This was only my second cruise; the first being on the Breakaway out of New York in the Summer of 2014. That cruise was packed. I liked the concept of the freestyle cruising so I picked the week of 03-10 OCT, with the exact same class of ship as the Norwegian Breakaway thinking I would get away from the crowds and avoid the things that annoyed me a year previously such as the overcrowded pool and fitness center. Unfortunately for me, but good for Norwegian's bottom line, was that this cruise was also packed. On the plus side, my brother and I received the Unlimited Beverage Package with our reservation so we could drink more than water and juice this time around. We also purchased the Dining Package for 3 evenings, the Illusionarium, attended as many "Burn the Floor" performances (great) as we could and even saw Legally Blonde (so-so) twice. We only attended one comedy show, but it was an upgrade over the show we saw on the Breakaway that featured Second City performers.

On the negative side, I was astonished that they built the pool area the exact same as that of the Breakaway. Obviously their patrons concerns were not taken to heart. Here is my complaint. The ship holds approximately 4,000 people. For the rank and file, those that do not have access to the Haven and its own more upscale pool, there is only one adult pool. Per the sign on the pool, the Bathing Load is 26 people. The pool is also 6'8" universally in depth. Unless you can tread water, you eventually have to grab onto the side of the pool, but many non-bathers are sitting along pretty much the entire edge of the pool, leaving you only so much room to hold on to. Given the ship, on this particular cruise, left Miami on Saturday and is out to sea until Tuesday, with good weather, this little postage stamp of common area is it. In the common, or non-Haven area, the lounge chairs are so closely packed along the deck, that you have to enter from the front and slide backwards.

Another issue which we brought to guest services was on the first full out to sea day, we got to the pool at 0730 and found a prime set of lounge chairs around the pool. Although they kept the pool closed until 0900 on that Sunday, the two lounge chairs next to us had towels, but no patrons. Ship's rule is one hour to hold a chair, but it wasn't until 1030 that two ladies came out, took the chairs and slipped some money to a yellow shirted staff member. Next day, same two ladies, same two lounge chairs. I asked guest services if it was permissible to pay a staff member to hold chairs and was told it was not. Whether or not it was permissible, it was happening and we noted the same situation on other days. Read more