PatJim

We always get the 2-bedroom suite, because someone is always sailing with us. When my sister joins us, she pays a third of the cost and takes the smaller bedroom, which is very nice of her. Though it’s less expensive for all of us than if we booked the Haven separately. Otherwise, we ❤️ inviting good friends as our guests. If it’s a Danish couple, they get the master bedroom (they are Vikings!!!); if our God daughter, she sleeps in the smaller room.

All NCL ships have libraries, and the Joy-class ships also have a (sparse) Haven library. Since I now read mostly eBooks downloaded from the NY Public Library to my iPad, I’ve been packing a few “real” books from my fiction book shelves to bring on board each cruise to donate to the ship library. Clears out my shelves of unwanted books, that others might enjoy reading. I choose popular fiction, usually mystery or crime.

And I ❤️ that you started this post🥰!!! We sailed many times on the Gem, as we live a short cab ride across town from NYC’s passenger cruise terminal. Used to organize many Cruise Critic Roll Calls, and also loved organizing cabin crawls. Since first sailing on a NCL ship with her own Haven restaurant and bar—aft cabin on the Bliss—we’ve never gone back to any of the older ships that lack these facilities. BTW, the aft Haven suites on Bliss/Joy with HUGE balconies are @220 steps from forward elevators/stairs to the Haven. We liked the long walk back to our cabin after meals, but it was very inconvenient most other times: rushing back to cabin after breakfast to put on sunscreen, etc. before meeting in Haven for priority disembarkation for beach days, or just having to go back for that book we forgot to bring up to the sun deck. Now Jim always chooses 2-bedroom suites on same deck as Haven bar & lounge, and I have to agree convenience trumps having a larger balcony.

One thing I love about Joy-class Havens is the self-service coffee machine in the Atrium. Fabulous latte & cappuccino which I was happy to make every am to get me set up for the day. It also has an early morning buffet (almond croissants!), as well as lunch & afternoon tea sandwiches, etc., if we didn’t feel like a fuller Haven restaurant meal. Even Haven restaurant lattes were never as good as that machine. I’m not a morning person, but Jim hits the gym at 6 am (Epic has its own small gym—leave a trail of breadcrumbs to find your way back—ship has very peculiar layout). If not sailing on the Joy, I have a standing order for butler to deliver hot skim milk and almond croissants to our cabin every morning. Just add shots of espresso, and I’m happy. Does anyone else remember the suite coffee machines that had hot milk attachments? Those were the days…

Jim and I aren’t fans of the Epic Haven, primarily because we didn’t like the layout of Haven restaurant (long & narrow) and enclosed “outside” tables behind the main restaurant, with a second Haven bar. (It’s more of a warm-weather Haven experience, though we got such a good price on a transAtlantic, we’ll be back on her next Spring.) What I loved was the private glass elevator (requires Haven key card to operate) from Haven lounge directly to the large Posh sun deck, complimentary to Haven guests. Posh doesn’t have hot tubs, but does have a great bar. That elevator also goes 1 deck below the Haven lounge, opening directly to the Garden Cafe. I used this shortcut all the time to get curry lunches, which I brought back up to the Haven to eat.

Here in NYC (Eastern Time Zone) Jim goes online at 5 am 😱 to complete check in, so he can get the earliest time slot to show up at the pier. However, we’ve never been asked when we did show up what Was our scheduled time to arrive. So I don’t think anyone should worry too much about their time slot. Just turn up when it’s most convenient for you. Having said that, I realize that NCL spaces out these time slots to avoid overcrowding. Bon voyage!

After going through security, there should be a terminal staff person with a list of Haven names & cabin numbers. She will direct you where to go. Of course, every cruise terminal is different and probably has different procedures. At Manhattan Passenger Terminal, they recently changed the location of the Haven Lounge. Used to be right after security, on the left. When boarding, we just walked across the terminal to the forward ramp. In June and September the lounge was moved to the very back of the terminal o the right, making for a longer walk outside for boarding. No big deal, though.

You get your card after you’ve gone through security, and directed either to the Haven Lounge or to a special Haven check-in desk. We usually get our card in the Haven Lounge, directly from the Concierge, before boarding, but last cruise in September at Manhattan Passenger Terminal, we were directed to a Haven check-in desk for our card, and then escorted to the Have Lounge. The former method is more efficient. We’ve never had a problem, but if for some reason, you are not directed to a Haven lounge or Have area for check-in, speak up, as you are in the wrong place! Hope this helps. Patricia

One Haven perk I haven’t seen mentioned, and peculiar to the Epic, is free access to the Posh Beach Club. Epic’s Haven has 2 bars.- the inside bar & lounge, adjacent to the Haven restaurant, has direct access to Posh via a small glass elevator opposite the bar. The elevator only runs up to Posh, and down one deck from the Haven to just outside the Garden Cafe. It is only activated by a Haven key card. Loved that Posh was never crowded, had great lounges for sunning and had a great bar. Loved that I could ride down one deck from the Haven to the GC, grab a plate of curry, and take it back up to the Haven to eat at a table near the 2nd bar. Patricia

You’ll receive a special Haven “Welcome to your Sanctuary” key card. Like other N CL key cards, it also lists your number of Ultimate Dining packages, type of Beverage Package, and Latitude status, and assembly area. It won’t show your cabin number (for security, in case you lose the card), so be sure to memorize it🥰

FWIW, in March 2020 we were in cabin #12908 aft on Bliss (similar layout to Joy). We booked it for the huge balcony. It was exactly 220 steps from cabin door to forward-most stairs/elevator going up to Haven entrance. I loved it - gave me an opportunity to walk off those fabulous Haven meals it - but Jim didn’t. Biggest negative was the long trek back to the cabin after meals, or if we forgot something from the cabin.... Now we only book in Haven proper, and I have to agreed with Jim that the convenience of being near Haven amenities far outweighs a larger aft balcony. Patricia