Embarkation Day Questions for the Breakaway

[chenj78]

Hello Cruisers,

 

We're headed to Bermuda aboard the Breakaway from NYC on June 18. Only a month away and super excited!

 

We plan to arrive at the port around 10am-ish, probably not before that. Any tips or feedback on how the process will flow? When we will get onboard with this approximate timeline?

 

Also, suggestions for embarkation day lunch? Possible to avoid lines? Hoping our tentative early arrival to the cruise terminal will allow us to grab lunch without too much of a wait.

 

Any other embarkation day suggestions are greatly appreciated!

 

 

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[MICHLEV1974]

Hello Cruisers,

 

We're headed to Bermuda aboard the Breakaway from NYC on June 18. Only a month away and super excited!

We plan to arrive at the port around 10am-ish, probably not before that. Any tips or feedback on how the process will flow? When we will get onboard with this approximate timeline?

Also, suggestions for embarkation day lunch? Possible to avoid lines? Hoping our tentative early arrival to the cruise terminal will allow us to grab lunch without too much of a wait.

Any other embarkation day suggestions are greatly appreciated!

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If this is your first time with NCL, there are folks that board early. Can you let us know what room category you booked (ie Haven, Suite, Casino)? If you have sailed NCL before, what is your level (ie bronze, platinum). Did you book a room as a result of a Casino promo?

 

Also, on your e-docs, did you select a time to arrive at the pier?

 

I am a regular bronze NCL so I board with the common folk....usually on the ship by 1130 am - 12 -- general boarding :) I selected my port time to arrive 9:30-10---which equates to the time the port authority will allow you to move to the security line inside to then check in. After you check in with your edocs you will be given a number for your 'boarding group'. There you will wait until your group # is called. At that time you will head to the line to board the ship. They will take your group's picture before you go to the gangway entrance. Fun times and enjoy! I leave on the Breakaway in 9 days :) so excited!

 

Don't worry about food lines, there's plenty to eat and plenty of places to grab a bite to eat on Day 1 :) I don't mind the crowds at the buffet and will hunt for a table or stalk a table until it's free :) O'Sheehans will be a wait time of probably 30mins+ but I can taste those chicken wings already so I know we will hit that for Day 1 lunch :) I heard the hotdog cart will be open on Day 1 also...that might be fun to grab one and walk around the ship and explore. After the muster drill, the food opens back up for service. I told the teens to pack some protein bars...hahaha

[chenj78]

First time on NCL, so we'll be boarding with the common folks. Appreciate your feedback!

 

 

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[BirdTravels]

We're headed to Bermuda aboard the Breakaway from NYC on June 18. Only a month away and super excited!

Have a great cruise. We will be on the breakaway in a few days!

We plan to arrive at the port around 10am-ish, probably not before that. Any tips or feedback on how the process will flow? When we will get onboard with this approximate timeline?

We are platinum members and arrive around the same time. You will get to avoid the long security and check in lines by showing up early! Good Choice! It will take about 30 minutes to get through security and check-in. Boarding starts around 11:15 with priority boarding first (Havens/Suites, Ambassador Members (700 equivalent cruise nights - way too many), Platinum Plus, Platinum, Casino Guests). You will be given a group number. General boarding start 11:15-11:30.

Also, suggestions for embarkation day lunch? Possible to avoid lines? Hoping our tentative early arrival to the cruise terminal will allow us to grab lunch without too much of a wait.

The buffet will open at 11:30. No lines, but lots of crowds if you don't go their first. Taste and Savor Main Dining Rooms will open at noon. No lines. Have a nice, quite lunch.

 

Any other embarkation day suggestions are greatly appreciated!

If you are kinda new to cruising, look at the Freestyle Daily (or your iConcierge app) and take the 30 minute walking tour of the ship with the Cruise Director's staff. This takes you through public areas only. The Breakaway is a Mega Ship and having someone walk you around will help you for the rest of the week.

 

Muster is at 3:30. Get to your muster station about 15-20 minutes early if you want a seat (unless your muster station is the theater). Otherwise you need to stand.

We normally go up to the Deck 16 sundeck. Stay on the port side to see the sights of Manhattan and then switch to starboard to see the statue of liberty. Then up as high as we can for the bridge.

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Have a great cruise!

[Maraprince]

Just returned from the 5/14 sailing on the Breakaway. We arrived around 10:30 AM, (Platinum level) completed the check in process and were given #1 for boarding. However, there was some problem with the returning sailing that passengers were still getting off after 12 noon! Since the terminal was filled to capacity, check in was suspended at least 2 times.

 

We were fortunate to have seats to wait in the handicapped area and staff was finding seats for anyone who could not stand up. One of the first groups to board other than the Haven was a wedding party some of whom were sailing. Then it was our turn around 12:30-12:45. We were able to go to our cabin to drop off hand carries and then it was up to the buffet for lunch. Since boarding was delayed, it was not overly crowded and having #1 boarding number really helped. Life boat drill was late starting and finishing since passengers were still boarding.

 

I am happy to say that getting off the ship went much more smoothly. Off and in the terminal shortly after 9:15 AM, home in Queens by 10:30 AM after taxi went over Whitestone Bridge and through the Bronx to avoid traffic in mid-town due to 3 parades on Sunday.

 

My advice...go early, get checked in and wait comfortably in the terminal. People were lining up in the terminal to purchase hot dogs and drinks due to the delayed boarding.

 

MARAPRINCE

[BostonGal35]

we always arrive around 10 and are on board right after haven and CAS guests. i expect we may be on even sooner this time with our Plat status. we are usually on board by 1130.

 

we always eat in the MDR for lunch (always one open on embark day). we first hit the restaurant desk to make any changes to dining we may need (we book everything ahead at the 90 day mark). by the time we are done eating, rooms are usually ready, and then not long after bags start to arrive. we are usually unpacked before muster.

[mking8288]

BA will be at Pier 88, you will be among the 4,500+ pax boarding after 4,500 disembark ... usually a smooth process, lines are unavoidable but as long as it move, things will flow nicely. Two gangways are used, FWD and AFT - you will step onto Deck 7 upon boarding the ship.

 

Crew will try to steer everyone including you to the buffet on deck 15. Smile & say thank you, take the stairs down one deck to #6 - 2 of the smaller MDR, Taste & Savor are open for sit-down lunch, that's the best place to enjoy & relax - it's open at 12 noon, probably open or about ready to get folks seated for meal services. (Elevators will be packed full and some are reserved on bypass for Haven & suite guests only)

 

By the time you are done with lunch - around 1 or 1:30 pm, rooms should be ready and if still not due to unexpected turnaround delays, you can probably dropped off carry-on items, and go explore the rest of the ship. Mandatory life boat/safety drills at your designated Muster Station is held 30 minutes before sailing, the "coded location" is printed on your Guest Keycard.

 

Have a nice cruise.

[Mashala]

Hello :)

 

Sailing on the Breakaway on Sept 17th, first-time cruisers!

 

I have a question following your post:

I'm unsure about the boarding time selected. When I originally checked-in online I was missing my new passport number. Once I received it, I couldn't select 10:30-11:00 anymore as my boarding time. I had to go with 11:30-12:00. Since we will be arriving in NY around 7:00 am, I really want to board as soon as possible!

 

When you say "I selected my port time to arrive 9:30-10---which equates to the time the port authority will allow you to move to the security line inside to then check in." Do you mean that port authority will only allow you to go through security at the time selected during online checking? If so, is it worth it at all for me to get to the pier early (8:30-9:00) and perhaps be able to board earlier then my online check-in time? We have no luggage to check in, only carry on. I don't mind waiting an hour or so but there is no point for us to arrive at 9:00 if they won't allow us to go through security before 11:30.

 

If this is your first time with NCL, there are folks that board early. Can you let us know what room category you booked (ie Haven, Suite, Casino)? If you have sailed NCL before, what is your level (ie bronze, platinum). Did you book a room as a result of a Casino promo?

 

Also, on your e-docs, did you select a time to arrive at the pier?

 

I am a regular bronze NCL so I board with the common folk....usually on the ship by 1130 am - 12 -- general boarding :) I selected my port time to arrive 9:30-10---which equates to the time the port authority will allow you to move to the security line inside to then check in. After you check in with your edocs you will be given a number for your 'boarding group'. There you will wait until your group # is called. At that time you will head to the line to board the ship. They will take your group's picture before you go to the gangway entrance. Fun times and enjoy! I leave on the Breakaway in 9 days :) so excited!

 

Don't worry about food lines, there's plenty to eat and plenty of places to grab a bite to eat on Day 1 :) I don't mind the crowds at the buffet and will hunt for a table or stalk a table until it's free :) O'Sheehans will be a wait time of probably 30mins+ but I can taste those chicken wings already so I know we will hit that for Day 1 lunch :) I heard the hotdog cart will be open on Day 1 also...that might be fun to grab one and walk around the ship and explore. After the muster drill, the food opens back up for service. I told the teens to pack some protein bars...hahaha

[mking8288]

Hello :)

Sailing on the Breakaway on Sept 17th, first-time cruisers! ... no luggage to check in, only carry on. I don't mind waiting an hour or so but there is no point for us to arrive at 9:00 if they won't allow us to go through security before 11:30.

The check-in/boarding time isn't enforced strictly yet in NY port - doing so would likely slow down screening further. Just arrive at MCT at whatever & wait - depending on how your arrival (JFK, LGA or EWR ??) - maybe eat a light breakfast before taking ground transportation to the pier.

 

Security screening lines usually do not open before 9 AM for anyone and until you get thru, there is no check-in for anyone. Folks are directed to different waiting area, with seating for several hundreds but not thousands to wait - until the ship is cleared & ready to early board, that's generally around 11 AM with general boarding (by zones or numbers) around 11:15 to 11:30.

 

There are restrooms, vending machine & a coffee shop inside the terminal, post-security. Our Gem boarding earlier this year was delayed as ship was late, and, they had a table setup in the waiting area to do specialty restaurant booking ... you can browse the Freestyle Daily while you wait and even register/activate the free iConcierge App.

[Mashala]

Great thank you :) !

 

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