Breeze Southern Caribbean Review

[Leo's Rule]

I'm subscribing. I do this itinerary in October.

 

Does your sister rent her place? :D

 

I loved every bit of your review. I can't wait for the rest of it. And I too had horrible waiters on my Triumph cruise in January of last year. I just made sure not to be seated in their area again.

 

Oh, and you have a handsome husband. ;)

[portlandpete]

Hello from another Maineiac! I am loving your review! My sister is taking me on the Breeze in September as my birthday gift this year. We are excited to leave the hubby's and kids behind and have some quality sister time.

 

Trish

 

Lucky you! I love sista (as we call ourselves) vacations they are the best. You will have so much fun.

[portlandpete]

I think I just got a little teary eyed seeing these pictures of 10276! We miss it so much since that was our room in February. We loved that room!!!!

 

I know just how you feel. I keep thinking someone is sitting on MY balcony! We loved the location.

[portlandpete]

We were in 10277 on Lido a couple weeks before you went... Love the location... Your review is spot on so far....

 

Thanks for your kind words. I feel like I am reliving the cruise...well almost!

[portlandpete]

That is Rock Lobster, or some say Spiny Lobster. I haven't had Maine Lobster in the MDR on a cruise ship in years. Real nice photos, though. :):):):)

 

My DH could tell right away it wasn't Maine lobster. He didn't hate it and he looked at it like he at least he didn't have to pick it. He usually has to pick his and mine so it was a treat not to have to do that.

[portlandpete]

review! You are doing a great job!

 

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[portlandpete]

Great Review so far. Looking forward to the rest since this will most likely be the next one we book, hopefully November!!

 

 

Book now!! You won't regret it! We had a fantastic time!

[portlandpete]

I'm subscribing. I do this itinerary in October.

 

Does your sister rent her place? :D

 

I loved every bit of your review. I can't wait for the rest of it. And I too had horrible waiters on my Triumph cruise in January of last year. I just made sure not to be seated in their area again.

 

Oh' date=' and you have a handsome husband. ;)[/quote']

 

My sisters place is unreal! We felt like we were on vacation the minute we walked in. Well at least our waiter was for just 1 night. When we went back we went to a different area. Really it had NO impact on our cruise. I just wanted to be fair when I did this review and also note things we didn't like.

 

I think my husband is handsome too. We have been together since we were 16 and we have so much fun together so thank you!

[LibratPDX]

DH soup (he thinks it was roasted pepper soup but we can't remember)

 

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I think this photo is actually either the stuffed mushrooms or escargot, doesn't look like soup to me........

 

Loving your review, will be sailing in 126 days!

[portlandpete]

Day 3 Grand Turk

 

Let me just say we loved this island! We were one of the first ones off the ship and I am so glad we were. Everything was so nice and close. As we disembarked we walked through a shopping type area (looked newly constructed) and then saw Margaritaville

 

Welcome to Grand Turk

 

 

 

 

This is just as we got off the boat. I looked in later on and it was packed and looked like everyone was have a great time. Just not our thing.

 

 

We did not stay there but headed right for the beach. There were many chairs in the shade or sun. We found a great spot in the shade and where we could hear the music from Margaritaville so it was perfect for us. The water, the beach just everything is so beautiful. We went in the water and I stayed in for well over 2.5 hours! That is how good the snorkeling was. There were colorful fish everywhere. Sorry, but I have not downloaded the underwater camera. But the fish were everywhere. We bring our own snorkel stuff.

 

Photos can't show how beautiful and blue the water was

 

 

We had chairs that were right under a palm tree. I am thinking this is a Monday morning and normally we would be in our offices at work and NOT sitting on a beautiful beach like this. Life is good. DH is happy!

 

 

So aren't I!!

 

[portlandpete]

I am so glad we got there early because once more people got off the boat it got crowded in the water. This actually was perfect for us because once everyone was in the water we walked down the beach and every time we got hot we just went for a quick swim wherever we were. Really it was such a perfect beach day! So we kind of spaced our time by first going where the snorkeling was really great and then once everyone got there we just left. So for anyone who doesn't like all the crowds just walk a little bit and you will be fine.

 

The ship from the beach

 

 

Jacks Shack which is further down the beach

 

 

View from the dock

 

 

View from the ship as we were leaving

 

[portlandpete]

We headed back to the ship and the line was long but not a big deal to us. We headed right to Guy’s and had another yummy hamburger. As we were eating we look up and Tom was playing guitar right next to us on Lido deck. How lucky can we get?? Beautiful beach day, great burgers, good music and cold frosty beers and let me tell you we were happy. We had a perfect view looking past Tom as we were leaving Grand Turk.

 

 

We headed back to our cabin for the rest of Sail A Way and it was like a party on all the balconies. We could hear people laughing and talking and really just having fun. After we were pretty far out we took a nap (is this a theme?). When we woke up we headed out to Lido deck and smelled popcorn so right there we said let’s watch the movie. So we got popcorn, pizza and soda and settled in to watch The Help. It was really relaxing to watch a movie while sailing. It wasn’t what we planned but worked out perfectly for us. We were tired!!

 

 

Here is a list of movies that played while we were on board: The Nannie Diaries, Notting Hill, The Help, and Gone with the Wind, Zookeeper, Odd Life of Timothy Green, Tron Legacy, Dark Knight, Spiderman, Brave, Gnomeio& Juliet, 3 Elvis Movies, Bourne Supremacy and Hunger Games.

 

After the movie we headed to Ocean Plaza for Love SoulJaz. We really enjoyed this band and every night the crowds got bigger and bigger! We then went on to the Piano Bar with Ron. We enjoyed ourselves there and returned another night for a little while. It wouldn't be something we could do every night but Ron was very entertaining and since we don’t have a chance to go to piano bars very often it was fun and different for us. We were singing along with everyone else and had a really fun time! Definitely a great night! What I didn’t like was how the room is set up. The Punchliner’s comedy club is just beyond it so when the shows lets out or if people were coming and going from there or the lounge it is distracting.

 

We tried to get into the Comedy Club and didn’t want to wait 45 minutes. We never got to a see a show because each time we tried the wait was so long. I really think that they should move this to a different venue. There were other people we met who felt the same way.

 

Of course now that we are homewe regret not waiting but when we were on the cruise there was so much other stuff to do that we didn’t want to wait. We also went to Limelight Lounge. That place was PACKED! So if you love that type of atmosphere you are going to love that nightclub!!

 

So we headed back to our balcony and talked about "can things get any better than this?" And yes they can because we still have 5 more days!!

[portlandpete]

DH soup (he thinks it was roasted pepper soup but we can't remember)

 

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I think this photo is actually either the stuffed mushrooms or escargot, doesn't look like soup to me........

 

Loving your review, will be sailing in 126 days!

 

I just asked DH and he is thinking mushrooms? We really couldn't remember because all we know is he liked it. We will we had taken photos of the menu but we didn't. Hope you have as much fun as we did when it's your turn!

[javamom]

Also, late at night the Tandor changes from Indian food to hotdogs, brownies, ham and cheese sandwiches, buffalo chicken sandwiches and little snacks. We went back to Pizza Pirate most nights and there were never many people at Tandor so I am not sure if people know about it but it was a great place for a snack.

 

We were onboard for a week and never knew this! Thanks. I will check it out in August.

 

Also, I thought that maybe we wouldn’t get waited on because we had Cheers and that was not true at all. The bar staff everywhere were all very attentive and it made no difference at all that we had Cheers. So for those of you who enjoy your cocktails throughout the day then Cheers would work for you so enjoy!

We found as you that it made no difference that we had Cheers. We received excellent bar service on lido, at dinner, at bars. Excellent service!

[jsjjkelly]

Day 3 Grand Turk/QUOTE]

 

One question for you... we were thinking of doing just what you guys did... just make it a beach day.

 

Were there any waves? My kids have boogie boards, and we were thinking of bringing them, but if the water is super calm, there's no need. What was the water like? Were there even small enough waves to play in?

 

You're review is getting us so excited!!! 13 more days for us until we go on her. I can't wait for you to finish your review!!

 

Thanks again!

Shawn

[javamom]

Great Review!!! And helps countdown the days for us to experience the Breeze! I thought the Cheers program is 42.50 and 49.99 only on the one 4 day cruise on a different ship (don't remember name). So now it's 49.99 on all. Is that hard to purchase the first day? Where did you finally purchase it?

 

Thanks!

Not OP, but on our April Breeze cruise it was very easy to purchase. We bought it at the place she mentioned right outside lido. The line was short and went quickly. It was also being sold in the lobby bar on our cruise.

[riclop]

Day 2 Sea Day and Elegant Evening:

 

What a great feeling to know we had the whole day ahead of us with no plans except to relax. So we started the day with a breakfast burrito

from the Blue Iguana.

 

Here are your choices:

 

 

Everything was so fresh looking!

 

 

 

The toppings bar to add whatever you want

 

 

YUMMY!!!

 

 

 

 

These are the best ones we have ever had. At the beginning of the cruise there were no lines at all. At the end there were lines but hardly more than a few minutes. You can pick whatever you want in your burrito and then go over the toppings bar and pick different salsas, cheese etc. There is a drink station right across from it for coffee, water, orange juice and mango juice. Again, there were no problems at all finding a table to sit right by the Blue Iguana and the pool. In the morning they had the big screen going and they had on shows like Cheers and the Honeymooners.

 

After breakfast I went to the spa and DH tried to go to Serenity but every single seat was taken so he just found another deck and read and then went to the casino.

 

The spa was fabulous! It was never crowded at all. I used the Thalassotherapy pool which was my favorite! Next, I tried the heated loungers which were SO relaxing. Then I was off to the steam and sauna areas (a very tough life I was leading on this cruise). This spa is beautiful and so worth the $149.00 I spent to be able to go whenever I wanted. I always ended up taking a shower in the locker room. The showers here are huge just like I read on this site.

 

 

 

 

My only complaint about the spa is that sometimes the conversation was a little distracting. There were a couple of woman talking quietly back and forth and that didn’t bother me at all. Honestly, I can see talking quietly to someone, but there were people using the heated loungers that were so loud it really felt like I was back on the Lido deck or a bar. To me a spa is a space to relax and recharge and not a place where people socialize loudly. That was not the atmosphere I wanted but I didn’t let it ruin my time up there. I just tried to block them out. If anyone could comment on this I would appreciate the feedback. I would like to know if my expectations of a spa being quiet and restful were unrealistic.

We have been in the spa many times and it was always nice and relaxing with sooooothing music, so you just were unlucky.

[kybluecruiser]

Great review! Noticed your cruise director was Brent. How was he? I hear nothing but good things about the Breeze's regular CD Butch, but haven't heard anything about Brent.

[TheTravelista]

Love all of the detail in your review :)

 

Question: You said the snorkeling was great and you saw lots of colorful fish in Grand Turk, was this right off of the beach? Or did you have to take a boat further out?

 

Thanks!

[javamom]

Day 2 Sea Day and Elegant Evening:

 

 

My only complaint about the spa is that sometimes the conversation was a little distracting. There were a couple of woman talking quietly back and forth and that didn’t bother me at all. Honestly, I can see talking quietly to someone, but there were people using the heated loungers that were so loud it really felt like I was back on the Lido deck or a bar. To me a spa is a space to relax and recharge and not a place where people socialize loudly. That was not the atmosphere I wanted but I didn’t let it ruin my time up there. I just tried to block them out. If anyone could comment on this I would appreciate the feedback. I would like to know if my expectations of a spa being quiet and restful were unrealistic.

 

Your expectations are very realistic. Fortunately I only experienced quiet when I was there no matter the day/who was there.

 

Great review! Noticed your cruise director was Brent. How was he? I hear nothing but good things about the Breeze's regular CD Butch, but haven't heard anything about Brent.

 

I was SO disappointed Butch wasn't going to be on our April cruise. DD had sailed with him before and had told great things. But Brent exceeded all my expectations! And I am one who feels a CD really makes a difference on a cruise. He was fun, funny, hands on, personable but professional.

[lbfluffy]

Is the Cheers package for 8 days close to $900 now? We paid $693 on our 7 day but you said you paid $804. That's a big increase!

[mdwcruises]

Great review! Beautiful pictures!

[acadran]

Sailing on the Breeze January 2014 and am loving your review. Am going to bookmark it and re-read it every month until then. Wonderful pictures.

 

(We are New Englanders transplanted to NC. Love Maine)

[portlandpete]

Day 3 Grand Turk/QUOTE]

 

One question for you... we were thinking of doing just what you guys did... just make it a beach day.

 

Were there any waves? My kids have boogie boards, and we were thinking of bringing them, but if the water is super calm, there's no need. What was the water like? Were there even small enough waves to play in?

 

You're review is getting us so excited!!! 13 more days for us until we go on her. I can't wait for you to finish your review!!

 

Thanks again!

Shawn

 

The water was very calm so I don't know about boogie boards. It was really warm and the waves were small. I saw all kinds of kids playing in the water with pails and shovels and just swimming. On the beach they have rentals for water toys and banana boat rides and things like that. The snorkeling was great seeing as you could do it right from the beach. Some of the fish were right as you walked in so maybe your kids can see them without having to go out to the rope where the bigger fish were. If it is too crowded for you just keep walking. Have fun!!

[portlandpete]

Great review! Noticed your cruise director was Brent. How was he? I hear nothing but good things about the Breeze's regular CD Butch, but haven't heard anything about Brent.

 

I thought he was good but sorry the cruise director doesn't really make a difference to us. Every event we went to Trivia, Karaoke, marriage game or pool parties everyone was having a great time so I am sure you will like him too.