Breakaway Oct.9th, the good, the bad and the UGLY

[Até]

I don't think it would be that difficult, the baggage areas were roped off. If they are still in the early period where no colored baggage was supposed to leave there should not be people in any baggage areas. As color groups are called they could remove the ropes and start allowing people into those areas. Anything would be better than the current free for all.

 

Based on the nature of my fellow passengers your armed security guard preventing entry idea might be the only solution. But seriously, once people unlearn disregarding the system it shouldn't have to be that big of a deal. Announcements that early entry to baggage color areas will not be allowed should stop a lot of it.

[darlene62]

This was my 20th cruise, so I pretty much know the drill! My luggage was placed outside of my cabin by the designated time. The crew member telling passengers just to get in line was aware that we had a "brown" tag indicating a Norwegian transportation shuttle. Didn't make a bit of difference to her what color we had. There was not a specific location for those with "brown" tags to meet. We sailed out of NYC last September on Carnival and didn't experience anything like this debacle. Norwegian does not have specific "holding" locations for the different colored tags. It was only made worse by the fact that my husband has a walking cane and standing for an hour is pretty darn uncomfortable. When I brought this up to the crew member at the front of the line, she informed me that anyone requiring assistance could go to the Breakaway lounge for a wheelchair. HA! I would have needed a sherman tank to get through the lines and crowds of passengers blocking the halls. Norwegian is the 4th cruise line that I have sailed on and their debarkation process just sucked!

I agree with most all of the complaints from most posters....I have been on the Breakaway twice and found disembark a nightmare even with my last trip with mom who had special needs that were accommodated. Prior to NCL I had disembarked from NYC with Carnival relatively easy. I think with NCL there are several factors..Sunday and possibly less customs staff (although my experience with porter, customs is not so bad). The ship is much larger and more people trying to leave early. MY experience on first trip was we were 2nd group to be called but there were a lot of delays for self assist and we missed them calling our group even though we thought we were listening..... it was already too late by time we realized we missed our color by then, everyone had jumped in line and you couldn't get off an elevator and when you did get to level the line wrapped around entire casino. Too many people with self assist had a lot of luggage with them that seemed to cause some almost dangerous issues with lines. People such as myself had a bus to pick up at 11 and if you are anal like I am (and Im not the only one) tried to be there early, downside the exit terminal has no place to put us so we are clogging up the street hanging out waiting for bus etc. Although not disregarding the fact we as people create issues when we dont follow the rules...I think that after the Breakaway has been in port for awhile now the corporate office should be working on ways to address this issue.....now that said.....while I found executive staff to be not around so much.....I found most of the "regular" staff to be very kind and helpful and did the best with what they were presented with.

[razor7_us]

You should expect it to take about 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours from leaving your room to clearing

customs.

 

 

Nonsense. My wife and I have used the self assist on all 3 Breakaway cruises and we have been one of the 1st off the ship with my luggage, through customs and in my car within 30-40 minutes each time. We even had time for breakfast prior to leaving. Our last cruise was a family cruise, 3 rooms, 8 cruisers, and we were all in our cars within 30 minutes. It can be done

 

If one chooses to disembark after sleeping in and having a leisurely breakfast, then one can expect long lines to exit, find your luggage and clear customs.

 

I have also observed Breakaway staff turning away people attempting to disembark during self assist times who were not hauling luggage (a dead give away) and had a chuckle at their expense.

[jm485]

While not as big an issue as with the BA, the disembark from the Gem looked to be a similar mess. Part of the problem is the layout of the terminal, with the unexpected need to go down an escalator or elevator to reach the customs area. Since you don't go up when you are boarding, I suspect that first-timers are unaware of the issue. I'm amazed that there aren't accidents every cruise on that escalator.

 

The solution is probably to renovate the terminals so you board on the lower level, using the escalator only with hand luggage. Passengers could then pick up bags and go through customs on the level where they get off the ship, so people aren't trying to lug their bags and carseats down the one elevator and escalator. It would be safer and probably solve some of the problem.

 

 

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[PelicanBill]

Pelican Bill,

... And, by the way, I did not get any kind of a hassle from Norwegian customer service on my $80 refund for the shuttle to the airport. (They probably know how bad their debarkation process is!)

 

Great! Glad to see they did not argue!

 

While not as big an issue as with the BA, the disembark from the Gem looked to be a similar mess. Part of the problem is the layout of the terminal, with the unexpected need to go down an escalator or elevator to reach the customs area. Since you don't go up when you are boarding, I suspect that first-timers are unaware of the issue. I'm amazed that there aren't accidents every cruise on that escalator.

 

The solution is probably to renovate the terminals so you board on the lower level, using the escalator only with hand luggage. Passengers could then pick up bags and go through customs on the level where they get off the ship, so people aren't trying to lug their bags and carseats down the one elevator and escalator. It would be safer and probably solve some of the problem.

 

There was a person at the bottom of the escalator to help people in fact as some were unable to wheel heavy luggage over the bottom threshhold. A renovation would be a heck of a hard thing to do! The ground level needs to have clear pass thrus for vehicles and space for logistics and so does not have the space for check in and waiting. The vehicle ramps are also configured specifically for the present set up. I could see going up - a new check in and boarding area above the parking. Escalators up and down from there with carry on only. Present check in level becomes the luggage claim, immigration/customs, and now there is room for a smaller lounge to wait for pickups. Actually best plan would be a completely new cruise terminal like they did in Bayonne.

[missdenise]

Reviews are reviews... I know a cruise is what you make it... blah blah blah.

Reviews are also inconsistent.... some will say best cruise ever, while others say never again!

 

But since I booked my Breakaway Cruise for 2/26 the one consistent I see is the terrible port and debarkation in New York

 

I am seriously concerned about it... we are being dropped off and picked up at the port by a friend.... but I do not want them waiting around for hours for us!

But again I do not want to be standing on a new york street corner for them!

 

Tough call... or do I hire a car/limo service which will be lots more money but at least then I do not have to worry about it as much

 

My concern with the cruise you have booked would be the weather. Are you prepared to be standing outside, in the cold, on the dock just waiting to get into the terminal during disembarkation? For.... 1 - 1/2 hours?

[Tralfie]

I've done Breakaway twice and will be doing her a third time Thanksgiving week. She's not my favorite ship, but she's convenient (I'm a NYC homeporter) and the price is right. But disembarkation on this ship is not only nightmarish, but downright dangerous. I have seen people stranded on staircases for over an hour, unable to move up or down. There is no control, no organization and nobody at Norwegian seems to have ANY interest whatsoever in addressing the situation, as it has been this way for two years.

 

At Walt Disney World, they call the fireworks or evening shows that end each evening the "kiss goodnight." They want it to be the last thing you remember of your evening, especially if it happens to be the last day of your vacation. Norwegian would do well to listen to the numerous people who, no matter how good a time they had during the preceding voyage, find disembarkation so nightmarish that they vow, "Never again." Instead of a lovely parting kiss which leaves you longing to revisit the beloved vessel somewhere down the line, their disembarkation process on this ship is like a kick in the butt that says, "Yeah, get off. We're done with you."

 

Richard

[Até]

Great analogy Richard.

[rasmus]

Question for the OP and PelicanBill - who was the Captain on your cruise?