Russiamomm

Yup. Me too. I’ve even gotten it on “comped” cruises from CAS. I’ve never heard of anyone being denied as long as they have the proof of ownership. The only glitch I’ve had was providing a brokerage statement dated more than 90 days prior to the date of submission of the request. I had just used the same redacted statement I used for a previous crUise. All I had to do was print and redact a current statement and email it back. The OBC posted within 24 hours.

https://maketraveleasier.com/PortValet Easy, peasy. 😃

We booked it in advance. I’ve heard that sometimes the service “sells out” and is not available to sign up onboard.

I’d happily take another 10% off a Haven cabin, but my guy told me he couldn’t do anything for me for the Haven. I think it depends on your play and maybe your affiliations. I regularly get “free” insides and 20% of any room I want except for the Haven. Just reporting my experience. I’ve been booking through CAS for several years, even though I’m not a heavy gambler.

Yes. You can cancel and rebid any time before the bid is accepted.

On the Casinos at Sea issue, I always book through them. Maybe I just don’t gamble enough, but my guy has always told me he can’t discount a Haven cabin. 😢

Yup! We’re in a 2BR for that sailing. After the military discount, a 20% off coupon and three CruiseNexts were paying $237 pp/pn, including all perks and the DSC. It’s dropped another $400 since our final payment. There’s still more than a dozen 2BRs left so I’m hoping it will drop again and I will ask for FCC for the difference. I do believe this is the best deal I’ve ever had, and likely will. 😃

We were on that. So disappointed to miss Bermuda. We never got off the ship. We’ve done those ports multiple times. Yesterday was quite the adventure headed back North! I have to say that I was not impressed with CCL, though. The entire time I missed NCL. 😔. Luckily I’ll be back “home” on the Encore next month.

Great deals on the Epic TA out of Rome on December 1. 16 nights to Cape Canaveral. Lots of Haven cabins still available starting around $3400 a person. We got a 2BR suite. Between the 10% military discount and an additional 20% coupon I had for European sailings we got a great deal, paying less than 8k all in, including gratuities and all perks. Prices are continuing to fall. We got two price reductions before final payment. Prices have dropped once more since then. We’re holding off, but will try for an additional FCC when I think the prices have reached a bottom.

I believe the only “dress code” is in LebBistro and the Manhattan Room (or whatever they call the MDR on different ships. Men must wear long pants. It can be jeans, just no shorts.

Definitely too close for comfort. Anything after noon should be fine, but 10AM is too early.

We were on a 16 night TA in April. There were nightly dinner specials, but that didn’t start until around a week into the cruise. Worked for us. Just about the point in the cruise where we were looking for something different. That being said, we never tired of the menu. There’s enough of a variety to keep you interested, and they will switch it up if you ask.

One of my old bosses called them “Subject Matter Enthusiasts” (as opposed to Subject Matter Experts”.) Being in a regulated industry, he called them the most dangerous people in the company. 😂

Is there still a smoking area in the Posh? I know there used to be one on the top level, but thought I read somewhere that they got rid of it.

We’re on that trip. Also in a 2BR! Can’t wait!

Haven went to live bidding on my April transatlantic. We put in a few bids and were immediately notified that we’d been outbid. We gave up and resolved ourselves to the fact that we weren’t going to be in the Haven. Just got too rich for us. Lo and behold, five days before sailing we got notice that our latest bid was accepted. We ended up in our preferred room, the 2 BR Haven. So all is not lost if it goes to live bidding. There is still hope as long as you don’t cancel the bid altogether. Some of it is luck. I know from the FB group that a family had to cancel the week before the trip, opening up another 2BR. While I feel for them and their family, it got us into the Haven for 16 nights for a reasonable amount of money,

Right there with you! My mother could squeeze a dime until it screamed, she thought me well. Although I can now afford not to, I still shop the specials at the grocery stores and buy most of my clothes at WalMart, Costco or thrift stores. Our kids tease me about it. But I like to think that years of being careful with our money has paid off. We can now afford to spend what we’ve saved on the things that really matter. Helping out the kids, spoiling our grandson and cruising well and often. 😂. And I hear you on the airfares! I remember the days you could upgrade to first class on an international flight for 15,000 miles. Those days are long gone. (I’m still too cheap to pay outright for first class air.)

I agree. We’ve worked hard our entire lives to be able to afford this. It’s only in recent years we’ve been able to afford to travel in anything other than coach. I don’t feel guilty, but do continue to feel awkward sometimes. 😃

Yes. Using a small plastic bag like a laundry bag from a hotel to line it also works well,

I agree on the walking past the lines, but sometimes it can’t be avoided. We were in a 2BR Haven last September on the Joy. The line to clear immigration in Portland literally spanned the length of the ship. We were walked past the entire line to cut in front of everyone to speak with the DHS agent. We got some smirks and heard some nasty comments, but the ship was not in a position to have a separate Haven exit to clear immigration. On the comment you got, there are no words. It reminds me of being avoided at a BMW dealer a few years back. Apparently based solely on my cut off jeans and a t-shirt they didn’t think I was able to afford the car and totally ignored me. After 20 minutes I took myself to the Audi dealer. They treated me like a queen. I wrote them a check for the car that same day. 😂

I’m afraid your status won’t apply until after your current trip. I was in the same situation last year. I was one night from Platinum when I boarded. I asked, but they do not elevate your status until the cruise is completed.

Sorry, drinks do not come with a Haven cabin. The same rules apply as anywhere else on the ship. You have to have a package or pay by the drink.

Agreed. Cash is best to avoid the service fee. There is also an ATM in the casino. It charges $5.99 for a withdrawal. Your bank may tack on an additional charge. Since my bank reimburses ATM charges, this is usually how I do it.

Nope. Very disappointing. It also doesn’t have the nice cabanas that the Joy has. Still plenty of umbrellas, etc, but I really liked my cabana on the Joy. Again, I would do the BA Haven again, but definitely preferred the Joy, for a number of reasons.

There is definitely still twice a day service in the Haven. I actually look at it as constant service between the steward and the Butler. Almost too much service. In my three times in the Haven, it was rare to walk down the hall without one of them being there and asking if we needed anything. 😂. as far as making up the bed, just let your steward know your preference. I travel often with a girlfriend. She prefers to just keep the bed made up in the second bedroom so it’s ready for a nap whenever she felt like one. 😃. But they will turn it back into a sofa, just need to ask.