Comparing two 7-day Bermuda Cruises sailed by MSC and NCL

Comparing 2 Bermuda Cruises: MSC Meraviglia and NCL Breakaway

During 2024, my partner and I took 2 separate 7-day cruises to Bermuda on ships that I feel best exemplify both the best and worst of what MSC and NCL cruise lines have to offer. Given that many people have strong feelings about MSC and NCL, I feel that an "Apples to Apples" comparison should be made for 2 ships which make round trip sailings between New York (Brooklyn for MSC and Manhattan for NCL) and Bermuda. 

Normally, comparing two cruise lines sailing almost identical routes will often look like comparing apples to oranges due to the subtle differences between the cruise lines, their ports, and how their fares are structured.  In this case, I have come close as possible to an apples to apples comparison, because the only important differences of note are the originating cruise terminal and the internet package chosen.  

Each line does a lot of things well, and each line has its own glaring flaws. I came into being able to do this review because my cruise partner had an itch to take a cruise before the end of summer, and I found a way for us to afford a second cruise within one month of the first.

Ships Compared:

1. MSC Meraviglia   - year built: 2017.
2. NCL Breakaway  - year built: 2011.

Each of these ships have been broken in for 7+ years.  As a result, the kinks should have been worked out of all service related problems, and the experiences described here should reflect an average cruiser's experience on these ships.   We sailed in a balcony cabin on both cruises, as well as choosing an affordable drink package for these cruises.  However, I could not provide an exact match for the internet packages we had for the cruises, as each line sells different packages at different prices.

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Stateroom/Cabins:

1. MSC Meraviglia - Balcony
   
   
   
   
   The balcony cabin was spacious, with both a king size bed and a sofa that converts to a bed.  However, storage areas in the cabin were lacking.  Unlike cabins on other cruise line's ships, the only shelves available for storing clothes (and other things) were in the closet. Although this was more than enough for two people, it might not be enough if a third person is occupying the cabin.  Additionally, my 28" suitcase did not fit under the bed.  This meant that I had to find unused space in the room to store the suitcase.
   
   
2. NCL Breakaway - Balcony
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The balcony cabin was just as spacious as MSC's balcony cabin.  However, more thought was given to providing storage space for cruisers, as there were several spaces in the room other than the closet where cruisers could store their goods.
   
   - - - -
   
   Note: Neither ship provides USB ports at bedside, something which is coming more common as new ships are built and others being renovated during dry dock.
   
   
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Itineraries:

1. MSC Meraviglia - Bermuda (September/October 2024)
   
   - Embarkation: New York (Brooklyn)
   - Sea Day #1
   - Sea Day #2
   - Port Day #1: Bermuda (King's Wharf)
   - Sea Day #3, 4 & 5   
   - Debarkation: New York (Brooklyn)
   
   Note: Sea Days #3 & 4 were originally scheduled to be port days.
   
   
   
2. NCL Breakaway - Bermuda (October/November 2024)
   
   - Embarkation: New York (Manhattan)
   - Sea Day #1-
   - Port Day #1, 2, & 3: Bermuda (King's Wharf)
   - Sea Day #2 & 3
   - Debarkation: New York (Manhattan)
   
   
   
   ******************************************************************

Service & Food:

1. MSC Meraviglia. 
   
   
   
   
   Unlike my last MSC cruise, MSC has upped its game with meals in the main dining room and the buffet.  Both my partner and I felt that buffet selections were more than adequate, although not as varied as those found on prior cruises on other cruise lines.  As one might expect on an Italian cruise ship, the pizza was very good, but a little doughier than one might like if one is used to New York Style pizza.
   
   Meals in the main dining room were good, with an adequate amount of selections available each day.  The standard breakfast choices were available (eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, cereals, etc.) each day.  However, breakfast service was slow, as it often took some time before a waiter came to take our orders.  Lunch service was also slow.  However, menu choices varied on a daily basis for this meal.  Unlike the other two meals, dinner service took place at fixed times, 5:45 pm and 7:45 pm, with assigned seating from the first day of the cruise.  Portion sizes were reasonable, and our hungers were sated after each meal.  On gala night, lobster tail & shrimp was on the menu.  I decided to order a second plate and was charged only $5.00.  This is less than the $10.00 I was charged on a recent cruise on Princess cruises for a similar upgrade.
   
   Specialty dining was where MSC shines, albeit far from as brightly as on NCL. MSC sells 3, 4, and 5 day dining packages, where one eats dinner at different specialty restaurants.  We chose the 3 day package, which entitled us to meals at the Butcher's Cut steakhouse, the Ocean Cay seafood restaurant, and Hola! Tacos taqueria.  At Butcher's Cut and Ocean Cay, a limited number of meal choices were available for the standard specialty dining experience.  If one wanted anything else on the menu, it would be available at half price.  However, at the taqueria, one could have an unlimited number of items from the menu - there were no choice or amount limits.  (One item of note: The Flan served here was better than the Flan we had in the main dining room at lunch.)
   
    
2. NCL Breakaway.
   
   
   
   
   I feel that the quality of NCL's complementary food options has gone down a little bit after the post-pandemic cruising restart. Yet, NCL does a better job in seasoning its food than MSC.  This may be rooted in the clientele sailing with these cruise lines.  MSC has a higher number of non-English speaking people from outside the Americas.  Therefore, it may have to adjust its flavor portfolio to a wider range of palates. NCL caters to an Anglo-American clientele, and its flavor portfolio seems geared to people with Anglo-American taste preferences.
   
   Breakfast and Lunch offerings at the buffet are both tasty and adequate.  The pizza (when found) is not as good as that found on the MSC Meraviglia.  However, NCL has a greater variety of food served at the buffet, one selection being the udon noodle soup.  Additionally, NCL had a buffet station where freshly tossed Caesar Salad was being prepared to order - including the anchovies that many demand in a "Real" Caesar Salad.  (Note: The Original Caesar Salad did not include anchovies in its recipe.)
   
   Unlike MSC, virtually all choices at its main specialty restaurants are available at the one fixed price for the meal. The French restaurant, Le Bistro, serves wonderful food, including classics such as French Onion Soup, Escargots, and Coq au Vin.  It is impossible to get a bad meal at this place.  The Brazilian Churrascaria, Moderna, is as good as any you might find on land.  However, its meat selections might be slightly more limited than some of the Churrascarias I've eaten at in the NYC area.  Lastly, as a New Yorker, I don't think of Italian restaurants as being that special.  Yet, NCL's Italian restaurant, La Cucina, was well worth visiting, as the Osso Buco was as good as I've had in one of my favorite land based restaurants.
   
   
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Cruise Line Apps:

1. MSC.
   
   
   
   The MSC application isn't always intuitive in its use.  It often took me a while to find basic functions, such as chat.  The chat function did not trigger pop-ups which would be useful when trying to reach a cabin partner.  Additionally, after the first time we tried to use chat, MSC's app lost the link between our phones and we couldn't use this function for the rest of the trip
   
   We were able to use the app to make reservations at the ship's theater.  However, one had to be careful when making reservations for all in a cabin, as it is easy to make a mistake and only reserve a seat for one person from the cabin.
   
   An item of note: One is prevented from taking a screen snapshot when viewing the billing screen for purposes of fraud prevention.  However, one can download the billing information as a PDF file and then view it on one's phone.
   
   
   
2. NCL.
   
   
   
   
   NCL's app worked better than MSC's app.  However, my partner's cell phone often had problems connecting with the ship's wi-fi, and this interfered with her use of the app.
   
   Unlike MSC where chatting in the app is free, NCL charges $9.00 to activate this feature.  Although it would have been useful to us, we found that we could use a "free" workaround which was possible because we both purchased the unlimited, non-streaming internet package - Google Voice texting.
   
   NCL's app does allow the user to make reservations at the specialty restaurants for dinner.  However, we decided to use the services of the reservations desk, as it was easier for them to look for available dining options for the two of us on their larger screens.
   
   Note: NCL is in the process of updating its App across its ships, so one might be prompted to upgrade the app before sailing.
   
   
    ******************************************************************

Embarkation/Muster/Debarkation Procedures:

1. MSC
   
   Embarkation:
   
   Unlike my first MSC cruise from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, embarkation was a breeze.  Could it be that we had a 2:00 pm arrival time at the terminal, instead of the noon arrival time?  Instead of being on lines that snaked through the terminal area, one could cut under the line demarcation ropes and get through security and check-in in less than 15 minutes.
   
   Muster:
   
   The muster process for this ship is a little more awkward than that used by other ships.  One is supposed to view a muster video in one's cabin, then perform the extra step of calling a special phone number to register that one has viewed the video before reporting to the muster station for a second check-in.  
   
   Debarkation:
   
   All passengers are expected to leave their cabins by 7:30 am.  They can either proceed to a dining area for breakfast, or go to one of the assigned waiting areas to leave the ship. As was done on my last MSC cruise, they assign cabins into debarkation groups. Each group leaves the ship as its number is called. "Self Assist" cruisers can take their bags off the ship as early as 7:30 am, followed by passengers with transfers or tours arranged by MSC.  After these groups leave the ship, other debarkation groups are called until the last group leaves the ship.  Our group was one of the last to be called.  So we killed time in the "wheelchair waiting area" instead of the ship's theater until our group was told to leave the ship.
   
   It didn't take much time to have our cruise cards scanned for the last time, and reach the baggage area in the cruise terminal. Although it seemed like a long walk, we easily found our bags and were past the US Customs checkpoint in less than 10 minutes.
   
   
2. NCL.
   
   Embarkation:
   
   NCL has embarkation down to a science.  With the exception of small number of cruisers staying in Haven Suites, everyone else at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal is steered to one of two sets of check-in stations where cruisers' paperwork and passports are presented before cruise cards are given to the cruiser.  Occasionally, one will need to have a new ID photo taken, but this doesn't add much to the time it takes to get on the ship.  Once the cruise card is in hand, one simply walks to the assigned embarkation point and boards the ship.
   
   Unlike prior cruises out of Manhattan, we chose to arrive at the terminal at 1 pm.  We found that the lines were shorter than if we arrived earlier in the day, and we were on board the ship within 20 minutes of arrival.  I wouldn't recommend that people arrive any later than 1 pm, as the ship's manifest must be complete by 2 pm, so that the ship can leave port promptly at 4 pm.
   
   Muster:
   
   NCL encourages people to watch the safety video at home before the cruise (as we did) instead of waiting until we have boarded the ship. Once on the ship, all one has to do is check in at the muster station.  On a prior cruise, we were very lucky, as our muster station was 20 feet from where we got on the ship, and we completed our muster responsibilities before taking the elevator to reach our cabin floor.
   
   Debarkation:
   
   NCL directs mildly mobility challenged people to priority departure queues as they leave the ship.  There were people using canes who appreciated being able to avoid being on their feet longer than absolutely needed during the luggage collection process at the pier.  I was glad that our line moved quick enough to be able to get to our bags before my back started to rebel.
   
   Having had problems with finding my bag in the Manhattan Cruise Terminal after prior cruises, I made sure to have Tile Trackers on each of our bags.  Although we didn't need to use the trackers, we did need a little guidance to find our luggage pick up area. (My eyes didn't see the difference between orange and yellow zones under the pier's light.) 
   
   As done in Brooklyn, US Customs now uses facial recognition technology at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. This made it possible for us to be at the cab station across the street from the cruise terminal within 15 minutes after leaving the ship for the last time.
   
    
   
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Entertainment:

1. MSC
   
   Since MSC attracts a more international clientele than NCL, one expects that the entertainment would depend less on language than song and visual elements.  That proved to be the case on this trip.  The first show we saw in the main theater was a magic show, with 4 different styles of magic.  This show was entertaining, but we both felt that the show should have been a little longer with fewer performers. The next show we attended was with the comedian, Ken Boyd.   Finally, we saw the juggler, Lucian Fuller. With the exception of the comedian's show, one did not need to speak English to enjoy the show.
   
   
   
   
   (Ken Boyd performing in the ship's theater)
   
   There is more than one theater on the Meraviglia.  There is a more intimate theater at the back of the ship, the Carousel Theater.  Two shows are performed here: Houdini and Rock Opera.  Neither show requires an understanding of English to enjoy the performances.  However, both are very loud and use lighting elements which may be a problem for some people with visual impairments.
   
   
   
   
   
   (Rock Opera being performed in the Carousel theater.)
   
   
   
2. NCL.
   
   NCL was been known for the quality of shows in its main theater.  However, the premier stage show on the Breakaway, Burn The Floor, needs to be rotated off of this ship, having seen it last year on another Bermuda cruise on the NCL Getaway.  With that being said, the Broadway Cabaret was very good, and much more entertaining than MSC's Rock Opera, as the singers' performances weren't marred by circus acrobatics going on around them.  However, NCL's comedians did not make me laugh, as the one I watched in the main theater made too many jokes involving defecation, causing me to fall asleep during his performance.
   
   
   
   
   
   (
   
   
   
   
   
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Miscellaneous items of note:

1. Cruise Packages - Add-ons.
   
   MSC Best Value + Fantastica.
   
   When I now think of MSC, I think of this cruise line as one where prices are kept low by making things optional.  In my case, I had to couple the Best Value option with the Fantastica package to get values equivalent to the range set by NCL's Free at Sea package.  Yet, there are some interesting differences that I must note.
   
   MSC offers two booking types: Best Price and Best Value.  Best Price is similar to the Guaranteed Cabin option types on NCL.  Best Value allows the cruiser to choose one's cabin within a category range (displayed on a later reservation screen) and includes the "Easy Drinks Plus" package, including all drinks under $10.  The $10 price limit is not as bad as it might seem, as MSC's Easy Drinks Plus package includes canned sodas, sparkling waters, beers, selected wines, and selected mixed drinks (made with bottom shelf spirits).  I never had to pay extra for any of the sodas or "adult drinks" I had ordered.
   
   There are three experience types on MSC ships: Bella, Fantastica, and Aurea. The Bella experience is a basic package without specialty dining and spa options.  The Aurea experience is a high end package, where the cruiser gets a specialty dining package, anytime dining in one of the ship's restaurants, a Balinese massage, and access to the ship's solarium.  It is not offered to all cruisers.  I chose the Fantastica option, which allowed me to select my cabin, and added a dining package which included meals at 3 of the specialty restaurants on the ship.
   
   NCL Free at Sea (Now "More at Sea")
   
   There is one big advantage to NCL's Free at Sea package - one gets to choose one's own cabin.  (This is no longer true in all cases.)  The other advantages are important, but are effectively add-ons, as they can be deselected to avoid paying gratuities on a drink package and a specialty dining package.  Yet, the gratuities are a cheap price to pay for a drink package that includes all drinks (soda, beer, wine, spirits and mixed drinks) under $15.  However, this package does not cover the mandated daily "staff service" gratuity fee, which is approximately $20/day/pp.  Yet, it does provide the cruiser with 150 minutes of free wi-fi which can be enhanced for a reasonable fee (see below).
   
   
   
2. Photography Packages.
   
   MSC.
   
   This cruise line encourages people to have lots of photos taken. Facial recognition is used to identify these photos with cabins. so that they are placed in cabin specific folders and isolated from other cabins' photos.   Their photo prices for 8"x10" photos are reasonable, as we were able to get 4 photos and a frame for $50.  However, these prices drop significantly if even a small photo package is bought.
   
   NCL.
   
   Like MSC, NCL also encourages people to buy photo packages.  However, their price for the 2 photos we bought would have paid for 4 photos on MSC. Given that the photo posing and quality are the same as that on MSC, I would only consider it worthwhile to buy 1 or 2 special photos from NCL's photo gallery and leave the rest unpurchased.
    
   
   
3. Internet Add-ons.
   
   MSC
   
   MSC offers Wi-Fi as an add-on to the basic fare.  Unlike most lines, its internet is limited to one physical device for the cruise, instead of one internet device being logged on at the same time.  This little gotcha often trips up people who think they can log in first with their cell phone, then log off and then on with their laptop or tablet after the first logon.  If bought before the cruise, a 7-day cruise, unlimited, non-streaming Wi-Fi was offered at $112, which was good enough for my purposes.   MSC also offers streaming Wi-Fi for a few dollars more per day, and I plan to select that option on my next cruise with MSC.
   
   NCL
   
   NCL also offers Wi-Fi as an add-on to the basic fare.  Unlike MSC, NCL gives the "Free at Sea" promotional rate cruiser (now "More at Sea") 150 free minutes.  An unlimited non-streaming Wi-Fi upgrade is available for $110 (one device in use at a time). and an unlimited streaming Wi-Fi upgrade is available for $170.  Otherwise, the non-streaming Wi-Fi is $30/day and the streaming Wi-Fi is $40/day.
   
   
   
4. Other items of note.
   
   MSC Pre-Embarkation Process.
   
   Most cruise lines lets one register a credit card to one's onboard account before boarding the ship.  This is not the case with MSC, where they force the cruiser to perform this part of the check-in process while onboard the ship.  This adds to the confusion most first time cruisers with the line experience, as most will not think to take care of this task on the first day of cruising.
   
   MSC Public Areas.
   
   Although most cruise line ships are meant to impress, MSC tends to be over the top in glitz.  Nor only are the grand staircases embedded with Swarovski crystals, but the whole ship can seem "over the top" in its own way,  The pathway between two of the main dining rooms is bordered with highly reflective walls inset with wine bottles.  There is so much light being reflected, that people with certain visual impairments might have trouble navigating this section of the ship.
   
   A common trend in many cruise ships is to reduce the size of reading libraries.  Fewer people are seeking this kind of quiet place on cruise ships, and MSC has taken this to an extreme by making the ships' library a 2-3 meter long path of empty magazine racks off of the grand atrium.  
   
   MSC Cruise Demographics.
   
   My cruise may have been an outlier.  Many people have commented (and complained) that there was a very large number of people from one ethnic / language group on this ship not associated with South America.  Several bloggers on my cruise were offended by the cultural norms of this group and noted this in their blogs. As for me, I found it awkward, as it inhibited my ability to have the quick chats one might have with people at neighboring tables in the main dining room.
   
   NCL Cruise Demographics.
   
   The demographics of NCL cruisers are similar to that found on Princess cruises, save that more children tend to be found on NCL cruises.  Given that our NCL Bermuda cruise took place in Late October/Early November, we didn't see that many children on this cruise.
   
   

Conclusion:

You get what you pay for on each of these lines.

If one wants good entertainment, one should cruise on NCL If one wants low cost, I'd choose MSC.  Both cruise lines have their merits, and I would sail on either line again, given the right conditions.

NCL Breakaway - Bermuda Cruise Review (10/27/24 - 11/02/24)

NCL Breakaway - Bermuda Cruise (09/27/24 - 10/06/24)

Last month, my cruise partner and I scratched a sudden itch to take a cheap cruise. This month, we took the cruise we originally planned to take in the Fall. It is a pure coincidence that we ended up booking two Bermuda cruises for this year. but it is a fortunate circumstance, as we did not have the 3 port days in Bermuda that we expected on that sailing. 

But first things first....

We snagged a decent price for this trip: 

$1,585 fare (Balcony Cabin)  
$170 tax/port fees (included in our fare - broken out here for clarity)
$140 hotel/resort gratuities (included in our fare package)
$110 (Unlimited non-streaming package upgrade)
$153 gratuities for drink package 
$  20 gratuities for dining package
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$1828 pp Total.

This is not a bad price for travelers taking a 7-day cruise out of New York at this time of year.  

• This ship sails out of Manhattan.  We'll take Metro North to NYC, and then
  take a cab to the cruise terminal..
• Our booking was for a Balcony Cabin.
• Our prior experiences on NCL have all been positive.  But are we getting full value for money spent?

Itinerary:

As most people who cruise often know, itineraries are plans that can change in a moment's notice.  This cruise was scheduled to spend 3 days in Bermuda.  However, this cruise was at risk of being significantly shortened due to a medical emergency causing the ship to return to New York to disembark a passenger.  Even though the ship lost 8 hours of cruising to Bermuda, we only lost 2 hours of time there due to slack time built into the schedule.

Transit to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal:

This is an easy place to reach via mass transit, albeit with a cab ride from one of Manhattan's two major train stations (Grand Central Terminal and Pennsylvania Station).  Use of crosstown buses is not advised for "last mile" transit, as the 42nd street crosstown bus is often overcrowded.

Embarkation:

We are accustomed to cruising from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.  Unlike MSC (and some other cruise lines) NCL supplies each cruiser with their cruise cards while on the pier. Although this slows the process of getting people onboard a little, it ensures that cruisers do not accidentally store their luggage in someone else's cabin by accident.

In the past, we have arrived at this terminal around 11 am or so, and have encountered long lines with long waits before getting our cruise cards.  For this cruise, we chose a 1 pm arrival time at the pier, so that we could avoid most of the crowds and still have enough leeway to make it to the pier before the 2 pm deadline.  (All passengers must be on board the ship 2 hours before sailing, as the ship's manifest must be complete before being given to authorities.  Passengers arriving after this time can and will be denied access to the ship.)

 
Stateroom:

Our Balcony cabin, 13164, was easy to reach and was comfortable for 2 people. Not only was there storage space available in the closet, but there was extra storage space by the desk as well.  Like most cruise ships, one can store most pieces of luggage under the bed(s).  However, since we didn't use the sofa bed for seating, we used it as a shelf for extra storage.

Like the MSC Meraviglia, the NCL Breakaway did not have USB ports at the bedside.  However, it did have two North American and two European outlets by the desk, from which I ran an extension cord to my bedside where I plugged in my CPAP machine.  

The bathroom facilities were adequate.  However, we noticed that the shower stall had no foot rest that a woman could use when shaving her legs.  This is an oversight that I hope will be corrected by a simple retrofit of such a support.

Throughout the cruise, we had problems with keeping the cabin at a comfortable temperature.  Often, it was either too cool or too warm.  When we first sailed from New York, the middle setting didn't keep the cabin warm.  When we sailed from Bermuda, the same setting kept us too warm. We seemed to need to adjust the setting every few hours or so.

Entertainment:

The first show we attended in the main theater was a comedy performance by 2 comedians. The first comic's set depended on scatological humor - he was literally making jokes about defecation.  Although my partner had a laugh or two, I fell asleep sitting up and missed the second comic's performance.

The second show we attended in the theater did not depend on one's knowledge of the English language or of the North American culture.  It was a performance by 2 male and 2 female performers singing Broadway show tunes.  This show made up for my boredom in our first visit to the theater by being something I'd consider paying to see.  

- - - - -

We also enjoyed some of the singers who performed in the atrium.  However, some of those singers had set lists that showed off the worst of their voices, and this took away from the experience of listening to them sing.  

Food/Dining Venues:

1. Garden Cafe (Buffet) - Complimentary Restaurant.
   
   We visited the buffet for breakfast, lunch, and for snacks.  Although there were some ethic foods available, most of the available food focused on typically American staples such as Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Pizza, Carved Meats, Vegetable Dishes and Salads.  
   
   Peak times at the buffet tended to be chaotic - as is typical for most cruise ship buffets.  During peak times, it was often very hard to find a table at the buffet.  However, at non-peak times, we found it easy to find a table. 
   
   Breakfast offerings at the buffet were plentiful, and were refreshed often. However, one is not likely to find rye bread (for toasting) in the buffet (or anywhere else on the ship.)
   
   Two random things of note about the buffet: (1) I encountered a serving station that was making Caesar Salad to order.  The server was adding all ingredients to a continually chilled bowl, and tossing them.  I was able to get the salad exactly the way I enjoy it most - topped with anchovies.  (2) Although we were too late to select this, the buffet often has a soup station where one can have an udon noodle soup made to order.
   
    
2. Shanghai Noodle Bar - Complementary Restaurant (until 12/31/24):
   
   
   
   
   Although we had passed by this restaurant on prior NCL cruises, we decided to try it on this cruise because it will be an upcharge after 12/31/24.  It has two major drawbacks.  First, it is immediately adjacent to the casino, and cigarette smoke can waft in while one is trying to enjoy a meal.  Second, the place was very noisy, and it was hard to have a conversation unless one wanted to try and talk over the nearby crowd.
   
   Service in this restaurant was slow, and appetizer portion sizes are confusing. Some of the dishes are tasty, but most of them leave a bit to be desired.  Hopefully, after the new year comes, NCL will find a way to improve this venue, as it is the closest thing to an Asian sit down restaurant one will find on the ship.
   
   
3. Taste/Savor and Manhattan Dining Rooms - Complimentary Restaurants:
   
   Breakfasts - Taste/Savor Rooms.
   
   What can one say about mass produced breakfasts?  With the exception of our final morning on the ship, service was slow, and the food was acceptable.  On the final morning, my partner found that the scrambled eggs were inedible, as if they were made from a powdered mix.  Although the restaurant was willing to prepare a couple of eggs over easy for both of us, slow service prevented us from being able to eat those eggs, as our disembarkation group was called before the eggs reached our table.
   
   Lunches - Taste/Savor Rooms.
   
   Neither of us could complain about lunch at these Complementary restaurants, save that service was slow.  There were enough selections on the menu to give us meaningful dining choices, and we enjoyed what we ate.  However, it took a reminder to our waiter for my cruise partner to get her cruise card back, as we had ordered sodas with our meal.
   
   
   
   At one of our lunches, I chose to have the Bay Scallops as a starter. I found them tasty, but it was strange to be eating them out of a dish meant to serve Escargots.
   
   
   
   Next, it was the pasta dish, Spaghetti Carbonara.  This was very tasty, and I would have had a second portion had I been really hungry.
   
   
   
   Finally, dessert came.  This little chocolate treat was tasty, but not something I'd order again on the cruise, as I started to look for something lighter with which to end my meals.
   
   
   
   The one item I ordered which underwhelmed me was the Onion Soup.  It was lacking enough melted cheese to make this soup something special.  Although I didn't finish it, the soup wasn't bad.  I was simply expecting something more like the French Onion Soup from Le Bistro that I'd be eating later on in the cruise.
   
   Dinners - Taste/Savor Rooms.
   
   
   
   
   

   We had two dinners in these rooms, and the only thing that stood out was the beef.  Last time I was on NCL, the cut I had was a little tough and gristly. This time, the beef was done well, and I had no complaints with the dish.  NCL had upped its game.
   
   Given that the Savor, Taste and Manhattan dining rooms all share the same menu each day, I would recommend them to people who are not going to any of the ship's specialty restaurants that evening.
   
   
   Dinner - Manhattan Room:
   
   
   
   
   
   

   This is the one complementary venue that we dined at which had music performed in the venue.  Of all the dinners we had in the complimentary restaurants, this was the one we enjoyed most.
   
   

   
   
   

   I started my meal with the Baked Brie Salad.  Although the greenery was underwhelming, I could have easily eaten a second (or third) portion of this starter.

   
   

   

   
   

   Following this, I chose the Chicken and Shrimp Paella.  Although not as good as I've had at Spanish restaurants in NYC, it was much more than "Just Acceptable".  (The next day, we saw this dish again at the buffet, and I was tempted to have it again.)

   
   

   

   
   

   Finally, it was time for dessert, and I chose the Eclairs.  I could have easily gone for a second portion of this dessert.  But, having gained several pounds on this cruise already, I decided to err on the side of caution and say no.
   
   

   
   
4. American Diner - Complimentary Restaurant (Lunch).
   
   
   
   
   
   This restaurant was formerly a specialty restaurant on NCL's Breakaway and Breakaway+ class ships.  NCL tried to charge extra for a classic "diner experience" on these ships, but found that few people were using this venue.  They were asking: "Why would I pay extra for a cheeseburger at the American Diner, when I can get one for free at O'Sheehan's?" As a result, NCL changed course, dropping the charge to dine at this venue and removing the more expensive options (such as Lobster Rolls) from the menu.
   
   
   
   The one time we were able to eat here, the restaurant was crowded from the minute it opened at noon.  Service was noticeably slower than at the other Complementary restaurants.  My partner didn't care much for the Greek Salad she was served, while my Caesar Salad was acceptable, The cheeseburger was better than that I had at O'Sheehan's, while my partner's Pulled Pork sliders were overly sauced for my taste. 
   
   
   
   
5. O'Sheehan's - Complementary Restaurant (Lunch).
   
   O'Sheehan's is NCL's version of a pub/restaurant, where one can get both a simple meal and a drink at almost any time, as it is open almost 24 hours each day.. Dining at O'Sheehan's is an exercise in mediocrity at best.  None of the dishes are exciting, but they are things you'd eat in a pinch, when nothing better is available.  However, you will likely be waiting until lunch time to get your breakfast order.  (Yes, I am exaggerating here.  But service is very slow at O'Sheehan's.)
   
   We chose to eat here once for lunch.  Although my partner's chicken wings were tasty, my cheeseburger was forgettable.  Yet, if we had the craving for something to eat at 2 am, this would be the place to go to on the ship.  But don't expect anything elegant.  The cheeseburger and fries I had ordered were served in a metal framed basket similar to which one would put those fries into a fryer for cooking.  If I had wanted to slice the burger in half for ease of consumption, this basket would have made it difficult at best to do so.
   
   Another thing of note: I had ordered the Caesar Salad at O'Sheehan's as part of this meal.  And with the exception of the shavings of cheese on top of the salad, it was forgettable.  I found that the freshly tossed Caesar Salad I noticed at the buffet one day was much better than this, as it included the option of having anchovies in the salad.
   
   
   
6. Le Bistro - Specialty Restaurant (Dinner):
   
   
   
   
   Le Bistro is NCL's version of a French restaurant.  They are successful in making it possible to dine in an elegant, yet cozy environment, even though they are located off the "678" main pedestrian thoroughfare on the ship. Table seating is available both inside and outside the restaurant, though I don't recall seeing anyone outside when we were there.
   
   Normally, we would not try to eat at this restaurant more than once per cruise, as the food is deceptively rich.  On this trip, we ate here twice, as we couldn't make reservations for my two extra specialty dinners I get because of my loyalty status until we were on the ship.
   
   
   
   
   

   For our first meal, I chose the Escargots and the Onion Soup.  Both were tasty as I expected.  If all onion soups were this good, I'd be going out for onion soup every day.
   
   

   

   
   
   Then came the the main course, Coq au Vin.  Yum!  With this being said, I ordered this because it was something I wouldn't order on land.  It was a special treat that I'd have only once in a blue moon.
   
   Following this came dessert. the poached pear.  Sadly, I forgot to take a photo of this dish before ruining its appearance.  This dish would have been much better if a warm pear had been served over ice cream.  Instead, the pear seemed to have just come out of a freezer.  Although I enjoyed it, I would choose something else the next time I visited the place.
   
   
   
   
   
   

   The second time that we ate at Le Bistro, I ordered something different - the Mushroom Soup.  The presentation was perfect, and yet I felt there was something missing in the soup itself.  Would I order it again?  Maybe.  But with a great French Onion Soup available, why shouldn't I have the best soup on the menu.
   
   

   

   
   

   
   

   Next was the main course, the beef tenderloin.  Needless to say this steak was cooked to perfection, and one could almost cut it with a fork.  Yum!
   
   

   

   
   

   And finally came dessert.  This strawberry angel food cake concoction was just what the doctor may have ordered - it was light, airy, and full of flavor.  I would definitely order this dish again.
   
   One last thing of note: Our waiter was very knowledgeable about wines.  He told us of wines from his home country (and others), and how both the weather and the terrain affected the wines produced in these countries.  His advice in what wine to select for our meals was perfect, and I hope to see him on future cruises on this ship.

   
   
   
   
7. Moderna - Specialty Restaurant (Dinner):
   
   
   
   
   

   Both Moderna and Cagney's restaurants are in the back of the ship at the end of the "678 Corridor" on the 8th floor, located above the complementary Manhattan dining room. Moderna is to the starboard side of the ship, while Cagney's is to port.  Both are great places to dine. On another cruise, we might have selected Cagney's for our Neanderthal Carnivore fix, as each is an excellent restaurant..  Both are decorated in wood tones, with Moderna having a mid-late 20th century feel to the place.
   
   Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures of the food being served here.  This is one of my go-to places onboard an NCL ship, as I am a devout Carnivore.  It is as good as any Churrascaria (Brazilian BBQ) I've eaten at on land, and I try to make it to this place at least once on any NCL cruise I take.
   
   This time around, I found that the salad bar lacked some of its former appeal, as I felt that it lacked a tiny bit in variety from the last time I was on an NCL ship.  However, the meats brought to the table more than made up for what might have been lacking in the salad bar.  They all were perfectly done, and I only wish I could have eaten more at this sitting.
   
   

   
   
8. La Cucina - Specialty Restaurant (Dinner):
   
   
   
   
   
   Like Le Bistro, this is another specialty restaurant on the "678 Corridor." Unlike its French cousin, this restaurant also has true outdoor seating available, off the promenade deck of the ship. (This must have been a perfect place to eat when the ship was docked in Bermuda.)  It was just as cozy as Le Bistro, albeit in its own unique way.
   
   This is the one restaurant I felt that I would be underwhelmed by from the moment we made reservations for it. This is not because the quality of the place was not top notch.  Instead, it's because we have a surplus of good (or great) Italian restaurants in the New York City region.
   
   
   

   

   
   We started with Calamari.  This dish was prepared well, as the rings were tender, but not rubbery.  They were a pleasure to eat, and something I'll have again if I eat at this restaurant.
   
   

   

   
   

   Next came the house salad.  It was tasty, but forgettable at the same time.
   
   
   
   
   

   Then the main course arrived, Osso Buco. This was a pleasure, as the meat was falling off the bone.  The gravy made the polenta that the beef was served on a much better accompaniment to the meat than I'd have expected.

   
   

   
   
   Finally, the dessert came - Cannoli.  I'm always a sucker for good Cannoli, and this serving did not disappoint. If I had thought ahead, I'd have asked for two.  But then, I'd be a size larger after each cruise if I did so.
   
   One thing of note: La Cucina also serves individual sized pizzas.  This could be an excellent value proposition for those not on the dining plan who want a good pizza while on the ship.
   
   
   

Debarkation:

1. I'm glad that we didn't have to catch a flight to get home.  Our ship returned to New York on the day of the NYC Marathon. Given that I have NCL Platinum loyalty status, we were able to get ourselves assigned to an early debarkation group.  
   
   
2. Unlike some of our cruises, it was easy to find our luggage in the Manhattan cruise terminal.  Each debarkation group is assigned a unique color, and our luggage was easy to find in the area dedicated to the Yellow group.
   
   
3. Unlike some returns from previous cruises, we noticed NYC TLC (Taxi & Limousine Commission) Police monitoring the taxi stand across from the terminal.  Their presence may have inhibited some cab drivers from only accepting fares for airport trips. This made it easier for us to catch a cab to Grand Central Terminal at 8:30 am.
   
   

Miscellaneous:

1. Although NCL offers shore excursions in Bermuda, we felt that the price/value equation wasn't good enough for us to take their excursions, as we had been in Bermuda 4 weeks earlier.  We knew enough about the archipelago from prior trips to take advantage of NCL's ferry to St. George (for sightseeing there) and to visit the Bermuda Museum (within walking distance of the pier).
   
   
2. Unlike many Caribbean ports, Bermuda is a relaxing experience.  Although there are people at the pier trying to sell you guided tours and shuttles to beaches, the locals tend to leave tourists alone unless they need assistance.
   
   
3. NCL charters its own ferry to take people from the Dockyards area to St. George.  This free ferry service saves both time and money for people wishing to visit the other side of Bermuda, as it avoids having to connect through Hamilton, the Capital of Bermuda.
         
4. Unlike some other cruise lines, NCL serves fountain soda at its bars.  This means that one not take a couple of cans of soda back to the room to be enjoyed later on in the evening.  At $3.50 per glass (if one is not on a drink package), one is getting less than half the amount of soda in a serving than had one been given a full can.
   
   
5. Unlike some other cruise lines, NCL has changed its staffing, so that room attendants come in once per day to service the room.  This means that you might not have your room serviced (as happened to us) if the room is not available to the attendant during his/her shift.  However, one can always call the hotel staff desk to get attendant service at other times.
   
   
6. Unlike another cruise line that does 7-day Bermuda sailings, customers with specialty restaurant dining packages (such as provided in the Free At Sea/More At Sea promotions) may select food items from almost all of the menu for that restaurant without up-charges.
   
   
7. The "678 Corridor" may be on decks 6, 7 and 8.  But it doesn't affect the intimate feel of the restaurants we dined at.  However, given the location of the ship's seafood restaurant near the casino area, it is possible that the ambiance of the restaurant might be affected by the noise coming from outside.  That is something I'll have to check out in a future cruise on this ship.

Conclusion:

On the whole, I consider NCL a good value for the price charged. However, it no longer provides as much "Bang per Buck" as NCL provided before the pandemic.