Norwegian Breakaway Review
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If you are looking for a quiet relaxing “get away from it all” cruise, this is not it. Sailing from New York City, the NCL Breakaway does its best to bring the hustle bustle, noise and excitement of the city with it. Jostling for reservations and waiting lines are the norm for everything from entertainment to dinner. During the day, pop hits from the last 10 years resound through the pool and hot tub area often precluding conversation. From sunset to the wee hours of morning the theater and the Spice H20 bar fill the ship from fore to aft with similar musical fare… booming bass played at deafening volume. Open the door to your balcony to enjoy the tropical breeze and the sound of the waves lapping the side of the ship and you’re more likely to find the room filled with the cacophonous beat of the music. Rather than being isolated in its own space, the smoke-filled casino occupies the center of deck seven. You cannot escape the smell of the smoke and the noise of the slots, both of which find their way into the three-story atrium and onto the decks above and below. With its 19 bars and “all you can drink” package ($50/day/person) the Breakaway encourages its passengers to imbibe to the max, and many do. This Is a Party Boat.
That’s not to say that there Is no place to escape. During the day, in good weather, the Waterfront on deck eight provides a relatively quiet, albeit smoky, place to relax, read, play cards or simply stare out at the sea and contemplate one’s thoughts. Similarly, during the day, Spice H2O provides a quiet though crowded respite from the noise. Whereas empty deck chairs are plentiful in the party areas they are extremely scarce in the quiet spaces. You’ll need to hurry, get there early, and fight for space… If you want to relax. The library which provides sanctuary on other ships provides none on The Breakaway. It is tiny, has few books (perhaps 200 total) and has limited hours.
Dining
Cabin Review
Balcony Stateroom
CabinOur balcony cabin was smaller than similar cabins on other cruise lines. The balcony itself was tiny, suitable for standing only. The room layout was quite strange. It contained a double bed, narrow desk built into the wall, and a sofa. The sofa however was obviously an afterthought as it completely blocked access to the closet. The only way to hang anything in the closet was to kneel on the sofa. The closet itself was quite narrow. So narrow, in fact, that when the ship rocked, the hangers banged alternately into the door and the back of the closet. We had to rig a towel to silence them. The height of the closet bar was so low pants hung by the cuff crumpled into the floor rather than hanging straight. There were only two electrical outlets in the room, both on the desk. Thus, one could not leave electronic devices such as e-readers charging by the bed at night. Nor could one leave a device charging when the room was unoccupied. The lights and outlets are live only so long as your key card is in a slot by the door. When you leave with your key card, the outlets go dead.The bathroom did have a bright spot. The shower stall is glass, including the door. This provides a much more effective water containment system than the flimsy shower curtains we have experienced on other ships.