NCL Breakaway Bahamas Nov 13 Food and Drinks!

[PierceChristopher]

I have a question, if you have the beverage package do you get charged for drinks when going to an upscale restaurant?

 

 

No you don't get charged. The UBP works in the specialty restaurants the same way it does at the other bars on the ship; $15 and under is free, anything over $15 you pay the difference.

 

 

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[PierceChristopher]

same rules apply as at the bars. all under 15 are free.

 

 

 

ice bar is 'cash' only, no plan accepted there

 

 

Yes, it's $20 cover for the Ice Bar, but it includes two drinks, from what they told me when I asked last week. I didn't have to go in tho. Did it last year and it's pretty cool - lol [emoji13]

 

 

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Edited November 23, 2016 by PierceChristopher

[PierceChristopher]

Day 5 – 11/17 Thursday in Nassau

 

Today is the day we opted to get off the ship. We went to Warwick Hotel and Resort using resortforaday.com. I chose one of the more expensive resorts because it was all inclusive, and I wanted to treat our moms to a nice day of relaxing. A little about that later...

 

Getting off the ship you face a lot of locals trying to get you into a taxi or buy something. Be prepared to say lots of "No, thank you" and be prepared to get somewhat dirty looks when you do. Oh well, it's how they make money. Was $4 per person for a taxi in group, $30 for the 4 of us in a dedicated cab. Taxis are like small minivans that can seat 9-11 people. They will pack you in definitely, and if you have anyone with limited mobility, be prepared to really help them in and out of the van.

 

Got to Warwick Hotel and was really surprised to see it so empty. Living in NYC, I get withdrawals if there aren't a lot of people around. I really wanted to bring my mother somewhere nice and all inclusive so we got that resort. It was deserted and still under construction. You had use of the pool (which was absolutely beautiful), and a really small private beach.

 

 

The beach was very clean and kept, the sand was like flour, and there were lots of chairs and a couple of umbrellas. They were building a large wood promenade that was a tease because you couldn't walk on it since it was under construction. I really wanted to walk out on it because it had ladders into the water, which would've been great to swim from. Ugh, oh well. Really disappointing.

 

The restaurant had a small continental buffet setup, and it was beautiful looking.

 

 

The menu was somewhat limited, but still decent for all inclusive. The server was very nice, but very slow. There was only one waitress for the few people that were there. The food was good. Sorry no pics of the food; I was trying to manage my emotions after discovering the resort wasn't what I expected, so I didn't feel like taking pics.

 

After we ate, got some drinks at the bar which was only a few feet away (boy, they don't know what they're in for with me). Because there were so few people there we got immediate service at the bar, which means I was in for a drink-filled day.

 

After we got one, we went to beach and laid out. It was nice. But then from about 50ft behind us, a chainsaw started up. Really... A chainsaw. That didn't make it too peaceful anymore. It eventually stopped, but talk about being yanked out from a peaceful afternoon.

 

Not much else to talk about here. I would recommend using the website I mentioned, but I should have done more research to ensure it is what I wanted before paying for it.

 

The hotel staff ordered us a cab, and the driver was great. After we got to the dock, the line for the shuttle to the ship was kinda hectic, so we opted to take it slow, and walk to the ship. It was actually a beautiful day out.

 

 

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[PierceChristopher]

Cagney's for dinner.

 

Started off getting their signature cocktail, the Negroni. It was good, but I think my taste buds are moving away from gin and vermouth-style cocktails. I prob won't order it again.

 

 

Moms got the Chilled Colossal Shrip Trio. They liked it – no complaints.

 

 

Companion ordered the Oysters Rockafeller. They were good, but I felt they weren't very flavorful.

 

 

I ordered the Beet & Goat Cheese Napoleon. I loved the goat cheese, very flavorful.

 

 

I also ordered the Lobster Bisque. The bisque was very smooth, brown in color, with a small bit of cream. There were a total of 2-3 small pieces of lobster in the bisque. Not served very warm.

 

 

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[PierceChristopher]

Companions also got the The Iceberg Wedge (no pic sorry), and had no complaints. The other ordered the Traditional Caesar.

 

For dinner, companions ordered the Queen-Cut Prime Rib, cooked medium. When it came, it was much rarer than we thought it would be. It also seemed to have a lot of fat on it, but it was good nonetheless.

 

Our other companion ordered the 8oz Filet Mignon. She thought it was one of the best she ever had. Tender, and cooked perfect.

 

 

My mother asked the server what was the most tender meat because she can have a struggle chewing tuff meat. The waitress immediately suggested the Ribeye. She ordered it medium, and when it came it wasn't tender at all. Not very tuff, but nothing she was hoping for.

 

She ended up sending it back and ordering the same type of Filet Mignon our companion ordered. The waitress took the order, with an air of grudging and insincere apology. Oh well, not everything can be perfect. When the Filet Mignon came out, she was much much happier with that.

 

I ordered the 32oz Porterhouse. I ordered it because I wanted to see it, and it was definitely huge! I don’t order red meats very often, so I went all out. I ordered it medium, but when it came it was much rarer than I thought it would be. It didn't stop me from eating it though! However, I had to stop when the meat got totally raw towards the center. What’s strange is that the right side of the meat was tender, and the left side not so much. Since I’m not a steak expert, I don’t know if that’s normal or not. It was also way more fatty than I expected. I never had a 32oz porterhouse, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but was a little disappointed nonetheless.

 

For sides, we ordered Roasted Mushrooms, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Truffle Mashed Potatoes, and Creamed Spinach. Sorry, forgot the pics; all my spare time was trying to get through the 32oz Porterhouse [emoji12] Both the mushrooms and the sprouts were underwhelming in flavor, but the potatoes were very nice. I'm sorry to say the sides were lukewarm at best. The temperature of the dishes on the ship so far have been a major sticking point for me. I'll need ask around to see if there's a reason why dishes aren't served hot.

 

 

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Edited November 23, 2016 by PierceChristopher

[PierceChristopher]

Onto my favorite part of dinner: desert!

 

We ordered the Warm Apple Cardamom Crisp, the Decadent Chocolate Brownie, the Seven Layer Cake, and I got the Raspberry Creme Brûlée. The brûlée was good, smooth and consistent, and tasted like raspberry.

 

The Seven Layer Cake was very nice and moist. Wish I could've eaten the whole thing.

 

The Brownie was super moist, almost doughy, which I liked. It had square brownie pieces on top that were really dry, so it was a weird contrast. The macadamia ice cream was awesome.

 

The Apple Crisp was by far the best of all four. The ice cream was great, and the crisp was super firm and crunchy, not soggy. I loved it!!!

 

 

We were soooo full! Waddled back to our rooms, dropped off our mothers. Another new friend waiting for us in our room! Thanks Faisol!

 

Went for some night caps and casino!

 

 

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[PierceChristopher]

Can't wait .... Will be on the December 18th ⚓️[emoji484][emoji907]. [emoji319]

 

 

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So jealous! Have a great time!

 

 

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[PierceChristopher]

Great review! I am even more excited as our cruise is this week (11/27/16).

 

 

Thanks! Wish I was going too! [emoji16] Someone on the thread was wondering if they charge extra for a traditional (all gin) Martini. Let us know if you're able to ask anyone for us [emoji12]

 

 

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[PierceChristopher]

Thank you for these great food pics! I have been waiting for some recent ones.

 

 

Glad to do it! It really helps to know what might be tasty [emoji39]

 

 

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[PierceChristopher]

Thank you. Enjoying see the food and drinks!:D

 

 

You're welcome [emoji4]

 

 

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[PierceChristopher]

Hi everyone! I just posted all the Freestyle Dailys from the cruise. Let me know if you have any questions [emoji16]

NCL Breakaway Freestyle Dailys 11/13-11/20

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2425691

 

 

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[luckyinpa]

the dailies make you instant king for a day! thanks.

 

that 7 layer cake deserves a doggie bag. except i found the fridges too small to really stack stuff

 

question about the shuttle. i've read that the walk in nassau is long to the ship but i've never heard of a shuttle. does this run continously/until full etc? how many does it hold. any info is appreciated.

[PierceChristopher]

the dailies make you instant king for a day! thanks.

 

that 7 layer cake deserves a doggie bag. except i found the fridges too small to really stack stuff

 

question about the shuttle. i've read that the walk in nassau is long to the ship but i've never heard of a shuttle. does this run continously/until full etc? how many does it hold. any info is appreciated.

 

 

Thanks lucky!

 

The shuttles ran continuously, since there are so many that wouldn't be able to do the walk. The shuttle can carry up to approx 10 people, maybe up to 12. I only ever saw people waiting for the shuttle, so I can't say whether or not it would wait until full. It seemed full all the time. It brings you to the customs house, and after you pass there, there is a gated-off area of people selling goods and services (like hair braiding). Outside the gated area is where you can get taxis or go shopping. Just beware; the taxi drivers can be perceived by aggressive by some.

 

 

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[luckyinpa]

ty for the info. amazing i never saw it in my research

 

my friend actually does want her hair braided so maybe the rest of the people will leave us alone since we 'are' actually buying something lol. or they will run interference for us. we decided we are gonna at least walk off and see what is there and if it's too much we can turn around. but we are a daring bunch and my friend has a sharp tongue.

[PierceChristopher]

ty for the info. amazing i never saw it in my research

 

my friend actually does want her hair braided so maybe the rest of the people will leave us alone since we 'are' actually buying something lol. or they will run interference for us. we decided we are gonna at least walk off and see what is there and if it's too much we can turn around. but we are a daring bunch and my friend has a sharp tongue.

 

 

Ha! Good for you! The braiding they do is actually really good! Hope you have a great time [emoji5]

 

 

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[luckyinpa]

http://images.marinas.com/med_res_id/72049

 

assuming that is a correct pic, now i see why BA must be so far away and how long the walk is. bermuda spoiled me.

[MareQ]

Thanks lucky!

 

The shuttles ran continuously, since there are so many that wouldn't be able to do the walk. The shuttle can carry up to approx 10 people, maybe up to 12. I only ever saw people waiting for the shuttle, so I can't say whether or not it would wait until full. It seemed full all the time. It brings you to the customs house, and after you pass there, there is a gated-off area of people selling goods and services (like hair braiding). Outside the gated area is where you can get taxis or go shopping. Just beware; the taxi drivers can be perceived by aggressive by some.

 

 

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The shuttles do not seem to start running until a little after 10 though but not sure that would be a factor for anybody not doing an overnight like we did. Anybody that had an early excursion had to walk the whole way, luckily on day two we had a 10:30 departure time and the shuttles had just started up before we left.

[PierceChristopher]

http://images.marinas.com/med_res_id/72049

 

assuming that is a correct pic, now i see why BA must be so far away and how long the walk is. bermuda spoiled me.

 

 

It pic is correct. In fact, we were docked on the far right dock where that Carnival ship is docked.

 

 

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[MareQ]

http://images.marinas.com/med_res_id/72049

 

assuming that is a correct pic, now i see why BA must be so far away and how long the walk is. bermuda spoiled me.

 

The breakaway docks on the last dock on the right, the one farthest away :)

[luckyinpa]

is the shuttle free

[MareQ]

is the shuttle free

 

No. You will be told it's free however the driver will make a point to tell you that he is not paid and relies heavily on the tips left by the very generous and caring passengers he is transporting... lol

[PierceChristopher]

11/18 - Friday

 

Woke up and did my regular routine of breakfast at Savor.

 

Here’s a pic of the bakery basket. It came with about 6-7 small pastries. They were pretty good, but not fresh (didn’t really expect them to be). Sorry, one pastry is missing from the pic; I got overzealous before taking the pic.

 

 

I got the Bircher Muesli agin (I try to keep some oats in my diet daily if possible), and myself and the other half decided to split what we ordered, so we got the Eggs Benedict (again), and the Croque Madame. The Eggs Benedict were great, as usual, and the Croque Madame was really good too. It’s like a grilled ham and swiss cheese sandwich with a fried egg on top. Glad I got a chance to try it before we left.

 

Also got the buttermilk pancakes, and they were really good.

 

 

After breakfast, I hit the gym and the spa. I wanted to check out the “How to Run a Floating Hotel” at 1pm. It was a Q&A session in the Atrium with the Hotel Director, Food & Beverage Director, and Executive Chef. I’d leave that and go to the Wine & Chocolate Pairing in Le Bistro at 1:30pm.

 

 

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[PierceChristopher]

The Q&A Session was pretty cool. You’ll be AMAZED at how much food comes on board each cruise. I asked what was the most popular spirit drink on board, which brand, and how many bottles. The F&B Director said it was Bacardi, but couldn’t tell us how many bottles they go through because it changes each cruise. Not 100% satisfied with that answer, because a range would be fine too. I wonder if they’re not allowed to disclose that type of info? Oh well, off the Wine & Chocolate Pairing.

 

 

 

Got to Le Bistro for the Wine & Chocolate Pairing at Le Bistro, and it pretty much started on time. It was $20 charge, but you get a 20% discount with the UBP. You sit down with the 4 chocolates and 4 half glasses of wine in front of you, and behind those is a card explaining what you should look for when tasting a wine. In the back of my head I though there may be more that 4 small chocolates, but I guess one can't expect a lot at tastings, so it was fine. I was more interested in the education.

 

 

There were 20 attendees at a single long table with 10 attendees on each side. The only thing I didn't really like is that the sommelier spoke at one end of the table, so he was really far away from the attendees on the opposite end. They admitted there were many more attendees than they expected. It sounded as if they also had a Wine & Cheese pairing (which I would have liked also, but I regret I didn’t see it on the Daily), but it was cancelled for some reason (not enough attendance?) and offered this chocolate pairing to the cheese pairing attendees. Regardless of the fact that the sommelier was far from the opposite end of a long table, the acoustics in Le Bistro were good, so it wasn't a problem. Until this guy started hijacking the conversation.

 

This person was asking a couple of questions, which isn't a problem, except he was one of those people that needed to preface the question with 5 minutes of explanation why he was asking the question. Sometimes one can deal with that, but he was using the long explanations to talk about how traveled he was, and how he was some type of self-educated chocolate expert (which was confusing because I didn't think a chocolate expert would need or want to pay to learn about pairing chocolate with wine).

 

And it got worse; he then stood up out of his chair, and started to make suggestions and recommendations to all the attendees about his favorite chocolate shops in NYC, and why we had to try them out. I felt bad for the sommelier because he was trying to regain the lead without sounding rude. When the guy picked up on the glares and sat back down, he then started to have a pretty loud side conversation with an equally talkative attendee. It all would have been fine if the were on the far end of the table away from the sommelier, but he was 3 seats down from the sommelier, so his talking was forced on 70% of the table. Anyway, I believe some of the attendees told him they couldn’t hear the sommelier, and he quieted down.

 

So, back to the tasting... we started with a white aperitif type of wine (Manzanilla La Gitana). I thought it was bitter, but it was interesting to contrast it with the white chocolate. Then we did a Pino Noir (Estancia – my fave, which coincidentally I had been ordering with almost all my dinners so far), then a red Zinfandel (which I didn't know existed – from Rancho Zabaco), and then a Cabernet (Chateau St Jean – had this by the glass last year, but was no longer avail by the glass). I loved them all, except for the white one, but that’s not meant to be a dinner wine anyway.

 

I participated in the pairing because I wanted to learn more about nuances of wine, but I don’t think my pallet is refined enough yet to pick up on the finer characteristics they were trying to point out (i.e. fruit, floral, herbal, oak, earthy, vegetable characteristics). Nonetheless, it was nice, and I recommend it for beginners. You get 4 half glasses of wine, some chocolate, and some education, so I think it was worth it for $20 ($17-18 if you have the UBP).

 

 

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[PierceChristopher]

On deck for some sun and reading. It was really windy, but still nice to get some sun (and drinks).

 

Signature Mai Tai

 

BBC

 

We were on the port side for the last leg of the trip, so we were able to get the sunset. Knowing it would be a nice one, we agreed to gather on our balconies to pop open the sparkling wine (pretty sure it was a Brut, not Champagne), and soak in the sunset. It was fantastic to enjoy it by ourselves on the balconies, and was a great way to wind down the end of the trip. The sun set just in time for us to make our way down for dinner. Companions went to Teppenaki, and we went to Le Bistro.

 

 

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[PierceChristopher]

Arrived at Le Bistro. Table bread was really nice! I started with the Emperors Nectar. It was good. Sweet, and the ginger beer gave it a bit of a tang.

 

Mom treated herself to a Remy Martin brandy (which isn't much of a splurge because it's only a couple of dollars after UBP discount), and she may now be hooked on it. We ordered a bottle of white, because mom wanted to try another chardonnay with a oaky flavor, and the waiter asked the sommelier, and recommended the Louis Jadot (should’ve known it would be one of the most expensive), Regardless, we get a 20% discount on bottles of wine, so it was worth trying something else. Because it was a white, we ordered mostly seafood.

 

Mom had the Feuillete D’Asperges Vertes Aux Fruits De Mer (seafood melody), which she sought was really nice.

 

I had the Escargots a la Bourguignonne (escargot), which was slightly more bland than I remember from last time.

 

We both also got the Moules Marinieres Aux Echalotes (muscles), which was nice, but the broth didn't seem super flavorful.

 

For dinner, mom got the Poelee Se Saint-Jacques (scallops), which were great!

 

 

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