Russiamomm

Yes, they have sushi on the salad bar. I don’t remember exactly what kinds, but it is there. I travel often with a friend who doesn’t eat meat (she does eat seafood), but she loves Moderno. The salad bar is great. Also, if you make arrangements in advance, they will bring a you a piece of broiled salmon. We did that twice.

Oh, and one more thing. I always book through CAS. Sometimes on a comp, sometimes on a discount, and sometimes with no discount (i.e. I booked a Haven cabin outright and they could not discount it.). In all cases except one I’ve had the drink card waiting in the cabin. The one time it wasn’t was when I was upgraded the night before the second leg of a B2B. I think they simply couldn’t find me. 😂. When the casino opened, I just went to the host desk and they gave me the card. bottom line, I believe all bookings made through CAS get the drink card, regardless of whether it’s a comp, a discount or full fare.

This has always been my experience. I usually get the drink package. In those cases, you don’t need the drink card unless you’re ordering something that’s not included in the package, like bottled water or a fancy coffee. In those cases you had to show the card. The bartender rang it up and then input some kind of code so there is no charge. On the one cruise I did without the drink package I had to show the drink card each time until they got to know me and then they didn’t ask for it. But I always carried it with me in case there was a new server or bartender who didn’t know me (yet!).

I don’t know if they’re being phased out, but I always wondered why the “spa” cabins always seem to be so much more expensive than booking a regular cabin and buying a spa pass. That’s the way I’ve always done it. What am I missing? Why pay more a cabin of you can purchase a la carte for less?

We were on the Breakaway in the Haven for a 16 night TA in April. They did have one or two specials almost every night for dinner. They were quite good. Also keep in mind that the Haven restaurant is very flexible. They will mix and match, customize, etc. you can also request from another restaurant, but may have to work that out in advance.

Thanks for the response. You will have a fabulous time. I’ve been in the Haven on the Joy twice and once on the Breakaway. Some day I hope to get on one of the new ships. I’m envious! On the food, you are right. The food in the Haven restaurant cannot be beat, but it is nice to “mix it up” with other restaurants. We’re on a 16 night Transatlantic in December - also in the Haven. We have five specialty meals between the FAS and the Platinum dinners. We will use them all. We always save at least one for the sushi bar. 😃 Enjoy every minute. And remember you can order as many lobster tails as you want in the Haven restaurant! And they are very good. 😃

The concierge has some pull, but can’t perform miracles. They will do their best to accommodate any reasonable request. I’ve never been on the Prima. I don’t know if they even have a Syds. Syd Normans does not take reservations. When I was on the Breakaway, the concierge did escort us down to Syds before they opened the doors and we were able to get great seats, but that’s not guaranteed. As far as shows in the main theater, there is a section for Haven guests and you will be escorted to them. You meet in the Haven lounge and the concierge will take you there via the service elevators. On the dining, the concierge will most likely be able to get you into whatever restaurant you want at the time you want. But you probably have to wait until you board to make those arrangements. I'm afraid I hear a bit of anger in your comments. Why is that? The Haven is fabulous. But yes, it is pricey, and there are things that you have to pay in addition to the base fare and FAS gratuities, such as the DSC and gratuities for the butler and concierge. It goes with the territory. It is not a cheap vacation. I don’t mean to be mean about this, but these are things that you should have researched before you booked.

Dry cleaning isn’t included in the special. That would be an extra cost per garment. The special is a simple wash and dry.

Yeah, call them. They only try to charge for the fixed price restaurants. They don’t charge up front for the a la carte restaurants. It’s a matter of which you booked first. You need to book Teppanyaki and Moderno first. That way it will assume you’re using FAS meals and won’t charge you. If you had previously booked the a la carte restaurants it will try to charge you for the fixed price restaurants because the online system doesn’t connect the Platinum dinners.

There will be an offer mid-week for $29 for a bag. The bag is small and flimsy paper, but you’d be surprised how much you can fit in if you roll the clothes tight. It also helps to bring a plastic laundry bag from a hotel to line the bag. It prevents the bag from ripping. The laundry will come back within a day or two in a lovely basket, all washed and folded.

You can book online or call them. Or wait until you’re onboard. Just a word of warning. The online system doesn’t “connect the dots” for your Platinum status. If you have some meals with Free at Sea, make sure you book the fixed price restaurants (Teppanyaki and Moderno) first. Otherwise they will try to charge you when you book online. Also, remember they only open up around 1/3 of the time slots prior to boarding. If you can’t book beforehand, make your reservations as soon as you board.

We’re on the Encore on October 8. I’ve done Alaska but my travel mate hasn’t. We”re only doing this because I had a “freebie” from CAS for this sailing. We’re not counting on great weather. We booked the spa so we have a place to go in case of bad weather. To the OP: we just booked this three weeks ago and asked CAS to book the air. We were too late. You can’t book the air through NCL less than 110 days from sailing, so this point may be moot.

Interesting, indeed. I’ve never heard of this. Did you try it?

I get it. I travel solo often, but never in the Haven. I just can’t justify the cost and I’ve never seen them reduce or eliminate the solo supplement for Haven cabins. But those are the rules. Sorry!

Agreed. If they aren’t staying in the Haven, they cannot eat in the restaurant or use any of the amenities. You may, with permission, be able to invite them to dinner, but there will be a cost. I believe it’s $50, but must be arranged in advance and there’s no guarantee that it will be allowed.

It sounds like you got the Free at Sea. You will keep this if you win the upgrade.

They must be very inconsistent in applying this. Twice we’ve won bids into the Haven and got the extra latitude point both times.

These are paid upgrades - regardless of whether you’re in the Haven or not. If you win a bid, you will have all the normal Haven perks like access the complex, bar, restaurant, priority embarkation/disembarkation, etc. everything that’s included if you book the Haven outright. But the beverage package and premium Wi-Fi need to be purchases separately.

The spa cabins include access to the thermal spa - it goes with the cabin. If someone wins a bid into a spa cabin, they will get access and there’s no need to purchase the pass separately. All other perks carry forward from the original cabin.

You can cancel your bid at any time before it is accepted. If you win the bid on the spa room, they will refund what you paid for the spa. I believe you would have to call them to do it.

It is up to the concierge and the restaurant. It has to be arranged in advance. On our trip on the BA in May we invited friends not staying in the Haven for dinner. We were allowed to give them a quick tour of the complex and have a drink in the bar before dinner. It was lovely, but as has been said, there’s no guarantee it will be allowed.

Yup. I learned my lesson a Mediterranean cruise on the Breakaway in May. I bid for an oceanview from my inside on deck 11 (I believe). Won the bid. But hated the cabin. It was on Deck 5. The window would have been nice, but you couldn’t see out of it. There was moisture between the panes, couldn’t be “washed away”. And hated the location. I learned my lesson. For our Alaska trip in October, we also booked an inside, but only bid for balcony cabins. I’d rather be in an inside on a higher deck than in one of the Oceanviews. And yes, you are “stuck” with the new cabin. It is technically an upgrade. You bid for it, and won it. The terms and conditions are clear. You have no choice of cabin and if you win you agree to take the new cabin and pay the fee. Sorry.

I agree. Not to further the debate, but I really don’t understand paying for bottled (boxed) water on the ship, except maybe to have it to bring ashore. The water on the ship is basically distilled water. It’s perfectly safe to drink. In fact I think it tastes better than the Dlow water, which personally I think has an odd taste. Bring your own water bottle. Fill it from the sink, at the buffet, whatever, Any bar will give you water any time you ask - with or without ice. Almost all cabins have a refrigerator. Sorry, I just don’t get paying for water on a cruise ship.

I believe it’s non refundable. It can’t be used in the casino. I’m in the camp to take a statement credit. That is how to make it refundable, if you’re a gambler, you can also charge advances in the casino basically without a fee. NCL charges a 3% fee for advances. Charge it to your NCL card and you’ll get that 3% back in the form of points, which can be used as a statement credit against the fees. Sorry, I personally think taking the OBC is the worst use of these points. If you want a refundable credit, use the points as a statement credit.

This thread about casino status and comped/discounted cruises from the casino. It’s completely different from the Latitudes loyalty program, which is based solely on points earned simply from sailing with NCL. I agree that it’s confusing, but they are two completely different programs. In answer to your question, I agree that the real benefits from the Latitudes program start with reaching Platinum. After that the additional benefits are incremental. At least in my opinion the best perks are the two free meals, the free bag of laundry and priority boarding.