This was my first time cruising with Norwegian. I have been on Royal Caribbean and Carnival in the past, and never thought Norwegian was good enough based on what I've read and heard from others. My secretary swears by Norwegian and has cruised with them many times, and my January vacation plans got messed up with timing, leaving me limited to a quick weekend getaway on Breakaway. I've heard so many awesome things about how great a ship Epic is, and figured that this shouldn't be all that much different - or so I thought.

I've read about the many mixed reviews about Breakaway prior to cruising (and before I booked the cruise), but I didn't let it sway my decisions or thoughts. I'm easy going and can make the best of it if it would have been a bad experience - but it wasn't. Not entirely, at least.

It all started with getting to the ship. As I was crossing 12th Avenue to get to Pier 90, there was a flock of people that must have just gotten off the ship, and as I moved over to make room for this woman to get onto the sidewalk from the street, I asked her if she just got off Breakaway, and she nodded and asked if that's where I was going, I said yes, and her response was a mortified look combined with a relieved look, followed with the words "Good Luck"...Oh boy, what am I getting myself into! My wife started to freak out a little, but I just kept telling myself to think positive..... Read more