Inside vs outside Haven Complex Rooms

[mw4357]

I have traveled several times in the Haven, Owners Suite, Spa suite and Aft Penthouse. I have never stayed in a cabin in the Haven Complex itself and I am looking for input from passengers that have done both. Thinking about booking a Haven Courtyard on the Encore. Thanks in advance

[dexddd]

There have been quite a few of these threads over time.  From looking at it from a 10,000 foot level, the responses are if they've stayed outside the Haven they don't generally mind the walk and if they stay inside the Haven, they'd never consider anything else.  

 

On the Jewel Class, the Haven isn't really that special but the newer ships it is pretty nice.

[realtorgranny]

We did a TA on the Getaway in a Courtyard Penthouse Deck 16. I loved the convenience of just being a few steps away from the restaurant and bar. Our bartenders were the best and really got all the other cruisers talking to each other. We booked the Epic TA in Nov 21 and picked the same area. I think you’d love it like we did.

[arlodog]

We have stayed both inside and outside the Haven area.  We much prefer being inside the Haven area.  It's just so much more convenient for all the amenities.  We would find ourselves not wanting to walk to the Haven area for a drink and just going to a nearby bar instead.  Your mileage may vary, but I would vote for inside the Haven area. 

[BirdTravels]

4 hours ago, mw4357 said:

I have traveled several times in the Haven, Owners Suite, Spa suite and Aft Penthouse. I have never stayed in a cabin in the Haven Complex itself and I am looking for input from passengers that have done both. Thinking about booking a Haven Courtyard on the Encore. Thanks in advance

Here's our take... You pay a premium price to stay inside the Haven. A courtyard penthouse will be substantially smaller than any other room you mentioned at $1K+ premium price. So, if you don't want to walk, you can get a small penthouse room. Other than that, we normally book the forward or aft facing rooms (where you get a separate living room for less money). That being said, we are booked in a Spa Haven room on our next cruise.  

[Georgia_Peaches]

Have been both inside and outside the Haven complex. All the responses above pretty much summarize my position.  Love the spaciousness of the aft suites and don’t mind the walk. Also love the convenience of being directly in the complex. Lately though, I’ve come to think my preference lies more to the proximity to the thermal suite than anything else. Our next cruise will likely be in a spa suite. Not inside the Haven complex but close enough to be convenient. 
Note: my frame of reference is with the Away class ships. 

[NW Pacific]

Stayed in both, inside and outside of Haven  " complex".  We are on the "older" side, and must say being right in the Haven was our preference.  Our last TA, 19 day from Copenhagen to New Orleans, on some sea days we never left the area.  Had everything right there at our fingertips.  But most days we of course ventured out and about, tried different bars, restaurants and of course shows.  But we were sure glad to get back to that special area, a few feet from our room!  Just my opinion.  Only wish someday we will have that over indulgent experience again .   

[david_sobe]

Location Location Location

I too thought saving money justified staying in a forward penthouse on Getaway.  The walk was only part of the issue.  I never felt part of the Haven and you feel like an outsider.  The concierge does not see you as much either.  I just got back from Encore in March and the Haven complex is off the chart.  We woke up, opened our cabin door and walked about 10 steps to the Horizon Lounge.  It was so close it felt like part of our suite.  It was mostly empty in the morning too.  Those staying so far away want to relax and not take a bunch of crowded elevators and walking across crowded pool decks just to get a glass of OJ in the morning.  I really felt like I was sailing a luxury line it was that good.  Staying up for night caps at the Haven bar was just too convenient.  Walking past the concierge several times a day makes them know your name and suite by heart. I could go on and on.  
Biggest rule of thumb.  People always justify and will always defend their choices because they had a great time.  You really cant give advice on this matter unless you have both stayed inside and outside the Haven on  Epic or post Epic.  I have done both with thinking it was insane to spend so much more money to stay inside the Haven.  IMHO its worth every cent to just stumble out of bed into the Haven restaurant for breakfast plus all the other perks.  You can be on the Haven sundeck and forget something and you are back in your cabin in seconds.

Unless you are on a strict budget, you are missing out on the Haven luxuries.

Edited July 15, 2020 by david_sobe

[TSUmom]

We have always only stayed outside of the Haven complex and did not mind the walk but we found we did not utilize the Haven much.  On our upcoming cruises we have booked inside the haven, on the Breakaway we booked a courtyard suite on deck 16 and on the Epic we are doing a b2b on deck 17.  We plan to only leave the haven to get off the ship and a few specialty dinners.  Oh and the casino......We are really looking forward to it.

[Laszlo]

My wife and I had an H5 Courtyard on the Escape. It was fantastic! We were in a 30 second walk to just about everything Haven.

 

 

[DrSea]

I've stayed in both. It depends on who you are. It sounds like you would prefer on the inside based on your prior stays. 

Edited July 15, 2020 by DrSea

[etravel]

We stayed in the H9 Spa suite on the Getaway..and really loved it and loved having access to the Thermal rooms...plus it is generally one of the cost effective suites in the Haven...will be staying in the same type of Spa suite room on the Bliss next year...for an Alaska cruise, I am thinking the access to the Spa would be awesome! Hoping they don't have issues with the spa area due to the virus situation however...we didn't mind the walk to the Haven area, wasn't that hard to get to. But I can also imagine that being in the Haven proper would have some major convenience factors as well! 

[GA Dave]

We loved our CY PH Suite on deck 16 of the Getaway, 16710.  It is literally located directly across the hall from the doorway that goes into both the pool area and the stairs to the sundeck, but we never heard any noise outside our door.  The convenience of having only a few steps to the restaurant and the lounge was great.  Once we took a walk across the regular pool deck and through the buffet, we realized how much it was worth having the isolation of the Haven area.

[Lupush]

We've stayed in both and prefer the Courtyard rooms much better.  The convenience of having the pool, restaurant, and bar within steps of your room is something that is incomprable.

[graphicguy]

11 minutes ago, GA Dave said:

We loved our CY PH Suite on deck 16 of the Getaway, 16710.  It is literally located directly across the hall from the doorway that goes into both the pool area and the stairs to the sundeck, but we never heard any noise outside our door.  The convenience of having only a few steps to the restaurant and the lounge was great.  Once we took a walk across the regular pool deck and through the buffet, we realized how much it was worth having the isolation of the Haven area.

I cruised with @GA Dave and his lovely wife in the Haven.  As Dave mentioned, they were within a few steps of the Haven Restaurant and Haven Bar.  I was in a Spa Suite, which was the next level down.  For me, I didn't mind the walk up the Haven stairs (seperate entrance from the Spa).  I spent a lot of time at the Haven Bar.  I never felt like I was not getting the full benefit of the Haven experience.  I was just in a different location.  Instead of a 1 minute walk, mine was 2-3 minutes to get to the Haven Bar/Restaurant.

 

And, I concur.  The Haven on the Jewel class ships aren't nearly as nice as the Haven on the -Away and -Away Plus class ships.

 

While I've never stayed in the Haven on the Epic, I hear that it is also a great Haven experience (and the one all other ships mimic to one degree or another).

Edited July 15, 2020 by graphicguy

[oteixeira]

I have only done outside, in the Spa room on Escape.  It is literally one flight of stairs outside the Haven area, so it was no big deal at all to us.  We liked it so much we booked almost the exact same room (just 2 over) for our next cruise.  My wife loves the tub overlooking the balcony, and the thermal spa gives you another area to enjoy the ship without any real crowds.  We spent quite a few nights being the only 2 people closing down the spa just before 10PM with a quick dip and hot tub time.  I highly recommend!  

[BEACHBARB]

We've stayed in 3 Haven suites outside the Haven area and are booked in the Haven area on the Encore for January (hopefully).  Now that they have the Horizon Lounge it someplace we would want to spend more time.  And the walk from the Aft was getting old.

[david_sobe]

2 hours ago, BEACHBARB said:

We've stayed in 3 Haven suites outside the Haven area and are booked in the Haven area on the Encore for January (hopefully).  Now that they have the Horizon Lounge it someplace we would want to spend more time.  And the walk from the Aft was getting old.

You will love it. The Horizon lounge was so quiet and they pipe in zen music and they have a fantastic breakfast spread.  My inlaws were there every morning.  No chair hogs to be found and you could sit there all day and no one would even notice.

[BEACHBARB]

27 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

You will love it. The Horizon lounge was so quiet and they pipe in zen music and they have a fantastic breakfast spread.  My inlaws were there every morning.  No chair hogs to be found and you could sit there all day and no one would even notice.

We DID love it on the Bliss this pas January.  Got home right as covid was becoming known.  We sailed out of NY so had some cooler weather on the way back and the view is amazing.  IF we get to go on planned January cruise on Encore that might be where I want to be for the canal.

[BoundForSea]

One additional opinion:

 

Ive stayed in the 2bdrm, the courtyard, the for and aft suites. I’ve also sailed YC on MSC and there you always stay in the YC complex as well. Its a different experience feeling alot more like being on a luxury small line like 7Seas when you are in the complex. I’ve cknsistently also found butlers to be a bit more present and plugged into the experience as well inside the doors. I’ve also found that we used the complex amenities more when inside. Dave said it right, sometimes you dont want to walk a 1/4 mile and back for the orange juice and pound cake! 

 

Now... having said that I’ll offer this exception... 
 

I believe that the Aft Facing Penthouses are exceptional. The rear quarter private balcony is exceptional. I have very fond memories of our family of 4 having amazing breakfasts and specialty white tablecloth classy multi course dining by our butler on the veranda at night as the sun sets behind us. I have memories of arrivals and departures from Bermuda and other great places like the NY evening sailaways and early morning returns up the river from that amazing balcony. These suites with the amazing window facing bathrooms are some of the finest rooms at sea (Oasis class has some impressive two level aft facing penthouses as well but much more expensive). So if the cost of an aft and a courtyard are similar, Ill book the Aft. If the Aft costs more than Courtyard Ill book Courtyard. The prices of the 2 bdrm lately has been out of sight, unlike 2015 when we stayed in them. So, Ill stay outside Haven for the Aft penthouse experience. 

 

Ive stayed in the Forward as well, and didnt like it at all. There were 4 of us and I regretted it all week (should have payed more for the Aft that week). 

 

I would do a deck 14 Spa for the two of us as long as I can just walk up the stairs one deck on BA or GA into Haven for access to Thermal Spa. 

 

 

[maja651]

On 7/14/2020 at 1:52 PM, mw4357 said:

I have traveled several times in the Haven, Owners Suite, Spa suite and Aft Penthouse. I have never stayed in a cabin in the Haven Complex itself and I am looking for input from passengers that have done both. Thinking about booking a Haven Courtyard on the Encore. Thanks in advance

We have cruised aft penthouse on the Epic and 2 bedroom in the Haven on the Getaway. While the walk is not that big of a deal, when you’re not in the actual Haven complex you just don’t get the same experience. Our butler was great on the Epic, that wasn’t the issue it’s just that you almost feel like an outsider when entering the Haven area. Hard to explain except that we loved the convience of the Haven sundeck, restaurant, bar, Pool, hot tubs, just outside your cabin.

[TSUmom]

On 7/15/2020 at 9:41 AM, GA Dave said:

We loved our CY PH Suite on deck 16 of the Getaway, 16710.  It is literally located directly across the hall from the doorway that goes into both the pool area and the stairs to the sundeck, but we never heard any noise outside our door.  The convenience of having only a few steps to the restaurant and the lounge was great.  Once we took a walk across the regular pool deck and through the buffet, we realized how much it was worth having the isolation of the Haven area.

Glad to hear you enjoyed that cabin...we are on the breakaway in the same cabin #

[TSUmom]

On 7/19/2020 at 2:40 AM, maja651 said:

We have cruised aft penthouse on the Epic and 2 bedroom in the Haven on the Getaway. While the walk is not that big of a deal, when you’re not in the actual Haven complex you just don’t get the same experience. Our butler was great on the Epic, that wasn’t the issue it’s just that you almost feel like an outsider when entering the Haven area. Hard to explain except that we loved the convience of the Haven sundeck, restaurant, bar, Pool, hot tubs, just outside your cabin.

We felt the same way.  When we would go to the bar for a drink others sitting there looked at us like we had snuck in or something.  

[jakeT]

Staying inside the Haven has many perks.  Coffer and danish set up in the morning.  Restaurant for breakfast few steps away.  Private bar.  Access to to making reservations for shows, special restaurant  ect at breakfast.  They always can get reservations for you.  
restaurants for lunch and dinner a few steps away.  Did the suite In back of the ship once.  The room was big and nice.  But you were always walking to the Haven and back 

Midship is the better location, on any cruise ship 

[sverigecruiser]

We have been inside the Haven and outside the Haven on the Epic and prefered to be inside the Haven. We didn't mind the walk to the Haven but still prefered to be right there.

 

On the Breakaway we had a forward facing suite a few decks down and that was a great suite. It was worth the walk to stay in such a nice suite.