PatJim

Re the (off topic) 3-bedroom Garden Villas, the largest one in NCL’s fleet is on the Dawn. We booked it in September 2019. Only time all 3 sisters and their husbands cruised together. Outside deck was about 4,000 sq. feet on 2 levels, with private hot tub, sauna, and commercial kitchen that included a microwave. Two of the 3 bedrooms were master bedrooms. Third one was size of mini-suite. If you get the chance, book starboard side (port side GV didn’t have kitchen). If 3 couples book it, could be very affordable. We loved the Gem, but like Sthrngary, we would now not book an NCL ship that didn’t have a Haven restaurant, bar & lounge. The Dawn GV, however, would be the exception.

Love, love, love the idea of a Haven CC party! If anyone else is also booked for our 4 upcoming cruises, kindly 🥰 let me know. Patricia

We booked an H6 2-bedroom on the Epic, transatlantic NYC-Rome 31 March-15 April 2025. Three people sharing the total cost of $12,240.81 (includes 10% Military discount), $294.24 per person per night. Downside is, in my opinion, the Epic is a warm-weather ship and the Atlantic ain’t that warm in early April! Doesn’t have a Haven sun deck, but I’m hoping to find some sun at Posh (free access for Haven guests).

We did sign up for the NCL excursion that included a sightseeing tour after our cruise ended in New Orleans. We also had a later flight (5 pm) back to NYC. The price was reasonable, and we didn’t want to carry luggage around w/us to explore NO after we left the ship. The tour was excellent, pretty thorough, though we still ended up spending a few hours at the airport before our flight.

Yep. Glad you found the link. It would be great if they also featured a few NCL chefs. We would definitely book this cruise if some of the chefs we’ve gotten to know were included.😋😋

You can bring whatever brand of wine you like onboard. We’ve brought on Rombauer Chardonnay, when NCL carried it. In fact, we first tried it on an NCL cruise, after Jim read great reviews in Wine Spectator. Since that first bottle, we joined their wine club. Cheaper than retail, and waaaaaay cheaper than the onboard price! Especially since NCL waved corkage fees for BYOB if you have their drinks package. Cheers!

My husband doesn’t even drink decaf anymore. He always packs rooibos herbal tea, and has never had a problem bringing it onboard numerous NCL cruises.

PS - Very creative CC name! One of my favorites. Another favorite is something like “lovestinkycheese” — but that’s another topic!

You will find restaurants freezing, regardless of which NCL ship you’re on🥶

Do sign up for the Roll Call. You’ll have the chance to communicate with fellow passengers ahead of the Meet & Greet on the ship. You might find others with similar interests. And most Roll Calls organize other activities, too, such as LCR (or is it LRC?), pub and cabin crawls on sea days. Though I download eBooks and puzzles, mainly to read at night in bed, my husband isn’t into reading novels or playing games (except Rummy-O, which we always bring). But he loves days at sea. He starts with early workouts at the gym, and takes looooong, leisurely meals. He enjoys exploring the ship and walking the decks. He doesn’t drink alcohol any more, but will order Heineken .00, and chat at the bar. At home he can spend hours online, but on the ship he only occasionally checks messages. Huh! Now I’m wondering how he does spend all his time on cruises😱

😂 So true! I would never buy good jewelry from a cruise ship store, as items are waaaaay overpriced. As an example, I have several nice pieces of Larimar (the medium blue stone discovered in the Dominican Republic), set in silver. Bought them at a jewelry store in St. Martin, as well as diamond pieces, because the prices were good, and the business has an office in NYC, where I live. (Had a ring resized here, at no additional cost.) The jewelry shop consignments on board NCL always carry Larimar. Their prices were at least double what I paid at the time of my purchase.

The concierge does talk to everyone in the lounge, if you arrive before the ship starts the boarding process. At least these were our experiences at the Manhattan cruise terminal, where we always arrived pre-boarding. Also was true for Vancouver. Can’t remember for Copenhagen—too long ago—and we boarded late in Southampton, so no spiel there. Guess you could board later so you wouldn’t have a wait in the Haven Lounge, but it would be a shame to start your vacation cruise later and maybe have to skip your first lunch in the Haven restaurant.😰

This is so well put. Thank you. It’s a pleasure getting to know the staff, some of whom have become great friends over the years. We’ve been known to book unplanned cruises just so we can see them. Patricia

To keep the surprise going, tell your mom that you’re Platinum or Diamond, and that NCL now allows this Latitude category to use the Haven check in line. We did this with a friend who thought she was sharing our cabin, but we actually booked a 2-bedroom suite. 🥰

There is a separate line at the cruise passenger terminal for Haven guests when you first enter, then all passengers go through the same security scans. The Haven line is always first to go through security. Once through, someone checks your cabin number, then directs you to the Haven Lounge. Each terminal might have differences, though most, if not all, US ports are similar. (We once embarked in Quebec City, and there was no separate line for Haven guests. Utter chaos until we got to the top of the escalator and we located a Haven staff member.)

… and balcony (4000 sq. feet on 2 deck levels ?) in NCL fleet. It was a fantastic vacation for all of us. And getting back to the alcohol, each sister choose 2 bottles. Though most of them went untouched. We’re not a big drinking family. I’ve since thought that it wouldn’t be more expensive if 3 couples booked the GV. Worth considering…

You’re correct, the Garden Villas get 6 bottles of your choice, selected from a list supplied by the pre-cruise concierge. A few years ago, we booked a 2-bedroom suite on the Dawn (Quebec City to NYC), and invited a sister and BIL who live nearby, to join us as our guests. My other sister, out in AZ, heard about it and decided to book the cruise, but in a mini suite. Tried to talk her out of it, or at least upgrade to a Haven suite so we could all spend lots of time together, but they kept the mini suite booking. Fast forward to several weeks before the cruise; we were offed an upgrade bid for the Garden Villa (3 bedrooms & 3.5 baths, plus private hot tub and sauna and kitchen w/microwave!). We finally went for it. At embarkation, we asked the Concierge if our mini suite relatives could transfer to the GV. Bless Virginia, because she arranged it. So 3 sisters and 3 BILs all together I. What has to be the largest cabin a

Thanks for this info. We’re on the Prima for the first time next November. I’ll remember not to bring books I don’t want to take home😰

NCL does have irons on board. This from the NCL web site: Guests are not permitted to bring and use their own irons or steamers onboard. Norwegian Cruise Line carries a limited number of irons and ironing boards which can be loaned to guests for a few hours at a time. They can be requested through housekeeping or Guest Services Desk. I would ask your cabin steward, as soon as you unpack.

Jim and I are also on this cruise and also 1st time Prima cruisers. We also chose the ship because it’s round-trip NYC and just after Thanksgiving. My sister flies in every November from AZ for this holiday, and we take advantage of this to cruise with her. Usually we’re doing a 2-week cruise on Getaway or Breakaway prior to Thanksgiving (this year it’s the Getaway), but NCL didn’t have anything prior, so we “settled” for the 11-day Prima cruise😆. We’re in a Haven 2 bedroom, which does look larger than other NCL 2 bedrooms (Gem, Epic, Break- & Getaway, Joy & Bliss…). Cabin #15318, if you care to see what it looks like or just call to say hi.🥰 Patricia

The Matador cocktail NCL serves in the Haven (and probably elsewhere around the ship, but I haven’t ordered it elsewhere) is quite different from the classic version. It contains bourbon, elderflower syrup, crushed candied ginger and I think orange bitters. Bit sweet, but totally delicious. Once on the Epic, however, I ordered it, and it was the classic version with tequila, pineapple & lime juice. Bartender must not have gotten the message. Of the two, I definitely prefer the bourbon ginger version.

Good for you! We live in a high rise apartment in NYC. I like to “train” before a cruise by walking up 5 flights or so - getting my STAIR legs, rather than SEA legs!!

Re using a TA or booking directly with NCL, for years we did the latter. Then we met a great couple through a Roll Call, who shared a private tour with us on Shetland Islands. Said he was a TA, who specialized in cruises. A few more years went by, we had an issue with the NCL PCC not responding to our requests, and we called our Roll Call friend. Turns out he’s a TA with a large company. He always responds promptly re bookings, price drop reductions, etc., and he gives us half of his commission after final payment. If we’re sharing the cabin with my sister and he knows we get free specialty dining, he’s often able to add the same perks for her, at no extra cost. The guy’s a treasure! We’re kicking ourselves for not booking with him sooner😰

You will LOVE the Joy! Don’t forget that lovely self-serve coffee machine in the lounge every morning… Ask to see the bar food menu available lunch times. The staff will deliver to the sun deck, along with your favorite drinks. My God daughter and her sister had daily orders for the onion rings while sunning up there. If you like wraps, the menu includes a vegan one w/tofu that is delicious. And the ice cream cookie sandwiches… Like most Haven restaurants, you can dine inside or outside. The Joy’s outside tables overlook part of the pool deck and water slide. Fun to grab a table before sunset for a drink and light meal, even if you’re booked elsewhere for a later dinner. Is your cabin deck 12, forward? You’ll be near the stairs to the Haven complex. Great way to work off the food😋

The 2-bedroom suites are H6. Jim spends a lot of time researching the best cabin for us, which means on same deck as Haven bar & lounge. This November we’ll be in 16114, mere steps away from the bar, lounge & restaurant, and around the corner from the Concierge desk. Next May we’re on the Joy to Bermuda in an H5, cabin 17710 (the Haven restaurant on this class of ship is one deck above the Haven bar, lounge, pool, etc.). November 2024 were on the Prima for the first time, in an H6 2-bedroom, cabin 15318. We also have a trans-Atlantic booked on the Epic March 31, 2025, in H6 cabin 16012. Not looking forward to being on the Epic again. Her Haven is best suited for warm weather cruising, but am hoping it will be warm enough to take advantage of the free access to Posh via Haven private elevator.