Haven vs Suite on the Gem

[123firsttimer]

Hi,

 

We are considering an upsell from a mid balcony to a Haven 2 bedroom Villa - we do not need the 2nd bedroom but want to stay mid ship as this is our 1st cruise.

 

I am considering it for the following:

 

priority boarding, tendering (if we are lucky enough to stop at GSC)

 

Having a special area for shows where we don't have to rush for seats - is this true on the gem?

 

Having a nicer option for lunch and breakfast.

Does the Haven on the gem have their own restaurant?

 

Not having the stress of finding chairs near the pool each day - I would be happier away from the pool but we have an 8 year old to keep an eye on.

 

What are the other major benefits?

 

I really appreciate any insight you may have. This is our 1st cruise and I am trying to make it a great stress free vacation but am not sure if the extra $$$ for the Haven or a suite.

 

Do suites offer all of the above minus the private pool area?

 

Thx so much!

[Wavesprite]

The Haven is nice! BUT, don't think that your 8 year old will be happy with the Haven pool. It's literally about 4 foot by 8 feet and is 3 feet deep.

[khaide612]

Gem has both Haven & non-Haven 2 bedroom suites - only difference is Haven access & the theater reserved section. You still get the breakfast & lunch in Cagneys (or wherever they are having it now). There is no Haven restaurant on Gem like on Breakaway or Getaway so no separate dinner.

 

The 2nd bedroom is great if you have a child who needs to go to bed before you. It is dark & quiet & has its own bathroom & you can then use the living area & balcony freely.

 

For the theater seats - Gem theater is bigger than the newer ships & shows are usually done twice so you shouldn't have problems finding a few seats without arriving an hour early.

[Turtles06]

For the theater seats - Gem theater is bigger than the newer ships & shows are usually done twice so you shouldn't have problems finding a few seats without arriving an hour early.

 

I sure wouldn't let "reserved seats" in the theatre be a factor in the decision here. They are in the balcony and imho not where I'd want to sit anyway.

 

The "pool" in the Gem Haven area isn't really a pool. It's a short narrow rectangular thing with water in it. I can't imagine what anyone uses it for.

[123firsttimer]

Wow it's disappointing to hear about the pool!! Is this and the Haven courtyard the only benefit then to a haven vs regular suite?

Thank you!!!

[Rileyz]

My daughter was 8 when we stayed in the haven on the Gem and loved the pool. Yes it's small but there is hardly any room in the main pools with people stuffed in them. She spent hours each day in that pool and had a blast. She even had her swim mask :). While there is no restaurant in the Gem haven you can have your meals in there which we often did for breakfast and lunch.

[old nutter]

The pool in the Haven has a power system and the kids can have a blast in there and will probably have it to themselves most of the time. The courtyard itself is a massive benefit if you want to laze around because it has a sliding roof and will always be warm if the outside is chilly. Safetywise, you will be able to keep a very close eye on the kids rather than having to keep watching where they go in the bigger outside pools.

 

Additionally there is a large hot tub in the courtyard as well as a small mini-gym with a couple of machines and a sauna room. The deck above on the port side is a huge sundeck that is ideal in good weather and it gives you a very good view of sail-aways. It is a bit like having a really huge balcony.

 

You can also get the courtyard butler to serve your breakfast or even lunch in the courtyard if you want as well as any drinks you or the young one want upstairs on he sundeck.

 

We have sailed both in aft suites without the Haven and in the Haven- it is very different. We use the courtyard to open up a huge extra semi-private space when we are staying on the ship in port or on seas days rather than staying in the suite itself.

 

The Jewel class ships also have two suites in the Haven that do not have the extra bedroom if you don't want an extra bedroom. They are identical in shape and facilities to the 2-bed ones except for that extra bedroom.

[GeezerCouple]

The pool in the Haven has a power system and the kids can have a blast in there and will probably have it to themselves most of the time. The courtyard itself is a massive benefit if you want to laze around because it has a sliding roof and will always be warm if the outside is chilly. Safetywise, you will be able to keep a very close eye on the kids rather than having to keep watching where they go in the bigger outside pools.

 

Additionally there is a large hot tub in the courtyard as well as a small mini-gym with a couple of machines and a sauna room. The deck above on the port side is a huge sundeck that is ideal in good weather and it gives you a very good view of sail-aways. It is a bit like having a really huge balcony.

 

You can also get the courtyard butler to serve your breakfast or even lunch in the courtyard if you want as well as any drinks you or the young one want upstairs on he sundeck.

 

We have sailed both in aft suites without the Haven and in the Haven- it is very different. We use the courtyard to open up a huge extra semi-private space when we are staying on the ship in port or on seas days rather than staying in the suite itself.

 

The Jewel class ships also have two suites in the Haven that do not have the extra bedroom if you don't want an extra bedroom. They are identical in shape and facilities to the 2-bed ones except for that extra bedroom.

 

Those two smaller Haven Suites (one on each side) are both 1BR/1/BA, so they also don't have that small extra bathroom.