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

[kylenyc]

Day +1 - Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 6 pm

Heading out to sea

 

After a pleasant evening at dinner, Ben let his butler turn in early for the night. What a party animal!

 

Taste maining dining room - Oceanview table

 

Folks lined along the river back seeing us off

 

Fireboat flourish

 

Harbor captain/patrol leaving the ship?

 

Window in the studio cabin lets in mood lighting from the hall.

[kylenyc]

Day +2 - Monday, April 29, 2013 at 6 pm

Norwegian Breakaway arrives at City Cruise Terminal, Southampton, England

Kicked off... Err... Kindly asked to disembark

 

Ben woke up to announcements from the cruise director that he had to disembark. He nudged his sleepy butler to wake after a much needed 14 hours sleep immediately after dinner (What a party figurine!). He was a bit disappointed his butler had to repack and lug his human oddities over to a hotel for one day. He had held out hope that Norwegian might, at the late minute, at least allow them to store some luggage (or him) on board. This didn't happen but fortunately Ben had long planned a contingency... He was now off on a day trip in London and he didn't want to be late... want to be late...!

 

Disembarkation was quick if a bit stressful. Ben's concierge had to assert himself to avoid being cut in front of inline. New Yawkahs know how to queue! Crew members near the gangway were inconsistent in directing people to the end of the line, allowing some people to cut the line, directing others to the end of the line, and ignoring others... something he's seen before.

 

Ed: Between the 1-Day Escape from Rotterdam and the 7-Day Transatlantic, the Breakaway presumably entertained VIPs, press, media, and travel partners while remaining revenue passengers that were taking both cruises were required to disembark for a day with no option to stay on board even if they wanted to pay.

 

View of Southampton over the City Cruise Terminal from the Breakaway's Waterfront on a beautiful bright sunny day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City Cruise Terminal, Southampton, England

Edited May 16, 2013 by kylenyc

[kylenyc]

Day +2 - Monday, April 29, 2013 at 6 pm

Averting danger walking to the hotel

 

It was about a 10 minutes walk from the terminal over to his hotel... The (Etap) IBIS Budget which could be seen in the distance along with the IBIS (Non-Budget Fancypants) Hotel (... yes that's the official name), Novotel, .... and McDonalds (one of the ?only? places serving food after 10 pm unless you count hotel vending machines).

 

Even after 14 hours sleep and his morning coffee, Ben's personal porter was still not quite caught up on sleep and plodded into a crosswalk only to remember that denizens of this strange and foreign land drive on the wrong side of the road (seriously). Fortunately there wasn't much morning traffic and he was much more vigilant after that.

 

IBIS and Novotel hotels off in the distance.

 

Norwegian Breakaway at City Cruise Terminal, Southampton, England

 

 

 

 

 

Need to be more careful crossing the street and look both ways. Even the bicycles go the wrong way!

 

Brits driving on the wrong side of the road... yup... mmmhmm... It's a documented fact... Saw it on NatGeo.

Edited May 16, 2013 by kylenyc

[kylenyc]

Day +2 - Monday, April 29, 2013 at 6 pm

Hotel check-in and issues; Day trip to London

 

Ben checked into his hotel to find a clean, newly furnished, and mostly comfortable room. This hotel, formerly the Etap, is now owned by Accor Hotels which also operates Motel 6 in the USA. Being newly furnished, this particular hotel is MUCH nicer than the typical Motel 6 however it nickels and dimes in the worst way. One big issue is the shower door opens inward. His average framed servant had difficulty closing the stall door without contorting. Full figured folks will have a significant to impossible time and even average folks should be careful not to slip while trying to get the door closed.

 

There's no wifi available in the rooms. The wifi costs an additional £3 for 2 hours or £9 ($13.50) for 24 hours, and is only available in the hotel lobby. There's no coffee maker in the room and 8 oz of hot water costs an offensive £1.50 ($2.30). With the add-ons and inconveniences, the £40 ($61.50) a night for a single advanced reservation (they were completely sold out while the Breakaway and 3 other ships were in port) at the IBIS "Budget" Hotel no longer seems much of a bargain.

 

Ironically, if you've been following Ben on his adventure, you might know our bright bubbly blogger didn't even sleep in the bed, instead burning the midnight oil in the lobby.

 

After his personal porter dropped off his belonging at the hotel, Ben rushed over to the Southampton Central Station which was a short 5 minute shuffle from the hotel. He had pre-purchased his ticket for the 11:30 am hispeed to London but when he arrived at the self-service kiosk, it wouldn't accept his reservation. He had to go to a ticket agent but fortunately the line was short late morning. He got his ticket with 5 minutes to spare.

 

Ed: A day trip to London is quite doable but felt rather too short considering all that the city has to offer.

A newly furnished, clean, mostly comfortable room with challenging shower stall and no wifi or coffee maker.

 

The shower stall is small and the door opens inward making it difficult to enter exit without contorting and possibly slipping.

 

Short 10 minute walk over to Southampton Central Station.

 

Southampton Central Station, City Map - A paper map of this tourist map was available at the hotel (probably inside the station too) that shows the area attractions.

 

 

 

[kylenyc]

Day +2 - Monday, April 29, 2013 at 6 pm

Hispeed to London

 

Our curious canary crusader and his sidekick arrived at London Waterloo Station an hour and a half later and quickly settled themselves on a bench to make use of the "free" wireless. There are several free wireless access points in the station, some of which require you to fork over your mobile phone number to receive an access code. A little trial and error and Ben's techie eventually found one that didn't, and began tapping away for a few hours trying to catch up on the blog.

 

After "checking-in" and posting some pictures to hopefully assuage Ben's modest of fandom, he headed outside to find his way slowly to the agent where could redeem his ticket to "The Original Tour" Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing tour bus. The ticket agent was located 20 minutes walk in Trafalgar Square, so Ben look for attractions along the way including a "brief" first visit to the London Eye.

Ben rides on the smooth hi-speed to London ticket in hand! Yay!

 

Exiting the train and entering the main station.

 

Ben continually looks up at the clock impatiently as his techie blogs away on the free wireless for hours! He's only in London until 7:30 pm!

 

Leaving the station for a little walking sightseeing on the way to Trafalgar Square.

 

Outside the station. Not very impressive... oh but wait... there's more...

 

Walking around, Ben finds the station proper.

[xenagurl]

Ben I'm sure glad that you didn't let your personal assistant get hit by one of those cars driving on the wrong side of the road. ;)

[kylenyc]

Ben I'm sure glad that you didn't let your personal assistant get hit by one of those cars driving on the wrong side of the road. ;)

Thanks! Me too! :eek: I stepped into at least a few crosswalks before getting into the habit of looking both ways. I wish I had taken of pictures of the cross walks near the terminal which had "LOOK RIGHT" panted in them but was still in a sleep deprived fog. But here's one similar.

 

Edited May 16, 2013 by kylenyc

[patter44]

Enjoying Ben's day in London. Those crosswalks would confuse me too :eek:!

[teach21566]

Loved all your posts

[kylenyc]

Day +2 - Monday, April 29, 2013 at 6 pm

Half-Day trip in London

 

Ben continues his way towards Trafalgar Square. Down the street from Waterloo, he spots the London Eye in the distance. Impressive!

 

As he approaches the landmark, Ben's extra careful to "LOOK RIGHT!"

 

He consults an area tourist map. "Now where did it disappear to?"

 

The London Aquarium nearby.

 

Using he keen powers of observation, Ben can tell by his bendy-senses that the London Eye is really really closeby! Now where is it? He thought it was this gianormous round thing.

 

Ben finally finds it. Scratching his head a little disappointed that it's not as big as he though, he tries to relive a happy memory and luck at the Slot Pull by giving the big wheel a spin chanting "Wheeeeeel... Oooof.... Fortuuuuuuuune!"

 

Edited May 19, 2013 by kylenyc

[kylenyc]

Day +2 - Monday, April 29, 2013 at 6 pm

Half-Day trip in London

 

Ben inspires a mother and her boys as they try to outdo Ben at his own antics.

 

Try this!

 

After an inordinate amount of time playing at the London Eye, our wayward wander walks along the Thames River towards the Westminster Bridge, Palace of Westminster, and Big Ben.

 

Big Ben at Little Ben

 

The London Eye from Westminster Bridge

 

Palace of Westminster and Big Ben

 

Our silly sight seeker took nearly two hours to walk from Waterloo Station to The Palace of Westminster and Big Ben... What should have taken 15 minutes. He just can't resist the endless amusement of posing for silly photo ops.

[The P]

Hi, Kyle, on this rainy NYC day........Did you have a Slot Pull on your BWAY cruise? Our winning GEM pull was a highlight. Wish I could join you in all your cruises, but will have to stick with what I have planned until I get to win a lottery. One can hope.........;) Sharon

[Billythekidd]

Wonderful shots...Good to hear from you Kyle...Sharon and I are on the Breakaway on the Jan. 19th sailing. Will miss your Slot Pull...LOL

[mdwcruises]

Love the pictures!!

[kylenyc]

Day +2 - Monday, April 29, 2013 at 5 pm

Half-Day trip in London

 

 

And Little Ben at Big Ben! Yay!

 

Ben strolls past Parliament Square and up Parliament Street

 

Parliament Street (Palace of Whitehall and administrative buildings)

 

Downing Street - Residences of the Prime Minister

 

 

 

Ben wonders what this red oddity is. People seem to enjoy taking the pictures beside it. Rumor has it it's the secret entrance to the Ministry of Magic or Time and Relative Dimension in Space(TARDIS).

[kylenyc]

Day +2 - Monday, April 29, 2013 at 6 pm

Half-Day trip in London

 

By the time Ben and his slow photog arrived at the ticket agent for The Original Tour hop-on hop-off bus tour, there was only one last bus running and he had enough time to take a short 45 minute tour before catching the train back to Southampton. The tour bus was convenient but the sound system for the audio tour was poor especially riding outside with the traffic noise in the background. The narrator was difficult to hear, rather dull, monotone, and not very interesting to listen too. However, the bus was clean, comfortable, and offered the opportunity for Ben to see a last bit of London before hopping off at Waterloo catching the 7:30 pm back to Southampton.

 

Trafalgar Square

 

Admiralty Arch

 

Waiting for the hop-on hop-off

 

Last tour of the evening

 

Edited May 19, 2013 by kylenyc

[kylenyc]

Day +2 - Monday, April 29, 2013 at 6 pm

Half-Day trip in London

 

 

View of Tower Bridge from London Bridge

 

Crossing Tower Bridge

 

 

 

 

 

Over the Tower Bridge, around the Tower of London (Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress)

 

Circled back towards Parliament Square and Westminster

Edited May 19, 2013 by kylenyc

[kylenyc]

Day +2 - Monday, April 29, 2013 at 10 pm

Half-Day trip in London

 

Ben caught the 7:30 pm train back to Southampton. After dropping of his manservant's belonging in the hotel, he took a 20 minute stroll over to the Duke of Wellington restaurant pub hoping to the catch some Cruise Critic members at the end of their pre-cruise gathering and dinner. By the time he arrived around 10 pm, most folks had left but there he met Erika & Brian, Rhonda & Glenn, Stephanie & Oliver, and had some great fun and laughs over a pint of lager.

Ben sadly takes the 7:30 pm hispeed back to Southampton after a much too short but fun visit in London.

 

Duke of Wellington

 

 

 

 

 

Ben smiling bright with new friends Glenn & Rhonda.

[kylenyc]

Hi, Kyle, on this rainy NYC day........Did you have a Slot Pull on your BWAY cruise? Our winning GEM pull was a highlight. Wish I could join you in all your cruises, but will have to stick with what I have planned until I get to win a lottery. One can hope.........;) Sharon

Wonderful shots...Good to hear from you Kyle...Sharon and I are on the Breakaway on the Jan. 19th sailing. Will miss your Slot Pull...LOL

Yes there was a Slot Pull but Ben was late and didn't get to play. He was in fact referring the Slot Pull on our Gem cruise which was such great fun as was the M&G and cabin poker crawl. Ben can't wait to try one again and trying to organize one on the Gem this Dec. Wish you were there and hope to run into you again on future travels! Btw. Ben will see Linda, John & Jovi and family again next February for a Mardi Gras cruise!

 

Love the pictures!!

Thanks! Ben's such a ham. :p

Edited May 19, 2013 by kylenyc

[meltingmoments]

Thoroughly enjoyed taking your journey with you! Thanks for sharing! :)

[royalprincess290]

Twice I have been to London. Your pictures brought back great memories. I was at most of the same locations.

 

Great pictures. Thank you again.

[sapphire2810]

I'll be on the October 20th sailing. This studio lounge is adorable! Also happy my parents have a fridge in their room since I have supplements that will need to be kept cold. Makes me wonder how their accommodating guests with chilled medications.

 

I must say...the hallway of the studio cabins is giving Bliss a run for its money.

 

Can't wait to meet all the friendly faces! Thanks for posting!

Thank you for posting these great photos and all your great info. Will be in Studio cabin in August NY to Bermuda, looking forward to meeting lots of new people.

 

Margie

[cruzinlady1947]

Really enjoying your review. Thanks for your time and effort.

 

I will have to tell my granddaughter about this review. She took pictures of her "Finn" doll from Adventure Time, at the ports we were at on our Caribbean cruise a couple years ago. She even took some underwater pics. She asked me if it was stupid to be taking pictures of a doll on a cruise. I said, don't worry, there are some adults that do it too. :p

 

Thanks again.

Gwen :)

[kylenyc]

Really enjoying your review. Thanks for your time and effort.

 

I will have to tell my granddaughter about this review. She took pictures of her "Finn" doll from Adventure Time, at the ports we were at on our Caribbean cruise a couple years ago. She even took some underwater pics. She asked me if it was stupid to be taking pictures of a doll on a cruise. I said, don't worry, there are some adults that do it too. :p

 

Thanks again.

Gwen :)

Awww. Thanks cruzinlady1947 a bunch, and thanks everyone for the encouragement. Noticed you cruise RCI a lot. Ben hasn't tried RCI... yet. Rumor has it he plans to sneak on one as soon as he can. ;)

Edited May 21, 2013 by kylenyc

[cruzinlady1947]

Awww. Thanks cruzinlady1947 a bunch, and thanks everyone for the encouragement. Noticed you cruise RCI a lot. Ben hasn't tried RCI... yet. Rumor has it he plans to sneak on one as soon as he can. ;)

All I can say is, "try it, you'll like it".

 

We did an NCL cruise back in 2001 on the Norwegian Sea to New England and Canada. It was an old ship, but really liked it. We got back to New York 2 days before 9/11. Was so shocked when the attack happened 2 days after our return. I do have some fantastic pics of the Twin Towers that I took sailing down the Hudson.

 

After that we just stuck with RCCL to build up our status. We are as high as we can go with RC. Wouldn't mind trying another cruise line again. I definitely will try the Quantum, coming out next year. Would be a good one for you to try.

 

Thanks again for your review. Pictures are fantastic.

 

Gwen :)