Does anyone like The Breakaway?

[luckyinpa]

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!

 

the timed meals of other lines would definitely keep me away. heck people on this board complain about having to book specialties. no way could they do other lines.

 

id like to hear your comparison with rc and carnival. i'm always looking for cheaper things out of NYC, NJ and BALT and see there can be some deals

[ksmcdonald]

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!

 

 

You are going to LOVE it! We've also mostly cruised RCCL and Carnival and tried the Breakaway last June. We are from Ohio and it was a much closer drive than going south. We were a little worried about the "Free Style" cruising but fell in love with it! My husband loves that he can wear his khaki shorts anywhere on the ship (except Ocean Blue, which we will not pay the extra to eat there). Makes packing so much easier with no formal clothes. We loved the bars on the Waterfront and the adult H2O area. We just booked Breakaway again for this March and are bringing our two adult sons, 26 and 20. The sail away will be chilly, but NYC is the best port to sail out of, with the Statue of Liberty, view of Manhattan and sailing under the Verrazano bridge! Feels like the ship just clears the bridge! Have a great time

[luckyinpa]

you can wear shorts outside ocean blue. i did this in october, which was a tad warmer than your march cruise will be.

 

you can also wear shorts in MDR which is nice. the bottom of or your daily only lists ocean blue and the french place as no shorts.

[Poipu04]

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.

 

I have sailed out of NY several times in the dead of winter, plus the famous October New England blizzard from Boston, and have always brought and worn my parka, hat and scarf for sail away. If you want to see the Statue of Liberty no matter what the climate and remain on deck, bring your parka. We stayed outside until our fingers were numb and our faces hurt. We are from New England so it's old hat to us. But you definitely will need a winter coat if you want to be outside on sail away in the winter in NY. We even ate our sail away BBQ outside with maybe half a dozen other people. LOL.

[GUEST080219]

Some of the complains might be not so much dependent on the ship but on the itinerary. I have been on the 13 day cruise recently and this was the first US based round trip cruise ever I have taken. Most of the reasons why that cruise ranges on the bottom of my best cruises ever taken list have probably something to do with the itinerary and the atmosphere on the ship. I always enjoyed the excitement everyone shares about the ports and the cruise on a destination based cruise like South America, eastern Med, Suez Canal or Norway. This had less of a traveling atmosphere but more of a All Inclusive resort atmosphere.

 

Second and I don't want to put it on cruising out of New York but there were two things that really ticked me off. One is getting back to your cabin and a completely wasted guy blocks the hallway passed out and laying in his own puke. Next day taking the stairs down to the gangway for San Juan and seeing the Biohazard team to clean up someones mess. Another day during the night seeing a senior sitting wasted and disoriented on the stairs with his keycard two meters in front of him. Nothing of that is a pretty sight.

Another common appearance were free roaming toddlers using the whole ship, but especially during game shows, karaoke and live music, as their playground. With their parents believing that is cute. It was even so bad that I had to leave O'Sheehans as I don't like to see a toddler in diaper sliding around a dining table while trying to enjoy some food. We all know how thorough the tables are cleaned before new guests are seated. Disgusting and worse the staff sees it and just doesn't care.

 

Rant over but yeah, I strongly believe on a different itinerary the Breakaway would get better reviews.

[hilcadon]

Sailed in October from NYC to Bermuda. we had a great time with no complaints at all. Enjoy

[luckyinpa]

Sailed in October from NYC to Bermuda. we had a great time with no complaints at all. Enjoy

 

i was on oct 16, which were you on. my 1st and best cruise ever

[MJSailors]

It seems to me that the Breakaway is a ship that some people love and some do not not and both sides have some good reasons,I am sure.

My DH and I have sailed twice on the Breakaway to Bermuda. Our reason for doing this ? We both love Bermuda and the Breakaway offers an affordable and easy way to get there as NYC is our home port.

That being said - we do not like the Breakaway nor the experience on this ship.

Some people posting on this thread have noted how attractive the atrium (6 7 8 ) is in their opinion.

They have not seen the piazza areas on Princess ships,notably the Crown, Royal or Regal . Those atriums are open, sparkling and beautiful, with plenty of seating areas over three deck levels and no traces of smoke.

I had to chuckle at folks taking photos of the chandelier on the Breakaway - basically the only thing that notes the atrium space other that the glass spiral staircase. Ho hum to me after seeing much more attractive centers of the ships on Princess.

I have read a post here that related seeing intoxicated people in the hallways and on the stair wells on a recent Breakaway cruise.

That very well may be the result of the UBP which encourages people to have many more drinks than they normally would on a cruise so they can get their monies worth.

My DH and I enjoy a drink or two a day on a cruise,but six,seven or more us a bit much.

We encountered people walking around with drinks sloshing in plastic cups ,both inside and on the outside decks.

One inebriated person got into an elevator we were on.

He tripped into the elevator,spilled his drink on another passenger and quickly got off without an apology to the woman who was now wearing some of his frosty concoction. UBP at its finest !

Finally,we found disembarkation from our last cruise this past September to be totally unacceptable.

We first had to snake around in a line that passed O'Sheehan's, wound through the casino and finally exited to the pier area where we slowly moved in a pack for almost an hour until we reached baggage claim. It took almost two hours to disembark.

We will not be sailing he Breakaway again.

Last October,we took a cruise on the Regal Princess. What a difference in that cruise experience ! We are Platinum loyalty level on Princess . There is a reason for this !

[jimdicap]

You can read my review in my signature...but the reality is:

1) EVERY ship has positive and negatives. My last cruise before this was the Disney Dream, and I thought it was terrible!

2) EVERY cruise is what you make of it--end of story.

3) Even the worst cruise is better than being at work--so even if the ship is not perfect, it's still going to be fun.

4) The ports/excursions are the same as every other ship there (Freeport is Freeport regardless of what ship you are on) and this makes up a large chunk of your cruise time.

5) There are upsides to every negative: The Atrium IS too small...but there's a ton of things to do everywhere else. The pool IS too small...but the other outdoor activities, especially the ropes course and water slides, are fantastic. Etc etc.

 

Enjoy the cruise!!

[esm54687]

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?

Would be very interested in your feedback based on your first hand experience...... been on the Breakaway twice and she's a fantastic vessel but does have her design short comings (many have already stated them such as pool and atrium) . It's more that your fellow passengers have "entitled" expectations / behavior and leave manners and respect at home that tend to frustrate me

 

Have a super cruise

 

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Edited January 21, 2017 by esm54687

[my3sonsnj]

I have been on the Breakaway 3 times and have had absolutely wonderful vacations on that ship. Three different experiences, one solo, one as a couple and one as a girls getaway. I have zero complaints and I think the staff are exceptional!

[luvtheships]

The ship has design flaws

 

Pool is too small for 4000 pax and they put some sort of huge storage type areas and a crap item marketplace smack dab in the middle of the lido deck. So that means no extra room for dancing...deck barbecues....or the much needed second pool.

 

Atrium is too small for 4000 pax....not that 4000 pax would ever gather there at once...buts it's too small for a mere 200 at a time.

 

Casino is too smoky and should have had the plexiglass walls go all the way up rather than only halfway

 

 

Spice h2o allows smoking on one side and has only hot tubs and no pool

 

 

Also the big screen in spice should be put to better use

 

Bliss lounge is too small for a ship this size. It's 1/3 the size of bliss on the gem as a good example of poor design. Plus it's got a terrible decorating scheme and very few seats

 

While there are many many elevators....there are only 2 elevator banks and they are located very far from each other and this is a big ship

 

There are not enough quiet indoor spaces

 

The best indoor bars are located too close to the outdoor smoking area and the 6/7/8 atrium area and when the doors to the outside smoking area are opened and closed the smoke is overwhelming

 

Those doors are constantly in motion btw

 

The seats in the horribly decorated main theater are uncomfortable and have a visible metal bar going right across the seat in your lower back area

 

The above items are facts

 

I personally find those above facts to be the downfall of the BA.

 

Others of course will see it differently

 

 

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Edited January 21, 2017 by luvtheships

[luvtheships]

But I will admit that my above observations more than likely go unnoticed by those who are just thrilled to be on any type of cruise at all

 

Those that cruise ncl frequently like I do will recognize these issues with regard to other ncl ships but may not care or see them as important

 

Fwiw I probably would sail the ba again if it were my only choice and the price itin and dates were right or if my kids were with me

 

However...my last two cruises I chose the gem over the ba.

 

Take that as you will

 

 

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[my3sonsnj]

But I will admit that my above observations more than likely go unnoticed by those who are just thrilled to be on any type of cruise at all

 

Those that cruise ncl frequently like I do will recognize these issues with regard to other ncl ships but may not care or see them as important

 

Fwiw I probably would sail the ba again if it were my only choice and the price itin and dates were right or if my kids were with me

 

However...my last two cruises I chose the gem over the ba.

 

Take that as you will

 

 

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Agreed!!!

 

I think the enjoyment of any vacation is more about attitude than accomodations.

 

Your points of comparison are accurate however there is always a way to work around, overcome or just choose not to be bothered by minor inconveniences. Some people have that capacity and some do not. Know thyself and choose wisely, lol

[UnaPalomita]

But I will admit that my above observations more than likely go unnoticed by those who are just thrilled to be on any type of cruise at all

 

Those that cruise ncl frequently like I do will recognize these issues with regard to other ncl ships but may not care or see them as important

 

Fwiw I probably would sail the ba again if it were my only choice and the price itin and dates were right or if my kids were with me

 

However...my last two cruises I chose the gem over the ba.

 

Take that as you will

 

 

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the second hand smoke has me worried though, wish it was restricted to outside :( or those electric cigarettes..

 

Does anyone think one of those hand held battery fans (the kind you would use in Disney World) would help with the smoke??

[luvtheships]

the second hand smoke has me worried though, wish it was restricted to outside :( or those electric cigarettes..

 

Does anyone think one of those hand held battery fans (the kind you would use in Disney World) would help with the smoke??

 

 

No the fan won't work

 

The problem with the smoke is from the open air casino on deck 7

 

While there is a no smoking area in the casino it is only a few feet from the smoking area so a smoker will be close to you. That is a fact

 

Also the casino in the middle deck of the ultra gorgeous 678 ocean atrium area making decks 6 and 8 and the venues there somewhat smoky

 

As an example ...le bistro on 6 does get an inside smoke smell...and forget about sitting at le bistro sidewalk ...albeit indoor.... tables (think French sidewalk cafe)

 

Then there is the sushi noodle bar place on 8....yep too much smoke smell for me

 

Then you have the maltings etc bar in that area too. Not sure if it was 6 or 8 though and the doors to the outdoor smoking area right there so you have loads of bar patrons going in and out of that door on a revolving basis and the smoke waifs in and for some selfish reason they tend to stand in the doorway with the door open with a drink in one hand and the cig in the other. Of course the cig is in the hand that's outdoors.

 

If you have a problem with smoke then many areas will unfortunately cause you problems

 

If you plan on spending time in the casino the ba is not for you. Someone told me celebrity has smokefree casino but I ve never sailed them

 

We ate at la Cucina on 8 with no smoke issues at all

 

And headliners (inside) on 6 was fine too. The line to get in went fast so no problems. We could not use le bistro right across from headliners as they wanted to sit us at the cafe tables. Smelled of smoke

 

We took a very quick 678 ocean atrium staircase pix but it wasn't as good as it could have been because of too much smoke from the casino

 

Don't recall bliss because it's too small to bother with

 

There is also an enclosed cube near the pool where 20 or so smokers will go into to smoke

 

Of course there are air openings on it so the smoke will seep to the non smoking area around it

 

Another example of great engineering

 

The openings should have been to the ocean side only

 

On the brighter side the ropes course etc is great as is the Manhattan dining room

 

 

As I've posted before...I did the ba with my college kids and loved the itin...and we were able to avoid the smoke even though we had to jump through hoops to do so but we didn't mind the extra effort because the price and itin was great and the slides and ropes were fun

 

However...we kept saying....no way would dad with his asthma be able to handle this ship...

 

I booked the gem 2x already since our ba cruise

 

The gem casino is off in a corner on 6 and easily avoidable and no eating or bar venues are inundated with smoke on the gem other than that Bali hai bar on 13

 

 

The ba could solve this problem by raising the plexiglass around the casino from half up to all the way up and providing a smoke free pathway thru it

 

It can be done and it's an obvious solution and one doesn't need to be an engineer to see that.

 

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Edited January 22, 2017 by luvtheships

[luckyinpa]

the smoke can be overblown depending who you are. for example i'm sensitive so when my gf comes home from visiting a friend, i can tell she was there cause her coat smells. yet on board the smell was not debilitating to me

 

it's really subjective to each person.

[jhawknj]

I cruised on the Breakaway in December 2015 and I am heading out on it again in November 2018. I am a solo traveler and each cruise I book a balcony mid ship room on the 14th deck. Of course the room was great lots of space for me storage was no problem. I arrived at the port early and the wait to get on board was fine. The food was really good I did have the specialty dinner perk so I have the Steak house twice the Japanese and the Brazilian each once. It was all good. I did one shore excursion felt it was worth the cost.

 

I did by the soda card (I do not drink) it was ok but would re-think it got tired of soda pretty quick and you can get juice in the buffet. My 2018 trip comes with 2 perks and I took the unlimited drink and I am hoping I can get non-alcohol version of the drinks. And again the specialty dinner package.

 

The ship is laid out fine and the staff is great. Never had a problem getting a chair on the pool deck. For me I love the freestyle dinning never been on a cruise that had set dinner times. I can not wait to go again in 2018.

[kba1988]

Check my signature....lol[emoji2] ...obviously- we love the breakaway !

 

 

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[queenschick9b]

Sailed on her twice last year and loved it. Everything was great except both times final disembarkation was very slow and disorganized, but it is a lot of people.

 

 

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[newmexicoNita]

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?

 

We have not been on the ship but will be late in March. That being said, I have heard mostly positives and our daughter, a travel agent just gave us a free cruise on the Breakaway for our 80th birthdays. She and hubby, are going with us. They have cruised her before. Remember it is always easier to let the world know when things go wrong, but not so, when things go right. We always expect a perfect vacation thus we don't let the world know when it turns out that way: on the other hand when things go wrong, even little things, we want to let everyone know, often making a mountain out of a mole hill.

 

We did cruise the Epic a few months ago, with bad weather a good part of the time. And yes, the service left a lot to be desired and yes, in some restaurants, mainly places like O'shehans we had to wait a long time, but put huge ship with bad weather and you have to expect waits. We never waited in the MDR. One day, when it rained almost the whole day, there were people waiting for lunch even. Again, not the fault of the ship or the cruiseline, just bad timing. Stuff happens.

 

April mentioned she has been on the ship 3 times in one year and said the entertainment wasn't as good: Holy cow, they usually will have the same musicals for a few years, they certainly can not change them monthly so, after 3 times I would expect the entertainment to seem tired.

Edited January 31, 2017 by newmexicoNita

[newmexicoNita]

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.

 

that is my only fear going the first of April, it will still be on the cool side, but heck, I am so greatful for a free cruise, I am not about to let the weather interfere with a wonderful birthday celebration. This is a gift from out kids: God love wonderful kids.

[sverigecruiser]

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?

 

My opinion:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=272260

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2193607

[newmexicoNita]

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.

 

sorry, I have cruised over 30 times and NCL doesn't do any more nickle and diming that other lines. Obviously you have decided RCI is for you thus BA was a disappointment. I had heard about the smoke on the Epic as well, it was not nearly as annoying as many had claimed. Sure mix a casino and smokers and you will get some cigarette smell. I thing the problem with those who post all negatives, is just that; not a balanced review; the same with too much All good. You are making the ship should awful. Even mentioning something like a manic screaming cruise director seems to indicate you are nit picking, but everyone has his or her own views and that is why we have so many cruise choices. Not every cruise is right for everyone.

[graphicguy]

Breakaway is a wonderful ship. Sailed her twice. Probably one of the best ships at sea. Not sure who you're talking to, but I'd sail her again tomorrow. Got reviews of both sailings in my signature, below.

Edited January 31, 2017 by graphicguy