Caveat Emptor!

Item: Norwegian Breakaway
Rating: 2.9
Author: oppster

Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

oppster

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 18

Overall rating:

2.9 out of 5

5 Night Western Caribbean (New Orleans Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 18, 2022

Ship: Norwegian Breakaway

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 14862

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 1 year ago

Review summary

Our experience with our first cruise with Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) is mostly negative, unfortunately. It all started with a package upgrade that we purchased through NCL on 23 November. When we arrived on the boat, we soon found out that the unlimited beverage package, 3x specialty dining, and unlimited wifi that was purchased on 23 November were not showing on our account. So, we got nickeled and dimed for every water, or drink we requested. We also lost our specialty dining upgrade so we had to pay out of pocket for specialty dining. What made this so disconcerting was that onboard guest services could not fix the issue or even tell us why the package we paid for was not showing on our account. It took three days of onboard guest services emailing NCL in Miami to finally learn that NCL had canceled the upgrades because they did not charge us enough money. By then, the ship no longer offered upgrade packages for purchase. NCL made no attempt to contact us to rectify the issue.

Embarkation

1 out of 5

Very disorganized

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

2 out of 5

Specialty dining was great. Non-specialty dinings, such as the buffet and O'Sheehans were horrible. Overly crowded, with a poor selection of food, and atrocious service. We had to wait over an hour to receive our entre when other tables were seated, served, and the patrons departed.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

We won at bingo, which was nice. Plenty of activities on-board.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

The entertainment was okay.

Children's Programs

1 out of 5

Not many tailored for children

Service and Staff

2 out of 5

Our room's steward was terrific. Other staff, such as J.L. at O'Sheehans had no business working in customer service. Upon returning to the port, employees had no idea how to direct patrons getting off the ship.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

2 out of 5

The room was pretty good, but small. Only one outlet in the entire room.

Ship tip

Don't...get on a different cruise line

Thumbs up

Ports of call

New Orleans, Louisiana

5 out of 5

The Big Easy, what an iconic city!

Thumbs Up 1

Costa Maya (Mahahual), Mexico

4 out of 5

Visited the Mayan ruins. Great tour guide!

Thumbs Up 0

Cozumel, Mexico

4 out of 5

Again, great tour guide

Thumbs Up 0

Disembarkation

1 out of 5

A complete s-show. The most chaotic experience imaginable. We were the first group off the boat. We were stuck in line while the ship was calling the other groups to disembark.

8 Comments

Gwbigdog 1 year ago

Thanks for sharing your cruise

Thumbs Up 0

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4tanya 1 year ago

This is why we print out the confirmation page on every single thing we pre purchase marking sure the date and time and the $ amount along with how we paid all showing . It then all does in a folder and we take it with us on the cruise . Then if something like this happens and they don’t give us exactly what we purchased we simply call our credit card company right then and there and dispute the charges and the $$ is immediately put back on our card and the credit card company then battles it out with them . Sorry you didn’t get what you paid for .

Thumbs Up 2

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javawoody 1 year ago

Appreciate your comments

Thumbs Up 0

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AuntPinkie 1 year ago

Appreciate your feedback. Congratulations on your BINGO win. Sorry this cruise didn’t meet your expectations.

Thumbs Up 0

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tavo6 1 year ago

Thanks for your review

Thumbs Up 0

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walkingdeadcrz 1 year ago

NCL is not for me.

Thumbs Up 1

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traybag1 1 year ago

I screenshot everything I purchase including screenshots of confirmation emails. this may or may not help in the future for you but it works for me whenever issues arise. I will also pull up my amex app with purchases made in a heartbeat Sorry you had such issues

Thumbs Up 2

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Carnivalfoodie 1 year ago

What a cluster. Poor communication

Thumbs Up 1

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