Tralfie

Really loving this review! I spent a day on Meraviglia as part of a press/travel agent event a month or so ago and was SO impressed with the ship in general and the yacht club in particular that I immediately booked YR for next May. It's quite a few months away, but I'm getting to experience things vicariously through y'all. (I love how much you guys love food. "We ate... and then we ate... and then we grabbed snacks... and then we had second lunch." MY KINDA PEOPLE!) 

Richard 

On 1/25/2023 at 7:05 PM, CaribbeanBound said:

We did Bermuda back in 2005 and LOVED it.  Here are my notes from that 4-day visit.  Clearly some things have changed (like the prices) but it should give you some ideas...

 

This response/post is incredible. I just e-mailed it to myself as, like the OP, I'm going to be doing Summit to Bermuda the first week in June. I've been to Bermuda a few times, but have really only explored the museum in the dockyard (which I LOVED!). There are so many things here that I'm interested in. Thanks a gazillion for posting such wonderful details! 

Richard 

Lovely, quick review. I'm doing Celebrity Summit -- my first time with this line -- in June, to Bermuda, and am weirdly excited about the Sunset Bar. It just seems like the. type of place where I could spend quite a bit of time... also looking forward to Blu and Luminae (as I'm staying in an Aqua Sky suite, which has access to both) and finding out how The Retreat compares to NCL's The Haven, which is really my only other experience with that level of stateroom/service. 

45 minutes ago, UDChE89 said:

I’ve got a bid on a 2 BR as a single.   Wonder what the response would be for me.  What cabin did you upgrade from?

I booked the 2 bedroom as a single as well. It turns out a friend is going to go with me, but at the time, I was totally booking it for myself. Judge away! LOL 

Just now, JustSomeLady said:

Yes! Maria. She’s an absolute gem. 

 I'm curious... did you call the "land concierge?" I hadn't thought to do that... I don't have many requests, but there's one thing in particular I'm having a bit of a pre-cruise issue with. Perhaps I should try this route... 

I could swear that at some point, I saw a spreadsheet of various requests that people had made (afternoon snacks, etc). I can't remember if it was buried within the pages of comments responding to Gary's original post, or if it was in one of the Facebook groups I'm in for the Haven. Anybody recall? Much appreciated!

Richard

Gary: 

I read your original post (and the gazillion comments which followed it), and I devoured this one as well. I've cruised NCL many times, but will be doing the haven for the first time (on the Getaway) in two weeks. Words can't begin to express how many of the questions that were bubbling in my head were answered by your post. Having never really done a trip as expensive as this one, I booked it with quite a bit of trepedation and really wanted to make sure I was getting the most out of the experience. Now, thanks to you, I feel that I am better prepared than I have been for a trip in a very long time. 

Thanks for that. 

Richard

On 2/8/2022 at 5:07 PM, BirdTravels said:

Emed and NCL must have cut a deal. Emed on RCCL cruises will sell you a 3-pack of tests. Emed for NCL sells you a 5-pack for $150 (of which your insurance company is compelled to reimburse you $60). 

You can also get two-packs through Carnival's website. I've gotten them from there several times for various reasons. 

And by the way, lemme be the first to admit I was wrong in saying we'd be wearing masks for a long time, now that the mandate has been lifted. Although frankly, I'll still be wearing one anytime I think it's tight quarters. I'm of the "better safe than sorry" school, having watched two of my favorite people in the world get sick as dogs from Covid. (Not serious enough to be hospitalized or anything, just like a severe flu that they're struggling to bounce back from,e specially from an energy perspective).

I'll admit that the combination of dropping the mask mandate and allowing unvaccinated kids on board has me nervous as a virgin at an orgy, but this is my first time in the Haven and I'll be darnd if I[m backing out now!

Pretty sure there's absolutely zero chance we'll be sailing mask-free in March. They might loosen up a bit, but they won't be gone. The big question is whether they'll extend pier-side testing. If they're going to do that, I'd think they'll have to make the announcement fairly soon. Then again, things change so rapidly it's tough to predict! My big hope is that they'll be bringing back barstools on Getaway. Unlike some of the other ships, the barstools on Getaway have been removed and/or guests aren't allowed to sit in them. Of all the covid restrictions (which I have no issue with), this one seems the oddest. And it's odd that it's only on a few of the NCL ships. 

I'm a huge fan of both Carnival and NCL. I've done more on NCL, but that's largely because they have more ships sailing more often out of NYC, my homeport. 

A couple things to note: 

* When it comes to the drink package, the two big differences are that Carnival's Cheers program "limits" you to 15 alcoholic beverages a day, whereas NCL doesn't have a limit. Carnival's package also includes more things like specialty coffees, bottles of water, etc which aren't included in NCL's package, generally speaking. 

• Pre-ordering bottled water is wildly more expensive on NCL than it is on Carnival. While Carnival's is pretty much in line with what you'd expect to pay for a case of water on land, you can get about six bottles for the price of a case on NCL. 

• While NCL is very big on the freestyle concept, DO make a reservation is you have your heart set on a specific specialty restaurant, especially the last night. I alwasy like to do Cagney's steakhouse on the last night, and it books up fast. 

• One of the best hang-out spots on Encore is Spice H20, which is basically an adults-only area similar to Serenity on Carnival. There's another adults-only spot on Encore called Vibe Beach Club, which I LOVE, but you have to pay a pass to access it. They sell a limited number, and it has its own hot tub (no pool), bar, great servers, etc. 

• The racetrack is extra. I've done it, it's fun, not sure I'd do it again. Personally, I think the ships with the go karts devote WAY too much top-deck space to something that most people will likely only do once, if that. 

• There are three main dining rooms on Encore. taste and Savor are across from one another and pretty much the same, decor wise. I much prefer the Manhattan Room, which FEELS like a specialty restaurant despite having the same menu as the other MDR's. They often have live music and dancing in this venue. Definitely a cut above the other two MDR's on board. 

• Room service costs (I believe) $9.95 per order. So if you're ordering room service, make it worth while. Order a few things you can put in the fridge. Remember, you're paying per order, not per item (with a few exceptions, which will be noted on the menu) 

• Encore's entertainment is top notch. Way better than you're going to get with Carnival's Playlist productions. Choir of Man, Kinky Boots both excellent. Although it costs extra, I love, love, loved Happy Hour: Prohibition, The Musical. (Fun, adult, a little naughty... and they serve a variety of drinks, thus justifying the charge). 

* Good specialty restaurants. My personal fave is Food Republic, because you can order small plates to share. Really interesting stuff on the menu. 

 

8 hours ago, Kirk2121 said:

If we get the owners suite, Could we add two more people? Wondering what that would cost.   We got our bid accepted a week before this last cruise. 

You can add people, but you'd have to pay the associated fees. Taxes, port fees, etc. And I believe they would have to separately purchase any drink/dining package, if I'm not mistaken. 

I'll be sailing in the Haven for the first time in March. I'm going to have a fair amount of OBC and was told it might be possible to use some of that toward tipping my butler, concierge, etc. Wondering... how do you go about doing that? Anybody done it can give me a clue? 

As always, thanks in advance! 

 

5 hours ago, Kirk2121 said:

 

 

Edit: bidding for owners suite is like 2.5 times expensive as the other haven rooms.  We've pretty much decided to bid.  But there is only 2 of us & it sleeps 6.  Will it be worth it? We'll have access to butler if we get into any haven room. 

 

 

 

I say go for it. YOLO, as they say. I booked myself into the 2-bedroom Haven suite on Getaway this March. I have a friend who might join, otherwise it's just me. I can't wait! (And yes, if you're in any Haven suite, you'll have a butler) 

Good luck on your bid! 

On 1/14/2022 at 5:18 PM, BirdTravels said:

You are answering a question asked 4 years ago. 

To be fair, you're responding to a comment on a question asked four years ago. 🙂

7 hours ago, JAGR said:

Just ignore the fact that NCL says it was cancelled.  One port, and no one gets to disembark.  What a cruise!

I can say my black jeans are blue, but that ain't gonna make it so. The cruise was in no way, shape or form cancelled. As for what it wound up being... I'm sure a lot of people are VERY disappointed, but I honestly wouldn't be,. I'm more about the journey (being on the ship) than the destination(s). And if you told me I'd be getting a full refund PLUS an additional FCC? Yeah, I'd be perfectly happy. 

Congrats! I didn't think NCL actually had any ships sailing at the moment, what with all the cancellations and postponements! 

You mentioned you're in the Haven lounge enjoying coffee... I'm curious, as I'm doing Haven for the first time in March (on the Getaway): Did they handle testing, etc any differently for Haven guests? Or was it all sort of one big mish-mash? 

Hope you have an amazing time! 

19 hours ago, JAGR said:

You are in fact calling it what you want.  It is beyond mere semantics.  Its return to NYC has nothing to do with the cruise being cancelled! I'll take NCL's word over yours.  Can you admit that they've cancelled the cruise?

How is a cruise that leaves when it's supposed to and returns when it's supposed to "cancelled?" The ports are cancelled. But the cruise is not cancelled. That's not semantics, it's just facts. 

I was able to take a tour of Silver Cove before the shutdown... I know there are villas for rent (which are as gorgeous as they are expensive), but I'm curious... is the area itself ONLY available to those who rent villas? Or is it available to those who are staying in the Haven? 

Thanks in advance for the info! 

I'm not sure how it was cancelled OR cut short given that it's returning on the same day that it was scheduled to. They're skipping ports, but that's not the same thing as cancelled or cut short. 

On 1/6/2022 at 7:40 AM, cltcruisers123 said:

My other thought on this would be snacking at the Haven on the steak and lobster then rolling on to the speciality restaurant at latest time for second dinner 🤔.

You're my new best friend. Call me every five minutes. 

On 1/7/2022 at 8:23 AM, Cruise Gopher said:

Here are the options. It will be on the pre cruise concierge email letter. You can also just ask for them once you board. 
 

 

Pillow menu

Climarelle - body temperature regulating

Feather - goose down

Hypo-Allergenic

Overfilled Firm - firm but not too hard 

Reading Wedge

Ultra Foam - deluxe memory

OMG. It's like I'm in a restaurant looking at the appetizer menu. "Yes, I'll take one of each, please?" 

Like others have said, I'm sorry this happened and can't BEGIN to imagine how stressful it was. And thank you for, during your time on board, doing the right thing every single step of the way. 

This is a good reminder that it's worth picking up a few extra tests and brining them along, just in case. 

Soon to be doing the Haven for the first time and am curious about the "pillow menu" I've heard mentioned. I'm a self-proclaimed pillow ho — the more, the merrier! Wondering what a "pillow menu" offers. Also, at what point do I get a glimpse of it? Is this something that comes with the pre-cruise concierge letter I've heard referenced?

60 days and counting! Can't wait! 

The fact that you're asking "are they strict?" says to me that you should NOT be cruising right now. Even if they are not strict today, that could change tomorrow. This situation is evolving week by week. Asking "are they strict" also very strongly implies that you will be one of the folks who doesn't follow the rule unless forced. 

Simply put: If you don't want to wear a mask, you should NOT be cruising until this crisis is over. Don't cruise for your own sake if you think you will be uncomfortable, and for the love of heaven, don't cruise for the sake of everyone else on board if you're going to try and skirt the rules unless they're strict and "force" you to comply. 

Tropicana Room feels more like a specialty restaurant than do Taste and Savor. So much so that some people actually think it IS a specialty venue so don't make reservations there. They often have bands playing and (at least pre-Covid) a nice little dance floor. When I'm on a ship that has either this or the Manhattan Room, it's always my go-to choice where the MDR's are concerned.