Breakaway 14 Day Caribbean Cruise a mixed experience

Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Review to Caribbean - Southern

ldfinkelstein

Contributor Level: Second Mate

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 3

Helpful Votes: 164

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

Verified Review

14 Night Southern Caribbean (New York Roundtrip)

Sail date: January 17, 2016

Ship: Norwegian Breakaway

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: 13413

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

Overall, an enjoyable experience but not without some issues. This is my 19th cruise (NCL, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Stella Solaris, Seabourn, Cunard, Carnival, Maxim Gorky), so I have a lot to compare it to. Went on cruise with girlfriend.

Positives:

Price

As a relatively new ship most of the facilities are in good shape

Pretty stable in rough weather

Some interesting outdoor spaces for relaxing

Entertainment was good and varied (including recent star of Wicked). Blues club.

Food was fair to good

I spite of its large size their generally was a sense of space around you

Exercise equipment was in good shape.

Not so good

We had an inside cabin which actually lacked drawers to store clothing (very inconvenient). Bathroom was adequate.

Service was spotty. Room was not done when requested, extra towels took a full day to get. At some meals servers got orders wrong or did not bring drinks as requested

Lacks wow factor in not having high atrium or glass elevators

Pool was too small for a ship with this many passengers

Does not have covered pool area which makes no sense since they are sailing from New York in winter

The "nickel and dime" factor of NCL.

They charge extra for some of the entertainment.

This was the first cruise I have been on where there was not a free steam room or sauna to use (they want you to pay extra for spa use). Most other lines have more attractive workout areas.

Whoever designed the theater seats was incompetent. Very uncomfortable.

Drinks are ridiculously expensive

Medical staff seemed uninterested when a physical issue was brought to their attention