Would you be content with any Haven room?

[xcell]

Would you be content to get a Haven room but not be in the Haven courtyard?

 

Is there a benefit, other than location of havng a room in the haven couryyard area?

 

Deciding if I should even bid for an aft or forward balcony.

[FLcruisergrl]

Yes, absolutely. We love the Haven afts. The walk doesn’t bother us at all and allows us to experience the rest of the ship. If we were inside the Haven, we’d be tempted to never leave. Plus, most of the Haven afts Haven much larger balconies. We love spending time on our balcony, so that is a huge advantage.

[MaryZ]

We prefer the Haven Courtyard.   But that's just our preference.  The aft haven cabins are wonderful with large expansive balconies but we tend to spend our time at the Haven bar or in the casino.  Not so much time on a balcony. 

[YVRBassElectric]

we like the 2nd bathroom of the AFT cabins. I liked having a cabin on a lower deck - more likely to take the stairs from the casino or Specialty dining to Deck 11 than to Deck 17 (on the Bliss)

[Phaedrus78]

I’ll be absolutely thrilled if I can ever afford to straight-up book a regular balcony room rather than rooting for an upgrade bid to hit. 

 

I feel like I’d probably be just fine with any Haven room. 😄

[Two Wheels Only]

For the BA/BA Plus ships, I'd take a H6 over the larger, 2br, in the complex H4. Since we are 4, the H5 isn't an option. In most cases, I'd take a large balcony H6 over the H3 but not over the H2.

 

I'd take the H4, H3, and (obviously) H2 over the H7. The advantage of the H7 is the separate livingroom and bedroom (except for the HC 13106) vs. the H5 so if traveling as a couple, I'd take the H7 after a H4 but before a H5.

 

Picking the right H6 is another task...

Feel free to ask for any info.

[sargemrs]

You invited questions;  You say the right H6!  We have someone in our group that REALLY needs the extra bedroom (mother-in-law) and since the Joy is so new and hasn't had it's refurb (I'm sure rooms may not be part of that refurb) we would like to know about the H6 cabins.  Any clues?

[xcell]

My favorite is the H4 -- been in the H3 but for a family of 4, H4 is my choice.

 

I like the thought of being in the courtyard -- if I'm paying that much, might as be in there.

 

But if I'm upgrading/bidding -- being in Haven better than not? Even if you are a fair walk away?  H7 or H6?

 

Edited December 18, 2018 by xcell

[PTC DAWG]

I’ll take a balcony and the CASH for the win over The Haven...all day..and twice on Sundays..

[Ciref]

Yes but I prefer being in the Haven or an aft balcony.  Being in the Haven, all the Haven amenities are right there and the aft balcony is so large and has a great view.  My least favorite would be the Spa cabins since they are smaller and are not carpeted as far as I can tell.  

[Two Wheels Only]

1 hour ago, sargemrs said:

You invited questions;  You say the right H6!  We have someone in our group that REALLY needs the extra bedroom (mother-in-law) and since the Joy is so new and hasn't had it's refurb (I'm sure rooms may not be part of that refurb) we would like to know about the H6 cabins.  Any clues?

 

The mother-in-law would sleep in the livingroom if sharing with someone else. There is a door that separates the livingroom/small bathroom half and the bedroom/master bathroom half.

 

The stateroom layouts and balcony sizes will match Escape and Bliss (also Encore) as they are the Breakaway Plus Class. The layouts and balcony sizes are different for Breakaway and Getaway which are the Breakaway Class.

 

 

First, decide on your preferred bedroom/master bathroom configuration for the H6

 

With Configuration A, the bedroom (larger) is near the balcony and there is a 2nd access door to the balcony from the bedroom.

 

With Configuration B, the master bathroom (larger) is near the balcony and has a view of the ocean and balcony but no 2nd access door to the balcony. 

 

Configuration A doesn't have natural light in the master bathroom.

Configuration B doesn't have natural light in the bedroom.

 

On Breakaway and Getaway, Configuration A is on decks 11 and 14.

On Breakaway and Getaway, Configuration B is on decks 9, 10, 12, and 13.

 

On Escape/Joy/Bliss/Encore, Configuration A is on decks 9, 10, 12, 13, and 15

On Escape/Joy/Bliss/Encore, Configuration B is on decks 11 and 14. (opposite of BA/GA)

 

All H6 living rooms are the same no matter which ship (BA/GA/Escape/Joy/Bliss/Encore) other than mirror image between port and starboard.

 

The balconies are all roughly the same width but differ in depth.

 

On BA/GA, the size order is 9, 12, 11, 10, 14, 13 from deepest to least deep.

On Escape/Joy/Bliss/Encore, the size order is 9, 12, 15, 14, 11, 10, 13 from deepest to least deep.

 

Joy will have the Galaxy Pavilion above deck 15 and Spice H2O above that. On Escape, the Garden Buffet is above deck 15 so early morning noise can be a problem. For Joy, I have no idea what the situation will be during the day. In the evening. Spice H2O can be loud with heavy bass. Most people can tolerate the noise because the closed and sealed balcony door will block most of the music but the bass can still be felt on the higher decks. Again, with Joy, I don't know what the noise situation will be. 

Edited December 18, 2018 by Two Wheels Only

[Cruisehack]

We just got the new cabin HH, Family Villa Suite.  We had 9 of us and was going to go 3 per room balcony cabins but the new HH in the Haven was only $150.00 more per person and is only available on the Joy as we looked on both the Bliss and Encore but the HH is only on the Joy.  I have yet to find anyone from my TA to NCL customer service that knows what these are. There are only nine of these cabins available on the whole ship.  I think they are these: http://www.iceportal.com/brochures/ice/brochure.aspx?did=3719&brochureid=ICE95210&mtype=4280&type=vr&browser_popup=700x450 that were Concierge Family Villa Suite on the Chinese Joy.  They do have 84 sql balconies!  We got rooms next to each other so hopefully we can have them remove the divider between our rooms and have a giaganto balcony.  Can't wait to see what the refurb on these rooms look like!

Edited January 9, 2019 by Cruisehack

[dshanesmom]

We have done Garden Villa (Jade), 2 bdrm (Epic, Jewel, Gem), and Aft Haven on Breakaway multiple times. While we like the space in Aft with our two children, there is a bit of disconnect once you walk to Haven in my opinion. Our butler's have been very good but the concierge staff never really got to know us unless we made a point to utilize them. We gave a very generous tip to asst. concierge on Breakaway last Feb cruise because she went out of her way to talk to us and our kids. We are booked in DOS on Escape this Feb so I will be able to see if there is a definite difference. Obviously we were treated great when we were in GV but there were also less Haven/suites to deal with. It depends on size of room you need vs. pampering you want.

[Peachypooh]

We like any room that has 1.5 or 2 baths so that would apply to if we would

like any Haven room.

[dexddd]

16 hours ago, dshanesmom said:

We have done Garden Villa (Jade), 2 bdrm (Epic, Jewel, Gem), and Aft Haven on Breakaway multiple times. While we like the space in Aft with our two children, there is a bit of disconnect once you walk to Haven in my opinion. Our butler's have been very good but the concierge staff never really got to know us unless we made a point to utilize them. We gave a very generous tip to asst. concierge on Breakaway last Feb cruise because she went out of her way to talk to us and our kids. We are booked in DOS on Escape this Feb so I will be able to see if there is a definite difference. Obviously we were treated great when we were in GV but there were also less Haven/suites to deal with. It depends on size of room you need vs. pampering you want.

 

We were on Escape in June in a DOS and the concierge wouldn't even say "hello" when we went past him.

[phillyguy31]

14 minutes ago, dexddd said:

 

We were on Escape in June in a DOS and the concierge wouldn't even say "hello" when we went past him.

We were on that cruise and David was nothing but friendly to us, always said hello and his assistants were just as great.

[Two Wheels Only]

Butlers rotate so the stateroom location isn't/shouldn't be a factor. A good butler is a good butler whether they are assigned to an "in the complex" suite or an "outside of the complex" suite. The concierge (if good) will treat everyone the same no matter where the guest is staying.

 

It also comes down to the other guests. If any guest "over uses" the butler/concierge, some guests may see a decline in service/attentiveness. I wouldn't point to the location of the guest as a factor.

Edited January 9, 2019 by Two Wheels Only

[tgloersen]

Any Haven room is good with us, in or out of the Haven proper.

[Vyhanek]

First choice would be inside the Haven complex.    But honestly as long as it has Haven access, that's the important thing.   

 

I don't think you're asking....."Would any room work?   Because obviously some cruisers are traveling with family and need the second bedroom, some cruisers are couples and don't need two bathrooms, etc.     I personally wouldn't cruise NCL without Haven access.   I don't think the standard non haven experience beats Celebrity or Princess or even Royal, I think they have better standard food.    

[shrew]

On 1/8/2019 at 4:38 PM, Cruisehack said:

We just got the new cabin HH, Family Villa Suite.  We had 9 of us and was going to go 3 per room balcony cabins but the new HH in the Haven was only $150.00 more per person and is only available on the Joy as we looked on both the Bliss and Encore but the HH is only on the Joy.  I have yet to find anyone from my TA to NCL customer service that knows what these are. There are only nine of these cabins available on the whole ship.  I think they are these: http://www.iceportal.com/brochures/ice/brochure.aspx?did=3719&brochureid=ICE95210&mtype=4280&type=vr&browser_popup=700x450 that were Concierge Family Villa Suite on the Chinese Joy.  They do have 84 sql balconies!  We got rooms next to each other so hopefully we can have them remove the divider between our rooms and have a giaganto balcony.  Can't wait to see what the refurb on these rooms look like!

4

We did the Family Suite on the Star (no Haven) and it was similar; it had a king bed, a queen pull-out, and a full murphy bed, plus a table for for - however no balcony but full length windows instead. With two teens it was awesome. Hope your experience is as good!

[Hottubmomma]

any one use the Haven on the Peal?

 

[Peachypooh]

2 hours ago, Hottubmomma said:

any one use the Haven on the Peal?

 

We have been on the Pearl three times all with Haven access. Do you have a question? I will try to

answer.

[Hottubmomma]

Thank you, we were thinking of trying the Haven as we hear it is wonderful but the only room they have left for the cruise we are considering is a two bedroom and that is really way more than we need. I think we will just go with a suite. WE are thinking of the 

Western Caribbean cruise have you done that one?

[Cruisehack]

On 1/10/2019 at 12:21 AM, shrew said:

We did the Family Suite on the Star (no Haven) and it was similar; it had a king bed, a queen pull-out, and a full murphy bed, plus a table for for - however no balcony but full length windows instead. With two teens it was awesome. Hope your experience is as good!

 

Thank you!  We have my parents and nephews in the next door cabin that is a Haven Family Villa as well.  Hopefully we can have them remove the balcony wall on their side to open it up for one big balcony, 168 sf!

[NYcruzzer]

On 12/17/2018 at 10:41 PM, PTC DAWG said:

I’ll take a balcony and the CASH for the win over The Haven...all day..and twice on Sundays..

 Agree 100% On our recent cruise on Escape we didn't get upgraded from Balcony to Haven. With the $2000.00 plus additional Haven tips saved we booked another cruise... Booked the thermal spa so we had a place to chill away from the crowds. Didn't miss Haven one bit.