Norwegian Breakaway

Theater and Shows on Norwegian Breakaway

The 800-seat Breakaway Theater hosts the ship's most elaborate singing and dancing extravaganzas. It's here you'll find the Broadway musical "Six," the pop retelling of Henry XIII's wives. The super-popular "Burn the Floor" is a dance revue show that is slickly choreographed and extremely energetic (the sweat literally flies off the male dancers), taking in a variety of different genres and styles that range from Latin and Rock to '50s. The 55-minute show has no storyline or dialogue, but the dancers are backed with a live band and a singer. Note: "Burn the Floor" is also performed, one night, in the Manhattan Room.

While there's no charge for any performance in the Breakaway Theater, it does operate on a ticket system. Shows are offered at varying times -- and on varying dates -- to ensure that anyone who wants to go has a chance. (We liked "Burn the Floor" so much we went twice.) The ticket office is just outside the theater, and operating hours are posted in the Freestyle Daily.

Daily Things to Do on Norwegian Breakaway

The ship's three-deck Atrium is abuzz with activity throughout the day. There's morning trivia, a Nintendo U Dance 4 competition, towel animal folding and cooking demonstrations, dance classes and a "Deal or No Deal" game.

Elsewhere, other activities include wine tastings, seminars for detoxing and puffy eyes, bingo, an international crew talent show, art auctions and solo travelers' meet and greets. The once-a-cruise "Wine Lovers The Musical," offers a wine tasting event, with lunch, framed in a Broadway-esque musical-comedy setting (see Dining section).

Nightlife on Norwegian Breakaway

Evenings are punctuated by music all over Norwegian Breakaway. Hotspots include the Atrium, where a duet sings pop tunes; Maltings, where you can listen to guitar music; and Shakers, the ship's martini bar, host to yet another duo.

A highlight onboard is the fabulous Howl at the Moon, a dueling piano show, where singing along and making requests is encouraged.

Modeled after influential rock houses such as CBGB's, The Rainbow and the Fillmore, Syd Norman's Pour House features vintage decor, diner-style seating and a playlist of classic rock from the late 1960s to 1980s. Three times a week, cast members from "Rock of Ages" treat passengers to specialty cocktails during an interactive Syd Norman's Experience. Six nights a week a five-person rock band plays classic rock 'n' roll hits

Gamblers will find all the usual slot machines (303 in total) and table games on Breakaway, though the layout is a bit different than it is on other ships. Rather than just one large square area, the Breakaway casino is centered on the 678 Ocean Place circular staircase and expands out in several directions.

Post-dinner, Spice H2O, on Deck 16 aft, is transformed from an adults-only pool area to an adults-only entertainment venue with a massive television screen, dance floor and bar. Themed events include a 1970s "disco groove" bash, a "glow" party where everyone is given light sticks to wave around, and a tribute to the 1980s dance party.

Norwegian Breakaway Bars and Lounges

At night, more than a dozen bars and lounges hum with activity. On pleasant evenings, there's nowhere more special to be than outside on The Waterfront on Deck 8, where Maltings Beer and Whiskey Bar and Shaker's Cocktail Bar have alfresco seating. (A heads-up: These are very popular with passengers who wish to smoke.)

During the day, one of the quietest spots to have a drink is at the Uptown Bar and Grill; we also love the Atrium Bar when there is no entertainment going on (fairly rare, alas). It's got a handful of tables and a key location near a bakery stocked with delicious pastries. Another find away from crowds was the bar located within the adult-only Spice H20.

Norwegian Breakaway offers a variety of beverage packages, from sodas to wine to cocktails and these can be a good value. In general, the wine selection was rather utilitarian though bottles were priced fairly.

**Mixx Bar (Deck 6): **A great place to meet-up before dinner, Mixx Bar is located in the center of the hallway between the Savor and Taste dining rooms.

O'Sheehans Bar (Deck 7): O'Sheehans Bar, adjacent to the casual eatery of the same name, serves up casual bites and the ship's best selection of beers. The most fun bar at sea, it's the place for games, from a pared-down pair of bowling lanes to carnival games and darts. (Note, though, that most charge a fee to play.) O'Sheehans also offers fantastic atrium viewing; its circular bar and stools face directly onto the atrium's two-deck-high flat screen.

Bliss Ultra Lounge (Deck 7): Located in a dark, inside room illuminated only by crazy, colorful light installations, Bliss Ultra Lounge serves as the ship's late night disco.

**Prime Meridian (Deck 8): ** Located in between Moderno Churascarria and Cagney's Steakhouse, Prime Meridian offers a clubby ambience and a quiet respite at its circular bar. We particularly love the comfy armchairs scattered around.

Maltings Beer and Whiskey Bar (Deck 8): A convivial spot along the Waterfront, Maltings offers indoor and outdoor seating. Inside, the bar features dark leather chairs and two large-screen TVs. The theme continues outside, with wooden barstools and a black marble bar. One downside to Maltings -- for those sensitive to smoke, anyway -- is that its outdoor bar is a smoker-friendly spot and inside, where smoking is not permitted, passengers might still catch a whiff from the adjacent Humidor Cigar Lounge.

Shakers Cocktail Bar (Deck 8): It's no secret that Shaker's is the ship's best martini spot. It's also an indoor-outdoor venue.

Svedka Ice Bar (Deck 8): Inside the Svedka Ice Bar, the temperature's a frosty 17 degrees Fahrenheit. The bar features New York-inspired drinks made of vodka and/or Inniskillen ice wine; nonalcoholic beverages are offered as well. The cover charge ($20 per person) includes two drinks -- and the use of a warm parka.

Waves Pool Bar and Waves Bar (Deck 15): These bars serve passengers in the pool area and also those who patronize the ship's Garden Cafe buffet venue.

**Uptown Bar & Grill (Deck 16): ** The grill is a terrific casual alternative to the Garden Cafe, while the bar itself is under cover -- and thus offers a place to get out of the sun.

**Vibe Beach Club Bar (Deck 16): ** At this fee-extra beach club bar, tucked away forward, the bar serves a full range of cocktails and specializes in festive beach drinks.

Spice H20 (Deck 16): This corner bar is part of the adults-only Spice H20 pool area and is open day and night.

** The Haven Lounge (Deck 16):** Open only for residents of Breakaway's exclusive Haven area, the lounge has a full bar and a particularly good selection of wine and Champagne,

Pools, Waterslides and Hot Tubs on Norwegian Breakaway

Breakaway's main pool is on Deck 15, midship, and it's flanked by four hot tubs. On a ship packed with families, we found the pool -- and the deck space around it -- to be cramped and insufficient for the capacity. Deckchair saving was rampant.

The Haven, the ship's luxury area, has its own pool on Deck 16, and two decks of lounge seating. It's available only to residents of the Haven.

Kids must be potty trained to use onboard pools.

Adjacent to the main pool, the Aqua Park offers Norwegian's largest variety of waterslides, including two that send you into a 360-degree spin before spitting you into the pool and two side-by-side Free Fall slides in which daredevils are plunged 250 feet (when a trapdoor beneath their feet opens) into a looping tunnel.

A splash area for kids is located next door to the main water park. Kids may wear swim diapers here.

Ropes Course, Rock Climbing and More on Norwegian Breakaway

The ship packs a lot of outdoor action into decks 15 through 18. One of the ship's absolute highlights is its fabulous Sky Trail, a vertigo-inducing ropes course that includes a bungee trampoline, zip-line and an 8-foot-long "plank" that extends over the side of the ship -- with nothing between you and the lifeboats 10 decks below. Kids must be at least 48 inches tall to climb Sky Trail.

A rock-climbing wall, also with height restrictions, and nine-hole miniature golf course are located next to the Sky Trail. Climb a set of stairs to Deck 18, and the Sports Court provides a spot for basketball and soccer. Tucked away in a corner is the Spider Web, a six-story crawl space that requires a slide ride down. Little ones will love it.

Sun Decks and Vibe Beach Club on Norwegian Breakaway

As noted, prime pool-adjacent sun deck areas are cramped and crowded, and a lawless spirit of deck chair hogs pervades. But there are numerous areas, especially on decks 16 and 17, where chaise lounges are often available. They're still packed in like sardines, but you can usually find one, even during prime time on sea days. One nice touch: Crewmembers offer cool towels on hot days.

SpiceH2O on Deck 16 is a lovely space with a two-deck-high flat screen that during sunbathing hours is fairly tame. It's off-limits for kids, and crew enforced the policy. It's free to use at all hours of the day. At night, it heats up; this is where most of the ship's theme parties take place.

Vibe Beach Club, on Deck 16, is another adults-only space with a pair of whirlpools, cozy wicker chair/sofa set-ups, and a handful of extra-fee cabanas. It sells only a limited number of daily and weekly passes, so deck chairs are always available for all. The fee ($79 for the week; $20 per day) to use Vibe includes water spritzers, chilled towels and fruit skewers.

Norwegian Breakaway Services and WiFi

Passenger service areas such as the shore excursion desk and the purser's desk are located on Deck 6, adjacent to the atrium. Also here is a restaurant reservation desk, open throughout the day. Menus are available to help you make your choice.

The library and card room are tucked away behind the atrium on Deck 6. In the card room, you'll find old standards like Yahtzee, Trivial Pursuit and other games, while the library offers a very small selection of books and e-books for borrowing. Both rooms also host the Rockettes mini-museum as a nod to Breakaway's godmothers; in the card room, you'll find photo timelines, and in the library is a display of costumes.

A small Internet cafe with 12 workstations is nestled into a corner of the atrium, also on Deck 6. WiFi packages are available at different levels.

Click Photo Gallery and shopping are on Deck 8. Breakaway features traditional cruise-ship shopping, including fine jewelry, duty-free alcohol and cigarettes, various sundries, clothing and accessories, and lots of Breakaway-branded items.

There are no self-service laundry facilities on Breakaway.

Norwegian Breakaway restaurants offer a wide variety, both in free and for-fee venues. There are 20-plus dining options to choose from, ranging from classic French fare paired with wine to casual diner favorites at American Diner.

Traditionalists will love the three "main dining rooms": The Manhattan Room and more-intimate options, Taste and Savour. Quality is generally good, thanks in part to Norwegian's 2014 drive to improve all of its dining options. (Passengers had complained about declining quality, and the line listened, investing in new menu options and improving on standards.) Vegetarian and healthy options are always available at these three venues.

Freestyle is the norm when it comes to dining on Breakaway. This means you can eat virtually when you want, where you want. This applies to the free or included dining, as well as extra-fee dining. Free restaurants are good, but some of the best restaurants on Norwegian Breakaway are a la carte, including the popular Cagney’s Steakhouse.

Those hoping to indulge in some frozen cocktails and Tex-Mex classics may be disappointed to know that the Norwegian Breakaway Margaritaville that was announced a few years ago will not be opening. The cruise line axed the franchise in 2020 and most Margaritaville venues were replaced by American Diner. (Jimmy Buffett's tourism juggernaut now has its own cruise line,

Margaritaville at Sea

).

Norwegian Breakaway Complimentary Restaurants

Savour (Deck 6): Savour, like Taste, its identical counterpart, has restaurant-style dining at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Norwegian Breakaway menus are tasty and remain largely unchanged throughout the cruise. Options at the two restaurants are identical, and decor is similar. For lunch, you'll get casual and tasty meals such as salmon burgers, meatball subs, shrimp and arugula salad and Vietnamese chicken pho (soup). At dinner, choose from entrees like pork loin, steak salad and Indian curry, and desserts like pecan pie, creme caramel or a warm chocolate volcano. Hot breakfast options include eggs prepared to order, pancakes, waffles, French toast, hot and cold cereals, pastries, fruit and fruit juices.

Taste (Deck 6): Located across the corridor from Savor, Taste offers an identical ambience and menu at slightly different times, and it doesn't open for lunch. Otherwise, breakfast and dinner offer the same menus daily, with specials each day.

The Manhattan Room (Deck 7): While the Manhattan Room offers the same menu throughout the week as its counterparts Savour and Taste, what's unique in this venue is that it's styled as a supper club, with a large dance floor, live band, and gorgeous views out the aft-facing multi-deck window. The Manhattan Room is open for dinner only, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Make sure to save room for dessert: The line's signature Opera Cake, made from almond sponge cake soaked in coffee syrup with a coffee creme anglaise and candied almonds, is worth a splurge.

O'Sheehan's (Deck 7): One of the most popular venues aboard Norwegian Breakaway, this casual venue is open 24 hours a day, and breakfast is served every morning. The

O'Sheehan's

 menu offers mostly pub fare. In the morning, its English breakfast (eggs, bacon, beans, mushrooms and tomatoes) will really jump-start your day. Beyond that, there's excellent fish and chips, burgers, chicken wings and French fries. O'Sheehan's Ice Cream Bar is the only place where you need to spend money; it offers chocolate sundaes and milkshakes for a fee.

Garden Cafe (Deck 15): Norwegian Breakaway's buffet venue, the Garden Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There's also an early riser's light breakfast and late-night noshing. The venue, which wraps around three sides of the ship, is divided into different food stations (hot breakfast food in one cafeteria line, cold cereals in another, fresh fruit in yet an additional area) but lines form habitually and the scene is a bit chaotic. The food is steam table fare and is adequate if you want a quick snack break from the pool deck, but seating is tight when the ship is full and the Garden Cafe can feel extremely cramped. At dinner, its themed menus -- from Asian to Mexican -- show the Norwegian Breakaway Garden Cafe at its best. With so many other options for evening dining, the venue's not crowded, and the fresh-rolled sushi -- prepared on the spot -- and wok dishes on the Asian night were delicious.

Shanghai's Noodle Bar (Deck 7): Tucked in a corner beside the casino, the noodle bar was one of our favorite dining spots onboard. Grab a stool at the bar and, courtesy of the open kitchen, watch the show as chefs slice, dice, steam and fry delectable potstickers, shrimp dumplings, beef chow fun, and Peking shrimp and chicken. We loved the noodles, which either come with broth or from the wok (the Signapore Noodles were a favorite). Dessert's got two choices -- there's chilled mango pudding and five spice chocolate cake. Our only beef with Shanghai's is that it's open for limited hours at lunch and dinner -- this would be a great spot for all-day dining.

The Haven Restaurant (Deck 16): Passengers who book Haven category accommodations -- the nicest onboard Norwegian Breakaway -- are entitled to dine at an exclusive restaurant located within the Haven complex. There's no charge for qualified passengers, and the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. The menus are dynamic and delicious, but do not change throughout the cruise, assuming that even Haven guests want to sample other restaurants onboard. For breakfast, the menu includes crab cakes benedict, steak and eggs, and open-faced omelets. Lunch features bistro fare, like smoked salmon, shrimp cocktail, swordfish and beef burgers. Dinner's menu offers the most choices; these include starters such a gazpacho, polenta cake, Ahi tuna and a delicious shrimp cake. Entrees such as pan-seared scallops, chicken breast and New York Strip steak with white truffle fries are featured. The restaurant's signature dessert is its warm espresso chocolate brownie (but the banana cream pie's also dishy).

The Haven Lounge (Deck 16): Located between The Haven Restaurant and The Heave Courtyard, this casual venue serves up light bites and drinks throughout the day.

Room Service: Offered 24 hours, the room service menu features Continental breakfast fare, soups, sandwiches and a handful of entrees. Passengers who reside in suite accommodations, included but not limited to the Haven, can order hot breakfast items, as well. Room service is free for Haven and suite passengers, but all other room service orders are subject to a convenience fee of up to $9.95 per order. It's also considered appropriate to tip the delivery person a few bucks.

Norwegian Breakaway Specialty Restaurants

One of the cruise line’s greatest strengths, across its fleet, is the vast range of dining options, and this ship ups the ante on variety. Norwegian Breakaway specialty dining includes a steakhouse, French bistro, Brazilian churrascaria, Asian Teppanyaki, a seafood restaurant and a raw bar, an Italian trattoria and a noodle bar. All specialty and entertainment dining carries an 18 percent auto-gratuity.

Nearly half of the restaurants on Norwegian Breakaway fall into the extra fee category. 

Tip: If you want to make sure you have the chance to dine at specific alternative restaurants, you can book before your cruise via Norwegian's website. We highly recommend that you do that. Otherwise, you can reserve onboard or, if you want to play it by ear, keep an eye on monitors throughout the ship that show how full (or empty) restaurants are by the half hour.

Also, if you're planning to eat in more than a few fee-extra restaurants, you might want to buy a dining package. For a per person fee (and all passengers in a cabin must purchase the plan), you'll get dinner access to most of the restaurants onboard. There's a kids' policy in these restaurants; kids 4 to 12 who order from the restaurant menu pay a half-price surcharge. Those who order from the ship's standard children's menu eat for free.

A heads-up: Even in the fee-extra alternative restaurants, diners still pay extra for coffees like espresso, cafe latte and cappuccino.

Most fee restaurants are open for dinner only. Ocean Blue on the Norwegian Breakaway Waterfront, Shanghai’s Noodle Bar and Wasabi Sushi are open for lunch.

Cagney's (Deck 8); a la carte: One of the most popular restaurants on any Norwegian ship, 

Cagney's

 is a steakhouse (with terrific seafood). On one side, it's bounded by The Waterfront promenade -- and has outdoor seating. On the other, it overlooks The Manhattan Room, the ship's supper club. And in the center, there's an open kitchen, always abuzz with activity. The Cagney’s Steakhouse menu on Norwegian Breakaway is superb, with so many choices you could dine there numerous times. Particular specialties include steaks, of course; grilled rib eye, New York strip and filet mignon are all available, with a choice of sauces like Cajun seasoning, Dijon mustard, garlic butter and pepper. Other options for meat-eaters include smoked ribs, truffle chicken, grilled bison and lamb chops. There's also a lobster and shrimp entree, and the sea bass is delicious. For starters, the split pea soup -- a broth, not a cream -- was so fresh and delicious we wondered if the chef had a garden somewhere onboard. The salad range is impressive, as well. This is Norwegian Breakaway dining at its best.

Ocean Blue (Deck 8); a la carte: Positioned as the ship's most upmarket restaurant, seafood-oriented Ocean Blue is a date night spot, elegant and sleek. It's located on The Waterfront Promenade, but the outside tables are rather too close to a cigar smoking area. Norwegian Breakaway’s Ocean Blue menu by the one-time Iron Chef features starters such as a delicious curry and carrot bisque, mussels in chicken confit, and a fried chickpea salad. For entrees, there's wild salmon, crab risotto, sea bass, monkfish and the restaurant's signature dish, Dover sole. Carnivores will find Delmonico steak and Peking duck on the menu as well. Dessert options include a cheese plate, a gorgeous lemon tart with fresh blueberries, and apple strudel with aged cheddar cheese and whiskey sauce.

Tip: This restaurant was often one of the only alternative venues to have spare tables each night. But if you're celebrating something special, don't take chances and make a reservation.

Ocean Blue on The Waterfront (Deck 8); a la carte: It's a terrific option for lobster roll and crab toast and other casual fare -- think boardwalk-style food with an upscale twist. Dishes here are inspired by the more upscale Ocean Blue, but seating is outdoors and much more casual. It's open for lunch only.

Le Bistro (Deck 6); a la carte: The French influenced 

Le Bistro

 offers classic French fare with an American twist. Incidentally, this venue was the contemporary cruise industry's first alternative restaurant (on a ship no longer operated by Norwegian). With floor-to-ceiling glass windows fronting a mini-atrium, the venue offers great people watching from inside. Menu highlights include starters like escargot, steamed mussels and Coquilles St. Jacques Provencal (seared scallops). One interesting reasonably new addition is Les Quatre Cornets, four cones filled with savory tastes from duck confit to smoked chicken salad.

Main entrees heavily favor classic Bistro dishes, and you'll find a delicious pork with Calvados cream, butter-roasted lobster tail, bouillabaisse, coq au vin, a decadent duck duo and a 32-ounce Cote de Boeuf (to be shared). Desserts were right on point as well, and the chocolate fondue is just fantastic.

One disappointment: Le Bistro's wine list offers way more American than French wines.

Teppanyaki (Deck 6); prix fixe: Consider a night at 

Teppanyaki

 to be dinner and a show, with the chef as star. At this 96-seat venue, which sells out just about every night, chefs send onions, eggs and vegetables flying through the air before the ingredients are turned into flavorful meals. Entrees include combinations of chicken, beef and seafood (including lobster) served with miso soup, ginza salad, vegetables and garlic fried rice. Green tea cake and fruit sashimi are dessert options.

La Cucina (Deck 8); a la carte: Ambience-wise, La Cucina, the ship's Italian restaurant, is warm, cozy, family friendly (lots of big tables) and has its own bar and even a pizza oven, not to mention tables outside on The Waterfront. The menu itself is reminiscent of The Olive Garden; it hits the expected dishes but offers few surprises for those who've traveled in Italy. So you'll find, as starters, bruschetta, salads like Caesar and caprese, and a minestrone soup option. Entrees include chicken parmesan, osso buco, pork marsala and rib-eye. The pasta choices are of the comfort food variety and there's spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccini carbonara, spaghetti with sausage, and lasagna -- in both meat-lovers and vegetarian varieties. Risotto is also offered. For us the stand-out was the freshly prepared pizza menu; we loved the Salsiccia e pancetta (mozzarella, Italian sausage and pancetta) and the peperoncio (mozzarella, beef and garlic). Despite our lukewarm experience with the food, the dinner-only restaurant is quite popular and could easily be a solid option for lunch, as well, especially with its alfresco seating.

Moderno Churrascaria (Deck 8); prix fixe: If you're planning a visit to the Brazilian inspired 

Moderno Churrascaria

 for dinner, here's a tip: Try not to eat much all day. Located across from Cagney's (and with similar alfresco seating), the venue is a carnivore's dream. You start off by helping yourself to cold appetizers from the best salad bar onboard. There's plenty for vegetarians with potato salad, artisan cheeses, fresh vegetables, roasted garlic, and hearts of palm, as well as cured meats. Then the show begins as "gauchos" (aka waiters) bring around a variety of meats that they shave off skewers onto your plate. You're given a disc to place on your table that's green on one side (which means more meat!) and red (stop!). The offerings include Portuguese sausages, lamb, both beef and pork ribs, lime-infused chicken, filet mignon, and garlic beef, among others. Sides are served family style; there's rice, garlic mashed potatoes, black beans, and the most delicious sweet fried bananas. Dessert, if you've got room, is on the light side -- coconut flan and mango rice pudding were good choices.

The Raw Bar (Deck 8); a la carte: A companion restaurant to Ocean Blue, the raw bar -- it's literally a bar facing outward into Deck 8 -- features snacks and seafood along with a superb wine list. Crudo options include salmon tartare, tuna, yellowtail and black bass ceviche. The menu offers a range of shellfish, all at market price, including oysters, prawns, clams and even a half pound Maine lobster. Desserts are identical to those served in Ocean Blue. Open for lunch and dinner, The Raw Bar was never too crowded.

Wasabi (Deck 8); a la carte: Another good option for lunch and dinner is Wasabi, which specializes in freshly made sushi and sashimi. Also offered are Yakitori dishes, grilled and accompanied by dipping sauce; varieties include Tsukune (chicken dumplings), Gyu (short rib), Ika (squid), and Kuruma Ebi (prawn).

The Bake Shop (Deck 8); a la carte: This bakery is located on the Waterfront and sells cream-filled pastries, cannolis, "lobster tails," cupcakes, biscotti and elaborate cakes. Right outside the bakery is the Gelato Bar for yummy ice cream. It's open from noon to 5 p.m. daily. A second cafe on Deck 6 also serves up a smaller sampling of baked goods.

American Diner (Deck 16); a la carte: This casual joint serves up a classic diner menu of appetizers, burgers, sandwiches and fried food.

Velvet Dinner and Show (Deck 6); prix fixe: A sort of theater-in-the-round, The Velvet Dinner and Show in the Spiegel Tent offers a multicourse meal during the disco performance.

Dolce Gelato (Deck 8); a la carte: Located on the Waterfront, Dolce Gelato is the place to go for Italian-style ice cream. There is only a handful of flavors available, along with sorbet, but they’re a great treat while strolling down the outdoor promenade.