Quick Breakaway Haven Review (7/13-7/20)

[marc b]

DW and I just back from Breakaway. She is a beautiful ship with lots to do. Will do a quick review here and glad to answer questions. We have been on many, many cruises - a lot with NCL. Have done suites before, but never in dedicated Haven area. The Haven is wonderful and staff there are excellent. There definitely are some negatives to having 4000 people on a ship. Will touch base on those as well....

 

We got into NYC a day early, stayed at in lower Manhattan and took in a Mets game. Lots of fun....took cab to pier - embarkation was easy. Huge pier, well organized. Haven gets its own lounge, but the whole area and process looked easy. We had a Penthouse Suite. It is the size of a mini-suite on other ships we have been on, but plenty of room for two. Lots of storage space. We were a bit worried about noise with 2 bedroom suites on both sides of us, but it was amazingly quiet. The balcony was tiny, but again, fine for two.

 

Our days at sea were relaxing. The Haven staff is wonderful. Butler was beyond excellent, and concierges were awesome. On sea days, the sun deck was very crowded (nothing compared to main pool areas), and hard to get a chair after 10 a.m. Food in the Haven restaurant was great for breakfast and lunch. Service was impeccable. The dinner menu had many selections, but they were bizarre. We only ate dinner in the haven restaurant twice, and stuck with shrimp and steak. By bizarre, I mean they seemed very specialized, not appealing to a general palate. Duck would be a good example.....

[marc b]

We saw Rock of Ages. The staff was very talented, but the plot line was very muddled. It was like a lost train travelling in circles. I almost wish they had just sung the songs and skipped the plot.....seemed like random skits with a lot of gratuitous cursing thrown in.

 

We ate at several of the specialty restaurants. The Brazilian Steakhouse was awesome. Salad bar not to be missed. We ate in the Italian restaurant several times - we became addicted to the Carpaccio and Tomato/Mozzarella salad. And Teppanyaki's is well worth the experience. Lots of fun. Folks with kids should put it at top of their list. The Lobster Roll at the "to go" area of Ocean Blue is well worth the nine bucks.....heaven on a buttered roll. We also finally found the Sabrett's hot dog cart after it "hid" from us for several days. Soft serve and pretzel rolls in the buffet are great !

 

Back to the ship itself - many have commented that the ship did not seem crowded to them. We had the opposite feeling - it felt packed in the main areas. Especially outside O'Sheehans and any time you wanted an elevator. Only two banks of elevators - not enough. And walking in the circular area above the atrium was like a scene out of Soylent Green (sorry for bizarre movie reference)....just too many people in too small of a space.

 

Perhaps the worst feature was having the casino in a totally open area right down from the floor above the atrium. The smoke reeked over the entire seventh floor, and you could smell it all the way down to the water front restaurants....it was bad on our cruise. We must have been on the smoker's cruise. Every time we went out on our balcony it seemed like we were hooked up to a hookah.....just constant smoke.....

[marc b]

So much for "quick" review. Well, our first day on Bermuda had really bad weather...wind and rain. But we ventured out. Have been to Horseshoe Bay, and thought we would do smaller beach - so tried Elbow Beach. Bought transportation day pass, and took ferry from Kings Wharf to Hamilton. Then bus out to the beach. Public transport easy. Bus drivers friendly and helpful. Kids giving up their seats for older folk....very nice. Managed about an hour on the beach - weather just no good...beautiful beach, though......had a late lunch at O' Sheehans. Good food, but service very slow. They were overwhelmed by folks back on board due to bad weather.

 

Second day at Bermuda we rented a boat from H20 watersports. Excellent company....great equipment... very helpful. We were out for four hours. Time passes quickly....nothing like the waters in Bermuda. Just beautiful....last day we just took a walk over to the fort turned mall. Were more interested in the historical markers than the shopping. Surmised that the Brits would want a country close to the US for Revolutionary/ War of 1812 purposes....both are true....the country obviously retains a strong British influence.

 

Our last sea day was rainy, but there is always lots to do on board. Our cabin steward did towel animals for us every day. Disembarkation was a breeze. We would definitely recommend this ship - especially staying in the Haven. But all over the ship the staff was genuinely friendly and kind.....

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the report!

[Keith1010]

Thanks for writing this report.

 

Keith

[wasiii]

.....I have 54 days till I sail. Reading things like this helps me pass the time away.

 

:D

 

wasiii

[kernie968]

Thank you for the report. We cruise in December in the Haven and cannot wait. Do you remember what night and time the Haven Cocktail Party was held? We can start making reservations soon and we do not want to miss the party.

[CruisingCamper]

Thanks for the review! We will be in the Haven area in August. You mentioned the weather was not good, how were the seas?

[TYSONBOXER]

I sailed also on the 7/13-7/20 cruise in the haven as well. I have to say that this was the most calm seas I have ever sailed. I have been on over 20 cruises. The haven is the way to go if you don't like crowds. The pool area had a roof that they close when it rains as it did coming home. The service in the Haven area is excellent.

We saw the Rock of ages show and loved it. They were just as good as the original broadway cast.

I spent a lot of time in the casino, as I won a lot on the BJ tables. I don't smoke and was not bothered by the smoke as some people say there were.

The first day in Bermuda was windy and cloudy, so we went to the crystal caves. We took ferry to Hamilton and bus to caves. It was beautiful. There are 83 steps to go down to the caves, that means 83 back up. I was a little winded at the end, but made it.

The second day we went to Horse Shoe bay, what can I say, Beautiful.

The last day we went helmet diving. This was some experience. You go down in the water and they put a diving helmet on you, and your head doesn't get wet. You pay with and feed the fish. As well as seeing all the underwater life. You have to try it, it's great.

Even bowled a few games on board at the bowling alley.

The only thing that bothered me was, my suite was in the front of the ship, in the morning I would go to the buffet which was in the back if the ship. Going back to my room from there was some wok. I guess good exercise for me.

All in all I had a great time and would do it again.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[marc b]

in the Haven was Monday night, I believe at 6:15. Perhaps others can verify? That is also lobster night.

 

Agree that seas were extremely calm in general, but a bit choppy on way down. Nothing to be concerned about.....