Quick Breakaway review 6/30-7/7

[drvmywifecrzy]

Overall was a great cruise to Western Caribbean.  (Roatan, Harvest Caye, Costa Maya, Cozumel)

 

Used free Air from Atlanta - no issues either way.  Into MIA on AA arrived 9am , home from FLL on Delta departed 11:30am and was worried but was at gate by 10am using NCL transportation

 

Cabin - Had a BA balcony deck 13 - lots of storage space, small balcony, room steward did nice job, no towel animals, no replacement of pool/beach towels

 

• Shows -
  • Saw Rock of Ages - excellent - not advised to those under 12 or so - lots of sexual innuendo 
  • Burn the Floor - good show - and had excellent performance in the Manhattan room at Dinner
  • Magician/comic - in the main showroom - show was fun but cheesy - great for all kids
  • Comedy - two comedians were average and in an oddity all shows were better in PG form then 18+ shows

 

• Dining
  • Tappenyaki - excellent - huge portions - great show by chefs
  • Cagneys - excellent service - good food - great desserts if you have room
  • Moderno - average food , less then stellar service, would rather do Cagneys twice
  • Manhattan room - great service - good food - live music or shows - men cannot wear shorts M-F, all were turned away, kids were ok
  • Buffet mostly for breakfast - all was fine, i mean it is a buffet - tons of staff bussing cleaning etc which is nice
  • Osheehans - service slow - food average but it is pub food so it is what it is

 

• Casino
  • Busy from 7 to 9 around show times
  • Tables - lots of choices
  • Slots - not as nice a selection as other away class ships
  • Smoke smell - worse when casino is empty - guess it is just burnt in the carpet, walls, and machines

 

 

 

• Ports
  • Roatan - did NCL tour to see Monkeys, McCaws, sloths etc - was a nice place - great if you had kids-  monkeys roam free and like to pick pockets - oh and one lady got a golden shower which funny to the rest of us
  • Harvest Caye - It is what it is - nice pool , cracked shell sand beach (ouch and hot)  - some seaweed but they were raking it up all day -  Zip line is taken down (not sure why)
  • Costa Maya - did Maya Chan - nice local type resort - great service, great home cooked food, fun drinks ----the bad was the seaweed , I mean there must have been 3 dumptrucks worth and it smelled,  they did advise us in advance and told us we could cancel but it was worse then anyone could imagine
  • COzumel - a return visit to Mr Sanchos - great food and drinks - free cabana - massages beach front - clear water on beach, great pool bar service

 

If anyone has specific questions I will reply as possible

 

 

[YankeesFan4Life]

Thanks for the review! Leaving in a month, same itinerary.  So Manhattan Room no shorts? What about the other MDR?  

 

Also, we have Maya Chan booked, and they sent out an email yesterday about the seaweed.  You think it's worth it to cancel??  Was the smell THAT bad?  Were you able to get into the ocean at all?

[drvmywifecrzy]

30 minutes ago, YankeesFan4Life said:

Thanks for the review! Leaving in a month, same itinerary.  So Manhattan Room no shorts? What about the other MDR?  

 

Also, we have Maya Chan booked, and they sent out an email yesterday about the seaweed.  You think it's worth it to cancel??  Was the smell THAT bad?  Were you able to get into the ocean at all?

 

100% no shorts Mon thru Fri in Manhattan.  Other Main dining rooms it is fine

 

After what I saw I would cancel Maya Chan which I hate to say cause the food and drink and service was great but we did not get in the water.  About 5 people did.  The smell was pretty bad.  Also where you meet outside the gate, then they grab a taxi for you (no charge or tip) but the last 10-15 minutes of the drive is a dirt/sand road with a ton of potholes.  I mean it is Mexico but if you get car sick the zigging and zagging to try to miss them would be bad.  Personally, last time I was there I did Native Choice and saw the ruins which was excellent (although hot).   Another choice would be to use the pool right at the port ( I believe is free)

[Sauer-kraut]

Sargassum seaweed is REALLY bad this year.  I've seen reports on the news where people have to walk across a LOT of the rotting seaweed to get to the water and then its in the water as well.  One resort owner said they've hired wranglers who are working 10 hours a day to get the plant off the beach but it keeps washing up, and yes, it really does STINK.

[sassyshar]

Thank you for your  review.   Do you happen to remember the name of the NCL  excursion in Roatan, will be there in October    Thanks

 

[Wilson]

Online check in is open for our Nov 3rd sailing, but it will not allow us to book Rock of Ages. Did you reserve prior to sailing or just show up? If you booked ahead, do you recall when it became available? Hope all seats are not already taken.

[newmexicoNita]

15 hours ago, YankeesFan4Life said:

Thanks for the review! Leaving in a month, same itinerary.  So Manhattan Room no shorts? What about the other MDR?  

 

Also, we have Maya Chan booked, and they sent out an email yesterday about the seaweed.  You think it's worth it to cancel??  Was the smell THAT bad?  Were you able to get into the ocean at all?

Thanks for the review and the heads up about Maya Chan. 

 

We have done Maya Chan twice and yes, the seaweed problem was pretty bad both times, but nothing like the poster is saying. This must be just an unusual problem right now. It did interfere with our snorkeling though. I don't remember any smell at all. Now I  am wondering if we should cancel our reservation. I guess I will check with others in our group. I feel bad for the resort owner as he has been so helpful and honest about everything including giving us a discount as past guests. 

[drvmywifecrzy]

12 hours ago, sassyshar said:

Thank you for your  review.   Do you happen to remember the name of the NCL  excursion in Roatan, will be there in October    Thanks

 

 

Gumbalimba Preserve & Animal Sanctuary

 

[drvmywifecrzy]

8 hours ago, Wilson said:

Online check in is open for our Nov 3rd sailing, but it will not allow us to book Rock of Ages. Did you reserve prior to sailing or just show up? If you booked ahead, do you recall when it became available? Hope all seats are not already taken.

 

Definitely booked in advance I believe 120 days out.  I am not a musical fan but it was really entertaining and almost 2 hours long

[drvmywifecrzy]

15 minutes ago, newmexicoNita said:

Thanks for the review and the heads up about Maya Chan. 

 

We have done Maya Chan twice and yes, the seaweed problem was pretty bad both times, but nothing like the poster is saying. This must be just an unusual problem right now. It did interfere with our snorkeling though. I don't remember any smell at all. Now I  am wondering if we should cancel our reservation. I guess I will check with others in our group. I feel bad for the resort owner as he has been so helpful and honest about everything including giving us a discount as past guests. 

 

Exactly I feel bad as well.  They told us it was bad via email about 2 weeks out and even when we got to the check point they said it was bad.  But we were there for like 5 hours and the guys did not stop raking and scooping and that was like a 40 foot wide section to enter the water.  I have never experienced a smell like this for seaweed.  And as you drive the shoreline there is just tons and tons of it everywhere.

[MarkE]

At Mr Sanchos was it easy to get a cabana and is there a charge for that?  Was it packed I believe there are 3 ships in port on the day we visit I have read comments that pool is packed.  Are cabs easy to get for return to ship?  We are going next week with the grandsons and tips about the ports will be greatly appreciated. 

[drvmywifecrzy]

6 minutes ago, MarkE said:

At Mr Sanchos was it easy to get a cabana and is there a charge for that?  Was it packed I believe there are 3 ships in port on the day we visit I have read comments that pool is packed.  Are cabs easy to get for return to ship?  We are going next week with the grandsons and tips about the ports will be greatly appreciated. 

 

So I did not pay for my cabana but YMMV.  As the guy was walking us to a spot my fiance said how about this cabana and he said it was reserved.  She frowned and said are you sure and asked how they split/share tips.  He then said hold on, waled away for a minute and came back and said the "manager" said we could have it.   The place is crowded but the service is excellent and they know how to handle a crowd.  Don't be shy there order up and enjoy.  Cabs are super easy to get back, in fact, when you pull out in your cab I bet you will see 50 more in line waiting to pick up guests there.

[Jasonmom]

Thanks for taking time to write review.

[drvmywifecrzy]

23 hours ago, Jasonmom said:

Thanks for taking time to write review.

 

Its a good thing to share with the cruise community