Breakaway...the GOOD, BAD and UGLY!!!!

[EmergencyPA]

Have 6 NCL cruises, 1 Sky and 5 Gem. Have booked Breakaway March 2019 out of NOLA for a change in ship, departure and ports.

 

I am asking for any and all information I can get on the ship. Have talked to a couple of people when on Gem that have sailed on Breakaway and am getting mixed impressions.

 

To anyone who has sailed Breakaway I am looking for info on anything for meals, shows, reservations(dinner, shows), outdoors activities (ropes course, pools, mini golf) and has anyone had an bad experience with activities in atrium with the casino right above.

 

I want the good, bad and ugly please. Thanks

I know I could just search all reviews but hope this is faster

[ColeThornton]

.......(snip)

I know I could just search all reviews but hope this is faster

 

 

 

Yea, you're right. There are a ton of reviews that you can check out right up there in the review section and in this forum, folks have put a lot of effort in to that for you to peruse. There is some fantastic information and pictures. Take a few minutes and if you have more questions, there are plenty of good folks here who will take the time to answer.

Edited May 14, 2018 by ColeThornton

[lenquixote66]

Have 6 NCL cruises, 1 Sky and 5 Gem. Have booked Breakaway March 2019 out of NOLA for a change in ship, departure and ports.

 

I am asking for any and all information I can get on the ship. Have talked to a couple of people when on Gem that have sailed on Breakaway and am getting mixed impressions.

 

To anyone who has sailed Breakaway I am looking for info on anything for meals, shows, reservations(dinner, shows), outdoors activities (ropes course, pools, mini golf) and has anyone had an bad experience with activities in atrium with the casino right above.

 

I want the good, bad and ugly please. Thanks

I know I could just search all reviews but hope this is faster

 

We were on the Breakaway in February 2017 .Disembarkation was terrible .It took nearly 2 hours to get off the ship

[CPT Trips]

Disembarkation problems may well be a NYC issue. I think NOLA may have more space.

[Sand and Seas]

Disembarkation problems may well be a NYC issue. I think NOLA may have more space.

I think you are right. We have sailed out of NOLA many times and disembarkation hasn't been that bad.

[danny6514]

I had fun on the escape and getaway so I'm sure you'll also enjoy breakaway since they're pretty similar.

 

Good:

 

We really enjoyed the slides and ropes course. The ship always felt lively, something was always happening at the atrium everytime we walked by. Waterfront is such a great concept and it's one thing we missed a lot on our recent Royal Caribbean cruise. Garden Cafe (buffet) is very decent for a cruise ship buffet and has very long hours. All specialty dining restaurants were great, with the exception of the Brazilian BBQ, that was mediocre. Overall the vibe you get onboard is casual and relaxed, no formal night or whatever. Very free, do whatever you want.

 

Bad:

 

We found the MDR to be mediocre, but that's completely subjective. While shows such as the newlywed show are awesome, you better get to the atrium a good 30 minutes before the show to get a seat or else you'll be standing shoulder to shoulder with someone while being blocked by many rows of people in front of you. Why they chose to host such a popular show in a crowded atrium is beyond me.

 

Ugly:

 

Its quite obvious they made the pool deck so crowded so people will pay more for places like the vibe or even the thermal suite. The pool deck is extremely crowded and a gross underestimation by NCL. Good luck finding a hot tub space during the day unless you want to enjoy some intimate time with a fellow stranger in there.

 

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[BostonGal35]

we enjoy Breakaway, but it usually contains the rudest passengers ive ever encountered on any NCL ship. I highly suspect that when she's homeported in NOLA, this will change. if you plan ahead and book shows and dinners in advance of boarding, you will have a much more enjoyable experience than if you try to just decide the day of where to eat and what to do.

[CPT Trips]

we enjoy Breakaway, but it usually contains the rudest passengers ive ever encountered on any NCL ship. I highly suspect that when she's homeported in NOLA, this will change. if you plan ahead and book shows and dinners in advance of boarding, you will have a much more enjoyable experience than if you try to just decide the day of where to eat and what to do.

 

NOLA will be just as big a problem with rudeness during football season. Just won't be Patriot fans . . . ;p

[davy jones]

Breakway is a good ship, but there are some issues that prevent it from being much better.

 

The first issue is the constant use of the theater for shows and activities that are better suited for the theater. There is not enough pool area for a 4000 passenger ship. Lastly, the open casino can can cause problems for people outside of the casino who are smoke sensitive. It can also limit access to the noodle bar and Bliss lounge, which are accessed through the casino.

 

The ship is just coming out of drydock. There has been unverified talk of air handling improvement to improve on the smoke issue.

 

Food is subjective, but we found the food to be just fine. Of course, the dining in the specialty restaurants is better than the MDR, but the MDRs were on par with Royal and Carnival. O'Sheehan's is good for pub fare. The buffet fare varies, but you will find things to your liking.

 

Entertainment is varied and good. Rock of Ages is good if you like 80s rock.

 

You experience will be better if you make show and dining reservations in advance.

[BostonGal35]

NOLA will be just as big a problem with rudeness during football season. Just won't be Patriot fans . . . ;p

 

ive sailed from NOLA during football season. no issues.

 

a decent amount of the new york crowd tends to be VERY demanding and VERY demeaning and condescending towards the crew. the crew is there to serve you, but they are not servants. Big difference. i havent noticed much rudeness towards fellow passengers, but many are truly awful to the crew. its cringe worthy. that said, we know this full well going in to a sail and as long as you are prepared for it, its manageable. i will be curious to see if the Escape takes on this same feel (we'll find out over new years). we did sail Gem from NYC, but we were in the Haven and didnt see anything too crazy.

[mking8288]

I suggest reading some of the recent reviews - an advanced CC search will show them. Look at the BA experience like any other ships in terms of:

a) ship's design, layout & unique but "static" features ... pro's & con's (i.e. size of staterooms & balconies)

b) ship's personalities - homeport, ports of calls, itineraries (captain & senior officers, CD, concierge and ... hmmm, bartenders)

c) background & culture (the ports, the passenger mix, and the shows, themed events, (i.e. jammed with kids & oversea cruisers)

 

Ship just out of its 1st. dry dock, spending this summer in Europe - officers & crews moving around, personalities associated with the ship possibly redefined when returning TA westbound ... cycles of vacations & leaves will hit. Sailing out of NOLA - as you might imagine - is new and with the unknown, docking & boarding, etc.

 

Outdoor activities including the rope course/walking the plank and water slides are weather dependent, and of course, the pools & tubs are considered by some to be inadequate & small to be floating with 4,500 pax on any given sailings, chair hogs jamming the sun decks. Like others, read some of the reviews & look at some of the wonderful pictures associated with it, then ask questions.

 

The menus & dining experience are pretty much same as other mega ships in the fleet. The issues with the smokey casino hopefuly get some remedial fixes, to ease & better exhaust some of the nicotine smell in the central atrium lobby with casino central. The forward "lobby" function area is a different atrium further away from the casino, where smoke & odor is less of a concern - but, limited space often a problem as indoor functions, on bad sea days with outdoors on lockdown ... the crowds tend to hangout.

 

Pick a good midship location if you rather not do plenty of daily walking exercise, elevators can be crowded on turnaround & port days where folks are always in a hurry - only 2 motorized wheelchairs will fit inside the "lifts". We usually walk down if it's 2 or 3, 4 decks to burn calories.

 

Being from NYC, we have some of the best steakhouses & freshest seafood, no more than 15 or 20 minutes away so MDR is fine for us ... Taste & Savor, as the "smaller" dining room is our preference, services usually a little faster & food temperature a little better. Mix in O'Sheehans' (soon to be "The Local" ???) for its limited menu hot full breakfast & all day comfort dining to substitute for the MDR lunch menu that doesn't rotate or change to get some variety ... MDR is open for breakfast on sea days and now has 3 daily specials, and to us, more civilized than to hunt for a table & chairs in the crowded buffet ... unless your target is 4,500+ calories a day.

 

Bonus - up till now, ship's WiFi inTERnet is one of the best, if not the fastest, you get more bangs for that 250 minutes measured by the MB consumed, as not everyone stayed glued in their stateroom or smartphone/iPad on an unlimited premium data plan upgrade.