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

[Sthrngary]

1 hour ago, Always Cruising said:

I've found benefits much better abroad for Titanium members.  Some US hotels are reticent to even offer breakfast (if no concierge lounge - Mclub now, I think).  But hotels in Europe and Britain have been wonderful about an amenity in the room and upgrades - and definite lounge access without a question. 

@Always Cruising I 100% agree.  Since I am home for the bad weather, I would love to elaborate. 

 

Hotel In Athens, Greece:  Hotel Grande Bretagne.  It takes a lot to impress me.  I have stayed in the Ritz and Red Roof Inn.  This hotel was a 5 out of 5.  So much so that I am considering going back to Athens just to stay in it again.  Since we are talking about Marriot Frequent User Benefits, here is what happened.  1) Room Upgrade to a suite with a view not just my room but our friends that joined us because I made the reservation. 2) A bottle of Greek spirits was left in my room with candy thanking both rooms for staying. 3) The roof top deck restaurant had with out a question the best view I have ever seen.  That was at night with a few drinks.  In the morning, the complementary Breakfast in the day light was also incredible and the food was a new level of outstanding.  HINT: This hotel was offered by the cruise line as a pre-cruise hotel choice.  I saved 50% from what the cruise brand wanted to sell the room for by booking direct with the hotel.  Keep that in mind. 

 

Hotel in Barcelona, Spain: The hotel was the Barcelona Arts Hotel at the Beach.  This is a Ritz property which is owned by Marriott. Everything was first class, both rooms got upgrades, the staff was unbelievable.  This was my second choice of a hotel but when I found out most places were closed on Sunday, I said let us go to the beach.  The Barcelona Arts Hotel was less expensive then the Athens hotel.  I will say, no breakfast was provided but we had to go to airport early anyway.  Each room got a nice bottle of red wine. 

 

Great experience and made a great cruise even better. 

 

PS: My hotels were cancelable unit 24 hours prior to arrival, the ground transportation I booked online was under $80.00 each way for all four people.  The drivers were all on time with sign.  So easy if we just do some research.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[icedearth15324]

Quick question, does anyone know what times they usually allow Haven guests to board the ship? Trying to coordinate a rental car drop off at the cruise terminal. Our departure time is 5:30pm.

[Candy Apple 12]

22 minutes ago, icedearth15324 said:

Quick question, does anyone know what times they usually allow Haven guests to board the ship? Trying to coordinate a rental car drop off at the cruise terminal. Our departure time is 5:30pm.

As soon as the ship is ready. Unfortunately for me, this has never been before noon. I’ve been unlucky on the Bliss for three sailings. The first time was out of Seattle when the previous cruise had a norovirus outbreak, and they did a deep clean before letting the new passengers on. The second was out of LA on Easter Sunday when the Coast Guard decided to do their inspection. The third was out of Miami this past December. The incoming cruise was an eastbound Panama Canal and customs took a lot of time processing the disembarking passengers. This cruise was also a Panama Canal cruise and customs was also painfully slow (my in-laws disembarked around 8 AM and waited in the regular line for 90 minutes; we disembarked just after 9 AM and paid a porter to go through the faster line which took about 30 minutes once we entered that line), so I’m sure embarkation was delayed for those incoming passengers.  
 

I’m hoping for better luck next month on the Escape out of Port Canaveral. 

[RocketMan275]

35 minutes ago, icedearth15324 said:

Quick question, does anyone know what times they usually allow Haven guests to board the ship? Trying to coordinate a rental car drop off at the cruise terminal. Our departure time is 5:30pm.

No one boards until all the passengers from the previous cruise have left, ie, the ship is at zero status.

IIRC, passengers requiring assistance, ie, wheel chairs walkers, etc, go first, then Haven, followed by passengers with latitude priviledges.  Hard to say exactly when Haven passengers will board.  Especially when you didn't say what ship or what port.

[Daniel A]

43 minutes ago, icedearth15324 said:

Quick question, does anyone know what times they usually allow Haven guests to board the ship? Trying to coordinate a rental car drop off at the cruise terminal. Our departure time is 5:30pm.

Whatever, the Haven guests will board first.  When you arrive at the terminal, you may or may not have a dedicated Haven line for security, but after passing security, you will wait in a Haven (VIP) lounge in the terminal.  While waiting in the haven lounge, the concierge and asst concierge will check your passports and boarding documents and you should have an opportunity to book specialty dining and shows.  There are usually non-alcoholic beverages and snacks available while you wait.  Once the ship is cleared for boarding, the concierge or other Haven dedicated waiter will escort you to a dedicated Haven only elevator and whisks you directly into the Haven lounge area while you wait for you stateroom to be cleared.

 

Coordinate your car drop for whatever works best for you to arrive.

Edited January 17 by Daniel A

[Sthrngary]

39 minutes ago, icedearth15324 said:

Quick question, does anyone know what times they usually allow Haven guests to board the ship? Trying to coordinate a rental car drop off at the cruise terminal. Our departure time is 5:30pm.

@icedearth15324 Your question seems to be simple however it is not.  So many things depend on so many issues.  I will give you my approach and why.  You will get lots of replies.  Take it all in.  

 

When you do your online registration 21 days prior, choose a time.  I always go early vs. late. Other go late vs. early.  With the Haven, we are the first to be boarded.  The ship needs to have all passengers off and go through a clearing process. Estimates vary based on ship, size, on-time arrival, port and a list of other issues.  

 

I go in as early as I can, grab a seat in the Haven Lounge, grab a coffee and turn on my laptop until boarding begins.  I am usually there at the port at 09:00 am to 09:30 am.  I have waited an hour to three hours and remember we are the first to be boarded.  I never mind the wait.  

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[rbxlady]

On 1/15/2024 at 12:55 PM, graphicguy said:

 

We are 74 days out from a 2BR on the Epic, and these pictures got me pumped! Our kids are champing at the bit, too.

[graphicguy]

@rbxlady

 

You’re going to love it!

 

1st two pics are the shower in the primary BR.  Last one is the 2nd BR bathroom!  The 2nd BR is small but has its own closet!

[SaltyPawz]

I have a few questions not exactly related to Haven, so I won’t be surprised if I’m pummeled or asked to post on another forum. 

 

We took our first Haven cruise the week after Thanksgiving on the Escape and loved it! We booked another Haven cruise for Canada/New England this fall that ports in NYC. 

 

Does anyone have preferences for flying into LGA or JFK? And, any recommendations for hotels near the Manhattan cruise terminal? 

 

Any advice will be greatly appreciated! 

[ElizaSTN]

5 minutes ago, SaltyPawz said:

I have a few questions not exactly related to Haven, so I won’t be surprised if I’m pummeled or asked to post on another forum. 

 

We took our first Haven cruise the week after Thanksgiving on the Escape and loved it! We booked another Haven cruise for Canada/New England this fall that ports in NYC. 

 

Does anyone have preferences for flying into LGA or JFK? And, any recommendations for hotels near the Manhattan cruise terminal? 

 

Any advice will be greatly appreciated! 

Actually, look into Newark.  The port is on the west side of Manhattan, which is easier to get to from New Jersey.  Second choice would be LGA.  Avoid JFK if at all possible, it is at the ass end of Queens and nightmare to get to and from. 

[DMH15]

11 hours ago, icedearth15324 said:

Quick question, does anyone know what times they usually allow Haven guests to board the ship? Trying to coordinate a rental car drop off at the cruise terminal. Our departure time is 5:30pm.

Here is something to ponder.  Track your ship the night before and morning of in “real time”.  We knew early that The Epic was behind schedule.  Even before NCL notified us.   Due to fog it got in a little before noon.  It was crazy busy in our hotel dining room for breakfast.  

We always arrive early to the ship but this cruise it did not matter.  We all waited outside in the sun until the ship was cleared.  We left about 4 hours late.  

 

[Treasure Hunter]

It is a great cruise! We just took it. You will eat the most delicious lobster rolls ( not sure of your ports but can give you restaurants in Newport and Portland) until they come out of your ears. Fly into LGA or Newark. There is a good inexpensive  hotel in New Jersey that includes a shuttle to the port before and after the cruise. My kids stayed there when they drove up from DC to meet us at the pier. The only problem with that is you won't have a car to get to the hotel and it makes touring NY very hard as you will be on the other side of the George Washington Bridge if you were planning to come in a few days early. 

[cruiseny4life]

10 hours ago, SaltyPawz said:

I have a few questions not exactly related to Haven, so I won’t be surprised if I’m pummeled or asked to post on another forum. 

 

We took our first Haven cruise the week after Thanksgiving on the Escape and loved it! We booked another Haven cruise for Canada/New England this fall that ports in NYC. 

 

Does anyone have preferences for flying into LGA or JFK? And, any recommendations for hotels near the Manhattan cruise terminal? 

 

Any advice will be greatly appreciated! 

I won't throw any Pomelos at you! I will say that there is an East Coast Departures forum with a ton of information on flying to NYC and which hotels to stay at. You'll find it here:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/317-east-coast-departures/

 

Of course, having said that, I'll throw in a cent or two of my thoughts. I prefer flying into EWR (never, ever did my 25 year old self think I'd say that). Hit the AirTrain to NJ Transit to Penn Station, then just walk on over to your hotel if you're staying at Ink48 which I highly suggest. It's a phenomenal hotel (it's not the Ritz, though so don't expect fancy), about a five minute walk to the cruise terminal. 

 

I suppose you could fly into LGA or JFK, but both are annoying if you're trying to get to Manhattan, unless you simply take an Uber. That's why I suggest EWR. Plus, the airport conditions at EWR are way better than JFK. I haven't flown into LGA since the renovations were completed, so can't speak to the airport conditions. From LGA, I suppose you could take the Q70 to Roosevelt, where you'd jump on the 7 Train to Grand Central. Don't bother with the subway from JFK.

 

Anyway, that link above will give you loads more information, including private transfer information which I suspect is more what you're after. 

[Sthrngary]

11 hours ago, SaltyPawz said:

I have a few questions not exactly related to Haven, so I won’t be surprised if I’m pummeled or asked to post on another forum. 

 

We took our first Haven cruise the week after Thanksgiving on the Escape and loved it! We booked another Haven cruise for Canada/New England this fall that ports in NYC. 

 

Does anyone have preferences for flying into LGA or JFK? And, any recommendations for hotels near the Manhattan cruise terminal? 

 

Any advice will be greatly appreciated! 

@SaltyPawz Ask anything you want on this board.  Good topics go off the reservation from time to time and come back.  I grew up in Long Island New York 50 minutes from NYC.  I now live in the south.  I have visited NYC many times in all those years.  I have an approach and hope it helps you.

 

1. Come In at Least a Day Early:  I think this is your plan.  If you do, any of the Airports will do.  I personally due to business travel for what ever reason like LGA the best.  
2. Ground Transportation:  Do some research and find a limo.  If you search you will see the cost is very reasonable from the airport to NYC.
3. Hotel: You are 25 minute to NYC.  One of the greatest places to visit (not live).  This is a rare opportunity.  Do a hotel in the theatre district and look for deals.  Regardless the rooms will be on the smaller size yet for one night who cares.  
4. Theatre: I love Broadway.  Get to the city early so plan it that way.  Go to the Half/Priced ticket line and get some seats to a Broadway show.  If you want a specific show, book it pre-cruise but get ready to pay a lot for those tickets.  Also if you flight is late, you might miss the show.  So back to the Half Price ticket line. 
5. Food: You are about to take cruise and the food is usually good on the ship.  If you have never had deli foods, a great choice before a show.  I personally go to a REALLY GREAT Italian or steak place and forget about the cost.  Peter Lugers for Steak, or Carmines (family style) in the Theatre District or just google best Italian.  Leverage the experience of being in this city.
6. Ground Transportation to the Port:  Same approach as to the Hotel. Have a bag with your city clothes so you don't have open up your big bags. 

 

Those are my thoughts and I hope in some way it helps you.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[Sailing12Away]

12 hours ago, SaltyPawz said:

Does anyone have preferences for flying into LGA or JFK? And, any recommendations for hotels near the Manhattan cruise terminal? 

Any advice will be greatly appreciated! 

You'll get a ton of different answers depending on which of us NY'er you ask. I prefer JFK, but if I fly at the right time of day it's because I'm only a ~15 min Uber ride away, whereas LGA is more like double that and can be even more with traffic. Haven't been to LGA since the renovation, so it may be nicer than my memory recalls but haven't given it a new chance yet.

 

It will also depend on where you ultimately end up staying. But assuming you went directly to the cruise terminal from the airport (or your hotel was near there), LGA is about ~35 min Uber/taxi ride away and JFK is nearly double that. It's much further South (peek at the map), so you have to drive the whole up/down through LI to get up and over into Manhattan. Taxis though do a flat rate from the airport into NYC from JFK - so ~$70 from JFK, LGA is metered and since it's closer will be a bit cheaper (~$35). 

 

Flights into LGA tend to be a smidge cheaper too, so if you're saving a few bucks on both the flight and car ride, it can add up. Price it all out and see which is better for your dates. Outside of personal preference some of us have, there isn't a big difference otherwise.

[McGarrett5oh]

Some may recall our thoughts & somewhat mixed review on the Prima's Haven last September on a 14 day itinerary to Norway and Iceland out of Southampton.  Tomorrow we depart for 10 days on Celebrity Beyond in their Retreat.  While the weather in the Caribbean will be different than Northern Europe, I hope to be able to share some "compare and contrast" about the non-weather experiences on these two ships, that both debuted in 2022, to this community, if it's of interest.

 

I would say at this point the lead up to the departure has been quite similar between the two, with the takeaway being that it really is up to the passenger to control their destiny.  I did not/have not heard from either prior to departure but have found both to be very professional and accomodating when calling their on-shore concierge phone.

[TPgal]

On 1/16/2024 at 8:56 AM, Sthrngary said:

Hotel In Athens, Greece:  Hotel Grande Bretagne. 

I naively popped onto my Bonvoy account and looked it up as an option for our 2025 Europe extravaganza ending with a Viva cruise in a 2BR. It IS a beautiful hotel, but probably not a logical option for this family of 3.  Too bad though, it is gorgeous!  🙂 

[graphicguy]

2 hours ago, McGarrett5oh said:

Some may recall our thoughts & somewhat mixed review on the Prima's Haven last September on a 14 day itinerary to Norway and Iceland out of Southampton.  Tomorrow we depart for 10 days on Celebrity Beyond in their Retreat.  While the weather in the Caribbean will be different than Northern Europe, I hope to be able to share some "compare and contrast" about the non-weather experiences on these two ships, that both debuted in 2022, to this community, if it's of interest.

 

I would say at this point the lead up to the departure has been quite similar between the two, with the takeaway being that it really is up to the passenger to control their destiny.  I did not/have not heard from either prior to departure but have found both to be very professional and accomodating when calling their on-shore concierge phone.

Have done the Retreat (Apex and Edge) and Haven (Break/Get-Away and Epic).  Lots of similarities.  Celebrity combine the duties of Butler and Concierge into one person....who takes care of both in cabin requests and things like reservations.  The Edge class ships are wonderful.  I hope Capt Kate is still on the Beyond.  She was on the Edge when I sailed her and she was the one, and only, Cruise ship Captain that made a positive impression on my enjoyment of the cruise.

 

The Haven Bar is more "social" than the Retreat Lounge.  The Haven tends to be more of a gathering place for Haven guests to meet and mingle on a daily/nightly basis.  The Retreat Lounge is much more laid back.

 

Haven Restaurant has a static menu, but with more choices per day than Luminae in the Retreat.  Luminae, as mentioned, changes but with fewer choices overall.  Both are upscale.

 

The Retreat Pool area tends to be more lively than that of the Haven Pool area.  But, that means there are more people in the Retreat pool area than there are in the Haven Pool area.

 

The rest you'll find quite similar.  They both try to go out of their way to make your cruise as easy and as pleasurable as possible.  Both have cabins that are a step or two above the typical cruise balcony cabin.  Both have amenities, although there are minor differences.

 

You'll enjoy both, I'm sure.

Edited January 18 by graphicguy

[Treasure Hunter]

LGA is now beautifully renovated. It is much easier ( smaller) to navigate than either JFK or Newark. The ride by taxi is set and 25 minutes to midtown. Definitely do a show. John’s of 13th street is a wonderful old school Italian ( cash only) since 1890. Then go around the corner for the best coffee and pastries in the world Veniero’s. 

[hero78]

This thread is such a wealth of good information and advice! I'm hoping to add to this in a small way by telling you all about our recent Haven experience on the Joy last month. This was our first Haven experience.

 

We sailed out of Panama City for a 10-day to Miami including a canal transit. We took the BOGO airfare offer from NCL for the first time (without a whole lot of research) as we weren't interested in coming early or staying after as my schedule was constricted due to work commitments. After it was booked I started seeing some alarming stories about the flights from NCL here on CC that got me worried. Thankfully it was smooth flying the whole way! A longer run from Vancouver with an overnight flight and 2 layovers before arriving in Panama around 2pm on the day of departure. The Joy was scheduled to leave Panama at 11:59pm for a canal transit to begin at 5am, so we weren't too worried about coming in that afternoon. Our flight home from Miami was direct to Vancouver. We had about 8 hours to kill after getting off the ship before our flight but it was wildly rainy and windy so we just hung out at the airport the whole day.

 

We had read about the predatory taxi drivers in Panama City and were prepared to take an Uber from the airport to the cruise terminal, but one of those taxi drivers right out the door convinced us to use him and he agreed to match the Uber price. It was $35US and he took us right to the terminal entrance. It was pretty great! There's still some construction around the new terminal in Panama but the terminal building is beautiful. Because a lot of embarkation had already occurred before we got there we sailed through check-in and didn't have a chance to enjoy the Haven lounge area or snacks before Mr X was escorting us onto the ship. We decided to skip the Haven briefing and go directly to our cabin. We booked a forward facing penthouse on deck 12. As soon as we reached our suite the announcement came in the middle of the emergency drill - so we had missed the beginning of it and decided if we started the trek down to the Brewhouse we would probably miss the whole thing by the time we got there! Oh well. We've been on enough cruises that we felt comfortable missing out on the emergency drill. We were dead tired from our almost 24 hours of travel to get there and took a nap!

 

We set our alarm so early the next morning so we could be up to witness the first set of canal locks at 5am! It was very interesting and with a slightly overcast but very warm day ended up being the best weather day on the whole cruise!

 

Now I'll overview the best, the bad, and the worst of our cruise.

The best:

Our butler Dennis was amazing! So responsive. We used the Butler letter and I think he struggled with the English a bit as it took him 2 days to get through it. But all our requests were granted and he went above and beyond. He noticed what afternoon snacks we liked and brought those more often. We also got a bowl of peanut M&Ms and a bowl of gummy bears. (I confess to putting the leftovers in a ziploc baggy and putting them into my bag for the plane ride home!) Dennis came by and said good bye the night before arriving in Miami and we gave him the rest of his well deserved tip. He was getting off the ship immediately on arrival as this was his last cruise before he was getting vacation time off to go home and see his 3 month old baby girl who he hadn't even met yet!

Our steward Jay was also fantastic! SO quick. There must be a magic way they know when you've left the cabin because even if we were gone for a short time the room was spotless when we got back. I think we surprised him once in the middle of his clean.

 

The Haven restaurant had the best food on the ship hands down. I have some dietary special needs (modified Low FODMAP) and some allergies, and had filled out and submitted the special needs form pre-cruise. The restaurant manager called our room when I hadn't gone to meet him on the first day and we arranged to meet to discuss. I usually was able to pre-order my dinner meal the night before and the kitchen would make the entree I chose but without the ingredients I'm sensitive too. Reduced the spontaneity of dinner time and a couple times I decided not to go to dinner I would get a call (because the kitchen was prepared to make it) so I would usually feel obliged to show up and eat it. One time Dennis brought my special meal to our room and I ended up sharing it with my husband.

The almond croissant did not disappoint and was a feature at every breakfast along with the smoked salmon. The Bananoffee Cream dessert at lunch time! My life is complete now. One day I just had that for lunch. A dream I didn't know I had come true.

Perhaps NCL has listened to the complaints about the lack of menu variety in the Haven, but each night at dinner there was a "Chef's Special" appetizer, entree, and dessert. Essentially it was something that the main dining room was serving and each time my husband tried it it was underwhelming and disappointing and he regretted not ordering something from the Haven menu instead. He tried the main dining room a couple times (for second dinner - cue eye roll) and the buffet but reported the Haven restaurant was far better. The chef's special desserts were the best, a couple nights it was the lava cake and one night it was mexican chocolate cake, both delicious.

We ate at Teppanyaki once and it was meh. We've had better Japanese steak house experiences and better food here in Vancouver, but it was fun and we met some interesting people at the table and got a very nice souvenir photo.

 

The Horizon Lounge and the sundeck are amazing spaces and we enjoyed the comfort and quiet and room in the hot tubs (when the space was open!)

 

I'm not much of a drinker so I only used the Haven bar once but the drink I was given was spectacular. I don't even know what it was, I just asked for something with gin and not too sweet. It was blue and delightfully tart.

 

The Elements show was amazing. So good. Such talent.

The Beatles Story band was ok. Fun music but the 'Paul' singer mumbled so it was hard to understand the lyrics.

One comedian was great, and the other was ok but reused a lot of material in subsequent shows.

No other big shows in the theatre as Footloose recently ended. Bit of a disappointment.

We did check out karaoke a couple times and were very impressed with the level of talent within the passengers!

 

We also really loved the priority embarkation and disembarkation and the quick escorted elevator rides on and off.

 

Now for the bad:

I tried to do some research and find reviews on the cabin we booked but could not find much info. Being all the way forward we had a good view out our window for the canal transit and the balcony, though small, was sufficient and enjoyable. The comfort and amenities were top notch, when the ship was stationary. The long walk to the stairs/elevator did not look far on the deck plans but near the end of the cruise was getting old, especially with the rough seas we had (more on that later), so I ended up spending most of the last 2 days in my room. Each time the thrusters of the ship were used for manoeuvring in and out of port our entire cabin shook, and cabinets banged in vibration and there was a very loud rumble. Our sleep was almost daily interrupted with the early arrivals in port. I plan to go write a cabin review so I can hopefully save some folks in the future. If you're an early riser it might not be a big deal, but I enjoy sleeping in on vacation so that was a disappointment. Afternoon naps and early bedtimes became a regular thing.

 

We didn't get a chance to try the go karts as it was often closed due to weather. They closed the Galaxy Pavilion during rough weather as well.

 

And the worst:

This has nothing to do with NCL or the Haven and was just sheer bad luck! The weather was terrible. Cold front, high winds, very rough seas, and daily rain. The sundeck was closed very often, and we couldn't stop in Costa Maya as the pier was too dangerous with the wind and waves. All the beach shore excursions in Cozumel were cancelled due to wind and tide. Our beach villa at Harvest Caye was soggy, no sun, and we were eaten alive by bugs. We felt so sorry for all the employees at Harvest Caye. You could feel their disappointment at how few people even got off the ship. And they told us that the previous day the ships hadn't even stopped as the weather was too bad. We left a good tip anyways because they were so desperate to make our day enjoyable.

We have never experienced such rough seas on a cruise. Even crew were getting sea sick. I have never suffered motion sickness (only once years ago when pregnant), but the constant unpredictable tossing around we got just made me feel dizzy and off. Not nauseous, but my appetite disappeared, and walking around became very difficult. Hence I basically lived in the cabin the last couple days but got to enjoy room service, finished my book, and watched several new movies.

 

We were thinking of booking a transatlantic for spring but I need some distance from this last cruise so my memories of the rough seas fade before I risk that many days at sea. We're now considering a train trip in Europe somewhere instead, but Cruise Critic doesn't offer much advice about train journeys so I'll have to look elsewhere for my research. Researching and planning a trip is just as much fun for me as the trip itself.

 

If you've made it this far in the post bravo and thanks! In the end we loved the Haven experience. We got it for a pretty good price compared to what we're seeing now, so future Haven excursions will have to be planned and budgeted for carefully.

[Charon13]

Hopefully this isn't a redundant question...

Looking at the Haven Bar menu I see a section called Premium Plus Selection (see page 4 on the attached) which lists rums, gins, scotch, etc with prices next to them.  If we have the standard Unlimited Open Bar Package (ie dinks up to $15) is the price indicated on the menu the upcharge price?  To complicate this question we are looking at upgrading to the Premium Plus Beverage Package (my wife enjoys a nice champagne and I am fond of a nice scotch or whisky after dinner).  If we have the Plus package would those items on the Haven Bar menu with prices be available to us without an upcharge?  We did an NCL cruise a couple of years ago with the Plus package and everything on the ship from Veuve to Macallan Quest was available without an upcharge is this still the case?

Menu NCL Bar-Haven.pdf

[UKstages]

with the "regular" drink package, you pay the overage above $15, plus additional gratuity. if something is listed on the menu as $16, you pay $1.20... $1 extra plus 20 cents as an additional gratuity. the menu prices are the full prices, without the $15 discount.

 

with the plus package, almost everything is available to you at no charge, with a few exceptions, mostly for super duper premium outrageously expensive spirits... louis XIII cognac is among them, if memory serves..

 

veuve cliquot is no longer generally offered, except in le bistro. they may have it in the haven. but probably no longer. pommerey rose is what they now generally pour as a premium "champagne" instead.

Edited January 20 by UKstages

[graphicguy]

I think you have to ask yourself how many "premium plus" drinks you'll consume.  You only pay the difference and get 20% off that amount and add in. the tips of that amount.  Is it worth it?

 

Personally, there's nothing on the Premium Plus package that would make me want to pull the upgrade price out of my wallet.

[Fogfog]

@Sthrngary

 

Thank you Gary for this thread.

We are trying Haven, having sailed MSC Yacht Club most often.

From what we read, there are some distinct differences. We appreciate your comment about adjusting expectations to another brand's style. 

Will be considering all of your salient advice. 

TYVM

 

[benel204]

Hello again,

After much consideration, analysis and encouragement from this board, we are going to upgrade to a Haven suite (upgrading from Club Balcony).

This is on Escape cruise in May (11-night Med).

The more economical Haven cabins are the 16th deck "Haven Penthouse with Balcony (H1)"  formerly known as a Spa Penthouse but with now these cabins do not come with Thermal Spa access or amenities.

The H1 Haven Penthouse is on the same floor as the spa and fitness center. 

 

I would appreciate your thoughts on these Questions:

 

1) Wondering about noise or disturbance from the fitness center? Or noise from the 16th deck outdoor activities?

 

2) What about ship movement or noise that far forward? Issues?

 

3) Any thoughts on how to creatively use the space taken up in the cabin by the huge corner whirlpool tub (which we won't use). Would prefer to have a small sofa in that space like the Haven Courtyard Penthouse cabins on the 17th and 18th decks above (those are more $$ though).

 

4) Is there a passageway from 16th Haven area to the 17th deck Haven lounge?

Or do we exit completely and go up to Haven. Not a big deal, just curious.

 

Thanks for any input.

This forum is so helpful--- I have learned a lot.

And you all are so fun!