Norwegian Breakaway has the wow factor

I was very lucky to have just been on the brand new ship Norwegian Breakway before it departed on it’s maiden voyage to New York. This ship really is amazing. It is modern in décor without being too glitzy and there is a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere on board. Because NCL offer a freestyle dining system there is no pressure or timetables to think about so if you have a booked a table later in the evening you can relax and enjoy a few drinks at the end of the day without rushing off to get ready for a fixed dinner sitting. I arrived at lunch time on Monday and checked into my cabin which was a balcony stateroom on deck 11. The cabin was lovely with a nice size bathroom and a separate seating area. The balcony was fairly small but with room to sit outside and enjoy your own outdoor space without having to go up onto deck for some fresh air. If you are lucky enough to be staying in one of the haven suites there is a private sundeck and courtyard area for your exclusive use. This is a really nice peaceful area away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the ship. The good news is they also cater for single passengers

These cabins are very well equipped and a decent size. There is a separate toilet but otherwise everything else in the studio is open plan including the shower cubicle. It’s great to see that cruise lines have started to introduce single cabins again which will make this much more affordable. On arrival we had lunch in O’Sheehan’s Irish bar which was really nice then went on a tour of the ship to view all of the facilities on offer. The children’s clubs and activities were fantastic.

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There are separate clubs for different age groups and they provide activities and entertainment according to the relevant age group but if you have children of different age groups that don’t want to be separated they also have freestyle time which means that siblings can join together at this time. They also said that if the clubs are not full they would allow a child to join their sibling anyway. The rooms looked really fun and the staff in there were great. I can’t wait to take my children on as I know they would have a brilliant time. There is also a kids aqua park and swimming pool area with water slides providing fun for all ages.

There is a lot to offer for sporting enthusiasts including a fitness room, basketball court, rock climbing wall, mini golf, bungee trampoline and a ropes course.

There is a large spa and relaxation area and of course they offer all of the usual hair and beauty treatments. As far as entertainment goes the choice is endless. They do a west end style production in the main theatre of Rock of Ages. Unfortunately this was not shown whilst we were on but I am told it is excellent. They also perform the hugely popular burn the floor ballroom show. The performers also perform in the main restaurant on certain evenings whilst you are dining. I was pleased to see that they have kept the very popular ice bar where everything from the bar, the seats to the glasses you drink from are made from ice. You will be provided with special coats and gloves to keep you warm in here as the temperatures are kept at 17 degrees fahrenheit. Another popular venue was the Howl at the Moon bar. There are 2 musicians playing piano and performing songs from all the decades and will even take your requests. If you like to be outdoors there is an outdoor bar/club which is adults only. There is a dancefloor and huge screen displaying images. What I really liked about this ship was the waterfront. This is where a lot of the dining venues are which are mostly indoor but also have an outdoor section for people wanting to dine alfresco .

I ate in Cagneys steakhouse and it was a little too cold in Southampton to dine outdoors but in warmer climates I would definitely do this. I really like to eat outside on holiday and there is not normally much opportunity for this on cruise ships so this was a really nice touch. All of the meals I had were very good. From the buffet in the garden café to the steakhouse they were all superb. The service was excellent and very quick. The choice in the buffet was probably the best I have seen for similar standard cruise lines. I would definitely recommend this ship and if you have any questions about it or would like to check prices please give me a call I would be more than happy to discuss this with you.