Treasure Hunter

We have stopped sailing Celebrity. Last year we sailed in a concierge cabin, a celebrity suite and a royal suite. We do not feel it's worth it anymore. We did not feel pampered or special in any way. The retreat sundeck is jammed and very little shade. The food in Luminae is weird and on the Edge class you can not order any longer from the MDR menu. As you said the prices are thru the Moon. We are on NCL Encore next week. Princess ( a Penthouse Suite in June and Next year a new Oceania ship. Remember you can as the Haven concierge anything. They print out my husbands NY Times crossword every morning.

Other room snacks. Crudités with dip, cut up fruit plates, mini BLTs, cold shrimp platter for extra charge, cheese and dried fruit plate, assorted cookies. We have found that in the Haven restaurant if they have , they will make it for you. Had a great sliced chicken BLT by the pool and a shrimp cocktail instead of Shrimp Louis. Also don’t forget that you can have surf and surf ( two lobster tails) instead of surf and turf. Get my drift. I don’t remember if they had the Japanese hibachi restaurant on the Getaway ( I know they do on the Breakaway,Encore and Bliss) and it’s always great.

We like to eat on the water when it's available and two lunches we enjoyed was DiMillo's on the Water in Portland ( we ate at the bar because the restaurant wait was long) for lobster roll and clam chowder and in Newport RI, 22 Bowens Wine Bar and Grill at the Wharf for two different kinds of Lobster Roll, both delicious. Since the MDR on the ship is closed when in port we really enjoyed walking over to these restaurants from the cruise dock instead of another excursion. But we had been in both ports many times before.

Your weather will be warmer. We ate a lobster roll in every port.

I don’t expect everything to be perfect. We just hope to share the excitement and experience of a new ship. And we love the ports. And will be sailing with very adventurous friends. It will be our first maiden voyage and we have a positive outlook about the whole thing.

We got an email directly from Oceania ( even though we are working with a TA. The gist was that the shipyard informed them that the ship would not be ready until July. They gave us first crack at the inaugural sailing ( a week before the general public) and $250 per stateroom credit. We found out on a Friday and our TA called at nine on Monday. If you look on the website, the maiden voyage is not listed. The first sailing of Allura is August 5, 2025 our end of cruise return. Since we are so far out, I’m not sure two months will make a difference . Oceania transferred our deposit. I had to call our insurance to change the dates. At least airfare wasn’t involved.

Not blocked but you can see into their balcony. I once had a neighbor who went outside to talk on his phone in his underwear.

Cruise mapper shows the Enchanted Princess near MSC cay so between Miami and Bimini . Must have left really late but at least it’s at sea cruising at 16 knots

I have never had these horror stories with boarding but have only boarded NCL from New York, Miami and Seattle. Everything always went smoothly and we were treated special from the get go. Hope you have the same great experience. Especially in New York and I think also in Miami. There is a separate security line Haven only and once past security you are ushered into the Haven waiting room. You meet the Haven concierge and are first to board.

Give the Haven a call. Have you heard from the shore side concierge?they usually email you a month before your trip. We are leaving in two weeks and my son called from Atlanta that he got my beautiful Haven sticky luggage tags. He hasn’t gone on an NCL cruise with us in two years! Bizarre. I called ( the regular number and they transferred me) . They corrected the address but they only mail on Fridays. My son sent them to me priority mail. But don’t worry, you can get them at the pier from the porters.

We just booked the inaugural cruise transferred from June 25, 2025. Totally different ports but we don’t care. Couldn’t get the same stateroom but same category. Fingers crossed and knock on wood. Traveling with friends and it’s our first inaugural cruise in 50+ cruises. Very excited bc and hopeful.

You can come as early as you want. You will be in the Haven boarding area with snacks and drinks. You probably won’t board until 11:00. Lunch starts at 11:30 in the Haven restaurant so go straight there unless you want your free meal in American Diner.

Hahaha it happened to us once before on Holland America. We never did sail that line. It was right after 9/11 and we ended up doing the National Parks with Tauck instead.

Yes we were on the June 25th sailing and are sorely disappointed. We are going to try for the inaugural sailing. Monday will be insane. Although it’s likely to be delayed too. I actually like the ports more. Our original cruise was to Egypt and Israel and was going to be changed anyway.

That’s too bad. I was hoping Symphony would have one on our cruise in September. It’s a disappointment.

We took the paid tour because the platinum tour was filled the first day. It cost $189 a person and was terrible. The captain was giving a lecture in the theater so was t on the bridge. There was a lot of standing around and waiting. New people that didn’t know what to do. I don’t recommend. Princess gives a much better tour but that won’t help you

We booked British airways 2:40 to go home. Our TA has arranged Crystal bus transfer for us to Heathrow from Dover. We are being picked up at Heathrow before the cruise by Crystal private car and taken to one of the offered hotels in London ( Langham) and the next day going with a group from the hotel by bus ( Crystal also ) to Dover. Our cruise is September

And get the big waffle with strawberries and whipped cream!

There are many wonderful outdoor restaurants in the main square that will be more fun and tastier than a communal lunch in a back room. The Belgian fries, mussels, beer are great. Don’t stress, part of travel is going with the flow

Remember the second bedroom might be small but it has a private bathroom and tv and all the Haven perks plus you have a nice living room with dining table for four.

Having a large balcony in not important if you are in the Haven proper. You have many available loungers both in shade and sun. You can eat breakfast and lunch at the pool outside or there is lunch service up on the private sundeck. You are not dealing with crowds and chair hogs. I never spend time on my balcony when in the Haven. There is too many other better choices with unbelievably great service

That is a great excursion. We did it on the Island when the ship was new. The only other excursion that for sure sells out is the super pricey helicopter to the glacier for dog sledding in Alaska. As others said, if you want it, book it.

David! You nailed it. Life is short.

If you are buying the Haven be in the Haven. We usually get the the two bedroom suite even if we are just a couple. I am back and forth to the room all day to use the restroom, drop something off, pick something up etc. We are right there to go with the concierge early to the theater or off the ship. Even if we get a basic room, we prefer to be in the Haven and if possible on the floor where the restaurant, pool, bar, concierge is located. It can't be beat. You have a finite number of cruises in your life.

But the food ( I hope) will be better and for sure the entertainment will. We have an Aquamarine Suite ( we have been staying in the Retreat the last few years and hate the Luminae menu.) we will try it. We love different lines for different reasons. Oceania for itineraries and trivia. Foods good too. NCL Haven because we get great entertainment and big casino with great service. And Princess because it was our first cruise in 1990 and I still get a thrill at the love boat theme.