Mike_

Hello All,
 
   Just back from NCL Breakaway and the cruise turned out to be very good.  Not to the level of RCCL, but still very nice.  
 
   The stateroom may have been smaller, but I didn't notice.  The balcony was smaller, but the showers were bigger than I was used to on RCCL.  Instead of an enclosed circle, it was more rectangle; however the water leaked out the bottom of the door where a gap was( we had some heavy seas to Bermuda which I thought was really cool, but caused water to slosh around the bathroom sometimes).  The food in the MDR was very good, as was the buffet.  We ate at one specialty restaurant, the Italian one, and it was not up to MDR.  I loved leaving out of NYC, as it was a train ride vs plane; I live near Philly.  And, we had the unlimited drink package, which was offered free of charge, and this was nice.  I don't think I could ever beat the ship at per drink vs ubp.  I tried!  I did like that the dress code was a lot more relaxed on NCL than RCCL.  Dress up night was only one night, and they said if you don't feel like it, don't.
 
    We lucked out and beat the hurricanes.   Weather was perfect until the last day, which was too windy to go topside.  However, we had the ubp, so that was okay.   Bermuda was great.  Rented scooters, my wife took a spill, so next time I would rent a double and put her on back.  We also bought a day pass for CoCo Reef, which included lunch, beach chairs, umbrellas, pool, etc. for $65pp.  
 
    Thanks for all the advice offered above, I am glad that I continued with the cruise.
 
Mike_
 
P.S.  I got off this cruise and swore I was done with cruising for a long time.  Then I got home, uploaded my photos and said, "I can't wait for the next one!"  Five months. ;)

I was wondering if everyone goes through these ups and downs during a cruise.
 
For example:
 
Day one, I am tired from the travel and relieved that I made it to the boat.
 
Day five or six, I feel so stuffed that I can't wait until I am off it.
 
Day seven, at night, I keep drinking and wondering the ship remorseful that I have to leave her the next day.
 
I was on a cruise out of Tampa last year on Vision of the Seas, and that ship partied from the life boat drill until we docked.  That was an excellent cruise, no downs, only ups!
 
Mike_

Stephanie,
 
    I am excited about being on one of the newer and bigger ships, I have only completed two cruises so far, Jewel out of San Juan, South Caribbean, and Vision out of Tampa, for a Western Caribbean.   I always avoided Haiti, but Matt's reverence for Labade (sp?) piqued my interest, so I am now excited about going there too.
 
    Before I always chose cruises based on destination, now I am a little more attracted to the ships themselves.  However, I did see a Southern Caribbean cruise that did Grenada, and some additional islands like Aruba, which I thought would be new an interesting too.
 
P.S.  I also have one scheduled in September on Norwegian, from NYC to Bermuda.  I wanted to see what the other lines were like before making a commitment. However, I really like RCCL, so why change?  lol.

While I liked the Aqua Duck, I personally thought it was overrated. Once during the day and once at night was sufficient for me. My son on the other hand loved it and wanted to jump onboard the Disney Fantasy when we were in St. Marten on the Jewel just to ride it.

Marc,
 
    You are good!   I forgot all about that episode; it's probably where I got the idea...  However, I was imagining it running on the outside of ship!
 
http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/simpsons/images/6/67/Royalty_Valhalla_rollercoaster_and_ferris_wheel.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width/640?cb=20120529145730      
 

Just like on the Royalty Valhalla ship on an episode of The Simpsons. :)

Just did my "before" look and the prices on all the cruises I have watching all spiked up in the past week or so ... be curious to see if they magically come back to the same number next week or hold at the higher price.
 
Right now I am glad I booked my two 2015 cruises at the start of BOGO last year and cant see myself booking another cruise on RCL anytime soon if the pricing doesn't come back to earth.

This cruising thing is a disease.   I was walking around the track at my gym (snow on the ground) and I suddenly felt like I was walking around the jogging track of a cruise ship.   
 
Do you think I could get a job on one?

Doc,
 
    Being a celebrity onboard takes a little getting used to.  Especially when they keep showing your fat gut on the big screen.
 
    However, it was a great time.  A lot of interesting kind people too, which really made the cruise.
 
Mike_

Hey,
 
I'm back, everything was great. I even won a medal for the bellyflop contest; third place bronze. I also came in second for hairiest back, own biggest beer belly... I this RCL cruises are trying to to tell me I am eating too much.
 

I sailed on Norwegian Getaway last September and found it to be a very pleasant cruise. We did buy the Ultimate Dining Package because we wanted to try the experience of having a specialty restaurant for dinner each night. I will say that the cabin did feel smaller than that to which we've become accustomed on most Royal Caribbean ships, but it was definitely acceptable.
 
We're taking advantage of the current promotion to sail on Norwegian Escape next year. We chose the Ultimate Beverage Package because we felt that we did the UDP and we're perfectly happy to go with much more of the complimentary dining options this time.
 
I'm sure you'll have a great time on Breakaway! 

There are haters out there and most seem to be focused on NCL and MSC on most of the boards. However, I think if you go in with the right expectations, you'll have a great experience.
 
In 21 cruises, I've never had a bad one. I've had great cruises, good cruises, and okay cruises, but never a bad cruise. And before dynamic dining, NCL was my wife's favorite cruise line because of the freestyle experience. Now, she states Disney is her absolute favorite cruise line if price were no object even though she's no a Disney fan. However, she'll also readily admit that Disney is over priced and has limited itineraries.

This cruising thing is a disease.   I was walking around the track at my gym (snow on the ground) and I suddenly felt like I was walking around the jogging track of a cruise ship.   
 
Do you think I could get a job on one?

This cruising thing is a disease.   I was walking around the track at my gym (snow on the ground) and I suddenly felt like I was walking around the jogging track of a cruise ship.   
 
Do you think I could get a job on one?

Hey,
 
I'm back, everything was great. I even won a medal for the bellyflop contest; third place bronze. I also came in second for hairiest back, own biggest beer belly... I this RCL cruises are trying to to tell me I am eating too much.
 

Hey,
 
I'm back, everything was great. I even won a medal for the bellyflop contest; third place bronze. I also came in second for hairiest back, own biggest beer belly... I this RCL cruises are trying to to tell me I am eating too much.
 

I concur on the quality of rccl bedding on Jewel. They were as good as any Marriott I've been in, and slept like a baby. (Slept for two hours, woke up crying with wet pants ;) jk)

I concur on the quality of rccl bedding on Jewel. They were as good as any Marriott I've been in, and slept like a baby. (Slept for two hours, woke up crying with wet pants ;) jk)

What? I am all by myself? No one is going with me?
 
I am super nervous, but super excited. Can't wait to leave the cold and ice.
 
I'll be thinking of you all while I am enjoying the fun and sun.
 
Be safe, and keep researching those excursions while you are waiting to board.
 
Mike_

When we lined up early no one questioned us either.

I'm guessing here, but the fee you pay has partly to due with the cost of the higher quality food.  

I found some guidelines from frommers.com:
 
http://www.frommers.com/articles/7185.html
 
Basically they recommend about $5 per day to steward, $5 per day split between waiters.
 
What about when you go to specialty restaurants... do you tip them, or is that included in the additional fee you are charged?

bcarney,
 
My thoughts exactly. To bring nicer cloths I would have to bring a garment bag, which adds to the cost of the flight, but more importantly I don't want to.
 
I never cruised before, so last year was my first. I lived from morning until night in wet-dry bathing suit and polos or t-shirts. For dinner I would throw on slacks and a polo and loafers. Formal nights I would hide :) On night we ate in a specialty restaurant and I had a blazer, oxford shirt, etc... and couldn't wait to break free of it.
 
Thanks,
 
Mike_

I'm going with what I wore every night last year. Polo, khakis, and birkenstocks. My profile photo is from our cruise on the Enchantment of the Seas in the main dinning room before dinner one night.

bcarney,
 
My thoughts exactly. To bring nicer cloths I would have to bring a garment bag, which adds to the cost of the flight, but more importantly I don't want to.
 
I never cruised before, so last year was my first. I lived from morning until night in wet-dry bathing suit and polos or t-shirts. For dinner I would throw on slacks and a polo and loafers. Formal nights I would hide :) On night we ate in a specialty restaurant and I had a blazer, oxford shirt, etc... and couldn't wait to break free of it.
 
Thanks,
 
Mike_