A Lot to Like, But Some Misses
Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Review to Bermuda
Sail date: September 27, 2015
Ship: Norwegian Breakaway
Cabin type: Oceanview
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 8 years ago
Review summary
We are seasoned cruisers and very easygoing. We don't expect luxury on a giant ship like the Breakaway. Embarkation was easy and our cabin, an oceanview at the very front of the shop, was ready at 1 p.m. We had been warned that the first day would be one in which crowding would be unavoidable, so we were not surprised to wait for elevators or not find seating at the buffet. As we had heard, crowding was mostly bearable although we learned quickly to get to non-reserveable shows early and to make reservations for everything that could be reserved (dinner, main theater shows, excursions). The crowd was very diverse with quite a few large family groups. Since it was during schooltime, most children were under the age of 6.
As many others have said before, the pool area for adults is ridiculous, almost an afterthought. However, we found the decks above the pools usually had chairs available until about noon each day. We were also able to access hot tubs almost any time of the day.
We're not big on the scheduled daytime activities, but we did attend a couple of programs offered by the staff which discussed the business of running the ship. We enjoyed the shows including Rock of Ages, the dance group, Howling at the Moon, Second City, etc. We also enjoyed the piano and guitar entertainment.
Our cabin, due to its location, had extra room which was appreciated. The closet was large and had sufficient hanging space, but the shelf space was poor. The bathroom, on the other hand, was one of the best. It had lots of shelf space and the shower was spacious for a cruise ship. We only got two towels, which seemed stingy. We actually never learned the name of our steward, although our room was always made up and ready for us.
We loved Bermuda! The docking location was great--close to all you needed to get around the island.
I would recommend the Breakaway to others. The Bermuda itinerary is great and three full days at sea allow for a nice cruise experience. The "giant" ship allows for more variety of experiences, but has a few drawbacks. We met many people who had cruised on the Breakaway before and were back for more.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Ship tip
The further up you go, the more likely you are to find a lounge chair.