First time cruiser on Breakaway questions

[rainofenigma]

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm taking my first cruise on the NCL Breakaway on 2/25 (Florida, Great Stirrup Cay, and Nassau). I have a few questions if you'd be kind enough to indulge.

 

1.) What times should I avoid eating if I want to avoid the worst crowds?

 

2.) What's the most affordable way to booze it up? Beer instead of cocktails? Any bar cheaper than any other? Any examples of prices? I don't know if this is the kind of thing where beer is $6 or $12.

 

3.) Shore excursion recommendations for Nassau? Balmoral beach sounds like a mixed bag, but I'm not sure there's much to do in Nassau if we don't do a shore excursion (not true?)

 

4.) Restaurant recs? Any to avoid?

 

Thank you! This board is a great resource and it's kind of all of you to volunteer your time to help newbies like myself.

[BirdTravels]

If you are going to a Specialty (extra fee) restaurant, you should make a reservation. Walk-in seating may not be available to 9 pm. Cagney's Steak House and Teppanyaki are the most popular restaurant and may not have openings.

 

Main Dining Rooms are busy from 6:00-8:00. You can make a reservation for priority seating, or just wait (like you would wait at home) for the next available table.

 

The most affordable way is to get a free drinks beverage package as a booking promotion.

 

Menus from Breakaway restaurants can be found on my link https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2504449

[Giantfan13]

We usually ate in any of the 3 MDR's. Times when it is most crowded is very subjective, basically according to sea days, time in ports etc. On sea days, we found more people tend to eat a bit earlier, so between 6:00 to 7:30 seems crowded. On port days those times, especially 6:30 we walked right in. If you are just a small party, you cannot make reservations at these restaurants, but you can check the many screens around the ship to see if there are lines or the restaurants are less crowded. We found that the Manhattan Club seems to be the most crowded.

As for shore excursions, depends on what you like. I would venture over to the Bahamas port of call board and you will see all sorts of things to do there, from beaches, to shopping, to touring and which are the best.

Cheers

Len

[TrpngBilly]

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm taking my first cruise on the NCL Breakaway on 2/25 (Florida, Great Stirrup Cay, and Nassau). I have a few questions if you'd be kind enough to indulge.

 

1.) What times should I avoid eating if I want to avoid the worst crowds?

 

2.) What's the most affordable way to booze it up? Beer instead of cocktails? Any bar cheaper than any other? Any examples of prices? I don't know if this is the kind of thing where beer is $6 or $12.

 

3.) Shore excursion recommendations for Nassau? Balmoral beach sounds like a mixed bag, but I'm not sure there's much to do in Nassau if we don't do a shore excursion (not true?)

 

4.) Restaurant recs? Any to avoid?

 

Thank you! This board is a great resource and it's kind of all of you to volunteer your time to help newbies like myself.

 

1. 6pm-8pm is busiest seating time for dinner at most restaurants and you're likely to encounter a wait. You're able to make reservations through MyNCL.

 

2. Most affordable would be to have the UBP (Ultimate Beverage Package) usually offered as a cruise promo. If you don't have it you should do the math on what it would cost you to purchase it. I've found that the drinks are reasonably priced, as if you were going out. Remember that the gratuity is included so it's pretty much a flat fee if you pay per drink.

 

3. Nassau has a lot to do within walking range of the ship. We've walked to Junkanoo Beach and it wasn't bad. Organized excursions (through all cruise lines) generally frustrate us because you wind up waiting for the slowest person in your group who usually has no regard for other people's time.

 

4. We've had pretty much excellent meals in all dining venues with the exception of La Cucina when we had a really bad meal once. But, dining experiences are all subjective and can be hit or miss. Cagney's and Teppanyaki seem to have consistently good reviews across this board which is probably why they fill up quick. As far as MDR's (Main Dining Rooms), we had our best meals in Taste & Savor. Maltings was our favorite spot to relax with a drink either before or after dinner.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[davy jones]

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm taking my first cruise on the NCL Breakaway on 2/25 (Florida, Great Stirrup Cay, and Nassau). I have a few questions if you'd be kind enough to indulge.

 

1.) What times should I avoid eating if I want to avoid the worst crowds?

 

2.) What's the most affordable way to booze it up? Beer instead of cocktails? Any bar cheaper than any other? Any examples of prices? I don't know if this is the kind of thing where beer is $6 or $12.

 

3.) Shore excursion recommendations for Nassau? Balmoral beach sounds like a mixed bag, but I'm not sure there's much to do in Nassau if we don't do a shore excursion (not true?)

 

4.) Restaurant recs? Any to avoid?

 

Thank you! This board is a great resource and it's kind of all of you to volunteer your time to help newbies like myself.

 

1. Like others have said, 6:00 to 8:00 is the busy time in the three dining rooms. If there is a specific time that you like to dine in this window, I recommend advance reservations. That worked very well for us.

 

2. Drink prices are the same at every bar. If you do not have the promotional beverage package, beers cost between $6.50 and $7.00. A 20% gratuity is added to all drink purchases. Most mixed drinks are in the 10 to 12 dollar range. High end liquor has high end prices.

 

3. We haven't been to Nassau in quite a while. I can't help you there. You can try the port of call boards.

 

4. The three MDRs all serve the same menu. We preferred Taste and Savor over Manhattan.

[uneamie]

Just off the Breakaway. I made reservations for all the restaurants including the freebies for every night of our cruise for 6:30 right after I made final payment. We found it to be the best time and we were soooo glad we made the ressies. We walked right in while there was a line waiting to be seated most nights. Does not hurt to do this cause if you change your mind all you have to do is cancel it. They hold it for 15 minutes then let open it up for someone else. It saved us a lot of waiting.

[Chris2018]

If the main dining room is busy from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, then is it better to reserve a table at 5:30 PM when it is more empty? Thanks.

[uneamie]

If the main dining room is busy from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, then is it better to reserve a table at 5:30 PM when it is more empty? Thanks.

While it may be busy during those times we saw no less quality of service at 6:30. If one has a reservation I would not necessarily limit myself to earlier times.

[mking8288]

Our experience on the BA four times, when the MDR opens at 5:30 or 6 PM, the line or wait is for the host/ess to get to swipe & process each party, checking them in and assigning someone to escort everyone to their tables with the menu ... that's the wait or hold up. True whether you have a reservation or not, unlike traditional early & late seating on other lines' classic dining setup - you can't just walk in and select/pick your own table.

 

Go early & the wait is typically no more than 5 to 10, 15 minutes at most - for them to fill up most of the dining room. Plus, the no-shows that didn't cancel will be released within 15 minutes, freeing up more.

 

Dinner services take anywhere from 60 to 90+ minutes on average, sometimes even slower ... as most of us know. That's another basis for why those 6:30 or 7:00 PM seating move a lot slower ... as those that reserved for 5:30 might still not be done or having their coffee/dessert; and, the dining team had yet to clear & prepare for round #2.

 

Show time for the popular ones also played tricks - timing is key on finding those softer slots to just walk in with minimal wait.

[rmurray847]

 

Dinner services take anywhere from 60 to 90+ minutes on average, sometimes even slower ... as most of us know. That's another basis for why those 6:30 or 7:00 PM seating move a lot slower ... as those that reserved for 5:30 might still not be done or having their coffee/dessert; and, the dining team had yet to clear & prepare for round #2.

 

Although I prefer NOT to do this, you can let your wait team know you're in a rush to get to a show (if your timing for seating isn't the best) and they can pick up the pace. I hate to do it, because a nice, leisurely dinner is part of the fun...but we've been in and out (with all courses served) in 45 minutes. Again, only in emergency!

[Giantfan13]

Just a trick also, we usually ate in either Taste or Savior, We found that there could be a wait in one and maybe the other you can get a table immediately. If we were given a beeper, my DW went to the other and if there was a wait, also got a beeper. Whichever beeped first, we went to. (obviously giving the other beeper back).

Cheers

Len

[Jetsterkitty]

1. Make your dinner reservations in advance on MyNCL. If you can't make your reservation time once on board no worries, they generally give your table away if you are more than 15 minutes late. *You can make reservations for smaller parties - I know a poster said you can't but you can. The specialty restaurants are tougher to get into if you don't have a reservation so 5:30 or 8pm are often the only times you can get a reservation, however, you can wait and see if something opens up. Same goes for the MDRs, though the openings are more frequent there than the specialty restaurants.

 

Manhattan room is LOUD, especially if there is entertainment, but it also offers dancing which is fun to watch. Savor and Taste are smaller but also quieter. *Don't miss Savor and Taste for breakfast either!! Some of our BEST meals have been the sit-down breakfasts.

 

2. UBP - the only way to go if you plan on drinking a decent amount. I know if you do the math it might not seem like a huge savings, but if you get it as a promo during booking it's well worth it. We cruised one time and didn't get the package... our end of cruise bar bill was more than the cruise cost! lol

 

3. Nassau - we had a BLAST at Atlantis. Pricey but often times the ship runs specials (1/2 price admission the day before we landed offer). The area immediately around the port is pretty downtrodden. :eek: The shops are typical for a beach-town area, but the streets are dirty and you get badgered by the vendors (hair braiding is a cut throat trade there! lol). We took the magic-bus to Atlantis and had a GREAT time. Oh, but be warned, the price for lockers and food at Atlantis is insanely high.

 

4. I would avoid the buffet on seafood night! It just doesn't live up to the hype, I'll leave it at that. The buffet in general isn't great - though they do make a decent omelet for breakfast; and the pasta station isn't terrible. The ice cream machines are pretty awesome though. :p We travel with tweens and they spend more than their fair share of time getting soft serve ice creams.

[PTC DAWG]

UBP, IF you like to have worry free drinking, don’t leave Home without it.

[uneamie]

On our recent 14 day cruise we never waited to be seated...not even a minute, with reservations. Like I said, our time was 6:30, a popular time. I was so glad I made those reservations before our cruise.

[Chris2018]

Thanks for the replies about the dining room.

[Son of a son of a ...]

In a pinch, grease palms and tables will open for 2-4.