Unexpectedly Enjoyable Itinerary

Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Review to Canada, New England, New York

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 6
Helpful Votes: 75

Overall rating:

4.1 out of 5
Norwegian Breakaway

7 Night Canada & New England (New York Roundtrip)

Sail date: September 08, 2024

Ship: Norwegian Breakaway

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 12820

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 3 months ago

Review summary

I recently sailed on the Norwegian Breakaway, which has a layout almost identical to the Norwegian Getaway, a ship I’ve cruised on twice before. However, the lack of USB outlets by the bed was a major letdown, and I’ve decided I won’t be sailing on either ship again. That aside, the Canada & New England itinerary, which I initially thought would be dull, ended up surprising me in the best way. The weather was perfect—sunny and mild the entire time! One of the highlights was the Hop-on Hop-off bus in Canada, which was incredibly flexible and allowed me to enjoy the day without the pressure of an early start. Halifax stood out with its vibrant atmosphere, full of shops, dining, and activity. I also loved learning about the Titanic recovery efforts in both Saint John and Halifax—there’s so much fascinating history there, and I’m already looking forward to visiting Canada again. Bar Harbor, ME was another highlight, with scenic views, great shops, and dining just a short walk from the port. Embarkation and disembarkation were the smoothest I’ve ever experienced, and with very few children onboard, the cruise remained peaceful and relaxing throughout. The ship’s lifeboats, which were used for tendering, were impressively stable. Dinner each night was a treat with freshly made crepes, and the chocolate lava cake in the main dining room was absolutely irresistible. On the downside, the cabin washcloths were rough and not as bright as I would’ve expected, and the toilet had occasional flushing issues. The absence of bedside outlets was inconvenient and a bit frustrating. The port-intensive itinerary also left little time to fully explore the ship, gamble, or take advantage of the drink packages. Portland, ME didn’t offer much to see or do near the port, and the hilly terrain is something to be mindful of for those with mobility issues. Newport, ME was quiet and walkable, though it didn’t particularly resonate with me.

Embarkation

5 out of 5
Manhattan Cruise Terminal staff quickly established cooperation and order very respectfully

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5
There were a few standout items like the chocolate lava cake and freshly made crepes.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5
There was something for everyone.

Entertainment

5 out of 5
Matthew was awesome! He was multitalented in performing a lot of genres.

Children's Programs

We did not experience this.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
Service was superb from everyone!

Ship Quality

4 out of 5
The ship was well maintained.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5
Although the cabin was well maintained and comfortable, it was missing bedside outlets.

Ship tip

Opt for the Hop-on Hop-off bus in Canada—it's flexible, no early start, and saves you from excessive walking.

Ports of call

New York, New York

5 out of 5
I live there.

Newport, Rhode Island

3 out of 5
I didn't do an excursion. Although it was quaint, quiet and very walkable, I wouldn't want to take a cruise here.

Portland, Maine

1 out of 5
There was not a lot going on around the port.

Bar Harbor, Maine

5 out of 5
Scenic with shops and dining. Gorgeous and vibrant!

Saint John, New Brunswick

5 out of 5
Enjoyed the hop on hop off bus excursion and riding around the city.

Halifax, Nova Scotia

5 out of 5
This was my favorite port of the entire cruise. The history I learned on the hop on hop off bus excursion was super fascinating!

Disembarkation

5 out of 5
I did self-assist. It was seamless and organized. Not crowded at all.

Traveler Photos

Water slides on top deck Ship entertainer Matthew. Excellent musician!! Delicious meal at Tomavinos Pizzeria directly across from the cruise port. We were serenaded by a bag pipe player prior to leaving the port. Leaving the port
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9 Comments

Sogmoore     2 months ago

Nice pix and thanks for sharing

Cruisers4Lyfe     2 months ago

Thanks for sharing

RC2cruises     2 months ago

The Prima has outlets on both sides of the bed which is ideal. I’m sure going forward all the new ships will have sufficient outlets.

Gwbigdog     2 months ago

Thanks for sharing

M998     3 months ago

Cruise ships are designed 5 years before construction starts. Most of them lack facilities we currently consider as necessities. The Breakaway will go in dry dock in 2025. Let's hope they will install USB ports. Apart from the weird pool deck, I like that ship however NCL is not my first choice.

earlydawn     3 months ago

Thanks for the detailed review.

cruising2004     3 months ago

Thank you for your review. Glad you had a wonderful cruise!

bubbles60     3 months ago

Many ships do not have enough USB or outlets. As a matter of fact, the Prima is the only ship we have been on that had sufficient outlets. This is an industry wide issue that they have not kept up with technology.

HeavySeas     3 months ago

Thanks for sharing your cruise experience and glad you enjoyed your cruise

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