norwegian breakaway cruise review

Norwegian Breakaway

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Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 3447 guests have reviewed Norwegian Breakaway , giving it a rating of 3.8 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type, most recent reviews.

Worst cruise I have been on

Sep 4th, 2024

On this cruise, my husband purchased unlimited internet package with streaming services. The internet service was poor and the devices using internet needed to be by the door. While at sea on the evenings of 8/29, 8/30, and 8/31, the ship's router was down as well and we had no internet service at all. I went to guest information on deck on 8/30 to complain about the lack of internet despite paying for the internet package, but was told the IT manager was not working at the time and to return when the manager was working. On 8/31, I went to the IT department this time to complain of the lack of internet. The staff member assisting informed me that they were aware that there was no internet and all passengers who purchased internet package would be reimbursed full price of the internet package purchased. When reviewing my final bill, I was only reimbursed 25.70 instead of the full 179.93 as stated by the staff member in IT.

Traveler Type

Family (young children)

4-6 cruises

Nice Family Cruise

Sep 3rd, 2024

Unfortunately the weather was not the best leaving New Orleans. But great weather the rest of cruise.

Family (older children)

Disappointed on multiple levels

Sep 2nd, 2024

Bad entertainment, terrible food options, poor service. I'm certainly going back to Royal Caribbean, hope their service hasn't degraded this much. I wish you could pay extra for the old service, where they really took care of you. Too bad we just got to Silver level, because I'm not booking with NCL for a while.

Large Group

Disappointing

We’ve cruised exclusively with NCL for 20 plus years. This was not the experience we expected. Sadly I can’t say we will cruise with them again. Specifically we did not feel the value for the money or any value to our loyalty as gold latitudes members.

Would not cruise NCL again

Aug 28th, 2024

I was very disappointed all around. Definitely not cruising NCL again

2-3 cruises

I had a blast, the staff was 2nd to none my room attendant was extremely attentive and on point, Deal thank you from 13104 ... My boy Christian in the casino outstanding service (Ç-GUDDA) the rest of the staff thank you for your service, the food was exce

Aug 27th, 2024

Let's do it again Family all 29 of us... Let's continue creating memories and lots of selfies ??? The cruise was excellent from beginning to end food, staff & entertainment.

Worst cruise ever

Aug 26th, 2024

This cruise should have advised cruisers ahead of time that this was a senior citizen cruise with most activities and the pool area shut down by 7 pm

Nice but a bit disappointing

Aug 21st, 2024

The cruise itinerary was changed without any notice. Very disappointed at this as we have done this route two times already. I did not plan on doing this again.

Disappointing Experience

Aug 9th, 2024

It was obvious that the Breakaway was missing servers and bar tenders. Had to wait in long lines everywhere.

Aug 7th, 2024

We had read many reviews of Breakaway (after we booked it) and I have to admit we were so nervous that we were going to be disappointed. We were not! The ship was very crowded, but overall, you work around it. Just can't say enough about the crew - they made the cruise so enjoyable. We ate great, had lots of laughs and daughters (22 and 14) said they would go on a cruise again. Great family vacation!

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Breakaway Review

The largest cruise ship ever to homeport in new york, norwegian breakaway puts ncl’s “freestyle” concept to the test..

Updated August 1, 2018

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About Our Cruise

Of crowds and corridors, our cabin: balcony, cabin amenities, other cabins, manhattan room, taste and savor restaurants, garden café, o'sheehan's neighborhood bar & grill, uptown bar & grill, ocean blue and the raw bar, moderno churrascaria, la cucina italian restaurant, shanghai's noodle bar, wasabi sushi, le bistro french restaurant, cagney's steakhouse, other dining options, in-room dining, café and bar at the atrium, bliss ultra lounge, maltings beer & whiskey bar, prime meridian bar, shaker’s cocktail bar, spice h2o bar, sundeck bar, waves pool bar, mandara spa and pulse fitness center, other recreation, shows & entertainment, breakaway casino, other venues, kids programs, ship communications, internet facilities, laundry facilities, general policies.

Breakaway offers 7-night cruises to Bermuda in summer months, and to the Bahamas in winter. As crisp winds ruffled our jackets and the Manhattan skyline sailed by, we waved goodbye to the Statue of Liberty and eagerly anticipated sunnier shores.

Check-in and embarkation went smoothly, with no unusual delays. Although Breakaway’s hull artwork by Peter Max showcases a gaudy pop interpretation of Manhattan icons, the ship’s interior is less pedestrian, almost sophisticated. While the lobby atrium is an underwhelming two-deck affair dominated by a massive video screen, other parts of the ship impressed us, such as the glitzy casino, the main dining room with its grand supper club ambiance, and Spice H2O, a outdoor dance floor and sun deck.

Our cabin, a Balcony unit, was very comfortable, handsomely attired in a blue and brown color scheme. Though our quarters weren’t oversized, they were certainly adequate for a couple. Special kudos are due to NCL for the excellent shower arrangement—again, not big, but a real improvement over what we’ve dealt with on most mainstream ships. The slender balcony, however, was the smallest we’ve ever encountered.

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Breakaway has more dining venues than any other ship in the NCL fleet—indeed, more than almost any ship at sea. Most of these restaurants and snack stands involve surcharges. Food quality ranged considerably, with the buffet venue presenting decent food in a clamorous setting and the main dining room offering serviceable if unexceptional food. Ocean Blue, a restaurant with a menu designed by Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, provided an excellent meal that carried a $49 dining fee. We wouldn’t call Breakaway a cruise for foodies, but for those willing to pony up there were satisfying meals to be had.

In keeping with the more-is-better theme, the roster of activities is impressive. On the top deck there’s a waterpark with five slides, a ropes course that tested our vertigo, and a rock climbing wall. (Tip for parents: Pack your kids’ bathing suits in the carry-on so they can enjoy the waterpark before sailaway.) The evening entertainment featured a couple terrific shows including Broadway’s “Rock of Ages,” and we really enjoyed Fat Cats Jazz & Blues Club. Improv by Second City was a hoot. There’s even a fireworks show at sea.

Things we didn’t like included the prevalence of smoking, particularly in the casino (NCL is one of only two mainstream cruise lines that still allows smoking on guest balconies). There’s no lounge for enjoying the forward panorama above the bridge, as is common on most cruise ships, and lounge chairs along the promenade deck were at a minimum. We didn’t care for the video monitors spread throughout the public areas of ship, all set to display NCL marketing materials to promote Breakaway’s bars and surcharge dining—this seemed really excessive.

A few words about NCL’s Freestyle cruising concept. There are no set dining times on Breakaway, and at prime time dinner in the main dining rooms can require a wait. Fortunately, on our cruise we never waited more than 10 minutes to be seated. Norwegian has the loosest approach to the traditional Formal Night of all the major cruise lines. The designated dress-up evenings are barely acknowledged in ship literature or signage, so the majority of passengers dress like any other night, which is pretty casual. For three of the restaurants shoes and long pants are “requested,” otherwise (almost) anything goes. This policy isn’t a problem for us, but cruisers shouldn’t pack their fanciest duds for a Breakaway cruise and expect that other passengers will be in synch—most won’t be.

In general, service was excellent. This was a polished crew that aimed to please, but in a number of areas we felt they were stretched thin. One afternoon, on the aft stairwell between decks 13 and 14, we saw a sandwich roll and some of its fillings dropped on the staircase. We didn’t think much of it when we spotted it shortly after 3 p.m.; we were not impressed to see it still sitting there after 11 p.m. when we were headed to bed. A couple aspects we particularly appreciated: Any of the officers could be reached by phone, in the event issues needed to be escalated. And we loved being greeted with cold towels and water when returning to ship; on the last port day we were offered iced treats and there was line dancing on the dock.

Although NCL downsized Breakaway slightly from its last ship, the gargantuan Norwegian Epic, it’s still quite a large vessel. At 146,600 tons, Breakaway debuted as the world’s eighth largest cruise ship (though that status will soon be eclipsed by other new ships). The security team told us there were 3891 passengers on our cruise, just slightly less than the ship’s 4028 capacity, at double occupancy.

On our sailing we did not observe any major lines for the waterslides, ropes course, and climbing wall. But on sunny sea days it was all but impossible to find two lounge chairs together after about 9 a.m. NCL’s answer for this is Vibe Beach Club, an 18-and-up retreat where one could escape the sun deck gridlock—at $79 per person for a week-long pass. Indoor areas of the ship also could be quite crowded, especially, the buffet and casino, and on the last night of the cruise the shopping area was jammed with people. The same security folks told us that, in summer months and during school holidays, Breakaway sailed with a lot more people, mostly kids. NCL doesn’t state the maximum capacity of the ship with all beds occupied, but it is likely to be at least several hundred additional passengers more than 4028 (Epic can carry more than 1000 passengers beyond double occupancy).

It’s not unusual for today’s cruise ships to feel crowded, especially for cruise lines that particularly cater to families, as NCL does. But even though our sailing was not full, the ship felt cramped. The hallway outside our cabin was narrower than usual—a problem during the morning and evening when cleaning gear took up more than half the hallway’s width. The Waterfront, a deck that would be called the promenade on most other ships, was the one exterior area that rarely seemed busy, except that there were few chairs for taking in the sea breeze (most of the ones we found were dedicated to revenue-generating restaurants, bars and snack stands). The jogging track—just one-eighth of a mile in length—passes through one of the busiest areas of the ship.

While, for the most part, we found traffic moved well on our cruise, there’s not a lot of wiggle room when not everything goes according to plan, such as the weather. One rainy afternoon when guests diverted away from the pools and sun decks, venues were pushed to the limit—restaurants, bars and entertainment offerings suddenly became packed, and the staff struggled to keep up with demand.

Our cruise aboard Norwegian Breakaway was enjoyable. We liked our cabin (except for the dinky balcony) and most of our meals were good or better. The entertainment offerings were solid, and the nightlife jumped. Fairly unique within the industry, Breakaway has cabins for singles, reducing the cost for solo sailors.

But, from pools to lounges to corridors, we found Breakaway to be cramped, and short on places where we could stretch out and enjoy the seagoing ambiance. Downsized common areas may be a wave of the future in the cruise industry, but it’s not one we applaud—we were thankful we weren’t aboard during a school break. And though our cruise fare wasn’t high, once on board there were ample opportunities to bump up the bill.

Still, for anyone who likes a contemporary cruise experience or a high-energy ship, Norwegian Breakaway is designed to please a wide spectrum of guests. It’s a particularly good bet for families, and Tri-State area residents will appreciate the year-round access to tropical scenery Breakaway provides. Not counting variations based on location or view, Norwegian Breakaway offers a whopping 22 different cabin types to choose from, providing something for everyone and every budget. Balcony units represent the bulk of the accommodations, and this is what we stayed in—described below. Inside cabins are as small as 129 square feet (take it from us: that’s small), while Oceanviews are a more reasonable 161 square feet. There are Spa cabins , which provide free access to the thermal spa.

Eighty suites are classified as part of The Haven , offering concierge and butler service and access to a private, top-deck courtyard. On Breakaway, the Haven has a private access lounge and restaurant on Deck 16. Haven suites are concentrated on decks 14, 15 and 16, though the forward and aft corner units of decks 9 through 13 are also classified as Haven.

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We did not stay in the rest of these cabins, but we have summaries here provided by Norwegian Cruise Line. Note that photos below have been provided by the cruise line and not our reviewer.

Studios Private keycard access complex comprised of staterooms specifically designed and priced for the solo traveler. Featuring a full-size bed, a one-way window to the corridor and separate areas for your bathroom, sink and shower. Includes access to the private Studio Lounge. No single supplement required. Approx. Size: 99-131 sq. ft.

Inside These staterooms include two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed. Door opens to center interior corridor for categories IC, ID, IF & IX. Approx. Size: 129-150 sq. ft.

Mid-Ship Inside Centrally located mid-ship, providing easy access to everything on board. These staterooms feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed. (Door opens to center interior corridor.) Approx. Size: 135-201 sq. ft.

Mid-Ship Oceanview with Large Picture Window Located mid-ship, you will have easy access to everything. These staterooms feature a large picture window and two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed. Approx. Size: 161 sq. ft

Family Oceanview with Large Picture Window Perfect for families, these staterooms include two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed, a bathtub and additional bedding that can accommodate three guests. There are also many connecting staterooms. (No bathtub in staterooms 5138, 5140, 5738 and 5740.) Approx. Size: 218 sq. ft.

Large Balcony These staterooms have a large balcony offering incredible views, two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and additional bedding to sleep one or two more. Approx. Size: 245 sq. ft.

Aft-Facing Large Balcony These staterooms include two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and are aft-facing, so the view from your private balcony is amazing. Approx. Size: 250-550 sq. ft.

Spa Balcony The Spa Balcony staterooms feature tranquil spa décor and include two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed, easy access to the adjacent Mandara Spa experience and fitness center, as well as complimentary access to the Thermal Spa Suites during regular Spa hours. Approx. Size: 208 sq. ft.

Spa Mini-Suite with Balcony Spa Mini-Suites feature tranquil spa décor, a king-size bed, oversized waterfall shower and multiple body spray jets, easy access to the adjacent Mandara Spa and fitness center, as well as complimentary access to the Thermal Spa Suites during regular Spa hours. Approx. Size: 239 sq. ft.

The Haven Spa Suite with Balcony The perfect way to experience a total spa vacation, the Spa Suites include a king-size bed, in-suite whirlpool tub, oversized waterfall shower and multiple body spray jets, spa décor, easy access to the adjacent Mandara Spa and fitness center, as well as complimentary access to the Thermal Spa Suites during regular Spa hours. Access to The Haven and all its premium amenities. Approx. Size: 309 sq. ft.

Mini-Suite with Balcony Enjoy a private balcony with amazing views from these Mini-Suites which feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed, an upper bed, and a sofa bed. Approx. Size: 310 sq. ft.

Mid-Ship Mini-Suite with Balcony Located mid-ship with easy access to everything, these Mini-Suites feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed, sofa bed and a private balcony. Approx. Size: 239 sq. ft

Mini-Suite with Large Balcony Featuring a king-size bed,sofa bed and a large, private balcony these Mini-suites also offer amazing views. Enjoy the dining and excitement just steps away from The Waterfront. Approx. Size: 289-310 sq. ft.

Family Mini-Suite with Balcony Perfect if you want to bring the kids, these Family Mini-Suites are conveniently located near the kids' area, include two lower beds that convert to a king-size bed, sofa bed and bathtub. Hang out with the gang and enjoy the view from your own private balcony. Approx. Size: 239 sq. ft.

Aft-Facing Mini-Suite with Large Balcony These Mini-Suites have plenty of room for you to spread out with a king-size bed and a large aft-facing balcony to take in the amazing views. Approx. Size: 513-585 sq. ft.

The Haven Forward-Facing Penthouse with Balcony Get a birds-eye-view of the amazing vistas ahead from your floor to ceiling windows and the serenity of your private balcony. Desirably located forward on the corners of decks 9-13, these penthouses have exclusive key card access to The Haven Courtyard area, restaurant and lounge and 24-hour butler and concierge service. Featuring a king size bed, luxury bath with bathtub and separate shower, living area with single sofa bed, dining area. Approx. Size: 451-420 sq. ft.

The Haven Aft-Facing Penthouse with Large Balcony Located in the aft corners of decks 9-14, these penthouse suites offer unforgettable views with floor to ceiling windows and extra large balconies. Indulge in the premium amenities of The Haven, with exclusive key card access to the Courtyard area, restaurant, lounge, 24-hour butler and concierge service. Featuring a king size bed, luxury bath with bathtub and separate shower, living area with double sofa bed, dining area and guest half bathroom. Approx. Size: 655-824 sq. ft.

The Haven Courtyard Penthouse with Balcony With exclusive key card access to The Haven and all its premium amenities, these Penthouses provide comfort and luxury with access to the secluded Courtyard Area, private restaurant and lounge. Featuring a king size bed, bath tub with shower (except in wheelchair accessible staterooms) and floor-to-ceiling windows that open to your private balcony. Approx. Size: 328-349 sq. ft.

The Haven 2-Bedroom Family Villa with Balcony Perfect for the families, these villas offer plenty of space and privacy. The master bedroom has a king-size bed and a luxury bath with bathtub and separate shower. The second bedroom has a double sofa bed and bathroom with shower. Living and dining area with additional bedding to accommodate up to two guests. Experience amazing views from floor-to-ceiling windows and your private balcony. Approx. Size: 543-545 sq. ft.

The Haven Owner's Suite with Large Balcony Marvel at the captain's view of the ocean in your private and luxurious Owner's Suite located in The Haven. This suite has a separate living and dining area with floor-to-ceiling windows and 24-hour butler and concierge service. King-size bed with a luxury bath containing a bathtub and separate shower. Additional bedding that accommodates two and guest bathroom. Approx. Size: 572 sq. ft.

The Haven Deluxe Owner's Suite with Large Balcony Located in The Haven, these Suites offer amazing ocean views, a living and dining area with wet bar and an extra-spacious wraparound balcony. They include a king-size bed that faces floor-to-ceiling windows, luxury bath with whirlpool tub, separate shower and two modern vanity sinks. Large wardrobe and dressing area with full closet, double sofa and guest half bathroom. Approx. Size: 932 sq. ft.

{{photo_gallery "Norwegian-Breakaway-p2-g4"}} Norwegian Breakaway had an impressive number of dining options to keep us busy, providing something for almost every taste bud. NCL calls it “29 different dining experiences,” but that includes things like the hot dog stand and room service, so we’ll break it down.

In terms of full-service, sit-down restaurants that are included in the cruise fare, we count four venues. Two of these (Savor and Taste) are virtually identical, right down to the menus, while the menu at Manhattan Dining Room is similar. The fourth restaurant, O’Sheehan’s, offers pub-style fare. Two buffet venues and three snack (hot dogs, pizza) options are also covered in the cruise fare. There is a restaurant designated for guests staying in Haven suites only, as well as room service, which is complimentary except from midnight to 5 a.m.

On the surcharge front, we counted nine full-service dining options that required an additional fee—ranging $15-$49 per person (kids under 12 half-price), or à la carte—along with three snack options. On a seven-day cruise, it’s impossible to try them all.

TV monitors were set up to indicate how busy each venue was. We never had to wait more than 10 minutes to be seated at Manhattan, Taste or Savor (ostensibly the “main” dining rooms), a little longer for O’Sheehan’s. Not described below is Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy , a dinner-show experience with a surcharge. The food was poor, and we’ve listed it on page 5 of this review, under “Shows and Entertainment.”

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Dolce Gelato Carlo's Bake Shop Sabrett Hot Dog Chef's Table

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Operated by Steiner Leisure, the company that manages spas and salons for the vast majority of cruise ships, the Mandara Spa is a spacious facility. Despite the name, aside from a couple potted bamboo plants and batik prints in treatment rooms we didn't see a lot of Asian influence here.

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Spa prices started at $119 for 50-minute La Therape HydraLift facial, Swedish massage or reflexology treatments and ranged up to $169 for a 50-minute Elemis Oxydermy facial, $195 for a 75-minute aroma stone therapy or Thai herbal poultice massage, and $269 for a couples Swedish massage. In the salon, full hair and nail service were available—ranging from $29 to $49 for a traditional manicure or pedicure to $119 for a hair styling session. There was also a spa menu for kids. These included a 50-minute acne attack facial ($99), ice cream manicure or pedicure ($45-$65), or the 50-minute mother/daughter or father/son massage for $195. An 18 percent service charge was added to all spa treatments. Various specials and discounts started to materialize as soon as we set sail.

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The Pulse Fitness Center and aerobics room was adjacent to the spa. The cardio equipment was Precor and there were plenty of treadmills and a few climbers; bikes were in short supply. Teens age 13 to 16 were allowed to use the fitness center when accompanied by an adult. There was a roster of fitness classes—both complimentary and for a fee. Free classes included a morning stretch session daily, Fab Abs and various promotional seminars that ended in a product pitch. Yoga and Pilates sessions were $12 each, TRX suspension training and spin classes were $20 each, and Body Sculpt Boot Camp was $69 for two classes or $120 for four.

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Norwegian Breakaway's casino was seductively lighted—it was a beautiful spot. Often crowded, we found the dealers to be unusually engaging and friendly. Gaming lessons were conducted the first couple days and tournaments for Texas Hold 'Em, Blackjack, Roulette and slot play were announced in the ship's newsletter.

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The kids activity center on Deck 12 was conveniently located between the Garden Café; and pool area, and flanked by the arcade room, making this section of the ship family central.

Kids were broken into four age groups—age 2 to 5, age 6 to 9, age 10 to 12, and teens. The 2 to 5 year olds had such activities as Lego building, Nickelodeon adventures, and a fairytale parade. The 6 to 9 year olds played King's Camps games, had a Survivor night, a treasure hunt, and craft making such as leis. A parent or assigned guardian had to check the kids in and out of the facility.

Teens used the nearby Wipe Out Teen's Club—a venue decked out in surfer themes, naturally. There was a black and white party, a Matrix team challenge, a scavenger hunt and a Ping Pong challenge.

Sitting services were available for children age 2-12, at $6 per hour, and $4 per hour for each additional child in the family. Services could be scheduled for late night (10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.) or during the day while the ship was at port (when parents wanted to go to shore).

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The ship’s newsletter, Freestyle Daily, was delivered to our cabin each evening, and detailed the various events taking place the following day. Offers were announced inside—drink discounts, internet specials, etc. along with a long list of activities.

Whether using the ship's computers or WiFi for our laptop, internet time was priced .75/minute, plus an initial $3.95 activation fee. But various packages purchased upfront brought the price down—100 minutes for $55 (.55/min) or 250 minutes for $100 (.40 min). Specials were availed the first, second, sixth and seventh day of the cruise.

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Laundry and dry cleaning services were available onboard at inflated rates. On the fifth night of our cruise we received a flyer that offered a full bag of laundry washed and folded for the discounted price of $24.95. There were no self-serve laundry facilities on Norwegian Breakaway.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

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Cruising the NCL Breakaway Review the Highs and Lows

Cruising on the Norwegian Breakaway? We took a 7-day Caribbean cruise on the flagship of this class. Read our NCL Breakaway Review.

This marked our sixth cruise ship with Norwegian Cruise Line. A cruise line that usually feels like a second home to us. Although our trip was enjoyable, and the familiarity of NCL was comforting, the Breakaway did not quite meet our expectations. While it wasn’t my least favorite ship— that title still belongs to the NCL Epic—the Breakaway was a close second, which was disappointing given my love for the NCL Getaway and other Breakaway Class Plus ships.

This cruise was particularly special as it was the first time we brought family along; for them, it was their first-ever cruise experience. They were thrilled, constantly smiling, and, as they put it, “having the time of their lives.” Their enthusiasm was a joy to witness, especially since they were unfamiliar with newer ships or the changes due to NCL’s budget cuts. They were oblivious. Me? Not so much.

Table of Contents

Norwegian Breakaway Review

• Norwegian Breakaway is the flagship of the Breakaway Class.
• It made its debut in April 2013.
• Its original homeport was NYC. The hull has colorful art of the NYC skyline and the Statue of Liberty by Peter Max.

Unfortunately, the Norwegian Breakaway needs some TLC; supposedly, a refurbishment will happen in 2025. The ship is on the older side, and wear and tear are evident. It feels like NCL has put this ship on the back burner. It needs the same TLC that their other ships receive. There is no focus on what makes NCL cruises special on this ship. Frankly, this ship does not live up to the NCL standard I’ve come to expect.

The cutbacks NCL is known for are apparent in the lack of staff, reduced food options, smaller portions, and diminished production shows and entertainment. Suffice it to say, with all these reductions and considering this is one of their older ships, the base value did not match what we paid for this cruise.

The NCL Breakaway is the ship you decide to cruise on because you found a slammin’ deal and need a quick getaway. Otherwise, the ship’s offerings are blah.

I almost forgot to mention that after the final payment was made, they canceled our stop in Tortola to economize on fuel, which I find questionable. It seemed like an excuse to keep us on the ship, spending money on games like Bingo and Deal or No Deal and playing in the casino all day. The rope course was always closed, the pool decks were cramped, the atrium was always loud, there was never enough seating, and the entertainment was limited. Most importantly, the staff seemed overwhelmed.

Have you noticed the lack of extensive port itineraries for cruises these days?

We had a great cruise because we were with family. We upgraded to the Free at Sea Plus package . We ate well. Our days in port were wonderful. And we are seasoned cruisers who will have a great time no matter what. We disembarked happy with some thoughts. We still left the ship with 4 Cruise Next vouchers, as NCL remains one of my favorite cruise lines . I still enjoy their overall product. I have two more cruises booked with them between this year and the next. For now.

However, my reviews will always be fair and honest. If I were to describe everything as perfect, you’d question me after disembarking this cruise. It’s also worth noting that this cruise was paid out of pocket using our hard-earned money. Now, let’s get into the details.

Embarkation in Miami Cruise Port at the Norwegian Cruise Terminal

• Port of Miami, 1015 N American Way, Miami, Florida
• Google Map It

Tip: Attach your luggage tags before arriving at the terminal.

Embarkation at Miami Cruise Port in the Norwegian Cruise Terminal was exceptionally smooth, thanks to NCL’s Priority Access —a worthwhile investment for us after the long lines at Seattle Cruise Port last year.

When sailing with NCL from Miami, it’s important to have your check-in document and passport ready as soon as you enter the terminal. You’ll encounter a preliminary checkpoint before being directed upstairs for security. After clearing security, you’ll be guided to the appropriate check-in line.

With Priority Access, you’ll find significantly shorter lines for both security and check-in. Thanks to this expedited process, we were checked in by 11 am and were among the first to board the ship.

Muster Drill

Thankfully, NCL has kept a digital muster drill. As soon as we boarded, we headed to our muster station and checked in without issues. This was easy and seamless, and it is one of the top things to do on embarkation day as soon as you board.

NCL Breakaway’s Club Balcony Suite

We booked a Club Balcony Suite for this cruise, which is essentially a Deluxe Balcony with added perks. These cabins stand out for their prime locations, double sinks, and larger showers compared to standard balcony cabins. Additional benefits include dinner reservations 120 days before boarding, a complimentary bag of laundry, daily standard breakfast delivery, two special afternoon treat deliveries (chocolate-covered strawberries one day and cookies another), and priority tender service when applicable.

Our cabin, #11194 (our family stayed in 11196), was ideally positioned mid-ship on the port side. It was conveniently close to the forward lobby and elevators, just one flight of stairs away from Splash Academy—perfect for our young traveler—and a short elevator ride to the Spa and Pool Deck.

Our cabin attendant responded to our requests, including providing extra towels daily. He was tipped well for his attentive and friendly service and managed to meet all our needs throughout the cruise. It’s worth noting that turn-down service is not available unless you’re staying in the Haven category.

We were comfortable in the cabin after I got my mattress topper and extra towels.

Points to Note About the Cabin

• Mattress Firmness: The bed is firm. Hard. We asked for a mattress topper, which helped.
• Lack of USB Ports: The cabin currently lacks USB ports. Until the scheduled refurbishment and we know more, you should bring an extra plug that includes USB-A and/or USB-C ports.
• Electrical Outlets: The suite includes three US and one European electrical outlet.
• Balcony: The balcony is unobstructed, but it was the smallest I’ve encountered on any ship. I couldn’t even stretch my legs from the chair to the glass, and I’m not that tall. While snug, it’s still adequate to enjoy those beautiful ocean views.
• General Condition: The cabin shows signs of age, so you might notice some worn items.

Service on Norwegian Breakaway

The Norwegian Breakaway staff were generally friendly, helpful, and dedicated to ensuring we had an enjoyable cruise. The importance of their role cannot be overstated. I am particularly grateful for the middle-of-the-night maintenance team, who assisted our family in the cabin next to us with a plumbing issue and helped them clean up after their child fell ill. Their quick and efficient response left a strong impression.

Throughout the cruise, my family said they never felt so catered to, which says a lot. We had a fantastic cabin attendant and ate four nights at specialty restaurants with attentive service.

However, NCL does not have enough staff on this ship. This was most noticeable at the bars, the buffet, the main dining rooms, and even the ‘washy-washy’ staff were missing disinfecting our hands. This does not reflect the crew’s efforts to provide the best service possible.

Complimentary Dining Aboard Norwegian Breakaway

We splurged on the Free at Sea Plus Package, which scored two extra specialty restaurant meals on top of the two included in their promo. During our week-long cruise, we visited the Main Dining Rooms only a handful of times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Taste, Savor, and Manhattan Room

Overall, the food in the Main Dining Rooms was pretty good for the most part, especially on the first day; we had the best lunch and dinner there. Later in the week, the service struggled to keep up with the number of passengers, and the food would come out lukewarm, sometimes soggy, depending on what it was. The menu isn’t as diverse as it used to be, and many dishes appeared multiple times throughout the week, with just a few tweaks to appetizers and main courses.

The Manhattan Room had the slowest service, as the waiters were swamped with more tables than they could manage. It’s usually my favorite MDR cause of the live entertainment, but it was the worst service of the week.

The Garden Buffet

This buffet’s layout isn’t my favorite. It gets super busy with two entrances off the pool deck that leads right to the washing stations! The space feels cramped and was usually packed. We dropped by a few times, and while the options weren’t extensive, what we did try was tasty. As usual with NCL, the Indian food was a hit.

Finding a seat at peak times can be tricky—you might have to circle around a bit. If you can’t find anything inside, there’s outdoor seating by the pool.

Tip: Skip the first few stations and head to the back. It’s usually quieter there, and you’ll find the same stuff.

O’Sheehans

This 24-hour pub still knocks out of the park with some of the ship’s best burgers, wings, and carrot cake. I did notice that they had halved the portion size of the carrot cake. I even took our photos from a past cruise to compare. I love the Wrangler Burger. Hubby tried the Reuben sandwich this time and was impressed—it lives up to the hype.

Even when it was packed, the service here was great. The food always came out hot and quick.

We only ate lunch here and late at night. You can get breakfast here until 11 am on most mornings. The menu is bigger for lunch and early dinner, but late at night, the menu is shorter.

FYI on Prime Rib Night : Heads up, Prime Rib Night is no more at O’Sheehans or any of the Main Dining Rooms. I checked with the maitre’d, and yep, it’s been axed. But you can still get your prime rib fix at Cagney’s.

Room Service

We thought we’d give the free standard breakfast delivery a shot on an early port day since it was part of our Club Balcony Suite perks. It wasn’t great—the food came cold and tasted bad. That was our first and last order from room service this trip. We stuck to the MDR or buffet for breakfast after that. Plus, we had Starbucks included in our drinks package, which was a win.

Note: Room service food is free, but there’s a delivery charge. You can order as much as you want, though.

Other complimentary dining on Breakway we did not get to try:

• American Diner
• Shanghai’s Noodle Bar

Specialty Dining on Norwegian Breakaway

The service at all the NCL specialty dining restaurants was top-notch. I wish the same level of care and attention in these paid venues were also evident in the complimentary dining options.

Cagney’s Steakhouse

Dining at Cagney’s felt like a royal feast. We ordered prime ribs, ribeye, and filet mignon for our party of four. The Prime Rib, advertised as 16oz, was generously larger than expected. The portions were so substantial that I struggled to finish my steak and sides. My tip for those planning to visit: opt for lighter appetizers to save room for the main course.

Cagney’s Dinner Menu on Norwegian Breakaway Cagney’s Dessert Menu on Norwegian Breakaway

Moderno Churrascaria

It’s been a while since we last visited Moderno on the Norwegian Pearl, and it’s a shame this restaurant won’t feature on the new ships. Moderno offers an all-you-can-eat experience with various roasted meats served in stages. Diners control their service with green and red tiles, signaling ‘continue’ or ‘stop’ respectively. My advice? Arrive hungry and pace yourself at the salad bar, no matter how tempting. The nice part was that they started you off with the exquisite cuts of filet mignon, sirloin, and lamb before moving on to others, like chicken. And don’t skip the roasted pineapple with cinnamon—it’s so good!

Moderno Dinner Menu on Norwegian Breakaway

Our Teppanyaki experience was both fun and delicious. Originally booked for my nephew, who couldn’t make it, we adults went ahead and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The presentation alone is worth the cover charge, even if you don’t have a dining package. It is the hardest reservation to get, so make them as soon as possible.

Le Bistro remains our favorite spot on NCL. Every meal here is lovely. We kicked things off with escargot, which even my typically picky 12-year-old nephew enjoyed. The Filet de Beouf, despite a $10 supplemental charge, is worth it—three of us chose it as our main course, while my husband decided to go for the braised shank and roasted lamb chops this time. The île Flottante was my favorite dessert, followed by the Marquise au Chocolat, but my sister-in-law couldn’t stop talking about the poached pear with chocolate sauce drizzled (see decadent video here ).

A special note for champagne lovers: Le Bistro is the only place on board to indulge in a glass of Veuve Cliquot Champagne. At $30 a glass, it’s a splurge, but it was included in our upgraded drink package, allowing us to enjoy refills throughout our meal. They even provided a thoughtful touch with non-alcoholic champagne for my husband.

The French Press Coffee Pot is one of the nicest parts at the end of dinner at Le Bistro.

The maître d’ of Le Bistro was super kind to my nephew, even offering him two desserts instead of one. It was very sweet.

Other specialty dining establishments we did not get to try:

• The Raw Bar
• The Bake Shop
• Dolce Gelato

Starbucks on Norwegian Breakaway

Starbucks aboard the NCL ships is a whole different ball game compared to their land counterparts—and even my sister-in-law agrees, which says something because I thought I was alone in this opinion. I’ve stopped going to Starbucks at home because it doesn’t do it for me anymore; I’d rather save the money. But on the ship? They craft each latte with real care and attention, making it enjoyable.

However, the location of Starbucks on the Norwegian Breakaway could be better. It’s awkwardly situated next to the atrium and atrium bar on deck 6. This area is always buzzing since it’s where most ship activities happen, and the seating from the atrium almost spills up to the bar. This leaves just a narrow path to get your coffee fix.

Expect lines in the mornings, but they usually move quickly. Plan extra time if you’re heading there for your morning brew.

Norwegian Encore Activities and Entertainment

Burn the Floor: This is Breakaway’s flagship production show. We decided to skip it this time around. We caught it a few years back on The Getaway and ended up leaving mid-performance. That said, if you’re a fan of dance productions, it might be worth checking out—I know plenty of people who enjoy it. Reservations for this are a must.

Howl at the Moon: The Dueling Pianos at Headliners is a blast and has been our favorite since our first Norwegian cruise on the Getaway. It’s a lot of fun singing along to classic hits in a lively atmosphere filled with enthusiastic passengers. It gets pretty crowded when it first opens, but if you hang back a bit, seats tend to free up after a while.

Deal or No Deal: Hosted in the Atrium every sea day, this game is a money-maker for NCL. It’s entertaining, though. We joined in once—my sister-in-law dropped $60 and, unfortunately, we didn’t win anything. From what I remember of past prizes, they aren’t what they used to be, both in quantity and quality.

Levity Comedy: We caught the first family-friendly show and then an adults-only one later. The comedians were top-notch and really brought the laughs.

Syd Normans: This place was impossible to get into. A huge line was often outside the door about 45 minutes before it opened. From outside, you could hear they had some great performances.

Ropes Course: This is a FREE activity. It was closed whenever we were at sea, only opening when we were in port because it was too windy otherwise.

The Pool: Like many active areas on the ship, the pool was overcrowded. It feels like there isn’t enough space for the number of passengers, but this seems to be a recurring issue across NCL ships. I prefer finding a quieter spot, usually on Deck 16 and 17 near The Vibe area. It’s less crowded, with plenty of loungers and a bar far from the busy pool scene.

Lifeguards: I witnessed lifeguards diligently doing their jobs by the kid’s pool area.

We missed Bingo, the 80s Broadway Show Tunes, and the theme parties. We were so worn out by the day’s activities (which is a good thing, I guess) that we headed to bed much earlier than on other cruises.

The Casino on Deck 7

We typically enjoy a bit of gambling each night before heading to bed, but we opted out this time around. The cigarette smoke in the casino was overwhelming. Although there are designated smoking and non-smoking sections, the lack of effective separation meant the smoke pervaded the entire area. We hope the upcoming refurbishment will introduce a separate enclosed smoking section, similar to what’s available on the Breakaway Class+ ships.

Aside from the smoke issue, the casino is nicely sized and equipped with various slot machines and tables for those interested in gaming.

The Waterfront

The Waterfront has been my favorite spot on the NCL Breakaway and Breakaway Plus ships. It’s the perfect area to escape and enjoy tranquility during the cruise. However, the seating is limited, and the outdoor furniture is quite worn. I’m hopeful that the upcoming refurbishment will include replacing these older pieces. Despite the need for updates, it remains a fantastic place to relax and soak in the atmosphere.

The Mandara Spa and Thermal Suite on Norwegian Breakaway

Before we set sail, I was swamped with work and cruise preparations, leaving no time for my usual self-care. So, I decided to treat myself on board—my overgrown gel manicure of two months desperately needed attention.

This cruise marked the first time I’ve spent so much on spa services, and it was utterly worth it. I indulged in the Fire and Ice Mani-Pedi with gel, a body massage & a mini facial combo, and waxing. The mani-pedi was exceptional, better than I got home in LA, and not much pricier. The massage and facial were amazing, though I could have done without the upsell pitches before and after my treatments.

My husband opted for a full shave and facial, while my sister-in-law treated my nephew to a haircut and herself to a Keratin treatment with the same stylist. All around, they were happy with the services they received.

Thermal Spa Pass

We opted for the Thermal Spa Pass, which was $299 for the 7-day cruise. All three adults in our party got one, but the only one who truly made the most of it was my husband—he loved it and used it almost daily. I visited once and quickly realized it wasn’t my thing, especially not on a Caribbean cruise. I much prefer soaking up the sun on deck. In retrospect, a Vibe Pass would have been a better choice for me.

The Thermal Spa is still a fantastic part of the ship for those looking to escape the busier pools and public areas. It features a hydrotherapy pool, a hot tub, cushioned and heated seating, a sauna, and a salt room. While it’s not the largest thermal spa I’ve seen on NCL ships, it was clean, well-maintained, and provided a tranquil retreat.

Disembarkation on Breakaway

Tip: Review your cruise account before the morning of disembarkation . On our last day, a family member found she was double-charged for a spa service before guest services opened. We urged her to go down immediately. She arrived as they opened and was first in line, but by the time she was done, there was already a long line behind her. Avoid the stress by checking it daily and getting it fixed at guest services beforehand. Once you’re off the ship, it will be difficult to rectify.

Disembarkation day was one instance where Priority Access didn’t offer us much advantage, as we prefer the flexibility of walking off the ship with our luggage whenever we’re ready. Though we were assigned priority tags, we noticed the luggage color for priority was called almost immediately after the “Self-Assist” group.

We skipped breakfast onboard that morning, eating in Miami since our flight was later in the afternoon. We vacated our cabin by 8:00 am and headed to deck 7 to join the disembarkation line. The process was swift; we quickly moved through the line and were off the ship, heading straight to customs with our passports. At customs, each of us had our photo taken, and then we were out the door to catch an Uber to our car rental for the day.

While we didn’t use them this time, porters were readily available as we descended the terminal escalators. For those traveling in large groups or with substantial luggage, employing a porter can be a great help. They not only manage your bags but can also expedite the customs process by bringing you to a shorter line. They will expect a tip for their assistance.

Other Observations While Sailing Norwegian Breakaway:

• Spice H20, the adults-only area, was always crowded and smelled like cigarette smoke.
• The Norwegian ships have new bar menus. Some old-time favorite NCL drinks , like the Painkiller and Mudslide, are missing. However, bartenders still make them upon request.
• The Atrium Bar and Shakers were mixing the best drinks.
• The theater on this ship is small. Not even two levels. If you want to see anything in the theater, go early.
• There is no longer a dinner or live show at the Spiegel Tent for an extra charge. Broadway 80s Tunes are now played there at various times throughout the week.
• NCL did not have a crew at the ports to hand out towels for the day or even bottled water to be purchased on the way out.
• When did they start serving you little envelopes of milk with your coffee at dinner rather than a saucer of milk?
• There may be no washy-washy people greeting you upon boarding the ship at ports, but at least they haven’t eliminated the tradition of welcoming you back with cold drinks and towels.

BEFORE YOU SET SAIL, HERE ARE SOME RELATED ARTICLES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS:

• Norwegian Encore Cruise Ship Review
• Norwegian Joy Cruise Ship Review
• Norwegian Epic Cruise Ship Review
• Norwegian Pearl Cruise Ship Review
• Norwegian Getaway Cruise Ship Review

Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she's become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She's always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.

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Cruising on the Norwegian Breakaway

Last Updated on February 20, 2024 by Grant

In February 2023, Grant and I took our seventh cruise together, a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise on the Norwegian Breakaway . After seven cruises, all on different ships, we’ve definitely figured out what we like and don’t like. In this article, we’ll review the Norwegian Breakaway , including its layout and amenities.

When booking a cruise, we have primarily focused on the itinerary and dates to determine which cruise is right for us. Being teachers with limited days off, the dates we can travel are fairly restricted, so that tends to limit our options. Thus, we typically aren’t picky about what ship or cruise line. As long as we like the itinerary and can get to the ship’s departure port and back home within our break, we’ll book it.

As such, we have sailed with Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Princess. While each cruise line has its strengths, we have found all three to be about the same in terms of service and overall operation. The biggest differences are the ship’s size and capacity, along with its layout and offerings in terms of restaurants, bars, activities and entertainment.

Honestly, though, we’ve never really focused on those things before booking a cruise. Our biggest takeaway from cruising on the Norwegian Breakawa y is that we shouldn’t ignore those things. So, let’s take a look at what the Breakaway offers and how that impacted our overall cruise experience.

(Disclaimer: When we link to places where you can buy our stuff or places we stayed, we are using special codes that earn us commissions on the sales at no additional cost to you. Please see our  Review Policy   for more information.)

On Board the Norwegian Breakaway

The Breakaway is now considered a mid-size cruise ship, with a gross tonnage of 145,655 and a guest capacity of 3,963 (double capacity). At its launch in April 2013, it was the ninth-largest cruise ship, by gross tonnage, in the world. With the move by the entire cruise industry to bigger ships, the Norwegian Breakaway is now only the 39th largest ship. 

Its sister ship, the Norwegian Getaw ay, is very similar in terms of size and layout, though they do have different features and amenities.

Highlights of the Breakaway include The Waterfront, a 1/4-mile oceanfront promenade that runs down both sides of the ship, along with several water slides and a ropes course with a zip line. 

Complimentary Dining

One reason we love cruising is the fantastic food that you are sure to overindulge in! In terms of complementary offerings, the Norwegian Breakaway includes three main dining rooms, two specialty restaurants and a buffet for all guests. 

Main Dining Rooms

The biggest dining room is The Manhattan Room, which spans the aft of Deck 7. Just above it, on Deck 6, are two smaller dining rooms, Taste and Savor, one on each side of the ship. Over the week, we dined in all three, with Taste and Savor being our favorites. Note: The Manhattan Room is only open for dinner while Taste and Savor are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

In terms of food, all three main dining rooms were fantastic. For us, The Manhattan Room just felt too busy and almost frantic at times. I suppose that is mostly due to the size difference between them. The Manhattan Room also tended to have a long wait, even when there was absolutely no wait for Taste or Savor. 

The other staple dining option on just about any cruise ship is the buffet, known as the Garden Cafe on the Norwegian Breakawa y. As we get older, we like the buffet less and less. Not because it’s bad, but because it is often crowded and noisy. We just don’t like fighting for a table and all the chaos.

We did get lunch from the buffet when we first got on the ship. Honestly, that was mainly because it’s where we were “funneled” and we didn’t realize the main dining room was actually open. We also grabbed a snack from the buffet one day.

As usual, the buffet offered a wide selection of salads, soups, entrees, burgers, pizza, and desserts. What we did have was good for a quick, basic meal. I certainly understand why families with kids (or other picky eaters) would prefer the buffet. It’s also great if you are in a hurry or just want a snack at an odd time.

Complimentary Specialty Dining

The complimentary specialty options are Shanghai’s Noodle Bar and O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill. We do appreciate having these options at no additional fee. While we enjoy the main dining rooms, we also enjoy a change after several days. It’s nice to not have to pay extra for that!

We enjoyed both breakfast and lunch at O’Sheehan’s, which is a classic Irish pub. For breakfast, you can enjoy traditional American classics like eggs, omelets, French toast or pancakes. But, since we were headed to London in about six weeks, I couldn’t pass up the English Breakfast, which includes eggs, baked beans, grilled tomato, sautéed mushrooms and hash browns. 

Read more about our trip to London in Bonnie’s upcoming article.

For lunch, O’Sheehan’s offers traditional pub fare of burgers and sandwiches, along with a few appetizers, soups and salads. We found both the food and the service at O’Sheehan’s to be fantastic for both breakfast and lunch. 

Sadly, we never got to dine at the Noodle Bar, as it was extremely popular and always had a long wait. Honestly, though, it looked very crowded, so I’m not sure we would have enjoyed the atmosphere. If you are interested in dining here, plan on arriving early or having a bit of a wait.

Specialty Dining

The Norwegian Breakaway has nine specialty dining restaurants, plus a gelato shop and a bakery. Offerings include seafood, sushi, a raw bar, a steakhouse, a Brazilian churrascaria, plus Japanese, Italian and French restaurants. For something more casual, there is an American Diner near the pool. 

Two of these restaurants charge a flat cover fee while the others are a la carte pricing. While some people may balk at the idea of paying extra for food on a cruise, I understand it is necessary for specialty dining. With limited seating, the fee helps to ensure that the restaurants don’t get too busy. 

That said, I’m not a big fan of a la carte pricing, which seems to be what many are moving towards. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues. I suppose that as long as there are people willing to spend the money, the industry will continue the trend.

We had dinner at both Le Bistro, the French restaurant, and Moderno Churrascaria. 

I don’t think that Grant and I have ever eaten at a French restaurant. If we have, it was so long ago that we don’t remember it. So, we were thrilled to have that option on the Norwegian Breakaway .

Grant started with the escargot, which he really enjoyed. Personally, I am not a fan of the texture, but I could tell that it was well-seasoned and well-prepared. I opted to start with the mushroom soup, which was perfectly creamy but not too heavy. For our entrees, I had the Coq au Vin (braised chicken) and Grant went with a dual lamb dish. Both were expertly prepared and tasty.

Overall, we really enjoyed our dinner at Le Bistro. Both the food and service were fantastic. Really, our only complaint was that the wine list only included a couple of French wines offered by the glass that were within the price limit of the drink package. 

Moderno Chuscarria

We first dined at Moderno when we did an Alaska cruise with Grant’s family on the Norwegian Pearl in 2018. As you might guess, we enjoyed it so much that we decided to return on this cruise!

Read more about cruising Alaska aboard the Norwegian Pearl here.

The concept of a Brazilian churrascaria is fairly simple… think of it as a meat buffet that is brought to your table! 

Our meal started with a visit to the salad bar. Here, you can load up on salad, soup, bread and various vegetables, cheeses, and other charcuterie. Of course, the key is to try to not eat too much!

From there, servers bring around various types of meat including filet mignon, flank steak, top sirloin, chicken drumettes, bacon-wrapped chicken, lamb, pork, pork sausage and pork belly. We were each given a card with green and red sides to set on the table, indicating if we do or don’t want more food: green for more, red for hold off. Of course, sometimes you think you don’t want more until you see what it is they have! 

Again, everything was delicious and it was definitely a struggle to not overeat!

Technically, there are 15 different bars and lounges plus a Starbucks on the Norwegian Breakawa y. That includes a couple of private access or extra-fee bars. Still, there is a wide range of places to get a drink, as you might expect on any cruise ship. 

Perhaps the biggest downside of the Norwegian Breakaway for us was that we had difficulty finding a bar that offered the opportunity to escape from the crowd. I know that you pretty much just have to expect crowds on a cruise ship. But most ships also have one or two places where you can find a quiet spot to relax with a drink. That was pretty much non-existent on this ship. 

Still, we did find a few good places to get a drink. 

Our Favorite Indoor Bars

The Atrium Bar is located right in the middle of Deck 6 and is pretty much always open. It’s a great place to grab a drink as you are walking around or when catching a scheduled presentation or activity in the atrium. The bartenders here were some of the best, as you might expect.

Another favorite was the Prime Meridian Bar, located between Cagney’s Steakhouse and Moderno Churrascaria. That was a great place to grab a drink before (or after) dinner, even if you are dining elsewhere. Our biggest complaint was that they didn’t have a lot of seating other than right at the bar.

For a martini, we recommend Shaker’s Cocktail Bar, where you can get a classic gin or vodka martini or a wide range of specialty martinis. Surprisingly, Maltings Beer & Whiskey Bar did not have that extensive or unique of a menu. You could find the same whiskey offerings at most of the other bars. Still, it was a good place to get straight whiskey or a cocktail. 

Our biggest complaint about both Shaker’s and Maltings is that the seating area was quite small and they were open to the main corridor. That meant that they both were busy and loud most of the time. 

You’ll also find a bar at the casino, inside O’Sheehan’s, between Taste and Savor and inside a couple of the evening performance areas. 

Our Favorite Outdoor Bars

Much to our surprise, the outside bars tended to be a little less crowded and noisy, at least away from the pool. And, as easily as I burn, we tend to not spend a lot of time by the pool.

Along The Waterfront, you’ll find one outdoor bar on each side. We generally opted to go to whichever side was in the shade!

Our favorite of these was Syd Norman’s Pour House. The bartenders there seemed to have big personalities and really know how to entertain people. Unfortunately, the seating area was fairly small and not super comfortable. But, we did manage to find space to enjoy an amazing sunset one night! 

On the other side, the outdoor area of Shakers offered a little more seating and much more comfortable chairs and couches. It also was one of a few places where we could get a mojito, one of our favorite warm-weather cocktails! 

Skyy Vodka Ice Bar

I put the Ice Bar in its own category since it truly is special. For starters, you don’t find ice bars in many places and, certainly, not typically on a cruise ship. Additionally, it does have an additional cover charge. But, if you’ve never been to an ice bar, it is definitely worth the charge!

At the Skyy Vodka Ice Bar, you’ll find the entire bar made out of ice. Yes, that means it is housed inside a very large walk-in freezer which is kept at 17 degrees Fahrenheit. It features four specialty cocktails made with Skyy Vodka. As you might guess, that is all you can get at the bar, though there is one non-alcoholic option. Note: your cover charge includes two drinks. 

Entrance to the ice bar is at the bottom of each hour (5:30, 6:30, etc) in the evenings only. Stop by the host stand when it opens, around 5:00 each day, to reserve your spot. We found that some days and times were very crowded and other times not at all crowded. It really was very hit-or-miss. 

When we visited, we were actually the only people inside. That was kind of nice since it gave us the opportunity to take pictures and just enjoy the experience. But, it probably would have been more fun with more people. 

You’ll get a large poncho-like parka to wear inside. Of course, I was wearing a skirt and sandals, so my legs and toes were frozen by the time we left! Still, I handled the cold better than I thought I might. I suppose that the novelty and excitement helped to keep me warm for a while!

The Skyy Vodka Ice Bar is certainly unique and something that I would definitely encourage you to visit. But, it’s not going to be a place where you hang out often. 

Activities and Entertainment

One thing we have noticed out of all our cruises is that the cruise lines really do a good job of making sure the ship offers a good variety of activities on longer itineraries with multiple at-sea days. That certainly can be said for the Norwegian Breakaway .

You’ll find the usual variety of pools, hot tubs, spa, fitness center and basketball courts. But the Norwegian Breakaway also has several water slides and a ropes course. The water slides definitely looked as though they were geared toward kids, so we skipped those. But we did make a point to try out the ropes course.

Ropes Course

I will be the first to admit that I am not a fan of heights. Still, when it comes to zip-lining or similar activities, I usually do ok since I have a harness. I have to say, that really did not help much on this ropes course. Overall, it was just a terrifying experience for me. But, that is my own fear, not anything wrong with the course!

Indeed, the harness was perfectly secure. And the safety system that they have set up to keep you “attached” at all times works great while still giving you options of where you can go. There were a variety of challenges and obstacles that you could choose from, some easier than others. 

Still, being that high over the ship and the water was a bit too much for me. And, we did the course while in port. There is seriously no way I could have done that while sailing! Of course, we saw several kids on the course who were zipping through it without any hesitation. 

For young kids, they do have a very small ropes course that is only about one foot off the ground. That might have been more my speed!

Grant typically loves to spend time in a casino when cruising. We generally budget a certain amount and spread it out over three or four nights. If we walk away with any of that money, great. If not, we’ve made sure it is an amount that we are comfortable spending for a few nights of entertainment.

Unfortunately, that didn’t work out the way it usually does on this cruise. On the Norwegian Breakaway, the minimum bet for blackjack (Grant’s game of choice) was $15. That really just doesn’t go very far on our budget. In fact, with our budget, he only managed about 20-30 minutes of play one night. 

After that, it just wasn’t worth the money. That’s the thing for us – he never gambles if he isn’t prepared to lose everything that he starts with. On past ships, we have seen $5 or $10 minimum bets for blackjack, which is far more affordable. Honestly, based upon the number of empty tables in the casino with idle dealers, Norweigan might have priced themselves out of range of a lot of recreational gamblers.

So, instead of nightly gambling, Grant decided to enter a Blackjack Tournament on the last at-sea day. For just a $35 buy-in, he was able to participate in the tournament. Each round included six people with $2,000 worth of chips. The winner of each round advanced, with the top six earnings making the final round. 

Sadly, Grant did not win his round. But, he did have fun and it was nice to get more play out of $35 than he would have otherwise. Still, that was just one afternoon but it was also a lot more affordable for us than $15 bets and a lot of fun.

Other Things to Do

As usual, the ship generally had a good variety of scheduled programs and presentations on the at-sea days. I attended a martini tasting one day and Grant and I both participated in a Macallan scotch tasting another day. 

We also attended a presentation with the ship’s Captain, Engineer and Hotel Manager. This was a great opportunity to learn about the workings of the ship and what it takes to keep everything running smoothly. 

Grant also attended a presentation on upcoming Norwegian ships. In fact, that prompted us to go ahead and book our next cruise, which will be on the Norwegian Viva , a brand-new ship coming in July 2023.

Entertainment

I have to say, the entertainment on the Norwegian Breakaway was absolutely phenomenal. With several different small venues and the main theater, you are able to get a variety of nightly entertainment.

At Headliners (a small performance venue), you could find either a comedian or Howl at the Moon, a dueling piano show. We attended Howl at the Moon a few times over the week and enjoyed the show every time. The rotation of three performers kept things interesting. 

Another small venue is Syd Norman’s Pour House. Some nights they offered Karaoke while other nights were a performance such as Rock the Prom. Unfortunately, that venue was very small, and lines for shows formed well ahead of time, which we didn’t want to wait in. 

In the main theater, we saw Burn the Floor , a Broadway-inspired dance show, and Six , the Broadway show that tells the story of the six wives of Henry VIII. Both of these shows were absolutely amazing.

I know, ballroom dancing and a history lesson may not sound all that exciting. But, both performances were tremendous and hands-down entertaining. 

We opted for a balcony stateroom, which is our preferred type of room when cruising. Our room on the Norwegian Breakaway was fairly standard when compared to balcony rooms on other ships. In fact, it was a little bigger than our room on the Regal Princess .

Read more about our cruise aboard the Regal Princess here.

The room had a king-size bed with a sofa and a small desk area. What we did not like was that the closet was right next to the bed with very little space in between. This made getting to the closet very difficult. And, there was very little space outside of the closet to store anything. 

On the flip side, I think the bathroom was a little bigger than average. And we certainly had plenty of storage in the bathroom. 

The balcony was also fairly small, with barely enough room to sit in the chairs. We have found that balcony sizes can vary greatly, though – we’ve had some that were about the same size and others that were much larger. I think that just depends on the ship and the location of the room.

Overall Layout of the Norwegian Breakaway

Overall, the layout of the Norwegian Breakaway was fairly standard. It had the main shopping, dining, and entertaining areas on Decks 6, 7 and 8. Decks 14-18 housed the spa, pool, buffet, sports complex and other outdoor areas. 

We really enjoyed The Waterfront on each side and were surprised at how quiet that area was most of the time. That said, I think it made the inside area feel a bit more cramped. 

The majority of the indoor bars were right off the main corridor. It seemed that when trying to relax with a drink you constantly had the noise of people moving about and even from other bars or restaurants. 

A few of the restaurants and small performance venues had doors but most were just open to the walkway. Again, that just added to the noise and overall feeling of everything being busy.

I don’t know that there was anything specifically bad about the layout of the Norwegian Breakaway . For us, though, the number of people onboard combined with the layout definitely made the ship seem busy and chaotic most of the time. That said, our last cruise was less than 1/3 full following COVID, so that might be coloring our opinions a little. 

Norwegian Breakaway Itineraries

The Breakaway sails out of several different ports throughout the year. In the US, the ship sails from to the Caribbean from New Orleans and Miami. From New York, it sails to Canada and New England, along with Bermuda and several places in the Caribbean.

In Europe, the Breakaway sails to the Greek Isles and Italy from Rome and the Mediterranean from Barcelona or Venice.

As you can see, this ship offers many different options on itineraries from several different departure ports. These sailings change throughout the year and with the addition of new ships to the fleet.

Western Caribbean Cruise on the Norwegian Breakaway

The cruise we did was a seven-night cruise of the Western Caribbean from New Orleans. Our ports of call were Costa Maya , Harvest Caye (Norwegian’s private island in Belize), Roatan and Cozumel . We also had two at-sea days. 

This itinerary took us to two new ports, Harvest Caye and Roatan (also a new country for us!) and allowed a return to Costa Maya and Cozumel, which we had visited on the Regal Princess . We also really liked that the at-sea days were the first and last days of the cruise, allowing us to relax both at the beginning and end! The itinerary really was just about perfect for us.

We could have done basically the exact same cruise out of Miami. But, we chose to depart from New Orleans since we had never sailed from that port. Additionally, we were able to find inexpensive flights and take advantage of our promotional Southwest Companion Pass. 

What we failed to consider is that we were sailing out of New Orleans the weekend before Mardi Gras! Yep, even seasoned travelers make mistakes sometimes! That meant hotel prices were insanely high and getting to the ship took a bit of advance planning to avoid road closures due to parades. 

Finally, the cruise itself was absolutely packed since schools in New Orleans are out that week. We know this definitely played a large part in how we felt about the ship’s layout.

Read more about visiting New Orleans here.

That was, perhaps, the biggest downfall of the Norwegian Breakaway . For us, its capacity is just too large compared to the ship’s size and layout. We know to expect crowds on a cruise. But there almost always is a place where you can escape the crowd, other than your stateroom. That really wasn’t the case on the Norwegian Breakaway .

Final Thoughts on the Norwegian Breakaway

Overall, we really did enjoy our Western Caribbean cruise on the Norwegian Breakaway . The itinerary really was just about perfect. Our stateroom was comfortable. There are plenty of activities and things to do on the ship.

I don’t know if I can say that the food and service were the best I’ve ever had on a cruise ship but they certainly weren’t bad. There were a wide variety of restaurants, even if most of them carried an additional charge. 

While we didn’t find the perfect bar for us, that really is because we are fairly specific in what we prefer. And none of the bars were necessarily bad. I think what was most disappointing in terms of the bars was the lack of variety. It seemed as though most of them offered the exact same thing with only a few minor specialties. 

The biggest takeaway for us was to really compare the capacity of the ship with its size. When Grant attended the presentation on the upcoming Norwegian ships, the capacity-to-size ratio really sunk in. In fact, hearing that the Norwegian Viva will be about the same size as the Breakaway but with about 75% of the capacity really sold us on that ship. We are very much looking forward to a Southern Caribbean cruise in February 2025 on the Viva , especially since our friends Dave and Jen will be joining us!

I definitely think we would have enjoyed Norwegian Breakaway more if our cruise had been less crowded. But, that’s just part of the experience. We’ve definitely learned that even with the same itinerary, the ship will make a difference so it is not something to ignore.

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• Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Breakaway Review - December 2022

By Jason26 , December 17, 2022 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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I just disembarked the Breakaway, 7 night western Caribbean and here are some of my thoughts.     Some background on my cruise history, I’ve cruised 20+ times on various cruise lines, including 3 Caribbean cruises on the Getaway and 1 Mediterranean on the Star. I’ll rate on a scale of 1 to 5 various categories on my experiences.

Pre-cruise and boarding 4.5/5

Overall I believe NCL did a good good.     Online check-in was seamless, checking in at the port was easy and the safety/muster drill was streamlined. The only ding against the process is that we had a 9:30 AM to 9:30 AM check in time.     We arrived at 9:05 and we’re one of the first to go through security.     Had boarding group 2, but we couldn’t board until about noon.     Not a big deal.

Food quality 1.5/5

Let’s face it, many of us plan our days around the meals, with food being a big part of the cruise itself.     Our first experience was in Taste, one of the main dining rooms.     When most of the masses head to the buffet for lunch on embarkation day, we try to use the main dining room.     Kudos to NCL for offering this up as an option.     That being said, the food and service in the main dining room for this cruise was by far the worst I’ve had in over 20 cruises.     This would include the main stream cruise lines, including Carnival.     I felt sorry for the wait staff as it was obvious they were stretched pretty thin.     Beef dishes were tough, literally shoe leather tough.     Had a beef short rib entree that consisted of maybe 2 spoonfuls of shredded beef and pasta.     The dish was exceedingly sweet and had an odd taste.     Many of the appetizers were okay, but the main dishes were terrible.     Most were cold and it was obvious NCL was implementing cut-backs. After a few days we gave up on main dining and ate at the buffet.

Overall the buffet was decent.     Many options that were prepared okay, but more often than not, the food was cold to barely warm.     I found myself scraping food from the bottom of the serving dish to find something semi-warm.     The food taste in the buffet was good overall.

We also ate at Cagney’s and the Brazilian restaurant.     Both had very good food quality and service.    

If food is important to your cruise, either manage your expectations or skip this cruise entirely.     I’ve been on 3 other cruises, post Covid.     Two on Celebrity and one on Royal Caribbean.       The food was far superior compared to NCL.     Additionally,     a far different experience on my previous NCL.

Ship cabin 3/5

We booked a mini-suite to enjoy the extra space with a larger bathroom.     My first thoughts were the room is dated with the mattress being absolutely worn out.     The balcony was extremely small for a mini-suite, but this was expected as we’ve cruised this class ship before.     The shower head kept sliding down the track, so I stuffed a wash rag in the track to keep it stable.     Requested a pod coffee maker for the room, but they only had decaf coffee. We booked a room on deck 9, primarily due to the specific room we wanted, with a couch next to the balcony.     This was at least how the NCL deck plan showed.     To our surprise,     the deck plan was incorrect.     Not a big deal, but we had another issue, which was a loud speaker directly under us at the martini bar.     It was so loud the floor and bed vibrated every night until 11 PM.     The last night until well after midnight.     I’ve had cabins above the casino, bars, under the pool deck and never had I had a cabin so noisy.     Something to keep in mind if you book this ship.     For whatever reason, you could hear normal conversation through the walls, so perhaps this was a flaw in construction with no insulation between the walls or floor.     Our room steward was great, hence the reason for a 3/5.

Drink package, bars, etc.     3/5

Overall, the bar service was pretty good.     A recurring theme for this cruise was not enough staff.     If 90% of the passengers have the “free” beverage package, you probably need more than one bartender outside the bar next to the main dining room in the evening. They worked their tails off, but could only do so much to keep up with the demand.     Drinks had plenty of alcohol and were prepared well.

Another ding against NCL is around their drink package.     No bottled water of coffee included, really?     I’m sure there are some that will say get coffee in the buffet or main restaurant.     Okay, fine,     but that is not what I would consider good coffee.     If you spend that much for a cruise, including what I consider a high gratuity for the “free” drink package,     give me the option for a few 50 cent bottles of water a day.     Sure, you can get ice water from the bar, but again, the bar staff was stretched too thin already.     Sure, you could go to the buffet every time, but you are on vacation.     Why should you have to pay so much and work hard to get water.     If the lack of enough staff is driving me as a passenger to go across the ship to glass of water, then that’s a problem.

One final point around the drink package, NCL only had one scotch that was eligible without an up charge.     Most of the martinis had an up charge as well.     They did have a variety of beers, including a few IPAs, but if you were looking for anything other than beer, mediocre wine, and cheap mixed drinks, you were paying the up charge.

Shore excursions/ports 4.5/5

Many good stops.     We’ve been to these several times and still find something new. We did an ATV and animal sanctuary in Honduras and a botanical gardens and spice tour in Belize.     Both tours were excellent and pricing was reasonable.     The only issue we had was around the NCL waiver of liability that we were asked to sign.     I do contracts for a living and it fascinates me to see people simply sign the waiver without a thought.     Sure an issue is unlikely, but there is a reason why NCL requires this waiver and one should think about why they would ask that you sign.     That being said, a general waiver is understandable, however, the waiver that NCL asked we sign included language where you waived NCL’s liability, even under the situation where the tour operator is negligent.     It also stated that we accept these terms willingly.     Some may say this is to be expected, but shouldn’t we as customers expect that NCL do some basic vetting of each tour operator before they market, associate their name to the tour, profit from the tour and send their customers to that tour.     Additionally,     we weren’t even presented the waiver until we were on the bus an hour away from the cruise ship.     Since we were not willing to accept these terms willingly, we didn’t sign.     It’s s shame NCL puts these tour operators in the position and not have us review the waiver before we leave the ship.     Now some may say you agree to unreasonable terms as part of the passenger contract when you book the cruise.     That is correct, however, that doesn’t give NCL the right to abuse their passengers.     Fram a contractual perspective, this waiver certainly fell into that category.     All cruise lines may do this,     it doesn’t mean it’s right.     Always carefully read these contracts and either refuse to sign or mark through the abusive language, which is what we did for the second shore excursion.     Okay, I’ll get off my soap box.

Activities/shows 4.5/5

Many activities like water slides, ropes course, presentations, trivia, etc.     Plenty to do on the ship.     We saw Burn the Floor and the show was very good.     NCL used a combination of live music and previously recorded music, but the show was very well done and entertaining.     No complaints here at all.

Internet 2/5

  My rating is based on the overall value of the internet.     The Breakaway is currently evaluating Starlink and for those who are familiar with that technology,     you know it is low earth orbit with lower latency, higher bandwidth and overall a much better user experience.     I spoke with the IT rep onboard and he explained that we’ll have Starlink likely until we go south of Cozumel, when at that time they would flip back to the standard VSAT technology.     So I paid approximately $360 to upgrade 2 devices for 7 days for what they refer to as unlimited streaming.     Unless you were on Starlink at 6 AM in the morning, forget about any video streaming. At times I had issues with streaming XM radio.     The big issue is constantly losing my wifi connection.       The primary reason for internet was that my family could reach me on the ship, with WiFi calling.     I found myself having to reconnect literally about 50 times a day.     There was a workaround, which was to continually stream music.     Inconvenient for me and frankly not fair to other passengers, but I wasn’t sure what else to do to keep that connectivity.     One final comment, if you pay $360 for internet for the week,     it should at least function.     Here, it did not.

Overall value and final thoughts 2.5/5

I put this into perspective for what my wife and I are looking for in a cruise.  

By the time we paid for our cruise, crew gratuities, drink package gratuities, premium dining gratuities and the internet package, we were at almost $4K.     Did I feel I got my monies worth?     No. When I say main dining was bad, I literally wished for a lower end restaurant or even fast food compared to what they served in the main dining room.     Frankly, the dining room chef should have been ashamed to send food of that quality out to their customers.  

Something else that was strange was the lack of any request by NCL on the ship to complete the post cruise survey.     In fact, they never mentioned it, which again was a first.     I guess the old saying don’t ask the question if you do not want an honest answer applied here.     We did receive the post cruise survey and completed it objectively.

Finally, given what the cruise lines had to deal with over the last few years, I was really pulling for NCL and tried to be as understanding as possible.     Perhaps if I didn’t have a good experience on my other post-Covid cruises,     maybe I would feel differently.     But,     if we allow mediocrity, the cruise lines will provide that experience.     They are a business and will try to generate as much revenue as possible at the lowest expense.     I really do believe many of these issues come down to not enough staff.     That being said, under the right circumstances,     I’ll sail NCL again, however,     I’ll weigh my options and will likely go with another line until I see improvement.     Let’s hope that happens soon.

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Thanks for the review.  

Agree about the excursion waivers.  I always wondered what would happen if someone would refuse to sign the waiver halfway through the excursion?  Drop you off in the middle of nowhere to find your way back?

I understand what they’re trying to do….shield them from liability on an excursion they have no control of.  But, Lord forbid something did happen.  Those waivers provide NO recourse.

Generally speaking, I think NCL is going through cutbacks overall.  I have no knowledge other than I’ve sailed them a lot.  I do. Believe they’re trying to do away with MDRs in favor of pushing people to the Buffet and/or the Specialty Dining rooms (at extra charge).

I was on the Breakaway last mont and had none of your issues.  But, that’s before the recent reports of cutbacks and layoffs.

Tough thing to do, though.  You can bet Celebrity, Royal, etc are chomping at the bit to take their customers away.

I too am curious about what happened when you didn’t sign the waiver. You said the bus was already an hour away from the port. Did you have to just sit out the excursion and wait while everyone else did it? I think at that point I would have saiid  just give the damn thing and I’ll sign it. But maybe they’re banking on people like me who they know will cave in and that’s why they wait until they get far from the port! 

We’re on this sailing departing tomorrow Sunday the 18th. Were you on last week’s sailing? 

Sand and Seas

Thanks for sharing your review with us @Jason26.   Like you, we usually have our first meal onboard in the MDR.     

Did you ever eat at O'Sheehans?   It's a complimentary casual venue we usually enjoy.  We also like Shanghai's Noodle (another complimentary venue).

How was your disembarkation?

We were on the 10/26 Breakaway sailing and could not agree more with OP.  For example, the 2oz of shredded beef "short ribs" was awful.  Even the Maître Dei had no comment when we summoned him.  I really dislike the fact that they turned the forward observation lounge into cabins.  Now there is no inside forward viewing area anywhere.  We also were very disappointed in the lack of lounges and lounge entertainment early in the evening.  And the furniture.  Geez.  Who did they get to design the chairs in lounges?  7 foot tall people?  Form over function.  

We have sailed on Getaway and Breakaway previously and had much better experiences then.  Now, we will avoid both ships unless reviews change for the better.

3 hours ago, LincolnLog said: I too am curious about what happened when you didn’t sign the waiver. You said the bus was already an hour away from the port. Did you have to just sit out the excursion and wait while everyone else did it? I think at that point I would have saiid  just give the damn thing and I’ll sign it. But maybe they’re banking on people like me who they know will cave in and that’s why they wait until they get far from the port! 

We never signed and we were able to compete the excursion.  When we arrived at the botanical gardens, the tour operator stated that we had 35 people on the tour, but she only had 29 signed waivers.  She said that she would leave them on the table for the remaining people to sign and to please do so at your earliest convenience.  We never signed anything and nothing else was said.  I really do feel sorry for these operators as they are put in a difficult position.

For our ATV excursion, they collected the waivers while boarding the bus.  This waiver was not as bad as the first, so I simply marked through the ridiculous indemnification language, around negligence, for our entire party.  About 1/4 of the contract was struck, but they accepted it.  Not sure if they ever noticed or not.

2 hours ago, abbyar said: We’re on this sailing departing tomorrow Sunday the 18th. Were you on last week’s sailing? 

We were actually on the cruise that left the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  I really have enjoyed NCL over the years, so I wanted to settle in a bit and think and think through everything before I submitted a review.  I’ll be the first to admit that it can be easy to let a single, somewhat small issue, cloud your judgement.  I wanted to get back into the world of reality before I posted my response.

1 hour ago, Sand and Seas said: Thanks for sharing your review with us @Jason26.   Like you, we usually have our first meal onboard in the MDR.        Did you ever eat at O'Sheehans?   It's a complimentary casual venue we usually enjoy.  We also like Shanghai's Noodle (another complimentary venue).   How was your disembarkation?

We did eat at O’Sheehans a few times.  For the most part, the wait staff was good.  Overall, the food was good, and it was definitely better than the main dining room.

Disembarkation went well.  We had a 9:15 AM train to catch, so we did self disembarkation.  Went down on deck 7 around 6:15 AM and lined up by the bowling alley.  We were the first off the ship, around 7:15 AM.  Everything went smoothly and we made our train with plenty of time to spare.  Very good overall experience getting off the ship.

Thanks for this review.  We will be on the Breakaway on the 23rd and was wondering if you remember what time the ship left the port of New Orleans?  Just curious as we are arriving on the same day and interested in knowing if the ship leaves at 4 pm or if leaves later.  

MagnoliaBlossom

I was on this cruise also.  Yes, it departs at 4:00.  Our meal in Manhattan was adequate, but I was under the assumption there was a band and dancing and that didn’t happen.  We had four specialty dinings 3 of which were good, but LaCucina was awful.  Shanghai was very good,but you have to share a bar style table, which was okay and it is very noisy.   The atrium is a horrific wasteland in terms of a place to have a beverage or coffee without the mind numbing shrieks of game players.  It astounds me that when there are empty venues in the daytime they don’t shift those DIY entertainment experiences to somewhere else.

disembarking was generally well done once an officer got everyone lined up in the right spot.  Lots of folks who had been at the appointed spot since 5:30 due to a flight change to 9:30, wound up being toward the end of the line when they sent us in the other direction.   Stupid that something that is done every week cannot be second nature to the disembarking crew.   The food in August on the StR was by far even worse than the BA, so be glad you didn’t have to endure that.    

we are Diamond on NCL and our good friends are RCL loyalists, the equivalent to Diamond.  They are furious with their recent TA and changes RCL is making and, I never though I’d hear this from them, but they are jumping ship!   You can pretty much carbon copy the same complaints we have as theirs about Royal.   

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• Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Breakaway

Cruise line Norwegian Cruise Line

• Miami (Florida)
• Boston (Massachusetts)
• New York (NYC Manhattan-Brooklyn)
• Barcelona (Spain)
• New Orleans (Port NOLA Louisiana)

Norwegian Breakaway current position

Norwegian Breakaway current location is at North West Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 44.63696 N / -63.56389 W) cruising en route to NEW YORK^2CUSA. The AIS position was reported 3 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Breakaway current cruise is 7 days, round-trip Canada New England . Prices start from USD 906 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 01 Sep, 2024 and ends on 08 Sep, 2024 .

Specifications of Norwegian Breakaway

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Norwegian Breakaway Itineraries

Norwegian breakaway review, review of norwegian breakaway.

The 2013-built Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship is the first of two Breakaway-class NCL liners, together with NCL Getaway , which debuted a year later. NCL Breakaway is the largest passenger ship ever to be homeported in New York City. The next (biggest class) Norwegian vessels are the new Breakaway-Plus ships Norwegian Escape (2015), Norwegian Joy (2017) and Norwegian Bliss (2018).

The vessel (IMO number 9606912) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311050800) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a subsidiary company of the shipping corporation Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). NCL was founded in 1966, headquartered in Miami (Florida USA) and publicly traded (NASDAQ) company listed on NYSE ( NYC ). NCLH's major shareholders are the corporations Apollo Global Management (American), Genting Group (Malaysian) and TPG Capital (American). In 2017, the brand NCL had a worldwide cruise market share 8,7% (passengers) and 8,4% (revenue). NCLH (shipowner) owns the brands NCL , Oceania , and RSSC-Regent .

The 4000-passenger ship Norwegian Breakaway includes the best of what the current ships from the line give customers, like the exclusive Haven (Suite- and Villa-passengers only complex), calm spa and a plethora of dining options. People who decide to board this cruise ship will enjoy all that Freestyle Cruising has to offer while being on the vessel to the picturesque island of Bermuda. Remarkable cuisine, family fun, and daily entertainment, as well as wonderful staff and crew, that's what you could get.

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Breakaway staterooms (2014 total, in 42 grades) include 1343 outside, 530 Inside, 59 Studios (single cabins). Most staterooms are sized 160-170 ft2 (15-16 m2). Balcony cabins are 998, Oceanviews 156, Inside 449. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 42. The largest accommodations are The Haven Deluxe Owners Suites (740 ft2 / 70 m2, with wraparound terrace sized 190 ft2 / 18 m2).

The boat has 18 decks , of which 14 are passenger-accessible and 10 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

When it comes to dining on Norwegian Breakaway, Freestyle is the norm. It means guests can eat virtually when they want, where they want. This applies to the extra-fee dining, as well as included or free dining. Traditionalists enjoy the three "main dining rooms": The Manhattan and more-intimate Taste and Savor. Thanks to Norwegian's drive to improve all dining options in 2014, quality is generally good. Guests had complained about the declining quality, and NCL invested in improving on standards and new menu options. Healthy and vegetarian options are always available. One of Norwegian's greatest strengths is the vast range of dining venues. Passengers can try a French bistro, Italian trattoria, Asian Teppanyaki, Brazilian churrascaria, steakhouse, seafood restaurant, a raw bar, and a noodle bar. All specialty dining carries an 18% auto-gratuity.

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Breakaway restaurants and food bars.

• Savor Restaurant (282-seat forward Dining Room, complimentary)
• Taste Restaurant (282-seat forward Dining Room, complimentary, with Your Time dining)
• Le Bistro (114-seat French specialty dinner-only restaurant; reservations-only; US$20 cover charge)
• Teppanyaki (96-seat Japanese Hibachi specialty, reservations-only restaurant; US$25; open for Lunch and Dinner; features live cooking demonstrations)
• Manhattan Restaurant (632-seat aft Dining Room; NYC private club design; complimentary; Freestyle dining, Dinner only)
• O’Sheehan’s Neighbourhood Bar & Grill (285-seat sports bar, with 24-hour American cuisine - burgers, steaks, desserts; complimentary)
• Shanghai’s Noodle Bar (53-seat Asian cuisine complimentary restaurant inside O’Sheehan’s Pub area)
• Cagney’s Steakhouse (specialty dinner restaurant for prime steaks and gourmet seafood specialties; reservations-only, US$30 cover charge per person and free Kids Menu).
• Moderno Churrascaria (124-seat Brazilian steakhouse; reservations-only; US$20 per person cover charge; with outdoor seating waterfront area)
• La Cucina (168-seat Italian specialty restaurant; reservations-only, US$15 cover charge; with outdoor seating waterfront area)
• Ocean Blue (seafood specialty restaurant; reservations-only, US$39 per person cover charge. “Ocean Blue on the Waterfront” is the outdoor seating area)
• Raw Bar (10-seat seafood restaurant)
• Wasabi Sushi Bar (a la carte)
• Garden Cafe (complimentary buffet restaurant with various cuisine stations)
• Open-Air Garden Cafe (the outdoor extension of Garden Cafe restaurant; complimentary)
• Uptown Bar & Grill (complimentary casual restaurant by the Aqua Park).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Breakaway Theater hosts ship's most elaborate extravaganzas. It's where guests will find the Broadway-style musical productions "Rock of Ages" and "SIX", as well as the dance revue show "Burn the Floor".

The ship's 3-deck Atrium is Breakaway's activity center throughout the day with morning trivia, Nintendo U Dance 4 competition, cooking demonstrations, towel animal folding, dance classes, games. Elsewhere, other activities include seminars for detoxing, art auctions, wine tastings, bingo, international crew talent show, and solo travelers' meet and greets. The ship has a total of 9 jacuzzis and 3 pools. Entertainment options also include the NCL's FIREWORKS show (on each voyage), "Rock of Ages", "Cirque Dreams", "Illusionarium" (magicians show).

Additional amenities include: Complimentary 24-hr Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("NCL Kids"), Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry. NCL Breakaway tipping/gratuities (US$12 pp per day).

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Breakaway lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Breakaway Theatre (800-seat; features Broadway-style musical productions; two grand-shows per night). Ship's evening shows include the grand musical productions "Rock of Ages" and "SIX: The Musical" (British pop musical themed on Henry VIII’s 6 wives), as well as the dance revue show "Burn the Floor".
• Spiegel Tent (217-seat theatrical entertainment dining venue “Cirque Dreams & Dinner Jungle Fantasy”, with grand-style aerial acrobatics; surcharge $30-40 PP)
• Atrium (3-deck midship hub area - “678 Ocean Place”, with a big-size LED screen, dance area and live entertainment)
• Atrium Cafe & Bar (112-seat specialty tea & coffee bar)
• Headliners Comedy Club & Lounge (features “The Second City” comedy show and “Howl At The Moon” piano show)
• The Library; Card Room; Internet Cafe (24-hour)
• Mixx Bar (live piano music; pre-dinner cocktails); Bar 21; Maltings Beer & Whisky Bar; Prime Meridian Bar; Shaker’s Cocktail Bar; Humidor Cigar Bar & Lounge (smoking venue)
• Carlo’s Bake Shop (cakes, pastries, bakeries; cupcake classes)
• The Collection Art Gallery
• Breakaway Casino
• Bliss Ultra Lounge & Nightclub
• Dolce Gelato (Italian ice cream); Cakestand (cakes, pastries)
• SVEDKA Ice Bar (25-seat; with sculptures, glasses, and seats made of ice; room temperature is -8 degrees C/ 17 F)
• Boutiques (tax-duty free shops); Tradewinds (watches, jewelry, perfumes, handbags, alcohol, tobacco); Tides (gifts); Click (Photo Gallery & Shop)
• Waterfront Promenade (1320 ft/402 m long; open-air dining and entertainment venues)
• Studio Lounge (cruising solo guests-only venue)
• Splash Academy Club area (kids' programme for 6 months to 12 yo kids)
• Mandara Spa & Pulse Fitness complex (with 22 treatment rooms, pool, aerobics studio, and relaxation lounge)
• The Market Place (shopping alley)
• Aqua Park (3-deck, with two pools and 5 multi-level waterslides); Kid’s Aqua Park
• Spa & Fitness (Thermal Suite, Salt Room, Medi Spa, Beauty Salon, Barber Shop, fitness classes)
• Spice H2O (adults only; served by Breezeway Bar & Grill)
• Entourage Teen Centre (jukeboxes, table football, video arcades, teen disco)
• “The Haven” (Suite- and Villa-passengers only complex; consists of The Haven Courtyard, The Haven Restaurant, The Haven Lounge)
• Rock Climbing Wall; Jogging Track; Sports Complex (Spider Web - enclosed 24ft/7m tall kids' climbing wall with a spiral slide, Bungee Trampoline, 9-hole Mini Golf course, the largest at sea Ropes course, Zip Line, The Plank - 8ft/2,5m extending platform)
• Vibe Beach Club (adults only)
• Syd Norman's Pour House (American rock 'n' roll bar & lounge added during 2018 refurb and replacing 160-seat Fat Cats Jazz & Blues Club).

Itineraries

Norwegian Breakaway itinerary program is based on year-round roundtrip cruises from homeport NYC New York to Bermuda and Bahamas. In November 2018, the ship was repositioned to the Carribean and homeported in New Orleans (NOLA), making Breakaway NOLA's largest homeported liner ever. Departures are from Julia Street Cruise Terminal. The inaugural cruise departure was on November 11.

The new 7-day Western Caribbean cruise program includes 5-7-10-11-day roundtrips visiting Mexico (Cozumel, Costa Maya), Belize (Belize City, Harvest Caye Island), Grand Cayman, Jamaica (Ocho Rios).

In 2019-2020, NCL Breakaway cruise program is based on Florida departures from homeports Miami and Port Canaveral .

Photos of Norwegian Breakaway

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Other Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ships

• Norwegian Aqua
• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Dawn
• Norwegian Encore
• Norwegian Epic
• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Gem
• Norwegian Getaway
• Norwegian Jade
• Norwegian Jewel
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Pearl
• Norwegian Prima
• Norwegian Sky
• Norwegian Spirit
• Norwegian Star
• Norwegian Sun
• Norwegian Viva
• Pride of America

Norwegian Breakaway Wiki

Fun fact is that the ship's name was selected through a public contest (submitted by Kimberly Powell). The ship's Inaugural Cruise (Maiden Voyage) was on April 30, 2013. Ship's Godmothers are the "ROCKETTES" (from the NYC’s "Radio City Music Hall"). They were special guests on the ship's first 6 cruises, and since then - on the first sailing of every month.

Breakaway is the first of two Breakaway-class NCL ships. Her sister in the fleet is the NCL Getaway . The ship's interior design company contractors are Priestmangoode (UK) and Tillberg (Sweden). Hull art designer is Peter Max.

Breakaway's construction started on September 21, 2011. The vessel's name was announced on Sept 14, 2011. The first Bermuda cruise was on May 12, 2013. The first Transatlantic crossing (from Southampton  to  NYC New York ) was on April 30, 2013.

Breakaway is the biggest NYC homeported ship - leaving from New York City the whole year-round.

NCL Breakaway refurbishment 2018 review

The list of deckplan changes and works done during ship's drydock 2018 refurbishment (April 28 - May 8) at  Damen Shiprepair Brest (France)  included:

• fully refreshed public spaces (new flooring/carpeting, updated furniture)
• new carpeting in all staterooms
• added Syd Norman's Pour House (former "Fat Cats Jazz and Blues Club") - changed decor, new carpets, furniture, live performances of classic rock songs, an updated drink menu
• repair of shaft bearings and replacing slewing seals of the vessel's two ABB azipod thrusters (propulsion units). The operation required both propellers to be removed from the hull. Both bow thrusters were also dismantled and maintained. Both Fincantieri-made stabilizers were refitted. The hull was repainted.

Drydock 2018 was part of NCL's "Norwegian Edge" program for fleetwide upgrades (2-year project budgeted USD 400 million). Each drydock costs around USD 35-40 million.