WildcatRock

We are also cruising thanksgiving week, but on the Epic. We ususally cruise spring break, so I can't imagine it would be much different.

You cruise spring break? OK, you can handle anything. :)

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We usually cruise the week after Thanksgiving so there's usually not a bunch of kiddos on the ship. This year we're cruising the week of Thanksgiving so we know there will be in excess of 1000 kids on the ship. Not a problem since we know what to expect, plus we're in a GV so we'll be nice and secluded. Our two boys will have a great time making new friends.

In my first post I commented about unruly kids but frankly it probably wouldn't bother me. I love The Haven and have actually been talking with my DW about my interest in upgrading to The Haven from our SF on our cruise next year on the Gem out of NY.

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WilcatRock mentioned enjoying the quiet, but some reviews I've read suggest that the Haven attracts families with children due to to the configuration of many cabins in that area. I would be willing to pay more if the Haven were, as the definition of haven suggests, a quiet, adult area. Just depends on what vacation means to you and what you hope to find. I would be really frustrated if I booked the Haven expecting a quiet area and it turned out to be anything but. Thank goodness for cruisecritic.

That is my greatest fear booking a Haven suite - the possibility of being subjected to unruly wild kids that are allowed to roam free around The Haven. We've been in The Haven twice and lucked out - it was nice and quiet. We're in The Haven again this Nov but know it'll probably be crazy as we're cruising the week of Thanksgiving.

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Having stayed in both I think the better value is the SF. You get pretty much the same perks as the suites in the Haven. That said, our last cruise was in The Haven and we absolutely loved it. We loved the quiet, the seclusion, the nice, big private are on deck 15 for suntanning. We were originally booked in and SF but we're able to move up to The Haven at no extra cost due to a wonderful sale NCL was having -it was a no-brainer decision. DW and I decided that The Haven is awesome, but we wouldn't pay full price for it as we love the SF so much. But hey, it all comes down to what type of cruise experience you want.

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I know its 558 days until we sail, but we are so excited. We booked the Garden Villa to celebrate 2 big birthdays...My sister is turning 60 next Sept and my husband will be turning 70 while we are on-board. Can't wait to enjoy 7 wonderful days in our private villa! Any suggestions on what we should not miss, please let me know!

Congrats, you'll love it! We're in the Garden Villa on the Jewel this November and previously sailed in the Garden Villa on the Pearl. Like you, we booked the GV this year to celebrate a lot of family happenings - our 25th wedding anniversary, I turn 50 while on the cruise...in Cozumel..uh oh, our oldest son will be a senior in college and our youngest son while be a senior in high school. I was so giddy booking that GV I actually invited my mother-in-law to go on the cruise.

You'll have an awesome time and will:

1.) Get to select 6 bottles of alcohol

2.) Be able to enjoy your private 8 person hot tub

3.) Enjoy your own private cabana area around the hot tub

4.) Have your own private suntanning deck

5.) Have your own private sauna

We booked our first GV for our second cruise and the biggest mistake I made was spending more time out of the GV exploring the ship. I won't be making that mistake this time!

Enjoy!!!

There's no difference between the old Romance Suites and the aft Penthouse Suites. The suites on decks 9 & 8 are similar to the ones on deck 10, but I understand they might be just a little smaller.

Ah the wonderful Pearl - how I do love her. Hope you're doing great Squid!

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Since you're traveling with your kids the Haven 2 bdr suite would be the better option for you since it does have separate bedrooms and bathrooms. Yes, the owners suite has more room, but you'll have all of the space in the Haven directly accessible to you in the Haven. Sure, the owners suite also has access to the Haven, but the 2 bdr suite costs less and will provide you with separate bedrooms and bathrooms.

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Booked an 11 Day Round trip from Miami Panama Canal Cruise on the Pearl Nov 2015 yesterday. It is still not on the site today. VERY excited to have my first Aft Balcony. 571 Days to go!!

 

6&8

We booked the same cruise but for Dec 15. We are soooooo excited!

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Diller!! What is up? We just booked an 11-day southern Caribbean on the Pearl today sailing out of Miami Dec 2015. Would love to sail the high seas with you and your wonderful DW again some day. Hope all is well for you.

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Most of the cabins in the Haven are the 2 BR suites. You are in the Garden Villa. 3 BR and large living area. Your suite and the OS get 3 bottles of booze. And even more attention than the other suites. Not alot, but you are after all in the most expensive cabin on the ship.

 

Biggest perk is Cagneys for breakfast and lunch.

 

Scroll down the page, or search on BUTLER and you will find lots more about tipping, what they do, etc.

You get 6 bottles of booze in the GV.

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We stayed in that suite a few years ago - you are going to love it. In addition to the butler and concierge, we also tipped the room steward and the attendant that took care of the furniture each day in the private cabana area by the jacuzzi. We just felt like we received great care by these two crew members and gave them a tip even though they participate in the daily service charge pool. Tipping is entirely up to you based upon the level of service you think you receive.

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Don't give up on the "Suite Life". Try a suite on a different NCL ship and see how it goes. We cruise in suites on NCL and the cruise we had with Patrick as the Concierge was pretty much like the cruise you just had.

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NCL has double billing practices on their ships? Guess I've missed this - can someone clue me in about this?

You missed your excursion because you were talking to the financial officer? Really?

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It's easy - when u get to security just tell them you have 4 bottles of wine, they'll ask for them and will have you follow them over to a desk where an NCL cruise member is sitting. They'll get your cabin number from you, put a sticker on each bottle, and have you sign a receipt. You'll see the charge on your onboard account charged through one of the restaurants . My DW and I bring wine on boars every cruise and it's always been a piece of cake.

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The Winter 2015 - Spring 2016 itineraries are out. What do you think? What do you like, or dislike?

Overall, I love what NCL did - put ships in South America, Port Canaveral, LA, and San Diego. We really like the Sun 10 or 11 day itineraries through the Mexican Riviera.

Here's a link to the press release: http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/pressroom/pressRelease.html?storyCode=PR_031214A

Let us know - what do you like, or what don't you like???

Ok, that was a test that I failed - I forgot to include the link. Sorry.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=414

I am sailing out of Houston Bayport terminal November 1st and am looking for a hotel to stay the night before that has transportation from George bush international airport iah to the hotel and from the hotel to the pier the next day any assistance in this would be greatly appreciated

Try going to the link below as it has multiple threads about transportation and hotels in Houston. If you don't see a thread that helps, start a new thread using your question above. You should get some very helpful replies back.

You can also go to NCL.com in the next few months to see if they have listed their preferred hotel partners in Houston.

We're on the Jewel on Nov 22, wow are we excited!

Glad your excited! You should go to the Roll Call for your cruise and meet some of your fellow passengers. They'll be excited to have you join them.

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You can't go wrong with snorkeling at Buck Island. Nice protected cove with clear water and good views.

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We were on the Star out of NOLA 2 years ago and had Costa Maya as a stop - loved it! This fall we're on the Jewel out of Houston, same itinerary, except no Costa Maya which made as very sad. We have two sea days now on the way back from Roatan to Houston.

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Congrats and enjoy!!

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The overall experience for us - mainly from the ship. We've been to the same ports several times, and always have fun at each stop, but it's the relaxation, the sound of the ship's wake from our aft balcony, and overall experience on the ship that has us hooked.

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Card....I meant card not car......I hate typing on my cell phone.

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We've got the car and like it. We cruise every year on NCL and cash our points in for OBC. Sure, there are other points/rewards cards out there better than this one, but it works great for us. I run all of my business expenses through it so the points add up fast.

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