Not So Good Reviews

[Michie78]

I went in July and going back this sunday. We had a great time and its what you make of your trip. When people say they didn't like the food I feel these people expect very elaborate fancy type food every day. The food was very good you wont starve. The shows were excellent especially Rock of Ages. If you don't have a sense of humor then don't go see it. Go on your cruise with a positive outlook don't think about the negative reviews and have a great time.

[sjbdtz]

Hi all

i read all the reviews too before I sailed on breakaway. They were many negative and i was very concerned and almost cancelled. I wish i had went with my gut feeling. I have cruised over 25 times and this ship was awful.

 

70% of the passengers on the cruise were unhappy with the cruise.

the food was lousy service slow shows mediocre at best. crowded. too smookey form the casino. Atrium to small for large gatherings.

 

not enough staff they are rude and do not have proper training or customer service skills.

This was not my 1st ncl but it is my last.

I found hair in my food. I had problems daily and had to go to the information desk on a daily basis

 

1 lady on the cruise showed me a photo of her sheets they had poop on them.

 

awful trip to many people . all they have is bars and specialty:confused::confused::confused: dining venues

 

i would not tell my worst enemy to go on this ship

it really sucks

 

alot of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ down the drain

 

 

 

I don't know...if it was as bad as you said, it would be a perfect place for my worst enemy.

 

However, having sailed already, and coming up on my 2nd Breakaway.... I disagree with every single thing you've said - except the hair, and the number of cruises you've taken, and whether or not you'll take NCL again.

 

But everything ship-related, I'd disagree with.

 

 

I'm curious as to where you positioned yourself to survey every single person on the ship, in order to determine that 70% were disgruntled?

 

And how does a conversation start, which ends with "look at this photograph of my sheets"?

 

 

*Bewildered*

 

 

 

.

[moosecrouse]

I was also worried after reading reviews & hearing first hand "horror stories" about NCL in general & Breakaway specifically. Had only sailed DCL previously with family so I was extremely worried about service, food & being "nickel & dimed" to death.

My experience was the total opposite. Had a fantastic time with plenty to do. Food was comparable to DCL but I would think any venue where you feed 3000+ a day is going to be comparable. The only money I spent on board was for the UBP (would love for DCL to do something comparable), a couple bottles of water (to much UBP previous night) and a FCC.

I think expectations were extremely high for this ship & that led to alot of disappointed people. Also they were working out the kinks of a new ship & new systems for doing things during peak summet season. Almost from day one the ship was sailing at full capacity. A lot of the complaining about crowds would be comparable to going to WDW in July and complaining about crowds, waits & the heat.

Go with a freestyle attitude & enjoy the Breakaway for what it is. A great ship with some design issues but a staff that is tryingnots hardest to make your vacation the best it can be.

 

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[Highboy90]

Sat here last winter and watched the Breakaway come to life as many did. Booked a Bermuda cruise for August '13 long before the float out. Several times before my scheduled cruise date, I was ready to cancel due to negative reviews. GLAD I DID NOT!

 

Was the Breakaway perfect? Not at all. But, research before the cruise helped make the trip smoother. Something most folks should do before any cruise. Learn a little about the ship before stepping on. See if the ship "works" for you. Are pools important to you? Entertainment? Dining? Dressing up? You get the point.

 

In the end, I would book a cruise aboard the Breakaway again. YMMV ;)

[terrydtx]

WELL, Cruise Critic just named BREAKAWAY best new ship 2013. What does that say to ya?

 

 

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You must also put this award into the context of how many new cruise ships were launched in 2013?

 

When researching reviews I look for the very worst and best and disregard them and look for the ones in-between. Also I look for ones from people newer to that cruise line and who have cruising experience on several cruise lines. I tend to not give credence to the so called cheerleaders of that line on CC as well. I will be on my first NCL cruise next month and intend to do a review on CC which is the type of review I look for here. I am leaving HAL to try NCL because of the Freestyle concept, but I am in no way a HAL cheerleader. The last 2 HAL cruises came up way short to my expectations which is why we are on NCL this year.

[travis_bickle]

the main issue is the timing of your voyage. my parents were on the bermuda trip in late august, and they had an awful time due to overcrowding. me, my wife and kid were on the 10/13 trip to the bahamas and had an absolute blast! we never waited to be seated at any of the dining areas, were always able to grab a spot in the kiddie pool, and were able to grab a late night date with the hot tub almost every night. hahaha.

 

i read a good portion of the reviews and took it with a grain of salt. i went on the ship knowing the drawbacks and such. small disclaimer here, this was me and my wife's first cruise, so I can't compare this ship to any others.

 

have a blast!! now me and the wife are planning on cruising on the getaway next year.

[hondarr9]

You must also put this award into the context of how many new cruise ships were launched in 2013?

.

10

 

 

 

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[GORDONCHICK]

Reviews are of little use to me unless I know the reviewer and know that we have very similar likes/dislikes and expectations. However, I've read a few reviews here and found people I hope I never sail with! :eek::eek::eek:

[DMH15]

You must also put this award into the context of how many new cruise ships were launched in 2013?

 

When researching reviews I look for the very worst and best and disregard them and look for the ones in-between. Also I look for ones from people newer to that cruise line and who have cruising experience on several cruise lines. I tend to not give credence to the so called cheerleaders of that line on CC as well. I will be on my first NCL cruise next month and intend to do a review on CC which is the type of review I look for here. I am leaving HAL to try NCL because of the Freestyle concept, but I am in no way a HAL cheerleader. The last 2 HAL cruises came up way short to my expectations which is why we are on NCL this year.

 

Another poster said 10. Haven't verified. But as long as there were 2 or more it is still an honor.

 

I read reviews from people I identify with and who are cruising like me. For instance I cruise in suites because I cruise with my mom and we both desire our own space.

 

It is like movie and restaurant reviewers. After a few sentences I can tell if we are on the same wave length.

 

 

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[hondarr9]

10

 

 

 

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10 total 2 mega (Breakaway and Royal Princess) according to Cruise Critic

 

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[youngestof9]

Human nature is to complain when you're dissatisfied. However, most people don't come back and tell you the good stuff. People want to be heard and they're heard more when they complain and vent.

 

I went on 10/13 and had an excellent time. I think the summer months are certainly busier and full of families which will change the dynamic.

 

I do things because I want to, not because other people tell me I should or I shouldn't.

 

If you think there's a perfect cruise out there with not one thing that went wrong, I have a bridge to sell ya....Go with an open mind and a positive attitude and you'll have a great time.

[opalinem]

No ship is perfect but some will fit your needs better than others. I also think you develop habits on your favorite line and it can be tricky to adjust to others afterwards. For instance, in the buffet on another line, you couldn't self-serve drinks, you had to order them and wait for the waiter to bring them. Now that is a little thing but I was so used to making my tea/coffee whenever and however I like it in ncl buffet that it frustrated me more than it would have otherwise. What I missed most on other lines were the free style dining and the spa lounge (far superior on ncl). Also, the ncl kids club was the only one my daughter loved going to every day.

And I'm very sensitive to ship design: stuff like ocean views and ways to organize the space matter to me, I like a lot of "open" and "meandering" spaces.

(The 2 things I know I will miss on Breakaway are: a promenade that goes all the way around the ship and a place from where to observe the control room but those are things that are often missing on the most recent megaships. )

[Winston Wolf]

WELL, Cruise Critic just named BREAKAWAY best new ship 2013. What does that say to ya?

 

 

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What were the other candidates?

[Winston Wolf]

Should I be concerned that a lot of the reviews of the Norwegian Breakaway are not very good? I am getting worried :(. Opinions?

 

I'm not worried for my sailing in May, but if you go June-August expect bigger crowds and the problems that come with bigger crowds.

[Winston Wolf]

Hi all

70% of the passengers on the cruise were unhappy with the cruise.

 

This exaggeration is where you lost credibility with me.

[uncleboo]

on the ship when people meet and talk they ask each other about the cruise and how they are enjoying themselves.

 

that is where the info is exchanged

 

Also i was in the ladies room and a group of women were chatting about the cruise and this lady told me of her awful experience and pulled out the photo on her phone of poop on the sheets.

 

i do not care was the critics say about the new ship

it is a bomb

 

we are trying to tell you you will be greatly disappointed.,

 

some folks do not care as long they are on a ship and can drink to there heart contents they do not notice anything about where they are.

alot of drunks walking around all day and nite long:(

[dcollette]

The bad stuff I've read is :

- pool area overcrowded. Well, I sail in December, so I bet pool will be pretty empty for half the cruise :D On port days, some people will be off the ship.

- long wait for elevators. Don' t care as I prefer stairs: the only thing that stands between me and 20 extra pounds :o

- wait for dinner in the MDRs. That has never happened to me on ncl but anything less than 30 minutes, I can take . They give you a pager that you can bring anywhere, so what's the big deal? If it's really bad, I can do buffet or O'Sheehan or use my free dinner for 2 at Cagney. It's not like options are lacking

- too many kids. Well I'm going on a Xmas cruise, so I sure expect a lot of them! And you know what? I don't mind , they're lively and cheerful + I have one, I was one and if the little darlings decide to crush my toes and break my eardrums, I will operate a strategic retreat to spice, spa, or own balcony for a well deserved kid-free respite

-complimentary food is mediocre. Not my experience on any of my former ncl cruises but it would take something really extreme for me not to enjoy free unlimited round the clock food for a week. Chances are: I'll stuff myself as usual. And if not, I would owe eternal gratitude to ncl for succeeding where all previous attempts at dieting have failed: help me lose weight, oops.

- not enough shows in the theater (not a different one every night): good, more time for after hours mini golfing, stuffing my face (sic), waddling in hot tub with a glass of something, partying in spice, blues jamming in fat cats, wrecking songs during bliss karaoke evenings and admiring the stars in the Caribbean night.

- Rock of ages not appropriate for families. I'm an adult. I can handle the naughty vibe! Nothing wrong with Disney but it can get boring after a while.

- too many extra charges. I plan on starting on the right foot and go to the circus show on the 1st night: boom, 25% off to start. I'll make my lobster roll for free during buffet seafood night. For alcohol, I'm not doing bad either with free bottle of wine I got at booking and I can drink regular coffee instead of capuccinos, I have will power (hum, not sure about that one but... I can always try ;))

- not enough activities in general. Are you kidding? I'm more worried I won't have enough time for everything. Origami, fab abs, towel folding, ice carving demos, cha cha class, cupcake decorating, bungee bouncing , KSC, Atlantis, here I come!! Hey I'm still bringing my kindle and a deck of cards... (Who am I kidding? I'll probably just slouch in a hammock all day, shame on me :cool:)

- fellow passengers are rude. Ha ha I can be rude too. Let's see who wins at that game :p

- there are germs. Yeah, they're everywhere, that's why I'm used to them, they're used to me. We've been living together for... (too many years to count :o)

- cabins and balconies are small. Maybe but the most important is the bed and ncl beds are super comfy (even the worst complainers aknowledge that) + the ship's swaying rocks me to sleep (I don't get that at home) and when I look outside, I see waves instead of traffic jams, I hear them too. Would I trade that for car alarms? Hell, no.

- staff don't grovel enough. Honestly, I don't like obsequious staff anyway. It makes me uncomfortable. If staff is in bad mood, I smile, take it easy, no problem mon. Upbeatness has been known to rub off at times.

- not really free style if one has to reserve shows ahead of time. I can reserve 3 shows on line. Part of the excitement of travelling is the planning. I like my shows late so I'll pick the latest time. Et voila!

- theater seats are not very comfortable. good thing

the shows don't last that long.

- the casino gets too smoky. I knew there was a reason I never gamble!

- one thing that has been uniformly praised is the spa lounge. Relaxation lounges on ncl are subliiiiiiime. lucky for me because I'm addicted to them!

 

Did I forget anything???

 

This is MY vacation and I am firmly determined not to let ANYTHING or ANYONE spoil it. Party poopers: go home.

 

Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait. New ship is always exciting. This one looks gorgeous. Ropes course and slides look awesome. Bring on the Breakaway already, just bring it ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Kudos to you.....love your attitude!! Wish more people could look at the bright side of things.

[terrydtx]

10 total 2 mega (Breakaway and Royal Princess) according to Cruise Critic

 

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And CC only considered the Breakaway and the Royal Princess for the award, just saying, all awards have to be looked at the context of who was the competition. BTW if you want to see some horrendous reviews go read the Princess boards about the Royal Princess.

 

If we are happy with our first cruise on the Jewel, we are considering a cruise next year on the new Getaway, in spite of some of the bad reviews this year on the Breakaway. If we do the Getaway it will be in the fall and not during the over crowded summer months.

[booklady26]

I was on it last week and my husband and I both agreed that we would definitely sail on her again.

 

I do have to agree with some of the negatives that have been posted here. The biggest downsides in descending order of importance (to me anyway):

 

1) Pool areas are too small. This is a major design flaw. I think way too much space was devoted to the Aqua Park which will probably be used by a relatively small percentage of guests compared to those that would use the pools. We wound up at Spice H2O or one of the quieter upper decks forward but there's no pool. Our weather wasn't too hot so we didn't miss it.

 

2) Casino is too smoky. The slot areas in particular have low ceilings which trap the smoke. I won't ask for smoke free like X but couldn't NCL at least consider 1 or 2 smoke free nights like RCL & Princess? We saw a lot of people standing around and smoking just because it was one of the few indoor venues (if not the only one) where smoking is allowed.

 

3) Balconies are really small. I'm only 5'2" and I couldn't comfortably sit in the chair facing the ocean. It had to be placed on the diagonal. But the sound of the ocean and sunsets were just as pretty as ever!

 

4) Internet service was terrible. It was beyond slow. I can live with slow but it just didn't work right except when we were docked in Port Canaveral & Nassau. It didn't matter if you used wifi or the desktops in the internet cafe, it didn't work properly. I wound up getting a credit from the internet mgr for more than half of my minutes.

 

5) While the spa is really nice, there were too many glitches for such a new ship. The sauna was out of service awaiting repairs one day. Everyday, at least a couple of the loungers did not have the heating working. And the timers in the Hydrotherapy pool and jacuzzi are way too short. They shut off automatically after about 5 minutes and have to be reset. What a pain.

 

If some people let things like this ruin their cruise, I feel sorry for them.

 

None of the above will stop me from sailing on her again. Loved the food, entertainment, service and just about everything else about it.

 

Don't let the bad reviews turn you off. Some people just aren't happy unless they have something to gripe about. Enjoy your cruise!