Norwegian Getaway
Ship Specifications
Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Ship Class
Breakaway
Year Built
2014
Gross Tonnage
145,655 GT
Passengers
3,963
Cabins
1,982
Decks
18
Crew
1,646
Choosing a cabin on Norwegian Getaway
Drawn from 25 traveler threads about cabins on Norwegian Getaway (2015–2026); there are no Breakaway class-level threads, though one Haven reply comes from sister ship Breakaway.
Guarantee bookings dominate the Getaway cabin threads, and the assignments people reported cluster in two places. Two guarantee balconies (2015 and 2016) landed far forward on deck 10, unobstructed, though the 2015 booker had hoped for midship or aft and was told to call and ask since balconies were still open; a third landed on deck 9 directly above Fat Cats, the deck 8 music club, and was loud until midnight on several nights. That deck 9 position is also the source of the 'partial obstruction' NCL warns about on guarantee balconies: looking down, the view takes in the white roof over the Waterfront restaurants, and a 2016 reply pointed out that the lifeboats hang off decks 6 to 8, which are public decks, so no balcony has a boat in front of it. The 2018 'Sail Away' thread reached the usual conclusion, that bad rooms are a small minority, and the person assigned one reported a good view; the one firm warning was that a Sail Away fare never picks up Free at Sea, even after a paid upgrade. Nobody in these threads reported motion or vibration problems anywhere on the ship.
Solo and family logistics are the other recurring topics. On studios, a 2024 thread spelled out the layout trade-off: the toilet is in a small closet but the shower stands in the main room beside the bed, and the bed is narrow, too narrow for one larger poster. The same thread noted that NCL now sells solo rates on standard inside, oceanview and balcony cabins with Studio Lounge access kept, and one poster had moved a parent from a studio into a balcony for about $800 less than a double-occupancy balcony fare. Studio guests get a solo host who runs a 5 or 5:30 p.m. gathering and books a group table in a main dining room each evening. For families, a 2023 review of a five-person sailing recommended two connecting interior cabins aft on deck 12 over one larger balcony: it cost less and gave two bathrooms, and the only drawback was children sleeping past 10 a.m. in a windowless room; connecting cabins have to be booked through NCL or an agent to be guaranteed. On the Haven, a 2026 reply from a Breakaway Owner's Suite guest advised choosing a suite physically inside the Haven complex rather than an aft penthouse elsewhere on the ship, since the enclave is what makes a 4,000-passenger ship feel small; a 2019 thread added that the Haven courtyard can be loud with children (one of three Haven sailings for that poster, more likely in holiday weeks) and that the Spa Suites' private ocean-view hot tub is the escape hatch.
Worth booking
Two connecting interior cabins aft on deck 12 (families of five)
A 2023 review from a family of five found this cheaper than one larger balcony and got two bathrooms out of it. Connecting cabins are only guaranteed when booked direct with NCL or through an agent, and the two accounts had to be linked at guest services.
Haven Spa Suites
Two 2019 replies called the private ocean-view hot tub in the stateroom the biggest benefit of the Breakaway-class spa suites, plus included thermal suite access; both framed it as the retreat when the Haven courtyard fills with children.
Suites physically inside the Haven complex, not the Haven aft penthouses
A 2026 reply from an Owner's Suite guest on sister ship Breakaway (same layout) advised booking inside the enclave itself, since that is what gave a big ship the feel of a small one; the aft penthouses carry Haven perks but sit away from it.
Solo rates on a standard balcony instead of a Studio
A 2024 reply explained NCL now prices normal inside, oceanview and balcony cabins for one traveler while keeping Studio Lounge access, and had moved a parent from a studio to a balcony for roughly $800 less than a double-occupancy balcony fare.
Think twice
Deck 9 balconies above the deck 8 bars and clubs
A 2016 guarantee assignment sat directly over Fat Cats and was loud until midnight on a few nights; the same thread noted deck 9 balconies look down onto the white roof over the Waterfront restaurants, which is the 'partial obstruction' NCL's fine print refers to.
Studio cabins for anyone who wants a wide bed or a separate shower
Per a 2024 thread, the studio shower stands in the main room next to the bed with only the toilet enclosed, and the bed is narrow; one reply told the poster to watch a video tour before booking because for some people that layout is a showstopper.
Cabin questions
Where do guarantee balconies on Norwegian Getaway usually get assigned?
Reports in 2015 and 2016 threads landed far forward on deck 10 (unobstructed) and on deck 9 above the deck 8 music club Fat Cats, which was noisy until midnight some nights. The 'partially obstructed' language on NCL's guarantee balconies refers to seeing the roof of the Waterfront restaurants when looking down from deck 9; the lifeboats sit on public decks 6 to 8, so none block a balcony. If the assignment disappoints, the 2015 advice was to call while balconies remain unsold and ask to move; the 2018 Sail Away booker who did nothing still got a good view. Sail Away fares do not get Free at Sea, even after an upgrade.
Is a Studio cabin on Norwegian Getaway worth it for a solo traveler?
A 2024 poster weighing a $897 five-night Bermuda studio got mixed advice. The layout is the sticking point: the toilet is in a closet, the shower is out in the room beside a narrow bed, so replies said to watch a video tour first. The counterargument is that NCL now offers solo rates on normal inside, oceanview and balcony cabins that keep Studio Lounge access, and a 2023 thread confirmed a solo host on every sailing who runs a 5 or 5:30 p.m. gathering and books a shared main-dining-room table nightly, open to solos outside the studios too.
Should a family of five book one balcony or two connecting cabins on Norwegian Getaway?
A 2023 review from a family of five who sailed Southampton to Lisbon in two connecting interiors aft on deck 12 came down firmly on two cabins: it was cheaper than one larger balcony, gave two bathrooms and extra privacy, and the beds were comfortable. Two caveats: connecting rooms are only guaranteed if booked through NCL directly or an agent, and the two accounts needed a stop at guest services to link. The only downside they found was that with no window the kids slept until after 10 a.m.
Is the Haven courtyard on Norwegian Getaway quiet?
Not reliably. A 2019 reply from someone with three Haven sailings said one of the three had children playing loudly in the courtyard pool and hot tubs all day, and that a Thanksgiving-week sailing raises those odds. Escape routes named in that thread: the 16-and-over sun deck above the courtyard (shade is scarce), the Haven restaurant, the Spa Suites' in-room hot tub, and a Vibe Beach Club pass, a few of which the concierge holds back for Haven guests but which sell out on embarkation day.
What Travelers Say
Distilled from 383 traveler threads, passenger reviews and travel blogs.
Norwegian Getaway is a big, energetic Breakaway-class megaship built in 2014 for roughly 3,900 guests, and it leans hard into action and outdoor fun. Its signature is the top-deck Aqua Park with five waterslides plus the largest ropes course at sea, while The Waterfront, a quarter-mile oceanfront promenade lined with bars and restaurants, gives the ship a distinctive open-air vibe you won't find on older vessels. Recent updates added a Starbucks and a new live music venue, so it still feels contemporary.
Dining and entertainment are a mixed but mostly positive story. Specialty restaurants like Teppanyaki, Cagney's Steakhouse and Ocean Blue draw the strongest praise, and the production shows and live music are widely rated above the cruise-ship norm. The flip side is the complimentary food, which reviewers describe as inconsistent, and the Garden Cafe buffet that gets overcrowded with only one side often open. The pool deck is the ship's weakest space, with a smallish main pool and busy hot tubs relative to passenger count, and standard cabins are functional rather than spacious.
Getaway is best for families and active couples who want waterslides, a ropes course and a buzzing onboard scene at a mainstream price, typically undercutting premium lines like Celebrity or Princess while offering more thrill amenities. Suite guests can buy into The Haven for a quieter, more upscale experience within the larger ship. Standout activities include the Free Fall waterslides, the over-the-ocean ropes course and Sky Rail, and dinner along The Waterfront.
What People Love
- Huge top-deck Aqua Park with five waterslides including the Free Fall drop slides
- Largest ropes course at sea with Sky Rail zip lines over the side of the ship
- The Waterfront promenade puts bars and restaurants at the ocean's edge
- Strong, varied entertainment rated above typical cruise-ship fare
Common Complaints
- Garden Cafe buffet is frequently overcrowded with long lines
- Main pool is small for the ship's size and hot tubs get packed
- Complimentary dining quality is inconsistent
- At nearly 4,000 guests it can feel crowded at peak times
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources: travel.usnews.com, travel.usnews.com, ncl.com, tripbytrip.org, purewow.com