Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Ship Review First-hand Expert Review
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Do you need a wide range of activities to keep the kiddos happy while the adults live it up or relax? The onboard activities and amenities can really make or break your vacation, so be sure you know what you're getting. Unlike the majority of big-ship cruise lines, Norwegian doesn't require tipping or even recommend an amount for it, beyond the 20% automatically added for spa and salon services plus beverage purchases. But, they do point out that they encourage their staff to "go the extra mile" and that their employees are allowed to accept cash gratuities for outstanding service.
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As passengers stroll by, they'll find pools, loungers, art installations, dining alcoves and a bar overlooking the wake. The 3,998-passenger Norwegian Encore is a modern and sophisticated ship, with decor and public spaces that could rival a more luxury-oriented cruise line. It's a ship that aims to give everyone vacation choices, with multiple bars and restaurants, indoor and outdoor activities and plenty of evening entertainment. Getaway scores huge points for entertainment options with 20 restaurants, more than a dozen bars, Broadway-caliber theater and a large sports complex that boasts a ropes course, climbing wall and zip line. Passengers on the Norwegian Getaway cruise ship would have to go out of their way to squeeze in everything. Highlights include musical "Million Dollar Quartet"; dinner theater production The Illusionarium; and five multistory waterslides, including the scream-inducing Free Fall.
Norwegian Getaway Review
The machines are not available 24 hours a day like they are on some cruise lines' ships. Norwegian Viva has neither a stand-alone ice cream shop nor a bakery, which was disappointing. The Commodore Room and Hudson's are the ship's two complimentary main dining rooms on decks 6 and 7 aft, respectively. I only ate dinner at Hudson's once on my voyage, but I was so impressed with the pad thai that I would have asked for seconds if I hadn't been so full.
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It has been an innovator in the cruise industry by being the first cruise line to eliminate set dining times with their Freestyle Cruising program. There are many different cruise lines to choose from, and each one offers a different type of experience. Some are geared towards families, while others are more focused on luxury or adventure.
Speaking of amenities, make sure you understand what you'll get as part of your fare and which extras will come with an additional cost. For example, most cruises offer drink packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, but a few have drink stations where you can get complimentary lemonade, coffee and tea. Other amenities that might be important to you are Wi-Fi, spa services, babysitting, fitness classes, and upgraded dining experiences.
The buffet on Norwegian Sun was the smallest buffet I’ve ever seen on a cruise ship.
Norwegian Cruise Line was a pioneer with its Freestyle Dining program. There are no set dining times or assigned seats, as is customary with “traditional” dining on many cruise lines. Spending on the Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard® won’t earn you Latitude Rewards points (the only way to do that is by sailing with NCL), but it will earn you WorldPoints. This currency can be redeemed for onboard credits on future sailings, Norwegian Cruise Line shore excursions and other travel experiences.
Complimentary Dining
If you’d prefer to explore beyond Great Stirrup Cay, you can book the exclusive shore excursion at this port to visit the famous swimming pigs! Your excursion includes round-trip transportation to Treasure Island to interact with these playful piggies. Norwegian Encore, built in 2019, is the newest ship in the NCL fleet. Earn one point for every night you spend on a sailing and double points in suites or The Haven category accommodations.
The TV system allows you to make a reservation, but not cancel one, so I had to wait in the dining desk line anyway. Norwegian touts its Freestyle Dining as a way to have freedom and flexibility about where and when you eat. There are no set dining times, and while that sounds great, you can’t just walk up and go wherever you want.
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If you choose to dine at a specialty restaurant without a package, the pricing is à la carte, with entrees about $40 and appetizers about $20. So if you know you want to dine at many specialty restaurants, the package upgrades are a good deal. There are two main sets of elevators on the ship, one midship and another forward. A third set is available only to guests who are staying in The Haven, an exclusive area with a private concierge, butler, restaurant, bar, lounge, pool and other perks. It was the first cruise line to eliminate the traditional set dining times when it introduced Freestyle Dining, allowing guests to eat at any time at up to 28 different locations on each ship.
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They’re both part of Norwegian’s Breakaway Plus class, offer very similar itineraries in Alaska and the Caribbean, and were built one year apart (2018 and 2019, respectively). However, Bliss has a smaller racetrack and a smaller laser tag area, which are two of the biggest hits on Encore. Encore, though, lacks the very popular Spice H2O outdoor adult-only bar area.
I love its stylish design and upscale feel, as well as its wide mix of eateries, bars and entertainment. Inside, you'll find a small stage, a bar, walls adorned with rock memorabilia and a few tables with intentionally mismatched chairs and stools. In fact, seating is in such short supply that if you don't get to the club at least 30 minutes prior to showtime, you'll be standing. The place is so popular that if you don't arrive at least 15 to 20 minutes ahead of time, you won't even be able to get through the doors. Syd Norman's Pour House, which debuted on Norwegian Breakaway in 2018 and offers tribute performances by a fantastic band, also returns on Norwegian Viva. Syd Norman, a fictional character whose face appears on the lounge's logo, draws from the personas of club owners who found success during rock 'n' roll's heyday.
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There wasn't a single unoccupied table; I circled for 20 minutes to pounce on a table that someone had just vacated. Norwegian Viva's Penrose Atrium on Deck 6 is lighter, brighter and has a more open feeling than some of the atriums on ships in Norwegian's other classes. It feels like the ceilings aren't as low, and the space lacks the dark colors that can make other atriums induce a feeling of claustrophobia.
Cabins on decks 10, 11 and 12 are great for light sleepers, as they’re not shared with any loud public venues and are located above and beneath other rooms. The Norwegian Breakaway Haven suite complex, located on decks 15 through 17 and featuring its own private pool area and lounge, is also generally quiet despite sharing space with common areas. We learned quickly that most people on the ship had been sailing on a 14-night Canary Islands itinerary that set sail from Lisbon. Norwegian advertised and sold an itinerary for just the final two nights of this cruise - effectively allowing people to join for nights 13 and 14. While the food was decent, even Hayley noted that even some of Norwegian’s classic entrees and desserts didn’t seem to be the same quality that she’d experienced on other ships. I remember being really impressed with the main dining room on Pride of America, so this was a bit of a bummer.
Norwegian Epic was the first Norwegian ship with an exclusive solos zone, and it was such a hit the line later added them to eight more vessels. But none of the latter zones are as big as the one on Norwegian Epic. Norwegian Sky is the Norwegian ship to pick when you're looking for a low-cost, easy-to-do getaway — at least in the summer months. In short, these are the Norwegian ships to book when you want to take things up a notch. Norwegian has some vessels, such as Norwegian Encore, that are loaded with family-friendly attractions such as waterparks and go-kart tracks that are perfect for families with teens and tweens. To me, Norwegian Encore is an even better choice than Norwegian Prima for families with school-age kids.
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