Breakaway January 8-15, 2023

[cruisinmeme]

Here you go with few random things from my cruise.

first off in NOLA if your time is 9-9:30 nothing will happen for you until 9:30 . Will tell you to fo to mall (that isn’t even open)

people in line with later times than 9:30 was taken out of line.

secure your luggage tag with plastic packing tape if you check luggage. Luggage sat out in the rain and the tags were gone so people had to go find their luggage. BTW we were 1 hour 50 minutes leaving and watched from balcony all that luggage sitting out there to be loaded. 

Best to have reservations for dinner at taste and savor. For some odd reason huge amounts of people in line at opening time and even worse at an hour afterwards. Taste was already turning people away shortly after opening.

lots of menu changes from what i had looked at online.

this is just a funny/not so funny thing. For last day at sea for lunch we looked at menu on wall, given the menu as seated, had selections made. They came and said sorry wrong menu and had to start over. The not so funny part is because all 3 of us had picked things we really wanted and replacement not so much.

lines at service desk could become unreal. 

99.9% of staff were happy campers. I want call names or locations but funny we all agreed on this person.

my travel mates used MIXX bar and dearly loved will. He worked by himself often and did a good job.

we actually were called off exactly at 8:00 (platinum and such) and as it turned out our ride drove up as we exited the port. We did not carry off (daughter had recent surgery) other than a long train holding us up we blasted out of there pretty fast.

for you non smokers casino was not overrun with smoke.

when the high seas came they came.i promise they got to 20 feet Friday night and early Saturday .. Stayed at 12-15 all last day at sea. The ship handled it well. 

4 ships in port at cost maya. Everyone was curious about the virgin ship (sails out of miami. 

Enjoyed the cruise

[RocketMan275]

We're on Breakaway in seven weeks. 

Spent two hours standing in lines last March at NOLA.

Trying to determine the best time to arrive at the port to minimize waiting time.

All reservations have been made so no need to board early to make those.

Questions:

When did you arrive at the port?

When were you able to board?

How long was the line to clear security before checking in?

[RocketMan275]

A couple more questions:

Were they enforcing the assigned arrival times at the port?

What was the process for the safety briefing?  Did you just watch the video or were you required to attend a briefing?

[cruisinmeme]

31 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

We're on Breakaway in seven weeks. 

Spent two hours standing in lines last March at NOLA.

Trying to determine the best time to arrive at the port to minimize waiting time.

All reservations have been made so no need to board early to make those.

Questions:

When did you arrive at the port?

When were you able to board?

How long was the line to clear security before checking in?

We arrived about 8:45 ish. They opened the line at 9:30 on the nose. Had one lady doing security then the opened two more lanes. Actually didn’t start boarding till about 11:30 we could see in the room for haven people they piled up in there and all boarded at same time. Then a boat load of handicap then VIP. What is so crazy is we were first they the line to go to security but since our lady was slow and hit a snag checking someone luggage (forever) the other two lines apparently caught up because I was handed a group 3 boarding tag. Did t matter because we were able to go with vip . By to be time we got to taste it was open. The elevators were crazy full so should have just gone to back elevators. 
BTW we sat in terminal (even though they wanted us to go get mugged at the mall) until our 9:30 time opened. At exactly 9:30 hundreds appeared out of who knows where. Security went fast once they opened up the additional 2 lines. 

[cruisinmeme]

7 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

A couple more questions:

Were they enforcing the assigned arrival times at the port?

What was the process for the safety briefing?  Did you just watch the video or were you required to attend a briefing?

We did see them take people out of line for arrival time. 
we were told to watch the damn thing on our tv. They had people all over for your section to scan your card. We ask one of the crew where our station was (for me A7) so I went to theatre and had card scanned . Once in cabin was suppose to watch again. I turned it on and went about my business. Daughter never got her tv going so they didn’t watch it. So you can have your card scanned before going to cabin.  Just ask where your muster station is.  
cabins were ready at 2:00

i have sailed from NOLA close to 20 times and every time it changes so expect the unexpected 

[RocketMan275]

5 minutes ago, cruisinmeme said:

We arrived about 8:45 ish. They opened the line at 9:30 on the nose. Had one lady doing security then the opened two more lanes. Actually didn’t start boarding till about 11:30 we could see in the room for haven people they piled up in there and all boarded at same time. Then a boat load of handicap then VIP. What is so crazy is we were first they the line to go to security but since our lady was slow and hit a snag checking someone luggage (forever) the other two lines apparently caught up because I was handed a group 3 boarding tag. Did t matter because we were able to go with vip . By to be time we got to taste it was open. The elevators were crazy full so should have just gone to back elevators. 
BTW we sat in terminal (even though they wanted us to go get mugged at the mall) until our 9:30 time opened. At exactly 9:30 hundreds appeared out of who knows where. Security went fast once they opened up the additional 2 lines. 

Thank you for your time and this information.

Have  you heard of a lot of muggins in the mall?

[RocketMan275]

1 minute ago, cruisinmeme said:

We did see them take people out of line for arrival time. 
we were told to watch the damn thing on our tv. They had people all over for your section to scan your card. We ask one of the crew where our station was (for me A7) so I went to theatre and had card scanned . Once in cabin was suppose to watch again. I turned it on and went about my business. Daughter never got her tv going so they didn’t watch it. So you can have your card scanned before going to cabin.  Just ask where your muster station is.  
cabins were ready at 2:00

i have sailed from NOLA close to 20 times and every time it changes so expect the unexpected 

That's great that they're enforcing the arrival times.

I thought the muster stations were on your cruise card?

This will be our 10th cruise and we've never experienced such a messed up embarkation process.

Thanks for the information on the muster process.  There has been some speculation that NCL was going back to the old stand by your lifeboat process.

Hope you enjoy your cruise.  

We'll be following your progress.

[Molokai-Chuck]

CRUISINMEME ...

For dinner meals, was Taste or Savor dining venue a dress code of long pants/collar shirts for men?

Thanks...

Chuck

[cruiseny4life]

1 hour ago, cruisinmeme said:

BTW we sat in terminal (even though they wanted us to go get mugged at the mall) until our 9:30 time opened

Wow. Pejorative much? 

[njkate]

56 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Wow. Pejorative much? 

No, he's just being honest, anyone familiar with New Orleans gets it lol

[cruisinmeme]

2 hours ago, Molokai-Chuck said:

CRUISINMEME ...

For dinner meals, was Taste or Savor dining venue a dress code of long pants/collar shirts for men?

Thanks...

Chuck

Saw people dressed all sorts of ways. Younger men had on shorts. The seniors mostly in long pants. Decent but not fancy

[cruisinmeme]

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

Wow. Pejorative much? 

Well I live just over out of NOLA and the crime is a hot subject around here.

[cruisinmeme]

2 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

That's great that they're enforcing the arrival times.

I thought the muster stations were on your cruise card?

This will be our 10th cruise and we've never experienced such a messed up embarkation process.

Thanks for the information on the muster process.  There has been some speculation that NCL was going back to the old stand by your lifeboat process.

Hope you enjoy your cruise.  

We'll be following your progress.

Yes your station is on your card (by number) but I had to ask where it was A7 meant nothing to me. 
it is a hoot to have people cramming into the little area to get checked in and the tons of people still leaving the ship all in the same space

[Travelicious]

4 hours ago, cruisinmeme said:

99.9% of staff were happy campers. I want call names or locations but funny we all agreed on this person.

 

I was on the week before.  Was the person you reference a female waiter in either Taste or Savor?  We had a real sour puss one day for lunch.

[cruisinmeme]

1 hour ago, Travelicious said:

I was on the week before.  Was the person you reference a female waiter in either Taste or Savor?  We had a real sour puss one day for lunch.

Inc you guessed it!!!! We ate breakfast in Taste every morning, lunch when we could and dinner most nights. That poor woman never had a smile. Nuff said!  She was the only one on whole ship like that.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

New Orleans is known for its inconsistent procedures.  We’ve probably sailed from NOLA 35 or 40 times and aside from the very early days when there was just one terminal it has been chaos ever since.   But if you know NO (I was raised there) that is not surprising. Part of our “city that care forget” attitude.   We were on the BA on 12/4 and it was chaotic, but I did not notice anyone being pulled out of line, but we were there very early and at our assigned time and were Diamond so it seems they cut us a bit of slack.   
 

the problem is that the terminal is simply too small for ships as large as the BA.   Once the seats are all taken, people who are standing get pushed toward the front (cattle chute for boarding) then those who have early boarding status or numbers can’t get by them.   Security is lame and announcements are made by a soft spoken, rapid fire speaker who has never used a microphone.  And they are never repeated so you don’t know what was said.

 

we will be back onboard on 2/26 and will see what surprises are in store for us then.   One of favorite bartenders from the Vibe bar told us he should be gone by then but our very favorite guy will still be there.  Looking forward to tracking him down.

 

happy cruising!

 

 

[RocketMan275]

46 minutes ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

New Orleans is known for its inconsistent procedures.  We’ve probably sailed from NOLA 35 or 40 times and aside from the very early days when there was just one terminal it has been chaos ever since.   But if you know NO (I was raised there) that is not surprising. Part of our “city that care forget” attitude.   We were on the BA on 12/4 and it was chaotic, but I did not notice anyone being pulled out of line, but we were there very early and at our assigned time and were Diamond so it seems they cut us a bit of slack.   
 

the problem is that the terminal is simply too small for ships as large as the BA.   Once the seats are all taken, people who are standing get pushed toward the front (cattle chute for boarding) then those who have early boarding status or numbers can’t get by them.   Security is lame and announcements are made by a soft spoken, rapid fire speaker who has never used a microphone.  And they are never repeated so you don’t know what was said.

 

we will be back onboard on 2/26 and will see what surprises are in store for us then.   One of favorite bartenders from the Vibe bar told us he should be gone by then but our very favorite guy will still be there.  Looking forward to tracking him down.

 

happy cruising!

 

 

Look forward to hearing your 2/26 embarkation experience.  

I suspected that the terminal is simply too small for large ships.

They stop checking people in when they run out of seating room.

They don't start checking people in until actual boarding starts freeing up waiting space.

Have you heard of any issues in the Riverwalk mall?  Some have reported being fearful of muggins.

[pandncruisers]

We are on the 1/15 cruise and they are doing the old muster drill at 3:30.  

[Charmdmsure]

Totally off-topic question. But I am traveling with a group of people February 10. And I would like to buy them all lanyards.
 

On the Breakaway, are they using cards that can have a hole punched into them yet? Or are they RFID cards? That should be in a plastic sleeve?

[Sand and Seas]

2 hours ago, Charmdmsure said:

Totally off-topic question. But I am traveling with a group of people February 10. And I would like to buy them all lanyards.
 

On the Breakaway, are they using cards that can have a hole punched into them yet? Or are they RFID cards? That should be in a plastic sleeve?

We disembarked from Breakaway on Jan 8th.   Our cabin door opened with a tap of the card.  All of the lanyards I saw in use were the plastic sleeve type.

[cruiseny4life]

10 hours ago, Charmdmsure said:

Totally off-topic question. But I am traveling with a group of people February 10. And I would like to buy them all lanyards.
 

On the Breakaway, are they using cards that can have a hole punched into them yet? Or are they RFID cards? That should be in a plastic sleeve?

There are many reports out there that they will not punch a hole anymore due to the tech in the cards. I haven't experienced this personally as I just put the card in my pocket. 

[cruisinmeme]

12 hours ago, pandncruisers said:

We are on the 1/15 cruise and they are doing the old muster drill at 3:30.  

Wow. We just missed the fun

[cruisinmeme]

10 hours ago, Charmdmsure said:

Totally off-topic question. But I am traveling with a group of people February 10. And I would like to buy them all lanyards.
 

On the Breakaway, are they using cards that can have a hole punched into them yet? Or are they RFID cards? That should be in a plastic sleeve?

I don’t know if they will actually refuse it when my daughter ask she was told it messes with you using the card.  Don’t scan like before you lay it on a reader. My lanyard had the sleeve so I just pulled it out each time. 

[Charmdmsure]

9 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

We disembarked from Breakaway on Jan 8th.   Our cabin door opened with a tap of the card.  All of the lanyards I saw in use were the plastic sleeve type.

Thanks much! 

[like2cruise]

13 hours ago, pandncruisers said:

We are on the 1/15 cruise and they are doing the old muster drill at 3:30.  

pandncruisers or cruiseinmeme~We are on the Breakaway 2/5/23.  Just a couple of questions if you don't mind.  More because I am a planner than anything.  So by the old muster drill...everyone onboard had to go to an assigned area on deck and stand there during the drill at 3:30pm?  Did you have to take your life jacket?  Were you able to get any Specialty Dining reservations that you wanted while onboard?  We are hoping to get our prebooked reservations on better dates & times!  How is the food in the dining room?  Is the noodle bar open or lunch on the Sea days?  Did they charge you taxes for drinks while in New Orleans?  Did they charge you taxes for drinks sailing from New Orleans before International waters?  Was availability of most of the alcohols that are listed for the open bar, seem available? Was there a Dress up or Not night onboard?  I am thinking they did away with that designated night?  Was Rumours at Syd Norman's offered and if so, is it still super popular and hard to get in to?  Any questions that you can answer is much appreciated!