Haven Suite VS RCI Star Class

[jenn6743]

Hi All I am looking for someone who has experienced both RCI Star Class and NCL Haven Suite. My DH and I are currently booked on the Anthem in Nov 2018 star class Grand Loft Suite to celebrate our 10 yr anniversary. We may have to change the dates due to work, but the prices on RCI Star Class are double what we paid for our trip. Ncl’s New ship the Bliss is about the same cost if we book a Haven suite. I’m trying to figure out the differences and if the Genie compares to the butler service...What should we do?

Thanks, Jennifer

[Relax@Sea]

Hi All I am looking for someone who has experienced both RCI Star Class and NCL Haven Suite. My DH and I are currently booked on the Anthem in Nov 2018 star class Grand Loft Suite to celebrate our 10 yr anniversary. We may have to change the dates due to work, but the prices on RCI Star Class are double what we paid for our trip. Ncl’s New ship the Bliss is about the same cost if we book a Haven suite. I’m trying to figure out the differences and if the Genie compares to the butler service...What should we do?

Thanks, Jennifer

 

I have stayed in the Royal Suite on the RCCL Allure and the Garden Villa on the Jewel and using those 2 for comparison.

On the Allure the Genie did a great job with getting us on the ship. Our luggage was walked on the ship with us. NCL we had it delivered to our cabin later that day.

The Concierge on NCL Escorted us on board and gave us the option to eat at Cagneys for lunch. On the Allure we were escorted to the suite restaurant for lunch. Both were great so to me there was very little differences.

The Genie on the Allure tried to anticipate what we my like even though we did not make any reservations for shows or dining. Making changes was done without any issues. On the Jewel the Concierge did not anticipate anything but but made reservations for what we wanted without any issues.

On the Jewel the Butler took care of everything in our cabin and the Concierge took care of all of our reservation for meals and shows outside of our cabin. If we wanted meals in our cabin the Butler took care of all of that.

On the Allure the Genie took care of any meals we wanted in our cabin. Our cabin Steward took care of any things we needed inside the cabin. i.e. laundry, dry cleaning, preparation for parties in cabin.

I believe the Genie on the Allure was set up to do both the job of the Butler and the Concierge. Please note that the Genie did a great job on the Allure but I believe She was spread out a little to thin and was sometimes difficult to get a hold of so we just made some requests to the cabin steward and she would follow thru with the Genie.

Leaving the ship's both the NCL Jewel Concierge and the RCCL Genie did a great job with debarkation.

[taylortime05]

I'm curious about this too. I have only sailed in normal balcony cabins on Allure, Oasis and Freedom but in Haven on Escape. I loved the Haven.

[MikeBTN]

The biggest differences.....

 

- Rooms on Royal will generally be larger

 

- Royal's Genies offer a more complete experience - as mentioned above they are basically Butler AND Concierge.

 

- Royal's Genies are thus responsible for less rooms, meaning a more personalized service. There is still a "night" Genie after hours.

 

- Royal lacks The Haven, so if you are looking for a quiet escape, you'll sort of be missing that on Royal. Royal does have the Suite Lounge, Coastal Kitchen Restaurant, and Suite-only Sun Deck, though IMO the Suite Deck is in a terrible location and the windiest spot on the ship.

 

- NCL's Haven Restaurant is far and away a better quality meal. Unfortunately the menu does not rotate, but you also have your specialty dining meals to break it up. The Coastal Kitchen menu does rotate daily.

 

- NCL is generally more affordable, especially the smaller suites compared to Star Class.

 

- Royal's Star Class includes gratuities, although most tip Genies additional.

 

 

You can't go wrong with either one.

[plus1cruiser]

An extra FYI on RCI Allure Star Class sun deck. It is only accessible by stairway. If you have someone needing the elevator you have to ask to use the staff elevator which is not convenient in any way and has lots of high doorway threshold lips. The person will need to get off the scooter/ wheelchair and an able bodied person would have to walk the scooter/ wheelchair across the threshold.

 

Another concern for people in scooters /wheelchairs on Allure loft in the suite area is that when leaving the suite area there is no handicapped button to open the doors out to the general areas. There is one to get into the suite area but not out. We always had to have someone go with our Dad if he wanted out of the suite area. It appears to be just a design flaw and I showed our Genie. Hopefully they can do a fix for that.

 

 

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