MITSUGIRLY BREAKAWAY's 1 last time for the year-review/pictorial

[mitsugirly]

Kim, I don't know how I missed your first postings about this trip, but I just found it yesterday and have been getting caught up on your adventures! We did Breakaway to Bermuda on 9/20 to 9/27 - had great weather, one of the sea days was a little rough and I saw barf bags set out by the elevators, but we were fine. Hope you all enjoyed the balcony - I've always sailled with one, but my niece and her husband had an inside cabin and they said they found it very comfortable. Looking forward to reading the rest of your report!

Thanks for sharing - Sandy

 

Glad to see you found it and are here now getting caught up.

 

We enjoy the balcony, but quite honestly, we could take it or leave it...especially with weather like this.

[mitsugirly]

So that is the end of Day 2/Monday. I have started working on pictures for the next day and hopefully I'll be able to get them done soon.

 

It's quiet around here on the weekends, so I'm hoping when people return, they'll have another Chapter full to read. :D

[jjikids]

Loving your review. I have followed them all.

DH and I are doing the Gem for the third time in January. We live in New Jersey so like the idea of driving to the port. We have never had a problem getting a parking spot there.

As for the ship pins, I heard they no longer leave them in the rooms since people would throw them out. They now have to be requested from the Cruise Consultant. Did that last year for fellow cruisers we met at our Meet and Greet.

 

We have also cruised on the Star, the Epic and the Spirit but like the smaller ships better.

[CAC104]

 

I have a feeling I would love the Alaska cruise as well...just not the weather. I would probably be over my 50# weight limit with the airlines packing for that cruise. Here at home, during the winter, I usually wear my long johns, pants over that, a long sleeve tight shirt with a tee over that and then a hoodie over that...then my heavy coat, 2 pairs of socks and my boots...then all the "accessories" to bundle up. YES, I also usually have all that on in the house minus the boots and coat. :p AND sit with a space heater on most of the time. Brrrr...I'm just not a cold loving person.

 

If you go in the summer you will like the temperatures in Alaska. We did two different inside passage cruises with NCL. The first was on the Wind the end of July. The weather was really nice and the scenery was beautiful. You really would enjoy a balcony on this cruise because instead of seeing ocean, you see all kinds of mountain scenery. On this cruise the only time it was chilly to need jackets and mittens was when we went into Glacier Bay. You are completely surrounded by glaciers and that makes it cold. In the winter the glaciers calved and you can watch the ice break off and fall into the sea. The summer cruises are the most expensive. Our second trip was on the Sky and we went in Sept. The summer foliage had already turned into colors and it was very pretty, but a lot colder. It is not a swimming type of cruise, unless the ship has an inside pool. There aren't beaches in the ports, you go to see the wild life and scenery.

[ncklhaus]

I have read that The World owners are allowed to have a guest for up to a week at a time - Love to be one of those! I would just like to meet a resident in port and talk to them about the experience and travels.

 

The hull was built in Sweden and it was completed in Norway in 2002

Operator: ResidenSea (address: “14471 Miramar Parkway' date=' Miramar, FL 33027, USA”, tel: +1 (954) 416-3644). Original owner – Knut Kloster Jr (the former chairman of “Royal Viking Line” and NCL – “Norwegian Cruise Lines”).

Bought by the residents in October 2003

165 apartments owned by 130 families

Owners from 19 countries: 50 % North Americans, 35% Europeans, 15% from Asia, Australia, South America and South Africa

12 decks, 1 helicopter pad, 2 pools, one mini golf, 4 restaurants, a deli and a pool grill,1 tennis court, health club, spa

250 staff/crew

Short-term rentals – you can rent some of The World’s cruise apartments (depending on category) from ~$550 for a studio apartment (per person per night, min for 5 days) to suite rentals – from ~$20,000 a month. Some of the residences are also available for rent – at US$2100 a day. Discounts are available for repeat guests

Service fees range from $60,000 to $270,000 a year!

 

It would take more than the lottery to live aboard this ship, LOL. That is quite a maintenance fee.

 

[/size']

 

To add to this....my husband's company does Architectural Glass and they were commissioned to do a lot of mirrors for one of the apartments on The World. The day you boarded the ship in NYC they were on the World getting measurements. They had until they arrived in Miami to get them done. They had to get the mirrors to Miami and installed before they left again. Next stop Turks and Caicos.

In a word, the World is magnificent. They circumnavigate the globe every two years.

[mitsugirly]

Loving your review. I have followed them all.

DH and I are doing the Gem for the third time in January. We live in New Jersey so like the idea of driving to the port. We have never had a problem getting a parking spot there.

As for the ship pins, I heard they no longer leave them in the rooms since people would throw them out. They now have to be requested from the Cruise Consultant. Did that last year for fellow cruisers we met at our Meet and Greet.

 

We have also cruised on the Star, the Epic and the Spirit but like the smaller ships better.

 

Thanks for the compliment. Glad you are enjoying it and even happier that you follow them all.

 

Do you like the Gem? That's one I haven't been on yet, but not willing to do just a Bahamas cruise. So, hopefully it will reposition some day and I'll get to sail her.

 

I was thinking I might have heard they no longer leave the ship pins too. But, I wasn't for sure. These last couple of cruises has pretty much confirmed that. However, it seems like the room steward has had the pins on the last few cruises. Just not this one. :(

 

If you go in the summer you will like the temperatures in Alaska. We did two different inside passage cruises with NCL. The first was on the Wind the end of July. The weather was really nice and the scenery was beautiful. You really would enjoy a balcony on this cruise because instead of seeing ocean, you see all kinds of mountain scenery. On this cruise the only time it was chilly to need jackets and mittens was when we went into Glacier Bay. You are completely surrounded by glaciers and that makes it cold. In the winter the glaciers calved and you can watch the ice break off and fall into the sea. The summer cruises are the most expensive. Our second trip was on the Sky and we went in Sept. The summer foliage had already turned into colors and it was very pretty, but a lot colder. It is not a swimming type of cruise, unless the ship has an inside pool. There aren't beaches in the ports, you go to see the wild life and scenery.

 

Yep, it sounds really pretty and I know that Sakari would love seeing the different animals. It's definitely something I would have to look in to and decide which one to go on. I know there's 2 different places to go and one is better than the other, but of course it comes with a HUGE price tag compared to the other. So that may factor which one we decide to do as well.

 

I would go fully expecting not to swim and definitely no beaches. :( Different mind set...different mind set. :o

[mitsugirly]

To add to this....my husband's company does Architectural Glass and they were commissioned to do a lot of mirrors for one of the apartments on The World. The day you boarded the ship in NYC they were on the World getting measurements. They had until they arrived in Miami to get them done. They had to get the mirrors to Miami and installed before they left again. Next stop Turks and Caicos.

In a word, the World is magnificent. They circumnavigate the globe every two years.

 

 

Wow JoAnn, that sounds amazing! At least he gets to step foot on it and check it out. I bet that's just totally awesome to do. :D

[mitsugirly]

Day 3-Another Sea Day

 

 

Notice is says "Relax, You're on Vacation!

 

 

 

 

I fully intended to try to sleep in today, even if that meant missing breakfast...and that's my favorite meal of the day.

 

HOWEVER........

 

 

 

We woke to some very loud announcements in our room. It was the Captain. He was apologizing for the very sharp turn to the right in the middle of the night and the rough seas due to going full speed ahead with the rough seas combined. He explained there was an emergency and someone needed medical attention. We took a super quick sharp turn to the right and we were heading toward Virginia.

 

 

(Yes, I remember this turn. It almost rolled me out of bed. I grasp the sheets and held on and thought "what in the ?!@%$#!!! is going on?" I remember waking up several times during the night thinking "man this is a rough ride and my stomach is tossing and turning"...Sigh. Of course, I had no idea what was going on and just thought the weather had gotten worse and I was just wanting some sleep at this point. :( Thank goodness it was going to be a sea day tomorrow because I'm going to be tired!)

 

The Captain said that we would be heading off the coast of Virginia where a Med Evac would take place. Then once it was safely done, they would turn around and head back toward Bermuda and the word was that we would not arrive in to Bermuda until 2pm on our scheduled day instead of 9am. Yes, that was going to throw off our plans, but I just hoped that the person needing attention was ok. I would just take out my transportation schedules and figure out what our best plan of action would be for our new arrival times and if we should switch our days around for the beaches.

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

I headed upstairs to the pool deck to see if I could hear (or see) anything coming. There were people lined up and down the walls on several of the open decks, trying to get a glimpse of what was going on. I waited for awhile, but nothing yet.

 

Just as I started to leave, we could hear something in the distance. It was the US Coast Guard Plane.

 

 

It was circling the ship-around and around it went. But no helicopter was in site yet. I ran back down to the room to watch from my balcony.

 

Before long, I spotted the helicopter coming:

 

 

 

It was getting closer and closer and the airplane was still circling.

 

 

By this time, the entire family was up and checking out what was going on. The boys and family next door to us up and about:

 

 

And Kendra and family a few doors down:

 

 

[mitsugirly]

 

 

The crew down below sitting in the boat waiting...

 

 

 

All this excitement going on and Sakari was still sleeping. We yelled for her and she mumbled something and turned over. The minute I said "helicopter landing on the ship in the middle of the ocean right now" she flew up and out on the balcony.

 

 

I was amazing to watch them get closer and closer and lower and lower. These guys are amazing, and the Captain as well for holding the ship as steady as he could for them to perform this maneuver safely.

 

 

 

All I could think about was "man I would love to be a part of this!" I would get so excited when ever we had a trauma come in and the helicopter landing on the roof at the hospital and I got to go up and help transport them from the helicopter to the gurney and down to the ER. It was so exciting. Maybe some day I'll decide to be a flight nurse. That would be so rewarding.

 

 

We started to see them hoist down a person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sunbird21]

Totally random post, but just wanted to say that I am having a rough weekend with nursing visits, and your updates throughout the day have enabled me to destress even briefly! ( and even during some NYC cab rides lol).

 

Plus, it's fun to re-live the cruise.... Sigh....

 

Stacey

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bonvoyagie]

WOW this has been quite an adventure - and you are not even to Bermuda :eek: Almost stolen luggage, stuck in NYC due to a hurricane, rough seas, and now a medevac - what's next :eek:

 

You are right about Alaska (and probably a Canada and New England too) cruise being less about beaches and more about other scenery and wildlife. However the temperature thing is more a myth than reality - however it is still a crap shoot as to if you will be in the high 60's or 70's or even 80 - too many micro climates due to the mountains.

 

Yes it is a different mindset :D - neither right or wrong - just different.:)

[keeponcruising]

Amazing pictures of the rescue.

[mitsugirly]

Kolin came out and was amazed at the ability to do all this while out at sea, so he was filled with a million questions that I had no answers for because I'm not even sure how this all works myself.

 

 

From this point on, the helicopter was out of our site. I quickly remembered that on the tv, they have a channel set to the camera on the front of the ship. Yep, I wasn't about to miss this amazing rescue.

 

 

He made it down safely and off he ran out of site. The helicopter pulled away and waited for awhile. When they went back down, I ran back to the tv. They had a person in the basket.

 

 

Up they went into the helicopter.

 

 

 

 

It was mission accomplished and everyone was safe. They pulled away and it was around 10:30am when it was all over and done with.

 

The news I read after returning from the cruise was they removed a 30 year old lady who was complaining of abdominal pain using a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. This was done off of Virginia Beach, VA.

 

For those that have not seen the rescue video recorded by the Air Station in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, here it is:

 

 

[mitsugirly]

Ok, so the excitement was over with and we had very little time left for breakfast. Now I believe the dailies state that the buffet is open the latest (and maybe even the Uptown Bar & Grill) until 11am. However, I do know that both of these places stayed open until later than that. If there were people coming in still for breakfast, they were still serving it. I think this is awesome, especially for those of us that are latecomers.

 

This time we decided we were going to check out Uptown Bar & Grill. I absolutely loved this place on the Getaway. We always found that the food was good, the variety was decent and filling and best of all, there was never anyone up there!!! I couldn't understand it on the Getaway. No lines for breakfast or for lunch. Do people just not know about this place?

 

Well, the Breakaway would not disappoint either! We had the same experience during the cruise. Good food and hardly anyone up there. There was never a line and always a place to sit. I also like the atmosphere up there as well. It's enclosed but yet open and ocean window seats as well. It's perfect!

 

This was my choice of the day and it was yummy.

 

 

 

Another good thing about this place is it always had breakfast sandwiches, which you wouldn't find at the buffet.

 

Sakari's sandwich and plate minus the boiled egg she was now making a habit of getting every breakfast:

 

 

By the time we were done eating (mind you we were in and out of there in no time with no waits), Sakari insisted on a short visit to the kids club before they close in a hour. So off she went.

 

We just hung out by the pool and had a few drinks while hanging with the kids after they ate. It was starting to get warmer and we had all graduated to shorts finally. Kenny was feeling a "little" better but did mention thank goodness he didn't feel the movement last night or the quick turn because he was dead asleep all night.

 

At 12 noon, we picked up Sakari and headed back up to the pool deck. The dailies stated that they were having a Nick Time game. I remember this on one of the other ships and it was like a slime time. The kids participated and Sakari was upset because she had made it up there too late to actually participate. This time, she would be early and volunteer to play.

 

While she waited, she played in the childrens pool area. It was drained with a sign saying "Closed"

 

 

 

 

 

There's that face again..copying...

 

[mitsugirly]

We're still waiting on the Nick games to start and she was getting excited...can't you tell?

 

 

 

 

 

...and still waiting...she was running out of poses:

 

 

 

Well, no one ever came. No Nick team. No games. No anything! Hmm, weird!

 

So...we spent the entire next 2 hours just letting her play in this area because there were a bunch of kids there and some of her friends. There might not have been any water, but they were having a blast.

 

So were we....

 

 

I swear I took a picture of the reason they had the kiddie pool closed, but once again, I can't locate it. Let's just say there must have been a kid that had an accident in it. The accident still remained!!! For hours!!! I have no idea when they actually cleaned it up, but we passed by there a lot during the day and it was still there, with kids playing in the area. When I discovered it, I quickly pointed it out to Sakari to make sure she didn't go anywhere around it or step in it. But still, ewww!

 

 

The boys had went upstairs to play a little basketball:

 

 

 

[perfect match]

You certainly have had a lot of excitement on this cruise already! It really is incredible how they are able to airlift a sick or injured passenger off a cruise ship, and even more so in this case considering the heavy seas you were experiencing. I hope the excitement on the rest of this cruise is the fun kind of excitement, not more sick people!

Edited October 25, 2015 by perfect match

[mitsugirly]

We took Sakari to the buffet (since we were right beside it) and grabbed her a little to eat before she went off to the kids club again with her friends she had been playing with at the pool area.

 

Since we ate such a late breakfast, even though it had been about 3 hours, she opted for just desert, even after my warning that she was going to be very hungry by the time we picked her up. She didn't care. She had been waiting "all day" for some ice cream. She cracks me up because she makes it sound like a lifetime.

 

 

 

I also wasn't too hungry, so I opted for desert as well as a few fries. I know, I'm a great example.

 

 

We found the kids eating at O'Sheehans. Kolin's pot pie was HUGE! Like seriously huge and he said it was yummy.

 

 

We headed to the casino to try our luck, or either donate our bad luck.

 

The hubby sat beside me and started winning instantly. He was having all the luck this cruise. I was not.

 

 

Then I finally hit a decent amount several times, but was having too much fun and kept playing. I started with $5 and went up at one point to $49. I just wanted to play more and play I did...and lost I did. The hubby walked away that day with at least $100 more than he came with so it was a good day.

 

 

Kendra showed up for about an hour and said they had went back to bed and just got up. She spent her investment and then left.

 

 

[mitsugirly]

We met up with Kendra back at the atrium where they were having another meet & greet with the characters. We had picked up Sakari and raced down but was not lucky enough to be first in line this time. Having to wait even longer than we did the other day for pictures=needing a few drinks from the bar.

 

When it was finally their turn...

 

 

 

The final result:

 

 

 

We then headed up to the pool deck and Kendra and I decided we would challenge each other to a game of ping pong. We had an absolute blast! I never laughed so much. Sakari and Brayden started their own game once the people beside us left. Sakari was doing pretty good at hitting the ball and returning it. Brayden however, was getting good at chasing the balls he missed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

We decided to head back to the room and get dressed for the show tonight. We had reserved tonight to watch the Rock of Ages. Since it's 80's music, I just knew I was going to love this show.

 

When we arrived back at our room, we discovered more of these:

 

 

There was a note with it:

 

 

It was from my awesome TA. He had sent these to all of our rooms.

 

Sakari was dressed and ready for dinner, so away we went.

 

 

 

Quite the mixture I might say:

 

 

Sakari was quite happy to see a grilled cheese sandwich on her plate.

 

 

Once we were done eating, Sakari wanted to go back and play with her friends. While I'm so happy that she loves to go to the kids club, sometimes I wish she would spend more time with us. But, as I've said before, this is her cruise too and I want her to have fun and be happy. So, if she'd rather play with her friends in the kids club than go to the show with us, then so be it. I knew she probably wasn't going to be spending hardly any time in there over the next few nights with us being in port. Off she went...I believe it was Survivor Night.

 

[mitsugirly]

I might also add that the Latitudes party was supposed to be at Spice at 7:45pm. However, it was raining so I have no idea where they ended up having it or where to go. How do they (or do they) notify the members of a change? Do they just not hold it? Because I did not get any notification.

 

 

Since we knew that the theater was packed the night before at the show, we decided we would go a little earlier this time. Around 9pm we headed to the theater and it was already crowded. However, we managed to find a row completely open mid way down that would fit all 8 of us. Score!

 

The show started at 9:30 promptly.

 

 

The show was ok. Definitely better than the night before. But I loved listening to the 80's music. Of course the singers/dancers didn't have that voice of the original artist, but it was still a good time.

 

HOWEVER, I did not realize that this show lasted for 2 hours!! Yikes. The show started at 9:30pm and wasn't over until 11:30pm. Now those of your with kids that go to the kids club knows that they have a pick up time at 10:30pm. After that time, you were required to sign up for after hours sitting and pay $6 per hour. Oops.

 

It was around 11pm and Kendra leaned over and said "Did you sign sissy up for sitting tonight?" Me-"No why?" Kendra "Because this show runs until 11:30pm and it's now 11pm" WHAT????? I hadn't even paid attention to the time and had no clue it was that late.

 

Well, we did have the iConceirge service, so I guess if they had a problem, they'd call me. None-the-less, I was still worried. Kendra said she would just go pick them both up and we could stay and she'd meet us back at the room. None of us anticipated that the show was going to be so long. Kenny & Michelle left shortly after that because they both had to potty. We pretty much all needed to use the restroom, but the rest of us stuck it out until we knew it was over. We just didn't stick around for the end where they usually introduce the dancers/singers, at least I assume that's probably how it ended.

 

Once the show was over and we ran into Kenny who said he passed Kendra with the kids in the hall and they were headed back up to the buffet for their 2nd dinner of the night because the munchkins said they were hungry. LOL

 

 

After that we headed back to the room to get things ready for the following day coming into Bermuda. I still had to make a plan of attack for the family and I knew there wasn't anyone else going to initiate the planning.

 

Our towel animal for the night and his amazing "catch" of a girlfriend:

 

 

 

I came up with a plan and decided to head out to the balcony one last time before heading to bed.

 

There was some lightening and flickering off in the distance that night. I managed to catch the sky lighting up at one point.

 

 

 

Sakari worked on her drawings for the night then off to bed we went.

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

Totally random post, but just wanted to say that I am having a rough weekend with nursing visits, and your updates throughout the day have enabled me to destress even briefly! ( and even during some NYC cab rides lol).

 

Plus, it's fun to re-live the cruise.... Sigh....

 

Stacey

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Aww Stacey, sorry you were having a rough weekend. Mine has been rough, but in a different way. I had one of my patients admitted and a few went off weekend service for me. So, I'm down to 1 patient at the moment for my Saturdays. Plenty of time to work on my review, but yet sad about my patient being sick. :(

 

I hope tomorrow is better for you. :)

 

WOW this has been quite an adventure - and you are not even to Bermuda Almost stolen luggage, stuck in NYC due to a hurricane, rough seas, and now a medevac - what's next

 

You are right about Alaska (and probably a Canada and New England too) cruise being less about beaches and more about other scenery and wildlife. However the temperature thing is more a myth than reality - however it is still a crap shoot as to if you will be in the high 60's or 70's or even 80 - too many micro climates due to the mountains.

 

Yes it is a different mindset :D - neither right or wrong - just different.:)

 

 

Yep, adventure follows me everywhere I go. There's never a dull moment that's for sure. If you want adventure, always check my signature line and book the same cruise. :p

 

As long as we are not facing 30's & 40's, I think I may be able to pull off an Alaskan cruise. :p I'm seriously thinking about it though. I would really like to plan one around the Northern Lights. That would absolutely be amazing to see, but probably also a crap shoot as well.

[mitsugirly]

Amazing pictures of the rescue.

 

Thank you.

 

You certainly have had a lot of excitement on this cruise already! It really is incredible how they are able to airlift a sick or injured passenger off a cruise ship, and even more so in this case considering the heavy seas you were experiencing. I hope the excitement on the rest of this cruise is the fun kind of excitement, not more sick people!

 

Oh have we ever Nancy! Yes, it's very incredible how they do this but yet scary at the same time. We have had sick people on the ships we've been on before, but they always made it to a port and had a boat come out and get them and they went out the side door. Not nearly as exciting as this. :D

[mitsugirly]

Well, that's it for day 3 for me. It's also all of the pictures I currently have ready too. :p

 

I will have to work on some more tomorrow and hopefully get some of Day 4 going before the end of the day. :)

 

Have a great night everyone that's still with me.

[New2cruise1483]

Yay! I get to read another one of your awesome reviews! I've enjoyed reading all of them, and they seem to get better and better with each one you do. I'm glad you got to stay at an Embassy Suites, I've stayed with one before two out of three cruises and really love them, especially their breakfasts. I'm going to be in the Gem November of next year when she will be home porting out of Puerto Rico, and I was really hoping you would sail her before me so I could get a preview of what she will be like before I go lol :p:D. Or maybe we'll end up on a cruise together since she will be running a southern Caribbean route at that time! I'm so excited that you're on the Breakaway though, because I'm considering her for a Bermuda cruise sometime in the distant future. Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into your reviews for us all to enjoy and gain information from :).