By way of history I 've sailed with NCL 3 previous times. Immediately after 9/11 I sailed the NCL Dream from Istanbul to Barcelona on a 13 night cruise that restored me to sanity. I loved the ship and the cruise. I then sailed NCL Sun for a Western Caribbean which was fine and then NCL Dawn with Rosie O'Donnell's R Family cruises which was a blast. So this sailing on the Breakaway was my 4th, and possibly, final cruise on NCL.

Just too many people at 4,500+ with two elevator banks. Unless I was in the spa (I bought week access for $198) or at a specialty dining room there was a 90% chance I was feeling overwhelmed by the numbers and put off by the ship.

Food was just OK, even in the specialty restaurants. I should say I'm spoiled with food. I live in Manhattan and take advantage of the good food so honestly, because the ship touts itself as a Manhattan based ship, I expected more. I expected at least as much as I'd gotten on previous NCL cruises and didn't. Because there were so many I also didn't experience the customer service I'd known in the past too. Our cabin steward (I'm in a mini-suite here) didn't meet us until day 3. He was great and did a great job, except didn't clean the cabin the night before arrival, but I'm used to meeting the cabin steward upon arrival and being asked if there's anything needed to settle down. Read more