Norwegian Breakaway Deck 5: A Disappointing Experience

I recently had the opportunity to cruise on the Norwegian Breakaway, but unfortunately, it was not the experience I had hoped for. The ports of call were enjoyable, but the issues we faced during our 16-day journey made me question whether I would ever consider cruising with NCL again.

One of the positives was the frontline workers who were very good and hardworking. They did their best to keep up with the demands of the cruise, despite some challenges. For example, they ran low on tea just 10 days into the trip. This was a minor issue, but it showed that even small things can make a big impact.

On the other hand, I was surprised by how repetitive the food at the buffet was. The variety was limited, and we ended up getting tired of eating the same dishes every day. The complementary restaurants were mixed in terms of quality, with some meals being excellent and others being disappointing.

Another issue we faced was the difficulty of boarding and disembarking the ship. On several occasions, we found ourselves waiting in long lines, including a 1.5-hour wait to get on the tender in Cannes, France. This made the experience feel more like a hassle than a relaxing vacation.

We also had some issues with internet connectivity. It took nearly two hours to reset our internet account, and there was only one person working at the desk. This was frustrating, especially since we had been looking forward to staying connected with family and friends back home.

In terms of dining, sit-down meals at the main restaurants were often lengthy affairs that lasted up to three hours. While this might be acceptable for some people, it wasn't ideal for us.

Overall, I felt like the ship was not managed very well. The lack of attention to detail and the repetition of certain issues made our experience feel subpar. This was by far the least enjoyable cruise I've been on, and I'm not sure if we will ever consider cruising with NCL again.

If you're considering booking a cabin on Deck 5 or any other deck on the Norwegian Breakaway, I would recommend doing your research to understand what to expect. Unfortunately, our experience was disappointing, but I hope that future cruisers will have a better time.

Norwegian breakaway deck 5