“Live from the Breakaway” E.Caribbean 2nd June

[C cruise]

Love this report and the pictures.... we are booked on Breakaway later this year... could you post a pic of the pool... you said it was small and that concerns me - we like to use the pool...

[Deeliteful]

Oh the days go by so quickly when you’re cruising! If pics upload, then a couple of pics of sailing into St. Thomas, you might also spot The Harmony of the Seas in the background - looks like a tall building!

I did not get off the ship at St. Thomas, I am not really a beach person and find it difficult to get out of the water these days. Instead I spent the morning in Vibe which I had all to myself.

Took lunch in the Buffett, not great today. Had a facial and hair washed and blown dry in the spa, both very good. Now look 35 again 😱

Had booked dinner at Cagneys and invited to join two other Cruise Critic Guys, Brett and Bryce from Nashville, which was very kind. Enjoyed pork belly, ribeye steak and ice cream with caramel sauce. Delicious. Lovely company too, enjoyed talking about our travels etc.

Played more poker and walked away even 👏👏 Result! Winning would be better but at least I’m not losing.

Tortola today, a spa day for me.

Will try and post some menu and pool pics as requested.

WiFi was down mostly yesterday which was very frustrating 🤔 

[Deeliteful]

Menu from today’s lunch at Savor. .

I am having Vietnamese Chicken Pho and Fried Chicken.

 

Edited June 6, 2019 by Deeliteful

[GA Dave]

18 hours ago, C cruise said:

Love this report and the pictures.... we are booked on Breakaway later this year... could you post a pic of the pool... you said it was small and that concerns me - we like to use the pool...

The regular pools on NCL are very small.  The area gets very crowded.  I would recommend seeing if you can find a nice pool area at one of your ports of call or even pre-cruise or post-cruise hotel.  That is what we did on our Getaway cruise for pool time.

 

 

[C cruise]

12 minutes ago, GA Dave said:

The regular pools on NCL are very small.  The area gets very crowded.  I would recommend seeing if you can find a nice pool area at one of your ports of call or even pre-cruise or post-cruise hotel.  That is what we did on our Getaway cruise for pool time.

 

 

thanks for the picture --- omg, it is horrifying.... I am wondering if I need to pick a different ship.... Norwegian Sun is a smaller ship and has a bigger pool..

[Deeliteful]

Sorry for not posting in a while. Internet has been a bit iffy! I enjoyed my spa day at least I could get in an empty pool😱

Dined in Manhattan with my dancing friend, shrimp for starters and hake for main. Not eating many desserts as most don’t appeal but loved my banana split tonight!

won money at poker tonight. Sea day tomorrow.

Breakfast In O’Sheehans again, I see a lot of reviews complaining of slow service in here, service has been fantastic for me.

Morning in a Vibe where we had a torrential downpour🌂 luckily they don’t last long but I did get soaked.

Played the Blackjack tournament no good for me!

Had lunch o

in O’Sheehans too.

Back in Vibe drinking perfect Margaritas and they really are!

Had to rush as forgotten I had a very early booking at Teppanyakis for dinner. 

This was my most disappointing meal and I had really been looking forward to it. Our chef burnt the garlic which makes it very bitter so the rice was not good, shrimp was good but steak was not, my first piece was very tender (I asked for medium rare) but rest was inedible. Not happy.

Even unhappier when I had so many bad beats at poker, went in ahead every time and lost! So my Winnings were all taken last night 😱

At GSC this morning. Breakfasted in the buffet which was a complete nightmare, should have known really.

Now in Vibe enjoying Mimosas.

cheers

 

talk later

[drvmywifecrzy]

43 minutes ago, Deeliteful said:

 

Even unhappier when I had so many bad beats at poker, went in ahead every time and lost! So my Winnings were all taken last night 😱

 

 

This is typical of a cruise ship sailing.  Many don't know how to play so they just call with anything and get lucky once in a while.

[pixiedust777]

Deeliteful......

 

DH and I will be back on the Breakaway in October. Loved sailing on her in February.

I have heard that Ocean Blues menu has changed since we sailed.

I have tried locating a current menu but with no success🙁

If you have a chance would you please post a photo of the current Ocean Blues menu for me. Thank you 😊 

 

 

 

[Deeliteful]

Few menu pics as requested, hope you can read them. The bottom 3 are Ocean Blue.

Edited June 8, 2019 by Deeliteful

[Deeliteful]

Last night, last night!

Miami Vice, sweet but nice 🍹

Dinner in Taste, great starters scallops followed by Bouillabaise (?) delicious. Entree was prime rib which had about 3-4 oz of uncooked fat around it, not very appetising to look at, I know fat adds flavour but this was very off putting.

Played more poker and finished even. Early night ready for disembark tomorrow.

breakfast in Savor, nice and relaxed.

Usual chaotic disembarkation but to be expected I suppose when everyone is trying to get off at more or less the same time!

Had booked ship’s shuttle to Miami airport, that was well organised. If you are taking the shuttle bus take an earlier one than you think you need. I booked 9 am (changed from 9.45 am), on the bus at 10.15.

Overall a fabulous cruise. Will write a precise of my thoughts when I am in my Orlando hotel.

Thanks for following.

Miami is such a pretty port.

 

[Deeliteful]

On 6/6/2019 at 1:56 PM, C cruise said:

thanks for the picture --- omg, it is horrifying.... I am wondering if I need to pick a different ship.... Norwegian Sun is a smaller ship and has a bigger pool..

I agree the pool area is far too small and therefore overcrowded but you can always find quiet places. 

Also may be worth getting a spa pass ( daily or weekly ones available) which has a pool but if you want to swim lengths then neither pool would be suitable.

[pixiedust777]

Thank you for the menu picks!!!

Safe trip back home 🏡 

[All-ready2cruise]

8 hours ago, Deeliteful said:

I agree the pool area is far too small and therefore overcrowded but you can always find quiet places. 

Also may be worth getting a spa pass ( daily or weekly ones available) which has a pool but if you want to swim lengths then neither pool would be suitable.

Thanks so much for all the great info and the wonderful photos. Hope you enjoyed your cruise and safe travels home.  Will see for myself in a few weeks, looking forward to it, thanks again. 

[Sailing 2 Sailing]

Were there any young people on your cruise?

[Georgia_Peaches]

On 6/6/2019 at 1:56 PM, C cruise said:

thanks for the picture --- omg, it is horrifying.... I am wondering if I need to pick a different ship.... Norwegian Sun is a smaller ship and has a bigger pool..

I agree that the pool can get crowded but the picture implies that it's like that all the time.  In my experience on the Breakaway, the pool and deck areas were only crowded like that when there was something going on like a belly flop contest or something like that.  Judging from the pic, there is something happening as people are watching from all around, including on the upper decks looking on to the pool area.  Not suggesting that it's not crowded, just not always like what's shown in the pic.

[C cruise]

5 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

I agree that the pool can get crowded but the picture implies that it's like that all the time.  In my experience on the Breakaway, the pool and deck areas were only crowded like that when there was something going on like a belly flop contest or something like that.  Judging from the pic, there is something happening as people are watching from all around, including on the upper decks looking on to the pool area.  Not suggesting that it's not crowded, just not always like what's shown in the pic.

thank you for pointing that out... I didn't even think that it was some type of event and therefore so crowded!

[joejoe 59]

Great review thank you.

[Jbro399]

Did you post your review I’ve been looking for it ?

Edited June 14, 2019 by Jbro399

[napper777]

Do you have a list of officers? 

Enjoyed your notes

[Deeliteful]

On 6/10/2019 at 8:47 AM, Sailing 2 Sailing said:

Were there any young people on your cruise?

Yes lots. More of a young demographic than an older one.

Haven’t posted review yet as still holidaying in Orlando.

No I don’t have a list of officers, sorry.

The Pool and pool area was always crowded except on port days.

 

Thanks for following.

 

Couple of pics from my airboat ride with Spirit of the Swamp in Orlando. 5* highly recommended.

[Deeliteful]

So my précis of the cruise and the ship -

Embarkation 10/10 smooth, easy. Shore to ship with 40 mins and no standing in line.

Restaurants -

breakfast - I ate breakfast on my balcony and in Taste as well as O’Sheehans. Happy with breakfast in all of them 8/10

Lunch - ate lunch in Taste, Buffett or O’ Sheehans. Taste 9/10, Buffett 6/10, O’Sheehans 8/10

Dinner - Manhattan 7/10, Taste 8/10, Savor 7/10, Cagney 9/10, Le Bistro 9/10, Teppanyaki 5/10, Shanghai Noodles Bar 8/10

Room - I booked a balcony guarantee and got midships on Deck 13, 9/10 room was great, lots of space (travelling solo), nice bathroom, small balcony but adequate for me to sit and enjoy the sea.

Bars - I absolutely love the Waterside idea, perfect place to sip a cocktail at Shakers or Maltings 9/10. 

Vibe - great bartenders making a drink there great fun. Very quiet in there, so much fuss to get a ticket and yet probably 50% of the people who had one weren’t there. 9/10

Spice H2O only had one drink there on first day so not sure what it would be like at other times, pretty lively I understand 8/10

had a drink in Mixx, Atrium Bar and Bar 21 - all ok 7/10

Entertiainment - shoot me now! I didn’t see any shows on the ship, I mainly played poker in the Casino.

Casino - good cash Games every night ($2/$5 no limit $100 min. Buy in. House takes 10% rake maximum $25). Also had some poker tournaments on sea days as well as slots and Black Jack Tournaments. 

Did not like the fact that the Casino was all smoking - poker table is non-smoking yet situated right by other tables and between two sets of slots - so may as well been smoking. That needs to change. 2/10 for that 8/10 for the poker games.

Spa and salon - 8/10 had a wash and blow dry and a facial as well as a spa pass for one day in the thermal suite. Good value.

Ports of call - Did not get off the ship ! 😱 I know, I had my reasons. Been to most of the ports before and cannot get out of the sea easily with mobility problems so had always intended to just chill out on the ship,

Pool area - ridiculously small and always crowded. 2/10

Staff and Service 9/10 - lovely, friendly, smiling staff everywhere. Room steward was great, unobtrusive but very friendly when I saw him.  Officer very visible and always said hi. Rarely had to wait long for a drink, Atrium Bar probably the longest wait.

Meet and Mingle - we had about 50% of people there compared to those who had signed up. Officers did a good job and we had a gift exchange and general chats, also a well attended slot pull.

Very impressed that the officers organised another get together on the last sea day for some feedback, full marks for that.

Disembarkation - a bit manic to say the least. Not greatly organised, our 9 am bus for the airport left at 10.15.

Overall I was impressed with NCL and will be cruising with them again on the Getaway in December.

8/10

if I’ve missed anything please ask or SHOUT!

 

xx

[Deeliteful]

Updated