Freedom vs Breakaway, Summer 2014

[tanishao]

Hi,

 

Is anyone thinking about going on the new Norwegian Breakaway? I am trying to plan for Summer 2014 and I am tossing around the idea of either the RC Freedom of the Seas or the NCL Breakaway. My family and I will be going on Allure this summer (so excited). I've only been on Carnival and Royal Caribbean (got married during a RC cruise).

 

Your thoughts?

[poncho1973]

I have never been on NCL, but I'd love to try this new class of ships. However, the entire reason I've never sailed on NCL is still present. TO ME, the ships don't have interesting itineraries.

 

The Breakaway goes to Bermuda for 3 days. If I want to spend 3 days in Bermuda, JetBlu will fly me there.

[green eyed lady]

Hi,

 

Is anyone thinking about going on the new Norwegian Breakaway? I am trying to plan for Summer 2014 and I am tossing around the idea of either the RC Freedom of the Seas or the NCL Breakaway. My family and I will be going on Allure this summer (so excited). I've only been on Carnival and Royal Caribbean (got married during a RC cruise).

 

Your thoughts?

 

We're diamond on Royal...have been on Oasis, Allure, and Freedom class and Voyager Class...we're booked on Breakaway this July...my DS is getting married on the beach in Bermuda :D We've also been on Carnival and 1 NCL ship...the Dawn was our least favorite cruise, but I'm looking forward to trying NCL again...the ship looks amazing!

[TheMastodon]

Hi,

 

Is anyone thinking about going on the new Norwegian Breakaway? I am trying to plan for Summer 2014 and I am tossing around the idea of either the RC Freedom of the Seas or the NCL Breakaway. My family and I will be going on Allure this summer (so excited). I've only been on Carnival and Royal Caribbean (got married during a RC cruise).

 

Your thoughts?

 

Breakaway looks fun, I also am considering. Since it stays in Bermuda for a few days we could play a decent amount of golf, and enjoy the cruise ship.

 

You will love Allure, it truly is a great experience.

[rstout]

I am also considering the Breakaway. I'd love to go back to Bermuda (on a cruise or not), and the ship looks great, especially with kids. If you can swing the suites, I hear NCL suite perks are some of the best out there. I'm also interested to see if the Quantum winds up in Bayonne and how she will compete with the Breakaway, if they are doing the same itinerary.

[Jenjer]

We have done Freedom 2x and loved her. We did NCL Epic this fall. It was a great cruise (your on a vacation after all) but very diffrent than Royal.

 

Missed the flowriders but the slides were pretty cool. We went in Nov so the lines were never crazy long, as I am sure they get in summer.

 

The MDR was no were near as good as RCCL MDR. We knew that going in and ate at 5 of the Pay for restraunts...all were amazing. I made reservations at all of them and ate early. There were waits during the prime eating time in the MDR. I liked that kids are allowed and 1/2 price in the pay for restaurants. RCCL does not offer anything like that. My kids were excited that after 4 cruises they were finally getting to go to the special restaurants.

 

What I really didn't care for with NCL was instead of going thru a promenade or central park you go thru the smokey casino. Its just much more closed in, non of that wow look at that open inside space on a ship.

 

I am interested in Breakaway but she will have to come down in price before I will have any luck getting DH back on another NCL.

[cruisin07family]

We're pretty loyal NCLers and are considering jumping over to Freedom in summer 2014 because NCL doesn't do Caribbean itineraries in the summers and the Breakaway is nearly $2000 more for two cabins than the Freedom will be. I agree that the Breakaway looks awesome but it is priced out of our range. I've been watching youtube videos of Freedom and I'm pretty excited about it. Our only hesitation is the whole dining thing. I'm not thrilled about either early or late seating times and from the posts I've been reading, Mytimedining isn't. Most still make a reservation, sit at the same table and have the same waitstaff all week. How is that different than early or late? I know I will miss all the dining on NCL but the other options on Freedom keep bringing me back.

[tanishao]

Thanks everyone. I actually did a bit more research on the ship today and priced it out for June. It came out cheaper than both Freedom, Oasis and Allure. BTW, I have 2 kids (7, 3) so it might just work out for us. I might have to seriously consider it now.

[janetz]

Thanks everyone. I actually did a bit more research on the ship today and priced it out for June. It came out cheaper than both Freedom, Oasis and Allure. BTW, I have 2 kids (7, 3) so it might just work out for us. I might have to seriously consider it now.

 

 

Breakaway will be awesome :)

 

http://quassmedia.com/cruisevids/?p=1082#

[bambilin]

We are sailing on the Breakaway this July 14th with our 5 and 8 year old boys and family and friends. Have sailed Carnival, Cunard, Disney, NCL, Princess and RCCL. There are things I love and don't about each one, but have NEVER had a bad cruise!!

 

My kids are great eaters, they try anything, so I do love that you can bring the kids into the alternative dining venues! I also could have done without walking through the Casino on the Epic, but that was the only thing we did not like. Hopefully we won't need to do that on the Breakaway.

 

I will be happy to let you know how we liked it, and answer any questions once we are back!,

[tanishao]

Great! Thanks and I'll be looking. :-) Enjoy.

[tanishao]

Thanks for the video! It looks awesome.

 

Breakaway will be awesome :)

 

http://quassmedia.com/cruisevids/?p=1082#

[Debde]

Thanks everyone. I actually did a bit more research on the ship today and priced it out for June. It came out cheaper than both Freedom, Oasis and Allure. BTW, I have 2 kids (7, 3) so it might just work out for us. I might have to seriously consider it now.

 

For sure-don't consider-I'd book it.

I'm in the process of figuring out the best time for us to sneak away to try this ship!!

[mason525]

This is such an interesting thread! Loved the video-Thanks for posting it!

[janetz]

Thanks. The video is pretty cool. This ship will offer many outside areas. :)

[joand452]

We had planned on trying this ship in May, but DH lost his job last March. He finally got a new job and starts next week. We're thinking it might be too soon to tell them he'll be taking a week's vacation. We may try for the fall instead. He really wanted to sail on Epic, but that's a no go for me. Those cabin layouts just weird me out! I'm glad NCL learned from their error!

 

I've always wanted to go to Bermuda, and I understand it's very expensive to actually stay on the island and that a ship is the way to go.

 

We just had our first Diamond cruise on Royal, and while hating to give up the great discount, we'd like to try this new ship. Of course, if Quantum homeports in Bayonne, we'll be there as well! I really liked driving to the ship. Flying is such a hassle.

[nyis]

hi,

i would like to know how you enjoyed your breakaway cruise. We have a deposit for breakaway but im worried about crowds and movement of the boat out of NY. My kids want Freedom of the seas because they loved that boat but I love the ease of leaving out of NY, how did you enjoy the breakaway