Robert Peel

Dawn this past December, a few weeks ago, special was on Wednesday and was only offered once for the 7 day.

Excellent, thank you

Thank you for the information

We had the same issue on Carnival last year with the NHL Finals. Only some games were shown at all due to channel coverage. Very frustruating and when a game was on, was very packed. Bartender actually gave my son a hard time for sitting on a stool because he had a broken ankle. Felt it was taking the place of a drinker and told him he should stand. I told him I'm drinking and standing behind him,, count the chair as me! Couldn't stand for 2-3 hrs on a broken ankle and there were other kids sitting down as well.......

As Canadians and hockey fans we always found it next to impossible to get any hockey news or even scores when onboard.

We are heading out on the Dawn on Feb 1st for seven days,can anyone advise which day the laundry bag special is? It will assist with packing.

Here's what they DID think of next:

Person "A" had celiac disease.

For some reason, it seems that A didn't actually *speak* to someone about special dining needs until after SEVERAL DAYS of increasing medical problems.

... and then - yes, wait for it - actually complained that she/he had to speak to someone about it for special menu arrangements.

I guess A expected that ALL food on the ship would be prepared for his/her special dietary needs?

THEY WALK AMONG US..........

Have stayed three times in a two bedroom in the Haven on the EPICand can confirm that there are two, one in each bathroom

I once had a wise older gentlemen tell me that for people that like to complain about trivial matters " If it's sunny, it's too sunny!!"

That complaint is absolutely priceless, what will they think of next?

I should have said this in closing: It was absolutely worth it! For what the 5 in the suite cost, there was no decision to be made. Especially relative to the balcony cost for the 2 older boys. Coupled with a very nice OBC. Of course we all know how these fares fluctuate for time of year, to itinerary, to ship, and so on. For us on this cruise it was worth every penny. We expect to pay more next time, and now we have a benchmark of the value of a suite. At this stage in our lives (with 4 in college and 1 close) there IS a point in our minds of "being worth it" We will sail in a suite again, and we will gladly pay for all of the extras.

The coffee/cappuccino/espresso produced from the machine is fantastic. And the coffee at Cagney's in the morning was some of the best coffee ever.

As many say after experiencing the Suite Life it would be tough to go back to an inside or balcony cabin,glad your whole family had fun. Sailing in a Penthouse Suite at months end and looking very forward to the perks.

Try a Caesar when you are on the Dawn, it's Clamato juice instead that but they are excellent

• Before 7:30 am
  
• When the ship is port
  
• After 7:00 pm
  

 

It was really quiet at 8:00 pm one night. I went down and watched the football game while I ran on the treadmill (each machine has a television). I was the only in the room.

 

Thank you for your quick reply, that is consistent with my memory on our last trip on the Dawn a few years ago. I did find that as the week went on the initial fitness crowd on Day's one and two lost momentum and it was less crowded but always people there.

Thank you for your review, I enjoyed reading your overview of the ship, we sail at months end for the 2nd time on the Dawn and are looking forward to it.

One quick question, during your two weeks onboard and did you find certain times during the day were better to avoid the crowds using the equipment?

Enjoyed reading your review, glad that you had a good time, sailing on the Dawn at months end and looking very forward to warm weather from the break in the cold that we are experiencing here

Very glad to hear that you all had a great holiday, we are sailing on the Dawn at months end for the 2nd time and looking very forward getting back on for a week.

technically, yes, both must go. BUT, most bartenders I have dealt with will give you 2 . They might want to see the 2 cards tho

That has been our experience as well, as the bar staff get to know you it is less of an issue but in the beginning bringing both cards with you to the bar will minimize issues getting two drinks

if you are lucky to be in front of the TV at the right moment you may get to see ticker tape scores at the bottom of the screen flash by, but unless you access the internet to get updates I found getting your hockey fix on a cruise ship to be a rarity.

As the one poster indicated even the World Series was not played.

Trying to determine whether a drink package would be cost effective. Not alcoholics here, but we will be on a cruise.

 

 

Worth every penny, we have purchased it every year since it was introduced and have come out on the plus side each time.

 

Enjoy your trip

Just off the Epic in a haven suite. I can't say enough about the Epic club restaurant and Epic lounge. You will love it! The staff is impeccable and the food is first class.

 

 

My thoughts exactly, we have stayed in the Haven on the EPIC for three years in a row and loved every minute of it. Booking restaurants was never an issue and we were a party of 10.

 

You will enjoy the EPIC and everything that the \haven has to offer, have a great holiday

An interesting article written in the Toronto Star in Canada on tourism in Cuba, its future and future cruises.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/12/17/uscuba_thaw_means_holiday_is_over_for_canadian_tourists_experts_say.html

We have purchased it twice and will be again for our upcoming cruise.Both times we have found it to be to our advantage and as others have commented it gives you the freedom to try different drinks that you would not normally buy.

As for seeing other cruisers intoxicated trying to get their moneys worth from the plan, that we did not witness on either cruise where we had the UBP. Comments from others onboard that had purchased it were also positive.

May not be for everyone, but it is certainly worth considering.

The spreadsheet that was created for this package I found very helpful for determining its value

I've had the suite experience on Princess and Royal Caribbean. Looking forward to experiencing NCL Haven in a few weeks. I plan on doing a review with comparisons so stay tuned :)

Looking forward to your thoughts and comparisons, We have stayed in NCL suites five times now with 4 being in the Haven and have found for our family that they represent great value for what we received.

When reviewing other cruise lines and what their suites offered I really was unable to find anything comparable for cost and room size that would cause me to switch over to another cruise.

Anxious to see your thoughts upon your return. Enjoy your holiday

Enjoyed reading your review, sailing on the Dawn in February and hoping many of your observations will have been corrected.

I've been on the Epic in the Haven suites on 16-17 three times now, going for the fourth in a few weeks, so here are my 2 cents on locations and noise considerations:

 

Convenience:

 

16th Floor overall. Primarily for access to the courtyard pool and spa, concierge main area where the actual concierge sits (as there is some lounge area on 17, but it is not staffed), bar, Epic Club, etc. - not to mention the main elevators and stairs that access the rest of the ship. If you are staying on 17, the only quick, easy access to 16 is via the stairs, which are adjacent to the main elevators. If you require an elevator between floors, you might find waiting for an elevator each time a bit taxing. Both (the main elevators and stairs) are essentially sandwiched between the concierge lounge and club lounge on 16, or likewise on 17 (sans the club lounge, which doesn't exist on 17).

 

Uber-convenience:

 

Starboard rooms 16031 upwards to 16013. Beyond that, if you have elderly guests or are elderly yourself, the hallway might start to get a bit long after a seven day cruise as you walk down to access the lounge, elevators, etc. on a daily basis. Additionally, these rooms offer the quickest access to Posh, which is very simple to get to via the glass elevators inside the Epic lounge. These elevators seem to be rarely used, although I don't know why. They go from 15 (main public pool area, they open just outside the outdoor buffet and near the entrance to the Garden Cafe) to the Epic Lounge on 16 and on to 17, opening up five feet from the chairs at Posh. The elevator is key card accessed for Haven guests, so no worries with traffic. Port side rooms are fine, and as the poster earlier mentioned, that hallway is not travelled as frequently, with the downside that access to the concierge lounge, Epic restaurant, etc. on 16 from that side isn't quite as simple.

 

Overall:

 

Perhaps more privacy and less foot traffic can be found towards the bow, but at the expense of a walk down to access everything else. And as others have noted, as the whole area is key card accessed, foot traffic is minimal on both floors. On 17, particularly in the rooms either Starboard or Port, some people will experience noise at certain times of the day as chairs are shuffled or stacked on the public sundeck areas directly above; the lowest numbered and front facing suites don't really experience this noise quite as much it seems, but it depends on traffic overall.

 

Personal Experience:

 

17014 - great room overall (as all two bedroom suites are). Access to the main area involved walking down the hallway, through the upper lounge area, down the circular stairs to the main concierge area on 16, then through the key access door to the elevators, bar, restaurant, etc. So it depends on whether this process is something you want to repeat often if you find yourself wanting to go back and forth to different areas and return to your room. Chairs from above scraping across the deck now and again, but nothing significant. I would not hesitate to book this room again.

 

16009 - another great room overall, save the walk down the hallway that might bother some folks to access the main areas, although there is easy access to the courtyard pool through the bank of sliding doors across from 16015 (if I recall). There is a staff door close by, so there will be service carts hanging around on occasion, but nothing significant.

 

16023 - pretty much perfect for those who want privacy in their room, but easy access to pretty much everything the Haven offers outside the door. I'd book anything from 16031 to 16013 without any hesitation, although you really can't go wrong on either deck 16 or 17, nor either side of the ship, it's all up to personal preference, and the pluses and minuses of each are somewhat insignificant in the overall context.

 

FWIW, what I've booked for the upcoming Epic: 16016 and 16023. Essentially "across" from one another, with fairly simple access to each for views port and starboard.

 

Additional observations of Haven area:

 

The Courtyard Lounge, while nice, is rather narrow and placed down with walls on four sides. Perfectly fine, but note that if you sun-worship, pay attention to the sun's direction, otherwise, that perfect spot you staked out at 7am will be in the shade from 10am onwards for the balance of the day. Most online deck plans don't really show/highlight the hot tubs and spa areas effectively, which are located in the forward area of the courtyard and are easily accessed from the sliding doors both port and starboard, across from 16015 and 16012 or so, respectively.

 

Posh is prime for sun-lovers and is generally quieter in some respects than the courtyard lounge/pool area, save the music from the main pool on 15. Again, the online deck plans don't really seem to capture the area, but behind the bar on that level is a set of stairs that opens up to an additional deck with lounge chairs, loungers and daybeds. Although smaller than Posh's main area, it's generally cooler on hot days (more wind) and very quiet.

 

The Epic Club is always nice and there really isn't a bad seat (save tables close to the double doors to the Courtyard Grill, which can be strange when passengers use the restaurant to get through to the elevators - don't ask). The Courtyard Grill is nice, but not really a courtyard per se - it doesn't seem to get enough traffic. Ditto on the club lounge, which I often enjoy nightly before dinner. It's a great space and finding a seat is never, ever an issue.

An excellent review, your description sums it up perfectly

Thank you, Robert. It's obvious you like that deck/cabin...do you mind sharing which cabin number?

Yes it was 16023, close top entrance to pool

We have stayed in the same 2 BR suite on the 16th floor three times now. While I can't comment on the 17th floor fellow cruisers we spoke with staying on the 17th floor enjoyed it as much as we did on the 16th floor, you are closer to POSH, and the gym on the 17th and only a few steps down the stairs to the pool, hot tub and EPIC Club/restaurant.

Both floors had limited noise, we had two adults and 4 teenagers with us and made it work for space quite well, you will enjoy the Haven regardless of which floor you are on.

We have stayed in the Haven on the Epic three times now and have loved every trip. The service and attention to detail is excellent.

My only comment is that once you have stayed in The Haven, you will always want to rebook the Haven Experience