Help Please!!! RCL Anthem or NCL Breakaway?

[jib614]

Here's the dilemma-

 

We currently have both cruises booked because we can't make up our minds.

 

They are both for April 2018. Same itinerary except different private islands so that's a wash. Anthem is out of Bayonne, Breakaway out NYC. We do find Bayonne is a bit easier. We have about the same category of balcony booked on each so that's a wash.

 

Here's the difference. The NCL has the ultimate drink package and gratuities included! If we add those both to the Anthem it will cost approx $400 more than the Breakaway.

 

Is it worth it? We do like RCL a bit better but $400 better? Not sure.

 

Please, I need an opinion!! We have never been on either ship.

 

Thanks!

Jill

Edited August 22, 2016 by jib614

[jdarch]

Here's the dilemma-

 

We currently have both cruises booked because we can't make up our minds.

 

They are both for April 2018. Same itinerary except different private islands so that's a wash. Anthem is out of Bayonne, Breakaway out NYC. We do find Bayonne is a bit easier. We have about the same category of balcony booked on each so that's a wash.

 

Here's the difference. The NCL has the ultimate drink package and gratuities included! If we add those both to the Anthem it will cost approx $400 more than the Breakaway.

 

Is it worth it? We do like RCL a bit better but $400 better? Not sure.

 

Please, I need an opinion!! We have never been on either ship.

 

Thanks!

Jill

 

I'll apologize right off the bat if this doesn't help:) We have been on the Anthem and the Breakaway...Loved both cruises...Ok....

 

Breakaway...loved all the entertainment venues..there was a blues singer my dh and I loved, but probably not still on..loved all the dining options..they played a lot of games in the atrium and people would sit there from early morning so I never got to play any games...ship felt crowded...the casino opens up through 3 different floors and so the smoke comes up through the stairs reaching the restaurants...

 

Anthem...loved all the dining venues...the rotating between the 4 free restaurants took some getting used to..but ended up liking it...love love love 270...most of the entertainment wasn't my favorite(personal)loved the Music Hall......LOVED the layout of the cabin...casino was on a lower deck and kind of separate...all the stores were high end stores...so no shopping...the one shop that wasn't a high end store like for souvenirs and things was about 5 ft. by 3ft...tiny...

 

I hope this helps a little...

[taglovestocruise]

That's 28.00 a day pp, well worth it..happy cruising

[Jenjer]

Have cruised Quantum (Anthems sister now in china) and Getaway and Escape (the away class) doing Anthem next in 2017.

 

Anthem is a ship that has more cold/cool weather areas, more inside areas. You do feel more separated from the ocean than you do on the away class ships. Loved the water front on the "aways". Great quiet place to sit and read a book and listen to the ship move through the water. Anthems area like that is inside on your way to Café 270....love that place super cool and open.

 

Would you enjoy north star or ripcord or bumper cars or flowrider- Anthem

 

Would you enjoy water slides?----Breakaway

 

IMO the food is better in Royals free dinning room than NCL's free dinning. NCL does not have free lobster in the MDR. The specialties are the same. NCL has a few more but again you pay for them Le Bistro being our fave on NCL. Anthem has Jamie's our fave on Royal. Both have great steakhouse.

 

The thermal spa on NCL blows Royals out of the water but you have to pay extra for it or book a spa room. Best value is a Haven spa room because you get both the spa and the Haven but only for 2 people one room sleeps 3.

 

Entertainment is similar. Night life maybe a little bit more active on NCL but about the same. Anthem has a indoor party space so that's better if the weather is bad. NCL uses Spice H2O

 

Anthem wins hands down in the adult area they have the solarium that's wonderful and inside since April the weather might be warm or cold you never know. They also have a inside pool if you have kids travelling with you. The only inside pool on Breakaway is in the Haven or the spa.

 

Standard Balcony room on both ships Royal wins hands down. The design and use of space and storage is the best. Also Breakaway balcony's are tiny like have to sit sideways tiny. But if your a family Anthem does not have Pullmans only sofa beds for kids.

 

Between Breakaway and Anthem I would pick Anthem unless you can get a Haven room on Breakaway.

[CleverEuphemism]

Jib614, I feel like you are reading my mind! We are having this same dilemma for a November 2016 cruise so hopefully you don't mind if I piggyback here for some input on basically the same question.

 

We sailed on Oasis in early 2015 for our first cruise and enjoyed it, we wanted to do something a little different and go to different ports this time. We live in the Philly area and I didn't want to deal with the hassle of flying and the smaller RCCL ships in Baltimore don't seem too appealing, so the Anthem seemed like a good choice with all its activities. But then some googling showed this free drink package/prepaid gratuities choice for NCL and now I am torn.

 

Anthem Cruise: Departs from Bayonne (we can easily drive, cheaper to park). Ports: San Juan, Puerto Rico • Philipsburg, St. Maarten • St. John's, Antigua • Bridgetown, Barbados • Fort-De-France, Martinique • Basseterre, St. Kitts

12 nights, only booking perk is a couple hundred dollars in on board credit.

 

Breakaway Cruise : Departs from NYC (harder to get to for us but not a deal breaker because still no flight or hotel needed). Ports: San Juan, Puerto Rico • Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. • Tortola, British Virgin Islands • Philipsburg, St. Maarten • Fort-De-France, Martinique • Bridgetown, Barbados • Castries, St. Lucia • Basseterre, St. Kitts

14 nights, booking perk is free drink package and prepaid gratuities or restaurant package but the room is cost is about $800 more. We do get two more nights at sea but and two more ports but my husband and I might kill each other at that point. :rolleyes: The final payment date is in two days so I am hoping I can sneak in for a price drop before the promotion ends on 8/31 if I do choose this one.

 

Or if there are any other ships with great activities in the NYC/Baltimore area to check out for a fall/winter 2016 sailing, please let me know.

[53sunset]

Here's the dilemma-

 

We currently have both cruises booked because we can't make up our minds.

 

They are both for April 2018. Same itinerary except different private islands so that's a wash. Anthem is out of Bayonne, Breakaway out NYC. We do find Bayonne is a bit easier. We have about the same category of balcony booked on each so that's a wash.

 

Here's the difference. The NCL has the ultimate drink package and gratuities included! If we add those both to the Anthem it will cost approx $400 more than the Breakaway.

 

Is it worth it? We do like RCL a bit better but $400 better? Not sure.

 

Please, I need an opinion!! We have never been on either ship.

 

Thanks!

Jill

 

We have been on both ships and in our opinion Anthem wins over Breakaway hands down. Sometimes it 's not about money, but about enjoying your cruise.