Great Experience - Under Rated and over-criticized - It was sold out
Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western
7 Night Western Caribbean (New Orleans Roundtrip)
Sail date: December 23, 2018
Ship: Norwegian Breakaway
Cabin type: Suite
Traveled as: Family (older children)
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
We went to relax and be spoiled. Overall, we got that. We were initially concerned by the number of people on board, but there were sufficient amenities and we never felt over-crowded. We made it a priority to learn our way around the ship (first few hours), and discovered plenty of places to escape. The only time we had to wait was at a peak time for lunch at O'Sheehan's, and that was less than 5 minutes. The service on board as a whole was a standout for us, and we embraced the freestyle dining concept. We found the cruise director exceptional and highly recommend that you view the daily on board activities on the dedicated TV channel as well as hi-light the activities you are interested in on the daily newsletter. The NCL app is a big help too with it's maps and schedules. We would recommend at least the three meal specialty dining package. We also had the drink package, which the math works out to 4-5 drinks/day to get your money's worth. In terms of the internet package, we were fine with just one of us having the plan. I would recommend not spending the extra money to have every one sign up for texting passengers. We found it unnecessary, there are other things to spend money on. The escape room experience in the Spiegel tent is something you can only sign up for once on board and was a great interactive family activity and a great way to meet other families. We would recommend getting the unlimited arcade play for at least one day - it's a great distraction and a way to meet other kids. Some of the games are as much as $4 for a single play, so it adds up quickly. We also opted to pay the gratuities etc. in advance and are glad we did. It some how urged us to maximize on what was offered and not over asses every experience. If you don't obtain any of the extra packages prior to boarding, be sure to do that before the end of Day 2, after that they will no longer be available.Embarkation
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Taste Restaurant
Service was the standout, nice views
O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar and Grille
Good energy, good food.
Moderno Churrascaria
Nice experience, carnivore's dream, could use more balance.
Ocean Blue
Outstanding on every level.
Starbucks
Food was solid, Views are great, always a place to sit. Very clean
Shaker's Cocktail Bar
great service
The Manhattan Room Restaurant
Service, ambiance and the entertainment were the standouts
Waves Pool Bar
Great energy and service.
Savor Restaurant
Service was the standout
Bar 21
great service
Onboard Activities
Photo Gallery
Very efficient. Don't leave it till the last minute.We recommend getting a photo package in advance - it is cheaper.
Spa Thermal Suite
Tranquil, clean
Entertainment
The Library
Quiet hang out
Headliners Comedy Club
Good variety, limited capacity - line ups.
Children's Programs
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
Do your homework and pre-plan. We booked all of our dining times and shows well in advance. It is hard to know what 'sells out', so to speak and we encountered several people that missed out or had to settle for stand-by seating.
Ports of call
Disembarkation
10 Comments
esm54687 5 years ago