Breakaway to welcome new celebrity chefs

It’s just nine days until the Norwegian Breakaway departs New York and heads to Bermuda on its inaugural cruise.

It’s a big deal for Norwegian Cruise Lines and it’s a big deal for Bermuda.

The Breakaway offers several innovations that not only other ships in the Norwegian family don’t have, but other ships on other lines as well. 

I’ve written about these before but it’s good to have a refresher ahead of the Breakaway’s May 15 arrival at Heritage Wharf in Dockyard.

I’ve always loved the food on board NCL’s ships and, of the five cruise lines I have been on, they are my favourite.

But they have gone and upped the ante by adding several restaurants by Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian. He will board the ship next week in when it finishes its transatlantic crossing from Southampton.

His main restaurant on the Breakaway will be Ocean Blue.

But he’ll also have the Raw Bar which will focus on oysters in a half shell, clams and other seafood items.

His third restaurant will be Ocean on the Waterfront.  This will be located on what might be called eatery row on the Breakaway. Norwegian has placed several restaurants On Deck 8 overlooking the water. Guests will find a variety of Chef Zakarian’s favourite seafood eats. 

Deck 8 also has Norwegian’s signature Cagney’s Steakhouse. Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse), La Cucina Italian Restaurant, Wasabi Sushi Bar, and Dolce
Gelato. It also has Carlo’s Bake Shop, which is overseen by the Cake Boss himself, Buddy Valastro. The TV star is also opening his first eatery at sea. It will feature the famous cookies, cakes and pastries he is
renowned for. 

Chef Valastro will also join the ship next week  when it gets into New York.

If you haven’t started gaining calories from all those choices, the Breakaway isn’t done with its dining options.

The ship has Le Bistro French Restaurant, Spiegel Tent, authentic Japanese cuisine at Teppanyaki and Shanghai’s Chinese
Noodle Bar.

The ship also offers a Chef’s Table in which guests will enjoy an intimate nine-course gourmet meal, which is accompanied by pairings from a master sommelier.

And we’re not done yet.

There’s also a pizza house, which is open 24/7, the Café at the Atrium, the main dining room, O’Sheehan’s Neighbourhood Bar & Grill (also open 24/7), the Studio Lounge (for singles only staying in the Studio cabins), Garden Café, Uptown Bar & Grill, and two restaurants reserved for guests of the Haven cabins.

That’s 23 places to eat — you could eat a meal in a restaurant every day on a week’s cruise and still not work your way through them.

In addition, there are 16 other places you can get a drink at.

One of the more popular is sure to be the Svedka Inniskillian Ice bar. The room is kept at 17 degrees Fahrenheit and cruisers are given parkas to wear inside the ice bar as you enjoy your vodka.

There is also a Maltings Beer & Whisky Bar. You’ll be able to drink your way around the world with its wide variety of beers.

Shakers Cocktail Bar is located on Deck 8 so you’ll be able to order your martini and then sit out on the deck and watch with the ocean as your backdrop.

Next week: What to do on the Breakaway