never again on ncl

Item: Norwegian Breakaway
Rating: 1
Author: zhannetta

Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Review to Bermuda

zhannetta

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 57

Overall rating:

1 out of 5

Sail date: September 06, 2015

Ship: Norwegian Breakaway

Cabin type: Balcony

Traveled as: Large Group

Reviewed: 9 years ago

Review summary

What a cruise. Ncl dies not care if u are on board or not. They charge almost same as other cruises. There is no service. It's like a crue has a vacation of their own. 1. It's definitely not free style. You still have to reserve dinners. Even in free restaurants. Also, breakaway has only 2 shows which repeat twice. You also have to reserve your shows. 3. They will not honor anything. You will get notices if policies changes and itinerary and stay time changes 2 to 3 weeks before your cruise date. Be careful if you sail this ship. Rooms are super small. So as balconies. Pool area is messy. You may see someone cleaning it once or twice a day. If you still decide to sail it remember: book your dinners way in advance. Book your shows way in advance. Don't take kids. Kids pool open 3 out of 7 days. Other days it's closed and no one knows why. Even the staff. Also, remember: Ncl has tons of extra charges like 20% service charge on board for anything you get. Room service is not free. Anyways. Please sail any other cruise line. Even if you pay a little more for the room, you will have much better experience, much better shows and at the end, it will be cheaper then dirty, messy, Ncl breakaway and it's none caring, nasty, horrible crue. By the way. Food. Eat at home. It's better. No selection. No presentation. Uhhhhh.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

No selection. Woeful presentation. Not fresh.

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

Bingo. That's about it. Well you got casino, card games, everything else included passengers participation to make an activity.

Entertainment

1 out of 5

Only 2 shows. Burn the floor is fine. The production rock of ages is terrible. Other shows are crue. No free style. You have to book all shows. Wow. No other ships have it.

Children's Programs

Didn't travel with kids. Don't know.

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

There is no service or any staff available for service. How can you rate something that is not there.

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

OMG. Pool area is messy. Papers or other trash in hallways. Bathrooms are the worse.

Ship tip

One tip. Pick another cruuseline. Ncl does not care for you. Throughout the entire cruise, you will want to be somewhere else. So as the Ncl crue. They will let you know in many ways that you rather be somewhere else. Don't believe me? Try them. Waist your time and money on this cruise. Good luck.

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Ports of call

New York, New York

5 out of 5

I am from NY. Love it.

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Royal Naval Dockyard, West End, Bermuda

5 out of 5

Get a bus, or water taxi for your destinations. Never book anything on the ship. For this island you don't need it. It's super safe and you can get anywhere by bus or taxi.

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30 Comments

Gwbigdog 2 years ago

Thanks for sharing your cruise.

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waleska27 9 years ago

I went on that ship when it came out and never again will I go on Norwegian. My family and I had a awful time the staff was rude the kids where bored there was nothing to do after 10. There was also a very long wait for the elevator so we would have to walk up 5 decks. I'll stay with carnival the carnival breeze is excellent if anyone what's to know

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debimac 9 years ago

Have I been on a cruise before lynds82? (Not sure if that was for me :)). But, yes I have, 7 of them...leaving for my 8th this Sunday! As I stated in my reply, I was also on breakaway last October and CANNOT wait to walk on board again in two days!!!

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sbrougfam 9 years ago

Well, I am almost done with my cruise to Bermuda aboard NCL Breakaway. Hurricane Joaquin didn't disappoint, neither did NCL. The embarkation was delayed due to the Nor'easter that came thru. So we partied late into the night on Sunday. The Captain detoured the ship around the hurricane. We arrived in Bermuda a couple of hours later and we will be leaving later on Friday evening to compensate. Thankfully Bermuda didn't sustain the same severity of damage that the Bahamas did from Hurricane Joaquin. So hopefully we will have an uneventful return trip. I am still smiling. CARNIVAL is putting in now, so I'm heading back to ship. Ttfn

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lynds82 9 years ago

Have you ever been on a cruise before?

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debimac 9 years ago

We sailed the Breakaway last October and had a fantastic time!! We are leaving again on the 11th. I can't wait!!! With 4000 people on board I don't know what you are expecting. We didn't feel crowded, and yes you may wait a few minutes to get a table for dinner but who cares??? You are on vacation, where else do you need to be?

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hoovv 9 years ago

I have been reading reviews on this ship for the last 2 months as I am going on my very first cruise in November. I have reserved my 2 shows I want to see, I reserved the 3 specialty restaurants I want to eat in. I am expecting the pool to be crowded, with no chairs available. l know there is a $13.50 gratuity per person per day, plus the gratuity on the drink package. And my Wife and I will have a great time as we know what to expect and set our expetations. 7 days of a wonderful time together.

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usafvet88 9 years ago

Amen shertayl. Don't complain Z. There are to many choices out there for you. Spend your money appropriately.

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shertayl 9 years ago

with all of the problems in the world, people still find reasons to complain. ..be thankful that you are able to go on vacation and have someone wait on you hand and foot while relaxing on a beautiful island....wow....think about the people in the world who wished they could eat the food you complain is nasty....smh

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evy65 9 years ago

there is normally 18% gratuity for anything u purchase on ship that is on any cruise line...and yes I heard u have to make reservations for dinner but at least it's included in cruise price, I agree that should do like carnival n have a set dinner time n dinner table....

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erinx1209 9 years ago

sounds like your so used to being spoiled in the haven that anything less is a complain for you..

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zhannetta 9 years ago

Honestly. Will not send a review anymore. People are worried about my misspells, other comments, checking my profiles. No one cares here about a real experience on this ship. All I know is that my vacation and those 7 days are so valuable. I have kids. I am very open and will make a vacation pleasant no matter how breakaway service and other ship problems try to scrue it up. All I wanted is for people to know what they are getting for 3k start up fees for a room on this ship. Everyone has a different view and experience. When you compare different cruiselines, you understand that for 3k, and 7 days, others will pamper you, and accommodate you. Unlike NCL. Also, older ships will compensate with better service and food and shows. Newer NCL ships compensate with smaller rooms, 1 pool, overbooked theater, 2 shows. Wow, what a cruise. Tons of people walking around with nothing to offer to do on a ship, lines everywhere you go, just drink your way through. This is probably how you don't see all the problems and don't even remember your cruise after all. By the way. As if September, ship leaves Bermuda at 3 pm. Not at 6 like it was before. So you get 2 days in Bermuda, and 5 days in see. We got notification 2 weeks prior to sailing. Extra room charges $13.50 per person in a room instead of $12 as before. We got notification 3 weeks prior to cruising. Enjoy casino. Fun. You may actually win. No joke. I did.

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zhannetta 9 years ago

Oh no. I am a cruiser for 15 years, with lots of different lines. Stayed I heaven on breakaway in April. This year. Heaven is great. Just book everything with concierge. I stayed in heaven so suite. My Butler name was Jose. He transferred to escape ship back in August this year. My total sailings with NCL on different shops in total if 10. On my husband's name. Please, believe me. If you book everything but heaven, no reason to waist your time. Book another cruuseline. We pay for heaven at least 4k per person, and we have 2 floors of the ship with all service and all wonderful staff to ourselves. This is a totally different story. Phankejay. You will have a great experience. Can't tell for another 3k of passengers on this ship. I truly miss heaven suits. If I am ever again on any Ncl, only heaven.

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shertayl 9 years ago

I got the free beverage package and I wasn't charged for my drinks and we had top shelf

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alioop 9 years ago

Well said

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phunkejay 9 years ago

btw, zhannetta, according to your name, when I click it on, it only shows your CRUISE HISTORY as having been on only one cruise. I hope you're not just a really disgruntled & pisses off first time cruiser who is only trying to bad mouth NCL. in light of some other negative reviews, by other cruisers, I give you the benefit of the doubt. but everyone has their own standards & expectations, so ALL reviews must be taken with an open mind...

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phunkejay 9 years ago

zhannetta, thank you for your long critique & evaluation. this will be my very first cruise ever, and I am so looking forward to it. I am booked into a haven spa suite, so hopefully I'll have a cruise worth the price I paid. however, I cannot discount the things you say. I appreciate your feedback, warnings, tips, and insights. I will certainly be on point about all the hidden charges & grattuities. I have the ubp & udp & $300 cabin credit. I truly hope those 3 things are not a scam, as receiving them weighed into my decision to book the haven. embarkation day - Oct 11th. we will see how it goes...

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zhannetta 9 years ago

Hi SBrougfam. I am a lattitude of Ncl 10 times. Also tried other cruiselines. Please rebook with another line. It's not the same as 2 years ago, when they actually cared. Trust me. You will see huge difference. The ship has lots of first sailors who enjoy it. But for someone like you, you will see, how everything is changed. The regulations in your contract changed too.get a package for restaurants. Otherwise the internet is too slow. Beverage ultimate package is not free. You will be hit with 18% charge, and it for alcohol up to $9. You can't order other alcohol. They will not tell you. Most of alcohol is starting at $9. For whine glass. Onboard credit they will apply on day 3. It's the regulation. Alcohol and other items in a shop is raised to about 110%. This is from April this year. All activities are with reservations. No reservation, no activities. Huge lines at salad bars. Pool sits are booked for entire day by cruisers. No one will help you from the staff. Pool is overloaded. I came back to this ship of 3 stats because of my experience 2 years ago. How different it is. If you value your vacation time, please book elsewhere. Z.

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zhannetta 9 years ago

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sbrougfam 9 years ago

Too bad you had a disappointing experience on board NCL Breakaway. Last year I enjoyed myself so much on this ship. Which is why I am returning this weekend. This ship isn't Disneyland Resort. You wouldn't have had a negative experience if you did your homework before booking. If you want a large cabin, pay for one. As with any other venue, you get what you PAY for. I agree that the pool areas can use an adjustment. However, the rest of this ship and the entertainment on board I found were excellent. I encourage you to try NCL again, just be sure to be well informed.

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zhannetta 9 years ago

Thank you cruisinreview. And yes. After you done with your such valuable week vacation, you will be hit with charges. I always tipped my cabin cleaning person about $100 per person in cabin, NCL will not honor it anymore. You can't write it off with customer service. I asked why, and they told me that because Americans are trying to dispute it all the time, and because if Americans are saving money that way. It's like, everyone is welcome, but Americans are on a list of hustlers of NCL. Wow. And the ship is based in NY.

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alioop 9 years ago

I'll be sure to bring my own cucumber, towel & sugar...maybe I won't be as disappointed as you were ? Sounds terrible

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Cruisinreview 9 years ago

I heard that NCL have had an exodus of bar staff due to this problem. The 18 per cent is added to each bar bill. This is in addition to the tips added to the onboard account.

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zhannetta 9 years ago

people there is a reason why this ship is only rated 3 stars. I am telling you. Try other ships. Get your money worth.

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zhannetta 9 years ago

Cabin 14218. I sailed Ncl over 10 times and this ship 3 times. I sailed in heaven suits, so it was good. This time it was a regular balcony room. Since NCL started going from NY. I have heared other people complain, but I never paid attention until this time. I sailed other cruise lines, and what a difference u found. On NCL The management is so incompetent. They can't train staff correctly. Staff does not know what to do. Food: oatmeal station: they ran out of sugar on day 3. Dinner: they mix up orders same night 4 times. Pool area: no towels. U have to order towels after 8 am. Plus people will reserve like 20 seats around the pool. Like 1 person will come and put 20 magazines on all chairs. Staff dies not get involved. Spa: they lie about occupancy. You pay $199 for spa. It's always loud, overcrowded, no space. Even though it's huge. No one cares to ask people to be quiet. Cabin cleaning no complains. Telling you. Each time I sail NCL even selection of food is lower and lower. No more cucumbers for breakfast. Don't ask staff. The answer is no. You literally have to go around the ship to another station to toast you begal. Try it if you don't believe me. Anyways, there are too many problems with this ship and it's service. I rather spend my money elsewhere.

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phunkejay 9 years ago

wow. you sound like you had a really bad time. can I ask what cabin you had?

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brook237 9 years ago

I've sailed NCL five times and I've never had anything but a wonderful experience. That's unfortunate you had such an awful time.

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zhannetta 9 years ago

I used my phone. Sorry for misspells. Phone auto-correct. Any way. Are you interested in a review or my spelling? Usafvet you big dummy.

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alioop 9 years ago

Lol !

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usafvet88 9 years ago

What lingo of English is dis? If ur going to rite a review at least pruf reed your stuff you big dummy..... :O

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