Less than smooth sailing out of the Manhattan terminal

Our cruise on the Breakaway was okay... However, the boarding process was the worst we have ever experienced. In NY the line to check luggage was backed up at 11:30am about a half mile outside along the fence and it was freezing. When we finally got to check our luggage and proceed inside we proceeded to wait 1 hour and 45 minutes.  When we finally got onto the ship we went to the buffet to find it was closed for the drill. If that was going to be the case then food should have been brought in for the people that were waiting to check in. When we got our luggage several things were broken by the cruise line.  

The days to follow were decent except for the main dining rooms- service was slow and food was mediocre. We were ignored in-between courses because we weren't drinking alcohol.

In the restaurants that had a cover charge we received better service, wait staff were much more attentive and the quality of the food was far better.

Second City and Rock of Ages were very good but on the other nights the cruise was lacking quality entertainment.

The morning we were disembarking the ship was absolutely ridiculous and hazardous. We were carrying off our luggage and started to head down one  floor to deck 7 to leave the ship. There were people completely covering the stairs and the corridor. The elevators were busy but we managed to get into an elevator. The four of us proceeded into the elevator and road it up in order to go down. When the doors opened on floor 7 there wasn't enough room for my son and husband to get off the elevator. They were stuck inside the elevator and because it was so packed tensions were high and no one would move fearing they would lose their place in line. NCL finally locked the elevators so no one could get on. Eventually, the line started moving at 8:40am- after over an hour of waiting. The line wrapped all through the casino and back again. When got off the gangway we waited  40 minutes in the cold before we could proceed to customs. Norwegian then allowed passengers with excursions in NY to cut the line but the people that were trying to get to the airport ,like us could not jump the line. Once inside waiting to go through customs there were only 4 lines open. Once we got through customs we were pushed outside and across the road to wait for transportation-again in the freezing cold. We have cruised 8 times and have never experienced anything like this. The dismemberment process was so dangerous if there were ever a need for us to get off immediately it would have been impossible. The boat possible should have been cleared by deck for carry off. The execution was poor and unacceptable.