The Midtown Manhattan skyline as seen from one of Breakway’s water slides.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s new ship, the 4,000-passenger Breakaway, has been raking in great reviews from the travel community and media since launching out of Manhattan last month.
It would be impossible for me to write a comprehensive account from my 1 1/2 day sampling of the ship, but I can offer my impressions:
- The ship delivers the quality, from build materials to entertainment, that Norwegian executives hope will move the brand up from the bargain category to compete with so-called premium and deluxe cruise lines
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Wasabi, a sushi bar, is situated next to “Iron Chef” Geoffrey Zakarian’s Ocean Blue seafood restaurant.
- The 27 restaurants place guests in the real world of eating, rather than the cruise world of two nightly seatings. You eat when and where you choose – if there’s a table available. And you pay extra at 16 of the venues, so it’s possible for the frugal and the foodie to be satisfied. I enjoyed my dining experiences, particularly at celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian’s Ocean Blue seafood restaurant.
- The “boardwalk” deck pushing the
Maltings beer and whiskey bar is one of several venues with sidewalk cafe-style areas along the Boardwalk.
orientation of several restaurants oceanward with sidewalk cafe-style tables really works. The downside for me is that these became magnets for smokers, so scouting an upwind spot is important.
- The ship has much more entertainment than can be experienced in an introductory sample cruise. I heard people compliment the “Rock of Ages” musical and Second City comedy show, but I did not get to see them
Shiver me timbers: Even parkas won’t keep you warm for long in the Ice Bar.
myself. Enjoyed the dinner music and dancing entertainment in the Manhattan Room traditional dining venue and loved Fat Cat’s Jazz and Bues Club, which had the quality of a shoreside venue with a hefty cover charge. I thought the Ice Bar might be gimmicky, and it was. But fun, nonetheless, to don the big parka, drink out of an ice glass and shiver to the point that you’re happy when your time is up. I found the disco – with it’s loud, pulsating rhythm and flashing lights unbearable – but from the look of all the people who appeared to be loving it, perhaps it was just me being a stick in the mud.
- The outdoor activities make it clear this ship is designed to have something for everyone in the family. From the Sponge Bob-themed kids pool and thrilling water slides to the rock-climbing wall and ropes course, there’s plenty to keep kids and teens active and entertained while aboard the ship. For fitness enthusiasts, there is a well-equipped gym.
Sponge Bob and his pals set the theme in the kids pool area,
- The ship definitely has a New York vibe – or state of mind as Billy Joel would say. Even if the hot dog stand on the boardwalk was contrived and disappointing to my palette. It is pretty cool to back out of the pier in midtown Manhattan and float down alongside the city on the way to the sea. The new World Trade Center Freedom Tower had just got its spire when we passed by and it seemed like the ship might tilt left as people scrambled to snap its picture, only to
Floating past icons like the World Trade Center’s new Freedom Tower is a stirring way to head to sea.
quickly shift to the other side to catch Ellis Island and the Staue of Liberty. It seemed like just about everyone around me mentioned a family tie with Ellis Island.
In summary, the Breakaway nicely accomplishes the “ship as a destination” goal (it will have to with four sea days on its New York-Bermuda itinerary) and Norwegian’s desire to move up the food chain. It should do well with a huge drive to market. It may even attract some folks from our side of the country who might enjoy a few nights in the city paired with a Bermuda cruise. The Breakaway’s first sibling will do the Eastern Caribbean out of Miami. Let’s hope one of the future ships might sport a California or Hollywood theme and sail out of San Pedro or Long Beach.