graphicguy

Never had to dress up in either Los Lobos or Cagney's.

Overall, the only restaurant that requires long pants or a pantsuit or skirt for the ladies is Ocean Blue or LeBistro. Ocean Blue may have changed their requirements as I have not hear any recent dress requirements for that restaurant. There is a night for "Dress up or Not", which is exactly that. IF you want to get dressed up, go ahead, If not, that's OK, too. Mostly, those who do dress in suits or dresses do so to get their pictures taken on board. But, there really isn't any reason you can't dress up (or not) any day/night of the cruise. It's really up to you. You can if you want. Or not, if you want. No one will think twice about your choices.

I travel solo quite a bit. Plus, on a cruise, where you can’t really just take a % of the bill and figure a tip from there, as there is no bill. I usually tip wait staff in the MDRs or Haven restaurant about $25 for the week. Bartenders get $1 or $2/drink depending on its complexity (maybe even more if the Haven Bartender is making one of their famous “smoky” drinks). $50/week/pp for the Concierges up to $100 for the week/PP if they are doing something really complex with my excursions, for example. Room Steward? Hardest working people who take care of me. $100 tip….$50 the first day and $50 the last day. Butlers I have very little need for and require little. So, $25/week/pp for stocking my coffee. The rest? Depends….if the service was particularly good in one of the Specialty Dining restaurants, I put down a $20 bill. It’s hard to figure an additional tip give the meals’ values are way overinflated if you look at the “a la carte” pricing. Plus, there’s already a tip included with them. Poolside and general wait staff? $1/drink….same with waitstaff in the Garden Buffet if they’re fetching me drinks.

NO difference in Haven service whether you’re n the Haven proper, or have a Haven cabin outside of Haven proper.

Dead on. If someone goes over and above for me, additional tips are in order. On a cruise ship….particularly on a cruise tip, there seems to be a direct correlation between a greased palm and service that excels. Rare instances where that hasn’t worked out for me (as in previously mentioned Butler). But, overall there is a significant difference between service rendered before and after I pull out greenbacks. Some, like the Concierges, seem to work hard for me before they even know what, if anything, will end up in the envelope at the end of the cruise. But, the bartenders tend to be more prompt, the waitstaff tend to accommodate me even better, etc…when I offer a TIP at the outset.

I don’t think I even knew what Vegan was back then….not sure it even existed. But, once I committed, even at a young age, I followed through. This is gross, but my best friend in grace school lived directly across the street from us. Invited to dinner. It was something that we both looked forward to. Growing up in an Italian household, it was likely we were having some sort of pasta for dinner, so he would jump at any invitation. But, his family was German. Most of our shared dinners at his house were “OK”, but one night the y had liver and onions. Smell hit me as soon as I walked in the door. Immediately after dinner was finished, instead of watching TV with them for a bit, I excused myself stating I had to get home. I upchucked in our side yard before I even got into the house. I have to leave this conversation. I actually had a dream about liver and onions last night….OK…more like a nightmare, as it was the only thing in my fridge and I was really hungry. I’m sure there’s a childhood trauma link in there somewhere.

Now you’re talking.

Good move on having a contractor take care of everything. And, sending positive thoughts your way regarding the interview!

Never had them....no desire to start!

Nothing against your request, but seriously, if you were going to bring a coffee maker on. board, I think I'd pick something a tad better than a Keurig. As bad as the coffee is in the buffet, I certainly would prefer it over a Keurig. These would be way better, too.... https://maxpressocoffee.com https://athome.starbucks.com/product-category/starbucksr-instant?gclsrc=PANTHEON_STRIPPED&gclid=PANTHEON_STRIPPED&utm_campaign=CY22_AlwaysOnSearch&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=starbuck instant coffee&utm_matchtype=e

Liver and onions were big in people's households where I grew up. I think it's popular overall in the Midwest. You could always tell what was cooking when you smelled it in your friends' household when they invited you to dinner with their family. Always an invitation I regretted upon opening their door to join them. My Father, who grew up in Europe, loved "baccala", which is salt cod. From what he relayed to me, the reason they salted it so heavily was to preserve it. No matter, I still didn't like it. Smelled bad while cooking it, which I could never get over. But, during Lenten Season, it was a staple in our household. We were forced to eat it. I think that had a lot to do with me not liking it. But, these days, I've tried it again. And, it really has a mild flavor after you rinse it throughly. Still not something I'd ever seek out. I am SO VERY HAPPY none of these dishes are offered anywhere on any of the cruise ship dining establishments. You think the smoking smell in the casino is bad. How would you like to get a whiff of liver and onions while walking up to the hostesses pedestal? Welcome to another episode of Cooking with GG! 😉

I knew there was a reason I liked you!!!!! 😉

You could smother it in bacon, sausage gravy, cheez whiz, cheddar, etc. I still hate liver…always have, always will. I don’t like the smell of it. I don’t like the looks of it. And, I certainly don’t like the taste of it, no matter how it’s prepared. When I left my parents’ home at 18, I swore I’d never eat what they forced me to eat again. I’ve stuck to my word. And, that’s all I have to say about that!

Nice review. Glad you had a great time.

Applause....Applause......

Someone mentioned it earlier...if there's a "bugaboo" I have with the Haven, it's the amount of crew that one feels they need to tip. I like to think I'm relatively generous with crew, regardless of what my cabin type is. You go over and above for me? I'll tip over and above the already charged tip amount. In the Haven, the crew make a point to let the guests know they are not included in the tip pool that everyone else is. I've always assumed (we all know what that entails) that they also make a higher salary as a result. They are truly the "best of the best" of the crew on the ship. But, I don't know how I can be expected to tip every single waitstaff in the Haven Restaurant who may have interfaced with me during my Haven stay. Did you pour me a glass of water on the first day of the cruise and expect a tip? Bartenders in the Haven are truly special. They get a buck or two for every drink they make for me...because every drink they make is excellent. And, they know me and my wants from the first day of the cruise. I have not had to wait...at all...for any drink in the Haven Lounge/Bar. More controversial (at least for me), if I only ask the Butler to remove the included sparkling wine (which I don't drink) and s/he leaves it there the entire length of the cruise in the melted ice, nor remove the chocolate covered strawberries which I'll never eat, etc. Should I tip them? I get it. They do replenish my coffee pods and they do bring daily snacks, whether I want them or not. But, if they don't honor my requests, which I consider very simple, do they deserve a tip? I do give them something. But, it's not anywhere near what I give the Concierges, who book my excursions, make my restaurant reservations for me, escort me on and off the ship, take care of my billing snafus, etc. I just don't require much from my Butler. I prefer it that way. It's not like I don't value them. I just don't need them. I tell them up front..."I'll be the easiest guest you'll have during this trip". I just realized, I'm guilty of yet another tipping post. I should be flogged!!!!!!

Oh WOW! What a great idea. I think I'm going to have a t- shirt made that says "I'm in the Haven....ask me how"!

Water woes….it is stressful. I would almost want my house to burn down to the ground than have a pipe burst. One item to take care of at a time. Trying to take it all in with one gulp will make you crazy. It may take a while, but progress will be made. Personally, I had my own company do an estimate in addition to the one my insurance company sent. I preferred working with people I knew vs people the insurance company sent. I had to front some of the cost (reimbursed) to get them started. And, once started, they dealt with the insurance company themselves, which was a huge help. Again, I’m sure you’re thinking about all the things that have to be done. Make a list. Do them one at a time. Cross them off as they’re completed. That made a stressful situation a little easier.

Seems like a lot of this discussion centers around worrying what other people think. Do you really care? I don’t care what others think if I’m escorted into Syd’s or Cavern Club ahead of every one else, for example. It’s a perk…one of the many that come with the Haven. If anyone cares that I get that perk, it has nothing to do with me. Same with the private restaurant, lounge/bar, etc. I don’t care what others think when I book a Haven. Now, in all frankness, I’ve met some….ummm….”characters” staying in the Haven that act like a Saudi Prince . I just laugh them off because of their “self-importance”. Mostly, they are nice people with the same outlook on life as me. But, I also have met some horse’s posteriors on most of my cruises, regardless of my cabin type…..just like in real life. Sluff them off. Ignore them when and where I can, and move on enjoying myself without a care. My marital status, my financial condition, etc really is my business only. I rarely share any deeply personal information about myself while on a cruise. That said, I’ve met some great people on my cruises, too. Some of them I consider cruise friends and would sail with them again, in a heart beat. Many of them populate these boards. Now, if you see me on board and I’m wearing ornate flowing robes, don’t bother approaching me. I’ll be too busy sniffing rarified air you can only get in the Haven. If you see me in a tattered t-shirt with “REN and STIMPY” on the front and ripped shorts with my “all business” tattoo showing out of the front of them wearing my blown out “flip-flops”, you’ll know I am staying in an inside room on a “sail away” fare with no FAS at the service desk removing the DSC. See, I can do both. And, I pull off both with the same aplomb.

Beautiful!

I don’t have a Conservatory Suite. I upgraded to the cheapest 2 BR Haven Suite they had. I’m outside of the Concierge lounge area. Although, the Suites you describe sound wonderful!

I’ve read some crazy fares for the Haven. Frankly, I don’t understand how or why some pay what they do, knowing with a little searching and understanding, they would have been better served adjusting their plans, or dates, or cabin arrangements, or ship, etc. Granted….I’m an incessant cruise shopper. So, I have a generally good feel on deals for any cruise line. But, anything over $5K in total for a 7 day Haven Suite on NCL is a hard stop for me. It’s a hard stop for Celebrity’s Retreat Suites. It’s a hard stop for Royal’s Star Suites. It’s a hard stop for MSC’s Yacht Club. I’ve sailed Celebrity’s Retreat (2X). I’ve sailed MSC’s Yacht Club (2X). I have sailed NCL’s Haven (4X). I HAVE NOT sailed Royal’s Star Class…mainly because their pricing is nowhere close to the fares on the other 3. Come to think of it, I’ve never spent more than $4,800 all in (Celebrity Sky Suite in their Retreat). Mostly, I’m in that $4K-$4.5K range. Are any of these products better than the other? I can’t say that. They are all different, but can’t say any of them are heads above the other as a blanket statement. Some may do one thing or the other better than their competitors, but their competitors can say the same. Sometimes NCL Haven is less expensive than the Retreat or Yacht Club…sometimes they’re cheaper than the Haven. Personally, I prefer then Haven over the Yacht Club and consider it a draw with the Retreat. Someone else? I’m sure they’d view it differently. Bottom line, on any given itinerary, for any given length, on any given cruise line, on any given ship, trying to compare apples to apples is a chore. Are the ships new? Are the suite cabins similar? Are the perks similar? All good questions…and many others can be asked. I enjoy doing it, though.

...if you're transmitting PPTs, XLS, graphic rich e-mails, etc, I would find WiFi on board the ship to be spotty, at best. I wouldn't count on it.

There are minimum bids. If you leave the slider at “zero”, that’s not registered at any bid. The least amount I’ve ever seen on the slider that would register as a bid is $50/pp and that was for a minimum upgrade (like inside to an ocean view). Haven upgrade minimum bids are well into the hundreds of dollars on the slider.

Well…if NCL says they can’t get authorization and Costco can’t give authorization then I’d tell NCL you can’t spend anything on board! Let them figure out what went wrong and fix it! I don’t think there’s any correlation with NCL’s credit card offer!