So after an enormous buildup and endless reveals, Norwegian Breakaway is finally here.

Norwegian Cruise Line‘s latest ship set sail from Rotterdam yesterday, making her way to Southampton, where she’ll stay for a couple of days before setting sail for New York Tuesday evening.

So what’s the ship like? Read on to get our first impressions.

Hours of chaos at the Port of Galveston and big disappointments in Cozumel and Honduras had antiochsteveo already planning his next trip to Belize, while cruising Royal Caribbean International‘s Mariner of the Seas. A nearly three-hour boarding time put a damper on the mood, but that was quickly overturned by good food and new friends.

The adventures began in Roatan, Honduras, where a lackluster scuba diving company and limited opportunities to shop in the village were both major letdowns. The next day, Belize was not only a breath of fresh air, but also the experience of a lifetime. Hugh Parkey’s Belize Adventures left antiochsteveo saying, “I’d fly to Belize to dive with them any day of the week.” Finally, revisiting Cozumel, he had higher expectations. But a team of diving instructors who failed to… well, instruct, came as an unpleasant surprise.

Shows, comedy skits and a delicious but pricey menu — especially for anyone craving cocktails — made days at sea rather enjoyable. But deja vu set in when the ship docked back in Galveston. A lost bag of souvenirs and one migraine later, antiochsteveo’s next stop: Port Canaveral, Florida, and back to Belize.

Read antiochsteveo’s full review to learn about the do’s and dont’s when sailing Mariner of the Seas.

For their efforts, antiochsteveo and four other Reviewers of the Week — bccruisers, madthumper, ridedlgtng and Nylynn14051 — receive Cruise Critic logo items.

Longing to be an Explorer of the Seas? In need of a Carnival Sensation? See all of this week’s chosen reviews.

Don’t just sit there: Share your perspective, and write your own review.

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THE DEAL: Holland America Line is offering a 23-night South Pacific cruise onboard Volendam, sailing from Vancouver to Sydney on September 25, 2013. Prices start from $1,999, per person, for an inside cabin.

Here at Cruise Critic, we’re usually desk-based. But when we do get to travel once or twice a year, those trips aren’t exactly a vacation. We scurry around onboard taking notes, snapping photos, chatting with hotel managers, interviewing fellow passengers, checking e-mail and filing stories and Facebook posts via painfully slow Internet. Cruising is our job, so working while onboard is inevitable. But we wondered how many of you stay connected with the office while you’re at sea.

Check in here.

I spent a night on SS Rotterdam last week as part of Holland America Line’s 140th anniversary celebrations, a wonderfully restored piece of history.

Read on to find out more about SS Rotterdam.

Spending more time planning their transfer than their cruise, DodgersFan and family were relieved to just be onboard Crown Princess for a spring break Caribbean sailing out of Galveston. Things improved after the muster drill, which was rehearsed from seats in the lounge rather than a lineup in direct sun. DodgersFan made many distinctions between this cruise and two previous spring break cruises onboard Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, citing her favorite signature attraction on Princess as Movies Under the Stars, a “drive-in” experience for the family on the pool deck complete with blankets for bundling. Great pizza but a lack of plain ol’ coffee seemed to be the snack-time verdict, and regarding mealtime, DodgersFan noticed “the buffet layout and traffic pattern is the worst I’ve seen.” Trading in towel animals for nightly chocolates, praise was handed out for Rodgie the cabin steward and cruise director Kelvin Joy, who was “the best we ever had.” Read DodgersFan’s full review to uncover the running joke among Crown Princess staff, the problem with the teen center and a balcony prank she deemed “Not cool!”.

For their efforts, DodgersFan and four other Reviewers of the Week — tffd01, hopesicle, hearsegirl and Swice — receive Cruise Critic logo items.

Wishing on Norwegian Star? Living in a Carnival Fantasy? See all of this week’s chosen reviews.

Don’t just sit there: Share your perspective, and write your own review.

When talking up the benefits of river cruising, we might mention calm waters (compared with ocean waves that can lead to seasickness) or the lack of hurricanes that will wreck your itinerary and drench you with rain. So imagine my surprise, on my first ever river cruise, a Rhine run on Scenic Cruises‘ Scenic Jewel, when the cruise director and captain called everyone to the main lounge to tell us that we were stuck in Middelburg, Netherlands, because of high winds.

Then we learned an interesting thing about river ships and wind. Every river ship gets a certificate, allowing it to sail in certain levels of wind. Nearly all river ships are certified to sail in winds up to Level 6. Ships, though, can only get this certificate after one month of sailing; recent launches, such as Scenic Jewel, are only classified at Level 3. So even though our ship can safely sail through the Level 4 to 6 winds blowing about — we are stuck. And there’s nothing so galling as getting stuck in port, while the Viking ship next to you pulls in, docks for a while, then happily sails off to its next destination.

What you should know about river cruising and weather.

THE DEAL: American Discount Cruises & Travel is offering a seven-night Alaska cruise onboard Star Princess, sailing roundtrip from Seattle on May 18, 2013. Prices start from $329, per person, for an inside cabin.