NCL & Haven Suites

[kayteeq]

As our first ever cruise, my partner and I are going this summer with Norwegian and we're staying in a Haven suite. I'm trying to find out what's included, what's extra, etc. I'm good with websites, but the NCL website seems to suggest in some parts of it that things (i.e. drinks, special dining room) are included and others that they're extras.

 

Has anyone been in a Haven suite before with NCL? What did you like best about it? Were drinks included? What are the kids programs like (we have a very social boy and a very quiet girl)?

 

Thanks!

[Markanddonna]

Frist, you have a butler. You also have exclusive access to the Haven swimming area, which includes a rather small fresh water pool and a nice, quiet area.

 

Our grandkids preferred this small pool to the regular pools. If you are on a sailing where you expect lots of kids, the regular pools look like people soup.

 

You also receive a few bottles of liquor of your choice. Sodas and water are included as are snacks such as cookies, gummy bears and m&m's. The butler will bring a few plates of goodies mid afternoon.

 

You get to eat at the suites restaurants reserved for anyone suites and above, not just the Haven. On the Jewel, it was Moderno. Each ship is a little different depending on the class of ship.

 

Here is the NCL link: https://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/cruise-accommodations/the-haven

 

Remember to consider that the benefits are just slightly different depending on the ship. Also, there is a little difference between a Haven suite that is located IN the Haven and those that are on different parts of the ship.

[njhorseman]

Frist, you have a butler. You also have exclusive access to the Haven swimming area, which includes a rather small fresh water pool and a nice, quiet area.

 

Our grandkids preferred this small pool to the regular pools. If you are on a sailing where you expect lots of kids, the regular pools look like people soup.

 

You also receive a few bottles of liquor of your choice. Sodas and water are included as are snacks such as cookies, gummy bears and m&m's. The butler will bring a few plates of goodies mid afternoon.

 

You get to eat at the suites restaurants reserved for anyone suites and above, not just the Haven. On the Jewel, it was Moderno. Each ship is a little different depending on the class of ship.

 

Here is the NCL link: https://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/cruise-accommodations/the-haven

 

Remember to consider that the benefits are just slightly different depending on the ship. Also, there is a little difference between a Haven suite that is located IN the Haven and those that are on different parts of the ship.

 

Not all haven suites get free bottles of liquor, sodas and water. Only the higher category suites receive them...most do not.

[Markanddonna]

Some things also vary by ship. Special embarkation with the concierge obviously varies by ship and port. Some ships don't have a Haven restaurant but instead designate a specialty restaurant for breakfast and lunch.

 

Interesting that my daughter's owner suite had liquor, water and sodas but did not qualify for the concierge escort at disembarkation.

[njhorseman]

Some things also vary by ship. Special embarkation with the concierge obviously varies by ship and port. Some ships don't have a Haven restaurant but instead designate a specialty restaurant for breakfast and lunch.

 

Interesting that my daughter's owner suite had liquor, water and sodas but did not qualify for the concierge escort at disembarkation.

 

Every Haven suite, in fact even non Haven suites on ships that have them, qualify for concierge disembarkation. The only possible exception I can think of might involve disembarkation in some foreign country that might prohibit such an activity, and I'm not even sure I've ever heard of that.

Edited March 31, 2017 by njhorseman

[Markanddonna]

Not true. We expected the concierge disembarkation as they had promised, but were just led to the elevator and they waved goodbye. I stopped a crew member who had just escorted someone else out and they told me that you had to be in the onsite Havens. I started this topic already and the conclusion is that the practice varies with the ship and port. She apologized for the misunderstanding. We weren't late and they told us to meet at Chin Chins. They just walked us to the elevators with everyone else. \

We disembarked in LA.

[njhorseman]

Not true. We expected the concierge disembarkation as they had promised, but were just led to the elevator and they waved goodbye. I stopped a crew member who had just escorted someone else out and they told me that you had to be in the onsite Havens. I started this topic already and the conclusion is that the practice varies with the ship and port. She apologized for the misunderstanding. We weren't late and they told us to meet at Chin Chins. They just walked us to the elevators with everyone else. \

We disembarked in LA.

 

Sounds like two things at work...not a great concierge and perhaps too high an expectation on your part of what concierge escorted disembarkation means.

 

Yes it can vary by ship depending on a number of factors and I've experienced different variations of it, but each was some form of concierge assisted disembarkation, including what you were offered and declined, apparently because you were miffed about not getting what you expected without really knowing whether what you expected was actually valid.

 

I stand on what I said. Every suite gets concierge assisted disembarkation.

[Markanddonna]

If one is told by the butler to meet the concierge at a certain place to be escorted off the ship, and the passenger complies within that period of time, the expectation is to be escorted in some helpful manner. Our concierge had left the ship early that morning and left her staff to handle disembarkment. We were simply escorted "off the ship" to the elevator or escalator- that is all. So, in effect, that minor help was no help at all.

 

I find it interesting that some CC people will assert that my experience was wrong, incorrect, not accurate or whatever. The Haven staff member we talked to outside of the terminal validated that as an H3 Owner's Suite we were not qualified. I have never traveled in a suite and the escort made absolutely no difference as a time saving measure.

 

This whole experience was confusing and the irritating thing was the timing. If I had known we had to wait in the lines, we would have timed our pickup times differently. BTW- I'm used to being a person "in the crowds", so it isn't that I consider myself elite. It is just a matter of feeling that we were either mislead or denied a service that we were entitled to.

[SuiteTraveler]

MarkandDonna,

I've sailed in The Haven 5 times - in an Owner's suite, in a suite in The Haven and in a suite not in The Haven. In my experience Concierge self-debarkation happens at 7:15 in the morning and you bring your luggage to the meeting point. At that point one of two things happen:

1. The concierge takes you down in an elevator says goodbye to you at the bottom. If you are in Europe, s/he may walk you off the ship and to the taxis, but not necessarily - especially if there are many others waiting to get off the ship.

2. The concierge calls an express elevator, puts you on it and it stops near the place you exit the ship and you walk off from there.

 

In both cases, if you did the early concierge assisted self-debarkation, it is very early in the morning and you don't stand in any line except with those from The Haven, so basically you are in the first 20 -40 people to get off the ship. The only line you should encounter is going through customs and immigration and that line should only be the other Haven passengers. Shortly after you get off, the rest of the ship that is doing early self-assisted debarkation will get off. Usually by that time, I'm waiting in the taxi line.

[SuiteTraveler]

Haven Perks:

 

VIP embarkation and VIP waiting lounge (look for these after security at the port.)

Welcome aboard sparkling wine

Welcome aboard flower arrangement

Welcome aboard large bottle of water

Concierge service (reservations and solves any problems)

Butler service (room service)

Room service is free

Daily hors d'ouerves

DVD player and dvd menu (get them on day 1 or they are gone or bring dvd you want to watch.)

robes and slippers

upgraded bathroom amenities

seashell bath salts

pillow menu (from butler)

The Haven breakfast

The Haven lunch

On Epic and newer ships:

The Haven restaurant for dinner

The Haven pool and sundeck

The Haven steam room/sauna

Reserved seats for suite guests at shows. For example, if you go to the Cirque show you will be seated at a floor table nearest the stage.

Haven guests can make reservations for any restaurant through the concierge including the Main Dining room so you will never be given a beeper or have to wait for a table.

Concierge assisted early self-debarkation - be among the first off the ship.

 

Owner's suite or Garden Villa - 3 bottles of booze, free water and soda

Garden Villa - limo pick up at the airport

 

Then there are the perks you got when you booked you cruise which might include a dining package for specialty restaurants, drinks package, shore excursion credit and other such perks.

[njhorseman]

MarkandDonna,

I've sailed in The Haven 5 times - in an Owner's suite, in a suite in The Haven and in a suite not in The Haven. In my experience Concierge self-debarkation happens at 7:15 in the morning and you bring your luggage to the meeting point. At that point one of two things happen:

1. The concierge takes you down in an elevator says goodbye to you at the bottom. If you are in Europe, s/he may walk you off the ship and to the taxis, but not necessarily - especially if there are many others waiting to get off the ship.

2. The concierge calls an express elevator, puts you on it and it stops near the place you exit the ship and you walk off from there.

 

In both cases, if you did the early concierge assisted self-debarkation, it is very early in the morning and you don't stand in any line except with those from The Haven, so basically you are in the first 20 -40 people to get off the ship. The only line you should encounter is going through customs and immigration and that line should only be the other Haven passengers. Shortly after you get off, the rest of the ship that is doing early self-assisted debarkation will get off. Usually by that time, I'm waiting in the taxi line.

 

And even if you don't do the concierge assisted self debarkation you still get concierge assisted priority debarkation and you're off the ship before any other passengers not using self debarkation. Either way it's concierge-assisted.

[njhorseman]

If one is told by the butler to meet the concierge at a certain place to be escorted off the ship, and the passenger complies within that period of time, the expectation is to be escorted in some helpful manner. Our concierge had left the ship early that morning and left her staff to handle disembarkment. We were simply escorted "off the ship" to the elevator or escalator- that is all. So, in effect, that minor help was no help at all.

 

I find it interesting that some CC people will assert that my experience was wrong, incorrect, not accurate or whatever. The Haven staff member we talked to outside of the terminal validated that as an H3 Owner's Suite we were not qualified. I have never traveled in a suite and the escort made absolutely no difference as a time saving measure.

 

This whole experience was confusing and the irritating thing was the timing. If I had known we had to wait in the lines, we would have timed our pickup times differently. BTW- I'm used to being a person "in the crowds", so it isn't that I consider myself elite. It is just a matter of feeling that we were either mislead or denied a service that we were entitled to.

 

I'm not saying your experience did not happen as you describe it, I'm saying that what happened was not within the norm of how disembarkation of Haven guests is supposed to happen. By your own words the concierge had left the ship earlier and the process was handled by others. The way it was handled by those other crew was not the way it should have been. We shouldn't be leaving someone asking a question about the process with the impression that your experience was how the process usually is handled, because it isn't.

[Mobster]

I'm not saying your experience did not happen as you describe it, I'm saying that what happened was not within the norm of how disembarkation of Haven guests is supposed to happen. By your own words the concierge had left the ship earlier and the process was handled by others. The way it was handled by those other crew was not the way it should have been. We shouldn't be leaving someone asking a question about the process with the impression that your experience was how the process usually is handled, because it isn't.

 

 

Seems like the "VIP" service MIGHT end AFTER the person had left the envelope with the Concierge tip! ;p (Maybe he/she went ashore to spend it!) People seem to have widely different experiences