First Timer in the Haven - Breakaway 3/27

[teacher_md]

** Let me know if you have questions about the Breakaway, Haven or this itinerary!

 

Just back from a cruise on the Norwegian Breakaway from 3/27-4/3. Here is some basic background information on us – we are a couple in our late 30s/early 40s from Washington, DC. We have cruised on many other lines including Celebrity, Royal, Carnival, Princess, and Costa. Our preferred cruise lines are definitely NCL and Celebrity for very different reasons. NCL has always been the most fun. - great vibe, fun people. Celebrity has the elegant ships and the clearly better main dining room food. I am a teacher, so I have to cruise during Spring Break. We avoided paying the price for airfare and cruised out of New York. We stayed at Ink48, a hotel right by the cruise port. Highly recommend it! Originally, we booked a large balcony cabin – actually a cabin I stayed in once before to go to Bermuda. About a month out, I started reading about upsells to the Haven on Cruise Critic. The itinerary was kind of mediocre (Nassau, Private Island and Port Canaveral) so we figured the experience was going to be about the ship. We splurged and entered the Haven for the first time. Suite life, here we come. OK… with this investment it BETTER be good.

 

The ship was packed to the gills. Everyone came out for this one. We expected this and it factored into our decision to break the bank for the upgrade. There were just swarms of people in the atrium (which is much too small for a ship this size), on the pool deck (the actual pool area is very small on the Breakaway because of the added ropes course, mini-golf, sports, rock climbing, etc.) and throughout the ship. Kids everywhere. Kids clubs all packed. I have never, in all of my cruises, felt throngs of people like this, and we have to cruise during Spring Break often. I just think NCL packed them in as much as possible.

 

The weather sucked. It was cold sailing southbound from NY. Then in Port Canaveral it rained. We missed our Great Stirrup Caye stop because the waves made the tendering process unsafe. We got off the ship only once – in Nassau! We had stormy weather and even hail one night!

 

So it sounds like we didn’t have fun, right? Well, we were able to escape the hordes and indulge ourselves in the Haven. It’s as good as advertised. You are treated like royalty. The entire Haven complex is just beautifully designed and the service is top notch. We had a penthouse (16716) right off of the Haven courtyard area. The Haven restaurant is to die for! The entrees for lunch and dinner are spectacular. Lobster, surf & turf, scallops, best pork chop ever, delicious desserts. RICH french press coffee every morning with wonderful breakfasts (I loved the Huevos Rancheros). Being in the Haven reminded me of old school cruising. (Dream sequence begins - You enter the main dining room on your first night and the waiters take careful note of all of your preferences… you like lemonade with your meals… the maître d’ special orders crème brulee because it’s your preference… since we like only like sourdough bread that’s all we get…. coffee comes out automatically because that’s how we like it … OK dream over). The Haven harkens back to that experience.

 

Our stateroom attendant, Rolando, was brilliant. Friendly and kept our penthouse spotless. Our butler was OK… seemed like some of the other folks in the Haven had better butler service than we did. No unpacking luggage, fewer snacks delivered nightly, no explanation of the coffee machine. I expected a little more, but it’s not like he wasn’t good, but he wasn’t exceptional. (TIP: Bring money to tip the concierge and the butler. It isn't included. Actually, after you are treated like royalty for the week in the Haven you will want to tip lots of staff members). The toilet in our cabin was working sporadically for a day, but they managed to get it repaired.

 

 

Rock of Ages was Broadway quality. Raunchy as ever, brilliantly acted and FUN! Burn the Floor dancing was the best you will see on a cruise ship. Great show. Howl at the Moon was a riot. Even Second City, which we have had mixed results with in the past, was very good. Broadway performer Carla Stickler, star of Wicked, killed it with a spellbinding array of favorites in the Breakaway Theater.

 

We made fast friends with lots of folks. The passengers on board were just really cool and we would hang out with our new friends at the bars, at dinner, in the Haven. Drank excessively a few times. The Ultimate Beverage Package is a little tricky. At first you feel like you need to make the most of it and indulge a bit too much. Then, as the trip proceeds, you realize that it would be wise to temper the excesses. One worry that I had was that it would be hard to get a drink on board, given that so many folks had the UBP. Thankfully, this was not the case. I don’t think the drinks were as strong as on previous cruises in which we paid for each of our drinks. However, all told, the beverage service was good.

 

Let’s see, what else? Well, we had dinner at Teppanyaki. Excellent food, entertainment and experience. Don’t think we will ever skip that one. I used to say – “it’s a hibachi – we can do that on land.” Well, Teppanyaki is better than the typical hibachi. We also ate at Ocean Blue which lives up to the hype. Alaskan king crab legs, mussels, dover sole, red snapper… wow. We also went to La Cucina with some new friends, who had some dining restrictions, and I was a little underwhelmed, but the rest of the group seemed to like it. We dined on the Waterfront twice and loved the experience. Hung out at the Maltings bar on the Waterfront as well. The Waterfront is a major plus.

 

The cruise director and his staff were just “OK.” Not quite up to the level of Julie, Simon, or Sinan. We must say that Dan Dan had an absolutely spectacular voice – do not miss the last show for his “surprise.”

 

I was the coordinator of the Cruise Critic Meet & Greet and the NCL staff did a fabulous job. We had a large crowd so they placed us in the Spiegel Tent. They gave us a good spread, sent the senior officers to meet us. We had a great time… a success. Props to the special event staff for excellent organization and providing with some sweet giveaway prizes.

 

So would I sail on the Breakaway again? Sure, but not on Spring Break unless we are booked in the Haven. A Spring Break cruise on the Breakaway is just too much. There needs to be a place to escape the masses.

 

Entertainment: B+

Food (in the Haven and in Specialty Restaurants): A-

Service: A-

Accommodations: A+

[Sprasa03]

love the review and OH Sinan - Me and hubby have since forgotten his name since our 2013 NCL Gem cruise but never forgot him or his stand up comedy one night.Thank you for reminding us of his name!

[teacher_md]

Sinan was sooooo funny. He had us cracking up all week long. Great cruise director!

[js]

Hi. Thanks for your review.

 

Was Jelly Rose back as Haven bartender? Who is the current concierge on the ship?

 

Loved the french press and the Haven and sailing again in August. I deink black iced coffee. Each day the Haven restaurant would give me the french press and I would out it in my fridge in cabin for the following morning. Loved it!

 

Thanks again.

[teacher_md]

No, I don't think there was a Jelly Rose. David was the concierge and he did a good job. There was another concierge called Gurek who was also great.

[retire2cruise55]

Great review. Thank you.

[teacher_md]

Thank you, luxurycruises.

 

Also should have added that we played mini golf on board. Breakaway has a nice 9 hole course. We didn't have to wait too long but it was swamped with kids. Kids walking all over the green you were playing on. Parents looking on and not really asking them to get off the course! I asked nicely and the kids got the message. The parents looked exhausted from dealing with their kids! At least the parents of these active kiddos :-)

 

 

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[riverbeachgirl]

I enjoyed your review. We sailed the week before on the ship and pretty much had the same experience as you. Except we were the tired looking patents with 3 kids running around!

[teacher_md]

Riverbeachgirl,

 

I'm a first and second grade teacher so I can relate! The only difference is I get to go home. I guess that's a pretty big difference. Thanks for reading!

 

- AJ

 

 

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[BostonSoccerDad]

Teacher_MD: thanks for the review! We are sailing away next Sunday and bracing ourselves for the crowd (school vacation week for a good chunk of schools in New England). Fortunately we are staying in the Haven so hopefully will have some respite.

[Clarea]

Thanks much for the feedback.:)

[NoDayButToday00]

Interesting take on David. Might be my least favorite concierge ever. He seemed annoyed with a reservation request to second city on the first day. We made all of our own reservations the rest of the time. This was echoed by a few others as well.

 

This was balanced thought with the most impressive butler we have had in a half dozen trips in the Haven. So there was that.

[js]

Interesting take on David. Might be my least favorite concierge ever. He seemed annoyed with a reservation request to second city on the first day. We made all of our own reservations the rest of the time. This was echoed by a few others as well.

 

This was balanced thought with the most impressive butler we have had in a half dozen trips in the Haven. So there was that.

 

 

Do you know if David will be here in August? We had Adrian last time and he and his assistant were absolutely wonderful.

[cruise cruise11]

Fantastic review. My family and I Sailed the previous week before your trip and we were fortunate to have booked a two bedroom on the 16th floor. Rolando was also our room steward who was fantastic. We did not have much intersection with our butler...

 

We also tipped above and beyond the normal because service was exceptional including the staff in the Haven restaurant and bar area.

 

Our only disappointment was not being able to go to Island due to rough seas.

 

Some highlights... Boarding the ship, being escorted to shows, always great seats. Restaurants always seem to save the best tables for the Haven guests. If we did not have free dining we would have never left the Haven restaurant.

 

We also traveled with our three kids 10, 8 and 8 and they had a blast!

 

As others have said to us and reading many posts prior to our trip it will be very difficult to cruise unless we are in the Haven again...

 

Until next time...

[kchiumento]

Love reading other Haven reviews. We will be on the Escape in the Haven September 3rd. Possibly looking into the breakaway for next year. Now I can cross off spring break off my list of weeks to go. [emoji6]

[DMH15]

Thanks for the review. A fun read. Glad yall had fun.

[NoDayButToday00]

Do you know if David will be here in August? We had Adrian last time and he and his assistant were absolutely wonderful.

 

No idea to be honest. David might have said 10 words to us the entire trip. We asked for a Second City reservation on day 1 or 2. He wasn't overly joyed to help. I also asked about a Cake decorating class that was advertised in the daily. After much hemming and hawing he told me it wasn't offered anymore because Cake Boss was removed from the ship. Someone might want to tell the people who write the dailies and the Cake Boss himself as his signs are everywhere. I did read earlier where they said David was awesome and a great friend, it just wasn't our experience.

[Diane123boys]

Great review! My husband and I are sailing on the Breakaway this August, Its funny that you talked about your reasons for going Haven as those were all of mine too ( I have sailed on the Dawn before , but this will be my husbands first time sailing NCL) and just this week I was talking to him about the Haven, and I JUST (literally)upgraded to a Haven Spa for the trip. We have sailed with the mouse but had a regular balcony room,this is going to be a TREAT going in the haven! :)

[teacher_md]

Bostonsoccerdad - let me know how your trip goes. Hope it's not as crowded! Thanks for reading.

 

Noday - David really worked hard to get us everything we wanted as far as reservations go. We were also fickle, constantly changing.

 

Js - I don't know if David will be there in August. I don't think there was an Adrian at the concierge desk.

 

Cruise cruise - Yes, Rolando was just excellent. Perhaps we didn't ask much from the butler and that is why we didn't get much.

 

Kchiumento - let me know how the Escape Haven is!

 

Diane123 - wow, you have the Haven and the Spa? That is luxury!

 

Yeah, pretty sure I won't be sailing on the big ships during spring break. Would love to do the Epic transatlantic!

 

Thanks for the responses, everyone.

[Boatingmom]

Omg! Fellow haven person. This is Kathy who was there on the same cruise for my daughter's sweet sixteen. I spoke with you at the captain's cocktail party. .I agree with the comments except we had Jose as butler, Eugene as cabin steward, and David as concierge. We werein a Haven 2 bedroom. Villa. We dealt with David's assistant. Name started with a g from India? He was absolutely the best as was cabin steward Eugene. We found the Haven to be wonderful. Food was delicious, filet and lobster nightly with a side of mushroom ravioli. Breakfasts had a menu which included steak and eggs and eggss Benedict, but you could order anything.Tepanyaki was fun but took too long.... like 2hours! Fellow guests made every day good,even with bad weather so enjoyable. This is my first cruise of eight thAt we found the ship as enjoyable as the islands. The glow party was so much fun. Go early to get your face painted. Missed the 80 s party. We found the late night comedy show was a bit crude so we left. Gross is not funny over 50. Lost our shirts in the Casino. Played bingo and lost again. Had my nails done at the spa. Hard sell for products. That was a big turnoff. Gym was adequate but clearly to get a treadmill or stairmaster you must get thereby 8am. This was Easter break people. I don'tknow how it would be at other times. Brought 4 bottles of wine on-board and did not have the drink package. Didn't need I it. Wine was 12 per glass. I t h ink beer was 8. That's including tip. Traveling with 56, 49, 16, and 15 year old.kids had a blast. Hated the kids club but met a great group to hang out with. We are meeting up with our newfound cruise buddies next month in nyc. All in all a success.! Sorry I hijacked your post

Edited April 16, 2016 by Boatingmom

[BostonSoccerDad]

Boatingmom: that was one of the best and most succinct cruise reviews I have read on this board. Well done and thank you!

[Boatingmom]

Thanks:o