Following the Norwegian Breakaway refurbishment, the ship is homeporting within the Metropolis That By no means Sleeps – once more. The vessel was primarily based at New York’s Manhattan cruise terminal when it first debuted in 2013, full with a Large Apple-themed hull designed by artist Peter Max.
After repositioning from the Mediterranean, it’ll once more provide five- and seven-night Bermuda voyages, in addition to longer Caribbean and Bahamas sailings.
The vessel, which Norwegian Cruise Line despatched to dry dock in early 2025, has a number of new onboard choices, and I attempted them on a latest cruise. I spent greater than 9 hours visiting freshly added areas, eating in new and up to date eating places, and logging the prices for each expertise.
Right here’s what I considered every new tweak and addition, and the way a lot you may count on to pay to attempt all of it out for your self in your subsequent cruise.
Silver Display screen Bistro Dine-In Films
Value: $50 per particular person
Time spent: 2.5 hours
This dine-in theater is new to the fleet with Norwegian Breakaway. The cavernous room replaces the Spiegel Tent, a circus-themed theater the place the ship provided Cirque du Soleil-style performances.
Passengers will now discover a movie show with a big display and two aspect rooms with smaller screens. Chairs are snug and recline by way of buttons. Tray tables and drink holders make eating straightforward.
Moviegoers choose three programs – starter, essential and dessert – from the menu. (Vegetarian choices can be found.) The odd half is that each one three programs are served and cleared earlier than the film begins. It’s a good suggestion to get rid of disruptions through the movie, however it makes the expertise clunky. Whereas eating, you’ll sit in a quiet theater, looking at a display that flips by means of film trivia for an hour. It additionally means a bigger funding of your time; plan an hour for dinner, plus the size of the film’s run time.
The theater performs a distinct film every night time at 7 p.m. (Verify the every day program.) There was solely a handful of different passengers after I went; a waiter informed me it hadn’t even reached half capability on its most crowded night time throughout my voyage. I hope meaning phrase simply hasn’t gotten out but. I do suppose it’s an expertise price making an attempt if you happen to don’t thoughts spending the cash.
That mentioned, $50 per particular person is quite a bit for meals that’s just like what cruisers can discover in the primary eating room totally free. The ship additionally screens complimentary films in its atrium every day, and there are free film channels on cabin TVs.
Reservations are a good suggestion – not as a result of the venue will promote out however as a result of it’s useful for crew to know what number of passengers will likely be attending.
The Stadium Outside Gaming
Value: free
Time spent: 10 minutes
Of the ship’s post-refurb choices, The Stadium is probably the most underwhelming, by far. Therefore, the brief period of time I spent there.
The idea first rolled out on Norwegian Prima in 2022, that includes foosball, desk shuffleboard, Ping-Pong, pickleball and sit-down soccer. The model on Norwegian Breakaway – situated on Deck 17, below a part of the ship’s ropes course – consists of simply two worn, mismatched foosball tables and two desk shuffleboard stations that appear like they’ve been sitting out in inclement climate for years.
There’s a basketball court docket on Deck 18 that has designated hours for pickleball, however the ship doesn’t have a devoted pickleball court docket.
Palomar Mediterranean Seafood Restaurant
Value: $60 per particular person
Time spent: 1.5 hours
One other aspect drawn from Norwegian’s Prima Class ships is Palomar, which has changed Ocean Blue on Norwegian Breakaway.
Palomar resides in a nook of Deck 8, sandwiched between Wasabi sushi and the Uncooked Bar. It’s a seafood-lover’s paradise overseen by a single host stand.
Though the opposite two eating places are a bit extra informal, Palomar is a spot the place you received’t need to present up wanting like a slob, regardless of NCL’s “come as you’re” gown code. This eatery is good for particular events, date nights, or only a stylish night time out with some glorious meals.
We ordered the heirloom beet salad, Mediterranean sea bass with carrot puree, and baked apple tart, and the whole lot was beautiful. The complete meal service took about 90 minutes. Reservations are a good suggestion.
Cagney’s Steakhouse
Value: $60 per particular person
Time spent: 1.5 hours
Norwegian Breakaway has at all times had a Cagney’s steakhouse location on Deck 8. The restaurant used to share house with Brazilian steakhouse Moderno Churrascaria, which was formally eliminated through the vessel’s dry dock. Since Moderno is gone, Cagney’s was in a position to double its measurement.
A meal there may be effectively definitely worth the worth, which incorporates an appetizer, essential, two sides and dessert. My crab cake starter was scrumptious, my truffle fries tasty, and my petite filet mignon completely cooked. My solely niggle was the raspberry ceme brulee I ordered for dessert. The flavour was there, however the prime wasn’t hardened sufficient to supply the anticipated crunch.
Meal service was attentive and took about an hour and a half. Positively make reservations if you happen to’d prefer to dine there.
Vibe Seashore Membership
Value: $309 for a cruise-long cross (varies by cruise size)
Time spent: half-hour
Throughout the ship’s dry dock, Norwegian expanded the dimensions of the adults-only added-fee Vibe Seashore Membership on Deck 17. There’s now extra seating with glorious sea views.
Pricing varies by cruise size, and passengers should buy one-day passes or voyage-long ones that enable entry each day. After a cruiser pays, their keycard will grant them entry to the house.
As a part of the expertise Vibe-goers have entry to a non-public bar with close by seating; solar loungers; first-come, first-served cabanas; towel service; contemporary fruit; and sizzling tubs. (There is no such thing as a pool.)
On my crusing, Vibe was almost abandoned for nearly all the cruise. I chalk that as much as the chilly, wet climate (which is why I solely spent about half an hour there) and the truth that the voyage had just one sea day. Count on it to be extra crowded on the ship’s warm-weather Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries.
The Haven Solar Deck
Value: free if booked in The Haven
Time spent: 5 minutes
In what Norwegian Breakaway’s basic supervisor informed me was an effort to offer passengers booked in suites with the identical facilities granted to Vibe Seashore Membership passengers, NCL expanded the Deck 17 solar deck in The Haven, the road’s unique suite enclave.
It now boasts extra space with phenomenal views and cabanas for passengers to make use of, together with sizzling tubs. Though The Haven’s solar deck doesn’t have its personal pool, an indoor pool unique to cruisers booked in The Haven is simply steps away, one deck under.
As a result of I wasn’t booked in The Haven, I wasn’t in a position to spend quite a lot of minutes there with the intention to take photographs of the expanded house (with crew permission). If I had stayed in a set and the climate was good, it could have been an space I loved.
Backside Line
Complete price: $479
Complete time spent: 6.25 hours
On Norwegian Breakaway, there are many modifications, from main additions like Silver Display screen Bistro to smaller tweaks just like the growth of Cagney’s and the addition of out of doors foosball tables in The Stadium. If you wish to test all of them out, this could provide you with some thought of how a lot money and time you’ll must spend to take action.
The choices which are most definitely worth the funding are those that the majority carefully align along with your pursuits. If you wish to work in your tan, Vibe and The Haven’s solar deck are price wanting into. In case you get pleasure from outside video games, take a look at The Stadium. Film buffs will get pleasure from Silver Display screen Bistro, and foodies will admire each Cagney’s and Palomar.
Feedback
What do you consider all of the updates made throughout this Norwegian Breakaway refurbishment? Which of the brand new additions to this ship is your favourite? Drop us an anchor under to share your Norwegian Breakaway cruise opinions.
The put up I Spent Hours Making an attempt All of the New Stuff After the Norwegian Breakaway Refurbishment; Right here’s What To not Miss and What It’ll Value You appeared first on EatSleepCruise.com.