Norwegian Breakaway Review

4.5 / 5.0
3,880 reviews

Failed to meet expectations.

Review for the Bahamas Cruise on Norwegian Breakaway
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djack77494
10+ Cruises • Age 70s

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Cabin

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Sail Date: Dec 2015
Cabin: Mid-Ship Balcony Stateroom

This was my 16th cruise and my 3rd on NCL in the past 18 months. When I cruise from North America, I expect three things: Very good (or great) food, excellent service, and fantastic shows. The NCL Breakaway fell very short of this mainly due to gross overcrowding. The cruise may have come close to my expectations if there were about 500 fewer passengers.

Food on board came closest and I'd say was good (to very good if I want to be generous). Service was pretty poor. Cabin Stewart was never seen, failed to keep the room clean, and did not get me the extension cord I requested for a heating pad until the 3rd request. Wait staff was not rude but was mainly disinterested (with some exceptions who we seperately gave cash tips to). The shows were quite disappointing. Never before when cruising have I needed to make reservations to see "the main show of the evening". I did on the Breakaway and had to skip some preferred showtime so due to not being quick enough. I always expect to just walk in to the show; on the Breakaway you had to have prior reservations and show your room key to enter! The concept of "Freestyle" is a matter of personal choice, but the big downside I see is that you don't have continuity of wait staff and table mates. Freedom has its costs.

We were scheduled to have 3 ports of call. In fact, we got to Port Canaveral very late and the Kennedy Space Center tour I planned became the half day rather than full day tour. Had to give up seeing half the KSC with no pricing adjustment. Second port should have been NCL's private island, but we missed that due to a claim of rough seas. (Didn't seem that bad to me.) Third port was Nassau, and that went fine. What do you think should happen to those folks who opted for the "Excursion Perk"? They expected to receive $75 off excursions at each of 3 ports. Well, they lost and NCL profited from the missed port. That to me is not fair. I'd greatly prefer an honest and up-from approach-we're providing a $225 ($75*3) cabin credit which may be used for excursions (or other things). Cabin credit is NOT like cash. You may not use it for the service charges and of course you will never get any sort of refund for unused credit.

Cabin Review

Mid-Ship Balcony Stateroom

Cabin BB

Absolutely NEEDS to have at least two electrical outlets in each cabin. We had one for 3 people to share.

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