The NCL Haven Luxury VIP Experience "Secrets" REVISED for 2022

[Sthrngary]

12 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

I hope this doesn't cause a thread drift, but DW & I will never set foot on another Viking ship.  We took a "7" day river cruise ending in Basel Switzerland where we were awakened at 4 AM to board buses to the airport for our flights home.  That constituted the 7th day of the cruise!  We spent 40% more for this 7-day Viking River cruise than we just spent for a 5-week Holland America cruise in a balcony stateroom going to French Polynesia!

@Daniel A It does not matter if this topic drifts.  It always comes back.  This gives me the an opportunity to create a new Lexicon.  "Haven on Steroids".  

 

The Haven, Celebrity Retreat and MSC Yacht Club all fall under the umbrella of a "Ship-Within-A-Ship".  A quiet, luxurious, private area for a small portion of the guest on a mega ship.  Better personalized service, better bar, better access to cushioned lounge charges, better food/dining, exclusive hot tubs/pools and much less crowded.  For this opportunity, a significant premium is imposed. 

 

Now these few lucky guest can have access to the entire ship and all of its activities and amenities.  Whether go-cart tracks, rock climbing, Virtual Reality or Lasor tag; it is available to you.  Yet when you want to go back to the quiet luxury and higher level of personalized service, it is just a door away. "The best of both worlds."

 

Yet there is another alternative that is available.  But with all changes there is pro/cons.  The "Haven on Steroids" concept. This is the more premium-plus to luxury brands where once you leave your cabin, everyone is treated the same.  Access to all aspects of the ship, amenities outside the cabin, specialty restaurants, sauna/steam rooms/thermal spa.  Little to know difference outside the cabin.  Much less children onboard. What you give up is that the mega ship.  The ships tend to be smaller with much less guests.  No go-carts on these ships.  The entertainment is much more basic with no Broadway reviews.  The nature of this kind of cruising is an older crowd with a much more port intensive itinerary.  Let's say on day two of this cruise, these is no "Mr. Sexy Legs" competition by the pool. Dining and personalized service is a key to these kind of cruises. Yet everyone is treated like a Haven guest.  

 

Some like myself like both experiences.  Some gravitate to one or the other.  Yet, to my great delight, they are both rated as a benchmark of the NCL Haven.  You got to love that.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[chillyw]

2 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

@Daniel A

Yet there is another alternative that is available.  But with all changes there is pro/cons.  The "Haven on Steroids" concept. This is the more premium-plus to luxury brands where once you leave your cabin, everyone is treated the same.  Access to all aspects of the ship, amenities outside the cabin, specialty restaurants, sauna/steam rooms/thermal spa.  Little to know difference outside the cabin.  Much less children onboard. What you give up is that the mega ship.  The ships tend to be smaller with much less guests.  No go-carts on these ships.  The entertainment is much more basic with no Broadway reviews.  The nature of this kind of cruising is an older crowd with a much more port intensive itinerary.  Let's say on day two of this cruise, these is no "Mr. Sexy Legs" competition by the pool. Dining and personalized service is a key to these kind of cruises. Yet everyone is treated like a Haven guest. 

 

I've been considering doing an Oceania trip, especially because some of the itineraries go to more interesting places then the Haven, and it can end up cheaper.

 

I want good food and drinks, service, interesting ports, and a friendly group on ship. I don't really care about age difference, so I'm thinking it might be a good fit!

[Daniel A]

I was speaking with the pre-cruise concierge, and she gave me some details about one of the ports on our stop.  I was not aware of these details when booking excursions, so I passed on making NCL excursions for that port.  After being made aware of these details, I now want to look into booking an excursion there, but many of them have disappeared from the NCL website.  Can the concierge, (either pre-cruise or on board) get us into ship excursions that may have 'filled up?'  

[mconthehighseas]

50 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

I was speaking with the pre-cruise concierge, and she gave me some details about one of the ports on our stop.  I was not aware of these details when booking excursions, so I passed on making NCL excursions for that port.  After being made aware of these details, I now want to look into booking an excursion there, but many of them have disappeared from the NCL website.  Can the concierge, (either pre-cruise or on board) get us into ship excursions that may have 'filled up?'  

It probably depends on the vendor.  I waited too long to book an excursion on our upcoming cruise, so I was put on the "Haven waiting list".  Even though there are no waiting lists online, they apparently have one for the rest of the ship and one for the Haven.   You are still at the mercy of someone who booked before deciding to change their mind, but you are ahead of others.

I would call to see what they tell you, and have a Plan B just in case

Edited June 26, 2023 by mconthehighseas

[Laszlo]

Thinking of sailing the Gem in a Non Haven Suite. I was wondering in the Jewel class ships offer the same perks getting off the ship in port (via crew elevator). I know the Jewel class ships don't have a Haven lounge 

[NikkiPoooo27]

32 minutes ago, Laszlo said:

I was wondering in the Jewel class ships offer the same perks getting off the ship in port (via crew elevator).

 

I have never heard or seen of it on the ones I was on, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a thing. I know when we boarded we were taken onto the ship the normal way.

[Laszlo]

6 minutes ago, NikkiPoooo27 said:

 

I have never heard or seen of it on the ones I was on, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a thing. I know when we boarded we were taken onto the ship the normal way.

Thanks, that's what I figured since the Jewel class ships don't have a Haven lounge

 

[graphicguy]

Anyone have any recent pics of the Epic Haven since they recently refurbished it?  Further, anyone have any pics or recommendations on the Haven boarding area in Marseille?

 

TIA!

[Kauaijim]

We were certainly taken off by the concierge on the Spirt Hawaii Tahiti trip last fall. Also heading back on the tenders was quick and easy as we were waved on . But since there are only 20 some suites for one concierge we had great service for the 16 days 

[McGarrett5oh]

I'm wondering if any previous Haven guests have boarded the Prima in Southampton.  I understand it moors at the new Horizon Cruise Terminal.  

 

My questions are:

 

1.  Is there a Haven baggage drop before entering the terminal?

2.  Experiences with the Haven waiting lounge in the terminal and if your check in is processed inside or is there a unique queue for Haven guest to check in before the waiting lounge?

3. What time were you able to actually board the ship?

 

Thank you in advance for answers or direction.

 

McGarrett 

[chillyw]

3 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Anyone have any recent pics of the Epic Haven since they recently refurbished it?  Further, anyone have any pics or recommendations on the Haven boarding area in Marseille?

 

TIA!

 

There's some YouTube videos with walkthroughs of the refurb Haven area.  I stayed in a 2-BR about 9 months ago and it was accurate.

[ashkay16]

Quick question . Just received luggage tags and Haven letter for 7/30 cruise on the Joy .  Should i call or email concierge with requests ( obviously response time not important since 5 weeks away )  thanks in advance 

[chillyw]

3 minutes ago, ashkay16 said:

Quick question . Just received luggage tags and Haven letter for 7/30 cruise on the Joy .  Should i call or email concierge with requests ( obviously response time not important since 5 weeks away )  thanks in advance 

 

Email has worked fine in my experience.

[knscruiser322]

Wondering why I haven't received my luggage tags or Haven letter yet. Does it have to do with me upgrading a few weeks ago rather than having Haven in my original booking?

 

My sailing is in July.

[omahabob]

It's not all that consistent. If you haven't received them by beginning of the second week in July, you should probably call.

Edited June 27, 2023 by omahabob

[chillyw]

1 hour ago, knscruiser322 said:

Wondering why I haven't received my luggage tags or Haven letter yet. Does it have to do with me upgrading a few weeks ago rather than having Haven in my original booking?

 

My sailing is in July.

 

I upgraded a little before my sailing once and never got them.

[graphicguy]

Email or phoning the concierge will work.  I call them and have found them very helpful.

 

Luggage tags…..if you don’t receive them, the porters at the pier will fill out some for you when you give them your cabin number.

[NikkiPoooo27]

My tags for the cruise that leaves on 7/1 didn't arrive until like 6/14. I had already printed and laminated the ones from the edocs. I actually like those better because you can put your name and contact info on them. 

[chillyw]

8 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Email or phoning the concierge will work.  I call them and have found them very helpful.

 

Luggage tags…..if you don’t receive them, the porters at the pier will fill out some for you when you give them your cabin number.

 

In addition, can always use the ones from the eDocs

[knscruiser322]

1 hour ago, NikkiPoooo27 said:

My tags for the cruise that leaves on 7/1 didn't arrive until like 6/14. I had already printed and laminated the ones from the edocs. I actually like those better because you can put your name and contact info on them. 

 

1 hour ago, chillyw said:

 

In addition, can always use the ones from the eDocs

 

Ah okay. That sounds better. As long as there are a set in the e-docs then I'll be fine. I have luggage tag holders that I can always use to carry the printed ones as well.

[omahabob]

I didn't go to the trouble of laminating them. I just printed them on heavy stock paper. Worked great.

[knscruiser322]

Stayed up till Midnight because the shows became available for Haven at 26 days. 

 

The NCL website and app were crashing like crazy. I had to call the main reservation desk to book my shows since the Haven Concierge was already closed at that time. Luckily I got the showtimes I want. Now I can rework one of my specialty dining to another day now.

 

I still remember having to book these shows with the rush of people ON BOARD the ship pre-COVID. So glad they allow us to book entertainment now before cruising. 

[Daniel A]

10 hours ago, NikkiPoooo27 said:

My tags for the cruise that leaves on 7/1 didn't arrive until like 6/14. I had already printed and laminated the ones from the edocs. I actually like those better because you can put your name and contact info on them. 

 

9 hours ago, omahabob said:

I didn't go to the trouble of laminating them. I just printed them on heavy stock paper. Worked great.

I have been using these for years on several cruise lines.  They have worked out great for me!  There was no need to staple the paper tags and were very easy to affix after claiming my baggage at the airport...

 

Cruise Critic Store: Cruise Luggage Tag Holder - Cruise Critic Community

 

 

[knitlady037]

On 6/26/2023 at 11:06 AM, Laszlo said:

Thinking of sailing the Gem in a Non Haven Suite. I was wondering in the Jewel class ships offer the s ame perks getting off the ship in port (via crew elevator). I know the Jewel class ships don't have a Haven lounge 

I always book the non haven suites on jewel class ships. The concierge will set up a meeting place to escort you off the ship. Just ask when and where to meet.

[janusk]

12 hours ago, knscruiser322 said:

 

 

Ah okay. That sounds better. As long as there are a set in the e-docs then I'll be fine. I have luggage tag holders that I can always use to carry the printed ones as well.

If you are a non-US pax you will not receive luggage tags nor Haven letter. Actually, they won´t even send you an email. Still wondering why we Europeans are being treated like this by NCL. 
We are travelling on NCL Getaway in Haven July 12th, and this was the answer I got from the Concierge desk after asking them : 

Hi Janus,

We apologize for the inconvenience. Because of time differences, long distance calling, and limitations in assisting with your reservation due to foreign currencies, we do not reach out to international guests. However, your Concierge and Butler will be happy to assist with all your needs once onboard. 

****************** 
So apparently the time difference makes it difficult sending an e-mail to your best paying customers telling them that you are excited that they chose you as their vacation choice..... Go figure....