so ive never been on a cruise before and decided this year i'd like to change it up a bit and go on my very first cruise. this was a family trip so i went with my 2 kids aged 12 and 7 and my boyfriend...we are in our mid thirties. with so many other trips, my extensive research was no different. i googled, read reviews, reviewed photos etc. i narrowed it down to the breakaway as it had a great deal going on and it sailed from ny which is about a 15 minute drive from my home in nj. i must admit i was excited and nervous at the same time. nervous because of all the mixed reviews ive read about this particular cruise line. when i tell you that whoever complains about this trip must be miserable people in general. this was one of the best trips ive had in my life. there was something for everyone on this ship. embarkation was pretty smooth. we were asked to arrive early in preparation to hurricane hermine. they did a good job of spreading everyone out and getting people on the ship in a timely fashion. process went pretty quick if you ask me. as i boarded the ship, i must say it was very lovely. everything was pretty modern as far as decor goes and very clean. the staff there really do there best when it comes to the upkeep of the ship. the pool area was small but everyone was spread out and for a ship that can hold more than 4000 people, i never felt crowded. the music at the pool was great. the band did a great job of keeping the party going. ramos at the waves bar was always so polite and helpful. the drinks were awesome. food was good in general but the specialty dining was definitely a great perk. the chef at teppanyaki did a great performance and the food was so fresh and tasted so good. moderno churrascaria had great food and cagneys was to die for....literally had the best steak in my life at cagneys. cooked to perfection. the kids academys were such a big bonus to be free..my kids had the best time and made so many new friends. there is a surcharge after 10:30pm at $6 and hour up to 1:30am, but even that is a bargain. the slides were always fun. first 2 days were very busy but after that, you can slide all you want with barely a wait. the ropes course was cool. very scary. i wound up completing the whole thing the 2nd time around, but i did chicken out at the plank, alot more scarier than i thought. rock of ages was soooo good. would not recommend for small kids but it was a great show for adults. never saw burn the floor. not too much into dance. wasnt a fan of second city. thought it was pretty boring actually. fat cats blues lounge was terrific. and relaxing. the ice bar was a 1 time experience. not much to see there for $20 per entrance fee, but the bartender was nice and the drinks were really good. spice h2o glow party was alot of fun. dont forget to wear all white to that one. bermuda was an amazing experience. horseshoe bay was breathtaking and hamilton city was very nice. also did some jetskiing which is also fun. the casino crew was great. such a friendly staff. i miss them all actually. felt like a little family to me. we had a wonderful time and i wish i was on the breakaway right now just writing about it. please do yourself a favor and consider this ship if you plan a cruise. you' ll love it