A Winter Break(away) - Family Breakaway Cruise - February 4 - 11

[tripleboom]

By the time late afternoon rolled around, they had finally opened both side of the ropes course, so the boys headed right back to it.

 

Still a little breezy up there, particularly on the plank!

 

 

After the buffet dinner, Stacy and I enjoyed the sunset from the cabin,

 

 

 

 

Caught some late night Howl at the Moon.

 

 

And then rounded everyone up for bed. We had a port day tomorrow! For real this time!

Edited February 17 by tripleboom

[tripleboom]

 

Day 4 - Roatan, Honduras

 

For Roatan we booked through Viator for our excursion. We purposely booked for 10am so that we could miss the mad rush off the ship at 8am. Given that we had two days in a row at sea, I'm sure people were clammoring to get off the ship at 8 sharp. So we leisurely grabbed some breakfast at the buffet, then were off the ship by about 9:30. 

 

Similar to our last cruise on this itinerary, we had to wind our way through the shopping area, past the MANY vendors trying to pull us aside to sell their tours for the day, and out the cruise port gate to the main road.

 

Immediately upon exiting the gate we found our guide service standing with a clip board and a "Roatan Henry Tour - Ask For Creg" sign. That was our man! He led us across the street to where a few other cruisers were waiting, and withing a few minutes our assigned driver for the day picked us up curbside in a Toyota Sienna. 

 

After that, it was a very short (like, we could have easily taken a cab, but we liked having a dedicated driver for the day) drive to our excursion for the day. Upon arrival we signed our waivers, got on our equipment, hopped in the back of a pick up with benches installed in a questionable manner, and headed up the rocky hillside...

 

To a beautiful overlook.

 

Then straight onto the platform for our first zipline of the day!

 

 

Our guides for the day, David and Marco, were SOOO awesome! They made it such a fun experience and showed off all kinds of stunts that we could do.

 

 

 

Along the way the staff was taking pictures of us too. A good number of them wound up blurry, but there were enough keepers that we bought the $60 package of all the photos at the end of the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the end of it all, Landon was doing literally everything David was doing. In fact, they offered him a job before it was all said and done. 🤣

 

And on the last zipline of the day, Landon earned his newfound nickname: Crazy Monkey

 

 

 

Edited February 18 by tripleboom

[tripleboom]

After purchasing our photos and tipping David and Marco for their incredible service, we made a short walk to the animal encounter nearby. 

 

With beautiful birds...

 

 

 

 

 

Guinea pigs...

 

and monkeys...

 

... the day would have been good enough, but there's still one more animal to meet in Roatan!

[tripleboom]

SLOTHS!

 

No trip to Roatan is complete without seeing these furry little guys.

 

 

 

 

[tripleboom]

After leaving the animal sanctuary we had a short walk back to the van, passing a few vendors along the way. We always try to pick up some local art during our trips, and this pair was being sold nearby. Really beautiful stuff, and according to the vendor they are made by one of the drummers that are playing for you as you disembark at the pier at Coxen Hole. Cool!

 

 

It fits in nicely with our other cruise art we've collected over the years. I really like how each piece reminds us of a very happy time and place.

 

[cincicruisers]

Enjoying your review.  Thanks for sharing.

[Beach Life 1]

Great review, love the pictures.   You have a beautiful family.

[MR_BUTCHIE]

Great post thanks we will be on the same cruise leaving on the 25th of Feb. there will be 12 of us. How was the walk to the port was it pretty flat? Did you go into the town of Mahahual during your Costa Maya stop

[drumming cruisers]

Wonderful review. Thats some wild ziplining! FUN! 

 

[MR_BUTCHIE]

Great post thanks we will be on the same cruise leaving on the 25th of Feb. there will be 12 of us. How was the walk to the port was it pretty flat? Did you go into the town of Mahahual during your Costa Maya stop? Can you tell me what time the first people got off the ship in New Orleans? We have an 11:40 flight back to Chicago.

[santos949]

This was a great review!  You have a precious family and obviously have a lot of fun together.

 

We just got off of the Breakaway today and, while the crew was amazing and the ship spotless, we will probably not be booking NCL again.  It was not our first cruise.  It was our 83rd cruise.  We have cruised every line except Viking and Virgin.

 

I am very sensitive to cigarette smoke and just could not seem to get away from it on the Breakaway.  The casino is open to decks 6, 7 and 8 and the smoke lingers unless you are at the extreme front and back of decks 6,7 and 8.  We had booked the specialty restaurants and had to request seating as far from the atrium area as possible in order to avoid the smell of cigarettes.

 

Our room was on deck 9 (cabin 9798) and it literally shook every night with the booming music from the deck below us.  I never found out what was below us that could produce such vibrations... so much so that our bed shook and the glasses in the bathroom rattled.  Thank goodness it stopped very night by 10:30.  Be careful when you book your cabin on this ship.  Check what is above you and what is below you.

 

Disembarkation was a zoo.  We live in New Orleans so we chose self-assist.  The elevators (only forward bank of elevators were being used).  It was a log jam of unbelievable magnitude.  We all finally got smart and got on the "up" elevators, and went to the 15th floor so we could travel back to the 7th floor where we were disembarking.

 

I do not want to sound like I am all negative.  The two fitness instructors (Daniel and Jean) were some of the best I have ever had on a cruise ship.  The gym is well equipped and very large. The bartenders outside of Cagney's were friendly and knew our names after 2 nights.  Our food in Moderno's, Cagney's and Le Bistro was second to none.  We also discovered the banana split in O'Sheehan's.  Yummy!

 

I think NCL could easily improve in some areas.  We have cruised Seabourn (owned by NCL and considered 6 star), so they know how to provide a good product.  Seabourn is one of my favorites!

 

I know cruising (just like food choice) is a personal thing, so many people will cruise NCL Breakaway again and again.

 

This is just my observations.... 

 

 

[Sea saw 56]

Seabourne is not owned by NCLH.  Regent Seven Seas and Oceania are the other two lines besides Norwegian.

Edited February 18 by Sea saw 56

[tripleboom]

2 hours ago, drumming cruisers said:

Wonderful review. Thats some wild ziplining! FUN! 

 

 

Such a blast! The guides made the comment that they were proud of the fact that they run a zipline where no helmets and no gloves were required, and they'd let you do the stunts they showed us. I'm sure they'll change once someone suffers a substantial injury, but for now we had a blast! 😏

 

2 hours ago, MR_BUTCHIE said:

Great post thanks we will be on the same cruise leaving on the 25th of Feb. there will be 12 of us. How was the walk to the port was it pretty flat? Did you go into the town of Mahahual during your Costa Maya stop? Can you tell me what time the first people got off the ship in New Orleans? We have an 11:40 flight back to Chicago.

 

The walk from almost anywhere in the warehouse district to the cruise port should be pretty flat, and that was certainly the case for us. The most challenging part was dragging luggage along brick paved sidewalks rather than concrete ones, but even that only wrenched the suitcases sideways in our hands once or twice along the way.

 

We did not go into Mahahual this time (for reasons you'll soon find out in this review), but we've gone before and enjoyed a day at Yaya Beach. For all the details on that trip you can check out my review from 2019: 

 

 

If you're going the self-assist route (bringing your own bags off with you) then you should be able to disembark as early as 8 or 8:30 or so. If your airfare is not booked through NCL or you don't have special status to disembark earlier, the earliest disembarkation time where you can leave your suitcases out the night before is 9am. That's the option we went with this time, and they called our 9am group by about 8:30 AM. So they were SUPER efficient getting us off this go round.

[santos949]

1 hour ago, Sea saw 56 said:

Seabourne is not owned by NCLH.  Regent Seven Seas and Oceania are the other two lines besides Norwegian.

Thank you for the correction.  Both Regent and Oceania are "one and done" for us.  There are just so many great cruise lines to choose from.  Like I said....a personal preference.

[tripleboom]

As part of our Viator excursion, we had the option to spend some time at a nearby beach, but knowing that the ship would be half empty yet, we opted to head back to Coxen Hole to board again. This signage was actually new since the last time we visited.

 

Returning to our cabin we found one of the "cruise ducks" the boys had found was playing a role with the towel animal. I'm unsure if this is an animal getting ready to eat the duck, or if it was an animal... 💩ing the duck. 🤷‍♂️🤣

 

There is an impressively large scale construction project underway to enhance the Coxen Hole port, though I'm admittedly unsure what all will be done here. It appears there's a large enclosed building for pier #2 passengers to pass through on the way back to their ship, but more importantly there appears to be a resort style pool under construction just beyond that building? Can anyone confirm if that's the case? That will be a HUGE improvement to this port when complete.

 

If you pan over to the left from the previous photo, you can actually see elements of the ziplines that we completed today. The top platform is circled in red and you can see the small truck that carries riders up the hill circled in green. Pretty steep!

 

Upon return it was overcast, but warm enough for a boy from Iowa to go swimming while it's below freezing at home!

 

After drying off, and with the ropes course open and relatively few passengers clammoring for its use, the boys made the most of it again. Landon's daredevil antics picked up where they left off.

 

 

A few minutes before 5:30 we were underway, pulling away from the dock and making our way west.

 

 

[tripleboom]

This evening would allow Stacy and I the chance to take in a best of the 80's Broadway musical revue in the Spiegel Theater down on Deck 6. Stacy enjoyed an Espresso Notini, a delicious mocktail featuring amaretti, espresso syrup, simple syrup, and oat milk. Yum!

 

Prior to the show, we could hear the distinct "Ding Dong" of a ship-wide announcement, and I could immediately tell that it was the Captain as opposed to the cruise director, but unfortunately no one would be quiet enough for it to be able to be understood in the theater. So I hustled out to the hall to hear what I could. I only wound up catching bits and pieces, but pieced together that we were going to be arriving early into Harvest Caye and leaving early, and then going to Cozumel on Friday rather than Costa Maya.

 

**DEEP BREATHS**

 

We had had a beach day at Nachi Cocom planned for Cozumel back on Tuesday, but that was obviously cancelled after we missed the port, then we had a day at Yaya Beach planned for Costa Maya on Friday, but now that was missed. Nachi Cocom has limited capacity per day, so I quickly connected to the ship's wifi and consumed a few minutes to fire off an email to Nachi Cocom to see if they'd accept our previous reservation and allow us to come Friday, then started researching other beach day options while we waited for the show to start.

 

My tender, overplanner heart was torn asunder, but we would press on, involuntary twitching and all.  

 

 

The show featured four performers on their off night from Burn the Floor performing some familiar hits from Broadway musicals of the 80s. Some really talented singers here, but hardly a replacement for a show like Six that departed a few weeks before our sailing.

 

Stacy and I ended the evening with a trip to Moderno. We had enjoyed it on a prior sailing on the Breakaway, but the meat quality had gone way down since then. Some pretty chewy cuts were served up and flavor was lacking on a good chunk of them. However, the pineapple remains absolutely fantastic, and the banana caramel tartlet was as good as I remembered too.

 

We enjoyed an evening walk along the Waterfront, and then called it a night. With our 8am arrival at Harvest Caye becoming a 6:30am arrival, it was time to hit the hay!

[MR_BUTCHIE]

17 hours ago, tripleboom said:

This evening would allow Stacy and I the chance to take in a best of the 80's Broadway musical revue in the Spiegel Theater down on Deck 6. Stacy enjoyed an Espresso Notini, a delicious mocktail featuring amaretti, espresso syrup, simple syrup, and oat milk. Yum!

 

Prior to the show, we could hear the distinct "Ding Dong" of a ship-wide announcement, and I could immediately tell that it was the Captain as opposed to the cruise director, but unfortunately no one would be quiet enough for it to be able to be understood in the theater. So I hustled out to the hall to hear what I could. I only wound up catching bits and pieces, but pieced together that we were going to be arriving early into Harvest Caye and leaving early, and then going to Cozumel on Friday rather than Costa Maya.

 

**DEEP BREATHS**

 

We had had a beach day at Nachi Cocom planned for Cozumel back on Tuesday, but that was obviously cancelled after we missed the port, then we had a day at Yaya Beach planned for Costa Maya on Friday, but now that was missed. Nachi Cocom has limited capacity per day, so I quickly connected to the ship's wifi and consumed a few minutes to fire off an email to Nachi Cocom to see if they'd accept our previous reservation and allow us to come Friday, then started researching other beach day options while we waited for the show to start.

 

My tender, overplanner heart was torn asunder, but we would press on, involuntary twitching and all.  

 

 

The show featured four performers on their off night from Burn the Floor performing some familiar hits from Broadway musicals of the 80s. Some really talented singers here, but hardly a replacement for a show like Six that departed a few weeks before our sailing.

 

Stacy and I ended the evening with a trip to Moderno. We had enjoyed it on a prior sailing on the Breakaway, but the meat quality had gone way down since then. Some pretty chewy cuts were served up and flavor was lacking on a good chunk of them. However, the pineapple remains absolutely fantastic, and the banana caramel tartlet was as good as I remembered too.

 

We enjoyed an evening walk along the Waterfront, and then called it a night. With our 8am arrival at Harvest Caye becoming a 6:30am arrival, it was time to hit the hay!

 

[MR_BUTCHIE]

I was really hoping to get to costa maya I hope we get in

[chuckolate]

Was the Broadway revue in the Spigel tent complimentary? Reservations required? Which night was it offered?

[cruiseny4life]

Gosh, I always love your reviews! The details and photos just make it seem like I'm there. Gotta say, the risk manager in my head would not shut up watching some of those zip line antics! I guess I'm becoming an old codger in my day. Glad fun was had by all!! 

[tripleboom]

On 2/20/2024 at 2:05 PM, chuckolate said:

Was the Broadway revue in the Spigel tent complimentary? Reservations required? Which night was it offered?

 

It is complimentary, no reservations required. On our sailing it was offered on two separate nights, with a total of 3 shows. It was offered on Thursday (2x) and Friday night.

 

On 2/20/2024 at 3:17 PM, cruiseny4life said:

Gosh, I always love your reviews! The details and photos just make it seem like I'm there. Gotta say, the risk manager in my head would not shut up watching some of those zip line antics! I guess I'm becoming an old codger in my day. Glad fun was had by all!! 

 

Believe me, given that my day job is a risk manager for religious entities (churches, schools, etc.), I can't tell you how much of a hypocrite I was signing up for that day! 🤣 Every time I jumped off the platform I heard the ropes get tight and said a little prayer! I've spent the last couple of days back to work being a total buzzkill, telling churches they can't have bounce houses when a week ago I was encouraging my own kids to blindly trust that the platfroms built into trees in Honduras were perfectly safe. 😬

[tripleboom]

Day 5 - Harvest Caye

 

After our Cozueml port had been cancelled earlier in the cruise, we decided to spend some of that now unused money on Harvest Caye. After the previous night's schedule shuffle, every stateroom was credited $100. So now, with no Costa Maya and an extra $100, we decided it'd be ok to get the family out on some more ziplines. With the 6:30am port call, I was not interested in being first off the ship, so we had a leisurely buffet breakfast and then made the hike from the ship to the Flighthouse. Landon asked to make a pit stop so he could send some "Wish you were here" palm tree photos to his friends back home.

 

It's about a ten minute walk from the ship to the Flighthouse, so plan your timing accordingly

 

Apparently there are some kind of enforced safety standards on Harvest Caye (the guys back in Honduras would be so disappointed), so anyone over 250 lbs can't do the ziplines here. Fine by me! It allowed me the chance to get out the Canon and take some video/photos from down below. But first Stacy and the boys got geared up and had their safety briefing.

 

 

Then they headed up the elevator to the lagoon side to complete the run over there. It's comprised one long zip, a very short one, and then a cargo net climb to the final platform with one more long zip to follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a little side note, when I walked past the Flighthouse in order to get these pictures, there was a security guard who wouldn't let me past a certain point. That was perfectly fine as I was able to get the photos and video I wanted, but it was clear he was there to make sure that the villas area was off limits to those not booked there for the day. We had some friendly conversation about where I was from (no one in the Caribbean has any idea where Iowa is, lol), but he had a job to do, ya know. 😉 

[tripleboom]

After their safe arrival back on terra firma, they had a change of equipment and headed back up the elevator for the Superman zipline.

 

Before too long, they were up at the top platform and ready to go!

 

One interesting thing Stacy told me afterward. We did this togeter back in 2017, and the boys did it together back in 2022, and both of those times they were able to spread their arms, do the traditional Superman pose, etc., but the staff were clear on a requirement to hold your arms back and not spread them out this time over concern that it might slow you down too much and you won't make it to the other end.  To which Stacy, always the rebel, said, "hold my margarita."

 

 

 

 

 

After the golf cart brought them back from the other end of the island, we grabbed our stuff and headed back to the ship. After not yet having gotten into the ocean, the boys were champing at the bit to dive in!

 

[tripleboom]

After getting back to the ship and getting a change of clothes, we headed back out to the island, just as it started to rain a bit. There was a pretty massive exodus of people coming back to the ship from the island, but the boys were bound and determined to take a dip! So while we waited for the rain to let up, we checked out the nature and butterfly enclosure.

 

Tough to capture these guys in flight, but when they unfold their wings, they're a beautiful blue.

 

You can see the blue in the bottom row of butterflies emerging from their chrysalis.

 

We then headed to the beach with the boys. Not exactly a sunshine filled day at Harvest Caye, but if it's north of 70°, those Iowa boys will get in the water.

 

Ah, brothers...

 

The boys didn't last super long out there, but they were happy with the time in the ocean. Even a cool, drizzly day couldn't dampen their spirits! Then we headed back to the ship.

 

We were back to the ship around 1pm, and the ship pulled away from port shortly before 2:30 as re-scheduled, just as the sun started to peak back out a bit.

[tripleboom]

Once we were back onboard, I got busy finishing the plans for the next day. I connected to the ship's WiFi and gobbled up a few more minutes of the allowance. I hadn't received any response from Nachi Cocom to my inquiry, so I let them know I was no longer interested in staying there Friday since it wasn't a sure thing, and re-booked to Paradise Beach instead. We hadn't stayed there before, but had heard good things. It's a basically the same cost as Mr. Sancho's ($222 for two adults, a teen, and a kid at Paradise vs. $221 at Sancho's), but we weren't that impressed with Sancho's on a previous trip, so decided this would be worth a shot in the relative dark. I would love to spend extra time on TripAdvisor, but the minutes were ticking down!

 

 

With that bit of business behind us, we shifted into evening mode along with the rest of the ship.

 

 

The boys met up with some newfound friends while Stacy and I enjoyed some quiet time for a bit, catching the sunset as we headed due east before turning north to head to Cozumel. With the schedule shuffle, it was clear we were BOOKING it. The wake was incredible on this night.