Breakaway: never been so happy to leave a ship...

[Seago2]

... Which makes things easier, actually. No Post Cruise Depression.

 

Background: 6 NCL, 10 Carnival, 2 each HAL and Cunard, 1 each MSC and Princess.

 

The good: the crew was excellent. It was so nice to see crew in perfectly tailored uniforms, instead of the sloppy, hastily tucked in look that I've seen on Carnival of late. My cabin steward was great; he always kept us stocked with extra coffee pods and creamers, introduced himself the first hour we were there, and was always in the hallways saying hello. Ryan, cabin 10162. The guest services staff seemed to always be mingling in the line to make sure we were in the right line. Taste, Savor, La Cucina and Le Bistro wait staff were all great. And it's a new ship. Everything is clean and unmarked. 678 Ocean is a nice space. Our cabin was perfect. The Garden Cafe (lido buffet) is a really nice space and surprisingly good. Taste and Savor for breakfast- excellent.

 

The bad: never again will I sail on a mega ship. OMG. First of all, the lido deck, which really encompasses 15, 16 and 17, was designed by a team of schizophrenic madmen. To get from one place to another you are met with walls (the Haven, the ropes course, a huge amount of space for the bottom of the slides, Vibe, basketball course), stairs (up and down, no rhyme or reason- unless the goal was "fill as much on here as possible without regard to flow"), 8 foot tall plexiglass around the vast majority of the decks (with a little slit you can look out of), cheesy kid areas, a way too small pool- the overall feeling is one so removed from being "at sea" that the first thing I did upon trying to get from one end to the other of it was run down and get Vibe passes.

 

Thank god for Vibe. It's an oasis. It's a shame you have to pay $100 to experience a relaxing deck (still with the 8 foot high plexiglass, though) but it's worth it to get away from the insane crowds of people clustering in the available lido deck space.

 

And God help you if it rains. All of those people, the sunburned, passed out people with five dead pina coladas next to their loungers, the little kids, the groups, the strollers and scooters, the teens- will be at 678 Ocean. If you remove the casino portion they're really at 6-8 Ocean. If you remove the giant Park West art hallway and the upsell restaurants, everyone is literally crowded into the atrium/non-atrium, with ear blasting trivia games or whatever else they had going on. And I'm telling you, the volume on that ship is ear splitting. When people tell you to take ear plugs they are not kidding.

 

It seemed as though most people picked the UBP. There was a lot of heavy drinking going on, including the last night, when most people have received their folio and have put the brakes on their spending. It did seem like most people were having a good time at the bars (of course walking by you had the miserable parents with kids in strollers, the scooter brigade- everyone looking for something to do, somewhere to sit or even stand).

 

We picked the UDP:

 

Cagney's: after we started eating our bread the guy at the table next to us said "I think they're having an off night". Yes they were. I returned my 8 ounce filet twice and I never return things. It was just raw inside and I can't.... The sides were really mediocre- the scalloped potatoes were cold and hard. But I didn't feel too bad about sending mine back when another guy at a table near us simply walked out with his wife. He made sure he wasn't charged and walked out. I've never seen that on a ship before. The food took a long time but they brought us extra appetizers.

 

After that experience I changed my next Cagney's to La Cucina, which I know makes no sense but I wasn't going back in there again and La Cucina was the only one available. Good thing because it turned out to be fine. Le Bistro was excellent. Service, food- just a really nice time.

 

This brings me to last night, Teppanyaki. I think my eyes are still swollen from the sodium. Oh my god. I've been to Benihana type places before and knew what to expect. We didn't go to any of the shows so I told my husband, hey this is like we're at a show... (We avoid shows). So it was all good until the chef started drenching everything in soy sauce. I mean drenching and then going back and pouring it on again. The end result was beautiful lobster, steak, calamari and shrimp made so salty that we almost couldn't eat it. My clothes were becoming saturated in smoke, we were sitting there gagging on the soy sauce, so we made an excuse and legged it out of there before dessert.

 

Manhattan: not good. No no no. I had "mushroom stroganoff" which is where I guess you hit when you're at the bottom of the barrel of cost cutting- leave out the beef altogether- and it was horrible. But the Garden Cafe was good- best tasting buffet I think I've ever had. The Indian food was really good. And NCL has really stepped up their game with desserts. They used to be laughable but now they're usually pretty good.

 

Better desserts, great crew, cleanliness, good lido buffet- was this just because we were on a new(er) ship? If I was to go back on Dawn would the good parts remain the same? Is there some way I can experience this and stay the hell away from Breakaway for the rest of my life?

 

Final note: sailing NCL really brings home to me how bad Carnival has become with the cost cutting measures. I have sailed only Carnival for the last four years, except for one HAL trip. It was nice to have Andes mints on the bed. The day you would ever see cold washcloths and lemonade upon getting back to the ship at port on a Carnival ship- wouldn't happen. So I was happy to be on NCL but never again on Breakaway.

 

PS: Bermuda was beautiful ;)

[RuthlessBoss]

I was on Getaway last November, did not run into what you did, but I was solo. Although I loved the ship, not everyone is cut out for the big ships, and I'm one of those too. There's almost too much going on. I can't speak to any eating areas except Sheehans and their wonderful buffets. I also sailed prior to al the UDP, UBP etc were being promoted.

[MMMD]

I was on the 10-4 Breakaway & agree with a lot of what you said.

I'll never sail on a ship that size again. I felt the venues too small for the amount of people on board.

 

Loved the coffee place in the Atrium but if an event was going on all the chairs were taken from the area so there was no place to sit to drink your coffee or eat your dessert. Same with the Internet Cafe. It's all in the same area & it was impossible to get a chair or do anything on the computer with the crowds & noise level.

There must have been a better idea for these venues than they used. Terrible design.

 

Liked the Haven, but encountered to many families with screaming/running children. Hard to try & sit & relax before dinner with that going on.

 

The pool/hot tubs were constantly full of kids & teens & the noise level was outstanding (not in a good way)

 

For peace & quiet we spent a lot of time on our aft balcony. We also had a horrible experience with our invisible Butler.

 

I know families paid their fare too, but I feel I paid for suite perks I was unable to use. Maybe one day the Haven (or at least certain sailings) will be adults only.

 

Never ate in any main dining rooms but actually loved O'Sheehans. Many here on CC complain about the wait staff there, but we always had smiling competent staff & good food. I loved the Indian food at the buffet. Dinner selections were much better than lunch, but then again I was addicted to O'Sheehans chicken tenders.

 

Our dinner at Cagney's was good. Not great, but good. La Cuchina just OK & never went to Teppanyaki after hating it on the Jewel.

 

I was pretty happy to get off the ship as well. I think we'll stick to some land vacations for a while.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Edited October 18, 2015 by MMMD

[jkneern]

We too will probably never sail a mega ship again. Loved the BA but common areas are way to small for the amout of people on board. To bad cause it really would be perfect it they removed 2 or 3 decks of passanger cabins. The Atrium was such a bottle neck the entire cruise, took forever to get through it and forget trying to see or participate in what ever was going on. Would be better if they held some of these activities in the show room like other ships do, just a bad location. Forget the pool deck too, what were they thinking? Over 3000 guests and 1 tiny pool with maybe 50 lounge chairs around it. Plenty of chairs in the shade but I want sun when I'm out at a pool.

[Mikkar]

Sorry you didn't enjoy your cruise. We were on the Breakaway the week before you and we had a great time but I do agree that some of the venues are too small for the amount of passengers on board. We had sailed on the Dawn in May and, to us, it was too small and we couldn't wait to get back to the Breakaway. The beef wasn't missing from the mushroom stroganoff in the Manhattan Room due to cost cutting; it was the vegetarian option for the night and I thought it was delicious!!

[beandippa]

I was on the 10-4 Breakaway & agree with a lot of what you said.

I'll never sail on a ship that size again. I felt the venues too small for the amount of people on board.

 

Loved the coffee place in the Atrium but if an event was going on all the chairs were taken from the area so there was no place to sit to drink your coffee or eat your dessert. Same with the Internet Cafe. It's all in the same area & it was impossible to get a chair or do anything on the computer with the crowds & noise level.

There must have been a better idea for these venues than they used. Terrible design.

 

Liked the Haven, but encountered to many families with screaming/running children. Hard to try & sit & relax before dinner with that going on.

 

The pool/hot tubs were constantly full of kids & teens & the noise level was outstanding (not in a good way)

 

For peace & quiet we spent a lot of time on our aft balcony. We also had a horrible experience with our invisible Butler.

 

I know families paid their fare too, but I feel I paid for suite perks I was unable to use. Maybe one day the Haven (or at least certain sailings) will be adults only.

 

Never ate in any main dining rooms but actually loved O'Sheehans. Many here on CC complain about the wait staff there, but we always had smiling competent staff & good food. I loved the Indian food at the buffet. Dinner selections were much better than lunch, but then again I was addicted to O'Sheehans chicken tenders.

 

Our dinner at Cagney's was good. Not great, but good. La Cuchina just OK & never went to Teppanyaki after hating it on the Jewel.

 

I was pretty happy to get off the ship as well. I think we'll stick to some land vacations for a while.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

 

When you say bad butler experience in the aft? Did you ask for things and did not get what was asked? I am on this ship in aft in 3 weeks. Just curious what made the butler bad. I mean, you pay out the a$&&; for it.

[NYcruzzer]

I am another who prefers the "smaller" ships. That being said most mainstream lines new builds are mega cruisers. Royal Oasis/Quantum classes, Carnival..Vista, NCL..Breakaway/Breakaway/plus I'm pretty sure in the decades to come all the "smaller" ships will continue to be replaced with these megaliners. What to do then ? Stop cruising ?

[bobg529]

I am another who prefers the "smaller" ships. That being said most mainstream lines new builds are mega cruisers. Royal Oasis/Quantum classes, Carnival..Vista, NCL..Breakaway/Breakaway/plus I'm pretty sure in the decades to come all the "smaller" ships will continue to be replaced with these megaliners. What to do then ? Stop cruising ?

 

 

No, I guess we adjust to the new normal. I've sailed on Breakaway and EPIC, and I loved the EPIC, although I had some of the same complaints about Breakaway. Still, I very much enjoyed my cruise on her and enjoyed the ship itself too. If I'm going to answer to which ship is my favorite I'd have to say the Sun. The problem is, that every port of call or cruise itinerary that I'm interested in seems to lean towards those larger ships. My solution has been to buy a Vibe/Posh pass when available, to buy a spa pass, and to move about the ship as much as possible while staying away from the main pool area entirely. If I can't get a Vibe pass, I head for one of the less visited deck areas AWAY from the pool. One last thing, don't travel when kids are out of school. There are times when the ships are not overrun and that any children that are on board are toddlers that are mostly inoffensive, except for a little crying now and then. Please don't flame me, I know that families are the bread and butter of the cruise business and that they have just as much right to be on board a ship as I do, but that doesn't mean I have to like having kids around. Yeah, I know that many of them are well behaved and that their parents raise them properly and that they are really very nice, but the ones that aren't are obnoxious and annoying. Those are the ones that stand out the most it seems. Single adults have the right to enjoy their vacations too. I'd also appreciate if you don't tell me to find another cruise line or type of vacation. I like cruising, and I like NCL.:)

[DMH15]

I know the mega ships are not for me. So, don't book them.

 

I enjoy my meal at Teppanyaki. At the beginning of the meal I tell the chef no soy sauce no added salt. So mine has been delicious every time.

 

Sorry about the Butler situation... my first cruise I did not enjoy my Butler at all. But since then I've been very blessed.

[zqvol]

I love these types of reviews. they reinforce my belief that I should never get on a large ship.

[DGP1111]

. . .

And God help you if it rains. All of those people, the sunburned, passed out people with five dead pina coladas next to their loungers, the little kids, the groups, the strollers and scooters, the teens- will be at 678 Ocean. If you remove the casino portion they're really at 6-8 Ocean. If you remove the giant Park West art hallway and the upsell restaurants, everyone is literally crowded into the atrium/non-atrium, with ear blasting trivia games or whatever else they had going on.

 

.

.

 

PS: Bermuda was beautiful ;)

 

I enjoyed reading your entire recap, but that one paragraph made me chuckle SO much. Thanks :) :)

 

The facts that Bermuda was such a wonderful multi-day port of call (my first time there), and I was cruising with friends, were the only reasons I didn't follow through with my research and fly back to the States to avoid the extra sea days onboard Norwegian Breakaway. I despised that ship and the majority of its crew that much. It was a unique week for that ship, and I was just unlucky to be scheduled for that one. As they say, ship happens.

 

.

[Seago2]

No, I guess we adjust to the new normal. I've sailed on Breakaway and EPIC, and I loved the EPIC, although I had some of the same complaints about Breakaway. Still, I very much enjoyed my cruise on her and enjoyed the ship itself too. If I'm going to answer to which ship is my favorite I'd have to say the Sun. The problem is, that every port of call or cruise itinerary that I'm interested in seems to lean towards those larger ships. My solution has been to buy a Vibe/Posh pass when available, to buy a spa pass, and to move about the ship as much as possible while staying away from the main pool area entirely. If I can't get a Vibe pass, I head for one of the less visited deck areas AWAY from the pool. One last thing, don't travel when kids are out of school. There are times when the ships are not overrun and that any children that are on board are toddlers that are mostly inoffensive, except for a little crying now and then. Please don't flame me, I know that families are the bread and butter of the cruise business and that they have just as much right to be on board a ship as I do, but that doesn't mean I have to like having kids around. Yeah, I know that many of them are well behaved and that their parents raise them properly and that they are really very nice, but the ones that aren't are obnoxious and annoying. Those are the ones that stand out the most it seems. Single adults have the right to enjoy their vacations too. I'd also appreciate if you don't tell me to find another cruise line or type of vacation. I like cruising, and I like NCL.:)

 

No flames from me. I can see that maybe, really stretching it, the week 10/10 could have been considered a kid week (because they were out of school 10/11), but how do you explain the 10/4 cruiser? Actually my cruise had a lot of toddlers and not many school aged kids. Big kids, yes, but....

[Seago2]

I enjoyed reading your entire recap, but that one paragraph made me chuckle SO much. Thanks :) :)

 

The facts that Bermuda was such a wonderful multi-day port of call (my first time there), and I was cruising with friends, were the only reasons I didn't follow through with my research and fly back to the States to avoid the extra sea days onboard Norwegian Breakaway. I despised that ship and the majority of its crew that much. It was a unique week for that ship, and I was just unlucky to be scheduled for that one. As they say, ship happens.

 

.

 

Lol! If you had flown you would have had the same type of sea experience, which is to say: none. We had a balcony on 10, and when you consider the lido deck on most ships is on 9, we were in the stratosphere. 11 foot waves and we felt a little jiggle here and there. We were looking off the balcony, trying to get into it, and it was like we were watching the waves on a movie. So we went to bed and watched the bow cam and read books.

[49erfan007]

Yes I agree I will never do a mega ship-too many people. I am looking forward to my Gem cruise, I hear it's a great ship and a perfect size

[Seago2]

I know the mega ships are not for me. So, don't book them.

 

I enjoy my meal at Teppanyaki. At the beginning of the meal I tell the chef no soy sauce no added salt. So mine has been delicious every time.

 

Sorry about the Butler situation... my first cruise I did not enjoy my Butler at all. But since then I've been very blessed.

 

If only we had known. Omg so salty. Yeah I'm taking a pass on the mega ships in the future.

 

I am another who prefers the "smaller" ships. That being said most mainstream lines new builds are mega cruisers. Royal Oasis/Quantum classes, Carnival..Vista, NCL..Breakaway/Breakaway/plus I'm pretty sure in the decades to come all the "smaller" ships will continue to be replaced with these megaliners. What to do then ? Stop cruising ?

 

I was thinking that very same thought on the 7 hour ride home. I guess we just wear out the older ships and then get rich enough to sail Regent or Oceania or go for an all inclusive. But I'm never sailing a floating mall again.

[Seago2]

I love these types of reviews. they reinforce my belief that I should never get on a large ship.

 

Don't. Just don't. Imagine what self debarkation was like this morning. No matter what you do you can't recreate five Deck 6's. So the hallways were jammed and the elevator doors kept opening with people with suitcases trying to get off.

 

Just never do it. I must have been out of my mind.

[bobg529]

Don't. Just don't. Imagine what self debarkation was like this morning. No matter what you do you can't recreate five Deck 6's. So the hallways were jammed and the elevator doors kept opening with people with suitcases trying to get off.

 

Just never do it. I must have been out of my mind.

 

If you're doing self debarkation, which I always do, you either need to go first thing in the AM, or dawdle like hell and be the last one off. I like the latter myself, although it depends on if you have a flight to catch. I noticed you have been on Cunard, did you sail on the QM2 by any chance? She is huge, bigger than the Breakaway, but the she is laid out the ship always seems empty. There were times I felt like I was the only person there, lol. :) It was a transatlantic too, with practically no children on board.

 

I think one of the problems with the mega ships are that they have no promenade. The best you can do is walk around the Waterfront area and then cut through mid ship. Here I go lecturing, and my next three cruises are on the Getaway, the Escape, and Breakaway again! :eek:

[Seago2]

If you're doing self debarkation, which I always do, you either need to go first thing in the AM, or dawdle like hell and be the last one off. I like the latter myself, although it depends on if you have a flight to catch. I noticed you have been on Cunard, did you sail on the QM2 by any chance? She is huge, bigger than the Breakaway, but the she is laid out the ship always seems empty. There were times I felt like I was the only person there, lol. :) It was a transatlantic too, with practically no children on board.

 

I think one of the problems with the mega ships are that they have no promenade. The best you can do is walk around the Waterfront area and then cut through mid ship. Here I go lecturing, and my next three cruises are on the Getaway, the Escape, and Breakaway again! :eek:

 

QE2 twice.

 

Yes, a full promenade would have been nice. Instead we would walk down the Waterfront area and cut across, as you say. There is a nice aft view at some point.

[jdemps]

I believe we don't have any problems with crowds or lines because we are night owls that don't wake up early or want dinner from 6-8pm. I'm not interested in the pool so my cruises on larger ships have always been pretty good. We're probably sitting down to dinner when older adults or ones with toddlers are heading to bed. Its worked for us so far to be non-traditional with activities or meal times.

[Golfin55]

I agree with many of the post here. Especially the OP. The Quantum OTS. IMHO is the best layout of any mega ship we have been on, great flow to the ship. I believe NCL can make better use of the space by not trying to stuff so much into an already crowded space.

 

When we sail with the kids, we will take the larger ships, just because of the activity selection. When it just the wife & I, we alway choose smaller ships to sail on.

[OCruisers]

Sorry it was an unfortunate cruise! Glad I wasn't on that cruise! :eek:

 

Hear you! We were on a cruise once where our favorite port of call was our disembarkation port! :D

 

LuLu

[LrgPizza]

What a great review. Ha! I love your style.

[TraJon9]

No, I guess we adjust to the new normal. I've sailed on Breakaway and EPIC, and I loved the EPIC, although I had some of the same complaints about Breakaway. Still, I very much enjoyed my cruise on her and enjoyed the ship itself too. If I'm going to answer to which ship is my favorite I'd have to say the Sun. The problem is, that every port of call or cruise itinerary that I'm interested in seems to lean towards those larger ships. My solution has been to buy a Vibe/Posh pass when available, to buy a spa pass, and to move about the ship as much as possible while staying away from the main pool area entirely. If I can't get a Vibe pass, I head for one of the less visited deck areas AWAY from the pool. One last thing, don't travel when kids are out of school. There are times when the ships are not overrun and that any children that are on board are toddlers that are mostly inoffensive, except for a little crying now and then. Please don't flame me, I know that families are the bread and butter of the cruise business and that they have just as much right to be on board a ship as I do, but that doesn't mean I have to like having kids around. Yeah, I know that many of them are well behaved and that their parents raise them properly and that they are really very nice, but the ones that aren't are obnoxious and annoying. Those are the ones that stand out the most it seems. Single adults have the right to enjoy their vacations too. I'd also appreciate if you don't tell me to find another cruise line or type of vacation. I like cruising, and I like NCL.:)

 

I agree with you about the summer months or holiday times. We travel as a couple, in our early 40s'. I love kids and I really like a mix of passengers which is what we get while school is on. Otherwise it is their time in my opinion. During the summer months I stay close to home on the beach, and our own little cruiseship (20 foot boat) ha!

 

We love The Breakaway. We do the vibe or the spa. We do speciality dining and the free asian. We only go to the MDR fir the day we embark, and a morning breakfast. I hate buffets and like the Breakaways.. Now we enjoy the casino so maybe that is different then others. There are sofas out on the waterfront by Carlos bakery that we spend quiet time reading.. And the spice H20 is a nice area removed from the pools.. We have enjoyed the 80s' party there.. I expected going in I was not going to really like it. Leave for the third time this year in a few weeks. Excited! My only complaint is how slippery the walkways are by the pool on the crazy windy path to the vibe from the AFT.

 

I am amazed every time we go how spotless the ship is and how great the customer care is. Now we tend to be very laid back and relaxed and I plan all our excursions on our own. So we are probably more prepared and don't look for much help. Then again we don't pay for a butler (I have no idea how I would use one lol) so I can't compare.

 

We tip our room steward 25 upfront.. All I ask for is extra towels and extra coffee, room in the fridge and ice here and there. They are always exceptional.

Edited October 19, 2015 by TraJon9

[ldlewis45]

When I sailed on the Breakaway in the middle of the summer in 2013, I enjoyed it and found it very relaxing. Though, I had a mini-suite balcony and a spa pass and generally avoided the lido as much as possible. Even on small ships, I find the lido to be overcrowded and just not relaxing, so I always find areas that are fairly deserted. I LOVED the Waterfront during the day, since most people went to the lido instead. I do agree that the 678/Atrium area is too small for the crowds when everyone is forced inside, though.

[drvalo]

I completely agree with OP about the Mega ships. While we have not been on the Breakaway, we were on the Epic last December and I felt exactly the same way - venues too small for the number of passengers, difficult to get around, no way to see the sea except from your balcony if you are lucky enough to have one (we did). And, yes, "God help you if it rains", and for us, it rained some almost every day except the first day at sea. Rain on port days means there is nothing to do and only the atrium to be or buffet to be in when many excursions are cancelled. It was pretty bad. The cruise was exhausting. There were some positives (the crew, Moderno's, Blue Man Group, the buffet selection) but yes, never again, if we can help it, on a mega ship. When our beloved Sun was docked beside the Epic in Cozumel, I wanted to pack my bag and climb aboard. I was really happy to get off the Epic.