Norwegian Breakaway Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Our cruise started with a late embarkation due to a transportation issue...our bus broke down on the way to the pier, so we were not actually aboard until just after 3 PM. Made it just in time to find our cabin (Deck 11 Inside) and report to our "assembly station" for muster drill. Our station was on the starboard side opposite O'Sheehans Pub. The staff now physically scans your Freestyle Card and compares your photo to make certain they get 100 percent compliance on the drill. At last, it was over, and we had time to make it to the starboard side of Deck 8 at Maltings Bar for departure. Weather was not the best, but who cares, we are cruising!
First meal: Manhattan Room (main dining). Food was decent and adequate. Service was good considering the chaos surrounding first-night cruisers getting fed. Steak Diane was well prepared, and cocktail service was prompt. Evening was spent back at Maltings, watching thunderstorms roll in and out. We picked up a ground swell as we cleared NY harbor, and the ship had a slight rock to it. Hey, it's a ship on the ocean. Get over it.
Day 2 at sea: Breezy. The main pool deck was crowded, as usual on a cruise, We settled on deck 16. There are lots of folks who do the "reserve my lounge chair" thing by dropping towels and bags on a chair, then not showing up. Cocktail service was good. No trouble getting a drink. The waiters recognize quickly who is a drinker and who is not, so they come back to you frequently. Dinner was at Teppanyaki, which is a similar experience to any Benihana restaurant. Food was good. Chefs were very entertaining. Skip the green tea ice cream dessert. Ugh.
Cabin Review
Inside Stateroom
Larger than expected. Storage was adequate. There are lots of hidey-holes in the cabinets for articles that can clutter. Shower was good. Bath was larger than expected also. Cabin steward was great, with the usual towel animals and so on. For an inside cabin, it made for a nice cruise, because we are not the types to sit around inside. We caught a tip here on Cruise Critic and brought battery operated candles to use as night lights. Helped a lot. Just enough light to see in the dark. One thing we hated: Having to put a room key into a slot to leave the power on. We used another card so the power stayed on so devices could charge.
Port Reviews
New York (Manhattan)
Embarkation and disembarkation at the Manhattan cruise port compares to images of a Middle Eastern airport under evacuation. I believe the problem lies with the Port Authority and is not NCL's responsibility. I would embark there again, but will be sure to arrive early.
King's Wharf
Very nice place. Shops, pubs, and so on. Easy taxi access, and water ferries to Hamilton and St George are hourly. Great place to hang out or just get off the ship and stretch your legs.