Help Me Decide-7 Night Getaway 9/30/18 H9 Haven vs 14 Night Reflection 12/7/18 Aqua

I am having a tough time deciding between these 2 itineraries. I currently have the 14 night Reflection booked. But it's tough reserving enough vacation time for this cruise while still working. It is still possible though. I just saw a great deal on H9 Haven on Getaway for 2189 pp.

1) Price - Both approximately 5K

2) Perks - On Reflection drinks, prepaid grats, and 500 OBC. On Getaway drinks, specialty dining, Shore Excursion Credit & Wi-Fi. Also, since Getaway it would be a new booking so I could book with an online TA and get free pre-paid grats and some OBC.

3) Itinerary - Reflection is 14 nights and visits ABC islands which I have not seen. Getaway visits Western Caribbean and islands I have been to before.

4) Cabin - Reflection is Aqua Cabin. I was on Eclipse but in Concierge Cabin. Haven on Getaway. I've been on NCL once in Aft Haven on Escape and loved the experience.

5) Food - Reflection we can eat in Blu and on Getaway in Haven.

6) Entertainment - I think both will have good entertainments with Getaway having the edge

7) Time of Year - Reflection is in December so outside of Hurricane season. Getaway leaves Sept 30, right in middle of Hurricane Season.

Which would you pick and why? I appreciate your help.

I have no experience on Reflection but I have been on the Getaway in a Spa Suite with Haven access. While I certainly loved the Haven I would definitely pick the longer cruise and especially going to places I have not been. That defines it for me. I am not really one to cruise just to repeat ports or experiences....

The longer the cruise for the same price is better.

I have sailed on the Reflection and I would pick that ship over the Getaway every day.

However, that depends on if you are a smoker. If you smoke, choose Getaway. If not definitely choose Reflection.

We've cruised NCL for a long time and the Getaway is the one ship we just couldn't love. We will be diamond on Celebrity after our Silhouette cruise inn January. The ABC island itinerary is really a wonderful choice.

Thank you for all the responses. I think I will stay on the Reflection. I really enjoyed the Eclipse and this 14 day itinerary is very nice. But can't wait until I can afford to travel in the NCL Haven again because that was wonderful too!

Go to the ABC's

Thank you for all the responses. I think I will stay on the Reflection. I really enjoyed the Eclipse and this 14 day itinerary is very nice. But can't wait until I can afford to travel in the NCL Haven again because that was wonderful too!

Good pick - stay with Reflection.

Especially since you did not visit those islands before and the price is in the same range as the NCL cruise, but only shorten by 7 days.

Do the 14 day on reflection. We have been doing the 14 day sailings on Celebrity for the last 7 year’s and sad to say this December will be our last since Celebrity is dropping the 14 day itinerary. So I would do it while you still can. Back to back cruises are just not the same. We are doing our first NCL cruise in a H9 cabin in August. Not sure what to expect.

We just returned from our first Getaway cruise. Our previous 3 cruises have been in Aqua Class on X. We had a large Aft balcony room on this cruise, right next to our friends Aft Haven suite. We had 1 dinner with them in the Haven ( 35 per person upcharge) and we had one breakfast on day of debarkation. We also went with them when we went into ports( they had private escorts) and we were given priority luggage tags for debarkation. Their room was amazing and the food was great. For instance, Haven guests had fresh berries and smoked salmon. Regular NCL guests did not get either of those two items on a buffet. We enquired about purchasing a week long Thermal spa pass( included with Aqua class on X) and it was 250 a person. No thanks. We'll be going back to Aqua class on our next cruise. Oh and the Itinerary for Western Carribean wasn't great. Costa Maya was fine, we went to a private beach club. There is really no city in Mexico called " Costa Maya". Costa Maya is the name of the port. The port is set up to keep people in. It even has a large swimming pool.

Harvest Caye is NCL private island. NOTHING is included, no food, no drinks and you can't charge anything to the room. My friends went ashore, we stayed on the ship so we could get a seat at the pool. Roatan was a slum. Cozumel is nice, it was pouring rain so we couldn't do our excursion. We walked around the port.

Harvest Caye is NCL private island. NOTHING is included, no food, no drinks and you can't charge anything to the room. My friends went ashore, we stayed on the ship so we could get a seat at the pool. Roatan was a slum. Cozumel is nice, it was pouring rain so we couldn't do our excursion. We walked around the port.

Harvest Caye is not an NCL private island. It is a joint partnership with Roatan and developed by Norwegian. All the amenities are fee based because it is run by the island. On NCL's private island yes food is indeed included and if you have the beverage plan that is also valid there.

I am having a tough time deciding between these 2 itineraries. I currently have the 14 night Reflection booked. But it's tough reserving enough vacation time for this cruise while still working. It is still possible though. I just saw a great deal on H9 Haven on Getaway for 2189 pp.

 

1) Price - Both approximately 5K

2) Perks - On Reflection drinks, prepaid grats, and 500 OBC. On Getaway drinks, specialty dining, Shore Excursion Credit & Wi-Fi. Also, since Getaway it would be a new booking so I could book with an online TA and get free pre-paid grats and some OBC.

3) Itinerary - Reflection is 14 nights and visits ABC islands which I have not seen. Getaway visits Western Caribbean and islands I have been to before.

4) Cabin - Reflection is Aqua Cabin. I was on Eclipse but in Concierge Cabin. Haven on Getaway. I've been on NCL once in Aft Haven on Escape and loved the experience.

5) Food - Reflection we can eat in Blu and on Getaway in Haven.

6) Entertainment - I think both will have good entertainments with Getaway having the edge

7) Time of Year - Reflection is in December so outside of Hurricane season. Getaway leaves Sept 30, right in middle of Hurricane Season.

 

Which would you pick and why? I appreciate your help.

I would go with Reflection. I have been on the Getaway twice now, and both trips were less than stellar. It's just the ship itself. It's my least favorite out of any ship I have been on. The Escape is a fantastic ship, and since you loved that ship, I feel you will be disappointed in Getaway. Ship aside, August and September are the height of hurricane season, with September being more active than August (generally). I personally would not sail during September.

Harvest Caye is not an NCL private island. It is a joint partnership with Roatan and developed by Norwegian. All the amenities are fee based because it is run by the island. On NCL's private island yes food is indeed included and if you have the beverage plan that is also valid there.

Semantics. My point is NOT who owns it, its that nothing is included.

I would go ABC's...EVERY TIME (over Mexico)......I am looking at an 8 Day on the NCL Jade that hits the ABC's in October.

I am having a tough time deciding between these 2 itineraries. I currently have the 14 night Reflection booked. But it's tough reserving enough vacation time for this cruise while still working. It is still possible though. I just saw a great deal on H9 Haven on Getaway for 2189 pp.

 

1) Price - Both approximately 5K

2) Perks - On Reflection drinks, prepaid grats, and 500 OBC. On Getaway drinks, specialty dining, Shore Excursion Credit & Wi-Fi. Also, since Getaway it would be a new booking so I could book with an online TA and get free pre-paid grats and some OBC.

3) Itinerary - Reflection is 14 nights and visits ABC islands which I have not seen. Getaway visits Western Caribbean and islands I have been to before.

4) Cabin - Reflection is Aqua Cabin. I was on Eclipse but in Concierge Cabin. Haven on Getaway. I've been on NCL once in Aft Haven on Escape and loved the experience.

5) Food - Reflection we can eat in Blu and on Getaway in Haven.

6) Entertainment - I think both will have good entertainments with Getaway having the edge

7) Time of Year - Reflection is in December so outside of Hurricane season. Getaway leaves Sept 30, right in middle of Hurricane Season.

 

Which would you pick and why? I appreciate your help.

The Reflection. For 3 reasons-Its not in hurricane season, its a longer cruise, and its the Southern Caribbean which I like better than the Western Caribbean.

I have no experience on Reflection but I have been on the Getaway in a Spa Suite with Haven access. While I certainly loved the Haven I would definitely pick the longer cruise and especially going to places I have not been. That defines it for me. I am not really one to cruise just to repeat ports or experiences....

We were on the Reflection last year for the ABC cruise. Liked the ports and did not like the ship. Worst ship we have been on (refer to our review on cruise critic) So very uncomfortable. Surely there is another choice for the ABC...Princess ?? The Reflection is old and smelly. Fignewton3

I would go ABC's...EVERY TIME (over Mexico)......I am looking at an 8 Day on the NCL Jade that hits the ABC's in October.

Agree that the ABC islands are better than Mexico. Choosing the longer cruise is a better bargain.