Haven Owner's Suite and Disembarkation

[Markanddonna]

We had a surprise on disembarkation day. We were told to meet at Chin Chin's and that we would be walked off by the concierge. The concierge had "left the ship" early that morning as her contract was over and a staff member walked us to the elevator- with everyone else onboard. We had to stand in a very long custom's line with all the other passengers. So, the special disembarkation service was no service at all and actually added time to our experience.

 

When I asked a staff member, she said the walk off service was only for Haven, but the 2 BDR Owner's Suite is Haven 3. Is this typical?

[BS Racing]

I will give you the short answer, NO

[tmilak]

Not typical but depending on the port and requlations this may be different. I have been in the Haven 8 times and never waited in a line to get off or through customs other then maybe a short line of 3 or 4 groups. Always escorted past the lines. Did you question why the wait. I always ask if there is a Haven line when going on or off the ship and that includes all islands and private islands as well.

[2inTul]

Something to remember: Sailing in the Haven/Suite you are only a VIP on the ship. Once they scan your card for the last time and you cross the gangplank into the terminal you are the same as everyone else. Bummer! :(

[BostonGal35]

i assume you were able to bounce to the front of the line for your final swipe of your ship card on the ship.

 

once you get to customs, there is no VIP. you wait with everyone else.

[maja651]

Something to remember: Sailing in the Haven/Suite you are only a VIP on the ship. Once they scan your card for the last time and you cross the gangplank into the terminal you are the same as everyone else. Bummer! :(

 

Actually this is not necessarily true. Both times we were in the Garden Villa we were personally escorted off the ship by the concierge, then handed off to a port person who escorted us to our luggage, then to the head of the customs lines and finally to our car that was waiting for us.

 

All other times we were in a suite, we met the concierge in some waiting area, and he escorted the suite passengers to the head of the line to debark. After that, yes, we were on our own for Customs.

[808cruisef]

We had a surprise on disembarkation day. We were told to meet at Chin Chin's and that we would be walked off by the concierge. The concierge had "left the ship" early that morning as her contract was over and a staff member walked us to the elevator- with everyone else onboard. We had to stand in a very long custom's line with all the other passengers. So, the special disembarkation service was no service at all and actually added time to our experience.

 

When I asked a staff member, she said the walk off service was only for Haven, but the 2 BDR Owner's Suite is Haven 3. Is this typical?

 

 

The walk off service is for all suite and haven guests. However, it doesn't help with customs. You still have to get through customs. That took over an hour for us to get through customs in LA on 3/5. Our concierge did take us all the way to that line so that we could bypass the regular disembarkation line.

 

 

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[2inTul]

Actually this is not necessarily true. Both times we were in the Garden Villa we were personally escorted off the ship by the concierge, then handed off to a port person who escorted us to our luggage, then to the head of the customs lines and finally to our car that was waiting for us.

 

All other times we were in a suite, we met the concierge in some waiting area, and he escorted the suite passengers to the head of the line to debark. After that, yes, we were on our own for Customs.

 

I should have known someone would contradict me....sure didn't take long! :mad:

 

Get real....The Garden Villas are a whole different world from us lowly regular suite cruisers. ;p

[Markanddonna]

My issue is that the Owner's Suite does have every Haven privilege except for the disembarkation. The staff person I asked said that service was for the "on site Haven people". They get walked off with the ability to jump to the front of the custom's line. So, I was wondering if this was because the concierge was not available because SHE was leaving that morning. So, just a warning to the people who have Haven access who aren't in cabins right near the Haven. There is obviously a distinction between the two that only shows up with the disembarkation process.

[mluzzy1]

My issue is that the Owner's Suite does have every Haven privilege except for the disembarkation. The staff person I asked said that service was for the "on site Haven people". They get walked off with the ability to jump to the front of the custom's line. So, I was wondering if this was because the concierge was not available because SHE was leaving that morning. So, just a warning to the people who have Haven access who aren't in cabins right near the Haven. There is obviously a distinction between the two that only shows up with the disembarkation process.

 

 

We have been in Haven spa suites 4 times on two different NCL ships. Even staying outside the courtyard , we disembarked like everyone else in the Haven.

[tmilak]

I disagree. When I got off the Breakaway last Thanksgiving customs was a joke but I spoke to an NCL badged person that directed me to a Haven line that bypassed all of those waiting in a long line.

[maja651]

I should have known someone would contradict me....sure didn't take long! :mad:

 

Get real....The Garden Villas are a whole different world from us lowly regular suite cruisers. ;p

 

Wow! I wasn't replying to contradict you, but to give accurate information. Based on your angry face you took my comments way too personally. Smile, it's Friday. :hearteyes:

 

I would not consider any cruiser a "lowly" cruiser. Different strokes for different folks. There are people who will spend 10s of thousands on cars, but live in a modest home. There are people who spend all of their money on designer bags clothes, shoes, etc, but choose the inside cabin. And there are people who like to splurge on vacation. :) That would be the category my hubs and I are in. :)

[808cruisef]

Port of LA did not have a haven line. Once you swipe your card for the final time, you are no longer special. Just one really, really long line.

 

 

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[roddy good boy]

I was in a Haven Spa Suite twice, on the Breakaway. We disembarked with all of the haven suite passengers. It is correct the privilege ends once you get to customs. However, the Concierge had all of the suite passengers meet him early that morning. We were the first group to disembark; therefore, the first in line at customs.:D

[BirdTravels]

We had a surprise on disembarkation day. We were told to meet at Chin Chin's and that we would be walked off by the concierge. The concierge had "left the ship" early that morning as her contract was over and a staff member walked us to the elevator- with everyone else onboard. We had to stand in a very long custom's line with all the other passengers. So, the special disembarkation service was no service at all and actually added time to our experience. When I asked a staff member, she said the walk off service was only for Haven, but the 2 BDR Owner's Suite is Haven 3. Is this typical?

 

Yes, this is typical. You get escorted as far as the ship's security checkpoint. Once you are beyond there (i.e. down the gangway, through the terminal, in the baggage hall, and through customs,,,, you are on your own.

[BabysBday]

i assume you were able to bounce to the front of the line for your final swipe of your ship card on the ship.

 

once you get to customs, there is no VIP. you wait with everyone else.

 

Hmm, well in NYC after we got off the BA, as Haven passengers we skipped all the lines to get to the baggage collection area at the port and then were directed towards the "express" (i.e. shorter) customs line that porters and those disembarking with wheelchairs used after we showed our Haven key cards.

[emtowle_mobile]

Hmm, well in NYC after we got off the BA, as Haven passengers we skipped all the lines to get to the baggage collection area at the port and then were directed towards the "express" (i.e. shorter) customs line that porters and those disembarking with wheelchairs used after we showed our Haven key cards.

 

 

I had the same experience in NY. Haven pathway to bypass the disembarkation lineup to baggage claim then the "express" customs line to bypass the zigzag lineup for a customs officer. THEN the real world hit trying to get a taxi!

 

 

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[L-in-CLT]

My issue is that the Owner's Suite does have every Haven privilege except for the disembarkation. The staff person I asked said that service was for the "on site Haven people". They get walked off with the ability to jump to the front of the custom's line. So, I was wondering if this was because the concierge was not available because SHE was leaving that morning. So, just a warning to the people who have Haven access who aren't in cabins right near the Haven. There is obviously a distinction between the two that only shows up with the disembarkation process.

 

 

Been aft haven twice. You meet in the haven lounge and they escort you off.

 

 

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[Markanddonna]

So, it seems like it depends on the port, the concierge and the ship. The "on site" Haven people were walked off by the staff on the Jewel in LA, but not offsite Haven status people. NCL needs some consistency here!

[cruisebie]

So, it seems like it depends on the port, the concierge and the ship. The "on site" Haven people were walked off by the staff on the Jewel in LA, but not offsite Haven status people. NCL needs some consistency here!

 

 

Were you told to meet at Chin Chin at a certain time? My experience on the Jewel a couple of years ago was that we were told to meet at Chin Chin (got a letter in my suite). It was pretty early, before general disembarkation started. We were then walked off the ship and into the port building by one of the assistant concierges. Once in the port bldg, we were in the regular customs line but because it was early, it was pretty short. There was no difference in procedure for Haven or regular suites, the same procedures were used for all.

 

It sounds like they used the same basic procedure for you, but it sounds like they had started the general disembark. Were you the only ones doing suite disembark at that point? Maybe you had missed the earlier time. Did they give you any information on disembark the day before?

[808cruisef]

On the jewel we met in chin chin and Virginia walked us off to the customs line, but we had to stand in the regular customs line with everyone else including Captain Pelee's family.

 

 

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