Haven to normal cabin

[amygutman]

Post Breakaway Haven June Cruise Thoughts - I've said it before, and reiterate it again:

 

 

We were fortunate enough to have the 2 Family Villa on our Breakaway cruise June 18th - June 25th to Bermuda. Having our prior cruise also in the Haven, we were once again reminded of the difference this "Haven" made for our overall vacation. Quick embarkation (literally had no time to grab a coffee in the Haven Lounge), quick disembarkation with an escort past the line of (understandably cranky) non-Haven guests lined up. Concierge changed & obtained reservations with a single inquiry, smiles from our private bar and restaurant staff, incredibly service from our butler and stateroom attendants - and most importantly...blissful, wonderful quiet. I loved going from the noise and chaos of the deck to opening our door to....silence. There were a ton of kids on the trip - perhaps we were lucky, but all of them, including the teens were well-behaved and respectful. Sure - there was splashing and laughing by the pool, but isn't that what a pool is for?

We are in the Gem Haven this November; on the "Suite vs Haven" forum there is a back-and forth re: suite vs Haven on Jewel Class ships. A different question than you are asking, but still with the one important Haven factor for November - The Covered Pool and Courtyard. It's a big deal to my 8 year old to swim every day on vacation (yes...the pool is not really for "swimming" but it is a good place to dunk and be wet), and out of NY in November, we would lose 2 days there and back not being able to swim or be on deck. That means a crowded Splash Academy (Thanksgiving break = tons of kids), and a cranky child = parents who cannot relax.

 

So...my 2 cents. For us, it's definitely worth the money, and would B2B in a Haven every time. Have a great trip - Amy

[Owenred]

Thanks Amy, great feedback, I did in the end book a haven suite so yeah why not you only live once and hopefully will be my only honeymoon

[amygutman]

Thanks Amy, great feedback, I did in the end book a haven suite so yeah why not you only live once and hopefully will be my only honeymoon

 

Oh...best of luck to you both and happiness in your marriage and on your cruise. :0

Amy

[sverigecruiser]

I don't know when you are booked but I can tell you about the boarding in just over 60 days.

 

Sounds like MSC has some priority tending off/on ship so we can speak to that as well.

 

I came home from our first MSC cruise a few days ago so I can tell you some things about the differences. We cruised from Barcelona so things can be different when cruising from the US. We cruised on their newest ships Meraviglia, maybe it's different on their other ships.

 

Some differences:

 

For excursions we met in the Yacht Club instead of where everyone else met. Once a butler escorted us of the ship and pointed to where the rest of the passengers were, not very usefull! Twice a butler escorted us to the buses so that we could pick a seat before everyone else arrived, very good!

 

 

In the Top Sail Lounge ( their "Havenlounge") We didn't have to give them our card when ordering drinks because everyone in the Yacht Club have most drinks included, included Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne (in the Champagne bar on the Meraviglia Laurent-Perrier is included).

 

 

The Yacht Club restaurant has a new menu every day for lunch and dinner.

 

 

At disembarkation our butler followed us of the boat and he didn't left us until we had found our luggage and left the terminal.

 

 

Every morning we got a paper of our choice delivered to our suite. They had three Swedish papers and a lots of American papers to choose from.

 

 

In one of the ports we saw that they had a special line for the Yacht Club when getting back to the ship. (I assume they have it everywhere but we only saw it once, it wasn't clearly marked.)

[dexddd]

I came home from our first MSC cruise a few days ago so I can tell you some things about the differences. We cruised from Barcelona so things can be different when cruising from the US. We cruised on their newest ships Meraviglia, maybe it's different on their other ships.

 

Some differences:

 

For excursions we met in the Yacht Club instead of where everyone else met. Once a butler escorted us of the ship and pointed to where the rest of the passengers were, not very usefull! Twice a butler escorted us to the buses so that we could pick a seat before everyone else arrived, very good!

 

 

In the Top Sail Lounge ( their "Havenlounge") We didn't have to give them our card when ordering drinks because everyone in the Yacht Club have most drinks included, included Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne (in the Champagne bar on the Meraviglia Laurent-Perrier is included).

 

 

The Yacht Club restaurant has a new menu every day for lunch and dinner.

 

 

At disembarkation our butler followed us of the boat and he didn't left us until we had found our luggage and left the terminal.

 

 

Every morning we got a paper of our choice delivered to our suite. They had three Swedish papers and a lots of American papers to choose from.

 

 

In one of the ports we saw that they had a special line for the Yacht Club when getting back to the ship. (I assume they have it everywhere but we only saw it once, it wasn't clearly marked.)

 

Thanks for the info. I've been reading your posts - that ship is eventually coming to the US as I understand so the info is good to have.

 

I think we are at 17 days to go.

[KeithJenner]

At disembarkation our butler followed us of the boat and he didn't left us until we had found our luggage and left the terminal.

 

Couldn't you give him the slip? :)

 

Seriously though, that's the sort of thing that I just hate. I assume it was optional?

[sverigecruiser]

Couldn't you give him the slip? :)

 

Seriously though, that's the sort of thing that I just hate. I assume it was optional?

 

Why should we not get things we have paid for? We could have done it ourself but if there was a line for disembarkation, why should we stand in that if we didn't had to? If a bag had been missing, why not let someone help us with that?

 

We drank some wine in the suite most days and we never called our butler to get it for us, we always walked to the lounge to get it. One day he was there when my wife should get us some wine and he persuaded her to go back to our suite without the wine and five minutes later he came with the wine.

 

 

Do you always eat at the buffe? If not, don't you feel bad when you let people walk to your table to get your order and to give you your food? What about drinks, do you always order at the bar so that the staff has to walk as little as possible? In the Top Sail Lounge it was difficult to order at the bar. Most of the times I tried it one of the excellent guys working in the lounge come to me and asked for my order.

 

 

On our first cruise on the Norwegian Epic our butler always escorted us to dinner when we ate outside the Haven. We should never ask him to do that but he always phoned us about it.

[KeithJenner]

Why should we not get things we have paid for? We could have done it ourself but if there was a line for disembarkation, why should we stand in that if we didn't had to? If a bag had been missing, why not let someone help us with that?

 

Of course, different people get a benefit out of different things. I wasn't suggesting for a second that you shouldn't have taken it up.

 

I was just having a little bit of fun with the image of the butler following you, whilst also just asking whether it was optional. Sometimes people can be quite insistent about doing this sort of thing, even when it isn't wanted.

 

Was it optional?

[sverigecruiser]

Of course, different people get a benefit out of different things. I wasn't suggesting for a second that you shouldn't have taken it up.

 

I was just having a little bit of fun with the image of the butler following you, whilst also just asking whether it was optional. Sometimes people can be quite insistent about doing this sort of thing, even when it isn't wanted.

 

Was it optional?

 

I'm sorry if I offended you, that wasn't my meaning.

 

As I said about the wine to the cabin, he did insisted to deliver it for us.

 

We didn't tried to persue him not to escort us of the ship. I assume it's optional but don't know if he should have tried to persue us if we had said no thanks.

 

I have red many of your posts and most of the time a agree with you so again, sorry if I offended you.

[KeithJenner]

I'm sorry if I offended you, that wasn't my meaning.

 

As I said about the wine to the cabin, he did insisted to deliver it for us.

 

We didn't tried to persue him not to escort us of the ship. I assume it's optional but don't know if he should have tried to persue us if we had said no thanks.

 

I have red many of your posts and most of the time a agree with you so again, sorry if I offended you.

 

No offence taken. I could just see that you had missed the point of my post.

[xcell]

I have sailed Haven for the past 2 NCL cruise but both were from the upsell, so the $1500 for a family of 4 was within reason.

 

My next is in a Balcony room -- will miss the Haven but I am with friends so that will balance it out.

 

With that being said, if you can afford it -- go for it. If not, see if you can bid for it, if the upgrade cost is too high -- pleasant surprise for you and your fiance (does she know that you have booked Haven for the 1st week and not the 2nd). Totally no guarantee but if you win the bid, a nice surprise nonetheless.

[LrgPizza]

Couldn't you give him the slip? :)

 

Seriously though, that's the sort of thing that I just hate. I assume it was optional?

I would hate that, too. I'm also not one for being escorted around anywhere when I am capable of getting there myself. Some people love it and pay a ton of money for it, but I'd just as soon walk all by myself like a big girl. ;p

[sverigecruiser]

I would hate that, too. I'm also not one for being escorted around anywhere when I am capable of getting there myself. Some people love it and pay a ton of money for it, but I'd just as soon walk all by myself like a big girl. ;p

 

I agree with you about being escorted if that's what it is.

 

When we disembarked it was more than an escort. If there had been lines we would have passed them and if one of our bags had been missing (which I assume happens even if it has never happened to us when leaving a cruise) our butler would have helped us with that.