Never Cruise NCL Again

Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Review to Bermuda

thegoodsheppard

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 42

Overall rating:

2 out of 5

Verified Review

Sail date: July 31, 2016

Ship: Norwegian Breakaway

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 9256

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

The ship and the service aboard was good. However, there are too many specialty restaurants. A couple of specialty restaurants is fine, but four; that is just too many. Why have a specialty for steak, Italian food, sea food, and even Japanese; these are so common place in every day dining. I can see the Brazilian and French. Even the complimentary restaurants have some prices on the menu. This is just another way to "milk" people out of money. A number of people on the cruise made a comment about this too. Cruising has changed much, especially the NCL line since I have sailed on NCL before.

My travel friend and I both put that we were celebrating our birthdays and the travel company identified that. NCL only had a card for each of us in our cabin; however, when we are out at dinner, it is quite frustrating to hear others being celebrated for their birthday and we were not. Only after being interviewed by Debra did she try to do something and that was done poorly by sending two pieces of cake to our cabin. What a poor choice of trying to rectifying the problem. I even discussed with her about celebrating our birthdays in the restaurant to no avail. She asked if we told them in the restaurant. I have been on quite a few cruises to celebrate birthdays and never had to tell anyone. Once it is noted in the record that is all that is necessary. Oversight is not an excuse.

Also, bought transfer from pier to airport and NCL said they do not transfer people before 1:30 p.m. We were refunded our money, but why they had a sign for transfer people to airport as early as 9:00 a.m. I see this as false information given to us. As it turned out, we missed our flight because we were depending on the transfer to get us to the airport in time.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Too many specialty restaurants with additional pays.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Great service. Only thing is the soap dispenser in the shower is too close, I knocked it down twice while showering.

Ship tip

Enjoyed O'Shean's Bar lunch with the chicken wings and seafood basket. You must try the Ice Bar; quite a different experience.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

New York, New York

3 out of 5

Royal Naval Dockyard, West End, Bermuda

3 out of 5

32 Comments

Anne12 8 years ago

Was just on the Breakaway, I also recieved a B' day card and a cupcake in my stateroom . Went to Teppanyaki's ,the cook ask was anyone celebrating an occasion. They provided me with a cake and sang,I had it sent to my stateroom.Was not able to eat it.

As for bringing water on board too many people were smuggling in alcohol in the water bottles, thus taking up the security staff time searching all the bottles. I have been told by many people that they have " snuck " alcohol in their staterooms , so I know this is true. So dishonest people spoiled it for everyone. I am thankful and fourtunate that I am able to go on a cruise, that so many people can not.

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

Enjoy your cruise Johnny

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johnnyoldphart 8 years ago

You were on the breakaway. Funny it's out of nyc and has nyc landscape ie Statue of Liberty Empire State Building etc. it's supposed to be just like nyc. Boy did you miss the boat

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

That's good information brat. Thanks

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brat81978 8 years ago

We celebrated our anniversary at Cagney's and had the cake sent to the room since we were too full to eat it. And we didn't have them sing lol.

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brat81978 8 years ago

The cruiselines are not associated with Shipmate at all. They don't see anything that is said here (unless they randomly decide to check the different chats). As for the bday issue, the card in your room was to be given to the hostess at whichever restaurant on whichever night you chose to celebrate. You get a small square cake and they sing. Nothing extravagant unless you paid for the package.

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wastarita 8 years ago

Whahhh Whahhh ( sorry had too)

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

Sorry for the type errors but who cares. Cake was involved in this tragedy.

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

Lol. A bit

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cruisincouple06 8 years ago

Let's all b real a grown adult complaining his b day wasn't recognized by people in a restaurant is a Lil out there...it's called grow up

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

And I am certain you will have a great birthday. You will be on a beautiful ship going to tropical places. Sounds like an incredible time.

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

Kostik your arguments are valid. All I was saying is hat everyone's arguments are valid as well. I know some people can be a bit harsh, but when a complaint involves things such as too many choices, one opens themselves up to aggressive opinions. Specialty restaurants are a choice. There have been times I simple walked by them. But if me and my wife wanted, they were available. I would never suggest a choice is bad simply because it doesn't work for myself.

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Kostik 8 years ago

Granted. I'll just say this last time and we can agree to disagree. I understand your point. My point was that if the guy wasn't attacked in the first place, the rest of the people most likely didn't throw punches either. It was not the sharing of opinions but mostly attack of the character. But I get the poi t if going to places like trip advisor, google reviews, viator, etc. This is mostly for passengers to share on tips and tricks and fi ding friends. As far as premium options on board like paying for some dining and places like Haven, I don't mind it. It keeps the general population out, and those places are less crowded. That's why they are premium. I want to try Icebar and Ocean Blue. And we do celebrate birthday so I hope it will be a good one

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

All do respect. There is a difference between a constructive complaint, and an unreasonable complaint. I agree that constructive criticism can help a business make things better, but in regards to this review, better for who? You mention that it is good to complain, then go on to state others are attacking people for offering their opinion/complaints. Honestly, these people's opinions matter just as much as anyone else's. How is their opinions an attack yet others not? This is designed for ship passenger banter. The cruise line does not monitor every thread on here. If you want to address change, write corporate. As for eliminating enhanced dining options, good luck. As you can read here from a few. People like the option...

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Kostik 8 years ago

It never seizes to amaze me how eager people are to attack one person together as a pack for whatever reason, just to beat him/her down, while winning the small approval of their peers. bonbon326 as far as sending letters to corporate, it's a good idea. But also it is important to use many different kinds of social media, to create awareness, so that large companies that are in the tourism and hospitality business don't just ignore the complaints.

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pedrom937 8 years ago

Perhaps the birthday celebration was happening on the other unnecessary specialty restaurants. Perhaps you just misses it.

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bonbon326 8 years ago

Your on vacation, your on a ship with over 4,000 people the cruise is what you make of it. We love ncl have never had a bad time. If you have issues and or suggestion then send corporate a letter.

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bonbon326 8 years ago

You have to present the card in your room to the restaurant

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

You are correct. This rediculous review has changed the cruise industry forever. In order to appease the few, they are now taking away all the enhanced choices for tens of thousands of people who like them, so that people like this do not feel left out. Even better! They are now throwing individual ticker tape parades for everyone having a birthday during their scheduled cruise. Think of the jobs this will create! We can just add this cost to everyone elses cruise ticket.

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Kostik 8 years ago

Apologies for errors, seems Samsung is not proficient yet. I want to complain about that too.

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cruisincouple06 8 years ago

Go to your local state park u can take whatever u want....u can even share with the squirrels and racoons

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Kostik 8 years ago

People have the right to complain. If you don't complain, nothing will change. I for once want to complain about not being able to bring simple bottle water on board. I can understand liquor, but water. So now I have to buy filtered bittled water feom them. Dasani of all kinds, hiw about Evian for the price they charging plus 18 % tip for not doing anything. How low can Norwegian go. It seems like people here wanted to jump the guy by mearly expressing his take on things.

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cruisincouple06 8 years ago

Hope u got ice cream with your b day cake that wasn't celebrated correctly ...hope the ice cream,wasn't to cold Never heard a grown adult complain they didn't get there b day celebrated they way they wanted it....omg people grow up some

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bmac614 8 years ago

That is why we don't eat at the specialty restaurants. Have them here at home

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ChristinaZ1 8 years ago

I love the specialty restaurants. It's a nice place to have an intimate dinner. The dining package prices are a steal! We can eat at a specialty restaurant every night for the price of 2 meals out at home! As for your birthday they have 4000 people on this ship! Arrange it yourself and/or speak up.

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wastarita 8 years ago

"I had fun, once... It was awful"

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chirocop 8 years ago

I hear the weather was way too nice. Must have been awful.

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

Lol I thought it. You said it. Awesome...

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beachminion 8 years ago

You say cruising has changed, yet you only have the one cruise you just went on listed in your past cruises and no others? Have you been on any other cruises?

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

To many choices? I truly feel bad for people in the service industry. Seems your dammed if you do and dammed if you don't. Me and my wife appreciate all the options we have on board these ships. Even more so, we appreciate the hard work these people do day in and day out to try and make our time memorable.

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frank212 8 years ago

Complaining about too many choices wow

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alioop 8 years ago

Boy oh boy...what a lousy trip you had. Too bad

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