Is the Haven really worth it?

[davy jones]

31 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

 

 

Do you know that for sure or are you just speculating?

Speculating, hence the word could.

[davy jones]

44 minutes ago, StackSkipton said:

There is not a separate line but concierge can generally get reservations long after they are showing unavailable in NCL apps. 
 

Not sure if computer bumps Haven but in Haven you quickly learn to not show up anywhere that you don’t have a reservation to without talking to concierge first. 

I am clearly lack haven savvy.   ☺️

[ColeThornton]

32 minutes ago, davy jones said:

Speculating, hence the word could.

 

 

Gotcha.  That's what I get for posting before my morning coffee.

[luckyinpa]

i had no idea u could reserve MDR, thought was always 1st come. 

[sverigecruiser]

6 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

i had no idea u could reserve MDR, thought was always 1st come. 

 

We did it when we cruised on the Jade but that was ten years ago so I don't know if it's still possible to do it. We had a suite but not in the Haven.

Edited October 1, 2019 by sverigecruiser

[snorklinbarb]

1 hour ago, luckyinpa said:

i had no idea u could reserve MDR, thought was always 1st come. 

Was just on B2B Dawn.  Any guest could reserve Venetian or Aqua. 

Groups can but given certain time frame.  

 

I've reserved MDR on AWAY ships, etc. as well.  

[Run14]

14 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

 

where did you eat on thanksgiving?

 

do the MDRs have a separate haven line?

 

We ate in an MDR, and we were part of a large group (16 people I believe).  The entirety of the group wasn't in the Haven and, although we had a reservation, we waited for half an hour in a hallway so crowded I thought I was going to develop enochlophobia.  

[luckyinpa]

so when you do reserve MDR do you just line skip to the front to tell them you have arrived. and you dont get shot by the other guests?

[Matman1215]

14 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

so when you do reserve MDR do you just line skip to the front to tell them you have arrived. and you dont get shot by the other guests?

From my experience, there are usually 2 lines; 1 for reservations and 1 for walk-ins. 

[sverigecruiser]

51 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

so when you do reserve MDR do you just line skip to the front to tell them you have arrived. and you dont get shot by the other guests?

 

Our plan when we had booked was to enter on the wrong floor and tell them that we had a reservation made by the concierge, if I remember correct. (Do I remember correct if I think that the exit is one floor down from the entrance on the Jade?) When we arrived there was no line so we just said that we had a reservation and were seated.

[ollienbertsmum]

16 hours ago, Run14 said:

 

We ate in an MDR, and we were part of a large group (16 people I believe).  The entirety of the group wasn't in the Haven and, although we had a reservation, we waited for half an hour in a hallway so crowded I thought I was going to develop enochlophobia.  

 

Did they not give you a little buzzer that you could take to a bar and enjoy a drink???  I have been on the Epic and the Star, (not Haven) on both ships we knew there might be a 20 - 30 minute wait for the MDR.  We requested a table and got a buzzer and when it sounds you go to the front of the queue and get your table.  More fun than the casino actually.  At least you know you are guaranteed to win.  

Edited October 2, 2019 by ollienbertsmum
missed out the Haven part

[Run14]

6 hours ago, ollienbertsmum said:

 

Did they not give you a little buzzer that you could take to a bar and enjoy a drink???  I have been on the Epic and the Star, (not Haven) on both ships we knew there might be a 20 - 30 minute wait for the MDR.  We requested a table and got a buzzer and when it sounds you go to the front of the queue and get your table.  More fun than the casino actually.  At least you know you are guaranteed to win.  

 

That's awesome!  No buzzer for us, but I love that they are doing it now.  Much more efficient.  

[beerman2]

17 hours ago, ollienbertsmum said:

 

Did they not give you a little buzzer that you could take to a bar and enjoy a drink???  I have been on the Epic and the Star, (not Haven) on both ships we knew there might be a 20 - 30 minute wait for the MDR.  We requested a table and got a buzzer and when it sounds you go to the front of the queue and get your table.  More fun than the casino actually.  At least you know you are guaranteed to win.  

And how convenient on the newer ships that NCL has a bar right between the 2 MDR's.

Thats a win/win situation.

[ollienbertsmum]

4 hours ago, beerman2 said:

And how convenient on the newer ships that NCL has a bar right between the 2 MDR's.

Thats a win/win situation.

 

It really does not feel like queuing.  

[nyc2pdx]

So is the Haven worth it?  I'm betting on it.  I just upgraded my reservation on the Joy today to an H8.  

 

How do I justify it?  I work hard everyday, and don't take a lot of long vacations.  I usually volunteer when I take time off, and this is the first time in a few years I am doing a vacation for me.  I don't want to feel crowded in, and want to feel a little pampered.  Will I do the gummy bears thing?  No, probably not...but I would love to get afternoon tea everyday in my room, or on my balcony.  It is those little things that will make me really enjoy my time away from life.

[Two Wheels Only]

1 hour ago, nyc2pdx said:

Will I do the gummy bears thing?  No, probably not...but I would love to get afternoon tea everyday in my room, or on my balcony.  It is those little things that will make me really enjoy my time away from life.

 

Just tell your butler what you want and don't want. Too many 1st time Haven guests remain silent on the ship then complain that "...I didn't want this....I wanted that...". 

 

A good butler will easily handle requests such as tea in the afternoon served on the balcony. 

 

[nyc2pdx]

30 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Just tell your butler what you want and don't want. Too many 1st time Haven guests remain silent on the ship then complain that "...I didn't want this....I wanted that...". 

 

A good butler will easily handle requests such as tea in the afternoon served on the balcony. 

 

I won't be shy!  I appreciate that because while I don't want to be a jerk, I do want a carefree holiday.  

 

@Two Wheels Onlywill I hear from someone before the cruise?  Is there any prep before I get there?  Just curious as I'd like to have things done like empty the minibar, etc...

[StackSkipton]

7 hours ago, nyc2pdx said:

I won't be shy!  I appreciate that because while I don't want to be a jerk, I do want a carefree holiday.  

 

@Two Wheels Onlywill I hear from someone before the cruise?  Is there any prep before I get there?  Just curious as I'd like to have things done like empty the minibar, etc...

 

You should get a letter about 45 days out with email for concierge desk, you can email in your empty the mini bar request into there. However, I wouldn't be shocked if it isn't done when you get on board. The butler will do their best to come by and you can remind them of mini bar empty request then.

 

As for afternoon tea, two ways. First way is you make it yourself using coffee maker. You should have a supply of tea, if you wish for different types of tea or more of certain type, let the butler know. Second is having a steaming pot of it delivered every afternoon. For that, I would just pick up the phone, call the butler and put in the request daily when you want it. You can also get tea in Haven Lounge. Balcony sounds great because normally all public areas are madness but that isn't always the case in Haven areas.

[Matman1215]

9 hours ago, nyc2pdx said:

So is the Haven worth it?  I'm betting on it.  I just upgraded my reservation on the Joy today to an H8.  

 

How do I justify it?  I work hard everyday, and don't take a lot of long vacations.  I usually volunteer when I take time off, and this is the first time in a few years I am doing a vacation for me.  I don't want to feel crowded in, and want to feel a little pampered.  Will I do the gummy bears thing?  No, probably not...but I would love to get afternoon tea everyday in my room, or on my balcony.  It is those little things that will make me really enjoy my time away from life.

I will be in the Haven on the Joy in the coming weeks and will do a review. First time in the Haven here, so hopefully it will provide you what you need to determine you made the right decision!

[nyc2pdx]

7 minutes ago, Matman1215 said:

I will be in the Haven on the Joy in the coming weeks and will do a review. First time in the Haven here, so hopefully it will provide you what you need to determine you made the right decision!

That would be awesome and appreciated!

[tomservo]

I put this in another thread but I wanted to mention it here too. Haven deal alert!

 

 

[calicakes]

In June 2018, we were in an Aft Balcony room on the Getaway.  We were with my friend and her husband who were in the Haven suite right next door.  This was my wife's and my first cruise on NCL( we had 3 cruises on X before this one).   My friends received a free cruise thru casinos at sea and upgraded that oceanview room to a Haven suite.    We were able to tag along with them for certain things( leaving the ship for excursions, going to shows, 1 dinner with them in their restaurant and 1 breakfast, we could also put our luggage with theirs the night before debarkation).  It was somewhat strange( they thought so too) that their room was right next to ours and wasn't in the Haven portion of the ship.  Anyway, when we werent with them, we had vastly different experiences.  I thought the food was better in the Haven( at least for breakfast, I can't remember the dinner).  They had fresh berries all the time, and nicely diced up melon.  We had spears of melon( with the rind) in the buffet and no berries what so ever.  They also had room service, their snacks, etc.  Their room was gorgeous, separate bedroom, 2 bathrooms( their son was also with them).  Their butler provided great service.  We were able to hang out with them in the Haven lounge before the shows. 

 

I wasn't impressed with a lot of aspects of NCL and I wouldn't chose to cruise with them again, my wife said she would, but only in a Haven suite.  While I liked all the amenities they received, I wouldn't pay the price for the suite.  We attempted to upgrade with bidding, but were unsuccessful.   

 

We've never had a suite in X, we cruise Aqua Class, but we'll have a Sky suite in Dec 2020 on a Touch Canal cruise.  It was expensive, so I have high expectations.  I probably should lower them a bit so I'm not too disappointed.