havana area feedback requested

[havanadaydreaming]

i would like to ask feedback from folks who have experience with the Havana access.   What do you like best?  What do you not particularly care for?  Etc. Etc.  

 

(we are typically balcony people but are looking at getting an almost free inside cabin on Celebration Q1 2023.   Decks 8-12 seem available, the higher the better for me.  we have a MESS of gift cards, will have obc + free casino drinks) 

 

My wife is looking at upgrading to inside Havana, at a fairly nominal cost.   But i wonder how much we would really use the Havana area.  Thoughts? 

 

 

Many thanks CC'ers! 

[dallasdan]

I love Havana.  In fact if we have a choice between a ship with Havana or without we will take the Havana cruise.  My first Havana Cruise was the Havana Cabana.  It was great but we really didn't spend as much time on the Cabana as we thought.  So the next cruise we did Havana inside room.  It was great.  We we just go outside to the Havana area during the day and there was always plenty of loungers or chairs.  Bar service was great also.  

[mrlddst]

If you plan on being on board during spring break then its a god send.  The balcony (deck) with chair and swing are great to lounge on too but not necessary if the normal pools aren't packed or you don't need a quiet place to lounge. 

[Theosprey247]

We usually get a "normal" balcony and hang out in the serenity section.  Then we discovered the Havana area.  We now only book Havana interiors.  My wife loves the fact that the pool and Jacuzzis are never crowded.  Plus, we love dancing (well she loves dancing) and the Havana bar is right here.

[kahcruising]

We absolutely love the Havana area and have only book Havana cruises now. To me it is worth it to have a respite from the overcrowding of the main pool areas during sea days. We had never gotten in the pools on a cruise ship until we experienced the Havana area. Absolutely LOVE IT!!!!!!

[RenoNanaOz]

Had our first stay in a Havana Cabana on The Vista in Sept 2019. We loved it! We had coffee, breakfast and drinks in the evening. We loved the private pool area and having our own bar. However, our cruise on The Horizon we booked the Aft Havna, truly our favorite views. Can't really see the sea from the Cabanas unless you stand up.

[soulsistah007]

I don't know about an inside Havana but yes, you can certainly use the loungers with Havana access. I just recently shared my experience (I absolutely loved it!!). You can read on for further details: 

 

[1025cruise]

Just note that the Havana area on Mardi Gras and Celebration is different than on the other ships.

[Illbcruzn4life]

absolutely loved it on Horizon and like others if I book Carnival it will be in a Havana cabin.

 

Will see how much different it is on Celebration in April.

[cruisinpips]

We leave on our 4th trip on Horizon inntwo weeks. By far our favorite ship, and thats because of Havana and all the restaurants! We sailed Vista in September in a Havana Cabana, but didn’t enjoy near as much. Aft balconies 7 or 8 are the way to go! We never leave there except to eat! 

[Illbcruzn4life]

4 hours ago, cruisinpips said:

We leave on our 4th trip on Horizon inntwo weeks. By far our favorite ship, and thats because of Havana and all the restaurants! We sailed Vista in September in a Havana Cabana, but didn’t enjoy near as much. Aft balconies 7 or 8 are the way to go! We never leave there except to eat! 

went to guys one day so the wifey could get a burger. OMG the noise level was so high from all the peeps in the main pool the dj blasting music and the big screen we scampered by to the Havana area quickly. lol

[kelkel2]

Honestly, if we weren’t cruising with our kids I’d book one in a heart beat. 

[kona_wahine]

Havana on the Vista was awesome. I’d definitely do an interior, not a balcony. So quiet compared to the CRAZY lido. We just got an offer to upgrade on our Panorama from deck one to Havana for $700, but took the $54 to the lido instead. This was a cheap cruise, so trying to keep it as cheap as we can. The $700 was more then we paid total!!🤣

[Pellaz]

We really enjoyed our Havana Cabana room about a month ago on the Horizon, but be aware that the Havana areas on the Excel-class ships are significantly smaller, with a MUCH smaller pool.  

 

We really enjoyed the relatively empty pool and hot-tubs, the excellent bar service, the heavy pours from the bartenders, and the attentive service from the Havana deck crew, as well as the comfy chairs and loungers.  

 

[havanadaydreaming]

Looks like its $300 pp upgrade from inside to Havana inside.  7 nt. 3 sea days.  Same deck. 

 

Debating it.... 

 

 

[Thenagers]

On 11/10/2022 at 4:20 PM, 1025cruise said:

Just note that the Havana area on Mardi Gras and Celebration is different than on the other ships.

I would do the Havana on a Vista class ship every time.  I did not book it on Mardis Gras.  It is a small area on the side of the ship. The Havana on vista class is more like the summer landing area on Mardis Gras and Celebration. Also note that the interiors on Mardis Gras and Celebration are even smaller than any other interior in the fleet.  Also look if you will be above the theater?  They practice during the day and have shows until late at night.  

[Eli_6]

On the celebration, I would not do trade a balcony for an inside Havana.  On the Vista class ships, I would do it in a heartbeat. 

[cruisebarbie]

While I like to book outside cabins, on a ship this size if it was a choice of Havana or upper balcony I would pick Havana.  These ships are so big and the main nightlife are on decks 6-7-8.  Taking the elevators are horrible on these ships and climbing 11 flights of stairs to your room is no fun.  We booked spa rooms on Mardi gras thinking we would hang out on Serenity but it turned out that even that area was so crowded and not relaxing during the day.  We missed Havana!  I think you will like Havana area for convenience and peace away from the crowds when you want it.

[crazy4themouse]

I was all ready to crow about the wonders of the Havana area and how it's worth every extra penny, and then I got to the Celebration part. For a Vista class ship, yes yes and always yes... But no way would I pay extra for what they call the Havana area on the Excel class ships. Night and day difference. 👎

 

 

[RumpunchGirl]

I absolutely loved, Loved, LOVED the Havana area on the Vista! We had an extended aft balcony in 2019. It was great to be able to get a chair by the pool and have room in the hot tub. And no little ones running around.  DH and I are finally getting back on a cruise ship in January 2023. This time we have a Havana Premium Vista Balcony on Panorama. I'm so excited!  61 days WOOHOO!

[Illbcruzn4life]

54 minutes ago, crazy4themouse said:

I was all ready to crow about the wonders of the Havana area and how it's worth every extra penny, and then I got to the Celebration part. For a Vista class ship, yes yes and always yes... But no way would I pay extra for what they call the Havana area on the Excel class ships. Night and day difference. 👎

 

 

What did you find so bad about the excel class Havana cabins? Booked on Celebration in April.

[DramaQueen22]

Havana on the Vista Class is well worth it.  The area at the back of the ship is fantastic.  On Excel Class, the area was moved to the side and is much smaller.  Not sure I'd trade a balcony for it in that case.

[dallasdan]

We chose sailing on the Vista instead of the Jubilee because of the Havana area on Vista.  After reading reviews of the Havana area on the side most of my group did not want to chance it being too crowded or too small.  Havana on Vista class ship is the best.

[RenoNanaOz]

19 hours ago, RumpunchGirl said:

I absolutely loved, loved, LOVED the Havana area on the Vista! We had an extended aft balcony in 2019. It was great to be able to get a chair by the pool and have room in the hot tub. And no little ones running around.  DH and I are finally getting back on a cruise ship in January 2023. This time we have a Havana Premium Vista Balcony on Panorama. I'm so excited!  61 days WOOHOO!

Us too, we booked Havana Aft for our Cruise on Horizon in January. Loved it on the Vista.

[atxlady]

We had an inside Havana cabin on the Horizon in May. We were on deck 5 and we LOVED it. The pool/bar area was wonderful. By the end of the cruise, you will get to meet some wonderful people. We never felt crowded, and loungers were always available.