ABiggerBoat

Hi all. I’m sure this gets covered with some regularity but I went back a ways in the NCL posts and didn’t see it. So here goes. (First paragraph is the short version) We’ve done the “sort of” haven on the Pearl, and haven on Breakaway and Epic. We had a great experience on the Breakaway but were really disappointed on the Epic. Is this a ship-to ship thing or just the luck of the draw with the crew? The rooms were fabulous on all three cruises and the butlers in the haven specific ships were outstanding. On the Breakaway, the waitstaff seemed to care a lot more and the bartenders were amazing at both drink-making and conversation. They (especially Alexander who, sadly for us, had gone to Carnival for more $$) always had a bar full of cruisers having a great time. On the Epic, the bartender (at the main lounge) was very reserved. People rarely stayed to chat. The bars by the pool and in posh changed a lot and were very hit-or-miss. One practically threw a drink at me when I asked him to add more mixer (it was just grapefruit juice) and the 3 other cruisers that were sitting there had wide eyed unhappy reactions, too, so it wasn’t just me. On the breakaway, we happened to mention to our waiter that we wished scallops were on the dinner menu and he put together a seafood platter dinner for us with lobster, shrimp, and scallops for the next evening. It was so easy that we asked for the same meal on the Epic. After much discussion between employees that made me feel extremely uncomfortable for having asked, we were told that they would call us the next day to let us know. I didn’t even want it at this point, but my husband thanked them and we did receive an official ok the next day. I found out later that another woman in the haven asked for something off the lunch menu for dinner and was told it was impossible. This would bother me less if it hadn’t been so easy on the Breakaway where we didn’t really even ask for it but was suggested and put together by the staff. Or if the haven menu changed even slightly day-to-day. I never had an issue finding a lounge chair on the Breakaway haven sundeck but at Posh, I could never find one. They seemed to have lots of sitting chairs and few loungers. I actually laid on my blue cruise towel on the deck for a little while before going across deck 18 to find an open chair on the other side. So much for an upgraded experience. One of the days was overcast and the crew didn’t put out any of the cushions. While I was there, a couple women asked for them and they were given cushions but, again, I just went across 18 because the whole thing was awkward. One of the reasons we overpay for haven is because I have a real problem with crowds and it’s haven that has made cruising possible for me. That’s a great perk. We asked our butler if there was any way we could make an appointment with the cruise next desk so that we didn’t have to stand in the busy atrium. She told us that they did it on other ships but she would check on the Epic. Came back and told us we had a 3:00pm appointment to talk to cruise next. It was the time they opened after a port day. We were the second people at the desk. When the two cruise next employees came out of their office, one started helping the first woman who had been waiting and the second employee started helping the family that obviously stepped in front of me. No one asked if we had the appointment or even said anything about the obvious “cut” in line except the cruiser who was there first. She said “that couple was here before this family you’re talking to and I know you saw them get pushed out of the way!” and everyone just stared at her. I told her thank you but that I was no longer interested in staying. My husband was angry with events but that is exactly the crowd behavior that freaks me out and I didn’t want to be there anymore. Now I don’t know how to feel about the haven. There’s a lot of good things but if it’s going to be more like the Epic than the Breakaway in the future then I’m pretty sure I’m done cruising because it just wasn’t worth the price. The Breakaway was. I know this is really long but I wanted to give examples that showed the differences so that, if anyone is still reading, you might be able to answer as to the general treatment. I know they may seem like small differences but they were all about feeling comfortable versus feeling like we were in the way. Thanks to anyone who’s still here.

I was staying in the haven and disliked posh. Very few actual lounge chairs. All were “taken” with towels every day. I went across 18 to the open sundeck just to find a chair.

I can’t speak to your walk but wanted to say enjoy your cruise! Loved that one last year🙂

I was just looking at the Viva deck plans and was wondering about that Haven design. I’m glad you liked it but was wondering if you felt less engaged with other Haven passengers? With the cabins being away from the facilities, did you still feel like it was “all one thing”?