CruisingSince1982

We are booking the inaugural TA, as soon as they list it. 

It has been years, if not decades, since we have been able to do this! 

Luna is showing up for Caribbean bookings in April 2026. How far in advance do they release the TA crossing? 

17 hours ago, SaltyPawz said:

 

Concierge & Priority Boarding 

This is where there was noticeable difference. 

 

We interacted with the head concierge once on the tender day in Bar Harbor. He took us down the service elevator, and we “cut the line” to board the tender boat. Getting back on the ship, there was a Haven sign, and we again “cut the line” to board a tender boat. This was a VERY good perk. 

 

After that, we didn’t interact with the head concierge. On all other ports, we were told to go to deck 7 to get off the ship. No priority getting on or off the ship. We never saw a person with a Haven sign to use the service elevators. 

 

Of note…. We found out later that to use priority to get off the ship, they limited the hours. This was new for us. 

 

 

Who was your concierge? Some are MUCH better than others. 

On 8/30/2024 at 5:03 PM, schmoopie17 said:

If you wait a couple weeks, I'll tell you who's on our cruise.

 

Although, after reading reviews of the lackluster chicken parm, we may skip it.

Thank you! 

Does anyone have the current schedule for the Supper Club on the Escape? Looking for the show names, days, and times. Thank you!

You can get $300 back on a new Blue Cash Preferred Card, upgrading from the EveryDay Preferred Card, with no annual fee for a year, and no interest for a year. Not sure if that offer is person specific, but it's what we are being offered. Will probably take it just for the $300, and then switch back later. I don't pay annual fees for a credit card out of principle 🙂 

7 hours ago, Coastalbreezes said:

He arrives to Escape in October. I don't have the exact date yet.

Thank you! 

I know Lyster will be the concierge on the Escape in January, but is he there currently? 

I know Lyster will be the concierge on the Escape for our January cruise. Just wondering who is there now? 

Has anyone recently been on this excursion? For once, the price to go thru the cruise line is cheaper than actually booking a day pass at Atlantis. My question is do they give you a wristband or something before you board their transportation? I would like to get our wristbands and then take a cab over to Atlantis to maximize our time. I know years ago this was possible. Not sure if it still is? Thanks!

On 8/20/2024 at 3:50 AM, Awesomefamadventure said:

Quick update: day 9, we finally have hot water. We’ll see if it holds all day, but from running it in the sink it did. We haven’t heard from the ship’s team at all, so clearly something was fixed outside our room.

 

I appreciate everyone’s insights into the best course of action. 

Which cabin number are you in?

On 8/19/2024 at 3:40 AM, Awesomefamadventure said:

On a 10 day cruise, don’t have hot water or pressure for 4 days (now). Allowed maintenance access generously multiple days for hours. Was woken up by maintenance even with do not disturb on yesterday. Since we can shower in the other room, I’d rather enjoy what I can of our vacation than continue to spend hours and hours dealing with it. 
 

As such, it is down to compensation since there are no other room offers that will fit our family and according to the latest maintenance there is no fix. 
 

Cruise Critic is the best place to ask this question because it’s a community of experienced cruisers who may have had similar issues, and it’s also followed by NCL who can read what their customers are dealing with. 

Agree with you 100%. It is confounding that anyone would have an issue with your asking to be compensated for not receiving something that you have paid for. The situation is unacceptable, and I would be livid. I am so sorry that you have to deal with this on your vacation. 

The "not being escorted off" the ship would be an issue for us. It's a perk that we enjoy. 

On 7/29/2024 at 4:44 PM, ryarger said:

I've sailed several NCL ships and just got off Oasis of the Seas as my first RCCL ship.

 

I love NCL, but they have nothing that compares to the Oasis/Icon class. There are *so* many activities, nothing else compares on any cruise line.

 

That said, there are lots of fun things to do - The Breakaway Plus class are the largest, with the most options. The Prima class are a tad smaller, but still have almost all the same activities.

 

You can't go wrong with either of those classes of ships, in my opinion. Just come in thinking "Freedom Class" in terms of size and amenities.

 

On the other hand, if you can afford Haven - that's an experience that Royal does *not* match, and you will not regret it. 

I think the Oasis class ships are the best! I would forego the Haven for one. So much to do, and so much fun! I think the food is better on NCL though. 

28 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

We sailed Pr1ma in November. It was a Transatlantic and while we enjoyed being outside, many folx did not. Despite this, many of the loungers were taken on the sunny afternoons when the temps were in the 70's. We never had an issue finding a lounge chair and enjoyed the hot tub. The sundeck servers were always around and I enjoyed the second bar. It alleviated long waits as anyone outside could just go to that bar instead of traipsing inside in wet bathing suits. Much better experience than Joy or Getaway! 

 

Since we booked NCL excursions that met in the theatre I cannot tell you about concierge staff taking Haven guests to the gangway. We did NOT find a Haven line upon our return to the ship in Cartagena or Ponta Delgada. We just waited in the normal line to be welcomed back onboard. We just found our way to the aft of the ship and the private Haven elevators to get back to our room. 

 

The bar was never crowded for long. I am somewhat of a bar fly, though I don't talk to people unless they start a conversation with me. From what I observed, around dinner time, groups will take up the chairs in the lounge after getting a drink from the bar (or the bar server that goes through the lounge asking for drink orders). The seats themselves never filled up except a couple occassions. Again, only around dinner time, except the last evening. The last night, many of us went to say goodbye to the servers (disembarkation day was my only day with a hangover). 

 

I think you'll find Pr1ma's Haven to be a solid choice. The restaurant is good (weird policies, sometimes), but not as good as other Haven restaurants I've experienced. The servers are wonderful and you if you hit it off with one or two servers, you can request to be sat with them. That's what we did and had great service the rest of the cruise! 

 

Our butler, Jefferson, was the best butler we've ever had in the Haven! The concierge, Stefan, was delightful and helped us with a couple of special requests (nothing crazy, but nothing I'll discuss publicly). Really, really great service.

 

@Goldenknight, do you have anything to add? We were on the same cruise, though didn't know each other until lunch on one of the last day's of the cruise.

Thank you, this is very helpful!

Also, I have heard wonderful things about MSC Yacht Club. The only reason we have not tried it yet is because their sun deck is not adults only. One day! 

16 hours ago, angela miller said:

I have recently booked two cruises with NCL one coming up in February on the getaway and one in August 2025 on the epic both in Haven  I have cruised with NCL several times with family but also when I’m by myself and my  awesome husband, we book with Regent. I am hearing, terrible reviews on NCL at this point. What’s changed? My previous cruises with Haven have been great. I went with Regent because I did not like the chaos… Of course my children did.. so overview of Haven now?

NCL has made many cutbacks, even the Haven. Less staff, less variety on the menus, etc. They have also taken away food items from the specialty restaurants. Little things as well, like not having a variety of bread served at dinner (same rolls for a week). The little things do add up. It hasn't stopped us from booking. We still have 3 more cruises booked with NCL, 2 in the Haven … but the ice is getting thin, and eventually we will look elsewhere. 

2 minutes ago, zqvol said:

I taught for years and always cruised during breaks and never had a problem then, and my kids were grown. People spend too much time worrying about others. 

Congrats! Have a pleasant day 🙂 

4 minutes ago, zqvol said:

I don’t know how long your cruise is, but anything 7 days  or less has a good chance of having quiet a few kids no matter when it sails. 

We normally do not have a problem outside of school breaks, thankfully. 

11 hours ago, df5250 said:

 The downfall of the aft location IMO is having to traipse through the ship to get off and on at ports. There is no straight shot down to deck 4 or back up to higher decks like in the havens that are located forward. 

Were you escorted off by the concierge staff in each port? We have always been escorted off. Not sure if that changed because the Haven is aft now?

Did the Concierge escort you off the ship in ports, and also to the main theater show, like they do on the other ships? 

33 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

I read and watch lots of cruise reviews.  Where are people saying the Prima class is crowded?  I do read the Joy Haven is crowded.  Someone posted a video of the Joy's Haven and it looked like they were giving stuff away for free because it was packed.   But I never heard the Prima class Haven area was crowded. 

The social media platform that is not allowed to be mentioned here. 

13 hours ago, Kernteam said:

We never had a problem getting a lounger around the pool, and the deck above with the hot tubs was empty all the time with plenty of loungers. If someone got up to leave the area, the guys around the pool were putting down fresh towels for the next guests.

 

We never had to wait for a table, loved the option of eating outside for breakfast and lunch, and one evening we were the only couple in the smaller dinning area to the left of the main Haven dinning.

 

Best cruise we have ever taken.

Perfect, thank you. We booked the Aqua. Looking forward to it! 

We moved the cruise to the first week in February. Didn't want to chance it. Thanks!