economie

I booked a ‘family’ room on my Norwegian cruise. It was perfect for 3 people and saved us money.

October 9, 20240
Norwegian Breakaway is big, with water slides and a ropes course, but it doesn’t have flashy amenities like a race car track.

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Our reservations came with Norwegian’s fan-favorite “More at Sea,” which covered the cabin, the drink package, 150 minutes of free Starlink WiFi for two people, one free specialty dining for two people, and $50 off excursions for one person.

The third guest in our cabin cruised for free, thanks to a special promotion.

The oceanview family room saved us money.
Curtains could cover the window port.

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Our cabin measured 218 square feet, according to Norwegian.

With only three people, we didn’t feel like we were on top of each other and had enough foot space to easily navigate around luggage, beds, and other clutter.

The room boasted a grey, white, and purple color palette, which we found boring but not a total eyesore.

The decor was basic compared to newer ships.
The author’s husband posing for scale.

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We chose this specific cabin type because of the curtain that separates the room. My husband and I slept on the main bed while my mom took the sofa bed.

The curtain provided privacy for changing and sleeping. This was a perfect setup since we all three already live together in our normal lives.

Other oceanview rooms on Breakaway don’t have the curtain.

The sofa bed was more of an oversized twin.
The main bed could be split into two twins or combined into a queen.

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We noticed the main bed was very plush and soft. However, the sofa bed had a harder surface. My mom didn’t mind but said it started getting old after night five.

She and my husband switched beds some nights to give her the soft one — problem solved!

The pullman bed looked miserable.
It was impossible to avoid having clutter around the space.

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The television could swivel between to face both sides of the curtain but was on the side closest to the window.

The vanity was also on the window, giving my mom plenty of space to do her makeup while my husband and I used the bathroom mirror to get ready.

Outlets and charging ports were minimal.
The storage space available, including the extra closet (top left).

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My mom’s side of the room had its own closet, albeit smaller than the one by the main bed. However, there was more than enough space for all of our hanging clothes and shoes.

There were also shelves throughout the cabin, as well as cabinets under the vanity for extra storage. To optimize space, we unpacked and put our suitcases under the main bed.

Guests can take advantage of the safe and refrigerator.
The bathroom had enough tabletop space and hooks to hang towels.

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Some cruise cabins can have a painfully small bathroom, but Breakaway’s family oceanview boasted dual sinks and a shower/tub combo.

This proved to be more than enough space. The shower came with shampoo and body wash included.

Guests can opt out of housekeeping.
The separate sleeping area with the sofa bed was the selling point for my family.

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Despite the minimal charging ports, my family of three loved our cabin. My mom thought her separate cabin space was spacious and private, though extra padding on the sofa bed would be preferable.

Any more than three adults (or even two adults and two kids) would be pushing the cabin’s comfort limits. There is only so much closet and foot space, and four to five people plus luggage would be extremely cramped.

Granted, many cruisers don’t care about cabin space if it’s cheap, and I can see cramming five people into the oceanview family room as a good money-saving option. Just prepare to fight for space.