Escape Haven questions?

[JAMESCC]

I started to look into a Haven suite today on Escape since its coming NY. I'm not a wealthy guy but decided to look at the least expensive dates and suite. I'm literally letting the price dictate the date, and itinerary. The Forward Penthouse with balcony seems to be the least expensive, and the cruise was to Florida/Bahamas which I'm totally ok with. It was mid November which I don't love but hey again, least expensive dates to try Haven. It came out to $5,500 for 2 Adults and one child which is doable. What is your take overall with Haven? Worth the extra bucks? Definitely worth trying once for the experience or no? Another question i have is if we are traveling with friends or family that are not in "The Haven" are we allowed to have them come up to our room for a visit or that is not allowed? Just a curious question there.

[ImADaneFan]

I started to look into a Haven suite today on Escape since its coming NY. I'm not a wealthy guy but decided to look at the least expensive dates and suite. I'm literally letting the price dictate the date, and itinerary. The Forward Penthouse with balcony seems to be the least expensive, and the cruise was to Florida/Bahamas which I'm totally ok with. It was mid November which I don't love but hey again, least expensive dates to try Haven. It came out to $5,500 for 2 Adults and one child which is doable. What is your take overall with Haven? Worth the extra bucks? Definitely worth trying once for the experience or no? Another question i have is if we are traveling with friends or family that are not in "The Haven" are we allowed to have them come up to our room for a visit or that is not allowed? Just a curious question there.

 

I feel that the Haven it totally worth it, especially on a mega ship. It's so nice to have a quite area to relax. The Haven restaurant is excellent. It isn't a bad walk up to the Haven from the forward suites, much better than the aft suites.:p

 

You can definitely have your friends/family to your suite, but not in the common areas, like the sun deck, bar, restaurant & courtyard. You can have them to dinner in the Haven restaurant, but there is a fee for that, I think it's $25-$35pp.

 

On thing to remember....once you sail in a suite you won't be able to go back.;) At least that was my experience, and that was a lot of cruises ago!:p

[BirdTravels]

The SE forward penthouses are the best value. You get a separate living room and dining area and lots of extra space you don't get in the more expensive courtyard balconys. With every penny we did the Escape SE last summer.

[JAMESCC]

I feel that the Haven it totally worth it, especially on a mega ship. It's so nice to have a quite area to relax. The Haven restaurant is excellent. It isn't a bad walk up to the Haven from the forward suites, much better than the aft suites.:p

 

You can definitely have your friends/family to your suite, but not in the common areas, like the sun deck, bar, restaurant & courtyard. You can have them to dinner in the Haven restaurant, but there is a fee for that, I think it's $25-$35pp.

 

On thing to remember....once you sail in a suite you won't be able to go back.;) At least that was my experience, and that was a lot of cruises ago!:p

 

That last sentence is what I am worried about. Thank you for the reply. I'm actually getting excited about the idea of sailing Haven. I won't be able to swing it this year, but next year maybe? Any thoughts on the forward Penthouse with balcony specifically? I saw a video on Youtube and I was impressed.

[JAMESCC]

The SE forward penthouses are the best value. You get a separate living room and dining area and lots of extra space you don't get in the more expensive courtyard balconys. With every penny we did the Escape SE last summer.

 

Awesome thanks for the reply. Appreciate that you have first hand experience in this room, it looks awesome. I also like that you get priority boarding and getting off because I HATE the Manhattan terminal and this perk would help with that issue. Do you literally skip every line with embarkation and debarkation with Haven? Oh I hate to even ask this cause its a touchy subject but how it with kids in Haven? Our son would be 5 at sailing time, and some people frown on that with a luxury thing like Haven.

[gingersvp]

We've booked the Haven this summer, it'll be our first time. We have 3 kids - kids are definitely allowed! It's actually why we booked Haven - to have a quiet place to escape and luxury like a more high end line, but the amenities of a larger ship.

 

From what I've seen about embarkation, there's a separate line and waiting lounge for Haven guests. I'm curious to see how that works for port days, but love the idea of not waiting in line.

[disneyg1rl]

If you want a further look at the Escape Haven, check out our YouTube video from this Thanksgiving:

 

This is the Haven Spa Suite; it was awesome! It only sleeps 2 adults so it won't work for you. We have also had a Haven forward-facing penthouse on the Escape. It was much larger (2 rooms) but equally quite nice. Hope this helps with your decisions. Happy watching!

[dexddd]

Awesome thanks for the reply. Appreciate that you have first hand experience in this room, it looks awesome. I also like that you get priority boarding and getting off because I HATE the Manhattan terminal and this perk would help with that issue. Do you literally skip every line with embarkation and debarkation with Haven? Oh I hate to even ask this cause its a touchy subject but how it with kids in Haven? Our son would be 5 at sailing time, and some people frown on that with a luxury thing like Haven.

 

In NYC when you enter the terminal, there is a line to the right. A person will ask you for your info and then direct you to the right side, through security, and to the Haven check-in lounge. When it is boarding time you will be escorted in groups onto the ship and up to the Haven.

 

As far as disembarking in NYC, the staff will take you from the designated meeting spot (e.g. Haven lounge area) down to where the lines are exiting the ship and will have you exit at the front of the line. Once you are in the terminal you are on your own.

 

As far as the ports, PC the ship docks as it does in Nassau as well. I guess if you are in a big hurry to get off, you can arrange that but it is just as easy to go down to the lines and go off through the normal lines, it doesn't take that long.

 

GSC would be a benefit since you tender and the staff will take down groups from the designated meeting spot to the front of the tender line (or very close to the front).

[JAMESCC]

In NYC when you enter the terminal, there is a line to the right. A person will ask you for your info and then direct you to the right side, through security, and to the Haven check-in lounge. When it is boarding time you will be escorted in groups onto the ship and up to the Haven.

 

As far as disembarking in NYC, the staff will take you from the designated meeting spot (e.g. Haven lounge area) down to where the lines are exiting the ship and will have you exit at the front of the line. Once you are in the terminal you are on your own.

 

As far as the ports, PC the ship docks as it does in Nassau as well. I guess if you are in a big hurry to get off, you can arrange that but it is just as easy to go down to the lines and go off through the normal lines, it doesn't take that long.

 

GSC would be a benefit since you tender and the staff will take down groups from the designated meeting spot to the front of the tender line (or very close to the front).

Thank you for that detailed description of Haven. Sounds pretty good really. I'm between Haven NCL and a suite on Anthem of the seas on Royal. I know it's not quite the same but it's somewhat comparable. Leaning Anthem but am keeping an open mind completely.

 

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[Kfamilycruise]

We've booked the Haven this summer, it'll be our first time. We have 3 kids - kids are definitely allowed! It's actually why we booked Haven - to have a quiet place to escape and luxury like a more high end line, but the amenities of a larger ship.

 

From what I've seen about embarkation, there's a separate line and waiting lounge for Haven guests. I'm curious to see how that works for port days, but love the idea of not waiting in line.

 

On Port days, they have a special elevator that takes you down and puts you nearly at the front of the line to get off. If you are tendering, you get first off and a special line to get back on. Also get to use the special elevator for disembarkation. As a pp said, once you do it, it is hard to go back. We did an upsell last year for an aft balcony on the Getaway and I was sold. Doing 2 BR Haven on Escape this June.

 

The restaurant and courtyard was my favorite part on the Getaway (with the exception of my huge balcony!)

[js]

If you will be spending a lot of your time with family and friends on the cruise, you will not be able to get the most from the Haven.

 

We enjoy spending our days lounging in the Haven but if we had friends and family not in the Haven, we would be where they set up camp.

 

You wont be able to board or disembark with them if you use the Haven or do any priority tendering.

 

I LOVE the Haven but if it were me and I was traveling with friends and family not in the Haven, I would book a regular cabin.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

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[JAMESCC]

If you will be spending a lot of your time with family and friends on the cruise, you will not be able to get the most from the Haven.

 

We enjoy spending our days lounging in the Haven but if we had friends and family not in the Haven, we would be where they set up camp.

 

You wont be able to board or disembark with them if you use the Haven or do any priority tendering.

 

I LOVE the Haven but if it were me and I was traveling with friends and family not in the Haven, I would book a regular cabin.

 

Enjoy!

 

Thank you for the response. We always try and book with friends or family but it never happens. I only asked just in case one of these times it actually works out, but I doubt it will.