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

[Kirk2121]

This critter snuck in while we went to dinner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gf n I agree feel like it's flying the bird at us! Butler there's a stray animal in our room! 

 

Edited February 28, 2022 by Kirk2121

[academytim]

On 2/26/2022 at 5:54 PM, Kirk2121 said:

 

Our butler's name is Marivic.  She is unpacking me as i type.  She stopped by as we were relaxing in room.  My gf wasn't comfortable with butler unpacking her.  I'm more curious to see what she did.  I have room for improvement on my organizational skills. 

 

1700 pax 1700 crew members. 

 

So easy to get reservations on tv.  But gonna try make myself use the butler & concierge.

 

Although just did our entertainment through the tv. 

 

We're gonna have butler do one in room bday meal on Monday night.  She said to call her Monday.  The provided phone is kinda cool.  She got like 6 calls while she talked to us in our room. 

 

Handed butler my letter I'd sent earlier.  Had two copies.  She was gonna give concierge a copy also. 

 

 

Marivic was our Butler for our Honeymoon in the Deluxe Owners Suite on Dawn back in March of 2015. Glad to hear she is still around. 

Edited February 28, 2022 by academytim

[smeck]

On 2/27/2022 at 11:17 AM, pcakes122 said:

Packing cubes will change your life. 😁

 

They seriously make packing and traveling so easy (they compress so you can fit more stuff) plus my butler literally can unpack me in 10 minutes (puts the packing cubes in the drawers that I specify and then hangs up the few pieces that need to be in the closet.)

 

One other time when the subject of butler unpacking came up, several people mentioned they didn't want the butler touching their "unmentionables."

That never happens with packing cubes.  No one is actually touching your clothes or things. (Except items to be hung.)

Hopefully you tip well. 

[14pp]

What is considered appropriate tip for the various staff members in the Haven? A bit out of my realm here and want to make sure we are in the range for our upcoming trip.

[RocketMan275]

On 2/27/2022 at 10:17 AM, pcakes122 said:

One other time when the subject of butler unpacking came up, several people mentioned they didn't want the butler touching their "unmentionables."

And, then they will send those "unmentionables' out for laundry.

We tried the packing cubes and it became apparent that they weren't necessary.  If you need packing cubes, you're taking too much stuff.

[Yinster]

2 hours ago, 14pp said:

What is considered appropriate tip for the various staff members in the Haven? A bit out of my realm here and want to make sure we are in the range for our upcoming trip.

Theres been many threads on tipping and also tipping in the haven. Someone might advise an amount and then someone will reply it's too much or too less. It is very subjective. Tip what you feel comfortable. 

 

Personally I tip above standard service. So for the most part, haven staff get looked after. I will also not tip if someone is just doing their job. That's just me. One time we had a butler who we never saw except the last day waiting for his tip. All he did was serve us afternoon snacks. We ended giving his tips to the room steward in top of what we already had for tips. 

 

There is no right or wrong answer. But do budget to allowed tipping.

[rick160158]

Something I just can't get around to understanding the logic of a company, when your paying $$$$ for a Haven suite, and then find out you have to pay extra for the thermal suite. Whether you use the thermal suite or not, for the price your paying for the Haven, it should be a given that the Thermal suite is included. Something is seriously wrong with this picture.

[Sthrngary]

4 minutes ago, rick160158 said:

Something I just can't get around to understanding the logic of a company, when your paying $$$$ for a Haven suite, and then find out you have to pay extra for the thermal suite. Whether you use the thermal suite or not, for the price your paying for the Haven, it should be a given that the Thermal suite is included. Something is seriously wrong with this picture.

I understand where you are coming from.  My first Haven Suite was a Haven Spa Suite.  It was a small but nice suite. My wife and I enjoyed the Thermal Spa on the house.  
 

NCL like every other cruise brand looks for little pockets of up-selling.  My recent trip on Celebrity in the Retreat which is Celebrity Haven; I also had to purchase the Thermal Spa.  Celebrity Retreat is usually more expensive then the Haven by a fair some.

 

Just the rules of engagement when on main stream brands.  My point, not just an NCL thing.

 

Cruise Well.

[luckyinpa]

26 minutes ago, rick160158 said:

Something I just can't get around to understanding the logic of a company, when your paying $$$$ for a Haven suite, and then find out you have to pay extra for the thermal suite. Whether you use the thermal suite or not, for the price your paying for the Haven, it should be a given that the Thermal suite is included. Something is seriously wrong with this picture.

 

have you looked at some of the haven balconies? one of the 2 bedrooms  as well as penthouse i saw has 39 sq ft. id rather have a huge balcony than thermal. but it is what it is. sigh.  

[Kirk2121]

3 hours ago, 14pp said:

What is considered appropriate tip for the various staff members in the Haven? A bit out of my realm here and want to make sure we are in the range for our upcoming trip.

 

 

Tipping huge rabbit hole where some people get angry.  Above is thread about tipping butler concierge. 

 

 

 

 

[teachinginhawaii]

I have a question about tipping, not the amounts but rather the how we tip.  We've settled on an amount we feel comfortable with and know that we could possibly adjust it up or down based on service.  Is there a reason why everyone does it in cash when it's larger amounts?  I understand the smaller bills for the bartenders and such but I'm curious about why the larger tips are not charged to your room at the end of the cruise?  I also don't want to carry any more cash than I absolutely have to so if I decide to tip more, can I charge it or is that really not an option?

[Yinster]

There's the daily service charge where each cabin is charged a daily rate to give to the huge pool of staff working. These are your room stewards, the restaurant and bar staff, the staff that work behind the scene so laundry and many others. This way all staff who serve in some way will get tipped from every passenger. 

 

Now there's also your butlers and concierge staff who are not included in this pool. So I guess the easiest way you know you tip the right person, the right amount is cash. If you did it by room charge who knows where that goes. And I'm already suspicious of the daily charges and who gets them.

 

I know in the UK, there are people who will go to the guest services and ask for the daily service charge to be taken off. Being from the UK, tipping is not the same as the USA. We have a minimum wage or hourly rate so don't understand why tipping is so important to someone's wage. I think Brits will sail happily if everything was included in the price, daily service charge and all. Which I know some cruise lines do when they sail from the UK or even Europe.

[Two Wheels Only]

29 minutes ago, teachinginhawaii said:

I understand the smaller bills for the bartenders and such but I'm curious about why the larger tips are not charged to your room at the end of the cruise?

 

Neither the butler nor the concierge are included in the DSC. The amount that is taken out of your onboard account daily is the service charge that is (supposedly...don't want to get into it) given to the crew that you don't interact with. Since the majority of guests don't have access to the butler and concierge, NCL doesn't include them. MSC (for ex.) does include the butler and concierge for the DSC in the Yacht Club (called Hotel Service Charge for them) and it's the same rate as Bella guests.

 

The decision to tip them on NCL and how much is up to you. 

 

29 minutes ago, teachinginhawaii said:

I also don't want to carry any more cash than I absolutely have to so if I decide to tip more, can I charge it or is that really not an option?

 

You can go to Guest Services and add a tip for the butler and concierge and have it charged to your account. Guest Services will give you a receipt with the butler's/concierge's name on it and the amount. You can then hand the receipt to the named staff member so that they know that you gave that amount to them. 

Edited February 28, 2022 by Two Wheels Only

[pcakes122]

2 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

And, then they will send those "unmentionables' out for laundry.

We tried the packing cubes and it became apparent that they weren't necessary.  If you need packing cubes, you're taking too much stuff.

Much easier for me!  I'm disabled so it's hard for me to manage when there's lots of individual items that could fall all over the place.  The packing cubes help me keep things "contained."

[pcakes122]

5 hours ago, smeck said:

Hopefully you tip well. 

Are we supposed to tip?

[phissy]

From Two Wheel Only-

You can go to Guest Services and add a tip for the butler and concierge and have it charged to your account. Guest Services will give you a receipt with the butler's/concierge's name on it and the amount. You can then hand the receipt to the named staff member so that they know that you gave that amount to them.

 

This is also a good use of OBC as it cannot be used to pay Daily Service Charge .

Edited February 28, 2022 by phissy

[Kirk2121]

Haven Lunch.  Salmon. Chicken. Scallops. Chocolate brownie.

 

Salmon was incredible. 

 

Costa Maya Port - Walked to massage on beach.  Passed another couple walking that said they enjoyed snorkeling from beach.  We have our snorkel masks but slept in.

[Kirk2121]

1 hour ago, phissy said:

From Two Wheel Only-

You can go to Guest Services and add a tip for the butler and concierge and have it charged to your account. Guest Services will give you a receipt with the butler's/concierge's name on it and the amount. You can then hand the receipt to the named staff member so that they know that you gave that amount to them.

 

This is also a good use of OBC as it cannot be used to pay Daily Service Charge .

When was last time you used OBC for tipping butler? I've got some casino/shareholder obc & not quite sure how I'll use it.  I used some for internet upgrade.  Some for a few pepsis.  Was thinking about a watch or something already got too many hats n t-shirts from our January cruises.  & really like one watch I've got & just end up changing batteries. 

 

They've gotten pretty picky. Pre covid I think i used to be able to use obc in the casino. 

 

Edit altho i think gf might be going for a massage that might use up my obc.  She got a $50 discount for port days.  Maybe cause of her bday.  

Edited March 1, 2022 by Kirk2121

[Kirk2121]

Stupid critters keep getting in our room! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Two Wheels Only]

2 hours ago, phissy said:

This is also a good use of OBC as it cannot be used to pay Daily Service Charge .

 

1 hour ago, Kirk2121 said:

When was last time you used OBC for tipping butler?

 

I've used OBC that was directly from NCL (non-refundable) to tip the butler. 

[Kirk2121]

Food sooo good! Steak was yum!  As was shrimp appetizer. 

 

I either need to become a professional football player or start training for next Olympics because I'm eating like an athlete & I'm sure not working out like one. 

 

We're having butler serve us dinner tomorrow night.  Gonna order off the Haven menu. 

[Kirk2121]

Some things I've really enjoyed about Haven.  

 

Having ice always filled

Extra towels

Iced tea always full

Espresso machine always filled with creams n coffees 

Free movies on tv

Light above bed (altho haven't figured out how to have that be only light on in room) 

Towel animals 

Fancy glass ware

Fresh fruit especially grapes replenished.  (the fruit has always been really fresh on NCL no matter where we've stayed) 

 

I'll maybe ask for no more cookies! 🙂 rather some shrimp instead.

Edited March 1, 2022 by Kirk2121

[pcakes122]

@Kirk2121Since you are sampling all things Haven, don't forget the pillow menu! And let your gf know the butler will also draw a bath with the fancy bath salts upon request.

[Kirk2121]

1 minute ago, pcakes122 said:

@Kirk2121Since you are sampling all things Haven, don't forget the pillow menu! And let your gf know the butler will also draw a bath with the fancy bath salts upon request.

My gf thanks you! 

 

You are right i want to take a look at the pillow menu.  We've been real happy with our pillows but this might be our only haven experience.  Gf just turned 50.  Maybe when she hits 100 🙂

[pcakes122]

6 minutes ago, Kirk2121 said:

My gf thanks you! 

 

You are right i want to take a look at the pillow menu.  We've been real happy with our pillows but this might be our only haven experience.  Gf just turned 50.  Maybe when she hits 100 🙂

It's going to be hard to go back - I've never been able to do it LOL & Happy Birthday to your gf! (If you ask the Butler she can decorate the room if she hasn't already.)

 

Also it's possible to get popcorn with your in-room movies, depending on what the ship (or your butler!) has stocked. (Many times the ship may be out of popcorn, but I have known at least a couple of butlers who keep their own stash of microwave popcorn! Definitely worth their investment because it seems to boosts tips. 😉)