Breakaway: Go Big Or Don't Go? My 11/24/13 Sailing

[coka]

Breakaway: Go Big Or Don't Go?

 

Mega cruise ships scare me. They are just too darn big! What on earth was I thinking when I booked the Breakaway Thanksgiving week sailing when she had not even finished her inaugural season? Oh, I remember why...One month prior to sailing, I found a price drop on NCL dot com, an added incentive for new bookings only, presented a future cruise deposit, cashed in some Norwegian Bank of America points, got the latitudes discount, and reminded booking agent I was now a member of the AARP, and ended up with an amazing final price for a balcony guarantee stateroom for two. Who cared if our knees would probably hit the railing on a tiny balcony?

 

Soon thereafter, we easily exhausted ourselves trying to figure out what to do, what to see, what not to miss, where to eat, how much was vibe pass, spa pass, what was free and what was not, and when to see what show when. Ahhh, this is so not me. Some reviews said "Yay Breakaway!" while other reviews said "Nay Breakaway!" After a few nights of that, we decided to quit planning and just go for the boat ride. Yes, that alone would be worth the trip. We even checked the weather ahead of time and knew it was not looking good. No problem, we only hoped to go to Atlantis casino in Nassau for five minutes. Before we knew it, we found ourselves driving the six hour ride to NYC for Our Big Breakaway Boat Ride!

 

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How Much Does This Ship Hold?!

 

Embarkation has become easy and familiar to us. Always a hustle and bustle experience, arriving to the terminal is exciting. We park at the pier and think the 235 dollar parking charge is reasonable for the level of security and for the ease of getting to and from the ship from there. After parking, take a giant elevator downstairs, give the porter your luggage, and go inside terminal to the check in lines. We had number 3 but do not worry though if you do not...I have had number 23 before and there is generally a few moments time between the two numbers.

 

While waiting to board, we enjoyed watching the very friendly and jovial port employees with the Norwegian name tags help passengers along the way to their seats and to their routes. They answered questions, nicely directed, helped some elderly with their carry ons, and offered assistance to those who looked like they could use it. I had a great seat from which to view all of this hospitality. I laughed out loud that Mr Coka had all his marine radios confiscated by security. They had to make sure that he would not interfere with the radio frequencies and wavelengths of the Breakaway.

 

We sat right across from the ladies and mens restroom mid terminal which ended up being the location where the spa gals set up their sales and information table. I was so happy to not have to ditch Mr Coka after walking onboard in order to rush and get a spa pass. I could buy it right there! The 199 dollar price for the week did not cause me to think twice about buying as much as it did weeks earlier. After hearing 4800 passenger onboard, I would have bought it for 399.

 

On this sailing, boarding began around noon or soon thereafter. There are two embarkation gangways so it goes fast once they get started.

 

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My Balcony Guarantee Ended Up Scoring A Balcony Bumpout!

 

Deck level/forward/mid/aft, make no difference usually to me if it means getting a better price when booking anything up through mini suites. On this sailing, the value of a balcony guarantee the day I booked was my best option. Besides, I love a surprise, the wonder, and anticipation of where I will end up when booking them. Sometimes I do not book guarantee when I want a particular category in a particular location. Since I had no idea whether I would like the Breakaway or not, I went the least costly route. If I hated it overall, at least It would still be worth the boat ride...room, board, and entertainment are the bonuses included!

 

I saw pictures of cabin 9300 before sailing because a cruise critic posted all sorts of rooms on a spreadsheet and 9300 was one of them. This particular port side Bumpout had more than enough balcony space for two and the bigger angular side protected the wind caused by the ship sailing forward. We looked towards the aft. We also had THE BEST view of the fireworks as they went off directly above us...Scared the Bejeesus out of us when We looked towards the stern while hearing the countdown from Spice H20 only to have the first one go off above us on the side!

 

The bed and the couch were both comfortable and the bathroom had plenty room. The best part of this balcony bathroom in comparison to standard balconies on Jewel class ships is that my knees do not hit a wall when sitting on the throne. The step up into the bathroom itself appeared higher than our previous ship experiences as we both tended to hit our toes frequently. We found it humorous only when it happened to the other. The tissue box location was in an odd place so close to the toilet paper dispenser. I wondered how many mistakes are made and if nose tissue paper clogs the sewage pipes...

 

We did push the beds over to one side more than the other so we had more room to get our clothes out of the closet and off the shelves. We definitely appreciated the printed card placed on our bed telling us how to use the lights, how to flush the toilet, along with other tidbits of very important things to know...including life jackets located underneath the bed.

 

We loved loved loved the television...looking at menus, entertainment times and options, activities onboard, port of call information, and keeping abreast of our onboard spending especially to make sure our accounting matched their accounting. Something to remember...if you make a reservation on the television, you can not change or cancel it on the television. You have to do that by phone or in person at the box office.

 

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We Gained Weight Eating A Lot!

 

I love Mr. Coka's attitude on dining while cruising because it matches mine. We like the dining rooms, we like the buffet, we like the specialty restaurants, and we sometimes do not mind waiting to eat while sometimes we do. We both did not have a burning desire to eat at any particular restaurant and if we made a specialty reservation, we did it either the day prior or the day of via the television. Since we were only cruising for the boat ride, our overall strategy for dining on this particular sailing was to "Think Opposite The Masses."

 

Our first meal was lunch in O'Sheehans...it was there as we walked onboard. We had yummy chicken pot pie, reuben, and brownie desserts cruise critics love so dearly. Later in the week I loved once again the chicken wings!

 

We ate most breakfasts in Manhattan Restaurant because it was the closest to 9300. A few decks down the stairs and we were there around 8 or 8:15.

For us, the best service was closest to the kitchen and the most comical was the furthest away near the big stern windows. We figured it was the training section. One couple stormed out because they were served the wrong meals. After they left, we were served their dishes and not what we ordered. We ate the meals anyways figuring it would break the cycle. Besides, eggs over easy with hash browns sound, look, and taste the same as eggs Benedict with corned beef hash, right?

 

Although we never went, they did have a mini breakfast buffet set up in La Cucina one morning and in Moderno another morning. I think they did this to accommodate the crowd at breakfast on sea days. Check the freestyle daily as these times were usually around 9 to 10:30. If this was only on this sailing, then breakfast is usually the manhatten room, the buffet, the uptown grill, or O'Sheehans.

 

Lunches were always at the buffet for us and we always went later towards the end of it around 1:30 to 2:00 and we always found a place to sit. If crowded, one of us sat first while the other got something and then we rotated. We also ate there three nights once we thought most would be done already. We were pretty successful with this strategy. Overall, for the lunches and dinners, I give high kudos to the buffet table cleaners, the buffet servers, and to all who worked there all during the times we were there. Some cruise critics write bad things about the buffet...but let me tell you...I saw lots of happy employees and lots of happy passengers there. Crowded at times, yes, but that can be expected. Even so, I thought they all worked well together.

 

My favorite items at the buffet were definitely prime rib night (the first night), Thanksgiving turkey night (the dressing was in a container right at the carving station...someone wrote none was available...but it was easy to miss) the pasta station, the salad station, the bread, the ice cream, and the lemonade! Oh...the cherry/rhubarb cobbler too!

 

On this particular sailing I thought it best to avoid the free main restaurants (manhatten, savor, and taste) for dinners. Lots of families, lots of groups, lots of noise is what I was thinking. During non holiday sailings, I would very easily choose savor or taste...I loved the decor and I loved the bar in the middle. We dined at Savor the last night of cruise and it was a fun busy to watch while sitting at the bar enjoying a cocktail. I would not want that experience every night but by gosh, I had the best lamb shank ever! We even had a waiter whom we wrote a hero card for previously on the Jewel. He got the wrong order too but it was each others so it was an easy fix to switch when nobody was looking!

 

For specialty restaurants, I picked the ones with the most openings around 6 or 7 ish viewed on our television. We ate Teppanyaki on night 2 and enjoyed land and sea with a family of five, Cagney's on night 3 and enjoyed a return to the Cagney's that I used to know, and Moderno on night 6 where we enjoyed the salad bar, the meat variations, and the experience overall. Each specialty restaurant was were unique, different, and we enjoyed them. I broke tradition and did not eat in Le Bistro because I did not like the decor. I guess I am weird that way! Some people met onboard thought Le Bistro was their best dining. Of course...it is Norwegian's signature restaurant so it is always good! The most busy specialty restaurant appeared to be La Cucina. I wanted to eat there because it has been a long time since eating in a La Cucina and I loved loved loved the ambiance of this restaurant on this ship! The decor is beautiful, intimate, yet open enough. I thought the menu was interesting too.

 

So I hope my dining review does not appear complicated...it really was not at all. Complicated to me was if I was restricted in any way to dine whenever, wherever, and with whomever. I actually was more surprised at the ease of dining onboard such a big ship with all the number of passengers this sailing.

 

Lastly, a best kept little secret is the Uptown Grill...check it out and see for yourself. May I recommend the warm cinnamon buns, all three kinds, on a chilly windy morning? I agree with other cruise critics that the uptown grill is a lovely find once discovered. We also saw the Sabrett hotdog cart a few times and it never drew us in to try one. Mr Coka worked a meat packing company many years ago and to him a hotdog is still a hotdog no matter how you dress it up!

 

 

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I will be back later to write my thoughts about the ship itself, the entertainment, and the ports of call...do not wait anxiously though...the weather was horrible for most of the week..good thing I love any type of day at sea...even if rainy or cold! Do not hold your breath either on any juicy late night sea tales...now that I am 50 it hurts to dance until 3am. Most nights I was in bed by 10pm!

 

If anyone has questions I will also check back to try and answer...or others will too if they know!

 

Ciao ciao for now while I continue writing...

 

Coka

[Zimomiller]

Very nice review. Looking forward to your next installment

[JuneauWhatIMean]

Bravo! Loving it so far. I like your style. :D

[TracieABD]

Great review! 4800 people!:eek:

 

Tell us a little more about the spa pass, please!

Thanks!:)

[mpk218]

Coka , always a class act.. ;)

 

Thanks for the big ship critique . Im still wavering .

[coka]

Oops

Edited December 7, 2013 by coka

[coka]

The Ship Itself

 

Having sailed the Norwegian Epic and having seen the Allure in a port of call, the Breakaway ended up not being a scary too big for me. She looked grand in person but not mega as previously feared. Impressed to not feel like sailing a floating casino, or a floating mall, I think she is set up in a such way to handle the numbers without feeling crowded. During my times of exploration to view the detail, I was most impressed with not only the decor of each room, but I loved the lighting! Yeah yeah the big chandelier everyone takes a picture of is cool and it changes color...But I found myself noticing the lights in every other area of the ship. Some ships it is the art work, others it is the colors...for me...the Breakaway and the lights in each interior venue caught my eye! If I took pictures, I would have taken all the unique ones I saw in each location as I walked about.

 

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Elevators

 

We took them sometimes and never found an issue waiting for one. A few times one would open and it would be full...but come on...has nobody ever heard of going up to go down or going down to go up?

 

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How come few used THE WATERFRONTon this sailing?

 

Oh my goodness there should some sort of award for this concept. Prior to sailing the Breakaway I had my own ideas about the feasibility of such...yet out of all people on board, it was me and an Asian couple who probably got the best use of it while sailing. We were out there for the views! Yes, it was too cold to dine out there most days/ nights but perfect for quiet area to view entering/leaving ports. If weather or wind is bad just think opposite the wind and go on the other side...oh my, I can just imagine how fabulous each area is when the weather is amicable! Bermuda Baby, here we come!!! We did see passengers enjoying cocktails while sitting on the chic cushioned seating when in port, but it still was a bit chilly once the sun went down on this unique weather sailing.

 

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Yes, the stateroom hallways are very narrow.

 

Oh, Norwegian Cruise Line, you broke my heart in this area on this particular ship (and on Epic). Now that my Norwegian cruising paraplegic sister lives in Florida, she will be more than happy to go to Miami and be your consultant on your next builds...for free. It was great to see the chair lifts in the areas that had stairs with no elevators though!

 

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The atrium was a cool place to be!

 

A large screen TV, cool chairs to sit in, music most nights, cruise staff events, I was happy to see that guest services personnel finally had something to entertain them. Just one deck above was O'Sheehans where one can view down below...think Irish bar in any town USA and that too was exciting, busy, and bustling pretty much all the time! I saw a guy throw a bulls eye on the dart board, I saw a little kid get a strike bowling, and I heard about a lady hitting on Mr. Coka because her boyfriend just dumped her. The third one is Mr. Coka's story and he is sticking with it!

 

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Spice H20 and Secret Forward Spot

 

I was there during one of the two hours we had sun. Smaller than the Epic, I found I enjoyed the chairs. I learned to love the big screen television that blocked the water view. I watched a program on aerial views of famous places throughout the world...finally got to see Palazzo Medici in Florence. I am sure Spice H20is awesome at night for the outdoor parties and for dancing. A little secret....just beyond the hot tubs...are really cool cushioned lounging beds...not a lot but just a few for those who walk beyond to see the sea! The smoking section is right near the bar and man I wished I smoked still! All the fun people were there. I was afraid I would start up again if I hung around them so I sat on the other side...in the chairs/loungers where passengers read books.

 

The second of the two hours we had sun I hung out on the top most forward deck port side. I peeked through the crevice to see what vibe looked like...and if the weather was great, I concluded it worth the weekly price...whatever it was...70 or so dollars...never had to find out. It looked the same size as the port side but they had a bar, and every lounger was fancy and cushioned. Another little secret I picked up on the cruise critic boards....there are five cabanas on the port side...free if you can score one...which I did on this sailing because hardly anyone explored that far up there! We went up there during a sail away and it was not very crowded.

 

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Water Park

 

The slides looked like a ton of fun! I was proud of all the adults and children who made the best of their holiday and used them as if it were 80 degrees outside. Seriously! I give so much credit to those who anticipated great weather and really felt bad for them if this was their first time or only time cruising.

 

Even the little kids were having fun in their water park with sponge bob figures and other sea creatures. Sprays of water shot out in different spots and parents too looked like they were enjoying that their little ones were enjoying. Gosh, I give em all credit!

 

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Ropes Course and Other Challenges

 

Passengers loved the ropes course and the zip line and the bungee trampoline! Mr. Coka and I loved watching them go through it all in the perilous winds! We had no idea who they were but we cheered for them, we clapped for them and we oooohed and ahhhhhhed for them! What a lot of fun...for us to watch! Something about a sense of accomplishment by the adults and something about the facial expressions of terror by the young ones...I dunno...we just got a kick out of it.

 

How easy it is to turn into a ten year old when playing miniature golf. Some adult trying to be a good role model for his son surely set Mr coka and me straight at the mini golf course. He told us we had to wait our turn, we had to wait at the stand for clubs and balls, AND we and to go in order from one to nine.

 

All I know is that we did not have anyone to role model for and we were going to join all the other kids in making up all sorts of non golf rules once THAT meany guy left! I still question how a six year old can leave a club and ball on a table and expect to have it back when he returns from wherever he went...to lunch probably...In the end we joined the other kids and had a good time trying to score on green four...from green three...with one of two golf balls for 4800 on the Breakaway.

 

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Okay, I see a request for spa information and this was definitely a highlight for me so I will post this next.

 

 

coka:D

Edited December 7, 2013 by coka

[DGP1111]

Coka , always a class act.. ;)

 

 

I happen to agree!! :D

 

.

[Keith1010]

Enjoyed your review.

 

Keith

[nutley chick]

Love your review so far. Waiting patiently for the Spa review.

[newmexicoNita]

thanks Coka,

 

What a fun read for early in the morning. Sounds like you had a good time. I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the spa.

[Chesneygirl]

What a wonderfully well written review..I can't wait to read more about your experiences!! I am picturing everything in my mind as if I was on this cruise with you!! :)

[FinlandGuy]

Good review. Thanks for taking the time to write.

[meatball_nyc]

Love love love your review so far!

 

Did you give the Ice Bar a try?

 

Looking forward to reading more from mr and mrs coka.

 

Happy Sailing !

 

Here's to the Breakaway and Bermuda this summer :)

 

 

 

 

~robin and brian

(summertime jersey shore beach bums)

 

Norwegian Breakaway 2014

Carnival Miracle 2010

Carnival Legend 2006

[pcreek]

I always love reading all about your fun, Coka!!

 

( I'm working on my own review of the GEM - we visited your Mermaid! :D )

[cruitenn]

Yay! Glad to find another great chapter to your future book. Happy that Mr. Coka enjoyed the Breakaway with you. We were lucky to have cruised on her last June to enjoy Bermuda, one of our favorite ports! :D

 

Did you like the Waterfront as much as we did? Reminded us of the International Deck on the Norway. Loved everything about the ship. Can't wait to sail on her again.

 

Looking forward to more! Thanks for sharing!

[BlueJai]

I am loving your review! I am having similar thoughts as we have booked the Epic in January and I am a small ship kind of gal. After lots of reading and discussions with DH, we have decided that we will do what you did. We really like the freestyle - do whatever whenever - and having to think ahead and make reservations is too much like work. Who knows what we will feel like doing on any given day. I hope we don't end up regretting that, but we are looking forward to a week long ride on the seas and doing whatever!

 

Really looking forward to more of your review, and thanks so much for sharing.

Jai

[Orleanscruiser]

Hello Coka

 

 

Thanks for the great review, I'm not a big fan of mega ship , love the Jewel class ship. reading your wonderful review , has me wondering if I could fall in love with these mega ship.

 

Thanks for taking the time to write

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the review!

[Pugzila1022]

I'm sailing on Breakaway on Dec 15 and am really enjoying reading your review. It's one of the more well written ones I have seen. Thanks for sharing your thoughts in such an easy to read and open minded way.

 

I'm looking forward to so many things on this ship and have been searching the boards to find out as much as I can and your review was exactly what I needed!

 

Look forward to reading more.

 

PZ

[coka]

The Spaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh Area

 

Mr Coka and I have done spa passes on other Norwegian ships and always enjoyed it. On this sailing I purchased the spa pass while he chose not to. A spa pass is only worth it if you are going to use it. Having done this particular itinerary along with holiday sailings in the past, the 199 price was worth it. I went every day from Sunday through Friday.

 

My visits to the spa were greeted first by the spa employees hospitality. Their professionalism, their welcoming comments, their accents, their beauty, and their service to each passenger made it a wonderful experience each time. After exchanging my room key for a bracelet that locks and opens a locker to keep belongings in, I thoroughly enjoyed the one to two hours or so there using all they had to offer.

 

Open from 8am to 10pm each day except the last night when they close at 8pm, I fortunately happened to be there mostly when other passengers were not. Open loungers, open heated tiled ones, therapy pool with one or two people in it, hot tub free, sauna and steam and salt rooms with just me or two others, and a giant wide open view of the big beautiful Atlantic Ocean waters all around! I think they were still selling passes or day passes because sometimes throughout the week they were still giving a tour and showing people what they had to offer. The spa was warming, relaxing, peaceful, restful, and special.

 

My general routine there began with the huge thessalatherapy (sp?) pool. A giant pool with individual sections for passengers to get water jets on them. Next was the corner enclosed section with jets all around and from under that gave another water massage. From there, I moved to the giant water fall jet from above and got my neck, head and shoulders. After that, I got into the reclining position on the rollers with the bubbles. Some thought the water there was not hot enough. I disagree...the temperature is perfect...no people sweating in it and too hot water dries your skin. When alone, I sometimes just swam around a little bit.

 

From there, I rinsed in one of the open showers and went to either the saunarium, the dry sauna, or the steam room. Sometimes I went to all three! Each have a different sensation and effect. The saunarium (I think that was the name) is the sauna you pour water onto the rocks to create humidity. The dry sauna does not and the steam room uses steam for cleansing. The idea for all three is to open your pores and get rid of toxins built up in your body. I believe in the results so much that I have a steam shower at home and go to my sisters house to use her outdoor sauna.

 

I researched a salt room prior to the trip as the Breakaway has one in the spa. The idea created by Romanians and Russians, utilizes Dead Sea Salt that allegedly helps with asthma, breathing, and clearing airways. The room is cool and one basically just sits there. The first time I sort of felt like a geek and left after a few minutes. The second time I stayed a bit longer. Then I discovered it was a great cooling off room after using the steam/sauna rooms, and by the end of the week I found myself staying longer and enjoying nothing. My mind was clear of stress, my thoughts had no worries, and the only issue of the moment was why the bottom trim next to the door was not finished. Life was great!

 

Heated tile loungers completed each ritual. One towel on the lounger as the tiles get hot, two towels covering my body to keep the warmth in, and the rolled up bathrobe as a neck pillow so my head need not touch where everyone else's did. A lounger was always free with exception to Friday at sea when I went during a busy time (between lunch and dinner). Passengers were not actually in all the chairs as some claimed them with their belongings while they used the other facilities. To each their own and I was not going to bind up my swimsuit bottoms over it. Sooner or later someone got up and left. I never used the cushioned loungers because I was using everything else. I did see many sooooooooo relaxed on them and felt happy for them too!

 

The spa also has lemon water , regular water, and hot teas to enjoy while using the facility.

 

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Cut/Color/And Style Anyone?

 

I got my hair cut and colored in the salon and was more than happy with the result. The stylist did better than my stylist in Montreal and went as short as requested. He also recommended a different color than I had requested so I went with it. He ended up being right. By the time he was done I was ten pounds lighter and ten years younger. A bonus to this experience is that the stylist was from Istanbul, Turkey. He answered all the questions I had about a former visit there with my sister and he brought a closure to my wondering if we really would have been arrested had we not run away. He also answered how they to learn to drive over there. He was a cutie!

 

The busiest spa employee I noticed was the gal who gave the men the shave of all shaves. Oh my gosh! She was busy with the men all week long! I so wish mr. Coka would do this! They looked so relaxed...they looked so comfortable...they looked rested all wrapped in a warm towel while she rubbed their temples, head, and shoulders! I want a shave of all shaves too! Hey, with the way my hormones are going right now, I think I could get a pass for one...hahahah!

 

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Black Friday Spa Specials

 

Spa specials ran throughout the week and better prices are always when ship is in port. They also have specials towards the end but when I think about it...if they always have it on every ship...then it is not really a special is it! Regarding the spa products themselves, an exception was BLACK FRIDAY. I purchase spa products online because the deals are better but on this sailing....particular products I use were found at the Black Friday sale after Thanksgiving. I am talking about buy one get one free/buy at 50% off...and other. I stocked up on Elemis and La Therapie products and am set for the next year or so.

 

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Who Needs A Gymnasium?

 

I walked by the gymnasium area in order to get to the spa and it looked busy and not so busy at various times. I never saw anyone waiting around to use a machine. Our workout on this ship was just having a good pair of sneakers or walking shoes and walking all over. Some days we would start at the top and walk from one end to the other working our way down each deck. This also included the stateroom areas and trust me that it takes a while and our legs were feeling it after each time! We also worked up a sweat doing so! Other days we walked the waterfront around the ship...it does not go all the way around but you just cut through the ship in the forward area. We chatted it up with the 83 year old who power walked it every day for one hour. He gave us an incentive to reach our eighties...when we too can holler at everyone to step aside, move over, and get out of our way because we are coming through! He did teach us that if we walked in the waterfront restaurant and bar area underneath the roof section, there was little to no wind as there was on the outside walkway...

 

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CruiTenn...yes! The waterfront is definitely an awesome feature. The indoor and outdoor concept for restaurants and bars onboard is excellent! Good memory of Norway and international deck...very true!

 

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Answer To Meatball_NYC On Ice Bar

 

We did not try the ice bar. I did go to the ice bar on the Epic in 2010 just to say I went to one! We met a couple who went during this sailing and they said they enjoyed it. In my opinion only...an ice bar is fun with a group of people or if a group of people is in there. I think...but am not sure...they do reservations for it so that it IS in groups. Anyone know for sure? Feel free to answer! The ice bar is located next to the piano lounge where they serve martinis on deck 8...they have the coats hanging outside it. While enjoying a pre dinner cosmopolitan listening to piano songs, I did point out to Mr. Coka the bar guy who graciously took a picture with me outside Epic's ice bar. One of my favorites all dressed up in silver coat, mittens, hood...back then I even had the silver boots to match!

 

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Bluejai, after seeing your cruise history, I get it! What worked for me, as I feel the same way about freestyle, was to book a specialty restaurant one evening and book a show another evening. I did not feel the need or desire to book online in advance as there was no burning desire to attend a venue. Once we got the freestyle daily delivered, we looked it over and then made a reservation for the following day whether it be show or restaurant.

 

I did book once onboard Cirque Dreams/Dinner Jungle Fantasy...Thinking opposite the masses, I figured everyone would want turkey on Thursday...everyone would be coming back from Nassau tired...and that there would be little competition to score a seat. Also, I thought the show might be more risky because the ship would not be moving because we were leaving Nassau at 9pm. The only problem was that not everyone figured out my strategy...other than twenty others onboard! The 5:15 show was canceled to due to lack of sign ups! They sent us a paper notification and said we could sign up for other times. I figured I just saved eighty dollars and would catch them some other time! I was more excited about being right in my thinking opposite the masses than seeing the show anyways!

 

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Orleancruiser, I love the Jewel class ship too. The Breakaway did not feel mega and did not look mega. She is broken up in sections very well. We enjoyed each area. I knew by mid week this was not going to be a one and done boat ride as originally thought. I even began to think perhaps I went about Epic all wrong last time and am considering giving her another try in the future.

 

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Pcreek! Welcome back! I can not wait! Hurry hurry hurry! I hope the mermaid was not all saggy and dusty. I have a mermaid story too on this trip!

 

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Up next...entertainment we saw onboard and port of call if time.

 

Coka:D

 

 

[meatball_nyc]

Thank you once again for all the great info.

 

You may have changed my mind on the Spaaaaaaaaaa on the BA. It sounds like I could benefit from all those services! It's going to be a long cold winter here in NY.

 

We will be a group of 10 cruising this summer (all over 18 except for my niece) so we will definitely try the Ice Bar one time as a group. Never been in one before.

 

Looking forward for the next installment of your review.

 

Happy Holidays and Sailing to all!

 

 

 

 

 

~robin and brian

(summertime jersey shore beach bums)

 

Norwegian Breakaway 2014

Carnival Miracle 2010

Carnival Legend 2006

[debnjoe1438]

Thanks Coka. I always enjoy reading your reviews. They are more like a good book than a review. :D

[Tralfie]

Oh, Coka (And Mr. Coka!) I can't thank you enough for this review!

 

I'm taking the Breakaway in march. It'll be my first official cruise (I went on a one-night cruise to nowhere in October), and I'm so excited. You read so many negative things, but I love when I see a review written by someone who shares my "hey, I'm on a boat, I'm on vacation... how bad can things be?" attitude!

 

I'll be traveling solo, and I have a very similar approach to meals as y'all: Whatever strikes my fancy and/or happens to be on hand, that's where my stomach will take me!

 

Really delightful review, can't wait to read the rest of it!

 

Richard/Tralfie

[mafig]

thank you for this review.

 

don't forget the casino!:D