Norwegian Breakaway Review
Rating by category
Additional details
I thought I'd share a mini-review of our experience on the Norwegian Breakaway's inaugural transatlantic cruise from Southampton to New York. It was fun to be among the first passengers on a clean new ship, but unfortunately NCL did not make the inaugural cruise special in any way. I'll offer general impressions, then address cabins/deck plans, dining, nightlife, entertainment, and activities.
General impressions:
Pros: Nice ship, well designed (with some exceptions) and executed. Nice variety of dining and activities. We did enjoy ourselves, despite some of the criticisms I offer here, and I would give the ship and the cruise a grade B-.
Cabin Review
We had a mini-suite, which like other cabins was well-appointed and tastefully designed. It does not have the curtain that we have enjoyed in mini-suites on the Jewel-class chips. Our bathroom included an upgraded shower with sliding door (no tub) and a double sink (albeit one that was very shallow front to back). Cabins include a mini-bar fridge and small coffeemaker (! - I think that's only in mini-suites and above).
Even the mini-suite was a bit cramped, and there wasn't enough room to unpack clothes and store suitcases, so we used the sofa as a luggage rack all week and weren't able to enjoy the sofa. Were it not for booking a large balcony, we would have felt claustrophobic. Even though we weren't really able to take full advantage of a large balcony in the north Atlantic, it was a great place to escape the cramped room. As you've read elsewhere, most balconies are small don't even have room for you to stretch out your legs.