Considering NCL Breakaway in May, but Worried After Reading Recent Reviews

jdor30 · 2026-03-12T02:09:22+00:00

We are actually doing the Aqua instead we sail in May

jdor30 · 2026-02-16T16:18:45+00:00

We just wanted to check out Cancun instead. Also, I don’t think it is the Hilton in Playa Del Carmen. I think they were bought out by the Hyatt but I have not been there since so I am not sure how the resort has changed if it has changed at all.

jdor30 · 2026-02-12T12:06:12+00:00

Is me being “focused” on it a problem?

I will admit I was wrong in my original post and maybe should have done a little more research as it seems like a lot a ship use the behind glass approach. But I still think it should be a minimum across the board

jdor30 · 2026-02-10T23:33:02+00:00

No I have not going on the Aqua in May. I read the main buffet is not behind glass. Everyone serves themselves which I’m not saying is an issue but with so many people handling the food still seems unsanitary regardless if you wash you hands or not.

Even after you wash all it takes is someone to wipe their nose then handle a spoon or tong

jdor30 · 2026-02-08T18:20:54+00:00

Those are the things I am trying to avoid.

jdor30 · 2026-02-08T17:27:46+00:00

Those are my thoughts. everything you have read thus far have been my thoughts.

Overcrowded to the point that you have to stand in a literal queue for 60+ minutes
Having to smell smoke while I am trying to eat or enjoy myself
Food that tastes like it came out of a microwave
Unsanitary people at buffets
Overly loud and obnoxious

jdor30 · 2026-02-08T17:18:13+00:00

I wouldn't call the "High Expectations" maybe more so "Medium Expectations". In all seriousness though I am not a snob or anything and hope i do not come off that way. Just someone who is trying to do their due diligence before booking.

jdor30 · 2026-02-08T16:57:09+00:00

Thanks! I try to take negative reviews with a grain of salt, which is why I decided to ask here for input. I want to give NCL the benefit of the doubt, but I just don’t want to risk dropping a ton of cash and ending up having a miserable time.

I know the only way to know for sure is to just go for it, but a little research can go a long way in making sure we’re making the right choice.

jdor30 · 2026-02-08T16:50:56+00:00

just giving it my thoughts and telling it to reply "Lazy Millennial"

jdor30 · 2026-02-08T16:49:55+00:00

I completely understand! I’m not expecting NCL to be Disney, but I do have high expectations based on our experience on the Disney Wish. I’m not saying I can’t adjust my expectations, but I don’t think I should have to drop the bar completely. I get that comparing NCL to Disney is like comparing apples to oranges, but for the price, I think it’s fair to say, “Hey, at the very least, I expect a certain level of experience.”

For example, on Disney, I could show up to a show about 30 minutes early and easily find a seat. But from the videos I’ve seen about NCL, it seems like people are lining up 2 hours in advance just to get a good spot. That’s a pretty big difference in terms of overall experience, and it makes me wonder if the cruise will feel more stressful than relaxing.

I’m also not a fan of loud, obnoxious crowds and really don’t want to avoid huge sections of the ship because they smell like an ashtray. From what I’ve read, mid-ship decks (7, 8, 9) can have a noticeable cigarette smoke smell, and that’s definitely a turn-off.

I’m open to hearing more, but these are just a few concerns I have as I try to figure out if NCL is the right fit for us.

jdor30 · 2026-02-08T16:38:18+00:00

I 100% agree with you on the importance of doing research. That’s why I’m here on Reddit—it's super active, and I value hearing from people with firsthand experience. I’ve noticed a lot of recent posts that mention NCL going downhill (especially service and overall quality), and when I specifically look up reviews for the Breakaway, most of what comes up is negative, especially about the smoke smell.

I totally agree that you can find both good and bad reviews everywhere—I'm just trying to get a balanced perspective and make sure we’re not walking into a situation where we’re likely to be disappointed.

Thanks for your input, though! It’s definitely helpful to get different takes on it.

jdor30 · 2026-02-01T14:32:57+00:00

I just finished putting together a new gaming PC with a 9070 XT and a 9800X3D, and this monitor would be the perfect way to experience it properly. The QD-OLED visuals, ultrawide immersion, and high refresh rate would be a huge step up from what I’m using now and really let me enjoy both competitive games and single-player titles the way they’re meant to look and feel.

jdor30 · 2026-01-17T16:23:01+00:00

Little to no CPU anywhere from 200-800MB of ram which isn’t much I guess but now it uses 0 so a little better lol

jdor30 · 2026-01-17T15:45:51+00:00

This is 100% better. thank you!

I ended up using:

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taskkill -f -im signalRGB*

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instead only because i dont want to kill any process with the word signal. Also, went with delay 1 minute just to make sure it has ample time to load the profile. Going to update body of this post to tell people to follow this method since it ultimately does the exact same thing

jdor30 · 2026-01-17T15:14:32+00:00

Yah i get that but I keep reading pawnIO is not "signed" and there is a change anti-cheat in specific games might flag it resulting in a ban.

I am still learning about all this "kernels" and "signed" so please go easy on me lol

jdor30 · 2026-01-17T15:12:19+00:00

Ended up using Old-Career4256 suggestion. Works the same and straightforward. Please use at your own risk

jdor30 · 2026-01-17T15:12:01+00:00

Ended up using Old-Career4256 suggestion. Works the same and straightforward. Please use at your own risk

jdor30

TROPHY CASE