How I became addicted to the Haven!

[wolft927]

So a little back story, I am almost 43 years old and have been cruising since I was 10 or so with my family. Have sailed NCL, RCCL, Princess, Carnival, Premier, Dolphin cruise lines. I loved cruising so much when I was about 23 I decided to work on a Cruise Ship. I worked for NCL for 5 years starting off as Cruise Staff Host and eventually becoming a Cruise Director, ( Worked onboard the Dream, Star, Dawn, Sea, Majesty Crown and even did a short stint on the Marco Polo with orient lines)

 

I returned and began cruising onboard NCL again 1 year ago and have officially became addicted to the Haven. Last December booked a balcony on the Breakaway and got the invitation to bid. Not knowing much did some research and decided to put in some bids. It was off season so bids where pretty low and Covid was still heavily around. Amazing I bid not much more then Poor and won the forward facing Haven Suite! My wife and I arrive to the terminal in New Orleans and the perks started from there. After Security check point was ushered to the Haven check in which took all of 2 minutes, then to the Haven lounge in the terminal to sit and relax and enjoy some coffee and a snack. Now this was the cruise that got delayed boarding due to covid and we did spend almost 6 hours in the terminal. But once that ordeal was done, was escorted onto the ship by our concierge. First off I love the Breakaway class ships! We followed the concierge to the elevators where they where waiting to send us up to deck 16. Feeling like royalty, 1st on the ship and then to the Haven. First impression is WOW! the haven lounge and bar area is beautiful, and also not overly large. The staff in the Haven where all nothing but the best from the bartenders, waitstaff and deck attendants.  The pool area is nothing enormous, but it was great! The Haven Restaurant....Best food on the ship!

 

Next we went to our cabin, again not staying in the Haven itself we walked to deck 9 forward and went into our room. I will say that i love the forward facing haven, the bedroom is huge, window in the bedroom as well as separate living and dining area, balcony was small but all we needed for two of us. We then met our Butler Johnathon who was by far the friendliest and amazing staff member we met. He had noticed my backpack that had the NCL logo on it and said Norwegian Star Crew 2005....we talked about it and when i told him what i had done on NCL he asked if I knew Alvin Olivia? Alvin was a Junior host when i was an Asst Cruise Director and now he was the CD on the Breakaway...was absolutely amazing seeing him again after all those years!

 

Our butler noticed I was drinking Michelob Ultra  and asked is that typically what i drink. I said yes and after dinner we came back to the cabin and there where 6 Ultras in the Fridge. The entire cruise was amazing and we loved the haven so much that we booked another cruise for 3 months later same ship but this time we took our oldest son and his girlified. 

 

I informed the kids that they would have an inside and my wife and I would be in a balcony, they didn't care since heck we where paying lol. But the secret was that I booked both of us in courtyard Penthouse suites. Then when bidding opened I bid on a two bedroom suite and won (wife never found out about the two bedroom until walking into the room lol) boarding the ship for this one we told the kids that we got priority boarding so we would have to go through separate and faster lines. This cruise thank the lord no delays and we immediately went to the lounge for about 20 minutes then by 11:30 was being escorted on the ship. my son i think at this point was thinking this isn't normal as he has cruised with us before but never in the haven, but his girlfriend had not clue as this was her first cruise. When we arrived at the Haven we informed both my son and his girlfriend what the Haven was. My son only cruising carnival with us, was in absolute aww.  His girlfriend still thinking they have an inside cabin, when we got to there room opened it up and was so shocked and suprised. But when my wife an I got to our cabin and she seen the 2 bedroom and the absolutely amazing bathroom she started to cry lol.....

 

As always the Staff food service in the Haven was again amazing! 

 

So, Now I have a 9 day Cruise for September 29th on the Getaway and had a balcony booked and was going to bid, but i noticed inventory was almost sold out and while doing a mock booking noticed 1 courtyard haven available at the same price I was willing to bid and immediately locked it up called NCL and upgraded. I will always love cruising do i need the Haven, no, but I think the next cruise I go and can not get a Haven Suite, I think the first few minutes I will be disappointed. 

 

I promise what they say is true, If you cruise in the HAVEN, you will never want to cruise ay other way on NCL. 

 

[KeithJenner]

45 minutes ago, wolft927 said:

I promise what they say is true, If you cruise in the HAVEN, you will never want to cruise ay other way on NCL. 

 

That really isn’t true for everyone. I promise.

[KKB]

48 minutes ago, wolft927 said:

So a little back story, I am almost 43 years old and have been cruising since I was 10 or so with my family. Have sailed NCL, RCCL, Princess, Carnival, Premier, Dolphin cruise lines. I loved cruising so much when I was about 23 I decided to work on a Cruise Ship. I worked for NCL for 5 years starting off as Cruise Staff Host and eventually becoming a Cruise Director, ( Worked onboard the Dream, Star, Dawn, Sea, Majesty Crown and even did a short stint on the Marco Polo with orient lines)

 

I returned and began cruising onboard NCL again 1 year ago and have officially became addicted to the Haven. Last December booked a balcony on the Breakaway and got the invitation to bid. Not knowing much did some research and decided to put in some bids. It was off season so bids where pretty low and Covid was still heavily around. Amazing I bid not much more then Poor and won the forward facing Haven Suite! My wife and I arrive to the terminal in New Orleans and the perks started from there. After Security check point was ushered to the Haven check in which took all of 2 minutes, then to the Haven lounge in the terminal to sit and relax and enjoy some coffee and a snack. Now this was the cruise that got delayed boarding due to covid and we did spend almost 6 hours in the terminal. But once that ordeal was done, was escorted onto the ship by our concierge. First off I love the Breakaway class ships! We followed the concierge to the elevators where they where waiting to send us up to deck 16. Feeling like royalty, 1st on the ship and then to the Haven. First impression is WOW! the haven lounge and bar area is beautiful, and also not overly large. The staff in the Haven where all nothing but the best from the bartenders, waitstaff and deck attendants.  The pool area is nothing enormous, but it was great! The Haven Restaurant....Best food on the ship!

 

Next we went to our cabin, again not staying in the Haven itself we walked to deck 9 forward and went into our room. I will say that i love the forward facing haven, the bedroom is huge, window in the bedroom as well as separate living and dining area, balcony was small but all we needed for two of us. We then met our Butler Johnathon who was by far the friendliest and amazing staff member we met. He had noticed my backpack that had the NCL logo on it and said Norwegian Star Crew 2005....we talked about it and when i told him what i had done on NCL he asked if I knew Alvin Olivia? Alvin was a Junior host when i was an Asst Cruise Director and now he was the CD on the Breakaway...was absolutely amazing seeing him again after all those years!

 

Our butler noticed I was drinking Michelob Ultra  and asked is that typically what i drink. I said yes and after dinner we came back to the cabin and there where 6 Ultras in the Fridge. The entire cruise was amazing and we loved the haven so much that we booked another cruise for 3 months later same ship but this time we took our oldest son and his girlified. 

 

I informed the kids that they would have an inside and my wife and I would be in a balcony, they didn't care since heck we where paying lol. But the secret was that I booked both of us in courtyard Penthouse suites. Then when bidding opened I bid on a two bedroom suite and won (wife never found out about the two bedroom until walking into the room lol) boarding the ship for this one we told the kids that we got priority boarding so we would have to go through separate and faster lines. This cruise thank the lord no delays and we immediately went to the lounge for about 20 minutes then by 11:30 was being escorted on the ship. my son i think at this point was thinking this isn't normal as he has cruised with us before but never in the haven, but his girlfriend had not clue as this was her first cruise. When we arrived at the Haven we informed both my son and his girlfriend what the Haven was. My son only cruising carnival with us, was in absolute aww.  His girlfriend still thinking they have an inside cabin, when we got to there room opened it up and was so shocked and suprised. But when my wife an I got to our cabin and she seen the 2 bedroom and the absolutely amazing bathroom she started to cry lol.....

 

As always the Staff food service in the Haven was again amazing! 

 

So, Now I have a 9 day Cruise for September 29th on the Getaway and had a balcony booked and was going to bid, but i noticed inventory was almost sold out and while doing a mock booking noticed 1 courtyard haven available at the same price I was willing to bid and immediately locked it up called NCL and upgraded. I will always love cruising do i need the Haven, no, but I think the next cruise I go and can not get a Haven Suite, I think the first few minutes I will be disappointed. 

 

I promise what they say is true, If you cruise in the HAVEN, you will never want to cruise ay other way on NCL. 

 

This is partly why I decided NOT to bid on Haven for my cruise on the 20th.

I was afraid once I did it I would have a hard time NOT cruising without Haven.

For me, I'd rather cruise more often...

[Greenpea2]

I agree that once you have sailed in the Haven, it is tough (although certainly not impossible) to NOT sail the Haven! I am one of those that far prefers to cruise less often so that I can. I loved hearing about your experience, thank you for posting this. We all need something to perk us up a bit! 🙂 We sail the Haven on the Prima in February and I am so looking forward to it! Our last cruise was just as the pandemic was beginning, in the Haven on the Bliss. Absolutely gorgeous and my favorite Haven so far. I heartily suggest you try that one sometime. 

[jmh87]

We did the Haven on our last cruise (July 3, Joy) and i have been instructed by the wife and kids that for any future cruise that the Haven would their first choice. 

[ChiefMateJRK]

TL:DR

2 hours ago, wolft927 said:

I promise what they say is true, If you cruise in the HAVEN, you will never want to cruise ay other way on NCL. 

I call B💩

[Two Wheels Only]

You can also look to the MSC Yacht Club for a "ship within a ship" experience that is most similar to NCL Haven.

[JustAPilot]

No way.. I can also promise you that if you fly business class you will never want to fly economy again. 😂

[ChiefMateJRK]

28 minutes ago, JustAPilot said:

No way.. I can also promise you that if you fly business class you will never want to fly economy again. 😂

Yeah, right.  That cramped coach seat with a stranger elbowing me is EXACTLY the same level of pain as a nice Balcony room on an NCL ship.  👀

[Jed12345]

We've been in several suite/haven rooms on NCL including once in a garden villa.  They are great, but it's not going to stop us from enjoying cruising in a balcony or ocean view.

 

I bid on upgrades almost every time, normally in poor range and we've won 3 or 4 of them so far.

 

If we can get an affordable (for us) upgrade, we'll go for it.  If not, it's still a cruise and way better than work.

[stefmaia]

I have gone from Haven to inside cabin. Do I love the Haven? Yes, absolutely! Sometimes the inside room is just too cheap to pass up!

It is much easier to be flexible , enjoy the luxury one week and revel in the money you saved the next. As long as I am with my person it is going to be, as we always say as soon as our feet touch the deck, "another wicked good vacation"

[Oceansaway17]

11 minutes ago, stefmaia said:

I have gone from Haven to inside cabin. Do I love the Haven? Yes, absolutely! Sometimes the inside room is just too cheap to pass up!

It is much easier to be flexible , enjoy the luxury one week and revel in the money you saved the next. As long as I am with my person it is going to be, as we always say as soon as our feet touch the deck, "another wicked good vacation"

I agree and when sailing up north where the daylight goes to midnight, having an inside room to sleep in can be great.

And having an inside room allows for more money to explore.  I try to sail various ways depanding on the route or ports

[vacation44]

5 hours ago, wolft927 said:

I promise what they say is true, If you cruise in the HAVEN, you will never want to cruise ay other way on NCL. 

 

 

4 hours ago, KeithJenner said:

That really isn’t true for everyone. I promise.

Agree with Keith, not true for us.

 

For us, the best part of Haven was the restaurant.   On our upcoming cruise, we decided the restaurant was not worth the $2500 more.    We even cancelled our bid to upgrade once we secured Vibe passes last month.  We have a non-Haven suite, vibe passes and some specialty restaurants booked, so we are good to go.  

[GeezerCouple]

6 hours ago, wolft927 said:

 

I promise what they say is true, If you cruise in the HAVEN, you will never want to cruise ay other way on NCL. 

 

 

We happen to love the Haven, and also more premium cruiselines/ships.  But we'd had a few wonderful cruises on NCL in nice suites on ships that had no Haven.

 

However, I think it is just silly to claim that one knows what others will prefer, especially if "they" are not even people you know well.

 

There are some pricy events that we would definitely not enjoy, even though others love to attend.  Indeed, we would not go even if someone gave us free tickets including transportation.

 

Different strokes, etc.

 

GC

[2boyzmom]

I love this post. We have been in the Haven a few times and prior to that suites and man oh man. This is why I have worked as a nurse for 30 years ( always held 2 jobs)  to enjoy the extras in life like this. My kids will never forget the first an d only time in the Deluxe Owners Suite. Do I need it? No? Do I deserve it? Yes!  Placing my bid for my retirement cruise and going all in (well almost) with a decent bid for our 14 night cruise this November. Wish me luck. Life is short! 

Edited August 12, 2022 by 2boyzmom

[Sailing12Away]

22 hours ago, vacation44 said:

For us, the best part of Haven was the restaurant.  

That's funny to me, because my least favorite part of being in the Haven is the restaurant. There's not enough food options for me being a picky eater to want to eat there more than once. 

 

Our first Haven experience wasn't good and we were definitely in the camp of 'I can certainly go back to non-Haven, it's not worth it." Then we found some deals on cabins and got to try it again with completely different experiences. 

 

We're certainly not in the 'Haven-or-bust" camp, but always start our price checking there. If it's on par with our expectations for that ship class, we book it. If it's not and we're dead set on the itinerary - we book a balcony or higher and price watch and bid for an upgrade.

[ECCruise]

Our experience is the exact opposite to OP.

 

After sailing in the Haven for several of our last NCL trips, we are bailing and will not be doing it going forward.  For us, there is just not the value commensurate with the big bump in pricing.  We would rather sail say 10 times per year in a decent balcony than the 3 times per year that Haven pricing almost always demands.

 

Plus, we don't need special seating in the theater, or escorts anywhere (we have found that we are often off the ship in port, e.g., before the Haven crew makes their way down in the "secret" elevator with Concierge or a butler). And as for a butler service, we rarely avail ourselves of any services, which just doesn't make us ideal Haven pax. 

 

Haven dining, although very good, gets old fairly quickly when you sail long itineraries or B2B itineraries, often over 20 days. 

 

So, in summary, not only do we not need to sail in Haven after being there a good many times, we won't be there in the future for the reasons detailed above. 

Edited August 13, 2022 by ECCruise

[ChiefMateJRK]

6 minutes ago, ECCruise said:

We would rather sail say 10 times per year in a decent balcony than the 3 times per year that Haven pricing almost always demands.

 

Plus, we don't need special seating in the theater, or escorts anywhere (we have found that we are often off the ship in port, e.g., before the Haven crew makes their way down in the "secret" elevator with Concierge or a butler). And as for a butler service, we rarely avail ourselves of any services, which just doesn't make us ideal Haven pax. 

Amen!  Preach it brother! (or sister)

[jetact]

1 hour ago, ECCruise said:

Our experience is the exact opposite to OP.

 

After sailing in the Haven for several of our last NCL trips, we are bailing and will not be doing it going forward.  For us, there is just not the value commensurate with the big bump in pricing.  We would rather sail say 10 times per year in a decent balcony than the 3 times per year that Haven pricing almost always demands.

 

Plus, we don't need special seating in the theater, or escorts anywhere (we have found that we are often off the ship in port, e.g., before the Haven crew makes their way down in the "secret" elevator with Concierge or a butler). And as for a butler service, we rarely avail ourselves of any services, which just doesn't make us ideal Haven pax. 

 

Haven dining, although very good, gets old fairly quickly when you sail long itineraries or B2B itineraries, often over 20 days. 

 

So, in summary, not only do we not need to sail in Haven after being there a good many times, we won't be there in the future for the reasons detailed above. 

Now if I could find time to cruise 10 times a years that might be a different story between work, other outings and a second home we are way to busy. We are doing 2 cruises this year and that will be enough, no we dont use the butler that much but its there if we need it or want to use it. To each his own and enjoy the time away. 

[ChiefMateJRK]

16 minutes ago, jetact said:

Now if I could find time to cruise 10 times a years that might be a different story between work, other outings and a second home we are way to busy.

Couldn't you sail two times in steerage and save the extra $$$ for future years when you can cruise as much as you would like?

[pcakes122]

And here we go. 😂

 

I'm in the Haven or nothing camp & love and use all the added amenities. That said, if someone is happy an inside cabin, a balcony, a stowaway closet, whatever -  that's great! I'm not going to tell them they're making the wrong choice or that there is anything wrong with them or their preferences.

 

So hopefully we can avoid the "people who prefer the Haven are snobs who think they are better than everyone, wasting their money, are ridiculous to need a butler, etc." debate round #1876533.

 

There are even people in this world who don't like cruising (gasp!)  Let's just let people live their lives however makes them happy.

 

[jetact]

6 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Couldn't you sail two times in steerage and save the extra $$$ for future years when you can cruise as much as you would like?

No, We treat ourselves when we travel. I dont have the time to be gone all of the time so when we go we like to splurge. Nothing wrong with any other cabins as for the most part we sleep and shower there but we like the perks associated with the Haven . When I retire we probably wont travel that much more as we love our houses so any money saved now wont matter. We are looking at Panama canal cruises currently and dam thats expensive in Haven but its something I will only do once. 

[DrSea]

Glad you loved your Haven experience. Do you think you got different treatment being a former CD compared to the treatment that someone else might get? I've always wondered if returning crew, esp a CD, would get better treatment. I know it's hard to tell since there is only one point of reference. 

[MotownVoice]

On 8/12/2022 at 10:13 AM, ChiefMateJRK said:

TL:DR

I call B💩

I have noticed you seem to choose the threads that appeal to your keen ability To insult and condescend.  Seriously.   A cursory scan of your comment history will show that my theory checks out.   It must be a heavy burden. 

Edited August 13, 2022 by MotownVoice

[spanishguy1970]

10 minutes ago, MotownVoice said:

I have noticed you seem to choose the threads that appeal to your keen ability To insult and condescend.  Seriously.   A cursory scan of your comment history will show that my theory checks out.   It must be a heavy burden. 

🤐👏