After all this, we still have two more booked with NCL BREAKAWAY. once you lower your expectations from what "once was" to "what is", It was a reasonable experience. Heading down there in DEC, and again next APRIL. We WILL book PRIMA after we do a little more research...We also cruise other lines and they are a product of the times as well....
Embarkation
2 out of 5
NO as a cruise terminal sucks..hasn't even been painted or carpeted since waaay back when. A few thousand people disembarkin g, crammed into the same space as a few thousand more trying to board in what passes for a front lobby. Even the HAVEN types were jammed in to an overflow area with us mere platinums...tsk tsk..not nearly enough agents...they were doing "other things" per a woman who looked like a supv. We boarded with th handicapped group. Wife uses a cane. Managed to snag our usual VIBE passes...$209 pp for the week. Saved the whole cruise as far as we're concerned. Ship left over an hour late simply because of boarding problems. ousand folks getting off, mashed into a few thousand folks getting on in the so-called lobby. No priority boarding agents unless you had a HAVEN, and even then they were seated in the "overflow" area with us mere platinums. Not enough check in agents, they were doing "other things" per one of the women who looked like a supv. We boarded with the handicapped group. Was able to snag VIBE passes which saved the whole cruise as far as I'm concerend
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Menus havent been changed or updated in YEARS. The buffet (jurassic park) was "okay" Le Bistro pretends to be a French restaurant, the portions were tiny. Thats exactly the right word. Did Cagneys a couple of times, the steaks were cooked the way we like them. Amazing. We always skip the "pseudo-oriental" place, sits right on top of the casino, which reeks..we go to another deck to avoid it. The drink package got a workout. Nuff said. Italian wasn't bad, but when you know what the real stuff is, this isn't it. We get a couple "free", so I guess its not right to complain. Not that anyone cares anyway. Thank gawd for OSHEEHANS...they havent screwed up the wings. I understand they're changing the name to "THE LOCAL"...place was named after an ex pooh bah who was Irish. (Ya think?) lets see what else they change Morning continental breakfast delivered on time every morning, out on the balcony..Tip the kid an extra $2...don't be cheap. THEN we head out to the real breakfast. Not a bad way to start the day. Menu is same o same o...
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Didn't climb any rocks, or play at being fit. Stayed up in the VIBE all day with a good group of like minded folks. Excellent bartender (s), 2 hot tubs, no kids whatsoever...think of a good night at CHEERS but all day. NO hassles over loungers. only about 25 folks or so up there...Fluids and BS all day. Forgot the iced water, and fruit delivered to your chaise regularly, not to mention some strange shot concoctions several times a day...the bartender just felt like it...Not all ships have a VIBE..and..merely having a HAVEN doesn't gain entry.......did I mention no kids??not even to visit...
Entertainment
2 out of 5
Comedians not really funny, even after some more fluids..BURN THE FLOOR was cancelled..SIX was also cancelled..the regular bartenders knew why...COVID..they weren't happy, messes with their extra tips..Official explanation for both was "technical difficulties". Got some fillins from somewhere..probably next door heheheh...
Children's Programs
NEVER brought kids onboard a cruise...didn't seem to cramp other folks style though...bringing infants and parking them in front of giant speakers must be a rite of passage.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Despite it all, every single crew we met was pleasant, polite, helpful, cheery, to a fault. With the exception of the sales geeks at the "cruisenext zoo" Must've been used car sales types in another life. We made a huge mistake and mentioned we were interested in the PRIMA...finally had to INSIST all we were going to do is buy a couple more cruisenext coupons or thing would get ugly.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
They're doing the best they can with a ship that needs a refurb badly. Everything worked, and was kept clean. Our steward-ess is tasked with doing 18 cabins...and then has to do "other things". Hard to be critical with that kind of work load. TIP THEM!! Beginning, during, at the end, whenever. And i don't mean $5 either.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
We like it...we've booked it before.
Ship tip
If you've never cruised, its a staggering experience...if you've cruised many times...its becoming underwhelming.
Ship is homeported there for the season. NO is big, noisy, dirty and dare I say dangerous. You want to go wandering and see the huge swaths that were never rebuilt after KATRINA, more power to you. Nothing "french" about the French Quarter".
See Cozumel response. BTW, some family of 5+ were "delayed" getting back to the ship. CAPN making announcements the "authorities wouldntlet them leave them. Clearly po'd...and he would have...so we waited..."
Appreciate your feedback. It’s a sad day when we have similar experiences that were not at expectations. Glad you changed your attitude enough to enjoy your cruise.
Yeh I know about the additional cruises, since a bunch are booked and there will be more.....you just learn to expect less than what "used to be"...we'll keep doing it until we can't get up the boarding ramp and yeh I know about the extra posts...hit submit and nothing appears to happen so i hit it a few more times..
At least for a messed up embark the exit was quick and easy. I think overall that we are all going to have to lower expectations and start using the age old and hated term ... "in the good old days ...."
It's hard to appreciate your viewpoint when you have additional cruises already scheduled. Sorry you had such an awful time. Btw, were you aware nearly every comment was posted at least twice? Curious.
Deck 17...elevators only go to 16, then stairs, and a sliding door. you need to buy the pass to it and have your key card redone. used to get a separate key card. now you get the card redone and wear a wristband for about a minute...introduce yourself to the steady bartender...usually with a twenty...he'll remember...you get the handful of available passes when you embark. can't buy them beforehand, or there would never be any. we get them every single time we've ever been on Getaway or Breakaway...latest price is $209 for the week...private clamshell cabanas are available for more $$, with an onboard credit to sweeten the deal...we did it once, not really worth it IMHO...you could hide in one all day. Never had a bad group up there, ever, bar bs all day every day...leave your stuff, no problems...go eat, come back later...lots of umbrellas, crew will move them around if you want...I give it a 10 out of 10...
Thanks for the review. Surprised about what you state about the ship needing refurb, considering it's only nine years old and had practically no wear & tear for almost two years with the shutdown. I guess they just don't build them like they used to.
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