Nolanoel

4 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

They’re both good....in different ways.  I like the Top Sail Lounge better than the Haven Bar.  Concierges are much better on NCL than MSC.  There’s no planning needed with NCL Concierges.  MSC concierge will make reservations, but if they aren’t available at the time or date you want, there’s nothing they can/will do.  NCL Concierges seem to be able to get you into any restaurant or any show, any day or any time, even if sold out.  Same goes for any of the shows.

 

I much preferred NCL entertainment over MSC. That’s objective.  But, I was familiar with the shows NCL offered.  The entertainment on MSC was more generic.  Talent was good on both, though.

 

Butler service on both is similar (both good).  I liked the Haven Restaurant over MSC’s Le Muse.

 

When MSC YC was less expensive than NCL Haven (when I booked them), it was worthwhile.  Now, they’re priced similarly, I’d choose NCL Haven.

 

The only caveat....I’d choose MSC over NCL in the Mediterranean (was in the YC sailing on Meriviglia).

 

Clear as mud? 😉

LOL!!  Actually very clear!  I appreciate the objective review.  Those NCL concierges sure are special!  They make magic happen!   

2 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Sailed Havens on the “Away” ships to both Bermuda and Caribbean.  The price you quote is right in line with what I’ve paid.  Actually, I paid a little less than that once.

 

But, I also got a lot of OBC to go along with the Haven making the net price very close to a regular balcony cabin.

Since you have done multiple Havens and MSC....how do they compare?  Would love to know.

2 hours ago, Mike D. said:

Thanks for that picture!   That would certainly wreck the area for me.  

 

My one Haven experience was on the Breakaway in January for 11 days.  On that voyage I believe there were (maybe) 8 children in the whole Haven, 5 of them in one family and super well behaved.  I think that good experience was about the time of year and the duration of the cruise which would probably discourage the participation of many children.  So the Haven pool area was always nice and quiet.

 

My usual place to hangout during the day is the Thermal Suite and having Haven privileges didn't change that.  The Haven pool is (IMHO) pretty silly with its limited depth and weird couches in the middle of the water.  Did we sit out there a few times?  Yes.  Pleasant place to read a book?  Yes.  

 

I'll disagree about the Haven restaurant.  I found the service and food to be very good+.  Would I like more variety in the dinner menu...yes!  I understand that "in the good old days" any item like on any restaurant menu could be ordered.  That would be nice but I was still quite pleased.

Hey Mike....I think we were on the same Breakaway cruise - we did 11 day Jan. 6th out of NOLA and  I didn't see any kids at all.  I agree with you....the Haven pools are strange...I never saw anyone using them.  I loved the Haven restaurant - only did one dinner there but enjoyed lunch and breakfast every sea day.  Very good experience.  Wish I was still there.  

13 hours ago, BNBR said:

 

I can only speak for myself, as someone who can easily afford $15k for a vacation.  I wouldn't even consider a line like Regent.  I think Celebrity was a bit too boring, Regent I couldn't even imagine!  The draw of the Haven for us was having a FUN mass market ship with the escape of a  "ship within a ship" option that was more upscale and exclusive.  However, we didn't feel the Haven delivered on that goal, mostly because they don't restrict ages.  The Haven was completely overrun by kids on our sailing and it made it anything but the shang ri la that is advertised.  And since we weren't getting that experience, it made the value of booking the Haven very little. I'd go with another poster who said $300/pp or so.

 

I would probably be ok with $500/pp extra and that's it.  However, they charge MUCH more than that and simply don't deliver the experience they advertise.  So as someone who is in the income range that would be their target market, they didn't win me over.  I like the concept, a LOT, of a ship within a ship, but NCL needs to do it much better to justify the prices they are demanding.  The value isn't there and we get a much better experience with other lines in regular cabins than the Haven can offer, and for a fraction of the cost.

I have never had an issue with kids in the Haven....how many times have you actually sailed in the Haven?  And what time of year?  I tend to sail Jan and Dec after Thanksgiving.....no kids at all!  The deal is that if you are going on a "fun ship"  - there will be kids. I can empathize with your frustration over not getting the experience you had hoped for - however, it is entirely possible you just went at a bad time of the year.  I am doing a family cruise Thanksgiving week....not staying in the Haven!  I know there will be tons of kids and nobody in my traveling party is doing the Haven...so it would be a huge waste of money for me.  For me...the cruising draw is that everything is taken care of - meals, cleaning my room, DRINKS!  LOL  I am good with no entertainment (I think the entertainment is so so anyway).  I don't need a go cart or laser tag (do like the slides....BTW....I have never stood in line for the slides - no kids - booking at the right time of year!)  The only problem I have with Regent is that I don't want to have to dress up all the time.  Other than that would love to have the bucks to drop on it...at least once!!

4 hours ago, cruisingnewtoit said:

Not in the tip pool. meaning they get no tips from anywhere. I hope they get paid a lot more than other staff positions.

Not my business.   I tip them separately and am fine with it.  I tip what I feel is fare based on the number of people in my suite and what I ask them to do. They are not in the tip pool does not equal they get no tips.   It means that they are not in the tip pool that everyone pays.  So if you aren't sailing in a suite or Haven you aren't subsidizing the people who are only serving those of us in suites/haven. 

12 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

Every opinion counts but I would counter the point that people traveling in the Haven don't care about the cost.  Nothing could be further from the truth in my world.  I am booked in the Haven on Encore but I booked 1.6 years prior to sailing in order to make the payments.  I did get a steal on an Epic Haven once but her inaugural year, I paid an outrageous amount for a penthouse.  Its like people who drive very expensive cars and you scratch your head how they can afford it.  Yes there are people in the Haven who have no financial concerns in the world.  And YES, there are people like me who are blue collar and middle class who sacrifice to book those kinds of cabins especially today.  I do agree with the huge increase in prices, the Haven has lost much of its shine and bang for the buck. 

Amen buddy!  That's me too.  I save for my Haven trips.

1 hour ago, Minoushka said:

On my last cruise on Dawn we met a couple in a suite like Haven whose butler because they asked what he expected as a tip told them something between 250-500$ for the cruise over and above gratuities and tips to concierge etc .

they said he never did anything special for  them ...nor did they ask for  anything .....to me that amount was outrageous plus they paid the upgrade to the suite ....the whole thing was very expensive ..iMO not worth it 

they asked me if they could refuse the service of the butler ...I did not know 

i.m perfectly content with balcony no butler 

is the amount above accurate ?do they really expect that kind of money ?it seems excessive to me 

who has experience ?

I have sailed in suites on the Dawn many times.  Also sailed Haven.  Never given that kind of money as a tip.  The butler and concierge are not in the tip pool; however, you tip them in line with how much you ask of them.  I used my last concierge in the Haven a ton - he was great.  My butler only brought treats and took care of my coffee.  I tipped both - more to the concierge.....but nowhere near that amount.  

11 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

For some, it is. Everyone is different.

As noted, ship choice (even stateroom choice) makes a difference.

 

 

Agree.  So many generalizations here.  It really is just a matter of preference.  If you find value in a pot of hot chocolate, larger room, separate rooms, fewer people, etc.  then the Haven is worth every dime  - to you.  If you don't care much about room location, size, waiting in line, etc....you will see it as a poor value.  At the end of the day - people who are willing to spend 15k on a vacation and not blink an eye probably aren't on an NCL ship anyway.  I have never come close to spending that on an NCL ship (for 3 passengers)...If I could pay that I would probably be looking at another line - like Regent where even shore excursions are covered.  The OP's original question asking how much is it worth - so hard to answer - 5 pages of responses proves that.  It's an individual preference.  

11 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

OK, that was my understanding.

 

So the difference is really the extended menu, rather than the room service fee.

Yes sort of...in 2015 it only applied to certain items and certain times.  Now it's on everything except the coffee and certain pastries in the morning.  If you want a hot breakfast it will cost you.

They started it on some requests back in 2015. Now it's a flat 7.95 charge for everything except continental breakfast and coffee.

8 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

I didn’t think they charged the room service fee for breakfast for anyone?

They changed that....it's like a flat fee.  

Hell yes it feels good....but doesn't make me feel better than anyone else.  Just happy to skip the lines.  LOL  Good to hear about Royal.  Not sailed with them before.  Both my husband and I feel that the size of the room is what is of paramount importance to us....so with any line I end up looking at suites just for the extra space.  We do spend time in our room - people who don't have no desire for that extra square footage.  Like you say BNBR - it takes a while to figure out what you really want out of a cruise.  Pricing on MSC is driving me toward making them my next try - suites and drinks for appreciably less than NCL has.  

2 minutes ago, cruisingnewtoit said:

BTW my DH would book the Haven because it's exclusive & he would want to feel important. Lol he would freely admit that. It's a factor but not a main reason we would try it.

 

I could care less about those reasons. I probably wouldn't tell anyone we were staying there. 

 

Now others will think my DH is being ridiculous and that's ok. I sort of agree with them 🙄

I never tell anyone I am staying there.  LOL  

I accept that you didn't say it in the spirit that I took your comment.  Maybe I took it that way because I don't book to feel exclusive or important.  I book to have more space, better coffee, less time in lines, etc..  I take every other cruise in a suite or in the haven for that.  I pretty much have had good experiences with and without being in an "exclusive" area.  It sounds like your experience in the Haven stunk - that is no fun - to spend that much and not get what you were expecting.  Anyway....peace - cruising is better than land no matter what stateroom you are in!!  🙂

Just now, BNBR said:

 

I don't think that's rude.  That's literally what the product is.  They sell it as an exclusive retreat.  This isn't some sort of uncommon practice in marketing and it's odd that it offends you so much.  It's just what it is.  That's the product.

Ok, if you say so.  So, since you felt that the Haven was so overrated - is that because it didn't make you feel as important or exclusive as you had wanted?  Just wondering if that is why you booked the Haven and why you book Celebrity....the need to feel important and exclusive.

3 minutes ago, BNBR said:

 

Agreed.  The Haven does have some value, but what they are asking for it nowadays is ridiculous.  I haven't tried MSC yet, but a lot of people swear by the YC and the videos make it look like a great product and far superior to the Haven.

Absolutely want to try MSC.  The prices are tons better - and I understand they will match your Latitudes level.  

Just now, BNBR said:

 

This is literally a thread discussing the value of the Haven.  I gave my opinion and thoughts and now your response is "it's not anyones business"... Ok.

 

If having a discussion with differing viewpoints offends you so much, then why are you participating in exactly that?  It's fine, you like the product, you shared your experience and thoughts.  I have done the same.  No reason to get upset about it.

I totally agree with you.  Sharing opinions is great.  What's important to me can be different than what's important to you.  I take issue with this comment from you:

"The Haven is a massively overpriced product that people only like because of their desire to feel exclusive and important. "

You aren't stating why you don't like the Haven - you are insulting people who do and assuming that they do it to feel exclusive and important.  That's rude. 

Wow! That's a gross generalization! I don't feel the need stay in the haven to feel important or exclusive myself.  I like so many factors of the haven.....but making me feel important isn't even in the running.   This type of response is just unnecessary.  People choose what's important to them.   I don't get the rationale behind insulting people who choose to stay in the Haven anymore than judging people who stay out of the Haven.  I took a Jan cruise Haven and have a Nov one booked in a balcony.   So what? Had fun in Jan and plan to have fun in Nov.  I have no idea why anyone's vacation choices are anybody else's business.   

17 minutes ago, sverigecruiser said:

 

When we have ordered breakfast in suites we have hang the menu on the door. A butler brings it but except for that it's not a big difference.

Bummer! Try calling it in next time.  It's a difference with a good butler and a nice pot of French press coffee:)

17 minutes ago, BNBR said:

 

And pay $2000 more for the room.  What a deal!

LOL!!  I think it is more about a combination of perks that add up to deciding about Haven vs non-Haven.  I am sure nobody books to save the room service charge.  Room service is quite a bit nicer when your butler brings it then when you hang the overnight menu on the door...js

The limo service is only for Garden Villa guests - so that is not really a Haven benefit.

The mini bar is not free.

The beds, bathrooms, bath products and linens are great.  The bathrobes are heaven.

Skipping the lines - priceless.  LOL  

Priority reservations mean you can basically decide that day or evening where you want to go and the concierge will get you in.

The cocktail parties are so-so (wine, beer, and rum punch).

Most everything else you listed is why I sail Haven.  

It's most certainly a personal choice.  

Nice list!!  

1 minute ago, amelia3171 said:

My other Haven concern, perhaps misplaced, is getting “stuck” with other cruisers. We love chatting to folk but do not want to spend time with the same people the whole cruise. 

It's not that small.  You can leave the area - and will for shows, dinners, etc.  There are also a number of Haven suites (spa, aft, etc. ) that are not in the actual Haven.  I understand where you are coming from but I never had it happen that I was stuck with only the same people all week.

People have flat out gone nuts since the bidding stuff started.  They bid too much, change their bids 50 million times and obsess over it for up to 78 days.  It is a game that usually only NCL wins.  That aside, the other aspect of the bidding has been a trend of questioning whether or not it is changing the make-up of the Haven.  I have seen this so much - it is really disturbing.  I don't understand where this is coming from.  The Haven is a splurge and has always been a splurge for the majority of people who sail in it.  Prior to the bidding - there was an upgrade department.  Same thing - people actually got in for cheaper using upgrade than using the bidding system.  So guess what?  If you think the "class" of people in the Haven has declined since the implementation of the Upgrade Advantage - think again.  If you haven't sailed Haven before  - be aware there is a bit of reverse snobbery from non-haven cruisers.  I have been shot dirty looks and had people make unpleasant comments to me as I have embarked, disembarked and other places where I was outted as a Haven person.  Please understand that all these comments are based on my experience - I am not saying all people do these things!

I have sailed Haven and non-haven.  I adore the Haven and would sail it every cruise if possible.  The only time I regretted the Haven sail was when we had friends who were not in the Haven.  I felt like I wasn't using it as much as I would have liked....considering the cost.  I can't tell you how much I would say it is worth to me....or to you.  It is a very personal choice.  I know there are lots of folks who state that they would rather cruise more often and stay in a regular room - and others that would rather Haven it and cruise less.  Both opinions are valid and reasonable.  I am in between.  I want to sail every week in the Haven - just not able to - lol.  Favorite things:  1.  Room size!!  We did a 9 day BA Alaskan cruise last year and we were bumping into each other the whole time.  LOL  2.  Embarkation - a breeze with Haven.  Escorted on the ship quickly!  3.  The sliders and fries in the lounge when you board - yummy!  4.  The in room dining - no charge.  5.  The ship within a ship concept.  I don't like crowds.  6.  The concierge gets you any reservation, anytime, anywhere.  7.  The Haven bar and restaurant.  8.  Not as many extra charges (sheesh for what you pay you should get more!).  - no fees for room service, movies, snacks in your room  9.  COFFEE!!!  You have a nespresso in the room and you can get french press too.    In any case - love it!  I do think that if it's in your budget it is defiantly worth it at least once!!  

After glancing through this thread, it amused me that no one even offered an explanation the difference between Spice H2O and the Vibe, which is the real reason the Vibe costs money while H2O is free.

 

Vibe is an adult only sanctuary offering padded and towel covered loungers which are comfortable, whereas H2O offers just plain loungers but also offers an adult only sanctuary away from the main pool area.

The second post actually answered all the questions posed by the OP. The "hijacker" had a relevant question and the whole thing rose up because I searched for peeps opinions on Spice vs. H2o and this had some good info. I also feel there isn't necessarily a limitation on standing up for someone who didn't do anything wrong......I am sorry - is there a time limit at which point we should archive a thread and are prohibited from responding? LOL