Norwegian Breakaway Review

Wow, I am so fortunate, last week I was a guest of Norwegian Cruise Line onboard the Breakaway. It was so exciting to have Cardinal Dolan bless the ship and the Rockettes christen the ship. I want to share everything with you so here is my review of the Norwegian Breakaway.
This is New York Cities ship.... themed with the beautiful hull art by Peter Max, the Rockettes as the Godmothers, Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian's Ocean Blue and 3 Broadway Shows onboard, Rock of Ages, Cirque Dreams-Jungle Fantasy and Burn the Floor. Keeping with the NYC theme you will find Sabrett Hot Dog carts on the boardwalk, Carlo's Bakery and Gelato as well.
Dining: One of the greatest concepts onboard Norwegian ships is the "Freestyle Dining" and with 27 dining options onboard this is the way to go! The food in the main dining rooms was amazing our first night out I had "surf and turf" and the fliet was amazing and the lobster so delicious. Meals at O'Sheehan's and Ocean Blue were great as well. O'Sheehan's is open 24 hrs so it is great to stop here after a night out gambling and dancing!
Kids Clubs: Great safe play areas with supervised activities all day long, kids are split up into age appropriate programs and you will hear them say "I don't want to leave." The teen club Entourage is amazing and accommodates 13-17 year olds. Splash Academy is for ages 3-12 and here you will find interactive fun the kids will enjoy. There is even an area within Splash Academy open for kids ages 6 months-2yrs old with an adult accompanying them.
Sports Complex: This is an exciting area of the ship for all to enjoy there is the ropes course, "walk the plank" from 16 decks up and a zipline. The pool area has 5 waterslides, some are the largest at sea and you can shoot from the top to the bottom in 6 seconds....thrilling!
The Boardwalk: Such an exciting area(one of my favs), I can't believe this has not been done before. There is 1/4 mile of boardwalk lined with restaurants(inside and outside seating) a bakery, gelato and the famous NYC hot dog cart. There are great seating areas and bars on the boardwalk as well. At night this area is hopping!
Spiegel Tent: Jungle Fantasy themed with animal prints and animal themed art throughout. Quite a breathtaking show, be sure to arrive 30 mins before the show for best seating. The Premium seats here are worth the money.
Spice H20 hosts the weekly 80's themed party(dress up like Madonna and Don Johnson).They host a fireworks show right off the ship at this party-be sure to check it out! There are some cool wall murals in this area of the ship, maps of LI, Welcome to Fire Island and Rockaway Beach too! Keep your eye out for the NY theme all around the ship.
Main Theatre presents Rock of Ages and Burn the Floor, reservations suggested and arrive 45 minutes early for the best seats.
Carlos' Bake Shop: check out the goodies and coffee here from the "Cake Boss",  they have 2 locations Deck 6 in the Atrium and another smaller spot on the Boardwalk.
The Haven: This is a ship within a ship. Boutique style hotel with concierge and butler services, exclusive access to private restaurant and pool, preferred seating at all shows and access to VIBE Beach Club a private outdoor area with bar, cabanas and great seating areas.
678 Ocean Place: such an exciting area of restaurants, bars, casino, shops and great entertainment. Here you will find the dueling pianos at Howl at the Moon  and Slam Allen at Fat Cats Jazz and Blues Club.

Overall I found this ship to be a perfect spot for couples to travel together and for multi-generational families, there is so much for everyone to do while onboard or if you choose to do nothing at all there are great quiet spots for that too. If you have questions about the ship please feel free to contact me as I am a "Norwegian Breakaway Specialist."

Next up is the Norwegian Getaway, she will begin sailing Jan 2014 year round from Miami, this ship will have all the great attributes of the Breakaway with a Miami theme. Broadway show is Legally Blonde and each week they will have Grammy award winners or nominees onboard as well as Illusionarium(replacing the Spiegel Tent) with a magical, immersive experience that will blow you away!

Bon voyage.....
Jessica Dempsey
Cruise Planners
631-780-6195

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www.jdtravelplanning.com

Traveling solo

Traveling along with Me, myself and I

Traveling solo is an awesome way to see the world, meet new people and spend some time with yourself! Sometimes we need to do this to recover from a life event or sometimes “I just want to go someplace where I can just marvel at something” as said so perfectly by Ms. Julia Roberts.

In the past, the thought of being a solo traveler on a cruise ship meant taking out a loan just to pay for the cabin. Thank goodness for NCL who introduced “Epic Studios” last year when the awesome Norwegian Epic debuted. Talk about marvel! The studios are designed specifically for the solo traveler but more importantly so is the pricing. No more double occupancy requirements and single supplements that can double the cost that is typically 200% of the cruise fare because you must pay for the absent “roommate”. The concept was such a hit that they’ll be more to come when Norwegian introduces more new ships in the coming years. Royal Caribbean followed when it unveiled cabins for solo travelers with the revamped Radiance of the Seas this past June.

But it doesn’t stop there. Several cruise lines are catching on. While they may not have specific designed cabins for a single passenger, they are offering reduced single supplements or waiving it altogether. Avalon Waterways is celebrating the new movement by offering river cruises for the solo traveler on select itineraries in October. Ah, a cruise experience through the Danube River with me, myself and I! Now that has my name written all over it.

Why the sudden change in cruising? Some of us just enjoy traveling alone. What do you want to marvel at? Let us know.

Until next time,



Jessica Dempsey
JD Travel Planning

Creating memorable vacations everyday, let yours be next.....

Entertainment onboard the Norwegian EPIC

One of the many things I love while on a cruise ship is the onboard entertainment. The nightlife and entertainment onboard the Norwegian EPIC is amazing! From Cirque Dreams in the Spiegel Tent where you will see marvelous talent combined with acrobatics and Broadway extravaganza! Next you will not want to miss the amazing sights and sounds of Blue Man Group. Another highlight of entertainment onboard the Norwegian EPIC is Legends, the tribute show with celebrity impersonators such as Elvis, Madonna, Tina Turner and more. No sailing would be complete without a night out at Spice H20 the adults only beach club and Svedka IceBar where you will wear faux fur while sipping frosty drinks in the only ice bar at sea.

This is an awesome ship for adult entertainment and I highly recommend this ship to all my couples traveling whether they are Honeymooners or just celebrating romance. I also will recommend the fabulous NCL Suites & Villas, there are no waiting lines here, the concierge will wisk you into all shows and seat you in preferred seating. You will dine in the private EPIC Club where everyone will know your name and preferences. You will relax in the Courtyard, a private area featuring a pool, spa and gym reserved only for Suite & Villa guests.   Imagine not having to get up early to reserve your lounge chair at the pool, this perk alone is worth it to me. Prepare to be pampered by Butlers and the Concierge service,  they will cater to your every whim. This is an experience to truly  be savored. Would you like to experience the service and luxury of a Suite & Villa guest? I thought so....

Until next time,

Jessica Dempsey
Cruise Planners

Creating memorable vacations everyday, let yours be next....

Norwegian Epic Open for Sale!!!

Open for Sale
Norwegian Epic has opened for sale for Latitudes members with an exclusive offer. Through 8/31/09 Latitudes members will receive up to a 3-category upgrade with additional savings of up to $100 per person. Or, if booking a Suite they will receive up to $500 per stateroom to spend on board. Rates for your Latitudes members start at only $599.

Blue Man GroupBlue Man Group to headline Norwegian Epic’s entertainment offerings. We are changing the face of cruise line entertainment on our next generation of Freestyle Cruising ship, Norwegian Epic beginning in summer 2010 . Blue Man Group, best known for their wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts which combine music, comedy and multimedia theatrics will be performing in the 685-seat Epic Theater. In addition, Norwegian Epic will have multiple, specially-designed entertainment venues throughout the ship so that guests can choose from a wide variety of entertainment each evening of their cruise.

Norwegian Cruise Line One Day Sale 3/26/09

Norwegian Cruise Line One Day Sale! 3/26/09

7-Day Alaska Sailings from $ 379pp

7-Day Hawaii Sailings from $ 599 pp

5-Day Europe Sailings from $ 349 pp

7-Day Bermuda Sailings from $ 499 pp

You may qualify for additional Military or Union discounts. Call today!

Norwegian Cruise Line introduces Epic sailing in 2010

NCL started it all with Freestyle Cruising® – where people can enjoy a cruise without being handed a schedule. A vacation where you are free to do whatever. And now we’re following one success with another. Welcome to Norwegian Epic: NCL’s incredible new ship that reinvents cruising yet again. You’ll want to be one of the first to experience this ship’s day and night entertainment where you can wander from one exciting venue to another. Aboard Epic, there are as many ways to have fun as there are to have dinner. And she’s got the most innovative and wide-ranging accommodations at sea. Norwegian Epic sails summer 2010. Be there.

ACCOMMODATIONS Are you ready for the most innovative living spaces at sea? Introducing Norwegian Epic’s giant leap forward in accommodations. Starting with our New Wave Staterooms, where curved walls meet a curved ceiling with soft recessed lighting and where every “outside” stateroom has a balcony. Then there are the three “private-access” stateroom complexes – each with a unique ambiance: The Studios transform inside staterooms into cool, urban spaces with windows to the corridor, mood lighting and access to The Living Room, where guests can kick back, watch a flat-screen TV and have a drink before dinner. The Spa Staterooms and Suites have 24-hour access to the Mandara Spa thermal suites and the fitness center right next door. And finally The Villas, hidden away on their own deck, are accessible only by private elevator and offer an exclusive, all-pampering experience with private bar, pool, sundecks and even a private gym.

AMENITIES, BARS & LOUNGESFrom French Riviera chic and Ibiza style to Miami trendy and Vegas flair, Norwegian Epic’s non-stop entertainment venues give off an international vibe. You can quench your thirst for excitement at Spice H20’s day-and-night pool experience with live DJ action and big screen. You could find yourself wrapped in faux fur at the 17-degree Ice Bar (the first at sea) or at the adults-only Posh Beach Club. Plus, there’s a full-action casino, first-class spa, upscale cigar room, wine and champagne tasting and lots more.

If you want to be one of the first passegers aboard this beautiful ship, call me today for the best rates and availability. JD Travel Planning 631-780-6195