cruise2much

I did notice some positive comments about the Epic's Haven... Key activated elevators for example... The dedicated restaurant was nice... But that's about where it ended for me. I think they may have skipped a few steps on the Breakaway that they afforded on the Epic.

Was your butler Lucky?

If by Lucky you mean name then no. If by lucky you mean having guests with past butler experience that know to tip... YES :)

Yep... deck 16 haven level. Just outside our door. Didn't use it at all though sadly... :(

Never been on RCC but Carnival Princess & NCL. I assume Carnival would be the closest to RCC. If you can, on the Jewel Class book a cabin in the Haven or access to the Haven and you will have a singular experience. I may ruin you. Its like moving from an inside cabin to a balcony for the 1st time but better. :D

NCL is sometimes stands for New Charges Likely... LOL but that's with most lines now with specialty restaurants. The suite amenities are unmatched and if in the Haven its as if your on your own cruise ship. Breakfast and lunch in Cagney's is a really nice perk!

Butler service... something you will miss if you experience it then go back to some other cruise line :) Overall Free Style means exactly that. Do what you want! if you want to dress up you can, if not then don't. To each his own but myself I love the jewel class ships with NCL... The new Mega Ships not so much but defiantly a fan of the Jewel Class!

We had the Gem booked again but our flight was cancelled and we missed the ship... When we started making plans for the Breakaway my only request was if we were going to try a Mega Ship the courtyard was a must! For that I'm glad even though being disappointed I would have been miserable without some respite from the masses :D I cant wait to be back to the serenity and sanity of the Jewel class :)

Ruth was the head concierge very nice but overwhelmed I think... One of the Butlers is Roy... Great guy, he served us on other cruises. I cant remember our butlers name off hand. I'm sure my wife does I will ask... But that in its self kinda tells you something... :( They do rotate and may be in another portion of the ship...

Not sure if it still applies but the Jones Act specifically addresses using a foreign flag ship for transport so debarking mid cruise you are using the ship as transportation and the last I remember a $300.00 "fee" or "tax" is imposed. That may have changed but the proper paperwork must be in place for her to disembark. Making arrangement before your cruise is a good idea... Also confirming your arrangements as soon as you can once aboard is also suggested...

Just back from a run to the Bahamas on the Breakaway with a Haven booking.

If you have never experienced the Haven before you will probably like it. If however like me you have had the pleasure of the Haven experience on the Jewel Class ships there is a good chance you will be disappointed. IMO, like the rest of the cruise industry they have taken what was an exclusive luxury experience, exposed it to a large number of people cheapening the overall experience with the exception of price.

First is embarkation – The Haven room in the terminal was a joke. It was crammed packed with guest many standing the whole time due to the lack of seating and being admonished by the terminal employees for standing in the wrong place. My wife asked when confronted by a terminal employee where she was expected to go? The employee said I don’t care but you can’t stand here. After about 20 minutes the place started smelling like a locker room. Remember being escorted by your Butler with maybe 10 other guests to your cabin? Forget it. The entire room was herded at once to the courtyard area, an estimated 80 to a 100 guests.

Décor - The serine warm and inviting atmosphere of the Haven on a jewel class has given way to a cold, sparse space indistinguishable from the rest of the ship on the Breakaway. The foliage and trellises are gone and it just seems like a space meant to accommodate the maximum number of guests. The courtyard butler is replaced with restaurant staff and the ever present drink hustlers.

Amenities - The amenities aren’t much different, meaning the same amenities meant to accommodate 14 suites on the jewel class are also meant to accommodate over 40 suites on the Breakaway. The jet assist pool for simulated lap swimming is gone and a simple 8x10 soaking pool with an added extension of a soaking section of water about 8 inches deep with lounging chairs? There is a loft type area but again its only design is to accommodate more people. I suppose atop your Haven booking you could opt for the exclusive, exclusive sunning area for an extra charge?

Decorum – Intentionally booking the Haven you expect certain decorum that is lost on the Breakaway, this we confirmed by certain crew members as largely due to up-sells. Now before you blast me I will explain this decorum includes the expectation you will not be exposed to someone changing a dirty diaper at pool side when a bathroom or their cabin was only steps away. The same dirty diaper that was just in the pool and it wasn’t a swimmers diaper, thus resulting in the need to sanitize the Haven pool. Children running and screaming, jumping and splashing rendered the courtyard useless to anyone wishing to relax. With the roof closed and sparse décor is sounded like the echoes in a gym.

Butlers – As many of you know to become a butler they have proven themselves capable of providing exceptional service. Their efforts however are stretched to the max on the Breakaway by the volume of guests they are meant to serve. Our poor butler was often sweating when we seen him, his phone never stopped ringing and he was constantly apologizing knowing we were accustomed to this service and could see a difference. One of the butlers we knew from previous cruises told us he longed to be back on a jewel class where he could extend the service he is used to providing.

Separation – I guess NCL has given up any pretence of child/adult separation. The pool, hot tubs and sauna is a free for all and as you can imagine 2 kids in an 8x10 pool doesn’t leave much room for relaxation.

In room dining - In the penthouse suites the table provided is about 24 inches round and barely has room for a single place setting. The seating provided presents a challenge simply to stay in them without sliding to the floor. Again we found our butler apologizing with the understanding he couldn’t provide us with a pleasurable in cabin dinner service.

Concierge – Well as they are permanently stationed, yes that’s plural due to the number of guests, they greet you ever time you pass but the personal relationship is lost due to dealing with several different staff filling the roll at any given time. We were greeted by the head concierge on embarkation day in the haven lounge in groups again due to the volume of guests.

Access – If you are on the courtyard deck that’s located on deck 16 forward. There is no isolated elevator or key call options. There is a bank of 8 elevators located forward and aft. Only 4 of each bank go to the 16th deck. The elevator call buttons don’t distinguish between what elevators come available. So if one that only goes to deck 15 arrives you have a choice of using that and climbing stairs to your floor which isn’t a problem if you aren’t hampered by physical limitations. If you are however be prepared to wait in frustration for an elevator that will take you all the way up. There is a slot for a key card, maybe there is a handicap option, not sure on that but I know for certain a standard key doesn't activate it.?

All in all, I won’t be back on a mega ship. I’m not suggesting you forgo booking the Haven if you cruise on the Breakaway as there is a massive number of people. But again, if you have experienced the Haven on smaller ships you should lower your expectations some or be prepared to be disappointed.