A HAVENly week on Escape - January 16 - 23, 2016

[MRSRN]

Yay! I am so excited for your review! Awesome photos of the Haven!

[jmele999]

Haven Spa Suite

 

After sailaway we went back to the room to unpack. All of the spa suites are located on deck 16 adjacent to the spa and one deck below the Haven. There are a total of 13 spa suites, which can accommodate up to 2 guests each and a deluxe spa suite (for 3 guests). Each suite has a very comfortable king size bed, a seating area, and an in-suite whirlpool. There is one large closet and lots of storage space. There is also space underneath the bed to store your luggage.

 

 

 

The bathroom is very spacious with a double sink and a great waterfall shower with 6 body spray jets.

 

 

 

 

The balcony is also very spacious and can easily accommodate a lounger, which you can get from your room steward. We did not request a lounger because we did not spent too much time in the room.

 

[jmele999]

The Spa

 

One of the best perks of the spa suite is having unlimited access to the thermal suites facilities located in the spa, which give you access to a variety of whirlpools, heated loungers, sauna and steam rooms.

 

 

 

 

Spa services (massages, etc) are not included as part of the thermal suites access. If you are a platinum latitudes member, you can receive a 25% discount for spa services on port days.

 

 

We really enjoyed the spa and used it at least once a day.

[jmele999]

The Haven Complex

 

After the spa, we went back to room to get ready for dinner. On our way to the Haven restaurant, I took some pictures of the complex.

 

The Haven complex is located on decks 17, 18 and 19.

 

 

 

The concierge desk, lounge and the bar are located on deck 17.

 

 

 

Located right outside the lounge/bar area is the courtyard where the pool and whirlpools are located.

 

[jmele999]

The Haven Complex

 

The restaurant as well as some of the courtyard and family villas are located on Deck 18.

 

 

 

There is also an additional lounge/waiting area located directly outside the restaurant.

 

 

 

[jmele999]

The Haven Complex

 

Deck 19 has an indoor/outdoor sun deck with lots of loungers and a whirlpool.

 

 

 

 

The Haven complex also has a retractable roof.

 

[jmele999]

Dinner at the Haven Restaurant

 

Our first dinner onboard was at the Haven restaurant. Although, the dinner took longer than expected, the service and the quality of the food was great.

 

 

Pork belly appetizer

 

Whole cold water Maine lobster - Excellent

 

Lamb chops - DP noted that they were perfectly cooked.

 

 

Chocolate pistachio bar

[jmele999]

After dinner we walked around the ship, visited the casino and went to bed early.

 

 

Next - Sea Day # 1

[Ladypeartree]

Excited to read more!

[jmele999]

Day 2 - A sea day full of fun with cruise critic friends and a cancelled show

 

 

 

[jmele999]

Day 2 - Sea Day

 

Our day started with mimosas and breakfast at the Haven restaurant.

 

 

 

Seafood Egg Benedict - A new menu item. It was ok, but I prefer the Crab Cake Egg Benedict (no longer on the menu)

 

Tahitian Vanilla Challah French Toast - DP's favorite breakfast item. Extra berries on the side.

[jmele999]

Day 2 - Sea Day - Cruise critic events and Food Republic

 

After breakfast we went to the spa and relaxed for a couple hours before the cruise critic meet and greet.

 

The meet and greet was held at 11:00 am in Cagney's and it was attended. The event was attended by several of the officers (sorry no pictures). After the meet and greet, 35 of us participated in the slot pull. We each put in $15 dollars and walked away with $17.

 

After the slot pull we decided to go to Food Republic for lunch and some drinks.

 

 

 

Toro Toro and Ancho Pancho. Both drinks were very good, but if I had to pick one, I would go with the Toro Toro.

[jmele999]

Day 2 - Sea Day - More Food Republic

 

 

Bulgogi Tacos - Excellent - probably one of the best items on the menu

 

Rock Shrimp Roll - Very good = 4.5/5

 

Buffalo Blue Shrimp - Very Tasty - 4/5

 

Maine Lobster Rolls - Good - 3/5

 

We really enjoyed lunch at Food Republic, but were only able to eat there once during the week. This restaurant is a-la-carte, but we highly recommend this restaurant especially for lunch.

[jmele999]

Day 2 - Sea Day

 

We decided to skip dessert at Food Republic and instead went to the Haven restaurant and enjoyed dessert in the Haven sundeck.

 

Banana cream pie

 

Carrot cake

[mimi'sgirl]

Loving your review and all the pictures! Thank you..we sail in November.

[jmele999]

Day 2 - Sea Day

 

Our next adventure was the pub crawl organized by a fellow cruise critic member (Thanks Aubrey). Prior to the pub crawl, we decided to stop by our cabin and found a letter informing us that the show For the Record had been cancelled for that night. DP went back up to the Haven to try to re-schedule the show and to make dinner reservations for that night. David and his assistant were able to re-book the show for us and secured 8:00 pm reservations for Moderno, followed by After Midnight at 11:00 pm.

 

The pub crawl was a lot of fun. We visited the atrium bar, Margaritaville, the Sugarcane Mojito bar where Bong took really good care of us. He is without a doubt one of the best bartenders onboard.

 

 

 

 

During the pub crawl some of us went on a small cabin crawl and visited a 2 bedroom Haven Villa, a spa suite and an aft penthouse.

 

Our last stop on the pub crawl was O'Sheehan's.

 

The Mr. Worldwide (named after Pitbul) and the Toma.

 

After the pub/cabin crawl, we went back up to the Haven to enjoy the beautiful sunset.

 

[jmele999]

Day 2 - Sea Day.

 

Just a few more notes and pictures to finish up day 2.

 

 

Prior to dinner we relaxed in the spa. We enjoyed a nice dinner at Moderno on the Boardwalk.

 

 

 

Waiting for After Midnight. The show was very good, but it was a very late show (10:00 pm) and we were both tired. If possible, I would suggest going to the earlier show at 7:00 pm.

 

[sctexan]

Additionally, I compiled a schedule for the week to make sure that we visited all of the restaurants and bars (especially the new ones) onboard.

 

You and I must be twins! I'm stealing your schedule! Can't wait to read the rest of your review!

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[sunrise&set]

Loving your review! We're in the Haven for the first time in just 18 days.

 

Love your schedule too. I make a very similar one for our Disney trips ;)

Edited February 3, 2016 by sunrise&set

[mexico8]

:)Your food pictures belong in Gourmet Magazine. Love the narrative as well. Thank you.

 

Wendy

[jmele999]

Day 3 - Sea day # 2 - Behind the scenes tour, Lunch at Pincho Tapas Bar, relaxing at the Haven and Spa, Tobacco road bar, and dinner at Bayamo.

 

 

 

[jmele999]

Day # 3 - Sea Day # 2 - A great start to the day

 

Due to the time change I managed to wake up shortly after 6:00 am and decided to walk around the ship while waiting for the sunrise. I love walking around the ship early in the morning as it is a great time to take pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 6, 2016 by jmele999

[jmele999]

Children's pool and play area

 

 

 

 

The Vibe Beach Club

 

 

And a few more pictures of the Haven

 

 

[jmele999]

A beautiful sunrise

 

 

 

 

After enjoying a beautiful sunrise I started to get hungry and decided to go back to the cabin to see if DP was ready for breakfast. Of course, he was not ready so I went out to the balcony to enjoy the scenery.

 

[jmele999]

We enjoyed a quiet breakfast outdoors in the Haven.

 

 

A nice serving of vegetable juice (aka bloody Mary) to start the day.

 

After breakfast we relaxed in the spa until it was time for the Platinum behind-the-scenes tours.