Turned off by some Breakaway reviews

[hansolosmom]

Is it just me or is everyone forgetting about the 3 young people coming along who are in their 20's. Pool aside, something tells they are going to love the water side, ropes course, etc, etc.

For instance, we're cruising on BA in July to Bermuda and are expecting hundred's of kids to be aboard. If it was just us, we'd be going on Celebrity for a more relaxing time. However, our son, DIL, 4 of our 6 grandkids, and a nephew are coming along and they would be bored stiff on Celebrity Summit. So, we're going on BA for them because they are going to love all the ship has to offer.

 

We're sailing in a couple weeks with my 19 & 21 yo sons, one of them is excited about the activities, along with my dh for that matter. However, my other son could care less about the ropes course, water slides etc. All he wants is a quiet place to hang out so he'd be more than happy on the Summit.

[April42749]

I'm from NY, actually NJ, but originally from Utah and I couldn't agree more.

 

Last I checked, if Bill De Blasio isn't your mayor, you're not from NYC

 

I was born in NYC...lived here my whole life....and plan on dying here.

I live walking distance to the dock.

I've been on the BA as well as other ships, all sailing out of NYC.

And, from my observations, I rarely meet people from NYC

It's almost all NJ, LI, CT.....

 

So, if you're going to malign people, at least give the correct place of residency.

[mjkacmom]

we have sailed from NYC 4 times, soon to be 5. we sailed on Star, Breakaway twice, and Gem. We are doing Breakaway for the 3rd time this month. we love the ship and sailing from NYC.

 

you may be better off doing a land based vacation. breakaway will be crowded and sold out with children and families if you go june/july/august. we avoid sailing any ship during those months, we learned our lesson early on.

 

also, i think 5 adults in even a mini suite room would be very, very tight. i assume you are looking at two rooms then?

You can't put 5 in a mini suite, they would need two cabins. I doubt there are any connecting at this late date.

[April42749]

I was on the BA three times.

 

The first time I loved it. We had a mini-suite and spa passes. We loved the entertainment; the shows and the lounges. We also loved the lagoon at GSC. This was the Bahamas itinerary.

 

The second time I liked it. We had a balcony (really the same as the mini-suite except for the bathroom) and didn't do the spa. The lounge entertainment was still excellent but the shows were the same and there was one less (no "Oh What a Night"). This was to Bermuda.

 

The third time...not so much. Balcony cabin again, and again no spa. The shows were the same...and 3 times is more than enough to see the same things. The lounges...singers changed for the worse. This may not be politically correct, but there was an obvious large group (could have been 50%) of people who were very pushy, didn't pay a penny for extras and monopolized the atrium all day/evening. It was the only time I felt the ship was crowded. (And no, they were not from NY. They lived in Canada, but not born there.)

This was again to the Bahamas...but no lagoon.

 

Despite trip #3, I'd sail on the BA again.

[zqvol]

Was thinking of possibly booking the Breakaway for a June cruise to Bermuda. Husband, me and 3 adult (20s) kids.

 

However, after reading many negative reviews I'm not inclined to book. The Summit is sold out or more expensive. I am not going to book the Haven for 5 people. The complaints that nixed it for me is the utter confusion during embarkation/debarkation. Terrible smoke that permeates too many areas of the ship. A tiny pool - how uninviting for a summer vacation. Loud, crowded (hard to find a table) buffet with rude behavior. Minimal seating in auditorium.

 

There is really no confusion in embarking. The "confusion" during disembarkation happens because everyone is in a hurry t get off the ship, and customs is slow. The confusion is not really confusion, but is in fact a line that take between 20 and 30 minutes to clear at peak time.

I cannot stand smoke smells and I can assure you that they do not permeate the ship, in fact they are not even too bad inside the casino itself.

The main pool is small, but there is a second pool, plus there is the adult area with a water feature.

The auditorium has plenty of seating. In the week I was on board I never found it to be full, and I sailed spring break week.

As far as seating in the buffet, it is no more crowded than the buffet on any ship.

 

 

Is this really what it's like? I do not want to drop multiple thousands of dollars and be disappointed.

 

In my opinion, The Haven takes up too much precious space. I think that for their future ships NCL should do away with the Haven pool. Have 2 glorious pools for everyone where you don't have to fight you way through. Still have the Haven suites and restaurant but if all pools (one in back could be an infinity pool) are large and inviting with a tropical atmosphere and space for everyone, well then it's a win-win.

 

 

Having sailed on three different luxury lines I can tell you that you will not find this even on those lines. While this suggestion is nice, cruise lines are in business to make money and space for everyone equals much higher fares.

 

 

In genreal, not just with NCL, I find cruise lines are giving the customer less and less. For instance, if you think about it, there is no reason to make bathrooms so tiny. If paying for a balcony stateroom, I believe that bathroom should not be the same cookie cutter replica as the inside bathroom. If you're paying more for the stateroom, the bathroom needs to reflect that. Another example is HAL's newest ship has no sofas from inside to balcony. All their ships prior had sofas in all staterooms. Another HAL ship we were on a few years ago had (I think 11) balcony staterooms added to an upper deck. Why take away passenger space ratio? They could have made that space into something wonderful for all passengers to enjoy. And the list goes on....

 

I can't speak to the Breakaway, but I can mention the Getaway which is pretty much identical. I made some comments above.

 

IMO NCL is not the line for the OP. OP should look at Seabourn or Silversea. No mass market line is going to give OP what she is looking for in a cruise.

[murfette]

9/17/2017 Breakaway to Bermuda

Well what I would do if I was the op is book myself and Dh in haven spa suite and book 3 studios for the 20 something's. Meet up with kids part of the time in main areas and enjoy haven for myself.

[Peachypooh]

Spent most of my years living in the NY/NJ area. I have relocated due to retirement.

When I was living in NY we had a new Pastor from Kansas. He said he was petrified

being assigned to NY given the reputation he had heard about us.

This was his comment after being in his new job for a few months.

"New Yorkers appear cold on the outside but are very warm on

the inside". In other words don't take us so seriously. Most of us if you were on the ship

and had some kind of problem would be more than happy to help you. Or if you were

on a shore excursion with us and your wallet was stolen we would give you money for

lunch to feed your kids. We might seem all blustery bravado but most of us have kind hearts.

[Barb Nahoumi]

I have another idea for the OP. Book the Dawn out of Boston. She sails weekly to Bermuda, and has a different vibe than the mega ships.

 

The Dawn is older, but underwent a recent major dry dock. We never tried the mega ships yet, and we are booked on the Dawn in June.

 

So for a smaller ship feel, come to Boston.

[Alegeeter]

There surely aren't any perfect ships. Breakaway has it's problems like any ship. But remember where it embarks. New Yorkers love to complain. It's part of the culture I think. It's not wrong, it just is. I remember my first cruise out of New York, I just sat in the Atrium listening to people just boarding, complaining loudly, about this and that at guest services. I thought it was entertaining. We're on the Breakaway again next week. I expect the same vibe I got from the Breakaway and Gem on previous cruises. Large number of tristate folks, acting like it. You don't get that feeling cruising out of other popular ports since you have a mix of people from everywhere. Just consider the demographic when you're reading the reviews.

 

Coming from this New Yorker, born and raised, no complaints here about the Breakaway to Bermuda!

The subset of complainers are on every ship. There are always those who feel entitled and that their money is worth more than all other passengers that rules should be bent for them. I don't think it's a New York thing. Are we louder? Perhaps.

[mugtech]

I was on the BA three times.

 

The first time I loved it. We had a mini-suite and spa passes. We loved the entertainment; the shows and the lounges. We also loved the lagoon at GSC. This was the Bahamas itinerary.

 

The second time I liked it. We had a balcony (really the same as the mini-suite except for the bathroom) and didn't do the spa. The lounge entertainment was still excellent but the shows were the same and there was one less (no "Oh What a Night"). This was to Bermuda.

 

The third time...not so much. Balcony cabin again, and again no spa. The shows were the same...and 3 times is more than enough to see the same things. The lounges...singers changed for the worse. This may not be politically correct, but there was an obvious large group (could have been 50%) of people who were very pushy, didn't pay a penny for extras and monopolized the atrium all day/evening. It was the only time I felt the ship was crowded. (And no, they were not from NY. They lived in Canada, but not born there.)

This was again to the Bahamas...but no lagoon.

 

Despite trip #3, I'd sail on the BA again.

Of course they might live in Canada but we're not born there, damn expats ruining the reputation of very friendly people in general. Best cruises for me had more Canadians than Americans and very few kids.

[Mustsea]

After this post, I will never post an off-topic opinion on cc again. Ever. My mistake. Looking back at my original post, yes, I guess it does end with some negative views and concerns about changes I'm not a fan of. I don't always trust corporations to base every decision on what's best for the customer. Profits rule. I want the heads of cruise lines to know what is important to me, the customer - the changes I like and the changes I don't. - Good, quality food is most important to me. Maybe because when I started cruising, dinners were 6 course and the most looked forward to event of the day. At least for me lol. Some things do irk me like adding a whole new deck to the newest build sister ship and touting it as larger while leaving everything else practically identical as in not increasing the size of the buffet area or auditorium or pool. Who enjoys trekking around 2 decks over and over trying to find 2 free lounges. I happen to love gorgeous, inviting swimming pools. I've been on ships, such as Carnival and SeaDream and HAL and Princess where the pools are like inviting oases. And thank you HAL for always putting a lovely pool top deck, aft! Prime real estate from your perspective and ours! I've experienced pools that look institutional. I don't prefer that look but, again, not a deal breaker. I consider it a real bonus when there is a continuous promenade deck - not a deal breaker if there isn't, but I do enjoy it when it's there and wish the lines would not do away with the good things of yesteryear. Don't like it when head honchos add cabins to existing ships thereby taking away public space. BTW, I've never experienced too few bars or a casino that was inadequate in size on the mid-size to larger lines, if you get my drift. There's much I love about cruising - we all have this in common - so many little things add up making it special in our hearts and minds. I don't ever want the masses to become complacent with what we love about cruising if it should happen to disappear or change in an unacceptable way. I believe in being vocal for certain matters of the heart. And I am quite passionate about ships and the sea. I also invite relevant, civil discussion whether or not there's agreement. Heck, maybe I have a little New York running in my veins. Not from there - but love visiting!

So, in the way of a little explanation, I came upon the June 4 Breakaway cruise and liked the bx guarantee rate. I didn't know how long I had before the rate or category would be gone. Maybe the cruise would selI out soon...? I quickly went to the cc reviews as they have been invaluable so many times for me in choosing a cruise and/or passing on another. I believe SOME of the negative comments do hold value and truth and ALL should not be ignored or dismissed. So, with the pressure I was feeling about the rate coupled with the negative reviews, I jumped the gun and inquired on cc. I had the resources at my fingertips to learn there was more than one tiny pool plus Vibe. The bad reviews I had just read stirred up some of the beefs I have with cruise lines and I vented about my gripes. Mistake. Regret. I apologize.

To the FEW who profess to know my soul from one post: Well, ya don't.

I'm nearing my 30th cruise. Almost 4 decades of cruising. 10 different lines. Running the gamut of luxury (not many of those lol) to the Big Red Boat. Have seen many changes, most good. Like it or lump it, after so many cruise experiences, well, yeah, heck yeah, I've become discerning in a few areas. I know what makes me happy. What makes me happy perhaps others could not care less about. It's all good folks.

Take our family cruise many years ago out of SJU on Carnival Destiny. Did I end up wishing I had booked the AOS? Probably. However, we still enjoyed ourselves. I still remember with fondness our waiter who regaled our kids with magic tricks and such. Gave them extra lobsters. And the same fondness is there for the CD, Jorge. I still remember a few of his jokes that had us in stitches.

NCL beneath me? Hah!! Cruised many NCL ships, including Dawn out of NYC.

Let me tell you about our NCL cruise out of San Francisco on The Pride of Aloha (or was it Pride of Hawaii - can't remember the exact name as there were 2 ships with those names). Ours was the first cruise after the refit/refurb of NCL Sky. Cruising the coast of California before she headed to Hawaii. An all-american staff had been trained. Well, a good portion of these staffers decided to bail before this first cruise. As you can well imagine, service around the ship was abysmal. Did we spend wasted time nagging the front desk? Not once. In the end, NCL refunded everyone 25% of the cost of the cruise. I look back on this cruise with fond memories. Showed the kids around San Fran for a few days before embarking. Sailed under the Golden Gate. Super cool. Our rooms weren't finished so they upgraded me and H to a suite and the kids to a balcony down the hall. What could you do except laugh about the service.

Thanks to all who set me straight regarding Breakaway - She's fine! - and for not lambasting me for my "indiscretions".

Personal labeling, and cruel and mean-spirited posts can be hurtful. And it just takes one. May we try, myself included, to always remember that short but oh-so-meaningful and wise saying our mothers taught us about what to do if we have nothing nice to say.

I'm going to take a little break from cc for a while.

Peace.

[mugtech]

After this post, I will never post an off-topic opinion on cc again. Ever. My mistake. Looking back at my original post, yes, I guess it does end with some negative views and concerns about changes I'm not a fan of. I don't always trust corporations to base every decision on what's best for the customer. Profits rule. I want the heads of cruise lines to know what is important to me, the customer - the changes I like and the changes I don't. - Good, quality food is most important to me. Maybe because when I started cruising, dinners were 6 course and the most looked forward to event of the day. At least for me lol. Some things do irk me like adding a whole new deck to the newest build sister ship and touting it as larger while leaving everything else practically identical as in not increasing the size of the buffet area or auditorium or pool. Who enjoys trekking around 2 decks over and over trying to find 2 free lounges. I happen to love gorgeous, inviting swimming pools. I've been on ships, such as Carnival and SeaDream and HAL and Princess where the pools are like inviting oases. And thank you HAL for always putting a lovely pool top deck, aft! Prime real estate from your perspective and ours! I've experienced pools that look institutional. I don't prefer that look but, again, not a deal breaker. I consider it a real bonus when there is a continuous promenade deck - not a deal breaker if there isn't, but I do enjoy it when it's there and wish the lines would not do away with the good things of yesteryear. Don't like it when head honchos add cabins to existing ships thereby taking away public space. BTW, I've never experienced too few bars or a casino that was inadequate in size on the mid-size to larger lines, if you get my drift. There's much I love about cruising - we all have this in common - so many little things add up making it special in our hearts and minds. I don't ever want the masses to become complacent with what we love about cruising if it should happen to disappear or change in an unacceptable way. I believe in being vocal for certain matters of the heart. And I am quite passionate about ships and the sea. I also invite relevant, civil discussion whether or not there's agreement. Heck, maybe I have a little New York running in my veins. Not from there - but love visiting!

So, in the way of a little explanation, I came upon the June 4 Breakaway cruise and liked the bx guarantee rate. I didn't know how long I had before the rate or category would be gone. Maybe the cruise would selI out soon...? I quickly went to the cc reviews as they have been invaluable so many times for me in choosing a cruise and/or passing on another. I believe SOME of the negative comments do hold value and truth and ALL should not be ignored or dismissed. So, with the pressure I was feeling about the rate coupled with the negative reviews, I jumped the gun and inquired on cc. I had the resources at my fingertips to learn there was more than one tiny pool plus Vibe. The bad reviews I had just read stirred up some of the beefs I have with cruise lines and I vented about my gripes. Mistake. Regret. I apologize.

To the FEW who profess to know my soul from one post: Well, ya don't.

I'm nearing my 30th cruise. Almost 4 decades of cruising. 10 different lines. Running the gamut of luxury (not many of those lol) to the Big Red Boat. Have seen many changes, most good. Like it or lump it, after so many cruise experiences, well, yeah, heck yeah, I've become discerning in a few areas. I know what makes me happy. What makes me happy perhaps others could not care less about. It's all good folks.

Take our family cruise many years ago out of SJU on Carnival Destiny. Did I end up wishing I had booked the AOS? Probably. However, we still enjoyed ourselves. I still remember with fondness our waiter who regaled our kids with magic tricks and such. Gave them extra lobsters. And the same fondness is there for the CD, Jorge. I still remember a few of his jokes that had us in stitches.

NCL beneath me? Hah!! Cruised many NCL ships, including Dawn out of NYC.

Let me tell you about our NCL cruise out of San Francisco on The Pride of Aloha (or was it Pride of Hawaii - can't remember the exact name as there were 2 ships with those names). Ours was the first cruise after the refit/refurb of NCL Sky. Cruising the coast of California before she headed to Hawaii. An all-american staff had been trained. Well, a good portion of these staffers decided to bail before this first cruise. As you can well imagine, service around the ship was abysmal. Did we spend wasted time nagging the front desk? Not once. In the end, NCL refunded everyone 25% of the cost of the cruise. I look back on this cruise with fond memories. Showed the kids around San Fran for a few days before embarking. Sailed under the Golden Gate. Super cool. Our rooms weren't finished so they upgraded me and H to a suite and the kids to a balcony down the hall. What could you do except laugh about the service.

Thanks to all who set me straight regarding Breakaway - She's fine! - and for not lambasting me for my "indiscretions".

Personal labeling, and cruel and mean-spirited posts can be hurtful. And it just takes one. May we try, myself included, to always remember that short but oh-so-meaningful and wise saying our mothers taught us about what to do if we have nothing nice to say.

I'm going to take a little break from cc for a while.

Peace.

Enjoy your break from cc, your own Breakaway.

[cruisegal89]

Was thinking of possibly booking the Breakaway for a June cruise to Bermuda. Husband, me and 3 adult (20s) kids.

 

However, after reading many negative reviews I'm not inclined to book. The Summit is sold out or more expensive. I am not going to book the Haven for 5 people. The complaints that nixed it for me is the utter confusion during embarkation/debarkation. Terrible smoke that permeates too many areas of the ship. A tiny pool - how uninviting for a summer vacation. Loud, crowded (hard to find a table) buffet with rude behavior. Minimal seating in auditorium.

 

Is this really what it's like? I do not want to drop multiple thousands of dollars and be disappointed.

 

In my opinion, The Haven takes up too much precious space. I think that for their future ships NCL should do away with the Haven pool. Have 2 glorious pools for everyone where you don't have to fight you way through. Still have the Haven suites and restaurant but if all pools (one in back could be an infinity pool) are large and inviting with a tropical atmosphere and space for everyone, well then it's a win-win.

 

In genreal, not just with NCL, I find cruise lines are giving the customer less and less. For instance, if you think about it, there is no reason to make bathrooms so tiny. If paying for a balcony stateroom, I believe that bathroom should not be the same cookie cutter replica as the inside bathroom. If you're paying more for the stateroom, the bathroom needs to reflect that. Another example is HAL's newest ship has no sofas from inside to balcony. All their ships prior had sofas in all staterooms. Another HAL ship we were on a few years ago had (I think 11) balcony staterooms added to an upper deck. Why take away passenger space ratio? They could have made that space into something wonderful for all passengers to enjoy. And the list goes on....

 

I agree with some of your points. I have sailed on both the Escape and the Breakaway and found that the Escape was a bit better. The smoke seemed to be a big issue for me on the Breakaway. However the overall experience on the Breakaway is still great. I highly recommend getting a pass to the Vibe. Go immediately to customer service to get one. There are only 70 available, and I wouldn't cruise without it! Such a nice place to get away from the crowds and relax in the sun with great staff serving you.

[Maraprince]

Just returned from Breakaway to Bermuda on Sunday. First time on a ship this size, but not on NCL (Platinum level). Sailed on Gem last May for Mother's Day last May.

 

IMO, the Gem had a better set up for both Le Bistro and La Cucina than the Breakaway. For a ship the size of the Breakaway, some of the public areas (especially the Attrium) are way too small. Other than the main theatre, there is no really large area to hold events.

 

Some passengers never leave their seats in the Attrium all day (indoor version of chair hogs) or even on the deck above. Only when a movie started that they did not like, did they leave their chairs or the type of music changed. Lots of standees. The pool is too small as well as the amount of deckchairs.

 

Some things on the Breakaway are done very well, while others leave room for a lot of improvement.

 

To a certain extent, the Haven does consume a lot of space that could be better utilized, i.e., separate area on deck 15 just outside the Garden Café Buffet which is never full due to the Haven having its own restaurant. Garden Café only has 2 water/coffee stations. One ice machine always seems to be out of order and that means a long walk over to the remaining ice machine. Having enough seating isn't the problem. They are quick to sweep the tables as soon as they see someone is finished eating. You need to let them know if you want to keep something or it is gone! It's all the walking around to get what you want. In the AM, they do come around to the tables with coffee refills, but you need to have a cup for the coffee.

 

Staff is very friendly and really tries to please everyone. There really isn't any elaborate food preparation. Descriptions do not always match what you get.

Really recommend the special buffets held in Moderno on sea days. And you at least need to go to Taste, Savor or one of the other restaurants for breakfast on a sea day. A totally different experience than the buffet!:D

 

MARAPRINCE

[ktmac1]

I have a trip booked in November - and I am concerned about the exact same reviews! We've cruised Disney and Princess and really enjoyed both. I'm from Northern NJ. Born and raised (well, mostly. College in Boston and 10 years in NYC.) I'm pretty easy to please! Mind you, now traveling with a 3 and 6 year old so more trepidatious about it...

[L1211]

Thanks, I'll try to read that by tonight - looks like a lot of info! :)

 

 

 

So that people don't get the wrong idea, I should have mentioned there are also favorable reviews; but the items (talked about in some of the more indepth reviews) l listed that bother me are pretty important. So, no, you are wrong about me. Wish you had not jumped to that conclusion. I posted this hoping some replies may change my mind! I've cruised too many times and want my basic expectations to be met. Spending beyond $5,000, you better believe I'm going to be pretty sure the cruise is going to be a good fit.

 

 

 

One of my kids just texted that the flywheel spin studio would be a definite plus lol.

 

 

 

I cruise with older teens, both serious athletes. And we LOVE NCL!! Here's what we love (and do together). We bought Vibe passes for three. The youngest HATES the sun and has the skin for it. Vibe allows us respite from the mayhem of the main pool deck. Seriously, I'd avoid at all cost!! We book two large Balcony rooms for the 4 of us. Girls LOVE the lingers on the balcony, even grab bedding and sleep there. Fine dining, we tend to do 6 nights of specialty dining. The smaller spaces, intimate dining venues make our cruise! The girls love a nice dinner out and it kept my family together. No one looking to run off! We also LOVED the entertainment. Also something we could do together. Then there are the late night dance parties in Spice. Again,

Something we could do WITH our older teens. Time WITH your older kids is priceless. NCL gave us that. Can't wait to get back!! Girls are already asking when!!! Enjoy, I feel SURE you will!!! Had to share of if the memories I will never forget!!! Embrace all it has to offer!!! Go make memories!!!

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ew101]

I think the Breakaway represents the future of cruising. If you have a long list of experiences, shows and venues for the week, the larger ships have that. We have been cruising forever and like the slower pace of the smaller ships- the all around promenade deck, the head waiters at work in the MDR etc. I like the all inclusive nature of being on a ship and the unique identity you sometimes get- such as on the Jade. You won't find that on the newer larger ships under the NCL banner much any more. If the industry growth ever slows, you might see more staff stability but for now it is all about expansion. Some of the new concepts really work- the blues club, the Waterfront and Manhattan Room for example. I would be very curious to see the "future drydock punch list" as there are some changes I would make.

[Maraprince]

Some things are done very well while others, not so good.

 

Let's face it, with the amount of passengers on board, there is no area or room that can accommodate even half of them. While the Attruim is used all day long, there are chair hogs here as well. It can be difficult to get a seat on deck 6 or deck 7 for some events.

 

The Garden Cafe staff keeps on top of cleaning tables and there are designated seating for wheelchair of disabled passengers. However, there are only 2 coffee/water stations and one ice machine always seems to be out of service. Servers come around offering coffee refills, but you need to have a cup. Lots of walking. Besides the Haven restaurants, there is also a dedicated area for Haven guests that never seems to be crowded.

 

Dinner in the free MDR rooms: food arrives hot and service is good. But, you need to be very specific in how you want your meat prepared, whether or not you want sauce or not, etc. Veggies tend to be undercooked and very sparce. Soups are not the greatest. We found that once you ate in Savor, they wanted you to repeat the experience and you did not need to make additional reservations to do so. Of the 3 MDRs, Savor was our favorite and provided the best and friendlest service. Manhattan Dining Room had the worse service and took the longest.

 

Enjoyed Rock of Ages and Burn the Floor. Make sure to arrive in the theatre before the lights go down otherwise navigating the steps is very, very dangerous! You can only enter from deck 7 and there are steps from the top all the way down to the front. I almost tripped twice the first time and opted to stay in the back. Next time I brought my binoculars and enjoyed the show better than being in the front row!

 

Don't not believe the on-line availablity of reservations. Once on board go directly to the venue you want and you will find that there are more times open that you can reserve. This was true for Cirque that we almost gave up on. Day one 5:15 PM show cancelled and a 7:00 PM show added which we jumped on. Same thing for Rock of Ages which we were able to see a second time just walking in prior to the start time.

 

Breakaway is not a good ship if the weather is bad -- no indoor pool and lack of enough seating in the Attruim. Many of the live shows are rebroadcasted on TV.

 

Be sure to check the daily program.

 

MARAPRINCE

[ChelePA]

We are pretty laid back but I was also concerned. We had a wonderful time! Our biggest disappointment would be the kids' pool area. Small and didn't like the design. But the water is so warm. A big positive for me. The adult pool was even more crowded. Shoulder to shoulder.

 

Also, the stale smell of smoke anywhere near the casino area. It permeates to multiple floors.

 

We just returned home today.

[sharonann24]

We are booked for the July 16 BA sailing from NYC and are thrilled beyond belief that we don't have to fly and deal with airport stress prior to the start of our trip this year! We have sailed Princess RC and HAL and loved all. This our first NCL cruise and my dilemma now is deciding whether to try to go for the upgrade (in a balcony room now mid ship) to the Haven. We are both early 60's (I turn 60 the day after we return), are active, like touring, relaxing by the pool, and take advantage of the various bars, and night events. Thinking the passes to Vibe might be an option. I do like kids but maybe a little less intense for our vacation!

[HBCcruiser]

We just got off the BA - Haven suite and must say we would not have enjoyed the cruise had we not been in the Haven. The non-Haven areas of the ship were crowded, especially the pool area. I doubt you will be able to "relax" by the pool if not in Haven. We have done Princess, RC, HAL and Disney. This ship felt more crowded. The ship and staff were wonderful, I just felt as though they really pack people on.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Peachypooh]

Just spent over an hour recently talking with a relative who recently sailed on the Breakaway.I was trying to decide between the Breakaway and the Gem for our next cruise. He told me that if he hadn't been in the Haven he wouldn't have enjoyed it. They are an older couple and he said the two times he tried the buffet he left due to all the pushing and grabbing and people acting like they were going to either run out of food or it was their last meal. He also said that even though he himself is from the NY area and he hated to generalize but most of the guests acted like they were at an unruly football game.

That said, he said Bermuda was beautiful and loved every minute of it. The service even outside of the Haven was fantastic and the ship was extremely clean.

All in all I personally feel that even on the mega ships you could probably find some quiet areas and avoid the worst of the crowds. It is all in what you make it.

[ChelePA]

So interesting everyone's different perspective. We ate at the buffet for every breakfast, several lunches and a nightly snack. At times, it was crowded. But overall, great food and service. A few people could be rude, but to be expected.

[sharonann24]

Thank you. We may still try to put in a bid for the Haven.

[hhk1234]

So interesting everyone's different perspective. We ate at the buffet for every breakfast, several lunches and a nightly snack. At times, it was crowded. But overall, great food and service. A few people could be rude, but to be expected.

 

We had the same experience on the Getaway last year. We were in the buffet all the time...just not when it was super crowded.