Norwegian Breakaway Review
RESPECT: Find out what it means to me.
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The Norwegian Breakaway promises a lot, but delivers very little. Right from the very beginning there were disappointments in service, in accommodations, and in the amount of public space. But the biggest disappointment was the total lack of respect that Norwegian Cruise Lines has for its passengers.
This lack of respect is evident everywhere. Little cards in your cabin announce that "Room Service is free, but a $7.95 convenience charge will be added for each order." Since when is $7.95 free? Do they think passengers won't notice that they are paying for room service? Or you walk into a shop, noticing a pretty pair of earrings and the sign next to it that reads, "Hidden surveillance cameras in operation," which says to me, "Hello Guest. We expect you to steal, so we'll be watching every move you make." Or entering the dining room and finding that the best items on the menu - highlighted in a box with the headline - "Plated to Perfection" cost an extra $19.99 to $29.99. Or selling tickets to the big raffle before every show in the main theater, and saying, "Everyone who buys will get five EXTRA chances to win," as if we wouldn't notice that if EVERYONE gets five extra chances nobody has any extra chances.
Speaking to service staff didn't change this impression, Try to make a reservation at one of the three basic restaurants and you are told by one staff person, "We only take reservations for before 6:30 p.m. or after 9:30 p.m." Ask a second staff person the same question and the answer is, "We only take reservations for 10 or more. Ask long enough and someone will eventually give you a reservation.
Cabin Review
Balcony Stateroom
Our cabin was actually quite nice. The bed was very comfortable and there was a surprising amount of storage space, so we were able to put everything we brought away and have plenty of room in the cabin for the two of us. We were also delighted with our gigantic balcony. We were at a point where the ship narrowed and our balcony got really deep as a result. There was enough room for two chairs and two chaises, so we used it a lot. Inside, sitting wasn't as much fun. We had a futon-type sofa that was quite large but not all that comfortable to sit on, and there was no chair, just a stool that had a hard top so it could double as a little coffee table. The top also came off for storage. This wasn't fun to sit on and not too steady for things like drinks. We also thought it odd that we always had ice in our ice bucket, but nobody ever brought water, not even water that we had to pay for. We did watch a little television, but unless you were willing to pay for movies, there wasn't much to bother with.
Port Reviews
New York (Manhattan)
New York is always great. We arrived the evening before, stayed in a hotel and took a taxi to the port. While in New York we strolled midtown and had dinner.
St. Thomas
We like St. Thomas. We've been here many times before. We did a little shopping and bought some jewelry. The town is quaint and nice. We've been to Magen's Bay and other places on the island, but this time we took it easy and just strolled around.
Tortola
We love Tortola! This time we went to our favorite place on the island, Cane Garden Bay. This beach is wonderful. It has beautiful white sand, gorgeous views and wonderful clear aqua water. There are also a number of great little bars where you can get a nice drink or something to eat and just soak up the island ambience. It's easy to rent beach chairs and umbrellas, but nobody minds if you just lay out a towel and stake a claim to a spot.
St. Maarten
Phillipsburg is a great little town. It's like a pretty and relaxed Charlotte Amalie. There's a nice beach right along the bay as you come into town. A lovely street with terrific shops, a cute little museum and a historic church. We love the water taxi that takes you from the pier into town and always take it. Once in Phillipsburg, it's easy to get a cab to take you to Marigot on the French side, which is very nice and very French! Or you can head over to Orient Beach, which is just terrific.
Dominica
We had been to Dominica the first year cruise ships stopped here. Boy, what a difference. You can see an improvement in Roseau, the quaint capital city, which we walked around before boarding a sightseeing tram that took us to their beautiful Botanical Gardens (much improved since the last time) and up to Trafalgar Falls. We had to pay extra to the Park Service to go directly to the falls, but it was worth it. They are quite beautiful and the walk, while strenuous was nice, too.
Barbados
Our island tour gave a great look at life on Barbados, where everyone's ambition is to own their own house and car - at least that's what our guide says. We saw some beautiful beaches, Rihanna's childhood home and current condo building, the University of the Caribbean, and the view from the highest spot on the island, as well as lots of other fascinating things. Barbados is flat, unlike the volcanic islands of the Caribbean, but still very beautiful.
Martinique
I think we would have liked Martinique better had we not arrived for Mardi Gras. Everything - and I mean everything - was closed for Fat Tuesday. There was a little market open selling costumes for the festivities and a few trinkets, but that was about all. We strolled around town in the morning, and then went back and caught the parade that kicked off the Mardi Gras celebration. It was nice, but it would have been better if the ship had stuck around for the evening when the real fun commenced.