Norwegian Breakaway Tour

I recently had the opportunity to spend a day aboard Norwegian Breakaway and used the visit to document the ship from bottom to top. Throughout my time onboard, I photographed the vessel extensively, capturing everything from the major public venues and dining areas to the smaller details that help define the guest experience. I even got into some cabins so we will cover those as well. The result is this comprehensive ship tour, featuring photos from nearly every publicly accessible area onboard.

When Norwegian Breakaway debuted in 2013, she represented a significant evolution for Norwegian Cruise Line. As the lead ship of the Breakaway-class, she was designed to offer many of the amenities of the line’s larger resort-style vessels while maintaining a strong connection to the sea through expansive outdoor spaces such as The Waterfront. More than a decade after entering service, Breakaway remains one of the most recognizable ships in the fleet, combining a wide variety of dining, entertainment, and recreational offerings into a layout that continues to influence Norwegian’s newer vessels.

Starting our tour of the vessel off in our obligatory fashion to give us an idea of the design aestic of the vessel.

Elevator Lobby:

Random stairwell:

Random carpet patter. As with other NCL vessel, the fish always swim towards the front of the ship.

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NORWEGIAN BREAKAWAY DECK PLANS

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Deck 05

Deck 5 is dedicated entirely to accommodations, featuring a mix of inside and oceanview staterooms. As the lowest passenger deck, it serves primarily as a residential area and remains relatively quiet compared to the public spaces found elsewhere on the ship. Just be mindful what’s on the deck above.

Deck 06

Deck 6 begins at the very front of the ship with the Breakaway Theater, Norwegian Breakaway’s primary entertainment venue. This multi-deck theater hosts the ship’s largest productions and serves as the centerpiece of the onboard entertainment program.

Just aft of the theater is the Silver Screen Bistro. This unique venue combines dining with entertainment, creating a more relaxed alternative to the ship’s larger performance spaces. Think something like an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema experience.

Continuing aft, you arrive in the heart of Norwegian Breakaway’s public spaces. Unlike many cruise ships that feature a single central atrium, Breakaway utilizes two separate atrium areas that help distribute passenger traffic throughout the deck. The forward atrium serves as an active gathering space and is surrounded by several smaller venues.

Off to the starboard side are the ship’s library and a collection of meeting rooms, providing quieter spaces away from the bustle of the main thoroughfares. Insider’s Tip: I visited here during embarkation and it was entirely empty and quite.

Moving further aft brings you to the ship’s primary guest service area. Here you’ll find the Shore Excursions desk along with Guest Services on the port side, making this a convenient stop for everything from booking tours to resolving onboard questions.

Opposite these service areas is the photography studio, where guests can view and purchase professional photos taken throughout the voyage. Just beyond is the Internet Café and, fittingly, the onboard Starbucks. Whether checking emails or grabbing a morning coffee, this area tends to remain busy throughout the day.

Anchoring the space is the Atrium Bar, which serves as a natural meeting point and often hosts live music and activities in the open atrium.

Aft of the atrium, an art gallery lines the central corridor leading toward the ship’s second atrium. This larger space rises three decks and creates one of the more dramatic interior volumes onboard.

Surrounding this aft atrium is Le Bistro, Norwegian Cruise Line’s signature French restaurant. A fixture of the fleet for decades, Le Bistro has been a staple of Norwegian ships since the 1990s and continues to offer one of the line’s most recognizable specialty dining experiences.

Opposite Le Bistro is Headliners Comedy Club, an intimate entertainment venue that hosts comedy performances, game shows, and other guest-participation events throughout the cruise.

Continuing aft, you’ll find the Teppanyaki restaurant, where chefs prepare meals tableside while entertaining guests with the theatrical flair that has made this dining style so popular at sea.

At the aft end of the public spaces on Deck 6 is a dining complex centered around the Mixx Bar. This stylish venue serves as a shared lounge between two of the ship’s complimentary main dining rooms. Taste is located on one side and Savor on the other, giving guests multiple options for a traditional sit-down dining experience while maintaining a more intimate atmosphere than a single large dining room.

Deck 07

Deck 7 begins at the forward end of the ship with the upper level of the Breakaway Theater. From here, guests can enjoy elevated views of the productions and entertainment taking place below.

Just aft of the theater is O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill, one of the ship’s most popular complimentary dining venues. Open for much of the day, it serves a variety of pub-style favorites in a relaxed setting and is named after former Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Kevin Sheehan. Its central location and casual atmosphere make it a frequent gathering place throughout the cruise. Insiders Tip: There are also many pub games tucked away past it.

Opposite O’Sheehan’s is another atrium bar that overlooks the forward atrium below. The open design provides a great vantage point for people-watching and enjoying the activity taking place in one of the ship’s busiest public spaces.

Continuing aft, you arrive at the middle level of the ship’s aft atrium. This is where Norwegian Breakaway’s casino is located, creating a lively atmosphere that often serves as a hub of activity during both sea days and evenings. The open design allows the casino to feel connected to the surrounding public spaces rather than isolated from them.

Beyond the casino is Bliss Ultra Lounge, the ship’s dedicated nightclub. During the evening, this venue transforms into one of the ship’s primary nightlife destinations, featuring music, dancing, and themed events.

Opposite Bliss is the Shanghai Noodle Bar, a smaller specialty venue offering Asian-inspired dishes in a more intimate setting. Its location tucked between several larger venues makes it one of the ship’s hidden gems.

At the very aft of the deck is The Manhattan Room, Norwegian Breakaway’s main dining room. Designed with a grand two-story layout and sweeping windows overlooking the ship’s wake, it provides one of the most elegant dining experiences onboard. Guests who prefer a slightly smaller setting can opt for Taste or Savor on the deck below, though all three restaurants share the same menu and are included as part of the complimentary dining program.

Deck 08

The forward portion of Deck 8 is occupied by a mix of balcony and inside staterooms. Once past the cabin area, the deck transitions into one of Norwegian Breakaway’s most significant innovations: The Waterfront.

While Carnival Cruise Line introduced a similar concept with the Lanai on its Dream-class ships, Norwegian took the idea much further with Breakaway. Rather than simply creating an outdoor promenade with occasional seating, Norwegian designed The Waterfront as an extension of the ship’s restaurants, bars, and lounges. The result was one of the first cruise ship promenades where guests could truly dine, drink, and socialize outdoors while remaining connected to the venues inside. In fact, we first reported on this concept back in 2011 when early details emerged suggesting Norwegian was developing its own take on the Lanai experience.

This is where The Waterfront begins, and one of its defining characteristics is that nearly every public venue along this section of the ship offers direct access to outdoor seating overlooking the sea.

On the starboard side is Syd Norman’s Pour House, a live music venue inspired by classic rock clubs.

Opposite on the port side is La Cucina, Norwegian’s long-running Italian specialty restaurant. Both venues spill out onto The Waterfront, allowing guests to enjoy meals and drinks in the open air.

Continuing aft, you’ll find Maltings Whiskey Bar, a cozy lounge specializing in whiskey, scotch, and bourbon.

Adjacent to it is the ship’s cigar lounge, creating a natural pairing for those who appreciate both fine spirits and premium cigars.

Further aft is the upper level of the ship’s atrium. Off this space on the port side is the onboard Ice Bar, one of the more unique venues at sea where guests can enjoy cocktails in a room kept below freezing. Nearby is Shaker’s Cocktail Bar, another popular gathering place overlooking the atrium below.

On the starboard side is a collection of dining venues that showcase Norwegian’s emphasis on specialty restaurants. These include Wasabi, the ship’s sushi venue, the Raw Bar, and Palomar, offering seafood-focused cuisine in an elegant setting.

Continuing aft, you enter the ship’s primary shopping district, with a variety of retail stores lining both sides of the deck. The photo gallery is located here on the starboard side, providing guests an opportunity to browse and purchase professional photographs taken throughout their cruise.

At the very aft of Deck 8 is another Norwegian Cruise Line staple, Cagney’s Steakhouse. Widely regarded as one of the line’s signature specialty restaurants, Cagney’s combines premium cuts of beef with panoramic wake views and an expansive outdoor seating area along The Waterfront, making it one of the most desirable dining locations onboard.

Decks 09

From here on up the decks contain a mix of inside, oceanview, and balcony staterooms and form the primary residential section of Norwegian Breakaway. Compared to the public areas elsewhere on the ship, these decks maintain a much quieter atmosphere and are designed primarily for guest accommodations.

Decks 10

Deck 10 is primarily dedicated to staterooms, but it also contains one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s more innovative accommodations concepts: the Studio Lounge.

Introduced by Norwegian with the Norwegian Epic and later expanded to other ships, the Studio concept was designed specifically for solo travelers. Traditionally, single cruisers were forced to either pay a substantial single supplement or share a cabin with another guest. Norwegian addressed this by creating purpose-built Studio cabins sized and priced for one person. These cabins are clustered together in their own dedicated section of the ship and come with access to the private Studio Lounge.

The Studio Lounge serves as an exclusive gathering space for solo travelers, providing complimentary coffee, light snacks, comfortable seating, and an opportunity to meet fellow guests sailing alone. The concept has proven popular enough that it has since become a standard feature across much of the Norwegian fleet.

Decks 11

Deck 11 is otherwise dedicated entirely to staterooms but contains the upper level of the Studio Lounge. This additional space expands the lounge area below and provides extra seating for guests staying in the Studio accommodations. The two-level design helps create a more open and inviting atmosphere than would otherwise be possible within the ship’s cabin corridors, further enhancing the experience for solo travelers.

Decks 12 – 13

Decks 12 and 13 are dedicated entirely to accommodations.

Deck 14

Deck 14 is also primarily devoted to staterooms, but the forward section of the deck contains the lower level of the Mandara Spa. This area is home to many of the ship’s treatment rooms, where guests can enjoy a variety of massages, facials, and wellness services. While most guests enter the spa from the deck above, this lower level houses much of the facility’s treatment space and provides a quieter environment separated from the busier public decks.

Deck 15

Deck 15 begins with the upper level of the Mandara Spa, completing the ship’s wellness complex. Guests enter the spa from this level, where they will find the reception area along with additional treatment and relaxation spaces.

Adjacent to the spa is the beginning of The Haven. While Norwegian Cruise Line first introduced The Haven on the preceding Jewel Class ships, Norwegian Breakaway marked a major evolution of the concept. Rather than being a collection of suites scattered throughout the vessel, The Haven was expanded into a true ship-within-a-ship, occupying a dedicated section spanning multiple decks. On this deck, a number of Haven accommodations are located along the port side, providing guests with convenient access to the exclusive facilities found throughout the enclave.

Aft of the spa and Haven area is the ship’s main pool deck. At its center is the main swimming pool, surrounded by four hot tubs that remain popular throughout the cruise. While not as expansive as the pool decks found on some newer vessels, the layout creates a lively and social atmosphere that serves as the heart of outdoor activities onboard.

In the center of the pool area is the pool bar along with The Marketplace, providing convenient access to drinks and casual food options throughout the day.

Further aft is a second pool designed with families in mind, offering additional swimming space away from the busier main pool area.

Occupying the remainder of the deck is the Garden Café, Norwegian Breakaway’s primary buffet venue. Offering a wide variety of cuisine throughout the day, the Garden Café serves as one of the most heavily utilized dining venues onboard and features both indoor seating and access to outdoor dining areas overlooking the ship’s wake.

Deck 16

Deck 16 begins at the very front of the ship with the upper levels of The Haven. Norwegian’s exclusive ship-within-a-ship concept occupies a substantial portion of the forward section and was one of the defining innovations of the Breakaway Class. While The Haven debuted on earlier Norwegian vessels, Breakaway was among the first ships where the concept truly evolved into a dedicated enclave spanning multiple decks, complete with its own accommodations, private facilities, and exclusive amenities.

Unfortunately, I was not able to access The Haven during my visit aboard Norwegian Breakaway, so I was unable to photograph these spaces for this tour. If you’re interested in seeing how Norwegian designs its Haven complexes, be sure to check out my Norwegian Getaway ship tour, where I was able to document many of the exclusive areas in detail. The two ships are sisters and share a very similar overall layout.

Aft of The Haven, the remainder of the forward section of the deck opens into a large outdoor sun deck that overlooks the pool areas below. This elevated vantage point provides additional loungers and a somewhat quieter atmosphere than the busier pool deck one level beneath.

Further aft, the deck transitions back indoors. Here you’ll find the ship’s video arcade along with the Entourage Teen Club on the port side, providing dedicated spaces for younger guests and families.

Opposite on the starboard side is the American Diner. Styled after a classic roadside diner, this venue serves comfort food favorites in a casual setting and offers views overlooking the outdoor deck spaces.

At the aft end of the ship is Spice H2O, one of Norwegian’s signature adults-only retreats. During the day, this area serves as a relaxing sun deck with multiple hot tubs and tiered seating overlooking the ship’s wake. In the evening, the venue often transforms into an outdoor entertainment space, making it one of the most versatile and popular areas onboard.

Deck 17

Deck 17 is divided into two separate sections, one forward and one aft, with the ship’s funnel complex separating the two.

The forward section is somewhat restricted in its layout. At the very front is The Haven’s private sundeck, reserved exclusively for guests staying within the ship’s suite enclave.

Just aft of that on the starboard side is the Vibe Beach Club, another restricted-access area that offers a quieter and more upscale outdoor experience than the main pool decks below. With limited capacity, upgraded loungers, and dedicated service, Vibe remains one of the most sought-after upgrades on Norwegian ships.

The port side of the forward section, however, remains open to all guests and serves as a large public sundeck. Thanks to its elevated position, it offers excellent views and tends to be less crowded than the main pool areas, making it a great place to relax on sea days.

The aft section of Deck 17 is dedicated to the ship’s sports complex. Here guests will find a variety of recreational activities and outdoor attractions, creating an active atmosphere that contrasts with the quieter sundecks located forward.

Deck 18

Like the deck below, Deck 18 is also split into two separate sections.

The forward section consists primarily of an additional open-air sundeck. Located atop one of the ship’s mechanical spaces, this area provides some of the highest publicly accessible vantage points onboard and offers sweeping panoramic views in all directions. Guests can reach it from the deck below or, somewhat surprisingly, from two decks below by passing through the Vibe Beach Club.

The aft section is home to two of Norwegian Breakaway’s most recognizable outdoor attractions. The basketball court provides space for organized games and casual recreation throughout the cruise, while the adjacent rock climbing wall offers guests the opportunity to scale high above the ship’s decks while enjoying impressive ocean views. Together, these attractions form the centerpiece of the ship’s upper-deck activity area.