Sthrngary

@havoc315 Interestingly, in the Haven Bar, there is usually 2-4 seats with the same folks every time yo go to the bar. I am exaggerating but not by much. It is much easier to get a drink in the Haven Bar but love to sit at the bar sometime. Not a complaint, just an observation. The reason for my comment is, whether you are on NCL or ultra Luxury brand/category, folks that are chair hogs (Pool and Bar), folks that over drink (not happy drunks) and hit/miss food happen. Just my take and every ones take is different based on their experiences. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@graphicguy I have done lots of documentation on Oceania. I do not want to post it here because this is a NCL Haven Thread. Just go to my profile and look at my attachments. The FYI Attachment may give you some good information. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Daniel A I will look forward to reading your review. It is different and I think you will very much enjoy it. The best way I describe it is everyone is essentially treated the same when you leave your stateroom. I never had a hard time getting a drink at any bar. All bartenders are really excellent and will make you unique drinks. I am a coffee drinker especially in the morning. The Barista Bar is open to everyone and again, never seemed to be crowded. Food is relative and Oceania in my opinion was a tick better then NCL especially in the specialty restaurants. Overall, a better all around experience from a personalized service standpoint because again, everyone is treated the same. When I want high energy, lots of activities, lots of entertainment venues, lots of bars; I go on NCL in the Haven. When I want port intensive, relaxing, upgraded service for everyone on the ship I to on Oceania. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@graphicguy Happy to kick in with what I know. Oceania Cruises and other brands pricing seem to be based on starting with a standard fare and catching sales. Sometimes, if you get lucky you can catch two sales that both apply. We did that for our 10 day European Cruise on November 2023. I got a four category upgrade and another sail called the Extraordinary sales event. My point, sales on Oceania make a difference. Back to your point. Prior to booking that cruise, I took lots of brands and did a very intense excel comparison. Not the easiest thing I ever did. Every Cruise line had different amenities. The brands included, SeaBourne, Silver Seas, Celebrity (Balcony and Retreat), NCL (Viva balcony and Haven), Regent Seven Seas (Below penthouse), Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Oceania Cruises, and a few others. Oceania won and that was with only the four category upgrade to penthouse. Side note: As it came close to the departure date, the Viva started to discount the fare even in the Haven. However, the airfare was twice as high if you had to purchase it from the airline brand. When you go from a Mega Ship to a ship like Oceania that has 1200 guest, you have give and take. No slides, better food. No Broadway shows, nicer quieter lounges with better drinks. It is never the same. So when I have a port intensive trip, I do smaller better category brands. Again, and I can not over emphasize this. When you book, you look often at the sales as they come up and get your agent to adjust the fares. Let me know if you need any other information. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Lorne317 My pleasure and this will your Once in a Lifetime Cruise. As will your next one and the one after. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I just picked up my mail, a nice full sized brochure from Oceania was in the mail box. This was the promotion. I looked for my cruise booked in 2025 and it was not one of them. It looks to be a lot of Asian and Australian ports/itineraries. The question we need to ask is: "Why would a cruise brand give a pre-cruise hotel?" "Are these itineraries such that they need a boost?" "Is this a kind of sale or a marketing approach to make things easier and a bit more costly?" When the website is updated for April, we will soon find out this and other answers to questions not yet asked. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Not negative at all. Just realistic. However, you make a huge point I hope is not missed by others. Someone on a ship was listening. It was your wife's birthday and they made it special. That is "Personalized Service" and that is the part of cruising most often missed. The feeling it gives someone to be treated special has no words. All any of us really want is to be treated like a "Rock Star" 7 days in a year. We are just normal people but for those seven days, "Personalized Service" rings the bell. I loved the picture and love the description of your wife feelings. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@McGarrett5oh Your plan is based on your past experience. It is based on lowered expectations. That makes is right for you. My Butler Letter should never have been needed. The Butlers if truly trained and committed to doing the job, should have performed their duties. Some did NOT. So My Butler letter got better results for me, not everyone obviously. A little time has passed and many butlers for me. My additional experience now shows me that better brands, have better butlers. Better brands pay their butlers so the tip that the guest provides is just an extra thank you rather then a major part of their compensation. Butlers on Main Stream Brand, in Suites or VIP area's will always be over worked, under supervised and trained. They always look nice thought. But looks can be deceiving. @McGarrett5oh in my opinion, the most powerful thing you said was, "lower your expectations". I say it another way, "Have Realistic Expectations". That is why to this day, whether on NCL or Regent Seven Seas; I still say, "Butlers are hit or miss." Same, it should not be that way. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Social Media is for the sharing of idea's and opinions. When it gets messy is when different groups disagree with the opinion and it becomes combative. Instead of "live and let live". It becomes "a hill to die" on for some strange reason. A personal afront to a person because they want the entire ship access but pay for normal access. Some like the Haven, some don't for what every reason they choose to have. The cruise brands really LIKE the area's similar to the Haven. They make huge profits there. Any guest that goes on a ship that has a VIP section does so knowing there will be restrictive area's they can not go to because they did not pay the premium. If they don't like that situation, book on another brand. You knew the deal before you cruised or YOU did not do your due diligence. I personally rarely address these complaints about these VIP area's on CruiseCritic.com or any other social media site. People just want to complain sometimes about things that they feel are unfair. Just the world we live in. This time, for what ever reason I spoke out. I first tried very hard to be balanced, fair and understanding. Then I got a little more direct. Now, I am just done with the topic and people that post only when they are feeling wronged. All they want is other folks to support their point of view. They don't want to fix anything. If they did, they would take their issue to the cruise company. A truly losing battle which is why they show up here. Folks, if you don't like what the notion of the Haven, Retreat or Yacht Club does to a ship, go on a ship that does not have one. If you think it is not a value, have the common courtesy to booking before you trash it. Ask yourself a question, why did you choose a line with this area. It is not my fault or any guest in this area. We knew exactly what we were doing. We studied it, knew the costs and made a educated business decision. Some times we do not go to this area yet do a concept called "Haven Lite". Again, a well thought out plan to achieve our cruising experience objective. If you have an issue with these area, make your case and move on. Don't forget to take some level of accountability for your choose. These area's are here to stay. Now that you know that, choose a better choice for you and your family. "Live and let live." Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@jleslie48 Well thank you for agreeing with my post. Spend YOUR money where you feel it will be the best value. Now and allow me to say it again. Your point has been made, you don't like the Haven. Opinions are all we really have. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@nu#1 Thank you for taking the time. It impresses me that you choose to post on your journey. You have been on CruiseCritic.com for a very long time and rarely post. That to me makes your post even more important. The noise issue was nice to hear. So was your opinion of Ember. But what I will really take to heart is the Odyssey Menu. My upcoming Vista Cruise I will make that a reservation. Thank you for that. Please post more. You are clear, fair and easy to understand. Much appreciated. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@jleslie48 Them there are the RULES. It is 200, not 400 Haven Guests. Haven guest pay 3 times plus more then every one else pays. The Premium gets the Amenities. If you don't like it, choose a ship/brand/category with NO Haven, Yacht Club or Retreat. This debate happens all that time on every cruise line blog not just NCL. It is fine as long as everyone understands, YOU pay the price YOU get the space. We are all clear now YOU don't like the Haven. Consider that fact clear. I don't like the Haven either, I LOVE the Haven. I would not go on a main stream brand not in one of those premium areas. Allow me to also add, I grew up poor, saved my money all my life and now want that kind of experience. I earned it. Now YOU do YOU. Cruise well and enjoy every moment how ever you want to cruise.

@erisajd I read that contributors post as well. 71 posts since 2014. I thought that interesting. Many cruisecritic.com contributors that say that the MSC Yacht Club, Celebrity Retreat, and the NCL Haven is a slap in the face of the many, many others on the ship especially when the ship is sold out. When I read the post, I wanted to say what you said but a lot harsher. Instead, I took a different path. Feel free to look back at my response. The Yacht Club, Retreat and Haven are premium categories and not designed with the entire ship in mind. The creation of the Ship-in-a-Ship was to attempt to solve the issue of dissatisfaction on a fully loaded cruise ship. Private sundeck to reduce Chair Hogs (Key word reduce) Private Pool and hot tubs for 200 or so guest on a ship that holds 4,000. Private dining room with upgraded foods Private bar with better brands available Butlers which also can be hit or miss but still nice. A place for quiet not chaotic. The list goes on and on. It also has a significate premium. WHY, because folks that would have normally gone on a smaller ultra-luxury ship also wanted Broadway shows, Water Slides, and a huge floating hotel. This is why all those three area's are sold out usually first. When folk put down those premium areas it is usually someone that has never done it. Words like I can go on three cruise for the price of a Haven Suite tend to come up often. Well, that is true but I would personally like to go on one cruise in a manner that I enjoy every if it costs me three times the price. My money and therefore my decision. Yet I support anyone that cruises in any stateroom level. I am not insulted by them. I was one of them until I wanted to improve my cruising experience. So I did and with that came a decision on paying more. Which I made. It seems in our world, anyone that does something different then one choses for themselves seems to be wrong. I say, hogwash. As my adult children tall me all the time. If you don't like my choices, "You do You". The poster that your above comment is for simply needs to do them. I will see YOU in the Haven one day. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Battlement my online name is @Sthrngary. I wrote the original Thread and updated to this thread. I am the one the constantly says the Butlers are Hit/Miss. Did you do a butler letter or did you simply tip the butler on day one? Just a question. On to your real time review. Never say your are sorry for telling the truth. Sure some folks with come at you or say you are being picky. I am NOT one of those folks. I have cruise the Getaway in the Haven. Many of the things you mention I have felt. Yet it all has gotten a bit different as the crowds, staffing issue and almost sold out booking continue. Your feedback will allow others to make a better business decision. What a lot of folks don't get about CruiseCritic.com is if I know and issue, I may be able to avoid it. If I don't know, I might fall right into it. I also have cruise upper end lines like Oceania. Two different animals. NCL, Royal, MSC, Celebrity and Carnival are great for some trips. Regent, Oceania, Seabourn, Silver Seas, and Crystal are for other trip. Completely different expectation for both sets of cruising. Some of what you wrote makes that clear. What is funny is sometimes, those other brands are about the same price as a Haven Suite. You just have to be clear on which approach suit your next cruise vacation. I am glad for the most part you are having a nice time. I am sad for some of your disappointments. I appreciate the time it takes to share your experience so thank you. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@jleslie48 I have stayed in the Haven and the Club Suite which is not in the Haven on the NCL Joy. Feel free to ask me anything you would like. I also went on the Joy as a Solo. Happy to help. In the future, with a specific question, just do a new thread. Most everyone here is extremely helpful. Whether you see the benefit of the Haven, or any other stateroom is a personal decision. We all respect those decision on most CruiseCritic.com threads. The more specific you are on your question, the better the answer will be to support you. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@jleslie48 Tell us all how you really feel. All kidding aside. I have cruised all of the Ship Categories on NCL. Each have something to love and something this is less then pleasing. I have cruised in a Inside Cabin Stateroom, Balcony, Club Suite, Haven Spa Suite, Haven Penthouse Suite and the H2 Deluxe Haven Owners Suite. Like the ships, each stateroom and each set of accommodations had some good and bad aspects. Our job for enjoyment and reducing disappointment in your vacations is to do some due diligence on our choices. It is important to explain clearly with unemotional yet descriptive words our likes and dislikes and why. That really helps folks make a good business decision. After decades of cruising for me, the only thing that is consistent is nothing is for everyone. So do the research and take everyone's opinion including myself with a grain of salt. This way, the core is always how to make our cruise vacation better. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I had no idea many years ago that this "Topic" would have the original version and an updated version. I also had no idea that the second updated version would have 159 pages of responses. This stream sometimes takes on a life of it self. However for me personally, when someone is so excited about their Haven Suite like, @benel204 it is all worth it. All that really matters is that people have a good time cruising. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@benel204 Congrats. I was in the H2 Owners Suite on the Joy. I did a YouTube Video which I will put the link below. Three Bottles: They will give you a list to choose from once onboard. Lot of choices. Water: The water is yours to use as you wish. Yet you can take it off the ship. Mixers: The soda, juices and mixers are replenished daily at no charge. You tell the Butler what you want. Motion: Not an issue at all. The deck is huge and while the ship is sailing, it tends to be a bit windy. If you have any other question, just ask. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Ronni7770 I was just on the Riviera. I loved it. different vibe then I was used to in all my previous cruises. Enjoy it. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Battlement OK, you are and will be fine. All cruise have something that does not go exactly to plan even if you are a detail person as we are. Go to the pier earlier then the earliest they say. All you have to do is get through security and you are good to go for the Haven. Don't worry about it. Out of your control and make it a fun quest. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Battlement I am not sure where port you are going out of. I would get to the port 1 hour early in this case, 02:00 PM. The first part is the hardest. You just have to get through security. Once that is done, there are signs to the Haven Entrance like for First Class Sky Miles Members at the Airport. These signs are not easy to find so really look. You don't want to get on a regular guest line. I also don't like lines so standing a bit prior to getting through security is for me a necessary evil. Again, just get through security. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@9tee2Sea The core of this side track to this thread was someone with mobility issues on the NCL Joy. They wanted to go out of port of New York. They just wanted to know based on their situation, in or out of Haven Proper? The Haven is not for everyone. It is not for every ship. It is not for every itinerary. It does not met every guest needs. Some guest love it, some like it, some think it is average and other don't like it at all. This is that way it should be. Chooses. Everyone for the most part that comment love to cruise. Having the Haven Debate keeps cruising on all of our minds. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@NclCruiuser I have used Allianz Insurance for every cruise and my trip next month to Europe with my adult daughter for over five years. I had three claims and one really big one. They paid in less then 15 days. Never use the cruise brand insurance. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@NclCruiuser Hello and welcome to CruiseCritic.com. I have been on the NCL Joy in the Haven twice. I read your post and understand your question and concern. Based on the mobility issues, I would stay in the Haven Proper. Here is why. The Joy has a elevator in the Haven that takes you to both Haven floors. It also has an elevator that takes you to the Haven Sundeck. The Haven Elevators are never crowded. Some one suggest HAL, that is a very nice brand. There are a lot of Very Nice Brands. However I am simply addressing your question based on asking about the Haven. BTW, I am the author of this stream. Ask me and anyone else on this thread. Everyone is really nice. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Battlement You are more than welcome. The Getaway was my first Haven Experience way back when. On tipping. Your call and a hotbed of debate. I personally provide the Butler with their tip upfront which is not every ones approach. I toss $20 or so a couple of times during the week at the bartenders in the Haven Bar. I usually wait until the end to take care of the Haven concierge. Four your son and the noodle bar. This is one of my favorite places, my wife and I love it. Get on line about 45 minutes early. I do not think the Haven can help you with that one. This restaurant pack them in for each service. I love sitting at the bar and watching them cook. You usually get a choose for the day one lunch when you embark. I have done the American Dinner and it is not my cup of tea. I usually go to the Haven Restaurant where others who have cruised NCL usually go. A word of advice. The real secret to the Haven is engaging with the Haven Staff. The better they know you, the more welcome they make you feel. Gratuities help but a pleasant guest is the key. I have also do the Retreat. The two are close but I prefer the Haven. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.