakaway again this Sunday to Florida and Bahamas and maybe they changed it back? But last year it was definitely enforced on all Breakaway slides.

When I was a kid, I sailed on from NYC on the Dawn when that was her homeport. I distinctly remember in 2003 and 2004 I took the dawn for an 8 day (Sun to Sun) cruise to the Bahamas and Florida. We stopped in Port Canaveral, Miami, Nassau and NCL's private island and I think had 3 sea days.

Now as an adult, I've taken the NCL Breakaway out of NY to the Carribean and Bermuda, but decided to take the old Florida / Bahamas route - and in fact I will be on the ship on April 2nd! However when booking the ship a few months ago, I noticed that instead of Miami, we now have an extra sea day - why? I remember Miami was very fun on the Dawn and am wondering why the breakaway doesn't go there - is it because the ship is much larger? Does the Gem or Jewel (I forgot the other NCL ship that home ports in NYC) go there? Surprised that its no longer a port on the journey.

Curiously, what number did you call?

Going to be on the Breakaway on Friday for 9 days, however I booked late, last week, and noticed that I can't sign up for any shows except burn the floor and cirque. I was able to get rock of ages earlier as an option, but it's gone now, does this mean that all the shows are booked and I can't see any? I really wanted to try second city and dueling pianos, is there standby? I'm sailing solo, how does it work?

Also I've read that the ship gets super crowded and all chairs on pool deck are reserved in the early morning. Is it really that hard to get a chair in the shade for just one person?

Thank you everyone for the excellent tips, I've been literally taking notes as I read all of your suggestions and marking them down for my packing list and TO DOs.

I appreciate all of your help!

Consumer Reports rated this mosquito repellent best: http://amzn.to/28L35Rp You will want to have it on this cruise! Zika is rampant in Puerto Rico.

Thank you, just ordered!

Hi, this is going to be my fourth cruise ever, sailed twice on the Dawn in 2003 and 2004, then as an adult I sailed on the Breakaway for its Inaugural cruise to Bermuda in May 2013 I believe.

I'd been planning to book another cruise in the next few months and saw a great deal on the Breakaway for July 1st, 9 days to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. However after booking this morning, I now see that NCL has changed a LOT since I sailed in 2013.

So every time I have ever gone on a cruise, I usually lurk on the Cruise Critics boards for weeks, getting lots of info, but this is the first time I booked a cruise with less than 2 weeks to go! So - if you guys can answer some questions, I would be super grateful.

1. I am traveling solo, but the deal was on an outside view stateroom, not a studio. Can I still go to the solo events - I assume I can't get into the solo lounge but the events are still open correct?

2. I'm confused about documents that NCL needs when boarding. Do they need my passport AND proof of citizenship AND government ID, or is my US passport enough - the wording on their website is very confusing, and makes it seem like you need all three.

3. If I leave the ship on a shore excursion or to go to the beach, do I bring my passport, or is my room card enough to get back on board? I'm concerned about bringing my passport because since I am sailing by myself, I don't want it stolen on the beach when I am in the water. On my last sailing, I had a friend with me, and we watched each other's stuff, but I don't recall Bermuda beaches having any lockers or anything like that. Any ideas on how to protect my stuff while in the water? I'm thinking of getting a small waterproof pouch and bringing it with me. (Obviously if I make some friends onboard, I can ask them)

4. As a solo cruiser, do I need to pre-book all my reservations now? I thought I could at least get a table at the non-specialty places at any time for dinner, but reading forum posts here makes it seem that if I don't prebook, I may be stuck eating in the buffet for the whole trip. Should I reserve the manhattan room and the other two main dining rooms? I'd like to eat at Cagney's at least once, and maybe the sushi bar, so I assume those I should reserve, but even the regular dining options too?

Same goes for shows - as a single guy, do I have to reserve every show or can I get in easier? I didn't reserve anything on the Dawn in 2003/2004, and only reserved a few specialty places and a few shows in 2013 on the Breakaway, but it appears that now you need to reserve everything?

5. If I purchase the soda package now - how will I get the sticker and the soda mug from NCL? Does it come straight to my room? Should I just wait until I am on board? I don't drink much alcohol, so the soda package appears good enough.

6. With so many a la carte places now instead of a cover charge - do you recommend I get a dining pass from NCL for a few nights? Is it worth it? I've been on the ship before, and I liked Cagney's, Le Bistro, and I want to try the Brazillian Steak place this time - what do you guys recommend - wing it or get a package?

7. Any tips or advice for a solo traveler? First time doing it solo, excited, but want to make sure I don't forget some critical item before I get on the ship. Any suggestions are appreciated! I guess bring 100-200 in cash for an emergency? I assume all ports would take credit cards? My cruise documents have not generated yet, should I print anything else out from NCL just in case?

Thanks for any help in advance!