Sailed on the Breakaway from 11/6/16 to 11/13/16. It was an awful experience. Our itinerary was changed and we were not notified. The ship was way overcrowded, the lines at the buffet were long, had reservations at main dining rooms and still waited 30 to 40 minutes to be seated, excursions were cancelled, activities onboard were closed and/or not operational (the children's pool and activity pool were closed for part of the trip which meant kids in adult pool), lost days in port without notification until getting onboard. With losing port days, sailing back early, we had very cold weather the last 2.5 days. Because it was so cold 95% of the passengers were inside and on top of each other and other made trying out participate in indoor activities impossible unless you got there way early and even if you did, people were just sitting and not getting up so there was no space for the next show or activity. Needless to say, tempers flared amongst the passengers. Disembarking was a joke! It took over 2.5 hours to get off of the ship and it was very unorganized. Those escortingredients us through Customs were making comments that there were so many people, how many times they had to stop the lines and how unorganized it was. Ithe was my first cruise and it's doubtful I will again unless it is another cruiseline.
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Norwegian Breakaway - A not so great experience
6 Answers
Agree with previous comments.
This would be better as a cruise review instead of the discussion forum but since you put it here, I'll add something.
The importance of due diligence when booking a cruise cannot be overemphasized. Reading your cruise agreement would have alerted you to the fact that itineraries can be changed for any reason the Captain (or company) sees fit. It is a risk of cruising. Another risk area is weather, over which cruise lines have no control. We spent 15 days on a TA and northern European cruise in the springtime (April-May). It was cooler and drizzling most days. Did it ruin our cruise? No... we looked at historic weather information and prepared accordingly.
Ship capacities are based on two numbers. The number on a ships profile is based on double occupancy. If every cabin has two people, the ship is considered sold out. Full capacity, will include families with 3 or 4 in a cabin. It's not really overbooked, just closer to full capacity. So if a ship advertises as holding 4000 pax, it will probably hold closer to 5000. It's symantics really. You can't overbook. If a ship has 2500 cabins, you can't book 2600 families and hope 100 don't show up.
We were actually told that they did overbook. Our group was not notified until we got on the ship, although others were, the lack of communication was ridiculous. Also, I live in the Northeast and know the weather, it wasn't that the last day was cold, it was that if we had been able to port another day it would have been decent weather for longer.
Oh, in addition, it is a common complaint on these larger ships, about the MDR and the buffet areas. The buffet seating is like playing musical chairs. 4000 people fighting over 2000 seats. It's a complaint that will go on until more space is dedicated around the buffets. Some of us think that the MDR will become a thing of the past, and all meals will be buffet style, and specialty dining. Either that, or the MDR will charge a fee too.
The Breakaway is a large ship. She was not overcrowded, just, booked to capacity. Ships can change itinerary for any reason. Did you do any research ? Did you read your cruise contract. It's clearly stated.
You left from NY. It was cold that week. What did you expect ? The pools are outside and the water is not heated. Of course it was cold. Any excursions that were cancelled, you were refunded. Sadly, you picked a week that is towards the end of hurricane season and perhaps there were weather issues in the Atlantic or Caribbean.
Sorry you had a bad week.
Next time come here and ask questions. We are more than happy to answer them.
Good Day, Please re post the review in the review section so it can be followed a bit better, Sorry the trip did not turn out like you expected. When you meet with your travel adviser next, ask them about it. Sailing out of New York in November is always iffy for cold weather. Your agent should have warned you.
Let us know in the review about the whole cruise and what you did find enjoyable.
thanks