Is "class" cruising coming back

[sverigecruiser]

That's not really a useful question. It's a three-bedroom suite with a king-size bed in each bedroom. Even the smaller bedrooms are similar to suites in themselves. A better comparison would be with six people in three suites.

 

We recently took a cruise almost identical to the poster you're responding to. Six people, multi-generational in a GV on the Pearl. We paid $19K before service charges, port taxes, etc. The six of us in three mini-suites would have been $15K on a like-for-like basis. The six of us were very satisfied with the value for the $4K difference (suite privileges, Moderno breakfast and lunches, a stonking big living room, private hot tub and deck). I think three penthouse suites (non-Haven) would have been $24K, but I don't remember the exact numbers.

 

The Haven in the Jewel class is much more less expensive than on the newer ships. We are a family of four with two smallish children. We can afford not to have to jam all of us in one cabin when we sail. We can still get a Haven Courtyard 2-Bedroom for not much more than two mini-suites. For us, the Haven on the Jewel class ships is very good value.

 

I agree with you and that was my point.

 

We can't compare the prices that way.

[havenfan]

I agree with you and that was my point.

 

We can't compare the prices that way.

I think the previous poster's point was that he/she's seeing $3-4K pp for Haven suites and wondering where the $7-10K pp figures are coming from. The answer (which he/she did not want to know) is on the newer ships with larger Havens and full (including dinner) Haven restaurants.

 

On the Jewel class, a Haven Courtyard 2-Bedroom Suite can be only twice as expensive as a mini-suite. On the Breakaway class, a Haven Courtyard 2-Bedroom Suite is often four times as expensive as a mini-suite.

[sverigecruiser]

I think the previous poster's point was that he/she's seeing $3-4K pp for Haven suites and wondering where the $7-10K pp figures are coming from. The answer (which he/she did not want to know) is on the newer ships with larger Havens and full (including dinner) Haven restaurants.

 

On the Jewel class, a Haven Courtyard 2-Bedroom Suite can be only twice as expensive as a mini-suite. On the Breakaway class, a Haven Courtyard 2-Bedroom Suite is often four times as expensive as a mini-suite.

 

I agree and as I said my point was that we can't compare prices that way. 7 persons in one suite can't be compared to 2 persons in one suite even if it is a Garden Villa.

[Arzeena]

I have been wondering if class cruising is coming back? That is are we as a society going back to first class, second class, and steerage. With the increase in perks for suites, haven, restricted areas becoming the norm are we that far away from separate dinning, pool area etc.

Not sure of my feelings on this, just wondering what others are thinking

 

Bigger $$$$ = Bigger Perks.

[123linz123]

I have been wondering if class cruising is coming back? That is are we as a society going back to first class, second class, and steerage. With the increase in perks for suites, haven, restricted areas becoming the norm are we that far away from separate dinning, pool area etc.

Not sure of my feelings on this, just wondering what others are thinking

It never went away!

[richstowe]

Why would someone with class? Don’t quite know what that means these days, bother with NCL ? Silversea and others offer a better standard of everything throughout the whole ship, in reality the haven is like buying a mid range car and adding extras, when you could purchase the real thing!

(y)

I love your analogy . NCL is certainly mid range or more accurately mass market .

I'll give another analogy, buying the most expensive house in a mid-level neighbourhood .

That's what Haven seems like to me . But the "house" is clearly the nicest . ;)

[Gampy1967]

"

 

Funny you mention that because while not in the Haven as Dawn does not have one, I am in an Owners Suite and heard that I could tip my Butler $50, hand them my key cards, and he would "attend" the life boat drill for us, so we would not have to associate with the "rabble". We will be escorted to our own private lifeboat in the case of evacuation anyway so why actually attend the life boat drill??:rolleyes::rolleyes::');p

 

true story....wifw and i went out on our balcony and closed the curtain on the inside...we sat out there enjoying the view when my wife said...boy..the ship is so quiet..where is everybody??? turns out they were all at the lifeboat safety drill that we missed.

still had a great cruise and never felt safer that we were surrounded by 3500 people who now know exactly what to do in case there was an emergency...lol

 

The last time I cruised was approximately 22-23 years ago. It was on Norwegian, I believe it was the Seaward, out of Puerto Rico and went to Southern Caribbean. It was in a lower level, outside cabin with a porthole. The safety briefing at that time encompassed showing up at your specific lifeboat with your life vest and told "this is where you come if there is a problem. Thank you for coming you are dismissed.". Now in March 2019 we are going on the Dawn in an Owners Suite. Everyone complains about how small the Dawn is, but I went back and looked and it is approx 50% larger than the Seaward was (2340 passengers vs. 1480 passengers/958 ft vs 709ft). Really looking forward to it.

[Warm Breezes]

Nope. Has nothing to do with your social class. It's all about dollars and your choice!

 

Something for everybody.

 

It seems this question gets asked every now and again by folks who either do not want to pay or can't afford but begrudge those that can and do.

 

I cruise suites and Haven. I am middle class. Just, at my age, have made good financial choices. The Haven is full of people like me.

 

The super high class is on Regent, Crystal, Silversea, etc. or on their own or leased yacht.

 

 

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I agree. I was raised in a family that would be considered low income (single Mom, deadbeat Dad, 3 kids, living in a trailer park). My husband was raised in a family that would be considered lower middle income (Factory working Dad, stay at home Mom, 7 kids going to Christian school, living in a small country town). We made choices in our lives, that despite having multiple serious health issues, led to us now being upper middle income-lower high income (based on your definition) and being set to retire at 55 with 2 kids through college debt free. We got here through the choices we made, not some class system.

 

We have been cruising since 2001. We started out with the 4 of us in 1 inside room. If we sail with kids now days it is 2 rooms with at least DH and myself in a balcony. Last year DH and I sailed in an angled balcony on NCL Escape with UBP and SDP in Sept and a PH room on CCL Fantasy in Oct. We are splurging (for us anyways) on an Aft Balcony on NCL Getaway in 2 weeks for our 30th anniversary. We could afford a Haven or a suite but we choose not too. The room we choose, especially on a main stream cruiseline, has absolutely nothing to do with our class but everything to do with our choices on where to spend our vacation money. Quite frankly if I choose to spend my money on a Haven room I would totally expect the benefits and privacy that come with said room. That is why you are spending the extra dollars. Those people who choose to spend their money in the Haven or a suite are no better than the person who chooses to spend less on an inside room. You have no idea if that Haven/suite person saved up 5 years to splurge on that vacation of a lifetime or if the person in the inside paid for it out of their petty cash. Choices...not class.

[Trimone]

Every time I’ve travelled business class on BA, the people are normal hardworking folk, who choose to upgrade when the sale is on, it’s the same with the Haven, I will use it on an upgrade and the right cost, but never retail price. Most brits are the same, we want a deal.

[welove2cruise2014]

true story....wifw and i went out on our balcony and closed the curtain on the inside...we sat out there enjoying the view when my wife said...boy..the ship is so quiet..where is everybody??? turns out they were all at the lifeboat safety drill that we missed.

still had a great cruise and never felt safer that we were surrounded by 3500 people who now know exactly what to do in case there

 

 

 

You will love the Dawn in a suite. Awesome service. I think the Dawn is a perfect size... personally I am a bit apprehensive about trying a mega ship . Dawn is big enough.

 

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