Opinions on Haven on Norwegian Joy?

[Sigyn]

There's a really good rate on the Haven on the Norwegian Joy for a cruise next year. Three of us can cruise for $6K. For those who have been on the Joy, and experienced the Haven, what did you think of it? Good, bad? Indifferent? 

 

I've only cruised on NCL once, and it was on the Prima in a family balcony cabin. I would like to step it up if I were to cruise on Norwegian again.

 

Important question since I think all the ports are tenders - do Haven guests get on tenders first? 

Edited May 23, 2023 by njsmom

[cruiseny4life]

Most importanest answer first: yes, Haven guests receive priority on tenders. Even if you miss the first tender, just ask the concierge to take you down. They'll whisk you down and let you jump the line.

 

Joy's Haven is marvelous! I really, really enjoy Getaway's Haven, but Joy's is even better. You can eat outside in a designated restaurant area, rather than the courtyard. The sundeck is phenomenal. You can use the cabanas, chairs with umbrellas, and enjoy the two hot tubs on the sundeck. You can also use the hot tub in the courtyard. 

 

Servers come by often to ensure you're well-hydrated and fed (I think it's from 12 - 4). 

 

The Horizon Lounge is a cool place, though we didn't really use it a lot. It's the Haven's own personal observation lounge with snacks and a not-so-reliable Starbucks coffee machine that will sometimes provide a cappuccino, macchiato, etc. I broke it several times and had to get the staff to repair it. I just pressed buttons. I swear I didn't do anything more! 

[scooter6139]

Joy is one of the best ships to try a Haven Suite as it has so many choices.  Just remember that many are not in the Haven proper (not just the aft and forward suites).  We loved our Haven experience EXCEPT for the stupid shower/tub in our Penthouse room.  

 

It feels odd and overprivileged to me, but the Priority tender part is weird.  I just feel odd getting put in front of everyone else, but you did pay for that perk.  😏

[CDR Benson]

I'm joining the chorus here.  Our experience in the Haven on board Norwegian Joy was remarkable and made for the best vacation of our lives.  I've included below a link to my trip report of that cruise, and it covers much of our Haven experience.

 

 

 

(If for some reason, the link doesn't get you there---I am just winging this, after all---you can find my review on page 29, post # 710, of the "The NCL Haven Luxury VIP Experience 'Secrets' REVISED for 2022" thread.)

 

 

[Two Wheels Only]

37 minutes ago, CDR Benson said:

(If for some reason, the link doesn't get you there---I am just winging this, after all---you can find my review on page 29, post # 710, of the "The NCL Haven Luxury VIP Experience 'Secrets' REVISED for 2022" thread.)

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2830623-the-ncl-haven-luxury-vip-experience-secrets-revised-for-2022/?do=findComment&comment=64042073

 

^ Shortcut to your post. 

[CDR Benson]

Much obliged!

 

 

[Sigyn]

Thanks, everyone! And @CDR Benson I'm going to read your review now. 

 

@scooter6139 I'm glad you mentioned the location. I did see that several types of rooms aren't in the Haven proper. If I book, I think I'd step up to a bigger room just so that we can be in the Haven area on the main Haven decks. It's another $1K if we do that, but the location looks fabulous. 

[CWMixer]

We were on the Joy for the first time earlier this year (Panama Canal transit, Miami to LA).

Previously we had been on both Bliss and Breakaway in an Aft Haven Suite, which had become our favorite type of room (mainly for the large balcony).

For the Canal trip we decided to try staying in the Haven, and chose a two bdrm on 17.

In short, this is now our favorite room, location and ship!

As much as we enjoyed the aft balcony, being directly in the Haven area made a huge difference. 

We liked Bliss better than Breakaway, and found Joy to be even better than Bliss.

We've already booked our next cruise: on Joy and in the same room category.

 

 

[CruisingSince1982]

20 hours ago, njsmom said:

There's a really good rate on the Haven on the Norwegian Joy for a cruise next year. Three of us can cruise for $6K. For those who have been on the Joy, and experienced the Haven, what did you think of it? Good, bad? Indifferent? 

 

I've only cruised on NCL once, and it was on the Prima in a family balcony cabin. I would like to step it up if I were to cruise on Norwegian again.

 

Important question since I think all the ports are tenders - do Haven guests get on tenders first? 

What's the date of the cruise? I'm always looking for a good deal 🙂

[Sigyn]

58 minutes ago, CruisingSince1982 said:

What's the date of the cruise? I'm always looking for a good deal 🙂

It's a spring break cruise for 2024 - March 30.

 

We get 10% off with a military discount, just fyi.

Edited May 24, 2023 by njsmom

[Pens fan]

We had a wonderful cruise in the Haven on the Joy last October.  All of the staff were fantastic, but especially the bar and restaurant staff.  The food in the Haven restaurant was also the best on the ship - even the speciality restaurants in my opinion.  This was a port intensive cruise, and we loved being escorted off and on the ship utilizing the crew elevator - such a nice touch.  We can't wait to sail in the Haven again sometime.  We had sailed in non-Haven suites prior (Sun, Gem and Jade) and loved it, but the Haven is next level service. 

[scooter6139]

20 hours ago, njsmom said:

Thanks, everyone! And @CDR Benson I'm going to read your review now. 

 

@scooter6139 I'm glad you mentioned the location. I did see that several types of rooms aren't in the Haven proper. If I book, I think I'd step up to a bigger room just so that we can be in the Haven area on the main Haven decks. It's another $1K if we do that, but the location looks fabulous. 

Fantastic!  So I presume you are looking at one of the 2-bedroom family villas (H5 and H6)?  I wanted to stay in one of those JUST for the master bath, but it was too big and too pricey.  We had an HE Courtyard Penthouse, and it would have been perfect except for that stupid shower/tub combo, which sadly is in most of the Haven suites.  Just booked a Forward Facing one myself on Joy for early 2025..

[Sailing12Away]

21 hours ago, njsmom said:

Thanks, everyone! And @CDR Benson I'm going to read your review now. 

 

@scooter6139 I'm glad you mentioned the location. I did see that several types of rooms aren't in the Haven proper. If I book, I think I'd step up to a bigger room just so that we can be in the Haven area on the main Haven decks. It's another $1K if we do that, but the location looks fabulous. 

Our 2 most recent trips were both on the Joy in an HH cabin. The HH, HI, and HJ rooms are the best bets IMO. The room is huge compared to the courtyard rooms, balcony is twice as wide. Rooms are midship, and a short 2 flights up to the main Haven areas. So very easy to get to when you want to pop in for a snack, a drink, or to just enjoy the lounge. So bigger room for less money is a automatic yes from us.

 

My only complaint with the HH rooms is the tub/shower combo. It's a really high tub wall to climb up and into (at least for us short folks). Always had to hold onto that old folks grab bar for dear life getting in and out. Much prefer the nicer shower only ones, but it's marketed as a family suite so I get it. Families want a tub for the littles. 

 

Save the money and spend it on wine tastings (the cellar master Ceclia is great, she'll teach you everything you could want to know), go karts, excursions, or anything. That's a lot of money just to be a smidge closer.

[cruiseny4life]

Here are photos from the HJ, 14180, Haven room we stayed in. It's opposite side of the ship and slightly down the hall from @CDR Benson's room. It's also a bit smaller, without the angled balcony. It was a two minute walk up a couple flights of stairs to the Haven.

 

We enjoy not being in the Haven itself. We get all the perks, but it's also easier to roam the ship. If we're ensconced completely in the Haven, I don't think we'd ever leave. Haha

 

From my understanding, our room is larger than the courtyard rooms, yet it costs less.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sigyn]

14 hours ago, scooter6139 said:

Fantastic!  So I presume you are looking at one of the 2-bedroom family villas (H5 and H6)?  I wanted to stay in one of those JUST for the master bath, but it was too big and too pricey.  We had an HE Courtyard Penthouse, and it would have been perfect except for that stupid shower/tub combo, which sadly is in most of the Haven suites.  Just booked a Forward Facing one myself on Joy for early 2025..

No, too expensive. Looking at the forward facing haven cabins.

[Sigyn]

20 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Here are photos from the HJ, 14180, Haven room we stayed in. It's opposite side of the ship and slightly down the hall from @CDR Benson's room. It's also a bit smaller, without the angled balcony. It was a two minute walk up a couple flights of stairs to the Haven.

 

We enjoy not being in the Haven itself. We get all the perks, but it's also easier to roam the ship. If we're ensconced completely in the Haven, I don't think we'd ever leave. Haha

 

From my understanding, our room is larger than the courtyard rooms, yet it costs less.

I was wondering about booking a Haven room that's outside of the Haven and how that experience would be. I like that those rooms are bigger - we could book a forward facing, for example, and have a separate room for our teenage son to sleep in, and yet it's cheaper than a smaller room that's inside the Haven courtyard where we'd all be in the same sleeping area. 

[scooter6139]

17 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

Our 2 most recent trips were both on the Joy in an HH cabin. The HH, HI, and HJ rooms are the best bets IMO. The room is huge compared to the courtyard rooms, balcony is twice as wide. Rooms are midship, and a short 2 flights up to the main Haven areas. So very easy to get to when you want to pop in for a snack, a drink, or to just enjoy the lounge. So bigger room for less money is a automatic yes from us.

 

My only complaint with the HH rooms is the tub/shower combo. It's a really high tub wall to climb up and into (at least for us short folks). Always had to hold onto that old folks grab bar for dear life getting in and out. Much prefer the nicer shower only ones, but it's marketed as a family suite so I get it. Families want a tub for the littles. 

 

Totally agree.  Our original room was an HI but we bid and got into the HE for a good price.  My wife prefers the room in the Haven itself, as it it is more "convenient" to just exit the room and you are already there.  

 

Out of the 11 or so Haven categories, only 4 don't have that tub/shower combo.  They are: HG Forward facing, HB/C aft balcony, H5/6 2 bedroom, and the H2 Owners.  Everything else has that tub combo.  The majority of the HI, HH, and HJ rooms were once Concierge Suites in the Asian market, which I believe prefers tubs.

Edited May 25, 2023 by scooter6139

[CDR Benson]

This is just a recapitulation for you, njsmom, because Sailing12Away and cruiseny4life already hit the high points of staying in an HI or HH suite.

 

● We enjoyed all the perquisites of a Haven stay.  We experienced no lesser, "second-class" treatment because we weren't staying in the Haven proper.  

 

●  Cruiseny4life is correct; these suites are larger than the Haven Courtyard suites which comprise the majority of suites in the Haven proper; yet, they come at less expensive fares than those Haven-deck suites.

 

●  As noted, it's only a two-minute elevator ride or stair climb to the Haven.  At the same time, as cruuseny4life pointed out, you're closer to most of the main activities on the rest of the ship than the residents of the Haven proper.

 

●  These suites are amidships, which means they ride well, more stably, even in heavy seas.  As I mentioned someplace else, on the last night of our cruise, when the ship's PIM took us through the fringe of a hurricane, the folks staying up and forward in the Haven proper had a much rockier time of it.  The Good Mrs. Benson and I hardly noticed.

 

The cons to staying in an "off-Haven" HI or HH suite are, to my preferences, minimal.  Aye, it lacks the ready convenience of just stepping out the door and being in the Haven.  I can appreciate the handy feeling attached to that.

 

And I will allow to the issue with the high tub/shower set-up that Sailing12Away addressed.  I'm 6' 03", but even with bad knees, having to step into the tub wasn't sufficient irritant to stand out in my memory.  The GMB, who's 5' 05", might have found it more daunting---she never commented on it---and I can understand anyone within an inch or two, up or down, of her height having a bit of a struggle with it.

 

We enjoyed HI suite # 14778 on Norwegian Joy so much, we booked it again for a cruise next year.  (We'd have done it for this year, but we're already sked for our Regent Seven Seas cruise.)  Like you, njsmom, we get the military discount, so we got a good deal out of it.

[Sailing12Away]

Here's a photo of the HH cabin on Joy. Similar layout to the HI and HJ, but the HH is a "family" room - so it has that extra curtain that can be pulled to separate out the room for a little privacy. Plus in addition to a pull out sofa, there is a murphy bed as well that some have said is a bit more comfy than a couch bed.

[scooter6139]

Does anyone remember which of the deck 14/15 Haven cabins have that large beam in the room?

[Sigyn]

I just booked the HG category, the Haven forward-facing penthouse on deck 12, cabin 12108, on the Joy, for next spring. Thanks for all of the help!

[scooter6139]

7 hours ago, njsmom said:

I just booked the HG category, the Haven forward-facing penthouse on deck 12, cabin 12108, on the Joy, for next spring. Thanks for all of the help!

Lol, we have that same suite booked for 2025.  Enjoy!

Edited May 28, 2023 by scooter6139

[Sigyn]

10 hours ago, scooter6139 said:

Lol, we have that same suite booked for 2025.  Enjoy!

I'll give you all the details next year, if I don't forget! Unless you've already been in that room before. 🙂

Edited May 28, 2023 by njsmom

[HBCcruiser]

On 5/26/2023 at 12:05 PM, Sailing12Away said:

Here's a photo of the HH cabin on Joy. Similar layout to the HI and HJ, but the HH is a "family" room - so it has that extra curtain that can be pulled to separate out the room for a little privacy. Plus in addition to a pull out sofa, there is a murphy bed as well that some have said is a bit more comfy than a couch bed.

I just wound up booking this suite for a 9-day Alaska cruise in April 2025. 🐀 Do you remember how large the Murphy and pull out sofa are? I plan on bringing my 2 DDs along with us. 

[Sailing12Away]

3 hours ago, HBCcruiser said:

I just wound up booking this suite for a 9-day Alaska cruise in April 2025. 🐀 Do you remember how large the Murphy and pull out sofa are? I plan on bringing my 2 DDs along with us. 

The Murphy is they big brown wall to the right of the table. So if one took the Murphy and the other the sofa they would be very comfy. Plus, even though the room only has the one bathroom, you're right next to the general observation lounge bathrooms. So not ideal, but convenient for a quick tinkle if the room potty is occupied.