Entertainment canceled on the Breakaway?

[The Traveling Man]

5 minutes ago, vettprincess said:

Saw some people that did not mask. We moved quickly away from people sneezing and coughing could be anything. 

No comments from the peanut gallery accepted.

Would you accept a comment from the "cashew corner?"  The phenomenon of some folks going on a cruise even though they know they are ill is nothing new.  For years NCL and other cruise lines have required passengers to complete a medical declaration prior to boarding.  How many claimed that they were not running a fever when they knew that they were?  There always will be some sick people on board.  It truly is disappointing, though, given the volume of information which has been available for so long on the Covid virus and how contagious it is, that some folks will flaunt basic safety protocols and risk spreading what for far too many has been a deadly disease.  I understand not wanting to miss out on a "once in a lifetime" journey.  I understand not wanting to lose hundreds or thousands of dollars already paid for a cruise.  I still don't understand, though, willingly putting others in harm's way.  Like you, I also "move quickly away from people sneezing and coughing."  I just hope that is enough.

[vikkiw]

7 hours ago, heidikay said:

My son and his friends are on the January 2nd sailing.  One of his friends called NCL and was told all entertainment was shut down along with the casino and some of the restaurants.  Is anyone onboard and can verify any of this.  We are supposed to join my son and cruise the Breakaway on the 9th.  

The Casino was open last night and all restaurants. NCL says both will remain open. In port now, will update tonight. 

[ElizaSTN]

46 minutes ago, aubreyc1988 said:

Yes thanks for clarifying...I'd be in a panic if the casino was closed

 

Sadly, not joking, I have a problem 😉

Very few things would 100% ruin our cruise, this would be one of them. 

[Sthrngary]

I am a fan of MMA.  I am going to need to "tap out" here.  Hard to put in words what one feels.  So I will try. 

 

I was a fool.  A complete fool.  I thought, if I waited long enough the cruise industry would be OK.  I really thought that if we all were considerate and careful, with in reason, we could cruise again in relative safety.  That NCL stance on fully vaccinated cruising, with pre-cruise testing even from Florida Ports would be enough for safe cruising against a virus that has no friends. NO FRIENDS.

 

I was wrong.  With every decision, including vacationing or not, there is a risk.  Most folks will be fine. Some folks will not.  Nobody knows so the cruise brands have to make some decisions often unpopular about their product offerings. Could you imagine being in a board room at any major cruise line and cutting off the entertainment, some specialty restaurants and casino.  The only time you would consider this is if circumstances dictated it. 

 

You would know the backlash, and justified by your guests.  Yet, you would have no choice.  Safety and the health of your guest and crew would be the goal.  Yet, to provide refunds, cancel an entire cruise, provide FCC because of a situation that was out of your control would put you under.  That is not the decision I would want to make. 

 

When I started this comment with "I Tap Out" I meant it.  If at any time in the last few years you even considered cruising as I did twice, it was at your own risk.  Neither of my cruise were perfect but we made the best out of them.  The alternative was losing money or not cruising.  We ALL know the risks.  Now we all pay the consequences.  The casino's might be closed on the Breakaway however the "Rolling of the Dice" happened a long time ago when we booked.  The house never loses and we all knew the rules.  If we didn't not, then we do now.  

 

I hope, truly hope all this is over soon but my gut tells me we have some more to go.  When it is over, first round is on me.  Cruise well when we have the opportunity.  Stay healthy to all. 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2021 by Sthrngary

[vikkiw]

The casino and all restaurants ARE open on the current sailing. NCL says they are currently working on alternate entertainment options...TBD. Enjoying live acoustic music now in the atrium. (The same music the Haven guests can come listen to if they are so inclined).

 

Comedy shows later tonight are still on. Enjoy your cruises the best you can. Hopefully you can get refunded if you choose that route. 

[aubreyc1988]

41 minutes ago, vikkiw said:

The casino and all restaurants ARE open on the current sailing. NCL says they are currently working on alternate entertainment options...TBD. Enjoying live acoustic music now in the atrium. (The same music the Haven guests can come listen to if they are so inclined).

 

Comedy shows later tonight are still on. Enjoy your cruises the best you can. Hopefully you can get refunded if you choose that route. 

exactly. Bummer for the shows being cancelled, but it's out of NCL's control.  Cast are sick, not much they can do about that but wait. 

[Clungers]

We just finished our cruise on Dec 26.  Breakaway was fully operating with a full staff and about 50% passengers. We did have a few excursions canceled.  It saddens me that they are canceling  entertainment and restaurants.  They need to offer refunds or cancel future cruises if they cannot offer a great cruise for all. It is not right for the paying passengers to expect less!

[Clungers]

PS. NCL really took the time to make passengers feel safe.

[GoldenGirl327]

9 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

If we have learned anything, it is blame only happens when we are frustrated with any outcome.  Blame does not fix anything except giving a outlet for some steam.  We all have some choose here that make sense.  Let's individually look to the past, the present day and the future.  No blame, just "lets use good business judgement".

 

Wow, I hope I did a better job of explaining my opinion this time then I did in the past.  Let's all take care for the upcoming ride.  Please stay safe, take care of your selves and the ones you love and stay healthy.

 

Cruise Well Everyone. 

Very eloquently said!

[Trimone]

I witnessed many times on our Epic cruise, that staff are not prepared to confront anyone breaking the rules with Covid.

In frustration I fetched a staff member with stripes and pointed out what was going on, namely intoxicated people with no masks going to the bar and being served, I believe the answer was give and take.

This was the first cruise for the Epic in Europe, masks had to be worn and 4 to a lift. I said at the time this will never last, they are allowing a inch and people are taking a foot…

There’s an old saying ‘Right first time for profit’ 

 

[Emmamc]

On 12/29/2021 at 4:20 AM, NotARussianBot said:

Can anyone confirm that this letter is authentic from the Breakaway? I depart on that ship on Sunday and will be very upset if there is no entertainment. 

Hello, so I got off the encore on Sunday, the entertainment was cancelled a few days in, it wasn't Covid but a union strike with theatres something to do with new York, but that was the reason our shows were cancelled. Which may be why yours are. 

 

It was disappointing but the ships sailing at the same time around us had Covid, a man overboard, cancelled ports. So overall I felt we got the best luck. The ship was spotless, half empty. Apart from the theatre it was fantastic. 

[Emmamc]

1 minute ago, Emmamc said:

Hello, so I got off the encore on Sunday, the entertainment was cancelled a few days in, it wasn't Covid but a union strike with theatres something to do with new York, but that was the reason our shows were cancelled. Which may be why yours are. 

 

It was disappointing but the ships sailing at the same time around us had Covid, a man overboard, cancelled ports. So overall I felt we got the best luck. The ship was spotless, half empty. Apart from the theatre it was fantastic. 

Just to add,  it's was only there, multiple musicians, comedy, magician and beatles invasion were all playing. It was just the big theatre acts. 

[phillygwm]

16 hours ago, The Traveling Man said:

The phenomenon of some folks going on a cruise even though they know they are ill is nothing new.  For years NCL and other cruise lines have required passengers to complete a medical declaration prior to boarding.  How many claimed that they were not running a fever when they knew that they were?  There always will be some sick people on board. 

We know that everyone on board tested negative and everyone had their temp checked at the port.  On the latter point, they use those temperature guns which always seem to underestimate temps.  I sailed a few weeks ago and, between coming in from the (cold) outside and normally running a bit low, they couldn't even get my temperature to register 🤣.  Better to be a bit low than high, I suppose!  But if someone DID register as 98.6, they're probably more like 100-101 "under the tongue."

 

Of course, once the ship leaves port, all bets are off.  Short of daily temp checks/rapid tests for every passenger, and I'm not sure how practical that is, you'll have some people who are newly positive but asymptomatic walking around.  

Edited December 30, 2021 by phillygwm

[phillygwm]

19 minutes ago, Emmamc said:

Hello, so I got off the encore on Sunday, the entertainment was cancelled a few days in, it wasn't Covid but a union strike with theatres something to do with new York, but that was the reason our shows were cancelled. Which may be why yours are. 

 

Very interesting if this is indeed the case.  In the current environment, when something gets cancelled (as our performances of Six were on the Bliss a few weeks ago) everybody goes right to COVID.  You'd think they'd do a better job of communicating that the reason was contractual, not medical, to prevent panic from setting in.

[GreenValleyDogWalker]

22 hours ago, Summerstravel said:

I feel the exact same way. I almost scheduled this cruise because it was so close to my birthday on the 7th but I scheduled for April 2022. This is terrible I am so sorry this is happening. I hope NCL steps up.  

Hi - My birthday is also on January 7th !  - I wanted to be onboard on the big day - but that would have meant that we would have to fly into New Orleans on January 1st (to board on the sail date of January 2nd)  Not a good idea, I thought at the time

So changed to a sail date of January 16th - Now all I want is for NCL to CANCEL - so that I can get FCC's !! 🤣

[vicnsue]

8 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

Very interesting if this is indeed the case.  In the current environment, when something gets cancelled (as our performances of Six were on the Bliss a few weeks ago) everybody goes right to COVID.  You'd think they'd do a better job of communicating that the reason was contractual, not medical, to prevent panic from setting in.

Just did a little research, I can’t find anything on line about union issues in New York. 🤷‍♂️

[phillygwm]

2 minutes ago, vicnsue said:

Just did a little research, I can’t find anything on line about union issues in New York. 🤷‍♂️

Right.  I follow Broadway fairly closely and a bunch of shows are shutting down temporarily or closing entirely.  But I wasn't aware of any strikes.  Now could there have been some non-strike union action (are the ship's performers even Actors Equity?) or other contractual dispute between NCL and the Powers That Be?  Possible, I suppose.  

[The P]

Being AE myself, I once asked cast members about this. While some may be in the union, not all are. AE has no authority at sea so any cast problems go through their stage managers to NCL. There are no performing union strikes at the current time, whether AEA or SAG/AFTRA.

[BermudaBound2014]

2 hours ago, Emmamc said:

........... it wasn't Covid but a union strike with theatres something to do with new York, but that was the reason our shows were cancelled. Which may be why yours are. . 

 

Not buying this for one minute. That is to say, I'm not questioning that Emmamc was told this onboard, but I do not believe it to be true. 

[susique]

23 hours ago, Dgoddess61 said:

I’m on Breakaway now, letter is authentic, no compensation offered to guests even those in Haven rooms such as ourselves

I'm sorry, what does being in the Haven give you more consideration than the others in the lower cabins?  Everybody is on the same ship you are.  I thought that you pay more for your cabin in the Haven, but the same for entertainment as everyone else.

[Summerstravel]

2 hours ago, GreenValleyDogWalker said:

Hi - My birthday is also on January 7th !  - I wanted to be onboard on the big day - but that would have meant that we would have to fly into New Orleans on January 1st (to board on the sail date of January 2nd)  Not a good idea, I thought at the time

So changed to a sail date of January 16th - Now all I want is for NCL to CANCEL - so that I can get FCC's !! 🤣

Wow lol that is so crazy same birthday. I am schedule for the April 10th cruise on the Breakaway. I hope NCL offers something it is such a shame this is happening. They may cancel I would say anything can happen at the moment.  

[rnfulk]

5 minutes ago, Summerstravel said:

Wow lol that is so crazy same birthday. I am schedule for the April 10th cruise on the Breakaway. I hope NCL offers something it is such a shame this is happening. They may cancel I would say anything can happen at the moment.  

I'm also in the January 7th club. I'll (hopefully) be on the Encore to celebrate.

[altarr]

18 hours ago, phillygwm said:

We know that everyone on board tested negative and everyone had their temp checked at the port.  On the latter point, they use those temperature guns which always seem to underestimate temps.  I sailed a few weeks ago and, between coming in from the (cold) outside and normally running a bit low, they couldn't even get my temperature to register 🤣.  Better to be a bit low than high, I suppose!  But if someone DID register as 98.6, they're probably more like 100-101 "under the tongue."

 

Of course, once the ship leaves port, all bets are off.  Short of daily temp checks/rapid tests for every passenger, and I'm not sure how practical that is, you'll have some people who are newly positive but asymptomatic walking around.  

No offense but you are not a cold blooded animal. Unless you were hypothermic or hyperthermic, the outside air temperature has no bearing on your body temperature. 

[altarr]

On 12/29/2021 at 2:23 PM, phillygwm said:

Probably on top of each other in the bars 😆

... Or in their rooms... 🙂

[Clungers]

I hope those onboard will update us on their cruise. 
 

I feel lucky ours went smoothly. 
 

scary where this is all leading. I have another cruise in spring