The noise of Manhattan could be heard in the background and it seemed like an echo of the everyday hustle and bustle. It couldn’t have been more incongruous as we sat in a hot tub sipping champagne. As we set sail, we raced the Staten Island Ferry, passed Lady Liberty and cruised under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.
So began our introductory cruise on the Norwegian Breakaway. The team that created the experience had set their sights high and indeed hit their mark. I am not a “cruiser” so I warily accepted the invitation to experience the new ship on a “cruise to nowhere” and over our three days, I had nothing less than a great time.
The trip began not with a bang, but with a whimper. There was no bang of airplane tires on the tarmac, no bang of bags on the carousel, we simply drove from our home and parked on a pier on the Hudson River. As the ship pulled out, we could see our car, faithfully awaiting our return. The simplicity and ease of travel from our “home port” cannot be understated.
The rooms were great, but notice the convenient parking!
The rooms were great, but notice the convenient parking!
Once onboard, the Breakaway offers up a host of activities that can be enjoyed either as a couple, a family or just by the kids. We tackled “the Plank” that extends 8 feet out over the side of the ship some 10 stories above the water, we slid down slides, zipped down lines and even found time to hit the gym.
While we left the kids at home for this trip, we toured the childcare and kids entertainment facilities and immediately noticed the thought that went into this important aspect of the ship. Splash Academy is for kids ages 3-12, and it doesn’t depend on the Nickelodeon characters to hide a lack of imagination. Instead the space is well laid out and activities are planned to keep the fun meter on high, while the Nick favorites are there as the cherry on top. It would be ideal for our eight year-old daughter, and our son, now thirteen, would have been able to enjoy himself at the separate teen facility, Entourage, replete with video games and activities for kids his age.
With the kids at home, we were free to explore the grown up fun. We took in a show, Rock of Ages, that celebrates the days of big hair and hair bands from the 80’s. We ate at our leisure and enjoyed excellent meals the entire trip, from the breakfast buffet to the steak at dinner. There are three main dining rooms and eight restaurants with cuisines from French to Sushi.
After dinner we hit the SVEDKA Ice Bar for a cool time. Literally, as the bar is kept at 17 degrees and is home to impressive ice sculptures. Our hosts provided nicely insulated ponchos so we could enjoy our cocktails without our teeth chattering.
I think we both enjoyed the ropes course at the sports complex the most. Wandering around high above the deck (and the city as we ventured out before the ship set sail) was a treat. This is where we walked the plank (safely tethered), and took repeated turns on the zip line.
Our two-night trip was just a sampler. We could have also taken advantage of mini-golf, water slides, rock climbing, a few more shows, pools, the under two zoo for little ones, the game room, seven other bars, and oh yeah, Carlos Bake Shop, an at sea outpost of the famed “Cake Boss” locale. There’s also a casino, shopping and a full-service spa.
So in the end our Norwegian cruise was distinctly missing two things; first, hassle and headaches of travel just to reach the boat, and second, enough time to do everything. As a reticent cruiser, I did not expect to hear myself say “I can’t wait to come back” as we disembarked from the ship.
