Breakaway after Escape and Bliss

[Steff79]

2 hours ago, ashleyriley said:

We are booked on the Breakaway. I have only sailed on the Jade, so I cannot compare to the others. From my research, the reasons I have found to sail on Breakaway are:

 

The Waterfront 

Syd's Pour House (We are big classic rock fans)

Rock of Ages and Burn the Floor shows

Lunch buffet at Moderno

Maltings 

Shakers 

Noodle Bar

Cirque show

Itinerary and port convenience

and Howl at the Moon is at Breakaway ( and Escape too, but not at Bliss ). Howl at the Moon and Syd´s Pour House ( do they still the syd´s Rock blast with Band and singers from rock of ages? this was a blast ) was my favourits in the evening ( and casino, theater shows, game shows, parties..... ) so much to do.

i didn´t cruised with the bliss yet. but i like escape and Breakaway both. escape a little more because of the brew house and  better spa a little bit. but i would cruise with both ships again.

Edited April 19, 2019 by Steff79

[Sand and Seas]

We are booked (again!) on the Breakaway in two weeks.   The Cirque show is no longer available.  In it's place is a show called Velvet, but it doesn't allow us to pre-book right now.  Not sure if it will have a cost or be complimentary. 

 

Velvet

Ready to “Turn the Beat Around”? Then slip behind the red velvet rope to relive the music and glamour of the sexy disco era.

• Dinner & Show

 

While Escape and Bliss are probably our favorites, we also love Breakaway and Getaway.  I do wish they would add Pincho Tapas to more ships.    

 

Suggest you also check the cost of the Mini-Suites with Large Balconies when you are pricing the Aft Balconies.  I've found they are actually cheaper on a couple of the cruises we were looking at for Getaway so might be the same for Breakaway.  

Edited April 19, 2019 by Sand and Seas

[AL3XCruise]

8 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

I was thinking about actually direct booking an Aft Balcony this time for this reason.

 

That would be a great idea.  If you enjoy time on your balcony, an aft balcony is for you.  I don't recall the prime locations, but I can say they are great.  A big upgrade on any of the BA/BA+, but especially on BA and GA!

 

I've been on both, and they have a lot more in common than different.  Breakaway was loaded up to capacity when I was on it, Escape was at roughly double occupancy.  Because of this, its hard for me to really compare them as in addition to the BA feeling more crowded, I feel the staff was simply overworked and it showed in service quality.  Thus I had a better experience on Escape, but it isn't an apples to apples comparison.  But I certainly wouldn't call the BA old or run down; it is still a relatively new ship and maintained to the same standard as the Escape!

 

 

[JamieLogical]

8 hours ago, AL3XCruise said:

I've been on both, and they have a lot more in common than different.  Breakaway was loaded up to capacity when I was on it, Escape was at roughly double occupancy.  Because of this, its hard for me to really compare them as in addition to the BA feeling more crowded, I feel the staff was simply overworked and it showed in service quality.  Thus I had a better experience on Escape, but it isn't an apples to apples comparison.  But I certainly wouldn't call the BA old or run down; it is still a relatively new ship and maintained to the same standard as the Escape!

 

 

I am hopeful that our week on the Breakaway won't be too crowded. It *is* a holiday week with Labor Day in there, but it's also the first or second week of school for most schools in the US, so I suspect there will be fewer children on board. Also, September is smack dab in the middle of hurricane season and I know some people try to avoid sailing that time of year.

Edited April 20, 2019 by JamieLogical

[willsears94]

We are booked Breakaway on Spa Angled Balcony. We would book aft if it weren't for the spa, due to the walk (I know super lazy, but it's vacation!).

 

I am excited for the shows and Syd's, along with the Ocean Blue Waterfront. I  loved DBH but won't die without it.

 

This is our last booked cruise with NCL. We will be back, but that should tell you how we are feeling about NCL a little at this time with better service at Celebrity and a new competitor in Virgin.

 

And I agree, MSC is horrendous outside of Yacht Club, which I failed to book. I know, my fault.

[Nola26]

While I have not been on the Breakaway, I have been on the Getaway, Escape and Bliss.

 

2015 - Getaway and 2016 - Escape, I like them both but preferred Getaway primarily for one reason

1. The Complimentary Asian restaurant was removed on the Escape. I like having this option and I liked having it essentially in the casino, good location and just a nice Comp change of pace. 

 

The Breakaway will have the Ice Bar which isn't on the Bliss and maybe not on the Escape

Hopefully they still provide live entertainment in the Manhattan room this is a highlight for us and we missed it on the Bliss.

 

Sorry for your troubles with MSC. I've heard of some things that would be troublesome for me even once onboard so they're not on my personal "try" list.

 

I just saw your target week. We'll be on the Epic that week, Mediterranean using airfare promotion.

Edited April 20, 2019 by Nola26

[dcipjr]

On 4/19/2019 at 3:53 PM, JamieLogical said:

 

I was thinking about actually direct booking an Aft Balcony this time for this reason. I have been coveting the Aft Balconies on the Breakaway+ ships for a while, but haven't bitten the bullet and plunked down the extra cash. The smaller balconies on the Breakaway might be the "excuse" I need to convince myself to do it.

 

I'm not 100% certain, but I think the aft balconies on Breakaway-class ships are even bigger than on the Plus ships. We were in 12906 on the Breakaway a few years ago; the balcony was enormous. The balcony was almost the same amount of square footage as the cabin. By far the best balcony we've ever had.

 

 

 

We were sailing with family and had four people on that balcony regularly — and we could have fit another four easily.

Edited April 21, 2019 by dcipjr

[willsears94]

 

 

1

On 4/20/2019 at 1:52 PM, Nola26 said:

Hopefully they still provide live entertainment in the Manhattan room this is a highlight for us and we missed it on the Bliss.

 

 

The Manhatten Room with Live Music makes it for me. I regret only dining there once on the Escape due to a Specialty Dining Package I had. I will never forget dancing with my partner that night though. 

 

Bliss and onward missed the mark on this. 

 

The Asian is a nice feature for those with less than 5 nights of specialty dining. We enjoyed it on the Dawn after the refurb. 

[Laszlo]

My wife and I have been on the BA and the Escape twice each, it will be our 3rd time on the Escape in June. Both ships are are great, pluses and minuses for each of them. If you go into it with an open mind you'll be find.

 

FYI, we sailed the BA to Bermuda in September 2014 out of NYC, a full week after labor day. We thought we would be smart to book then since all kids would be back in school.......Wrong. The ship had a ton of kids.....everywhere. Its seems that a lot of parents had no issues with their kids missing the first or second week of school

[Krisco]

I agree with Syd's comment.  We sailed the Escape last year, Bliss in February and just returned from Breakaway last week.  Like the new options like Brewhouse and observation deck better on the newer ships, but I didn't find anything lacking on the Breakaway.  I think it was refurbished end of last year and carpet, etc all looked updated.  It was a spring break week and it didn't feel too crowded although the trip was port intensive.  A few craft beer offerings in bottle might help with the not having the Brewhouse.  Syd Norman's was small but it was fun and a talented group. Rock of Ages was great.  The only think I can say was a little different were the chairs sitting areas on the Waterfront were not as plentiful or comfortable  and that is not a huge deal.  You will enjoy.

[PelicanBill]

Hello Jamie, here are my comment as promised...

We've done 4 Breakaway sails each of the last 4 years.

September should be a good time with lower kids aboard but also still high risk of itinerary change from hurricanes.

We keep going because we love the ship and convenience while it was homed ported in NYC (and our last one was the reposition to New Orleans, which will be repeated next year in November.)

We love this ship for

the layout inside and out, being easy to get around

large variety of food and drink venues both included and upcharge

large variety of entertainment and activities

The show Rock of Ages, for which my daughter and I are superfans now and known to many of the cast members.

Balcony cabins are well laid out with plenty of storage.

We had an Aft cabin once and definitely enjoyed it. Higher deck aft cabins have small typical balcony sizes, lower levels have the larger balconies.

 

The negatives for Breakaway to us are

Poor top deck space. Extremely limited around pool, front half taken up by havens and Vibe.  Children's pool is even more limited, parents have to stand by pool. Smoking area too close to pool. Kicked our 16 year old out of main pool expecting her to tolerate toddlers despite that she was better behaved than many of the adults.

Smoking in casino drifts out to nearby areas including Shanghai's restaurant. Sometimes up the atrium.

 

[Zlasmcruising]

On 4/19/2019 at 7:38 AM, JamieLogical said:

I have sailed on the Escape twice and the Bliss once. After some horrendous customer service from MSC, we are considering cancelling our sailing on the Seaside for September and booking on the Breakaway instead. I've been a bit hesitant to sail on the Breakaway or Getaway for fear of an unfavorable comparison to the Escape and Bliss, since they are newer and have some additional features like the District Brew House. I was worried they might feel a bit "old" and "dated".

 

For those of you who have sailed on the Breakaway as well as the Escape/Bliss. How would you compare them? Are we likely to be disappointed at all?

They will not feel old and outdated. But I have been on the Escape and the Bliss and really like them more than the Breakaway and Getaway. They are a bit more elegant than the Breakaway. The balconies are smaller on the Breakaway also. JMHO, but if they gave me a free cruise on the Breakaway I wouldn't turn it down...lol

[Zlasmcruising]

On 4/19/2019 at 9:05 AM, Arzeena said:

Escape and Bliss are in a class of their own....just my opinion. My vote is for the Escape. I am not averse to the BA, so I would pick the better itinerary.

I agree 100% on the horrendous CS of MSC. You have no idea how they have screwed with two of my reservations. Double charged my card, changed room categories, lost my reservations several times...... I can write a book on this! When I complained on the MSC boards, their pimps on cc accused me of being an employee of a rival cruiseline, paid to purposely plant anti MSC posts.

I would cancel my June cruise but would have to forfeit every $$$ since it is past final payment for us (which they charged double and I had a $%^&&* time getting a refund for the second charge!!!) . I would also very gladly cancel my October cruise with MSC and go on the Gem out of Boston, the Dawn out of NYC or on  Royal's Serenade, but I am facing a lot of opposition😡 from family members who want to go on MSC's new *****.....sorry, ship and have gathered other friends to book as well!  I have no words to describe how MSC's CS is driving me crazy! Now I am being also told that the $400 deposit is non refundable but can be transferred to another MSC sailing.

 

The only positive thing is that the MSC shipboard experience is not as harrowing as the land based CS if you have booked right.

Arzeena!! This is Debbie. Janice and I have sailed with you a couple of times. Hope you are well! Next cruise is Joy on June 20th!!!  Sorry you are having issues with MSC🙁.  Take care!!

[HowardK]

I've done Breakaway 2x (2013/2014) and Escape 2x (both last year)- 1 time on each to Bermuda; Breakaway Florida/Nassau one time and Escape to Canada/NE the other time.

 

I found them to be similar enough that going on the Breakaway would not be a step down from the Escape.

They had Fat Cat's on the Breakaway which is now converted to Syd's Pour House. I did like Spice H20 a little better on the Breakaway for the plainer water falls vs. the Grotto.

I ate at the same specialty restaurants at both.

Both had howl at the moon 

I didn't have the UBP on the Breakaway but had it on the Escape- 

I'm going back on the Breakaway likely in 2021 on a 9 day in May or a 7 day that August.

 

Were there a few favorite things you had on the Escape? Then perhaps see how they are on the Breakaway.

 

To me the main thing missing on the Breakaway would be the brewpub for the space and excellent music.

I loved both ships - I hadn't gone on a cruise in for 3 1/2 years and the Escape felt right at home as the Breakaway