Haven Dinner Question

[Trimone]

The Haven maybe for the rich, but being rich doesn’t create class…

[mearsfansinboise]

51 minutes ago, Trimone said:

The Haven maybe for the rich, but being rich doesn’t create class…

 

We ain't rich - even though we have sailed the Haven once and coming up again in 52 days (no, we aren't counting down excited or anything 🙌).  And maybe it's because we're not rich that it doesn't take much to impress us - lol

I am however going to steal the idea of asking our butler to bring us an appetizer or a dessert from the MDR - (to our room, with advance notice early in the day/once we see the menu).  We are foodies and I am not overly interested in the desserts in the Haven restaurant.  I'll do the cheesecake and maybe the chocolate cake (on separate occasions, of course) but, there may be something in the MDR that I would love instead.

[wolft927]

1 hour ago, Trimone said:

The Haven maybe for the rich, but being rich doesn’t create class…

I will agree, Now i do cruise in the Haven, I am absolutely not Rich in anyway lol. Actually 2 of the three cruises i have done in the haven i won bidding on them. Now as far as class, I have only encountered a few Haven guests that absolutely thought that their SH*T didn't stink lol. 

[Sand and Seas]

We will be eating in Specialty restaurants also and usually are too full to enjoy dessert right after dinner.

 

I believe I've read here on CC that it's not unusual to ask for your dessert to be sent to your room?   I'm in 'the don't want to make a big fuss category, but if the Specialty restaurant can ask the night butler to deliver our desserts to our room for an after show late night treat we would love it.   Or, we could ask for a late night dessert from the Haven placed in room.   What would you suggest?

 

(We are about to have our 2nd Haven cruise of about 40 NCL cruises.  Didn't use the Butler at all on that first cruise and that was fine with us.  After this 2nd Haven we will happily be back to our regular cruising.)

 

[Linda the Book Lover]

1 hour ago, mearsfansinboise said:

 

We ain't rich - even though we have sailed the Haven once and coming up again in 52 days (no, we aren't counting down excited or anything 🙌).  And maybe it's because we're not rich that it doesn't take much to impress us - lol

I am however going to steal the idea of asking our butler to bring us an appetizer or a dessert from the MDR - (to our room, with advance notice early in the day/once we see the menu).  We are foodies and I am not overly interested in the desserts in the Haven restaurant.  I'll do the cheesecake and maybe the chocolate cake (on separate occasions, of course) but, there may be something in the MDR that I would love instead.

My husband loves warm chocolate chip cookies in the evening when we return to our cabin. Every night they would be there. We always request during our introduction meet with the Butler. My DGD also requested on POA (Suites no Haven on this ship) and every night she got them including enough for my DD and myself. She could not wait to tell her Grandpa. on the Epic we have also requested a sandwich when we returned to the cabin (very port intensive Europe) and it was not an issue. These are requests which take nothing away as far as restaurant time from others also enjoying the Suite/Haven Life. THough they always add a little cheese to my scrambled eggs in the restaurant in the morning. 😉

[Linda the Book Lover]

1 hour ago, Sand and Seas said:

We will be eating in Specialty restaurants also and usually are too full to enjoy dessert right after dinner.

 

I believe I've read here on CC that it's not unusual to ask for your dessert to be sent to your room?   I'm in 'the don't want to make a big fuss category, but if the Specialty restaurant can ask the night butler to deliver our desserts to our room for an after show late night treat we would love it.   Or, we could ask for a late night dessert from the Haven placed in room.   What would you suggest?

 

(We are about to have our 2nd Haven cruise of about 40 NCL cruises.  Didn't use the Butler at all on that first cruise and that was fine with us.  After this 2nd Haven we will happily be back to our regular cruising.)

 

We have had our dessert delivered to our cabin and enjoyed it later. There was never an issue. 

[The Shrike]

3 hours ago, Trimone said:

The Haven maybe for the rich, but being rich doesn’t create class…

We're not rich, but when we go on cruises (2-3/year) we like to spoil ourselves.  I'm frugal by nature, comes from growing up not too far above the poverty line.  I clip coupons, I brew the beer I drink, make the hot sauce I use, make the sausage I cook, etc.  There are four things I splurge on:  good whiskey, decent but unspectacular cigars (except for a box of Ashton VSGs I get myself at Christmas), flying business class, and cruising in the Haven.

[Linda the Book Lover]

18 minutes ago, The Shrike said:

We're not rich, but when we go on cruises (2-3/year) we like to spoil ourselves.  I'm frugal by nature, comes from growing up not too far above the poverty line.  I clip coupons, I brew the beer I drink, make the hot sauce I use, make the sausage I cook, etc.  There are four things I splurge on:  good whiskey, decent but unspectacular cigars (except for a box of Ashton VSGs I get myself at Christmas), flying business class, and cruising in the Haven.

We are not rich either😊 We sail aft balconies or a Havana cabin on Carnival (the suites are not worth the money-but my son, daughter, and myself did do a Grand Suite recently on the Panorama- 70th birthday gift from my son for me). And no suite for me on my upcoming Princess cruise for the Eclipse either. I admit I have been cruising alot lately (the rebooked from COVID) but I budget for my vacations and at my age it is what I enjoy spending my money on. You will recognize me as the older lady wearing the out-of fashion clothes.

[mearsfansinboise]

1 hour ago, Linda the Book Lover said:

My husband loves warm chocolate chip cookies in the evening when we return to our cabin. Every night they would be there. We always request during our introduction meet with the Butler. My DGD also requested on POA (Suites no Haven on this ship) and every night she got them including enough for my DD and myself. She could not wait to tell her Grandpa. on the Epic we have also requested a sandwich when we returned to the cabin (very port intensive Europe) and it was not an issue. These are requests which take nothing away as far as restaurant time from others also enjoying the Suite/Haven Life. THough they always add a little cheese to my scrambled eggs in the restaurant in the morning. 😉

 

We do the letter to our butler (as @Sthrngarysuggested) on day 1 which includes our snack preferences for afternoon and nighttime; our butler always exceeded our expectations with that!

[graphicguy]

22 hours ago, UKstages said:

 

while i have enthusiastically debated many things on CC, i will not enter into the "is it OK to have MDR food delivered to the haven restaurant" debate, despite having a strong opinion about this.

 

i just wanted to stop by to compliment you for correctly saying "champing."

 

so many people say "chomping" because they don't understand the derivation of the term.

 

it's refreshing to see it used properly in your post!

Used interchangeably..

 

https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/be+chomping+at+the+bit

 

Have seen many examples of HAVEN people make demands of staff that embarrass those around them.  

 

Haven crew will go out of there way to please any reasonable person and/or their request.  When you're calling attention to yourself, making unreasonable requests, trying to get the Haven crew well out of their given duties...that's when things cross the line into precociousness.

 

Haven crew will do their level best with most requests.  But, they can't (and shouldn't) accommodate every little whim.

[skeeter195]

I keep hearing the same thing over and over which I must correct.  

 

The waiters in the haven are not running to different restaurants on the ship.  Being a waiter or waitress involves a lot more than just taking orders and serving food.  If something needs to be picked up from another kitchen or dining room on the ship this is done by runners.  Maybe they need to get more shrimp or spinach or a specific size plate from another spot on the ship.  Granted good prep will cut down on these shortages but every single day a runner will be going to different spots on the ship for different things including special food requests for the highest paying guests.  It just in a days work for them.  

[complawyer]

trimome, out of all of your posts i've ever read, the one dealing with rich and class was mean spirited and totally uncalled for.

 

youre 100% correct, there is never (nor should there be ) a correlation between rich and class.

 

we stay in the haven because we get discounted prices through CAS. we never have claimed to be rich, and i'd like to think we have some degree of "class" although i'm sure actual class will be extremely difficult to define. What's your definition?

 

i dont ask for items from different restaurants when we're in the haven, but  its very nice to (1) bypass the check in lines,(2) be escorted to your cabin,(3) go to an uncrowded haven restaurant and not have to fight the crowds trying to get a table at the buffet.

 

it's nice to look at the haven menu (regardless of the fact it never changes) and order a glass of champagne or two before lunch .

 

it's nice to tell the butler that at 7 am every morning you would like  to have him bring in a pot of coffee, a pot of decaf and a pot of hot water for tea, as well as some rolls and pastries.

 

its nice to ask him to have an ice cold beer waiting in  your cabin fridge when you get back from a shore excursion, and a tray of goodies for snacks. i dont believe that i have ever asked either   the butler or haven cabin steward for anything unreasonable or could be defined as being "entitled''

 

dont knock people staying in the haven complex. as long as they dont come across as having a sense of entitlement (i believe they are called karens) we are all nice people, trying to have a good time just like any one else on board except we are paying for a higher level of service. do you typically call out people that fly 1st class on airplanes.  by the way, there is a prime example of the separation between the haves and have nots.

 

so trimone, my friend, the only thing i have to add is "play nice with the other kids"

 

 

 

 

[pcakes122]

8 hours ago, Fifi1910 said:

I’m not sure it’s a staffing issue. How could they foresee a guest needing to be served by 6 people. I’ve certainly not been conditioned into expecting less, I make use of what I’ve paid for but not at the expense of others. Yes I feel sorry for the poor staff being treated like a piece of s*** there’s no excuse for that however much you’ve spent on your holiday. I think NCL feels plenty of heat from certain guests demanding what they expect, I’ve stood behind them at the concierge desk while they make their feelings known. As I think someone else mentioned if you go to a 5* restaurant you certainly wouldn’t be allowed to act that way. We often dine at Gordon Ramseys in The Savoy London and wouldn’t dream of asking them if we could have food from somewhere else, I can just hear Gordon’s answer to that one 🤣😂🤣

NCL's "restaurants" (in actuality they are just different dining venues as part of the same "property") are NOT competition for each other.  There is no comparison to competing land restaurants. 🙄 I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but NCL ship venues have shared kitchens in many cases.

 

You know maybe you are right. People should probably stop having their laundry done or any other services onboard too.  Did you ever stop to think that the laundry room is 12 floors away??!!!  I can't believe that the poor room stewards have to go to allllll that way so that selfish people can have their shirts pressed for dinner!!  And then go 12 floors!!!! to bring it back!!!

 

And please don't order room service. I can't even imagine asking the kitchen to make a hamburger just for little old me and then have a poor, downtrodden employee have to go 12 floors!!!!! to deliver it to my room!!!  Those people ordering room service are so cruel and selfish!!

 

Honestly, it's just a silly argument that (IMO) makes no sense.

[BirdTravels]

6 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

We will be eating in Specialty restaurants also and usually are too full to enjoy dessert right after dinner.

 

I believe I've read here on CC that it's not unusual to ask for your dessert to be sent to your room?   I'm in 'the don't want to make a big fuss category, but if the Specialty restaurant can ask the night butler to deliver our desserts to our room for an after show late night treat we would love it.   Or, we could ask for a late night dessert from the Haven placed in room.   What would you suggest?

 

(We are about to have our 2nd Haven cruise of about 40 NCL cruises.  Didn't use the Butler at all on that first cruise and that was fine with us.  After this 2nd Haven we will happily be back to our regular cruising.)

 

Last week, we did both. We had desserts from specialty dining sent to our room. We had desserts from the Haven restaurant sent to our room. And we had some leftover sushi sent to our room. If you have that gold Haven card, the restaurants would not allow you to carry any food yourself. They supposed to call your butler or night butler to deliver the food. 

 

We are in that "over prepared" category. Regardless of what cruise line and what cabin class are in, we always have some pre-printed 1/4 sheet note paper for notes to our room steward and butler (actual butler note below). We also use these to write down requests to the concierge team (e.g., Please cancel Le Bistro on Day 4 and book Le Bistro on Day 5 at 6:00 pm).  We find that putting things in writing increases the probability that they are done right. 

 

[Sand and Seas]

3 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Last week, we did both. We had desserts from specialty dining sent to our room. We had desserts from the Haven restaurant sent to our room. And we had some leftover sushi sent to our room. If you have that gold Haven card, the restaurants would not allow you to carry any food yourself. They supposed to call your butler or night butler to deliver the food. 

 

We are in that "over prepared" category. Regardless of what cruise line and what cabin class are in, we always have some pre-printed 1/4 sheet note paper for notes to our room steward and butler (actual butler note below). We also use these to write down requests to the concierge team (e.g., Please cancel Le Bistro on Day 4 and book Le Bistro on Day 5 at 6:00 pm).  We find that putting things in writing increases the probability that they are done right. 

 

 

 

This looks perfect for us😊

 

I love the idea of a simple note like this.  It feels like an easy way to express what we would like.    (I'm replacing Iced Tea request with one for Chocolate Milk.  DH will love that!)

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, Sand and Seas said:

This looks perfect for us😊 I love the idea of a simple note like this.  It feels like an easy way to express what we would like.    (I'm replacing Iced Tea request with one for Chocolate Milk.  DH will love that!)

Have a great cruise.

 

wrt the Haven Restaurant, Lobster makes Everything Better. So, rather than ordering the default surf and turf, we just add a lobster tail or two to everything. 

 

Grilled Delmonico Steak plus a lobster (gotta take a photo quickly since the waiters are right there to remove the lobster from the shell)

 

Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes plus a lobster

 

Berkshire Pork Tomahawk plus Lobster

 

Pancetta Wrapped Lamb Ribeye plus a lobster

 

Lobster Deviled Eggs

 

Caesar Salad with a Lobster (instead of salmon, chicken, or shrimp)

[Lunesse]

Celebrity makes it super easy to order from the MDR while in Luminae, their equivalent of The Haven Restaurant, I believe.  They will hand you the MDR menu right there at your table and you can get an app from one, a side from the other, deserts from both...  The two restaurants share a kitchen, are right next door to each other, so cross-restaurant ordering is super easy for them. I can see how once you do this on one ship, it's addictive and you'd want/hope/expect it can be done on others, esp. when, if I have it right, the menu is fixed in the Haven?  

 

A theory as to how this is a thing... if it isn't a written down thing. 

[Sand and Seas]

Thanks again BirdTravels!   Haven't seen pictures of these Haven dishes and I am definitely starting with Crab Cakes & Lobster!    DH is looking at the steak, pork & lamb dishes.....he will leave the Lobster to me.

 

 Just possible I might not use all my Specialty Dining dinners this trip, but it will be worth it😊

[cruiseny4life]

7 hours ago, Lunesse said:

Celebrity makes it super easy to order from the MDR while in Luminae, their equivalent of The Haven Restaurant, I believe.  They will hand you the MDR menu right there at your table and you can get an app from one, a side from the other, deserts from both...  The two restaurants share a kitchen, are right next door to each other, so cross-restaurant ordering is super easy for them. I can see how once you do this on one ship, it's addictive and you'd want/hope/expect it can be done on others, esp. when, if I have it right, the menu is fixed in the Haven?  

 

A theory as to how this is a thing... if it isn't a written down thing. 

NCL is set up a bit different. The Haven Restaurant is on one of the higher decks, typically 16, or so. The MDR's are pretty low. The truth is someone (server, runner, busser, head chef, captain of the ship) must go to the MDR to get the food...I kind of think it would be cool if they had those old school bank tubes to send food up to the Haven! 

[cruiseny4life]

5 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

Thanks again BirdTravels!   Haven't seen pictures of these Haven dishes and I am definitely starting with Crab Cakes & Lobster!    DH is looking at the steak, pork & lamb dishes.....he will leave the Lobster to me.

 

 Just possible I might not use all my Specialty Dining dinners this trip, but it will be worth it😊

My husband and I have a running debate about whether to get additional specialty dining credits, or not. I'm in the camp of, no, because we have the Haven, Shanghai Noodles, MDR, buffet (if it ever turns out to be good), and probably other included places I'm not thinking of. He would prefer more choice. 

 

We're not fancy schmancy diamond cruisers like you, so we don't have the additional vouchers. I think I won for our upcoming nine night cruise though! Looks like we're going to be having the two nights included with  not quite Free at Sea, then try the other included restaurants. 

 

The food in the Haven is absolutely amazing - you're going to love it! To add on to BirdTravels, the choice is really, "do I want two or three lobster tails tonight?" 

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

NCL is set up a bit different. The Haven Restaurant is on one of the higher decks, typically 16, or so. The MDR's are pretty low. The truth is someone (server, runner, busser, head chef, captain of the ship) must go to the MDR to get the food...I kind of think it would be cool if they had those old school bank tubes to send food up to the Haven! 

Exactly.  It is indeed a “big deal” for a server to go from deck 16 (where the Haven Restaurant is) to the Specialty Restaurants or MDRs on deck 6 or 7 (this was on Getaway).  Obviously, the Haven does not share a kitchen or prep area with any of the other dining areas.

 

Just imagine how that would work if you requested something from the MDR in the Haven.  REquest made.  HAven kitchen calls MDR or Specialty Restaurant to place the order.  Haven Waitstaff goes 9 or 10 decks down to pick it up (whenever it’s ready), brings it 9 or 10 decks up to the HAven restaurant to serve you.  That’s the definition of precocious.

 

You better be bringing not one or two, but a fist full of Benjamins to the Haven wait staff if they accommodates your request.

 

Or, you can just go to the MDR to dine and get what you want.

 

Which makes more sense?

 

Again, if you want something from the MDR, why not go to the MDR to dine?

Edited August 25, 2022 by graphicguy

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

My husband and I have a running debate about whether to get additional specialty dining credits, or not. I'm in the camp of, no, because we have the Haven, Shanghai Noodles, MDR, buffet (if it ever turns out to be good), and probably other included places I'm not thinking of. He would prefer more choice. 

 

We're not fancy schmancy diamond cruisers like you, so we don't have the additional vouchers. I think I won for our upcoming nine night cruise though! Looks like we're going to be having the two nights included with  not quite Free at Sea, then try the other included restaurants. 

 

The food in the Haven is absolutely amazing - you're going to love it! To add on to BirdTravels, the choice is really, "do I want two or three lobster tails tonight?" 

Good point.

 

If I want something quick, or am looking to squeeze in a quick meal between activities, Noodle bar, MDR or buffet is the “go to”.

 

Usually, I use my AMEX to book my cruise.  They give me a meal (for 2 ) at LeBistro.  NCL gives me 2 specialty restaurants for being Sapphire Latitude.  FREE AT SEA gives me 2 more specialty dining meals.

 

So, for the most part, I can dine in any restaurant on board and it will be included.  Still, find the meals in Haven to be as good as any of the others.  Just go the Specialty Restaurants for a change of pace and some variety.

[wolft927]

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

My husband and I have a running debate about whether to get additional specialty dining credits, or not. I'm in the camp of, no, because we have the Haven, Shanghai Noodles, MDR, buffet (if it ever turns out to be good), and probably other included places I'm not thinking of. He would prefer more choice. 

 

We're not fancy schmancy diamond cruisers like you, so we don't have the additional vouchers. I think I won for our upcoming nine night cruise though! Looks like we're going to be having the two nights included with  not quite Free at Sea, then try the other included restaurants. 

 

The food in the Haven is absolutely amazing - you're going to love it! To add on to BirdTravels, the choice is really, "do I want two or three lobster tails tonight?" 

We are on a 9 night cruise also in Haven (Getaway September 29th). We will not get any more specialty dinners as we typically like to do Cagneys and another one ( most likely this cruise the Italian Restaurant). We have done Hibachi, and Le Bistro already. We also love love love te Haven Menu and that will cover another 3 or 4 days at least. We also sometimes will enjoy a light bar food dinner at the Pub on the Getaway as the food is very good for informal meals. 

[Lunesse]

4 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

NCL is set up a bit different. The Haven Restaurant is on one of the higher decks, typically 16, or so. The MDR's are pretty low. The truth is someone (server, runner, busser, head chef, captain of the ship) must go to the MDR to get the food...I kind of think it would be cool if they had those old school bank tubes to send food up to the Haven! 

Clearly the layout on Celebrity is what made it so easy to do, compared to NCL.

 

Pneumatic tubes are a thing to bring back in general, I would agree!  Heh. 

[Lunesse]

2 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Exactly.  It is indeed a “big deal” for a server to go from deck 16 (where the Haven Restaurant is) to the Specialty Restaurants or MDRs on deck 6 or 7 (this was on Getaway).  Obviously, the Haven does not share a kitchen or prep area with any of the other dining areas.

 

Just imagine how that would work if you requested something from the MDR in the Haven.  REquest made.  HAven kitchen calls MDR or Specialty Restaurant to place the order.  Haven Waitstaff goes 9 or 10 decks down to pick it up (whenever it’s ready), brings it 9 or 10 decks up to the HAven restaurant to serve you.  That’s the definition of precocious.

 

You better be bringing not one or two, but a fist full of Benjamins to the Haven wait staff if they accommodates your request.

 

Or, you can just go to the MDR to dine and get what you want.

 

Which makes more sense?

 

Again, if you want something from the MDR, why not go to the MDR to dine?

I have not been on NCL yet, but I can think of two situations. People who want to cruise but are trying to lessen their Covid chances by eating in the same place with the same folks as much as they can, which the Haven would allow for, right? Or, mobility issues, if that is part of why they are in Haven, to have a smaller radius of where they need to get to, and how.  Or both. The layout certainly seems to make it a bigger logistics thing on NCL than other lines, but if other lines do it, maybe there's just an expectation of it being possible?