Epic Haven?

[ABiggerBoat]

Hi all. I’m sure this gets covered with some regularity but I went back a ways in the NCL posts and didn’t see it. So here goes. (First paragraph is the short version) We’ve done the “sort of” haven on the Pearl, and haven on Breakaway and Epic. We had a great experience on the Breakaway but were really disappointed on the Epic. Is this a ship-to ship thing or just the luck of the draw with the crew? 

The rooms were fabulous on all three cruises and the butlers in the haven specific ships were outstanding. On the Breakaway, the waitstaff seemed to care a lot more and the bartenders were amazing at both drink-making and conversation. They (especially Alexander who, sadly for us, had gone to Carnival for more $$) always had a bar full of cruisers having a great time. On the Epic, the bartender (at the main lounge) was very reserved. People rarely stayed to chat. The bars by the pool and in posh changed a lot and were very hit-or-miss. One practically threw a drink at me when I asked him to add more mixer (it was just grapefruit juice) and the 3 other cruisers that were sitting there had wide eyed unhappy reactions, too, so it wasn’t just me. 
 

On the breakaway, we happened to mention to our waiter that we wished scallops were on the dinner menu and he put together a seafood platter dinner for us with lobster, shrimp, and scallops for the next evening. It was so easy that we asked for the same meal on the Epic. After much discussion between employees that made me feel extremely uncomfortable for having asked, we were told that they would call us the next day to let us know. I didn’t even want it at this point, but my husband thanked them and we did receive an official ok the next day. I found out later that another woman in the haven asked for something off the lunch menu for dinner and was told it was impossible. This would bother me less if it hadn’t been so easy on the Breakaway where we didn’t really even ask for it but was suggested and put together by the staff. Or if the haven menu changed even slightly day-to-day. 
 

I never had an issue finding a lounge chair on the Breakaway haven sundeck but at Posh, I could never find one. They seemed to have lots of sitting chairs and few loungers. I actually laid on my blue cruise towel on the deck for a little while before going across deck 18 to find an open chair on the other side. So much for an upgraded experience. One of the days was overcast and the crew didn’t put out any of the cushions. While I was there, a couple women asked for them and they were given cushions but, again, I just went across 18 because the whole thing was awkward. 
 

One of the reasons we overpay for haven is because I have a real problem with crowds and it’s haven that has made cruising possible for me. That’s a great perk. We asked our butler if there was any way we could make an appointment with the cruise next desk so that we didn’t have to stand in the busy atrium. She told us that they did it on other ships but she would check on the Epic. Came back and told us we had a 3:00pm appointment to talk to cruise next. It was the time they opened after a port day. We were the second people at the desk. When the two cruise next employees came out of their office, one started helping the first woman who had been waiting and the second employee started helping the family that obviously stepped in front of me. No one asked if we had the appointment or even said anything about the obvious “cut” in line except the cruiser who was there first. She said “that couple was here before this family you’re talking to and I know you saw them get pushed out of the way!” and everyone just stared at her. I told her thank you but that I was no longer interested in staying. My husband was angry with events but that is exactly the crowd behavior that freaks me out and I didn’t want to be there anymore.

 

Now I don’t know how to feel about the haven. There’s a lot of good things but if it’s going to be more like the Epic than the Breakaway in the future then I’m pretty sure I’m done cruising because it just wasn’t worth the price. The Breakaway was. 
 

I know this is really long but I wanted to give examples that showed the differences so that, if anyone is still reading, you might be able to answer as to the general treatment. I know they may seem like small differences but they were all about feeling comfortable versus feeling like we were in the way. Thanks to anyone who’s still here. 

 

[Sailing12Away]

It depends on so many factors, which is why you can ask 2 people who were on the same exact sailing what they thought and still get 2 completely different opinions on the trip.

 

Our first Haven experience was on the Jade (similar to your Pearl) in a deluxe owners suite. We were very unimpressed and confused by all the folks raving about "once you go Haven you never go back". Bad butler, not a "real" Haven ship, lack of knowledge on our part about what is/isn't normal, best way to escalate things when they go astray....

 

Learned a lot from the folks in here to know that our experience was the exception and not the norm, and then our 2nd Haven trip was on the Epic. So similar to yourself with experiences. Got a 2br Haven room at a steal of a price and moved from our club balcony into the Haven and we saw what we were missing on the Jade. We had an amazing bartender Erwin who made the trip for us. Custom cocktails each night, motley crew of new cruise friends gathering around the bar each night (Kansas City!), magic shows, napkin roses.... it was divine. 

 

Fast forward a few years and we'll be taking our 9th Haven trip in <20 days - also on the Epic. We're not in the camp of Haven or Bust, but when the price is where we're comfortable spending we will book it. Jewel class ships would have to really be free as I think we're done with those unless it's the 3br villa - otherwise it's a better value to us to do a non-Haven suite on those ships. Epic we have no problem with, it's quirky but you can get great prices which make it easier to overlook some of the flaws. Prima for us was probably a one and done, again, unless the price was an egregiously good deal which will be a few years for Prima/Viva/Aqua.

 

Before you swear off Haven completely, look into one of the Breakaway Plus class of ships. Joy is our favorite, Encore, Bliss..... those offer a great Haven experience. I think you would enjoy the large forward facing observation lounges. There's one for everyone on deck 15, and another one just for Haven guests on deck 17 just past the Haven pool and courtyard. Large open quiet space to relax, read, play a game. They have snacks set up in there throughout the day, self serve fancy coffee machine, and wait staff to come and take drink orders or small lunch snacks as well.

 

Epic also underwent a dry dock rehaul during Covid. Trying to find some of our older photos because the recent ones I've seen of the pool area look completely different. The pool area looks to be completely outdoors now, when we remember it having a covered glass room. So not sure if we're just remembering it wrong, or if that was part of the changes. So no need to sit by Posh when you have a huge pool deck with sun just for Haven guests.

[jkbec101]

We stayed in the Haven on the Epic and it was great.  My wife got injured on an excursion and the concierge reworked our excursions, cancelled one for my wife (too much walking on a sprained ankle) and at the restaurant they helped prop her foot up and took great care of her. 

 

We loved Posh and the bartenders there and never had an issue.  The bar in the Haven lounge was one spot we wish we spent more time at and we regret it.  We discovered on the last night, that this was where the party was all week. 

 

Back to the Haven restaurant.  The service was hit and miss.  Some times, they were johnny on the spot and at other times, they acted like they could care less we were there.  It was frustrating. 

 

We were on the Epic in September 2022 for a Mediterranean cruise.  The pool was open and did not close.

[BirdTravels]

Experiences are different. We found the Haven on the Epic to be the best in the entire fleet. Close second are those on the Prima and Viva.

 

For us, the sundeck on the Breakaway was far too small along with the Haven Restaurant that had limited seating and was always overflowing onto the pool deck. I, personally, don't want to be smelling chlorine while eating dinner or having kids splashing around near me while I dine. 

Edited February 7 by BirdTravels

[david_sobe]

Service on ships vary.  The service in the Haven would not keep me from booking it though.  First time on Epic we had the best service I have ever experienced on any ship.  Every person in the Haven greeted us by name after the first day.  The next time on Epic in the Haven, the crew was much newer and the service was not the same.  The Breakaway had just debuted and they took all the senior staff from Epic and put them on Breakaway.   I sailed Getaway (almost identical to Breakaway) and I would never be interested in the Haven on that class of ship again.  The Haven was an afterthought with every Haven area almost half the size from Epic.  Service can change on ships.  However they cannot change the size or the venues on ships. I think Epic and Encore have the best Haven at sea.   I have not been on Prima class yet.

[mafig]

I've always heard that the Epic's Haven was the nicest.  Now I don't know.🙄

I looked at prices (not recently) and they were the same if not higher than the Breakaway class, plus I'm not too crazy about going out of Pt. C. and Epic is older.  Some reviews I've read say she looks her age, although, of course, I get replies of "oh no, all Norwegian ships are in tip top condition."  

[mexicobob]

Maybe you should consider a" luxury" cruise line. We last sailed on Oceania. Highly recommend. Cheaper than Haven and much better food and service. Small ships,