Does anyone like The Breakaway?

[Bonobochick]

I've been on the Breakaway 6 times. In fact, I just got off of a 13 day cruise just this past Sunday. I have mostly positive experiences with the ship. There are only a few cons for me:

 

1) The stateroom door slamming. The walls on this ship seem thinner to me (vs Gem and Epic) and it seems like the doors are heavy and slam hard.

 

2) I'll be glad when they switch out "Rock of Ages" for another Broadway show.

[luckyinpa]

It's been non stop disaster after disaster of reviews for this ship and it's sister ships, complaints, crying, horror stories, and more. People waiting hours for tables at all the restaurants, no hot water in cabins, cold food, bad service, it's endless.

 

Considering I am getting on in under two weeks I was wondering if anyone actually likes the BA or are people just sailing on it out of duty?

 

i went on my 1st cruise even to bermuda on BA in october . loved it so much went to bahamas dirty cheap in december. you are ready a lot of negative things because people dont write back the positive. heck i didnt even post my december review yet

 

but regarding your above comments here's my reply:

 

i never saw any line that you would wait hours for. not even the ropes course. out of my 2 cruises i think i waited maybe 10 min at most to get in taste. MDR i waited 5. never heard of no hot water in cabins. we took multiple showers some days. no issues.

 

if you ask me to find something negative about my trips here are the negatives. keep in mind if you dont hear the positives you will think that i'm just complaining :) which is what a lot of people do:

 

in my haven spa suite on the inside of one cabinet door hinge i found dust.

 

the room service cheesecake is not like the cheesecake at home

 

my BC balcony room was 50% smaller than my haven spa suite

 

i did not like having to worry about the ladder on the pull down bed and walking around it in my balcony room

 

even if you get there 30 min early you will have to fight for a chair in the atrium

 

the staff is constantly saying good morning and smiling at you. (i was on bridge level and ran into a lot)

 

the soda/drink bar is in at the rear of the buffet. i wish it was more near the elevators.

 

it rained and was cold on our december trip

 

sometimes we had to wait for people to get out of the hot tubs so we could go in and it was cold at 11pm at nite.

 

we were late getting to florida and our excursion was canceled

 

the area near the port in nassau is dumpy and you are bombarded with people trying to get you to buy stuff and the sidewalks are narrow

 

after muster and a show in the theater, the line to get in the elevators is insane. why dont they build more elevators

 

your drink can be down to nothing and no one asks you if you want a refill. you always have to ask them

 

at the 80s party, my friends daughter was literally pulled out of her seat by a cast member and freaked out at this. he should have asked permission instead of assuming. i guess we should have filed a class action lawsuit and posted all over CC how horrible the staff is and that they want to kidnap kids.

 

people in the buffet act like they havent eaten in weeks and are getting the last bit of food on earth so have to fight for it

 

the wind screens on deck dont always work so well and my hair got messed up

 

someone poured something from deck above on our balcony a few times.

 

the howling wind under our cabin door was horrible

 

even the fresh water in the toilet starts to stink after a while.

 

there's not enough room to hang 4 bathing suits in a balcony shower

 

our angled balcony was too big and we were tired walking from one end to the other and that someone could see us further down the ship freaked us out

 

the special assistance waiting area in NYC only has a few chairs so we had to stand.

 

parkign in NYC was 280 and i had to park 3/4 down the dock because the previous people had not disembarked yet.

 

when i got on the ship aft in december. there was only one employee inside the ship to welcome us. not a tickertape parade with many people

 

when i press the call button for an elevator, it only activates half the elevators so i had to constantly walk to press the other bank's buttons. this made me lose more weight than i wanted to.

 

some windy days the upper decks were closed and i should have gotten a prorated portion of my fare back for that time as well as the time i couldnt use the pools or water slides

 

the ropes course is too high for people who have a fear of heights , they need to lower it (the baby one is not big enough for adults)

 

any meals in any of the MDRs are 90 minutes regardless of time of day.

 

the waiters in restaurants are polite even to people with obnoxious habits or screaming kids.

 

the bar in the back of the theater seats caused me pain

 

in the front of the MDR there are seats setup to watch the burn the floor dancers. they are literally almost touching you when they do their routines or sit down in the back next to/on top of you. who lets their actors get this close to the audience?

 

alvin is too chipper

 

the fridge is too tiny to keep my leftover room service.

 

my steward is constantly making up my room and tidying my sheets etc. i feel guilty even sitting on the bed during the day

 

so there's my disastrous review with all the negatives. ( i had more but my fingers are tired)

 

-------------------

now in all seriousness, to totally rely on any one persons review is just crazy. while some of what they say is likely true, its just one isolated incident out of tens of thousands of interactions that happen on a daily basis on a large ship.

 

so fear not! your cruise will be just fine, i guarantee it

 

edit: for got to add that a lot of the food on the MDR and specialty menus was hard to understand, even with the descriptions under it. obviously i'm not a fine dining connoisseur and know all these terms and food.

Edited January 17, 2017 by luckyinpa

[luckyinpa]

I've been on the Breakaway 6 times. In fact, I just got off of a 13 day cruise just this past Sunday. I have mostly positive experiences with the ship. There are only a few cons for me:

 

1) The stateroom door slamming. The walls on this ship seem thinner to me (vs Gem and Epic) and it seems like the doors are heavy and slam hard.

 

2) I'll be glad when they switch out "Rock of Ages" for another Broadway show.

 

funny cause ours never slammed all the way shut. we had to make sure it was closed every time

 

also the incessant whining of the door drove me nuts. if you pulled the door super tight it would stop but the door doesnt go tight enough to stop the wind tunnel that was in the hall aparently. unsure if it was because of our neighbors possibly having the balcony open? but i heard at their door it was screaming too from the hallway.

[luckyinpa]

i cannot edit my original post anymore but i have one more complaint. the ice cubes the steward gives are too big, my friend couldnt get them in her bottle she was using for her drink.

[cv322]

I LOVE the Breakaway ;)...she's a fabulous ship with a top-notch crew. Some people are just constant complainers...:cool::rolleyes:...I've cruised the BA I believe 7 times & #8 is upcoming. :D

[luckyinpa]

I LOVE the Breakaway ;)...she's a fabulous ship with a top-notch crew. Some people are just constant complainers...:cool::rolleyes:...I've cruised the BA I believe 7 times & #8 is upcoming. :D

 

i wanna know how they keep it all clean. i never saw any litter anywhere. all the mirrors on the stairwells are always perfect. maybe i had rose colored glasses on but dang they really clean up the place.

[Mikkar]

I love the Breakaway and have sailed 8 times on this ship. The last time was the New Years cruise and the ship was full but we didn't have any problems. Yes, the Atrium is small for the size of the ship and I do wish that they would change the shows, but we never waited for a table in the dining rooms, even on New Years Eve. We never had a problem with hot water in the cabin and our room steward, Allan, was the best. Over the course of 8 cruises, some issues have come up but they were relatively minor and were corrected in a reasonable timeframe. We have another cruise booked to Bermuda in April and our son and his family are joining us this time.

[mia10]

been on breakaway 3 x. yes, the restaurants do get crowded. Book before you board... Food is pretty good in 2 free restaurants. savor & taste. Main dining ok, they have live music nightly, its ok ...2 shows are good. make reservations in advance.hope this helps

[the_redhead]

 

when i press the call button for an elevator, it only activates half the elevators so i had to constantly walk to press the other bank's buttons. this made me lose more weight than i wanted to.

 

This made me giggle out loud, but it's also a useful bit of info! I figured it out on the second day of the cruise. There's no signage indicating that the button only controls four of the eight elevators. If you're in that much of a rush, hit both buttons. Doubles the chances you'll get an elevator as quick as you'd like.

 

And really, if you're going downstairs and your ankles and knees can handle it, take the stairs. It's just so much faster.

[Harrier1961]

We have sailed the breakaway twice. The only problem is the passengers. The ship is great.

 

 

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And you being one of those passengers, correct?

Just saying...

:eek:

[luckyinpa]

This made me giggle out loud, but it's also a useful bit of info! I figured it out on the second day of the cruise. There's no signage indicating that the button only controls four of the eight elevators. If you're in that much of a rush, hit both buttons. Doubles the chances you'll get an elevator as quick as you'd like.

 

And really, if you're going downstairs and your ankles and knees can handle it, take the stairs. It's just so much faster.

 

only half the elevators go to 16 so when we were going up there to the arcade etc we had to tell the kids NO, only press the one button.

 

of course it annoys the heck out of the other side of the elevators when you press both sides because they stop after you already got on the other side. but then again you are sometimes on that other elevator so karma gets you! :p

[SassyGirl]

I love it when people say you are a complainer because you are critical of a cruise. It IS possible that a cruise just isn't that good. I have posted positive reviews of cruises I was very happy with (for example, Allure of the Seas) and I have posted negative reviews of cruises I didn't think much of (Breakaway). I post positives and negatives of every cruise. Some cruises have more positives, some more negatives.

 

As far as a cruise being "what you make it", I always go on the cruise with a positive attitude and with the expectation of having a great time. I don't HOPE for a bad cruise or go out of my way to find problems. Sometimes, though, the problems are blaring and obvious, like on the Breakaway. If crowding, noise, cigarette smoke, non-stop nickle-and-diming, a manic screaming cruise director, blaring loud speakers, too small public areas, no solarium, painful theater seats and very few quiet areas doesn't bother you, you probably will enjoy this cruise.

[C-line]

Love it!

 

We just got off the ship on Sunday and we're booked for our sixth cruise on her in March. There are a few things that irritate me occasionally, but overall it's fantastic. I love the crew - I have no idea how they remember so many names!

[UnaPalomita]

I was on her for thanksgiving and had a great time and would definitely sail her again. One thing I would not do is go when the weather is cold. I like the heat when I am on vacation and being on a cruise ship and shivering do not go well together. IMHO.

 

Would you suggest wearing a light coat / sweatshirt for walking around the ship? I am going in 12 days and I was thinking I could get away with a t shirt and jeans for the "cold" indoor days when we sail down and back up! I'm also one of those perpetually cold people. Pool's always too cold for me lol :D

[UnaPalomita]

This made me giggle out loud, but it's also a useful bit of info! I figured it out on the second day of the cruise. There's no signage indicating that the button only controls four of the eight elevators. If you're in that much of a rush, hit both buttons. Doubles the chances you'll get an elevator as quick as you'd like.

 

And really, if you're going downstairs and your ankles and knees can handle it, take the stairs. It's just so much faster.

 

We took the stairs on the Gem, it's a lot smaller though! And sometimes late at night it's hard to get your balance after a martini ;) Hoping we can burn some extra calories and do the stairs on this ship too!

[C-line]

Would you suggest wearing a light coat / sweatshirt for walking around the ship? I am going in 12 days and I was thinking I could get away with a t shirt and jeans for the "cold" indoor days when we sail down and back up! I'm also one of those perpetually cold people. Pool's always too cold for me lol :D

 

Definitely bring a light jacket or sweater. You may appreciate it during the first and last sea day if you want to spend any time outside. Even some spots inside can get a little cool sometimes.

[denatravels]

Definitely bring a light jacket or sweater. You may appreciate it during the first and last sea day if you want to spend any time outside. Even some spots inside can get a little cool sometimes.

 

 

It can be single digits outside-- colder with the moving wind. You'd need more than a light jacket or sweater for that.

 

 

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[lenquixote66]

I will be on the BA in 12 days for the first time .I read a lot of negative posts on CC .However ,everyone that I know who has been on the ship loved it .

[C-line]

It can be single digits outside-- colder with the moving wind. You'd need more than a light jacket or sweater for that.

 

We've sailed out of NYC 5 times from January to April and have always been fine with just sweaters on the outside deck. I guess if it's been too cold for a sweater or light jacket we haven't had any desire to be out there. :)

 

I do bring a heavier jacket for disembarkation in case I have to stand outside the terminal, but it goes in the closet as soon as we board and doesn't come out again until I leave the cabin for the final time.

 

Edited to add - the cold doesn't bother me like it would some people. I'm used to living in a cold house in the winter and I found it warm enough on our drive back from NY on Sunday to pump gas in a tank top. So maybe my advice should be taken with a grain of salt!

Edited January 18, 2017 by C-line

[luvtheships]

I love cruising and have been on about 10-12 cruises on various lines. I have enjoyed most of the cruises I've been on. My cruise on the Breakaway was one of my least favorite, though. I didn't like the way the ship was laid out. Although it is a "mega ship", it didn't feel like it, and not in a good way. The public spaces were too small and crowded and not designed to accommodate the number of passengers aboard. The pool area was too small. There was no solarium for regular guests (only for Haven people who pay a lot more). It was too noisy of a ship...too many loud speakers blaring, too few quiet areas to chill, the Atrium was always jammed packed with too little seating, volume way too loud. Cigarette smoke wafting around the ship because the casino is open to other public spaces.

 

 

 

I did think the food was good overall, with some exceptions, and the big shows were excellent. The cabin was the smallest I've been in, but the beds were comfortable. Service was pretty good across the board.

 

 

 

I wouldn't sail on Breakaway again, even though it's very convenient for me to sail out of Manhattan (I live in NJ).

 

 

This is a very very accurate description on the ba

 

While I myself would be a once and done on this ship....I might acquiesce and take my 16 yo to Bermuda on it if no other choice

 

I'd prefer her to have a ship geared toward her likes rather than say celebrity to Bermuda

 

Not really interested in rccl as it's only a 5 day

 

So the good mom that I am....I'll grin and bear the ba once more I'm sure

 

Or whatever megaship Ncl brings in for the Bermuda runs

 

All their mega ships have horrible design/engineering IMHO.

 

 

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[ncklhaus]

We've been on the Breakaway 3 times so far for a total of 34 days. We love it. And we are going to book again for this coming December.

We still haven't seen or done everything that's onboard.

[denatravels]

It's really interesting reading this thread. The breakaway was my first and NEXT cruise. I left thinking that it was great, but the pool and atrium were pretty bad space-wise. Since then, I've done celebrity, princess, and royal. I look forward to seeing the breakaway now with more cruises under my belt to judge my impressions as a more experienced cruiser.

 

 

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[thistimeplease]

I am a big fan of the Breakaway! I cruised on the Pearl with my hubby and children along with a bunch of family members a couple years ago...then went on the Breakaway last Spring. I will always hold a special place for the Pearl in my heart as she was my first cruise and I enjoyed the smaller ship as well as a convenient layout.

 

However, last Spring when I cruised on the BA to Bermuda, it was just myself, my sister and my Dad. We left our families at home as we were celebrating my sister and I receiving our BSN degree and it was a last minute trip. I loved the BA so much I booked a cruise to the Bahamas for this fall mainly because I think my husband and kids will enjoy it as much as I did!

 

My opinions of the BA:

 

Pros---big ship, lots to do. Atrium is beautiful, promenade deck was my favorite place to sit and nap or just relax. Can't say enough good things about Rock of Ages, lots of activities to keep you busy. No complaints here about the food...in fact, I am a huge fan of the Chocolate Lava Cakes that are served in the MDRs. (Its a running joke in my family to see who can eat the most of them during a cruise). Casino was great and I actually won a decent amount. Loved Second City (in Headliners), loved the art "gallery," loved the music and dancing in the Manhattan Room. LOVE the Noodle Bar. Lots of bars and places to sit and socialize. I didn't find the smoking areas to be a problem--well ventilated in my opinion.

 

Cons--Not a ton of variety in food choices in MDRs, but for me--when I find something I like I tend to eat it again so this wasn't a big deal for me. Seating in the theater was not great, as mentioned by others. Pool was small but I don't care for swimming so no big deal here. There could be more hot tubs...Finding our room was difficult at times because everything looks the same but I am terrible with directions so that's partly on me. We didn't see our room steward as much as we would have liked, and for some reason when ordering coffee each morning even though I wrote "for 3" on our slip, they always brought only 2 cups. Layout of the ship is a bit strange, IMO. No mid-ship elevators kind of stinks but one can understand that the layout doesn't really allow for that. We never waited long for elevators anyhow.

 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my week on the BA and can't wait to go back in October! She is a great ship! Yes, very big and with that comes lots of people. This can be a challenge for the crew to personalize their relationship with many people, which is understanding. But, there is so much to do and I highly recommend a trip on the Breakaway!

 

I completely agree with this. We first cruised on the Jewel and it was nice but we were bored a lot of the time. After a few years decided to give the BA a try and loved it. Wouldn't consider another small ship after trying the BA. Booked on her again for July and can't wait.

[luckyinpa]

Would you suggest wearing a light coat / sweatshirt for walking around the ship? I am going in 12 days and I was thinking I could get away with a t shirt and jeans for the "cold" indoor days when we sail down and back up! I'm also one of those perpetually cold people. Pool's always too cold for me lol :D

 

 

temps are variable. one day in taste i was so freezing i was miserable. and i run hot normally. next time it was warm in there. so its pretty hard to plan perfectly.

[db27]

Thankful for this thread, was starting to worry. Haven't been on a cruise in 4 years. Never have done NCL at all. Always RC, Carnival, and Princess.

 

Looking forward to zero formals, no timed meals. First time going out of NYC as well, that should be interesting.

 

Cheers!