Norwegian Cruise Line·Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Breakaway - Western Caribbean from New Orleans

3.8(3,632 reviews)
via U.S. News & Cruise Critic · Jun 2026
|7 Nights|4 Ports|2 Sea Days

Breakaway's winter 2026-2027 homeport is New Orleans, sailing weekly down the Mississippi and across the Gulf to Cozumel, Roatan, Harvest Caye, and Costa Maya. The route bookends four straight port days with two full sea days, and starting or ending the trip with a night in the French Quarter is half the appeal.

FamiliesFoodiesFirst-Time CruisersBudget Travelers

Price Range

$

Budget

DepartureNew Orleans, Louisiana
Dress CodeCasual
MealsIncluded
WiFiPaid

*Prices vary by cabin type, sailing date, and availability. Confirm rates with Norwegian Cruise Line before booking.

Ship Details — Norwegian Breakaway

View full Norwegian Breakaway details

Year Built

2013

Tonnage

145,655 GT

Passengers

3,963

Crew

1,657

Decks

18

Class

Breakaway

Itinerary & Route Map

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Onboard Amenities

Aqua Park
Ropes Course
The Waterfront Promenade
Casino
Spa
Kids Club
Multiple Pools
Specialty Dining
Fitness Center
Ice Bar
Rock of Ages Musical
Brooklyn Room
Two Aqua Parks with multiple waterslides
Three-level Sports Complex with ropes course
The Haven luxury suite enclave with private pool, lounge and sun deck
The Waterfront oceanfront boardwalk with restaurants and bars
Garden Cafe buffet
The Manhattan Room main dining room (supper-club style)
Cagney's Steakhouse
Palomar Mediterranean seafood restaurant
Silver Screen Bistro dine-in theater
Vibe Beach Club adults-only retreat
Production shows
Kids and teens clubs
Spa and fitness center

Cruise Highlights

Sail-away down the Mississippi River from downtown New Orleans
Harvest Caye, NCL's private Belizean island resort with beach, pool, and zip line
Roatan's reef snorkeling and West Bay Beach in Honduras
Chacchoben Mayan ruins excursion from Costa Maya's malecon

About the Ship

What Travelers Say About Norwegian Breakaway

Reviews of the ship itself — the same for every Norwegian Breakaway sailing. Based on 7,500 discussions.

Norwegian Breakaway, a 2013 Breakaway-class ship for roughly 3,900 guests at double occupancy, made its name as a big, energetic, freestyle-cruising vessel sailing year-round from New York. Its signature feature is The Waterfront, an oceanfront boardwalk where restaurants and bars open onto the sea, paired with an action-packed top deck of two Aqua Parks, waterslides and a towering ropes course. The vibe is lively and family-friendly rather than refined, and a 2020 and 2025 refurbishment have kept the ship feeling current.

What People Love

  • The Haven is a genuine ship-within-a-ship: private pool, lounge, restaurant and an expanded Deck 17 sun deck with cabanas that stays quiet and feels like a separate luxury vessel
  • The Waterfront oceanfront boardwalk is a standout, letting you eat and drink at railings overlooking the sea rather than being boxed inside
  • Strong specialty dining, with the new Palomar Mediterranean seafood venue described by reviewers as a seafood-lover's paradise and an enlarged Cagney's Steakhouse

Common Complaints

  • The Garden Cafe buffet draws habitual lines and feels cramped and tight on seating when the ship sails full
  • Crowding is a recurring complaint, with guests reporting lines for entertainment and not enough seating for popular shows
  • Food and service quality are inconsistent across the ship, a frequent theme in mixed reviews
See the full Norwegian Breakaway ship page — all 16 pros & cons, review & FAQs

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