Just got off Breakaway New England/Canada cruise Oct. 9-16 2022; My review

[skierjj]

Hi Everybody! We are Joyce and Mike (mid 60’s); traveling with a friend, Glenna early (70’s). We are from Southern California.

We are sapphire latitudes, booked through casinos at sea on Black Friday offer last year, used cruise next offers that we had before coved, used free at sea offer for flights and transfers. 

We booked an aft facing regular balcony, (breakaway has a huge balcony on aft, we heard, so we watched a you tube video to confirm; yep it’s true)! Glenna first started out as a solo cabin, then was upgraded to inside. She didn’t like her inside that much. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a solo but they are tiny but well thought out with smart lighting etc.

I like to research and plan our trips to maximize the experience, but I leave a lot of down time and time that is unplanned like days at sea.

We took a leap of faith leaving the booking of the airline to NCL. (Probably won’t be doing it again, not worth waiting around for transfers). We upgraded to more legroom seats once we finally got our confirmation code. Glenna upgraded from middle to aisle.

Met at airport, spent too much money here before our flight:

 

[skierjj]

We knew we had a long, really long, wait at Newark for our transfer to ship, because we had a red eye. So Mike found a solution to the problem by having breakfast at nearby airport Marriott.

After a nice breakfast and rest we went back to baggage claim. Another 45 minute wait we were transferred to the terminal. Easy check in, waited at latitudes area. Nice.

Got onboard. Went strait to pool bar for a couple of painkillers and other awesome drinks. Met Jake and Chantel bartenders and some nice folks. While we were waiting for our rooms, we brought our bathing suits for the jacuzzi. Smart move if you are not embarrassed, everyone was kinda jealous.

[skierjj]

Then our rooms were ready!

[TSUmom]

Love reviews!!  Can't wait for more.

[JamieLogical]

Really looking forward to the rest of this as I will be on the Breakaway in under 2 weeks.

[smccarthy123]

We'll be heading out next week on the Breakaway. Did you fine the ship or any venues overcrowded ?

[classy_cruiser]

1 hour ago, smccarthy123 said:

We'll be heading out next week on the Breakaway. Did you fine the ship or any venues overcrowded ?

I was on this sailing too and it felt very crowded to me. Syd Norman’s was the main venue with issues. At the beginning of the cruise you could walk in there anytime and get a seat. By the end of the cruise you needed to be there 1 hour early to get a seat. The cast was worth it though! Six was also really amazing, I recommend seeing it the first night it’s on. We were delayed in bar harbor due to fog and it seemed like a lot of people missed their excursions. 

[Sand and Seas]

Love your pictures!  Thanks for sharing with us.

We have enjoyed that large aft balcony on Breakaway too😎

[skierjj]

TSUmom: Thanks

JamieLogical: Thanks for following

smccarthy: Yes we found it crowded, difficult to find a seat at breakfast, elevators were sometimes crowded, heard long lines to tender back, (we didn’t have this problem, went back at little early); casino crowded. Long wait for Syd Normans, but totally worth it. Other than that no problems.

classy_cruiser: agree

Sand and Sea: Thanks for following

[skierjj]

Sorry for delay...had to work to pay for these cruises.

We were all excited to see the Statue of Liberty and views of the City at sail away. We got a few drinks and a good place on the rail. It did not disappoint! We were so lucky with sunset, then the moon rise. (We missed the moon rise, though, had to get to Teppanyaki).

[skierjj]

Well that was the best sail away of any cruise (about 18 or so) I’ve ever been on! NYC was spectacular. Miami is beautiful, Vancouver is stunning and magnificent. But this sail away is the most memorable for me.

 

Next was teppanyaki. Fun dinner, great chef. Fun show. Negatives:Soup wasn’t hot enough, salad was fair. Entree food was fantastic and plentiful. Other than the mountain of garlic and butter in fried rice, which was really yummy but kind of bothered my stomach later. Filet was perfect, shrimp was great.  No pics of food, we were having too much fun!

 

We played the night away in the casino. 

The odds on video poker was really pretty decent on this ship. Same odds for quarters, dollars.

I went to bed early after a long day of travel. Mike likes to play until very late. He plays all kinds of games.

I know, I know:

“the house always wins”.

“There are 2 types of gamblers: losers and liars”.

[skierjj]

Oh I forgot to tell you about the hassle of setting up entertainment around our specialty dinner times that we had reserved. I had researched previous dailies from other sailings and had made my choices for entertainment based on that. Well the entertainment was all different for our sailing. So much for pre planning. Anyway, I had to make an executive decision to keep the dinners the same time but book levity, velvet, six and burn the floor. I tried to do this on touch screen or room phone, but Glenna and I ended up at box office in a long line but we were able to book everything. Boy it really helps to talk to a living person when booking reservations for shows. I think Mike was sleeping while we were doing this chore, before the casino action.

 

The next morning was Newport Rhode Island. I was looking forward to seeing the mansions of the gilded age, and the cliff walk.

[Gatorzzzz]

17 hours ago, smccarthy123 said:

We'll be heading out next week on the Breakaway. Did you fine the ship or any venues overcrowded ?

We too, were on this cruise. Yes, some overcrowded venues, especially while in Canada. Canadian regulations only permit one beverage venue per deck to be open while in Canadian waters. 

[skierjj]

Don’t forget to pick up a priority tender ticket while at box office.

 

Newport, Rhode Island day. I was looking forward to seeing the Vanderbilt mansion, “the Breakers” and Marble house and doing the cliff walk.  When researching this excursion I came across a great alternative to the expensive NCL shore excursion Mansions and cliff walk tour at about $85 per person. Yes you don’t get the commentary or priority visit. You get freedom and flexibility while saving $.

[skierjj]

We weren’t in any real hurry and got on the 2nd tender. Walk to Avenue of Americas. Turn left, walk 3 or 4 blocks to the transportation center. Find line for free trolley to mansions. Bus #67. Get off at 3rd stop “the Breakers” mansion. Get in line to buy ticket about $29 per person. We just decided to do one mansion since Mike and Glenna have slight mobility problems. Download the app for free audio tour. I forgot my Bluetooth headphones. I held speaker to my ear, it was fine.

 

I’ve been reading “Vanderbilt: the rise and fall of an American dynasty” about the gilded age, just for this cruise. Cornelius Vanderbilt made his fortune in transport and the railroads.

[debenson0723]

56 minutes ago, skierjj said:

We weren’t in any real hurry and got on the 2nd tender. Walk to Avenue of Americas. Turn left, walk 3 or 4 blocks to the transportation center. Find line for free trolley to mansions. Bus #67. Get off at 3rd stop “the Breakers” mansion. Get in line to buy ticket about $29 per person. We just decided to do one mansion since Mike and Glenna have slight mobility problems. Download the app for free audio tour. I forgot my Bluetooth headphones. I held speaker to my ear, it was fine.

 

I’ve been reading “Vanderbilt: the rise and fall of an American dynasty” about the gilded age, just for this cruise. Cornelius Vanderbilt made his fortune in transport and the railroads.

Hi Joyce...good to see you again.  Thanks so much for this information. I am looking at this cruise for October 2023 and going to see the Mansions is at the top of the list (also reading the same book). Can't wait to read the rest of your review. Take care.

[genealogyfan]

Thanks for the summary and review, I'll be sailing on the Breakaway on Oct 30. Do you know the best way to make reservations for Six? Is it possible to use a kiosk at the elevators/stairs?

 

Were the free sit down restaurants crowded or hard to find a table/seat? 

[skierjj]

Debenson0723 Thanks for following

geneologyfan: if you are sapphire latitudes I think there is a designated concierge service. Otherwise just get in line at box office near theater. They will set you up. We tried at touch screens but had conflicting dinner reservations etc. book your six, burn the floor, levity for the whole week.

We only ate at one free dinner Shanghai noodle bar. It was great. Did not do Taste, Manhattan or Savor. Mike had 2 free specialty restaurants for sapphire and 2 from free at sea and 1 from casino. Then we ate at velvet one night. We also ate some lunches at O’sheeans. Yummy 

comfort food.

[skierjj]

Here is bus map

[skierjj]

Here are a couple of pics of drive through Newport.

[skierjj]

Marvelous interior of the Breakers seaside “cottage”.

[skierjj]

Music room, kitchen, billard room etc. Library was spectacular, I don’t think I got any pics there. Also the bathrooms and closets were very interesting.

[skierjj]

We were aware that the lines for the free trolley bus we’re getting a little long and hopped on the bus going further on the route (the wrong direction). But we took this bus to the end point and just stayed on it until we were close to tender dock and hopped off. The line was long but not too long. We heard that this line was really long later in the afternoon.

 

We had a nice lunch at O”Sheehans. I had the croissant chicken salad sandwich, Glenna had fish and chips. I forgot what Mike had but it was all great!

[skierjj]

Some shots from the aft. Getting ready for Cagney’s Monday Oct. 10.

[skierjj]

But first, raspberry martinis at. Shakers bar:

We were the first group to be seated at Cagney’s. We got a great table near aft window. This was a latitudes dinner with a bottle of wine. Really great food and service.