Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Reviews - Q&A

We will board the Breakaway for the fourth time, in a month. Will take a fifth cruise on it in March. Great ship! We love NCL! We’ve also cruised Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Holland America. NCL Breakaway is an elegant ship. The dining rooms are top notch. NCL is the only cruise line with a 24hr eatery. O’Sheehan’s has a wonderful pub menu (my fav is the fish & chips). It also has a great breakfast menu. And when prime rib is served in the dining room, it’s also served at O’Sheehans. The shows are Broadway quality, though we disliked their show Sixx and the one in the Speigel tent. Not our taste. Burn the Floor is excellent. The adult area (H2O) is free. There’s a ropes course, and rock climbing wall. We have stayed in an inside cabin, a family oceanview cabin with a tub/shower combo, aAnd a balcony cabin (there are coffee pots in this category cabin. The coffee pot uses the little pods made with filter paper. (NOT plastic K-Cups) We gladly recommend the Breakaway!! 🚢❣️🚢❣️🚢

Answered by cajuncoopers on October 15, 2023

We 🩵LOVE💙 NCL!! We’re going on the Breakaway for 3rd time this October 2024 to Bermuda. My hubby is a workaholic, not a fan of vacations, but cruising NCL out of Manhattan (hour drive from house on Long Island) to Bermuda to stay 3 full days & 3 nights is PERFECT! We love the Free @ Sea packages and everyone on boat is wonderful, as is food. Try them, you won’t be disappointed 😉. ENJOY!!

Answered by wnickin on August 17, 2024

Carnival has many more old ships. NCL Breakaway is much newer than the Carnival ship(s) that sail from New Orleans.

Answered by jeffykins on October 13, 2023

You don’t get bombarded with photographers!

Answered by DRAsh on January 05, 2024

Was not a fan of not having more than the buffet and osheehans as included food options. There’s no poolside food options. I don’t like having to make reservations for shows. Venues are too small for comedy and syds is way too small for music highlight bands.

Answered by Babsie1963 on October 15, 2023

NCL: smaller entertainment venues and restaurants for such a large ship. But has more included restaurants to choose from. Many shows require reservations, but they are Broadway quality. Not as many pools and required to pay for access to adult relaxation area. More restrictions on the drink package. Until you book a suite cabins are about 10-20% smaller. Other than that both are very similar.

Answered by maryred on October 13, 2023

We had always cruised carnival. Going on 2nd NCL February & 3rd in March. Totally different vibe. Food much better. Entertainment not as extensive,but much better. It’s hard to describe how it’s different. I still like carnival, but you should try NCL too!

Answered by DRAsh on January 05, 2024

Not a fan of the Breakaway class of ships. Felt public venues were way too small for passenger count. Disliked wasting time waiting in long standby lines, if we didn't make reservations days ahead for dinner &/or shows. Service was slow due to crew- passenger ratio. Willing to try a smaller NCL to see if ship type of problem or company wide issue.

Answered by maryred on January 05, 2024

NCL has a more formal upscale vibe. That said, generally the staff is much more friendly on Carnival. There is more food variety on Carnival. More entertainment even on smaller Carnival ships than the NCL breakaway. I personally would not cruise the breakaway class again. You really have to watch fine print with NCL as well. Onboard NCL Jewel now and like it so far. Carnival definitely my first choice though for reasons above.

Answered by Michael4g94 on August 19, 2024

They are all pretty similar but each have a different focus. It seemed on the Breakaway, they made it easy for smokers. They could just go in a “box” on the main deck with plexiglass side strip (between knees and head). Of course the smoke didn’t stay inside the strips. If you like smoke, you will love the Breakaway. Other than that, I enjoyed it. Food was good, learn all the places to eat. Cruise Director wasn’t very good.

Answered by willwork4cruz on October 15, 2023

Carnival is the "fun ship". I found the biggest difference for me (7 Carnival cruises vs one NCL on Breakaway) is the entertainment venues. The venues do not hold near enough ppl for the size of the shop, except the main theater. Most do not take reservations so you must show up early. The major pros of NCL are the food, especially the buffets, and the drink package.

Answered by starr68 on August 18, 2024