We didn’t care for the video monitors spread throughout the public areas of ship, all set to display NCL marketing materials to promote Breakaway’s bars and surcharge dining-this seemed really excessive.Ī few words about NCL’s Freestyle cruising concept. There’s no lounge for enjoying the forward panorama above the bridge, as is common on most cruise ships, and lounge chairs along the promenade deck were at a minimum. Things we didn’t like included the prevalence of smoking, particularly in the casino (NCL is one of only two mainstream cruise lines that still allows smoking on guest balconies).
(Tip for parents: Pack your kids’ bathing suits in the carry-on so they can enjoy the waterpark before sailaway.) The evening entertainment featured a couple terrific shows including Broadway’s “Rock of Ages,” and we really enjoyed Fat Cats Jazz & Blues Club. On the top deck there’s a waterpark with five slides, a ropes course that tested our vertigo, and a rock climbing wall. In keeping with the more-is-better theme, the roster of activities is impressive. The evening entertainment included a couple terrific shows, and we really enjoyed Fat Cats Jazz & Blues Club. We wouldn’t call Breakaway a cruise for foodies, but for those willing to pony up there were satisfying meals to be had. Ocean Blue, a restaurant with a menu designed by Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, provided an excellent meal that carried a $49 dining fee. Food quality ranged considerably, with the buffet venue presenting decent food in a clamorous setting and the main dining room offering serviceable if unexceptional food. Most of these restaurants and snack stands involve surcharges. The slender balcony, however, was the smallest we’ve ever encountered.īreakaway has more dining venues than any other ship in the NCL fleet-indeed, more than almost any ship at sea. Special kudos are due to NCL for the excellent shower arrangement-again, not big, but a real improvement over what we’ve dealt with on most mainstream ships. Though our quarters weren’t oversized, they were certainly adequate for a couple.
Our cabin, a Balcony unit, was very comfortable, handsomely attired in a blue and brown color scheme. While the lobby atrium is an underwhelming two-deck affair dominated by a massive video screen, other parts of the ship impressed us, such as the glitzy casino, the main dining room with its grand supper club ambiance, and Spice H2O, a outdoor dance floor and sun deck. Although Breakaway’s hull artwork by Peter Max showcases a gaudy pop interpretation of Manhattan icons, the ship’s interior is less pedestrian, almost sophisticated. About Our CruiseĬheck-in and embarkation went smoothly, with no unusual delays. As crisp winds ruffled our jackets and the Manhattan skyline sailed by, we waved goodbye to the Statue of Liberty and eagerly anticipated sunnier shores. We should mention that Norwegian Gateway, homeported in Miami year-round, is essentially an identical twin to Breakaway, save for a design that apes Florida.īreakaway offers 7-night cruises to Bermuda in summer months, and to the Bahamas in winter. But Breakaway’s New York clichés, drawn in the broadest strokes possible, are inoffensive-after a couple days they’re almost invisible. It’s kind of like if the mouse house were to build a theme park called Floridaland and plant it next to the Magic Kingdom (oh wait, they already tried that in California). Curiously, the ship also carries a Big Apple theme, as though Tri-State residents need to be reminded of what they left behind while on vacation. Breakaway homeports in New York City, a boon for Manhattan-area cruisers who can take the subway to within a few blocks of the pier for embarkation.
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