Is The Haven Spa Cabin For Us?

[April42749]

Quick summary:

We booked the "no frills" on the BA for 5/1, inside cabin. We were assigned, imho, the worst cabin on the ship. My plan was always to upgrade if I wasn't happy to either a balcony or mini-suite. If for whatever reason I couldn't upgrade, I was going to buy spa passes.

 

We don't drink, have absolutely no need for up-scale dining, booked a private excursion and leave the internet at home, so the promotions are absolutely useless to us.

 

Now, I've been offered a Haven Spa for $1000/pp more. This would include use of the thermal spa (need to confirm with 3 NCL reps to make sure that's correct), Haven restaurant, thermal spa, Haven courtyard and lounge areas, and butler services.

 

What would I use a butler for? To bring me blueberries and slices of lemon for my water. It just seems to silly.

 

And the restaurant? I've looked at the Haven menus and let's just say, there's nothing on that menu that I would prefer over the buffet. But, I understand that they will bring you anything. Does anything include special orders such as baked salmon and vegetables for lunch? Like the butler, my use of the Haven restaurant "as is" is silly too.

 

On the positive side, the cabin's value is 1000 times better than where we are now. School is in session, so the Haven courtyard should be more peaceful than the rest of the ship. We will be celebrating 30 years of marriage and I had a very stressful health issue last year. It would really be a treat to get pampered like this.

 

Or, I can just wait to see if they do upsells to balconies and mini-suites.

 

To put this into perspective, right now I'd have to pay $800/pp for a spa balcony, so it would really be only $200/pp more for the Haven.

 

Decisions...decisions....

[Gregor4500]

We've stayed in a spa suite on the BA and have another booked for November.

 

We don't enjoy buffets at all. We do enjoy having our meals served to us. So the Haven restaurant is a big plus for us. It's a relaxed upscale dinning experience at every meal.

 

The courtyard does help when there a lot of children on board. But when we went even that pool and hot tubs seemed to always be occupied by kids.

 

The spa was a nice escape.

 

So to us it's worth the extra. When it falls within our budget.

[mjkacmom]

Don't forget your butler and concierge are not in the DSC tip pool.

[April42749]

Don't forget your butler and concierge are not in the DSC tip pool.

 

Yes, I know that.

 

In reviewing the menus, there is absolutely nothing there that I would eat.

 

We ate in the MDR for breakfast on the BA in Dec, and DH was completely confused and it was too time consuming.

 

This was my typical daily food consumption on that trip:

1st Breakfast at O'Sh....omelet without potatoes or bread, and iced tea

2nd Breakfast..with DH in buffet...fresh fruit with a scoop of plain yougurt and iced tea

Lunch...in buffet...fish/chicken and lots of vegetables and iced tea

Dinner...in buffet....lots of vegetables and a small ice cream, and of course iced tea

 

So, as you can see, the Haven Restaurant is wasted on me. In addition, dinner has to be as early as possible. Five pm for a Haven Dinner type dinner is about 4 hours too late.

 

If the Haven came without food I'd jump on it. But, I hate paying for something I'm not going to use. And, that's the problem.

 

I'm leaning on waiting until "a week before" to see what's available, or if they could lower the price of the Haven to $500/pp.

 

(My diet is for health reasons, lost 25 lbs so far, including 2 that I lost on the BA in Dec. I have no plans or intentions of going off it.)

[KweezyCruiser]

The Haven Spa Suites are a wonderful way to get Haven benefits at the lowest cost. Nevertheless, for the first time ever, I'm going to suggest that it's probably not for you. The only true benefit for you is the Haven area, but there are other quiet places (and the Haven courtyard is not always quiet).

[New2cruise1483]

I think that you would enjoy this cabin and the perks that come with it. I understand that you wouldn't use the haven restaurant, but there are many other pluses to staying in the haven. You get priority embarkation/disembarkation, your concierge will take you "the back way" to get off the ship in ports and you'll be off in a breeze rather than waiting in line. Your butler can bring items from the buffet to your cabin if you just want to relax and enjoy your balcony, or even to the courtyard if you want to enjoy the peacefulness there. He/she would probably even bring you ice tea if you requested. For your daily treats that are served every afternoon, just inform your butler of your preferences (fruit or maybe cheeses instead of cookies or little sandwiches). Also, having a nice suite with (I think) a jacuzzi bath and a balcony would be a big step up from an inside room. Since your celebrating such a milestone anniversary and had such a stressful year with your health, you deserve to be pampered and spoiled this way :)

[mustangfan]

Here's a quick video I made of the Haven area on the Breakaway it starts out with a tour of a 2 bedroom family villa, you can fast forward to 1:47 for the Haven area. I say if you can get the upsell for even $750 pp. it's worth it, and it's your anniversary, congratulations and enjoy your cruise.

 

 

 

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[April42749]

Oh....that "in room" Jacuzzi bath is a big plus.

 

We were in a mini-suite last Dec; no Jacuzzi.

 

The inside room was booked with the hope of being assigned to something better. But it's all the way forward, under the theater and 129 sq ft.

[sbt518]

Yes, I know that.

 

In reviewing the menus, there is absolutely nothing there that I would eat.

 

We ate in the MDR for breakfast on the BA in Dec, and DH was completely confused and it was too time consuming.

 

This was my typical daily food consumption on that trip:

1st Breakfast at O'Sh....omelet without potatoes or bread, and iced tea

2nd Breakfast..with DH in buffet...fresh fruit with a scoop of plain yougurt and iced tea

Lunch...in buffet...fish/chicken and lots of vegetables and iced tea

Dinner...in buffet....lots of vegetables and a small ice cream, and of course iced tea

 

So, as you can see, the Haven Restaurant is wasted on me. In addition, dinner has to be as early as possible. Five pm for a Haven Dinner type dinner is about 4 hours too late.

 

If the Haven came without food I'd jump on it. But, I hate paying for something I'm not going to use. And, that's the problem.

 

I'm leaning on waiting until "a week before" to see what's available, or if they could lower the price of the Haven to $500/pp.

 

(My diet is for health reasons, lost 25 lbs so far, including 2 that I lost on the BA in Dec. I have no plans or intentions of going off it.)

 

I have been in the haven a few times and I'm pretty sure you could get your breakfasts there with no problem, both of them, depending on what time you eat. They do have a little buffet area that has fresh fruit and yogurt. And they will make you omelets fresh, you just tell them what you want in them and ask for none of the sides.

 

I'm sure they have iced tea also.

 

I am not sure how much they'd customize the lunches or dinners for you but they do try to give you anything you want.

[Jenjer]

For most people I would say defiantly but it seems like the only thing you like about the haven spa room is the location. To move from a inside to a haven is a BIG jump I am sure lots of people would jump on that price but most would use more of the amenities that The Haven offers.

 

I think you might actually enjoy The Haven restaurant more than you think. No need to go off your diet just be specific when you order. If they don't have your vegetables and baked fish/ chicken they will make it or get it for you.

[kayleighbayleigh]

A 5 o clock dinner is 4 hours too late? What the...

 

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[Lady Arwen]

A 5 o clock dinner is 4 hours too late? What the...

 

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I was just thinking exactly the same thing! That would be 1:00 pm.....isn't that lunch! I'm confused.

[living at the beach]

I got an upsell from a studio cabin to a Haven spa on the January 31 st Breakaway and this is why it was wonderful for me: 1. Always getting a table without waiting with no jostling crowds and better food than anywhere else on board. 2. Excellent coffee, tea, salads, fresh fruit, fish, chicken, beef always warm but not over-cooked, less noise, more service, less waits, fantastic soups, and quicker and more responsive service than any other sit down restaurant onboard. 3. Not only spa and Haven entrance to less crowded but great sea front areas, but also a balcony and a wonderful hot tub in the cabin that Di wonders for my aches and pains at the end of the day. BUt for your information I am in my 60s and my joints are more brittle, so if I were in my 30s or early 40s, many of the things that I appreciated this year wouldn't have meant so much for me back then.

Hope my insights help a little.

[Mom2B&Z]

Don't forget Haven passengers get reserved seating for the shows and an escort off the ship at all ports and on disembarkation day. Honestly I'd pay the difference just to get the disembarkation perk. It's so nice to just walk off the ship and not have to battle lineups that seem to have no end...

 

 

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[April42749]

I was just thinking exactly the same thing! That would be 1:00 pm.....isn't that lunch! I'm confused.

 

Yep....lunch for some. Dinner for us. We eat out almost daily and it's generally about 2 PM-3PM, after 2 hours at the gym. A dinner, when the doors open @ 5pm is just not workable. Something light, such as a small salad is OK.

 

I discussed this with DH over "our dinner" and hour ago (note the time-3pm) and decided that the food would be completely wasted. But, on the positive side, we wouldn't be barred from the buffet. The truth is, both of us like to wander around and pick whatever we want and how much we want. Unless the butler has esp, he couldn't do this for us.

 

Oh....1st world problems. :)

[April42749]

I got an upsell from a studio cabin to a Haven spa on the January 31 st Breakaway and this is why it was wonderful for me: 1. Always getting a table without waiting with no jostling crowds and better food than anywhere else on board. 2. Excellent coffee, tea, salads, fresh fruit, fish, chicken, beef always warm but not over-cooked, less noise, more service, less waits, fantastic soups, and quicker and more responsive service than any other sit down restaurant onboard. 3. Not only spa and Haven entrance to less crowded but great sea front areas, but also a balcony and a wonderful hot tub in the cabin that Di wonders for my aches and pains at the end of the day. BUt for your information I am in my 60s and my joints are more brittle, so if I were in my 30s or early 40s, many of the things that I appreciated this year wouldn't have meant so much for me back then.

Hope my insights help a little.

 

It really does. In addition to celebrating 30 years of marriage, my 67 birthday is the same day, and my husband is 81.

 

Thanks for your input; it's tipping the scale towards booking.

[kayleighbayleigh]

Yep....lunch for some. Dinner for us. We eat out almost daily and it's generally about 2 PM-3PM, after 2 hours at the gym. A dinner, when the doors open @ 5pm is just not workable. Something light, such as a small salad is OK.

 

I discussed this with DH over "our dinner" and hour ago (note the time-3pm) and decided that the food would be completely wasted. But, on the positive side, we wouldn't be barred from the buffet. The truth is, both of us like to wander around and pick whatever we want and how much we want. Unless the butler has esp, he couldn't do this for us.

 

Oh....1st world problems. :)

You know you could always eat dinner after the gym ;)

 

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[April42749]

You know you could always eat dinner after the gym ;)

 

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You misunderstood what I meant:

 

I meant that we eat after spending 2 hours at the gym.

 

(I guess I write with a NYC accent!)

[graphicguy]

Everyone's different in their wants and needs. I'm getting the feeling the "perks" that the Haven offers aren't remotely on your radar. No problem. Save your money and book what suits you best.

 

All that said, I never thought I'd appreciate the Haven rooms, amenities, services, etc either......that is.....until I stayed in the Haven.