dlynn0366

I guess my wife and I are the odd ones out. We have booked suites twice and have never used the butler or concierge for anything. Never felt the need for it

Not to worry you aren't alone we don't use the butler or concierge either :) but I still leave a great tip as I find daily usually on more than one occasion both the butler & concierge go out of their way to let us know they are available to help us if needed.

i have a cruised book on the Escape and Gem for next year, the prices have not increased

for my breakaway cruise later this year, that has gone up by 100 dollars or so

Last month we were on the Escape in a Haven Owner's Suite large balcony & next March same week, suite & same itinerary trust me has gone up in price .... as in $2000 more a person. I booked this past March trip thru NCL a year in advance & for me to do the same now it's as I said $2000 more a person so I'd have to say that's a price increase.

I'm looking at a sailing next year on the Escape. Both deck 17 DOS are available. I've seen a couple of YouTube videos which show an impressive balcony, but I'm wondering if all that real estate is at all usable while at sea -- owing to perhaps the angle of the front of the ship deflecting a portion of the wind. My guess is "no"! :D

 

I know that there's a secondary (side) balcony, but it obviously pales in comparison.

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

I've stayed in the Haven OS on the Epic, Jade & Gem & never found the wind to be an issue. Sure if ship was underway & you stood at the railing only understandable there would be wind but if sitting down not a problem.

Great review & thank you for taking the time to post the fantastic pictures. I was able to actually show my husband what I meant by waterfront.

I always use Ground Link.

Great video's ...thanks for posting.

From what I've read & understand you aren't notified until 48 hrs prior to cruise if you have won a bid which at the same time they put charge on your credit card.

You mention the manners of the lady who sat down at a table. O'Sheehans is not exactly a haute cuisine establishment and surely she can sit anywhere. Is your photo not an invasion of privacy? (unless you got her permission to publish). Manners work both ways.

Personally I think it's rude to sit down at anyone's table without asking permission whether it be a "haute cuisine establishment" or a picnic table at a chip wagon.

Just wondering if Posh club on Epic is always open or are there specific hours? I will be in Haven so Posh is included. Thanks!

If I remember correctly I think the bar closed around 6pm.

Perfect world, sure. In a practical world, you better move your flight

I'm on the Escape in March & looking at a 1 pm flight from FLL... do you think this is a fairly safe bet ? I'm in the Haven & will take my own luggage off seeing as last year I had another passenger take my luggage by mistake & that caused a delay.

Apparently I was spoiled on Celebrity. Also, in both the Royal and Penthouse suites they offer unlimited specialty dining and unlimited internet - both of which are apparently "limited" with NCL.

 

Tom

I have the dining package as a promo but what I mean is say I at noon one day decide I want to dine at 7pm at Cagney's if space not available I've been told no so just because in DOS it doesn't mean it happens for you. Others differ in this, maybe I'm not aggressive enough ?? But my opinion is I'm paying for the suite & I don't think someone in a lesser paying cabin should have their reservations moved to accommodate me

We've been in several DOS and there isn't any magical extra stuff or status other than what is normally included with the given suite category. We've really not gotten any special tables in the restaurant, we wait at restaurants like anyone else. Our dinner length is the same as anyone else in that given restaurant at that given time.

I have to agree with you on this. I've not had dinner reservations and been told there were none available .... they did not magically appear because I was in a DOS nor do I expect them to.

Thank you for taking the time to do this !

Welcome home. I am sailing on the Gem this Thursday 12/29 First time in the Haven. I heard the sliding roof in the Haven pool was stuck at 95% closed. Was that the case on your cruise ? Also are there still DVD players/DVDs in the Haven suites ? I thought I heard they removed the DVD players are started offering complimentary pay per view movies.

Gem Haven sliding roof ? I as on the Gem a couple years ago & I don't believe the roof had the ability to open unless something has changed. Now I've read some say it retracts others say it's a fixed roof ...now I'm super curious !! All I know is the week I was on Gem the weather was great & the roof was never open.

One of our longtime members here on Cruise critic many of you know her - Harriet - she gave many people wonderful advice. Today she went to fly with the Angels she fought a good fight but now she is in no pain. I met Harriet through Cruise critic and we became the best of friends we cruised together chatted every day and laughed together and cried Together, I will miss her all the rest of the days of my life

 

 

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So sorry for your loss & all those who knew Harriet.

Apparently 4 out of 10 men snore ... first night your brother spends in your cabin could be interesting :(

3 bottles of spirits for owners suite and bottle of champagne u can order with the pre cruise concierge or wait till ur on board and order with the butler

And soda replenished throughout the cruise

 

 

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We always ask for 3 bottles of wine instead of liquor & there has never been a problem.

Yes but make sure to have the volume down because the "I see dead people" spring back to life when they think someone is even breathing to loud :)

To funny.... even though I stay in the Haven I never really use the courtyard, reaturant or bar other than first day.

Wow I would love to have a 248 square foot balcony! If I were you I would keep the deck 9 with the big balcony! Who cares where the dining room is. If I had a balcony that big I guarantee you that's where the dining room would be.

 

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I've stayed in a OS on the Gem 9th floor & then again in a OS on the Jade, as far as size & configuration I really felt there was not a big difference. If doing it again though I'd go with the 9th floor as I felt on the 10th floor the bridge looks down on you so closely Its like you are in a fish bowl :)

Yes, I think you're crazy, but then my last girlfriend told me I had a fear of commitment.

 

I rarely, if ever, book more than 30 days out. I'm going out today on the Escape which I booked on Tuesday. I have booked on a Sunday and cruised the next day, but then I live 20 minutes from Port Everglades and 30-45 minutes (depending on traffic) from Port Miami.

I envy your location, living in Ottawa, Canada airfare to Miami is the cost of a cruise. Enjoy your week on the Escape.

I have never done the price drop checking thing. I shop around, find a good price with good perks and am happy. There is no point in being sad about what you could of had. I added that site that checks cruise drops for you a few years ago and I have been notified once. I wait till its a good price,granted, I book in close and live in Florida... and have a flexible work schedule. I do go for upsell to Haven on NCL sometimes....

Well welcome to the Crazy Club ....I will let you know when the next meeting takes place 😀

Are you are saying you don't take advantage of price drops when they go down ?

Then , yes you are crazy ! :eek:

 

I do understand not checking prices 3 times a day like some people but never ? NCL must love you .

If never means not checking prices after I've booked then yep I'm CRAZY & loving every minute of it. By the way I'm in the medical profession & I've yet to have a colleague try to commit me but maybe they're just being kind 😏

Maybe I'm crazy but I really look forward to my cruises & I book the next one as soon as I get off the last one & I don't look back ie checking prices etc. All I know is I booked & this is what I'm expected to pay & if I didn't like the price then I only have myself to blame. I fully expect prices to go down but also realize to get what I want I pay the price by booking ahead of time.

The Haven was very quiet and wasn't crowded. The Haven on the Jewel class ships is very small compared to the -away class, but there are a LOT fewer Haven cabins.

 

The front balcony would be great for sailing in/out of Venice. We were in a Haven penthouse on the Gem when we sailed out of Venice and went to the upper deck for sail away, but it's in the middle of the ship, so the view was restricted.

The OS are on the end so view is not obstructed.

Thanks for the response. I have read Alaskan cruises have less wind on forward balconies, as you stated, speed is reduced. Not sure how the Med is going to be, we are doing the Venice, Greece, Croatia itinerary at the end of Sept.

 

Yes, living space and amenities of the Owner's Suite look amazing, one of the reasons we are contemplating the upgrade. How was the Haven? I know it is quite a bit smaller on Jewel class ships. Was the Haven crowed? I would hope it would be called "The Haven" for a reason...:-)

I've stayed in the OS on the Gem and the Jade and loved the suite. The Haven is identical basically on both ships and to be honest I on both ships only made the trek to it once to check it out. With this suite with both the front balcony which is great for views & sunbathing plus the side balcony iI could see no reason to sit in the Haven which has a pool about the size of the tub in your suite :) plus the Haven is closed in so its not like you can see the ocean.The front balcony even when sailing you could sit out & enjoy a drink without being blown away & again the views are fantastic.