Shows

      There are many show but we didn't get to see some of them.
Rock of Ages was really good. It's not for kids. it is pretty
suggestive in parts. It takes place in the eighties
with full on 80's fashion and music.   Loved it.
     Second City was OK but not as funny as I expected. The seats
Were so uncomfortable.
     Pajama Jam for the little ones. All of the SpongeBob
characters were there so you can take lots of pics.
The food was buffet style geared towards the
little ones taste buds. My husband felt cheated of
a good Breakfast. Our son loved it so we made the right choice.
      We didn't get to see Burn the floor. Next time......
TIP..... You can research all of these shows on You Tube to see
If it is what you would like. The dinners take quite a lot
Longer than I thought so keep that in mind when you make
Your reservations.
 NOTE.... The service on this ship is really lacking in a lot of
ways. The servers always seemed to be stressed and not as
inviting as other ships I have been on. I think the company as
A whole is going through major changes sohopefully 
It will improve.
       They have Wii dancing for the little ones a few times
A week. My son was mesmerized by it but afraid to try it. The
kids  and some brave adults loved it.
        The circus show in the Spiegel Tent was really good. Some
of the things they performed really were amazing. It is a set menu so you have no choice of entree. If you have dietary
Restrictions you may want to inquire.

Dining on the cruise

We purchased the Dining Package and it was well worth it.
The food in the main dining rooms was OK but the specialty
restaurants were FABULOUS.
    We liked to have our breakfast in either Taste or Savor. We
took our own French Press for coffee.
      For lunch we usually ate at the buffet. They had a nice
assortment of sandwiches, pasta, salads, and desserts.
       Each evening we tried out a new Specialty restaurant. Our
favorite was called Teppinyaki. It is a Japanese Hibachi and
the chef keeps you entertained. Our 7 year old loved it. We loved
Cagneys Steak House also.
        You will need to make a reservation for both the specialty
restaurants and the complimentary restaurants

They have numerous kiosks that you can use to make reservations. There is also an app on your phone called Iconcierge that you can use to check your on board
account, make reservations for shows and dining, and find out what is going on for the day.
      They also have a noodle bar and a sushi bar. They not cost
Extra but they were never too busy. They were a good choice
For a quick meal.
      Carlos Bakery.  It is tucked away on deck 8. There was a nice
Choice of desserts. I got some cannolis and a small chocolate
Cake.  Yummy...... They also have another area that serves this
Bakery's desserts but I never stumbled apon it.
       NOTE..... You will gain weight on this cruise!!!!!

Arriving at the ship

Ncl asks you to be there around 11. You will take an elevator upstairs to the pre-boarding area and they will point you in the right direction. I felt that they were very helpful and very organized. In our case, the ship arrived late so we had to wait a little longer than usual. It doesn't seem as if there was enough seats because people were standing and becoming impatient.

    TIP..... Try to arrive early or a little later to avoid the main rush of people boarding.

     

If you are a Haven Guest they will let you board first...... Lucky Them. 

      You are allowed to take a bottle of wine each. They will charge you a $15 corkage fee. This will be applied to your onboard account.

      You can also order wine from " My Ncl" and they will have it sent to your room. You can order liquor bottles also but you will need to research how to do that. They are expensive $100, but just think how many drinks that makes you.

  Note.... I think the drinks on this ship were pretty reasonably priced and every one of them had a generous amount of liquor in them. Remember, a gratuity is already added. However, giving a little extra to the bartenders is a nice thing( this is where the extra dollars can come in handy). They will remember your face, give you great service and yummy drinks.

   Note..... The drink package really is worth it. I have to double check but it is around 59 a day per person and each adult in the cabin has to purchase one. I believe kids have to buy the soda package also. Sounds expensive but  the group we went with got their moneys worth. They bar hopped,and hopped, and stumbled but had the best time.

     TIP.... Unless you drink a lot of soda, just take a case onboard

     TIP.... Take a Brita water filter bottle. Your water will always be fresh. Or......take a case of water.

     TIP......Pack some plastic coffee mugs and a big plastic drink container. We put ours all in the backpack and walked on with it.
     TIP.....Do the online check-in on your " My Ncl " page. You will need to fill out some personal information then put in your password. You then print it out.
     TIP..... Print out your luggage tags on "My NCl "
When you attach them to the suitcase, try not to put them in a
Place they can get ripped off. This happened to me and I am thankful that I had my contact info on a small plastic luggage tag.
     Tip.....Your luggage may not arrive for a few hours so pack all medicines and a change of clothes, if needed, in a carry on.

getting to the New York cruise port

There are a few ways to get to the cruise port.

Have a friend take you.

Take the train. 

Park at the port ($40.00 a night)

Park at an alternate parking garage( they charge extra

      for oversized vehicles)

we used Dave's limo. There were eleven of us and it cost
         each.
Do your research on Park and Stay hotels. You stay the night
before you leave and pay per day for the hotel to keep
your car.

What to Pack

Packing is one of the hardest things to do. A good list is so important. Here's a few things that I take that most people don't think of.
        My Mr. Coffee French Press and good coffee. It is made of plastic so it is easy to carry on. Cruise coffee stinks!!
        A case of soda or water.
        A clear medicine bag full of sample size meds.
        Pouches of Laundry Detergent. Helps you do a quick wash if you need to.
         Downy Wrinkle Release. Just spray your clothes and voila, wrinkles dissapear. You can make your own too. Look up the recipe online.
         Magnetic Clips and a highlighter. The cabin walls are metal so you can clip them on and organize all of those daily papers. The highlighter helps you remember activities.
         One dollar bills. Tip the people who take care of you!! Thank you notes work very well too.
          Ginger and seasickness bands. I bought an acupressure one last time and it really helped.
        A lanyard and a hole punch. Just punch a hole in your room card. Less chance of losing it...
         A flameless candle. Great for a nightlight and some ambiance

Norwegian Breakaway 2015

We had the time of our lives on the Norwegian Breakaway. I truly feel that doing your homework on the ship you are sailing is well  worth its weight in gold. By the time I arrived on the Breakaway, I felt I knew her pretty well from all of my in-depth researching.
      I like to book my cruise well in advance . Once you book, they will give you the cancellation policy. You can call them with any changes up until the final payment date. If you see a good price after the final payment date, call them and see if you can upgrade. The price came down on our fare close to the sail date so we were able to upgrade. We weren't allowed a refund or a switch in promotions but we were able to pick a nicer cabin.  You have to be flexible, patient and knowledgeable about the cancellation policies of each cruise line because they all differ.
     TIP.... Make a list of everything you need. Then try to narrow it down a little. Most people I know over pack. We went with friends and they packed a WHOLE SUITCASE of SHOES.....
     TIP...You can sign up online for your own page called "My Ncl".
They will ask you to set up a username and password. Once you have signed in, you can view your reservation.
     BIG TIP.. Book all of your dining and shows way ahead on " My Ncl ". The shows and specialty restaurants are difficult to get into without a reservation I found that a lot of people on the ship didn't know this. It kind of defeats the meaning of " Freestyle" but .......it is better to be prepared.
I personally like to buy some Spa Gift Certificates and On Board Credits On " My Ncl " .They will apply them to your onboard account and you can budget yourself a little better.I also like to make small payments weekly......IT ADDS UP!!!