Just off Breakaway (7/2-7/9 sailing)

[thistimeplease]

What time did you get there to get chairs? We tried on each of the three sea days and there was not a chair to be had, much less two together. As others have posted, the chair hog phenomenon (which is not unique to NCL or the Breakaway) was rampant on our cruise. More clothes, towels and flip flops in chairs than people.

 

 

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It was a year ago so things could have changed but we usually arrived in H20 about 8 am. Hubby likes a lounger and I like a chair. Never had a problem getting a spot we liked near the waterfall. Keeping fingers crossed we have the same experience this year.

[flyingandcruising]

So let me start off by saying none of the 24 cruises we've been on have been bad cruises, including this one. We've been on some fantastic ones, some really good ones, a few average ones … and, frankly, this very disappointing one. We've been on almost all the mainstream lines at this point, plus Cunard and Azamara, but Celebrity and Royal Caribbean are our favorite and most frequent choices.

 

We had only been on NCL once previously - the Dawn from Boston to Bermuda a few years ago. That was a pleasant surprise and we enjoyed our NCL experience enough to try the Breakaway last minute. Although we managed to find a way to enjoy ourselves on this ship, it requires effort… and that in itself was a first for us and says a lot about our experience.

 

The ship is indeed far too crowded. Although we've been on bigger ships, Oasis and Allure, this ship is not designed or staffed to handled the number of passengers. The pool deck is a madhouse … even when compared to the 2 early Carnival cruises we did long ago. No deck chair availability, pools and hot tubs so crowded you would be lucky to step into one.

 

So to deal with that, we paid $400 for a spa package for 2 for the week. That was really nice. Plenty of chairs, including those heated tiled chairs, along with nice sauna, steam room, salt room, and most importantly, a great indoor thelossatherapy pool with awesome massaging jets and other nice features, including a lack of crowds.

 

We had a balcony guarantee and were very happy with our cabin mid ship on 13 (so between passenger decks). Comfy bed, and nice relatively roomy bathroom. Balconies are indeed tiny on this ship but fine for sitting for a few minutes in the morning and evenings with coffee or whatever.

 

Other pluses, the soft serve ice cream was the best we've ever had on a ship. Not icy or flavorless like many we've experienced, but DQ quality creamy and delicious. Actually all the desserts were notably good. The rest of the food was average … with no real improvements in quality from buffet to dining room to specialty restaurants (we tried 3 and would only recommend Teppanyaki).

 

The most frustrating aspect of the cruise was the freestyle dining concept. It really only works for the specialty restaurants where u can make reservations, but most of those were completely booked up almost immediately after boarding. They have 3 regular dining rooms where the drill is u show up, wait in a line for 5-10 minutes to give them your cabin number. They give u a beeper and you wait another 15 minutes of so for a table. Then once you are finally seated, everything takes forever because the restaurants are so understaffed. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we waited 5-10 minutes to be welcomed or to get water. Then the friendly wait staff (its not their fault NCL under staffs so badly) tell you they will be with you as soon as possible. So you wait another 10 minutes or so before you can order a drink or your meal. It's just the way NCL runs it, and for us, it's just a really unpleasant experience, which is too bad because the dining experiences on other cruise lines are regularly among the best parts of the cruise.

 

The other thing I'd caution folks on that may be considering this cruise. Almost everyone seemed to have the "all you can drink" package - either as a TA perk or because they purchased it. It's also common on Celebrity and Royal, but I've never seen it used to the embarrassingly drunken degree so many folks on this cruise used it. It's just not fun being around a ship full of folks drinking around the clock and to see and smell the consequences of those who had one (or 10) too many.

 

So as I said, we found ways to enjoy this cruise, too, but we are agreed that NCL's freestyle dining, problems with understaffing, too many drunken passengers, and way too crowded conditions, mean this was our last NCL experienc

 

 

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What time did you usually eat in the MDR?

[uneamie]

The early bird gets the worm. My husband and I get up and go sit ourselves in seats at an early hour. Then we listen to people who made a choice to sleep in complain that the chairs are all full. I have little sympathy. I've even been accused of being a chair hog because my ass is in a seat. Ha!

LOL....I am really glad that I could care less if I get a chair or not. On my vacation, I am not about to set the alarm clock to get up just to secure a chair. I am not much of a sun worshipper and I have no need to be near the pool so that's probably why.

[Boatingmom]

Thanks for the insight. I loved DAN DAN! Choked me up at the farewell show. Love cruising out of NYC too. Easy peasy. Save on airfare and upgrade to haven. No issues[emoji1417]

 

 

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[Quencups]

My two cents with regard to the drinking issue. We have been on the Breakaway four times, mostly in the Haven. But our last cruise -6/4 was by far the worst with drunk people. My husband is a smoker and a late nite gambler but not a drinker. The problem is that many of the younger people who drink to excess at either the O'Sheehans bar or the Bliss bar wander into the casino to smoke. Hubby said that some of them were so drunk, screaming and swearing and falling down, etc., that it was either leave the casino or get in a fight. I saw it one night that I was in the casino at 2am and it prompted me to leave. This was the only cruise we have seen it this bad. I think its the UBP offer and maybe NCL should re-consider that perk. I definitely saw first handed an increase in intoxicated people roaming around. As a mom, it is upsetting to see a girl fall down in a dress - so drunk that she needed to be picked up. It didn't ruin our vacation, but it definitely made us stay in the Haven more. Just my two cents based on MY experience. Not here to argue with anyone

[LrgPizza]

My two cents with regard to the drinking issue. We have been on the Breakaway four times, mostly in the Haven. But our last cruise -6/4 was by far the worst with drunk people. My husband is a smoker and a late nite gambler but not a drinker. The problem is that many of the younger people who drink to excess at either the O'Sheehans bar or the Bliss bar wander into the casino to smoke. Hubby said that some of them were so drunk, screaming and swearing and falling down, etc., that it was either leave the casino or get in a fight. I saw it one night that I was in the casino at 2am and it prompted me to leave. This was the only cruise we have seen it this bad. I think its the UBP offer and maybe NCL should re-consider that perk. I definitely saw first handed an increase in intoxicated people roaming around. As a mom, it is upsetting to see a girl fall down in a dress - so drunk that she needed to be picked up. It didn't ruin our vacation, but it definitely made us stay in the Haven more. Just my two cents based on MY experience. Not here to argue with anyone

I was on that exact same cruise, and I missed all that! Well, except the older lady I mentioned who was out of her mind drunk by dinner time every evening. One younger man told me it was his aunt from somewhere in California, but she was a hot mess.

[Quencups]

I was on that exact same cruise, and I missed all that! Well, except the older lady I mentioned who was out of her mind drunk by dinner time every evening. One younger man told me it was his aunt from somewhere in California, but she was a hot mess.

 

LOL...I think I may know who you are talking about. :) She was a BIG hit in the Atrium lol

[proll267]

Did you see the over served drunk punk with the long hair try to fight NCL employees and then try to shatter the glass over looking the atrium with a chair? That was fun................. Security just let him go over and over again and he would start another fight. In that situation, that person needs to be directed out of the public areas before someone gets hurt. My wife was almost hit by this guys rampage after security already let him go twice.

[LrgPizza]

LOL...I think I may know who you are talking about. :) She was a BIG hit in the Atrium lol

She tried to pick up a guy more than half her age, then went crazy screaming when he wouldn't take her back to his cabin. Ha! This was in Maltings. I did see her prowling around the atrium too, but we never hung out there, so I didn't see her in action.

[mjkacmom]

The Breakaway does have 2 pools, plus a splash park with a baby pool. We've sailed on 4 NCL ships with our family of 7, have never made MDR dining reservations, and have never received a pager. However, we've never cruised during the summer.

[Maraprince]

My two cents with regard to the drinking issue. We have been on the Breakaway four times, mostly in the Haven. But our last cruise -6/4 was by far the worst with drunk people. My husband is a smoker and a late nite gambler but not a drinker. The problem is that many of the younger people who drink to excess at either the O'Sheehans bar or the Bliss bar wander into the casino to smoke. Hubby said that some of them were so drunk, screaming and swearing and falling down, etc., that it was either leave the casino or get in a fight. I saw it one night that I was in the casino at 2am and it prompted me to leave. This was the only cruise we have seen it this bad. I think its the UBP offer and maybe NCL should re-consider that perk. I definitely saw first handed an increase in intoxicated people roaming around. As a mom, it is upsetting to see a girl fall down in a dress - so drunk that she needed to be picked up. It didn't ruin our vacation, but it definitely made us stay in the Haven more. Just my two cents based on MY experience. Not here to argue with anyone

 

 

Unfortunately for the non drinkers, it is indeed sad to see how drunk some of these "adults" get because of the drink packages offered. It wasn't just the younger passengers who acted crazy either. Perhaps there needs to be a cut off point of less drinks that will be given to an individual that are tracked via your room card to avoid situations like these. Eventually, someone will get seriously hurt or will hurt another passenger who has the misfortune to be nearby.

 

Maraprince

[LrgPizza]

Unfortunately for the non drinkers, it is indeed sad to see how drunk some of these "adults" get because of the drink packages offered. It wasn't just the younger passengers who acted crazy either. Perhaps there needs to be a cut off point of less drinks that will be given to an individual that are tracked via your room card to avoid situations like these. Eventually, someone will get seriously hurt or will hurt another passenger who has the misfortune to be nearby.

 

 

 

Maraprince

 

 

 

You make some big assumptions here. Who says these people get drunk because of the drink packages? For all you know they could be stumbling drunk at home 5 nights per week.

[Two Wheels Only]

There are probably over a thousand adults who have the UBP on every BA cruise. Even if a dozen people over do it and embarrass themselves, that's still a very small percentage.

 

There isn't a need for limits to the package. It's a personal responsibility issue.

[suntan]

There are probably over a thousand adults who have the UBP on every BA cruise. Even if a dozen people over do it and embarrass themselves, that's still a very small percentage.

 

There isn't a need for limits to the package. It's a personal responsibility issue.

 

Well said!

[LrgPizza]

There are some here who will someday cruise on a ship that doesn't offer drink packages. They will run into a drunk person and be utterly dumbfounded, not understanding how it could possibly happen. LOL!

[swedish weave]

There are some here who will someday cruise on a ship that doesn't offer drink packages. They will run into a drunk person and be utterly dumbfounded, not understanding how it could possibly happen. LOL!

 

There are also some who face reality and know that the drink packages cause many to over indulge.

 

I believe a lawsuit in the near future wI'll place responsibility on the cruise lines and force them to adjust their alcohol policies.

Edited July 15, 2017 by swedish weave
Additional comment.

[Maraprince]

If those who have the UBP and who over indulge were ashore, the bar tender has a responsibility to cut them off. You probably think that even if a person falls down, starts fighting/being abusive is not reason enough to stop serving them.

 

Bad behavior, for whatever reason, should never be allowed on board and especially not at sea where passengers are a captive audience and can easily become victims of someone else's lack of responsibility/control.

 

MARAPRINCE

[Two Wheels Only]

...the drink packages cause many to over indulge.

 

I believe a lawsuit in the near future wI'll place responsibility on the cruise lines and force them to adjust their alcohol policies.

The UBP doesn't "cause" people to do anything. If it did, everyone would over indulge.

It does allow irresponsible people to over indulge.

 

As part of the Guest Contract, the guest is responsible for their actions. NCL doesn't force alcohol down anyone's throat.

 

If a drunken guest beats someone to a bloody pulp, the drunk (not NCL) could face a lawsuit and would probably lose.

[Two Wheels Only]

If those who have the UBP and who over indulge were ashore, the bar tender has a responsibility to cut them off. You probably think that even if a person falls down, starts fighting/being abusive is not reason enough to stop serving them.

NCL will stop serving an obviously over intoxicated person. The problem is that before the alcohol takes effect, the bartender will serve.

[mackilbeggan]

Totally agree with the previous two posters about the Breakaway experience.

DH and I sailed on the Breakaway this past September.

Our experience with the crowding in the public areas, the over use(IMHO) of the drink package by numerous passengers, lack of decent entertainment and a difficult disembarkation process has made us realize that the Breakaway is not our kind of ship.

This is unfortunate as leaving from NYC (our home port ) and sailing to Bermuda ( one of our favorite vacation destinations) would be ideal for us.

When we took a Princess cruise on the Regal several weeks after our Breakaway experience, we were relieved to return to a more " civilized " type of cruise.

For now, we will continue to book cruises on either Princess or Celebrity or enjoy resort stays in Bermuda and beautiful places in the US.

Why would you not do the celebrity summit from Bayonne. Close enough to call a home port

 

 

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[Maraprince]

The UBP doesn't "cause" people to do anything. If it did, everyone would over indulge.

It does allow irresponsible people to over indulge.

 

As part of the Guest Contract, the guest is responsible for their actions. NCL doesn't force alcohol down anyone's throat.

 

If a drunken guest beats someone to a bloody pulp, the drunk (not NCL) could face a lawsuit and would probably lose.

 

 

 

IMO it should never reach the level where one person who has exceeded their own personal drink limit causes harm to another passenger with no provocation. While the UBP does not "force" anyone to drink over their own limit it does facilitate the process because their rationale to keep drinking is that they have the UBP and they intend to use it as much as humanly possible regardless.

 

MARAPRINCE

[Two Wheels Only]

IMO it should never reach the level where one person who has exceeded their own personal drink limit causes harm to another passenger with no provocation. While the UBP does not "force" anyone to drink over their own limit it does facilitate the process because their rationale to keep drinking is that they have the UBP and they intend to use it as much as humanly possible regardless.

Even WITHOUT the UBP, some people will still drink in excess and possibly cause harm to themselves or to someone else. Neither the UBP or even the presence of alcohol is the problem. It's the small percentage of bad apples that is the problem.

[MJSailors]

Why would you not do the celebrity summit from Bayonne. Close enough to call a home port

 

 

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We have sailed on the Summit to Bermuda from Bayonne.This was in 2010.

It was a fine cruise,however,we prefer Princess cruises.

Now, if Celebrity would replace the Summmit -M class ship-with one of their S class ships (Silhouette comes to mind) we would consider another cruise from Bayonne to Bermuda.

[ARYANJ89]

Hi all - who was the cruise director on this sailing?

[Catgirlmitzmal]

Hi all - who was the cruise director on this sailing?

Dan Dan