Haven Experiences

[graphicguy]

19 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

I think I need to re-adjust my expectation of "nice Haven fares." I do agree with you, but it pains me to see a Haven room, for a week at $2,499. And, that's bottom of the barrel right now. I know, I know...inflation. And it does make sense. I do miss those $1,800 - $2,100 fares I was finding a year or two ago. Alas, I do think those are going bye-bye. So, I suppose my internal fare catcher needs to re-calibrate to higher prices. 

I agree.  

 

As I've mentioned before, my Haven Threshold is $5k all in.  I've got a sizable discount burning a hole in my pocket.   I can get a ~$3K fare all in for a Haven cabin.  I can't even get a Balcony cabin on many of Royal's ships for that.  

 

I have not been to Bermuda since before COVID shutdown.  And, I really like the itinerary of going, using the ship as my hotel and meal home base while really exploring what I consider one of my top 3 prettiest island destinations I've ever visited.

 

Throwing fares against the wall to see what sticks.

 

I'm thinking those Joy Haven Fares from Quebec in September will be coming down as the sailing gets closer, too.

 

[beastlet]

3 hours ago, dexddd said:

For the Star in a DOS, yes.  Are you on 10 or 12?  They changed 10 to DOS so they could charge more vs 9 as both used to be OS.  12 got added around 2011 with two versions.  The outer ones have a wing to look over the side with a dining table.

 

That room also gets three bottles of booze, bottle of prosecco, unlimited in room water and soda.  No drinks delivered to room, for your convenience, of course.

 

12502. I usually love my balcony, but am not a fan of cold weather so thought the view would be nicer than a balcony on this cruise. I was tempted for a minute by the two bathrooms in the middle rooms, but they seemed cramped.

As a non-drinker the booze isn't appealing to me, but unlimited Diet Coke will make me happy.

"No drinks delivered to room, for your convenience, of course." 

Sarcasm, correct? Otherwise, not understanding.

[havoc315]

I had a recent call with the concierge. At the 130 day mark, got an email telling me to call the concierge for dining reservations, etc. 

 

I’ll say the pre-cruise concierge was very friendly and helpful. Connected immediately, did my dining reservations, and proactively inquired about anything else I need. What mixers did u want for my bar set up (Garden Villa), did I need extra pillows, etc. 

 

We’ll see if all the requests and notes actually get fulfilled once on board. But the call was A+ service. 

[beastlet]

13 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

I live in a nice apartment and sail steerage.  My life is simple and uncomplicated.  Works for me.  I offer that only as an alternative that those living the High Life might wish to one day consider if these Haven burdens become too much to bear.  I have it better than 99.9999% of the people on this planet and thank God for it every day.  That makes me happy.🙂

 

disclaimer: that four nines had nothing to do with IT reliability. 🤣🐀

You do your vacation, and we'll do ours, and respect each other's choices.

I never could go steerage, not out of any snobbery, but because I'm very introverted and my room is my escape where I'll sit and read on the balcony for a couple of hours, especially on sea days. I would go crazy in a tiny inside cabin, and not enjoy my trip. I always say that cruising steerage is a great value for someone who only uses their cabin to sleep and otherwise is just about enjoying everything the ship and ports have to offer. That is not me.

NGL and will say that I enjoyed the privileges of being in the Haven, although I could happily do a regular balcony as well. But if I enjoy the Haven and can afford it, why not?

[Greenpea2]

To answer the OP's original question--I believe your Great experience was typical. Maybe I have just been lucky, but I have been in the Haven on the Gem, Epic, Breakaway, Prima and Bliss. Each time I have loved it. Is everything always perfect? Of course not. But all the important things were wonderful and I felt extremely well taken care of and lucky. 

[ChiefMateJRK]

2 hours ago, beastlet said:

But if I enjoy the Haven and can afford it, why not?

I'm only responding because you asked a question.  The answer for many, many folks is that while they would enjoy the Haven (I really don't know who wouldn't) and could easily afford it, that's just not how they choose to use their financial assets.  You, and I'm sure most in threads like this, don't fall into that category.

[graphicguy]

On 3/29/2024 at 3:04 PM, Greenpea2 said:

To answer the OP's original question--I believe your Great experience was typical. Maybe I have just been lucky, but I have been in the Haven on the Gem, Epic, Breakaway, Prima and Bliss. Each time I have loved it. Is everything always perfect? Of course not. But all the important things were wonderful and I felt extremely well taken care of and lucky. 

I found the same.

 

I think your exeriences are the rule and not the exception.

[MadameCor]

On 3/29/2024 at 12:36 PM, beastlet said:

12502. I usually love my balcony, but am not a fan of cold weather so thought the view would be nicer than a balcony on this cruise. I was tempted for a minute by the two bathrooms in the middle rooms, but they seemed cramped.

I’m splurging and treated myself to 12502 for the same reasons you mentioned. I switched from an aft-facing balcony when I saw the DOS was significantly less expensive. I don’t know why, but I asked my TA to switch me before the price might have gone up again. 
 

I’m heading to Greenland, Iceland, Norway on Sept 1, and I hoped to have great views from those windows and some Northern Lights. Some older, pre-refurb photos I found online showed some of the windows looking a little cloudy or with condensate that wasn’t on the inside. Did you find most of the windows to be pretty clear? And I’m guessing they’re not 1-way glass, so I will have to be careful waking up looking into a ship docked in front of us 😁

Edited Monday at 07:54 PM by MadameCor
Clarification

[david_sobe]

Every sailing and every ship will yield different experiences.  We can be on the same sailing but have radically different experiences.  Haven experiences on different ships most likely will vary.  The best Haven experience I had was on Epic in 2010 during its first year.  We were constantly greeted by name from day one.  I sailed Epic 3 years later right as the Breakaway debuted and all the senior staff was removed and sent to Breakaway.  The Haven staff was completely different experience. Never greeted by name and the staff would write orders down on pad and paper.  Very new and inexperienced crew.  This is the story on every cruise line and every ship. Some butlers are proactive and will almost pester you while other butlers never come around unless you request them.  Every sailing and every ship is different.

[EngrJones]

9 hours ago, MadameCor said:

I will have to be careful waking up looking into a ship docked in front of us 😁

Why?

[AZSvensk]

1 hour ago, EngrJones said:

Why?

The first part of the sentence you quoted might answer your question. " And I’m guessing they’re not 1-way glass, so I will have to be careful waking up looking into a ship docked in front of us".. I am thinking maybe privacy.

Edited Tuesday at 07:02 AM by AZSvensk

[dexddd]

13 hours ago, david_sobe said:

Every sailing and every ship will yield different experiences.  We can be on the same sailing but have radically different experiences.  Haven experiences on different ships most likely will vary.  The best Haven experience I had was on Epic in 2010 during its first year.  We were constantly greeted by name from day one.  I sailed Epic 3 years later right as the Breakaway debuted and all the senior staff was removed and sent to Breakaway.  The Haven staff was completely different experience. Never greeted by name and the staff would write orders down on pad and paper.  Very new and inexperienced crew.  This is the story on every cruise line and every ship. Some butlers are proactive and will almost pester you while other butlers never come around unless you request them.  Every sailing and every ship is different.

We sailed BA when new and if that was their A Team the chain gang would have been better.  Luckily the top few are gone.

[dexddd]

14 hours ago, MadameCor said:

I’m splurging and treated myself to 12502 for the same reasons you mentioned. I switched from an aft-facing balcony when I saw the DOS was significantly less expensive. I don’t know why, but I asked my TA to switch me before the price might have gone up again. 
 

I’m heading to Greenland, Iceland, Norway on Sept 1, and I hoped to have great views from those windows and some Northern Lights. Some older, pre-refurb photos I found online showed some of the windows looking a little cloudy or with condensate that wasn’t on the inside. Did you find most of the windows to be pretty clear? And I’m guessing they’re not 1-way glass, so I will have to be careful waking up looking into a ship docked in front of us 😁

You must be sailing Dawn or Star.  If so, yes, the 12502 and 002 are great rooms despite no balcony.  Dining nook has alcove where you can see down side of ship.  Huge wall of windows.

 

Great curtains to block out all light.  There is a walkway though so crew might pass by doing work in front of the windows.

 

Bathroom is huge and nice but have to walk through the living room to get to.  Very quiet area and one deck up to public balcony.

 

When first out the frosted windows was a common complaint for many of the new rooms but have not seen any reports in years.  

[david_sobe]

56 minutes ago, dexddd said:

We sailed BA when new and if that was their A Team the chain gang would have been better.  Luckily the top few are gone.

Ha ha.  I am going by what was told to me.  The Haven staff was not even exclusive to the Haven and were pulling double duty in the specialty restaurants.   In 2010 every waiter or waitress never wrote any orders down.  In 2013 they all wrote down orders and still got them wrong.  It did not impact the cruise so much but I was shocked at the change.  This thread I think is typical because ALL cruise experiences vary ship to ship and cruise to cruise.  

One thing for sure if Adrian was your concierge things were going to be outstanding.  I read about him for years and had high expectations and he still managed to surpass my expectations.  I wish NCL could have cloned him for all concierge positions.  The more I cruise it seems the concierge is less and less engaged compared to years ago.

Edited Tuesday at 11:33 AM by david_sobe

[EngrJones]

9 hours ago, AZSvensk said:

The first part of the sentence you quoted might answer your question. " And I’m guessing they’re not 1-way glass, so I will have to be careful waking up looking into a ship docked in front of us".. I am thinking maybe privacy.

Yeah.  I got that.  I just didn't understand why somebody would have to be "careful" about that.

[MadameCor]

13 hours ago, dexddd said:

You must be sailing Dawn or Star.  If so, yes, the 12502 and 002 are great rooms despite no balcony.  Dining nook has alcove where you can see down side of ship.  Huge wall of windows

Yes, on Star for Sept 1 Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. I’m looking forward to wonderful views!

[MadameCor]

7 hours ago, EngrJones said:

Yeah.  I got that.  I just didn't understand why somebody would have to be "careful" about that.

I’m not trying to put on any shows by getting dressed near the windows 😁 There’s a crew balcony in front of them, and a view of the front deck and anytime another ship is docked in front of us. This stateroom is above the bridge, facing front. 

[Wayward Son]

23 minutes ago, MadameCor said:

I’m not trying to put on any shows by getting dressed near the windows 😁 

 

I do it all the time, just for fun. My wife is never impressed. I'm always telling her that if she keeps rolling her eyes like that they're going to get stuck.

 

[EngrJones]

Yeah.  It's a fact that nobody wants to see 99.9% of cruise passengers getting dressed.  That number may be low.....

[dexddd]

15 hours ago, MadameCor said:

Yes, on Star for Sept 1 Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. I’m looking forward to wonderful views!

You'll have a great time and room.  We had 12002 in Alaska and it was great.  Views will be outstanding.

 

That whole area deck 12 forward of pool was conference rooms and front observation lounge.  Got changed around 2011.  Mostly a big outcry for taking public space but the rooms are nice.

[dexddd]

14 hours ago, MadameCor said:

I’m not trying to put on any shows by getting dressed near the windows 😁 There’s a crew balcony in front of them, and a view of the front deck and anytime another ship is docked in front of us. This stateroom is above the bridge, facing front. 

Of the seven days we were on, we only had one crew pass by on the catwalk in front of the windows mid day.  Wasn't peeping, just went to other side and down ladder by alcove.  Sure he could have found other option though.

[beastlet]

15 hours ago, MadameCor said:

I’m not trying to put on any shows by getting dressed near the windows 😁 There’s a crew balcony in front of them, and a view of the front deck and anytime another ship is docked in front of us. This stateroom is above the bridge, facing front. 

I will be sleeping with the curtain closed so I'm not woken at the crack of dawn by light but otherwise am not being careful. If a crew member really wants to see my middle-aged, fat ass more power to them. 🤣