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

[NikkiPoooo27]

1 hour ago, Sigyn said:

On 7/19/2023 at 9:23 AM, cruiseny4life said:

We've only ever taken 7 - 10 day cruises. We pack basically the same for these cruise lengths. If we went on a longer cruise, we might pack differently. I don't really think so though. Shorter? We'd pack way less! We don't take advantage of the laundry on the ship. We just re-wear clothes *gasp* 

 

Clothing

3 t-shirts

1 Bahamas shirt - gotta have that collared shirt in case we want to be fancy (never needed it, just wore it because I had it)

1 pair of jeans

1 belt

3 pairs of athletic shorts, 1 becomes my bathing suit

1 hoodie

1 hat (I'm balding, so it's a must)

5 pairs of sock

5 pairs of undies

1 pair sneakers

1 pair flippie floppies

 

 

 

Expand  

Do you wash undies in the sink? 

 

If you're like me, packing for 7-10 days means like 20 pairs of underwear, for no real reason other than "but what if...?"

[ashkay16]

I sail in 8 days on the Joy in a HH family villa suite . Room looks great online and cheaper since not in Haven proper ( right by elevators so quick trip up 2 floors to Haven .  Has anyone stayed in the HH ?? 

[Treasure Hunter]

The Crystal Itinerary is overnight Amsterdam ( Amsterdam just posted no more cruise ships like Venice), Bruges, three days docked on the Seine in Rouen for the D-Day Beaches etc. and Guernsey Island. Hopefully the entertainment won’t be as bad as our recent Viking Mississippi which caused me to swear off river cruises. I know I’m going to miss the ship within a ship. I love the big ship amenities and the special treatment in the Haven. But this itinerary was too good to pass up. 

[Daniel A]

We sail in about six weeks.  Can I request from the pre-cruise concierge that the bar in the refrigerator is empty on our arrival?  We never use an in-room bar on ships or in hotels.

[Treasure Hunter]

Yes

[CDR Benson]

2 hours ago, amygutman said:

But the majority of the posts wherein are useful, inciteful or thought-provoking. Even better when one of the thread denizens (i'm looking at you @CDR Benson) can offer personal information.

 

I'm in the MSC YC in 8 days which we love as well . . .

 

 

 

Thank you for the kind words, dear lady.  I hope, when you return from your cruise in the Yacht Club, you'll file a report on it over at the MSC forum.  I've been considering MSC's Yacht Club for our cruise in 2025, and I know anything you have to say about it will be valuable information.

 

(As I write this, though, the MSC Yacht Club voyage may be replaced with a major vacation the Good Mrs. Benson has in mind for visiting the United Kingdom, with transportation there and back being trans-Atlantic voyages on Cunard's Queen Mary 2.  I better plant that money tree in the backyard, now.)

 

 

[omahabob]

On 7/20/2023 at 7:26 AM, cruiseny4life said:

...My kit has the basics you'd need when backpacking, which are the basics you'd need when on a shore excursion. Band-aids, gauze, tweezers, moleskin, Neosporin, Epi pen, mouth barrier for CPR (little good CPR will do me on the trail though - but may just come in handy on a ship). ...

 

Piece of cake. You just run yourself full speed into a tree, over and over again, until your heart restarts. 😄

 

I used to be emergency medical, and I still carry trauma bags in my truck. But on a cruise, I just carry some of the basics mentioned here, plus a CAT tourniquet and an emergency Celox bandage. No epi pen (need to get another one) and no splints, but I do carry Narcan.

[azappraiser]

On 7/18/2023 at 10:13 AM, Sthrngary said:

I have watched these and other many times as I day dream about going on RSSC.  What makes these video special in my minds eye, is the people are not influencers nor travel agents.  Just retired folks looking to enhance their cruising experience.

I actually found a YouTube video by "retired folks" staying in the exact cabin on the Encore that I wanted to book for the same itinerary & time of year in Alaska... convinced me to snatch it up before anyone else; booked 05/2025, Aft-Facing Haven Penthouse w/Large Balcony, #12906.

 

This will be our 1st Haven experience, although we did get to enjoy some of the suite perks on the Gem.  We also hung out in one of the Garden Villas on the sea day out of Samana... made friends the family that was staying in it... Sweet Suite!

[Grimix]

16 hours ago, bluestar1 said:

This is the BEST topic. We're new to NCL, and decided to go out all for a Haven room on our first NCL cruise. I have this topic open on a tab and refresh daily, read the new posts, and I've taken SO many notes.  I don't care if I see the same questions, because the answers vary and often add their own flare. 

I was going to book the Haven for our first NCL cruise, and this thread made me feel comfortable with the decision. Knowing what to expect/not expect is crucial to avoiding disappointment. Our first haven cruise didn't disappoint, and I had our next one (to Alaska this time) booked a week after we got off the boat!

[Sigyn]

5 hours ago, ashkay16 said:

I sail in 8 days on the Joy in a HH family villa suite . Room looks great online and cheaper since not in Haven proper ( right by elevators so quick trip up 2 floors to Haven .  Has anyone stayed in the HH ?? 

Curious to see what you think of the HH family villa. I opted against it because I wanted two separate sleeping areas but it looks like a very nice suite. 

[GALSews]

20 hours ago, Elvis1209 said:

It was a well-written book by a knowledgable author on a topic I liked.  Yet, after three days, I was only a chapter into it.  Because I always fell asleep after four or five pages.

 

Every cruise I always take a book with me.  I've never gotten more than five pages into it!!!!

 

Elvis

I read every night, including on cruises. I also read while on the treadmill trying to at least counter a few of the extra calories I take in. 

A few minutes ago, I wrote to an author whose books I read while burning calories on one of the Epic's treadmills in the Haven. The author is from the city where my son, my husband and I all went to college. In her stories, she even talked about the street my husband and son's fraternity is on..

Interesting fact, although my husband were both on campus at the same time, both of us earning bachelor and masters degrees there, we didn't meet until after we'd both left there. We like to tell people we met in Rome, which we did, only it was Rome, NY and now it is off to read to keep up my Amazon Kindle streak.

[amygutman]

12 hours ago, CDR Benson said:

 

Thank you for the kind words, dear lady.  I hope, when you return from your cruise in the Yacht Club, you'll file a report on it over at the MSC forum.  I've been considering MSC's Yacht Club for our cruise in 2025, and I know anything you have to say about it will be valuable information.

 

(As I write this, though, the MSC Yacht Club voyage may be replaced with a major vacation the Good Mrs. Benson has in mind for visiting the United Kingdom, with transportation there and back being trans-Atlantic voyages on Cunard's Queen Mary 2.  I better plant that money tree in the backyard, now.)

 

 

@CDR Benson Will do. Brief thoughts -  It will be our third YC: Seashore (April '22), Meraviglia (April '23) and now Seaside. Have had an accessible penthouse (assigned, not requested), Duplex penthouse (loved the 2 bathrooms, hated the treacherous staircase and the crazy "cannot get there from here" location outside of the YC proper that required an elevator, 2 staircases, and 2 very long hallways from the room to the YC lounge), and in one week will have a deluxe penthouse in the YC proper.

 

Love the "ship-within-a-ship" concept which MSC does almost as well as NCL's Haven. Service is good, the restaurant is wonderful (rotating menus are lovely - have to admit I love the lunch menus in the YC > Haven), the afternoon snacks are strange (pickled plated olives and onions are staples), and the pool buffet for breakfast and lunch is amazing. The overall "feel" of the ships is too "shiny". Literally - crystals and mirrors and more mirrors. I've said on other forums that my husband, son and I have all gotten bruised from smacking into the shiny walls. Clearly cleanliness is not a huge issue (fingerprints and smudges on those mirrored halls would have saved us from looking like we had been mugged). The entertainment outside the YC is also weirdly shiny, but in the YC is lovely (afternoon tea and supper with piano and violin performances are wonderful). 

 

As opposed to the Haven where the butlers and concierges are helpful but not intrusive, YC butlers are hyper-vigilant about escorting you EVERYWHERE. We found ourselves many-a-time peeking out of the room to duck the butler just so we could walk ourselves to dinner. 

 

Will happily write a trip report on the MSC boards after the trip. Honestly...any day on a cruise is more fun than a day at work, and I do love living the YC or Haven life though Haven has always been our perfect match. It's worth every hour in overtime!

 

Warmest, Amy

[Daniel A]

4 hours ago, amygutman said:

I've said on other forums that my husband, son and I have all gotten bruised from smacking into the shiny walls. Clearly cleanliness is not a huge issue (fingerprints and smudges on those mirrored halls would have saved us from looking like we had been mugged). 

 

YC butlers are hyper-vigilant about escorting you EVERYWHERE. We found ourselves many-a-time peeking out of the room to duck the butler just so we could walk ourselves to dinner.

Maybe the reason why the butlers want to escort you everywhere is so you don't bang into the walls....🤣  🚑 

[RocketMan275]

6 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

Maybe the reason why the butlers want to escort you everywhere is so you don't bang into the walls....🤣  🚑 

Probably has to do with tipping the butler.  The more he does, the more you will be incentivize to tip.

[CDR Benson]

4 hours ago, amygutman said:

@CDR Benson Will do. Brief thoughts -  It will be our third YC: Seashore (April '22), Meraviglia (April '23) and now Seaside. Have had an accessible penthouse (assigned, not requested), Duplex penthouse (loved the 2 bathrooms, hated the treacherous staircase and the crazy "cannot get there from here" location outside of the YC proper that required an elevator, 2 staircases, and 2 very long hallways from the room to the YC lounge), and in one week will have a deluxe penthouse in the YC proper.

 

Love the "ship-within-a-ship" concept which MSC does almost as well as NCL's Haven . . .

 

Will happily write a trip report on the MSC boards after the trip. Honestly...any day on a cruise is more fun than a day at work, and I do love living the YC or Haven life though Haven has always been our perfect match. It's worth every hour in overtime!

 

Thank you for this.  In a few cogent paragraphs, you've exposed me to tonal differences of the Yacht Club from the Haven.  That's just the sort of thing you can't get from the MSC website or cruisedeckplans.com.

 

I"d love to give the Yacht Club a try, perbaps on another cruise to Canada.  But, I suspect those trans-Atlantic trips on Cunard are going to be nearer in our future.  (Time to get my mess dress uniform our of mothballs.)

 

 

 

[PatJim]

On 7/21/2023 at 9:39 AM, CDR Benson said:

 

My favourite memory of Norwegian Joy was pretty much the same.  The first three mornings straight, I stretched out on a chaise longue in the Haven Courtyard, under a soft, balmy breeze, with a book I was eager to read.  The Johnny-on-the-spot waiter brought me a drink, and I settled down for a very pleasant morning.

 

It was a well-written book by a knowledgable author on a topic I liked.  Yet, after three days, I was only a chapter into it.  Because I always fell asleep after four or five pages.

 

 

All NCL ships have libraries, and the Joy-class ships also have a (sparse) Haven library.  Since I now read mostly eBooks downloaded from the NY Public Library to my iPad, I’ve been packing a few “real” books from my fiction book shelves to bring on board each cruise to donate to the ship library.  Clears out my shelves of unwanted books, that others might enjoy reading.  I choose popular fiction, usually mystery or crime.

 

[PatJim]

22 hours ago, Sigyn said:

Which suites are these that you choose? Which category? We're getting an HG forward-facing balcony on the Joy and I was just looking at other categories, including the two-bedroom family villa, to decide if it was worth the upcharge to put us right in the Haven instead of on deck 12. We'd still be forward tho, not aft, in the one I've booked already. The only category sold out for my cruise is the owner's suite, so I'm free to pick something else if warranted. It's for three of us - my husband and I and our son who will be 16. I'm not concerned about a giant balcony. For some reason, we don't end up spending that much time on our balconies. I mean, they're nice, but maybe a half hour a day max is all we spend on them, if that. Other than that, we're out and about on the ship or at port. I do like a nice room, tho. Even on a ship.

We always get the 2-bedroom suite, because someone is always sailing with us.  When my sister joins us, she pays a third of the cost and takes the smaller bedroom, which is very nice of her.  Though it’s less expensive for all of us than if we booked the Haven separately.  Otherwise, we ❤️ inviting good friends as our guests. If it’s a Danish couple, they get the master bedroom (they are Vikings!!!); if our God daughter, she sleeps in the smaller room.

[Sigyn]

27 minutes ago, PatJim said:

We always get the 2-bedroom suite, because someone is always sailing with us.  When my sister joins us, she pays a third of the cost and takes the smaller bedroom, which is very nice of her.  Though it’s less expensive for all of us than if we booked the Haven separately.  Otherwise, we ❤️ inviting good friends as our guests. If it’s a Danish couple, they get the master bedroom (they are Vikings!!!); if our God daughter, she sleeps in the smaller room.

Ah, makes sense. I looked at the two-bedroom suite but it's bigger than we need for the three of us - it's just my husband and I and our 16-year-old son. we don't need two full bedrooms so we'll stick with our HG category forward facing Haven room, which gives us a private bedroom but makes our teenager sleep on the converted couch in the main living area. The two-bedroom is super nice, tho!!!

Edited July 23, 2023 by Sigyn

[PatJim]

22 hours ago, Sigyn said:

Which suites are these that you choose? Which category? We're getting an HG forward-facing balcony on the Joy and I was just looking at other categories, including the two-bedroom family villa, to decide if it was worth the upcharge to put us right in the Haven instead of on deck 12. We'd still be forward tho, not aft, in the one I've booked already. The only category sold out for my cruise is the owner's suite, so I'm free to pick something else if warranted. It's for three of us - my husband and I and our son who will be 16. I'm not concerned about a giant balcony. For some reason, we don't end up spending that much time on our balconies. I mean, they're nice, but maybe a half hour a day max is all we spend on them, if that. Other than that, we're out and about on the ship or at port. I do like a nice room, tho. Even on a ship.

 The 2-bedroom suites are H6.  Jim spends a lot of time researching the best cabin for us, which means on same deck as Haven bar & lounge.  This November we’ll be in 16114, mere steps away from the bar, lounge & restaurant, and around the corner from the Concierge desk.

Next May we’re on the Joy to Bermuda in an H5, cabin 17710 (the Haven restaurant on this class of ship is one deck above the Haven bar, lounge, pool, etc.).

November 2024 were on the Prima for the first time, in an H6 2-bedroom, cabin 15318.

We also have a trans-Atlantic booked on the Epic March 31, 2025, in H6 cabin 16012.  Not looking forward to being on the Epic again.  Her Haven is best suited for warm weather cruising, but am hoping it will be warm enough to take advantage of the free access to Posh via Haven private elevator.

[Sigyn]

6 minutes ago, PatJim said:

 The 2-bedroom suites are H6.  Jim spends a lot of time researching the best cabin for us, which means on same deck as Haven bar & lounge.  This November we’ll be in 16114, mere steps away from the bar, lounge & restaurant, and around the corner from the Concierge desk.

Next May we’re on the Joy to Bermuda in an H5, cabin 17710 (the Haven restaurant on this class of ship is one deck above the Haven bar, lounge, pool, etc.).

November 2024 were on the Prima for the first time, in an H6 2-bedroom, cabin 15318.

We also have a trans-Atlantic booked on the Epic March 31, 2025, in H6 cabin 16012.  Not looking forward to being on the Epic again.  Her Haven is best suited for warm weather cruising, but am hoping it will be warm enough to take advantage of the free access to Posh via Haven private elevator.

Sounds lovely! We were on the Prima in December 2023, but in a regular balcony cabin. We loved that ship. She's gorgeous. We are on the Joy in a Haven - our first time in the Haven, in an HG, room #12708 - in March 2024, for a Caribbean cruise over spring break. Wish us well. hahaha. 

Edited July 23, 2023 by Sigyn

[Sigyn]

13 hours ago, GALSews said:

I read every night, including on cruises. I also read while on the treadmill trying to at least counter a few of the extra calories I take in. 

A few minutes ago, I wrote to an author whose books I read while burning calories on one of the Epic's treadmills in the Haven. The author is from the city where my son, my husband and I all went to college. In her stories, she even talked about the street my husband and son's fraternity is on..

Interesting fact, although my husband were both on campus at the same time, both of us earning bachelor and masters degrees there, we didn't meet until after we'd both left there. We like to tell people we met in Rome, which we did, only it was Rome, NY and now it is off to read to keep up my Amazon Kindle streak.

I read all of the time, too. It's my favorite pastime. I'm not a TV watcher. I keep track of my books on Goodreads, and so far this year I've read 96 books. What is your favorite genre? I read just about anything, but currently I've been treating myself to fiction in the magic and mystical realm. 

[Sigyn]

On 7/8/2023 at 6:12 PM, amygutman said:

@Sthrngary I'd love to see your Encore DOS video if you posted it online. There are only a few quality videos online - oddly, Harr videos, which shows the "whole" Encore Haven with suites, does not show the DOS. 

It would be lovely seeing this suite from your perspective. I did Google your CC name + Encore DOS but came up empty-handed. 

Warmest, Amy

I like watching the Harr videos. I always wonder about people's experience if they've worked with them. I know we're not allowed to talk about that here. But still, I wonder. 

[amygutman]

3 hours ago, Daniel A said:

Maybe the reason why the butlers want to escort you everywhere is so you don't bang into the walls....🤣  🚑 

@Daniel A. OH MY G-D!!! I was looking at the situation all wrong. Clearly we are being profiled as clumsy and nearsighted. Thank you! Very insightful and I will stop my whining! 🤣

[amygutman]

2 hours ago, Sigyn said:

I like watching the Harr videos. I always wonder about people's experience if they've worked with them. I know we're not allowed to talk about that here. But still, I wonder. 

@Sigyn Harr videos are super high quality, very humorous, and I love that he uses his head as the measurement of how roomy a shower is. We love our TA so would never change, but even he recommends these videos to show off particular rooms / ships. 

[Sigyn]

13 minutes ago, amygutman said:

@Sigyn Harr videos are super high quality, very humorous, and I love that he uses his head as the measurement of how roomy a shower is. We love our TA so would never change, but even he recommends these videos to show off particular rooms / ships. 

Right? The entire cruising world knows that he's 6'4"!!