*LIVE PHOTO BLOG* - Ben the Bendy Man's Breakaway Adventure April 28 to May 4, 2013

[MCAT48]

Great photos! That ship is huge! Have a great time!

[a2stylist]

Just sent friend request :)

[sue402001]

Bon Voyage! It will be fun keeping up with your here & on fb. :)

[Calm Blue Ocean]

Awesome review! She looks like a beautiful ship. Maybe one day I will have the opportunity to sail aboard her. Can't wait to read more!

[itravelalot]

Thanks for the pictures and review... It looks so great.. Looking forward to seeing more. Enjoy your cruise!:)

[McDebbie]

Can't wait to see the inside of Breakaway! Have a good trip Ben!

[shepherdqueen]

I just sent Ben a friend request on FB. Can't wait to read more! Enjoy your adventure!

Edited April 29, 2013 by shepherdqueen

[cruiserssandr]

Trying to find Ben's facebook page but not having any luck. Can someone please help?

[a2stylist]

If you search Ben Bendyman on fb you should find it

[gambee]

Trying to find Ben's facebook page but not having any luck. Can someone please help?

 

https://www.facebook.com/ben.bendyman

 

 

I think the internet is down on Breakaway, no one onboard has posted anything yet.

[belfastgirl70]

We are sailing on June 9th, so can't wait to see all your pics of your trip! Have fun!

[OurDogCisco]

How exciting... Can't wait to read more...

[cruiseclues]

This looks like it's going to be another outstanding photo review. :):):):)

[Billythekidd]

Bendy is looking good. Will try to follow your adventures. Bill from Gem 2/13

Edited April 30, 2013 by Host Star

[ibcnusoon]

We're following along too!! :D

[BritChickBN1]

Ben,

 

I can't wait to set sail on another adventure with you. We were supposed to be on this TA too but sometimes life gets in the way. Be safe! And thanks to your photographer for the beautiful photos.

[kylenyc]

Check-in - Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 4:25 am, Southampton, England

 

Ben really appreciates the support and all the friend requests, and his editor is scrambling to catch up on posts on this blog between taking the hi-speed to London for a half-day trip, little access to free wifi, and a canary crusador's incessant need to stop for glamour pics.

 

It's 4 am in Southampton sitting in the IBIS Budget Hotel lobby because thats the only location in the hotel with wireless... for an added price! 9 pounds sterling for 24 hrs and Ben's typist is milking every pence! Just finished posting lots of photos on Facebook and will try to catch up here. The CC boards seem to hang when posting using his tablet device's browser :(

 

This is the 4th day on his adventure that he's burned the 36 hour straight midnight oil... but he'll sleep after vacation. He's having a blast sharing his (mis)adventure!

 

Now off to slap his personal assistant awake to upload pics to the server-thing-a-ma-do-hicky and post them to this blog.

[cabincop]

:Dlol sleep hun we will survive for a few hours without news from you

[kylenyc]

:Dlol sleep hun we will survive for a few hours without news from you

Obvious night owl here... plus satellite wireless is slow and pricey... pics may be slow coming at sea. :confused:

 

Gotta use up every pence of my 'cheap' £9 IBIS wireless.

[kylenyc]

Day +1 - Sunday, April 28, 2013

Ben heads towards the new Norwegian Breakaway, Rotterdam Cruise Terminal

 

Ben checked out of the hotel at 11:30 am after waiting impatiently for his typist to scramble and blog and take advantage of the hotel's free wifi and pack up myriad of human curiosities.

 

It's a ten minute walk from the Maritime Hotel and over the Erasmusbrug bridge to the terminal. There's also a tram that crosses the bridge. For those visiting Rotterdam, a 3-day unlimited tram/bus pass is 14.50 EUR. 1 and 2-day passes also available. Ben stayed in a small single river view room which was clean and comfortable, and had a perfect view of the Breakaway across the river.

 

 

Walking towards the Erasmusbrug Bridge.

 

There's a ramp half-way up the bridge and then stairs the remaining half.

 

View of the Breakaway while crossing the Erasmusbrug Bridge

 

View of the M/S Peter Max ... errr i mean... M/S Norwegian Breakaway's bow, zooming in on the bridge. Unlike the Epic, apparently there's no bridge viewing room according to one passenger.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 30, 2013 by kylenyc

[crew mom]

Enjoying Ben's adventures so far. Just friended you on Facebook.

 

Sent a photo of Ben to my DS who is also on the Breakaway. I told him to look for Ben and have his photo taken with him.

[kylenyc]

Enjoying Ben's adventures so far. Just friended you on Facebook. Sent a photo of Ben to my DS who is also on the Breakaway. I told him to look for Ben and have his photo taken with him.

:D

Ben will be at the Meet & Greet but so will over a hundred other Cruise Critic members :eek:He doesm't want to get lost in a crowd of humans :p... Luckily he's already made some new CC friends. Cruise Critic rocks!

[kylenyc]

Day +1- Sunday, April 28, 2013

Arriving at Rotterdam Cruise Terminal and the M/S Norwegian Breakaway

Ben arrived at the terminal around noon as suggested on his passenger cruise ticket (eDocs) and so did many other passengers and early arrivals. There was a queue down the outside of the terminal while security screening took place just inside the entrance. With 10-ish cruises with Norwegian under his belt, our adventurous trekker was nervous approachingmthe crowd but let out a sigh of relief when he breezed through the priority line.

 

Note: The art of queueing is lost on some passengers. Don't let that deter you from enjoying your cruise. Lesson ... Find the last person in line, take note of that person, follow them, and don't let rude people cut in front of you but be polite to those who are just new to the unique art of cruise queueing. Observation - It happens to be the rude people who cut in line that are the ones most vocal about complaining other peoples behavior. :end rant:

 

 

Walking towards the Rotterdam Cruise Terminal

 

Anxious passengers queue into the terminal

 

 

 

 

 

A fellow passenger (press/media?) smiling with ?relief? as he heads down the priority line. The feeling's mutual!

 

 

 

Edited April 30, 2013 by kylenyc

[GUEST080219]

Wow, good that I arrived before 11am, that looks really crazy. What earned you the priority line? Platinum Latitudes?

[kylenyc]

Day +1 - Sunday, April 28, 2013

Checking in

Once through security, Ben filled in his health questionaire and proceeded to the priority check-in line. Check-in was a breeze. Not to fear cruise newbies, there were two islands of check-in counters and the regular lines moved steadily, and only the best crew in Norwegian's fleet including extras from corporate are here to assist. Refreshments were being served for those who had to wait ... presumably early arrivers or those passengers who were being called deck by deck to keep embarkation smooth.

 

Inside Rotterdam Cruise Terminal... heading towards the check-in queue.

 

Survivers of the security screening try to discombobulate?

Passengers waiting for their deck to be called?

 

In queue to check-in... It may not be clear in the photo but there are two islands of check-in counters. Although, layouts and differ from port to port.

 

Ben can't resist a photo op with friendly receptionist Maria Pieles

Edited April 30, 2013 by kylenyc