Norwegian Breakaway Review
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Just back from a cruise on the Norwegian Breakaway from 3/27-4/3. Here is some basic background information on us – we are a couple in our late 30s/early 40s from Washington, DC. We have cruised on many other lines including Celebrity, Royal, Carnival, Princess, and Costa. Our preferred cruise lines are definitely NCL and Celebrity for very different reasons. NCL has always been the most fun. - great vibe, fun people. Celebrity has the elegant ships and the clearly better main dining room food. I am a teacher, so I have to cruise during Spring Break. We avoided paying the price for airfare and cruised out of New York. We stayed at Ink48, a hotel right by the cruise port. Highly recommend it! Originally, we booked a large balcony cabin – actually a cabin I stayed in once before to go to Bermuda. About a month out, I started reading about upsells to the Haven on Cruise Critic. The itinerary was kind of mediocre (Nassau, Private Island and Port Canaveral) so we figured the experience was going to be about the ship. We splurged and entered the Haven for the first time. Suite life, here we come. OK… with this investment it BETTER be good.
The ship was packed to the gills. Everyone came out for this one. We expected this and it factored into our decision to break the bank for the upgrade. There were just swarms of people in the atrium (which is much too small for a ship this size), on the pool deck (the actual pool area is very small on the Breakaway because of the added ropes course, mini-golf, sports, rock climbing, etc.) and throughout the ship. Kids everywhere. Kids clubs all packed. I have never, in all of my cruises, felt throngs of people like this, and we have to cruise during Spring Break often. I just think NCL packed them in as much as possible.
The weather sucked. It was cold sailing southbound from NY. Then in Port Canaveral it rained. We missed our Great Stirrup Caye stop because the waves made the tendering process unsafe. We got off the ship only once – in Nassau! We had stormy weather and even hail one night!
Cabin Review
The Haven Courtyard Penthouse with Balcony
The penthouse room feels luxurious compared to a regular cabin. The bed is very comfortable. Pictures on the website do not do it justice. Loved the bathroom. Double sinks, larger shower. The penthouse isn't huge, but it's well designed and very comfortable.
Port Reviews
New York (Manhattan)
We found parking a few blocks away and saved money. Do a google search for "bestparking." We stayed at Ink48, a boutique hotel right next to the cruise port. Could see the Breakaway from our window. Very nice.
Great Stirrup Cay
We couldn't visit GSC because of the sea swells and dangerous tendering process. Love this port of call though.
Nassau
We bought a day pass to the Melia. It was a nice day but there was very little shade available. Food was mediocre. Beautiful resort though!