What exactly is priority boarding for suite & Haven in NYC

[Carbuilder]

Does this mean the entire check in process is handled in a different area. Or does it mean once your past check in you board before the majority of passengers?
 

[Peachypooh]

1 minute ago, Carbuilder said:

Does this mean the entire check in process is handled in a different area. Or does it mean once your past check in you board before the majority of passengers?
 

I can only speak to the Haven process. Unless things have changed you pass through security along with everyone else. Then there is a separate waiting area (room) where they check you in and offer you snacks and beverages. Then as the room fills up you are escorted to a separate waiting area and board first.

[complawyer]

ive often noticed that sometimes they dont even wait until the room fills up. there is usually a 10-15 minute wait in the specialty designated area, and then someone comes and gets you (usually your concierge) and escorts you to the private haven area. at that point, you can so any of the following (1) relax in the haven lounge and order a drink, (2) relax by the haven pool, grab a burger and a drink, as there is usually someone available to wait on you (3), go to the haven restaurant (we usually do this) order lunch and wait for your room to be ready. it's nice to sit down to a special menu just for haven guests, and start your cruise with a glass of champagne.  as youre booked into a haven suite usually (but not always) you have priority and your cabin might be available earlier than most

[NayRN]

I haven't sailed out of NYC in a number of years (and at time, I had a couple kids with me), so I don't remember if there is any signage indicating you where go once you pass security for Haven guests. I don't remember it being too difficult though.....17 days until boarding!!

[complawyer]

there is either signage indicating haven guest area, or merely ask one of the many ncl people there. they will gladly direct you to the appropriate area. 

 

no worries, no problems!

[jmh87]

Not sure about a suite, but in regards to the Haven boarding. We went in the terminal and there was a long maze of people to the left. There was a person on the right holding a Haven sign that guided you down a straight away to start the boarding process. All the stations moved pretty quickly, the longest was getting your picture taken and your id cards processed. Then go into the waiting room and short wait to get onboard. They also mentioned to us a few times we could go to the American Diner instead of the Haven restaurant for something to eat.

[complawyer]

if i have the choice between the american diner or the haven restaurant, what a no brainer. haven restaurant wins by a mile, no contest. it will also be much less crowded once the other people start boarding and going to the diner.

[Sailing12Away]

2 hours ago, complawyer said:

if i have the choice between the american diner or the haven restaurant, what a no brainer. haven restaurant wins by a mile, no contest. it will also be much less crowded once the other people start boarding and going to the diner.

Yeah but you can have Haven lunch for free every day. Getting to try out the American Diner for free only happens on that first day.

[CleverUserNameHere]

There is no priority boarding for Suite guests out of NYC. Only Haven. It didn't matter that our boarding passes clearly stated "priority" on them we still had to wait in line with everybody else 😕

 

[The Shrike]

2 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

Yeah but you can have Haven lunch for free every day. Getting to try out the American Diner for free only happens on that first day.

I love a good lobster roll so I might have to give that a try on the Getaway in January.

[rbalfour]

2 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

Yeah but you can have Haven lunch for free every day. Getting to try out the American Diner for free only happens on that first day.

 

That was my thought exactly. I'm sailing in the Haven for the 1st time in January on the Encore (25th anniversary) and was thinking of trying it out since it will be free

[pbenjamin]

1 hour ago, The Shrike said:

I love a good lobster roll so I might have to give that a try on the Getaway in January.

I’m not real familiar with lobster rolls but the menu I saw had some lobster-shrimp thingie on it and nothing called a lobster roll. 

[complawyer]

sorry, guys, im sticking with the haven restaurant. no desire whatsover, to eat in american diner

[complawyer]

as a final note, we were just on the bliss to alaska. disembarked last saturday.  i checked the american diner menu. dont take this wrong, in no way am i knocking this restaurant(or anyone who chooses to eat there), but it strikes me as an upscale denny's. no comparison to the haven restaurant, and remember, (if im not mistaken) any passenger boarding can be directed to the diner while waiting for the cabin to be prepared. that's a whole lot of folks if they choose. you can also go to the buffet or the pool area and chill out with a drink. much ,much less crowded in the haven restaurant.

 

i believe that even if something is free, if it's not what  you want, it isn't a deal. i dont necessarily want a hamburger or lobster slider.

 

so please dont start a bunch of posts da**ing me for this opinion. if you prefer the american diner, or think its worth it to eat there for free on the 1st day. more power to you. "ENJOY"!!

 

cant wait to read what chiefmate jrk has to say (if anything)

[pbenjamin]

2 hours ago, pbenjamin said:

I’m not real familiar with lobster rolls but the menu I saw had some lobster-shrimp thingie on it and nothing called a lobster roll. 

 

LOBSTER AND SHRIMP "SLIDERS"

Spicy Mustard Dressing, Lemon, Brioche Bun

[vacation44]

11 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

Yeah but you can have Haven lunch for free every day. Getting to try out the American Diner for free only happens on that first day.

We chose to eat at the American Diner instead of Haven also for this same reason.   And the mozzarella sticks made our decision the right one for us and we would do it again.  

[cruiseny4life]

8 hours ago, complawyer said:

as a final note, we were just on the bliss to alaska. disembarked last saturday.  i checked the american diner menu. dont take this wrong, in no way am i knocking this restaurant(or anyone who chooses to eat there), but it strikes me as an upscale denny's. no comparison to the haven restaurant, and remember, (if im not mistaken) any passenger boarding can be directed to the diner while waiting for the cabin to be prepared. that's a whole lot of folks if they choose. you can also go to the buffet or the pool area and chill out with a drink. much ,much less crowded in the haven restaurant.

 

i believe that even if something is free, if it's not what  you want, it isn't a deal. i dont necessarily want a hamburger or lobster slider.

 

so please dont start a bunch of posts da**ing me for this opinion. if you prefer the american diner, or think its worth it to eat there for free on the 1st day. more power to you. "ENJOY"!!

 

cant wait to read what chiefmate jrk has to say (if anything)

I can't call you my grump anymore! You've taken on such a different persona :--)

 

We were Haven guests and did not receive priority embarkation in NYC, but that had little to do with Haven. It had everything to do with the the MCT staff (as I found out later). That April embarkation of 3 - 8 hours for almost everyone was rough!

 

Haven had some priority, but not a lot. The handicapped were forced to stay in lines. There were so many folks in wheelchairs/with walkers that I had so much empathy for. I'm a not-so very healthy 30-something, but I can tolerate standing in line for three hours. I'm not sure how those definitely not-so healthy 60. 70, and 80 year olds did it. 

 

Beware of the NYC terminal!

 

The good news is, that when you get out of the terminal, you have some lovely experiences waiting on board, including the American Diner (if you so choose). 

 

Anyway, I'm glad you love the Haven Restaurant!! I do too - it's freaking amazing. If I could get inside my head to put a percent next to each reason I cruise the Haven, the restaurant might top 50% of the reason. 

 

You're right - American Diner is an upscale Denny's, although just barely. The food is adequate - my burger did have a slight after taste which threw me off. My husband's chicken sandwich was yummy! The mozzarella sticks are quite good - and this is the only place on the boat I can get those savory, deep fried morsels of goodness. 

 

The milkshakes - I really think you ought to go back to American Diner and just purchase one. If you just like milkshakes, let me tell ya - this one, you'll be talking about for years! I've been singing the banana milkshake's praises since April!! 

 

I realize it's only one cruise, and you have so many more experiences, but on our cruise, American Diner had three parties during the entirety of our hour there. One was there before us, then us, then another party from the Haven came in as we were getting ready to leave. Perhaps it's busier on other embarkation days, but I think you're in the majority eating in the Haven Restaurant. 

Edited August 19, 2022 by cruiseny4life
had to bring it back to the topic at hand!

[complawyer]

cruisenyforlife:      

 

sorry, but for you, i'll try to re-establish my aura of grumpiness 

 

here goes:  never liked mozzarella sticks, and i'm not crazy  about milkshakes.

i only enjoy them between valentines day and st patricks day when mcdonald's offers shamrock shakes.

 

fyi: you're 30 something, i'm almost 75. we've been cruising with ncl since 2010, almost at least once a year except for the 2 years covid locked down the industry.  never departed from new york, but the many we have departed from, we never had to stand (wait) in line anywhere that amount of time. on our recent bliss cruise ( it was a casino comp and we didnt have a haven suite) the entire boarding process, from security check in to actually getting on the ship  and having a drink by the pool was less than 1 hr.

the longest it ever took was last april in athens.  even though we followed ncl guidelines for pre-cruise covid testing, greece has its own requirements and we needed to be re-tested at the pier, if the test came back positive, you were out of luck, and they wouldnt let you board. even with this procedure, the entire process took about 2 hrs, and most of the time was taken up by waiting for the results.

 

so, i am really sorry you had to put up with that s**t at the new york pier. from our experience i dont believe that's the norm.

 

in any event, i'll still pass on the american diner ( i think it's really no different than any diner on main street, u.s.a.)  and the menu doesnt seem to be anything to wave the flag over, but if we ever find ourselves on the same cruise, your next banana milkshake is on me.

 

we're contemplating a trans-canal cruise from panama next january. come and join us and collect on your milkshake. you'll see im not anywhere near as grumpy as you think!

 

grumpy enough for you?  LOL!

[ChiefMateJRK]

15 hours ago, complawyer said:

so please dont start a bunch of posts da**ing me for this opinion. if you prefer the american diner, or think its worth it to eat there for free on the 1st day. more power to you. "ENJOY"!!

 

cant wait to read what chiefmate jrk has to say (if anything)

I'm not really sure what to make of this.  I've never stayed in the Haven, and I've never eaten at the American Diner, so I really don't know what I would have to say about any of this.  I have read that nobody in steerage eats in the American Diner because it is ala carte' and on the same level as all of the free (i.e. poor people) restaurants.  That said, it makes sense that if somebody is going to be eating in the Haven all week anyways, they might want to take advantage of the opportunity to try the American Diner for free.  That is all. 🤥

[ChiefMateJRK]

15 hours ago, complawyer said:

it strikes me as an upscale denny's

 

6 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

You're right - American Diner is an upscale Denny's

What is wrong with Dennys?!  I love Denny's! 🥳🎉

[cruiseny4life]

9 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

 

What is wrong with Dennys?!  I love Denny's! 🥳🎉

Hahaha - I have many fond memories of Denny's!! Especially when I used to work in Vermont - our after meeting "meeting" location was Denny's for an ice cream sundae, breakfast, or some sort of fried yumminess at 11 PM! 

 

So you won't find any argument from me! 

 

Also...you nailed it on why I go to American Diner on embarkation day - you and your rat pack know more than you think! I'd make those fancy emoticons too, but I don't know how so here goes 🙂 

[ChiefMateJRK]

45 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

you and your rat pack know more than you think!

👀👀

What is this 🐀 pack of which you speak? 🤣🤡  (besides, if such a pack did in fact exist, it just might include some very experienced 🐀🐀🐀)  Funny thing about rats, even though you don't often spot them, they seem to be around all the time.

[Sailing12Away]

 

Regardless... This 🐀 will be on the Joy in 2 weeks and I plan to go to the American Diner to try it out. Haven menu is too foo-foo for my low brow Denny's taste anyway.

 

@cruiseny4life hit the smiley face. Either pick one you like, or type in a word to pull up things they think you're looking for. They're best when used in moderation...

 

[Purple_Pig]

We recently boarded our first NCL as a suite guest.  No Haven on our ship.

 

Once past security we went to the priority line - which was no line.  Quick check in, met the concierge then we were escorted straight to our cabin.  One thing was slightly wrong which was taken care of immediately.

 

We had just had lunch on shore so did not want any food or beverage.

[BirdTravels]

On 8/18/2022 at 5:49 PM, complawyer said:

if i have the choice between the american diner or the haven restaurant, what a no brainer. haven restaurant wins by a mile, no contest. it will also be much less crowded once the other people start boarding and going to the diner.

It does not have to be a binary choice.

 

Last week, we ate lunch in the Haven Restaurant. Then, just before closing, we grabbed a couple of lobster rolls and a couple of milk shakes from the Am Diner and took it to our room for a sailaway snack. Now,,,, the Am Diner folks put up a big fuss that we should allow our butler pick up the food and take it to the room for us. But we told them that warm lobster and warm shakes was unacceptable, and they let us go with our snack. 

 

 

Specific to the OP question, NYC has three check-in areas. Main check-in at the front and back of the terminal based on your deck number. In the middle of the terminal, there is a Haven check-in. It is a small area with limited seating. There is overflow seating in a roped off area next to the check-in counter. Suites check in at the Main check-in areas. You get "priority" because you have a separate line. Just like Platinums and above have a "priority" line to stand in. 

Edited August 20, 2022 by BirdTravels