NCL PLEASE UP YOUR GAME!

Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Review to Bermuda

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Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 17

Overall rating:

2 out of 5

Verified Review

Bermuda - New York

Sail date: August 28, 2016

Ship: Norwegian Breakaway

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 14198

Traveled as: Family (young children)

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

SEE MY FURTHER COMMENTS IN FIELDS BELOW..

IN SHORT, AS AN AVID CRUISER I FELT I WAS BEING NICKELED AND DIMED AT EVERY CORNER OF THIS SHIP EVERY DAY. THE STAFF ARE LIKE ROBOTS UNABLE TO GO AN EXTRA STEP TO MAKE A GUEST HAPPY. SERIOUSLY, IF I WAS RECEIVING TOP NOTCH SERVICE ALONG WITH A TOP NOTCH PRODUCT I WOULD NOT BLINK IN EYE TO SPEND THE EXTRA DOLLAR. THIS CRUISE DID NOT FALL INTO THAT MODEL...

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Quality of food was FAR inferior to our last cruise on Royal Caribbean and this was on one of RC's older boats. The buffet selection was unimpressive and food quality was on par with that of a state university. Moderno was a huge disappointment as the staff did not know the difference betw/ medium and medium-rare meats and the food was bland. I suggest taking a page from Samba Grill on Royal Caribbean's boats- the quality and knowledge of meats excellent. Dolce Gelato was a complete ripoff- the gelato was near tasteless.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Yes its a challenge to keep guests fully entertained when they re stuck at sea for almost 6 full days but then again I wouldve expected a bit more. The pools after 11am were packed to the point where you felt like you were floating around in a soup. Just plain gross. Casino selection of games was good. However, the blackjack tournament was run like a mafia card game. NCL clearly stated the time of the final table and then decided to extend the prelim rounds so they could generate more buy-in money. This only infuriated the current finalists who were bumped out of the final table as a result of this unjustified time change. Policy is policy period. It was not until the participants complained that the casino mgmt closed the tournament- 1hr after the original printed time. SImply unexcusable.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

I was hoping for a larger childrens pool area- with all the youngsters in such a confined area conditions became dangerous...

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Compared to the NCL Epic I found most bar staff not as personable -except for the casino bartenders in the late evenings. Our stateroom attendant was wonderful. The host and wait staff at Moderno was extremely accommodating and friendly. But overall it seemed as though the most of the ships staff were simply going through the motions.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Great designs and color schemes through out

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Loved the stateroom and balcony

Ship tip

expect to get what you paid for

Thumbs up

Ports of call

New York, New York

5 out of 5

38 Comments

Nypd11483 8 years ago

So true.

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rgruenhaus 8 years ago

I look at the negative reviews and think, hmmm sad that this person has a rain cloud over them that is always above them or must be creating those bad times with their rotten character. Someone needs to look in the mirror!

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

Oh how I wish they did that here... It's hard to watch people who are clearly looking forward to their vacation, read these fake reviews and stress over them. It's one thing to post a bad real review sharing a real experience, and posting a hit and run statement like this simply to alarm and spoil the experience for people that look forward to a few days off once a year. It's shameful.

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brat81978 8 years ago

Don't encourage bad behavior lol! They are quick to boot problem people anyway.

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

Hey maybe enzyme9nobodycares9 can leave a fake review there too...

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brat81978 8 years ago

Told ya! Lol

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

You weren't kidding. They approved my request in 12 minutes

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brat81978 8 years ago

Lmao they are pretty quick to approve. You'll be in soon I'm sure! 😁

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

Looks like it but I had to request. So I'll be standing outside... In the rain :( ...if you need me.

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brat81978 8 years ago

Lmao u know I got u! 😉 It's a great group. I like it a lot.

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

Awesome. Got it. At least I got something positive from this fake review! Thanks so much for showing me that!

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brat81978 8 years ago

It's called NCL Haven cruisers

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

Awesome. But one problem. I can't find it lol

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brat81978 8 years ago

Def check it out. One lady posted some great pics today. I think she's onboard now...I think. But there are pics of Haven breakfast buffet area, menus and the snacks the butlers been bringing. Great examples of what to expect!

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

No I haven't. I will join it tonight. My trip is still a few months away and the haven will be a new experience for us. We normally cruise Royal but honestly, they have been lacking lately.

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brat81978 8 years ago

Nypd have u joined the haven face book group yet?

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ariel43 8 years ago

It's like anything, it'll be what you make of it 👍

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kevinb7315 8 years ago

Thing to keep in mind is things happen but how lucky are we all that we have the opportunity to cruise there's people with no food never mind going on a cruise to a tropical island Gota roll with the punches and make it the best

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ariel43 8 years ago

Thanks for the info 😁

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brat81978 8 years ago

Don't remember off the top of my head. We went May 1st... I do know "budget" bingo was $20 or $25. They have a few options but I think one was around $40 and another was close to $70. It's good for 2-3 games but so many ppl play it's hard to win. Deal or no deal was like $20 and there were 2 games played.

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ariel43 8 years ago

Brat81978 what were the charges for bingo out of curiosity? My mil is an avid bingoer lol

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brat81978 8 years ago

I will say that I was very disappointed with the charges for Bingo/Deal or No Deal. I understand it's my choice to participate but, esp the Bingo, I found it to be a bit much. I don't gamble, didn't have UBP, and wasn't interested in towel folding or art auctions so I wound up spending quite a bit of time laying around in Haven. Relaxing, but a bit blah.

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

Exactly...

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ariel43 8 years ago

Avid cruiser, only cruise listed was 28th of august 2016. All capitals no replies. I'm doubting a lot of these reviews. If it were me and I posted such a negative experience I'd stick around to get my opinion across to commenters. Just me?

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alioop 8 years ago

I think I'm leaning toward nypd11483 's response to be true.

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clferr 8 years ago

Im still trying to figure out what the nickeling and diming would be. If they are referring to the dining experiences, then they didnt do research about what is included. There are plenty of places to eat that you dont have to pay for. Then again, some people just arent happy unless they are the center of attention.

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

Alioop there is no response because it is a fake review submitted by competitors so that you don't cruise this line. I'm booked and I going. Nice try though.

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Nypd11483 8 years ago

Nobody cares...

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sherried 8 years ago

Just because one person loves or hates a particular ship doesn't mean everyone else will. I personally did not enjoy the breakaway. It just wasn't the right ship for me. I didn't feel "Nickel and dimed" at all, I just felt the ship was too big and most of the staff we had on the cruise did not appear to love, or even like their job. I did ALOT of research before I went, I was a first time cruiser, and even though I had ample knowledge I didn't know until I actually experienced the cruise, what I would like. My second time around I'm going a different route, smaller ship, different line. Learn from the past, I don't get the reviews that say things such as "I've been on such and such a ship 4 times and each time was disappointing". Why would you go back 4 times then? But as someone who is cruising in 3 weeks, I don't want to hear nonstop complaints about the ship I'm about to get on. I want to hear great things too. The breakaway is a great ship, if you like the bigger ships. Top of the line, and the crews change so just because the staff on mine wasn't great doesn't mean yours won't be. I hope you all enjoy your upcoming trips!

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alioop 8 years ago

Me too ! Can't wait ! Not too much longer now

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andrew2600 8 years ago

I think some people like to complain for nothing. I've had nothing but good experiences with NCL and the Breakaway.

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alioop 8 years ago

I'm sure I'll be scolded by someone because " everyone is entitled to their opinion & if I don't like it I should keep my mouth shut" but..these are the posts that drive me insane. There is NEVER a reply to explain themselves & it's all a bunch of nonsense !Anyone who is in a position to cruise should be able to READ. Talk to a TA, use google,read & get informed people. Good grief

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alioop 8 years ago

Chrisp927 ...id like to know as well.

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kevinb7315 8 years ago

That awesome newbie60 42 cruise I'm jealous lol

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newfie60 8 years ago

I have been on the breakaway 6 times and it is great. Shakers is great inside and outside. The waterfront is great. Fat cats is like a jazz club in New York staff always nice. I have been on 42 cruises in 10 years. NCL RCL carnival and princess.

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chrisp927 8 years ago

I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience. I've cruised with NCL five times and I'm going back on the Breakaway in a few days, which will make it 6. I can honestly say I loved the Breakaway, we had an awesome time and CANNOT wait to get back on it. We only cruise with Norwegian for the simple reason that we are treated like royalty every time! Nickeled and Dimed? How?

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alioop 8 years ago

Ugh ! 🙄🙄🙄 whoa is me

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savemybalcony 8 years ago

And your point?

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