soxfan2013

The Pearl does not have a Haven Restaurant. There is a suite specific breakfast and lunch served in Modernos, but no special suite dinner option. There is a small Haven area on deck 14 that serves the "haven" suites (not all suites on the Pearl are haven- only those starting with H). The small area has a small pool, tables/chairs, loungers, and a hot tub. It also has a private sundeck above. There is a butler for this area who can arrange breakfast lunch or dinner to be served there, but the dinner will be from either the main dining room, or one of the specialty dining rooms (you DO pay the charge in that case, or use one of your SDP nights.)

There's no Haven private lounge w free drinks?

I thought the Pearl had a Haven restaurant. Now I don't see it on the deck plans. In fact, I do not even see a separate Haven pool sitting/area or separate private lounge?

Doesn't the Pearl have a Haven restaurant?

Doesn't unlimited drinks and unlimited wifi and unlimited specialty restaurants come with the Haven suites as an integrated/automatic benefit?

Can Haven guests have visitors to the Haven pool area and dining room? I presume people in suites can have guests served meals with them in their suite dining room?

How much "better" is the Haven restaurant than the best gourmet premium restuarant on the ship?

Been on the Star, Sky, Pride of America, Getaway and going on my 3rd Escape cruise in April. She is hands down my favorite. Great ship!

Thanks. Why? And how abt compared to the Gem or Pearl?

I'm considering a Deluxe Owners Suite on the Pearl or Gem, but am concerned these might be a bit dated?

Which ships are the best on NCL? Newest, most premium options, best Haven area/Haven Suites, best restaurants, etc.?

Also, best water slides or rock climbing, etc for kids?

Also, which are the worst?

I thought access to Michaels Club and Lumial Suites and Luminae was a benefit of Royal Suites and above? Or, is the distinctive Celebrity Suites and above? Are there any differences in benefits between Celebrity Suites and Royal Suites?

Gastrointestinal vs beer is a downgrade.

Premium wines by the glass is a nice touch.

What time is first off the boat? I am worried abt 9:45am Maimi departure.

Really makes it a no brainer. Thanks! I was on NCL once, under the cafeteria, and it was awful from abt 4-6am. Unbelievable that they would sell those rooms or not adopt a soundless stair moving and cleaning system.

Choice is just between those two. I think most meaningful is tgo avoid the deck chairs scraping/moving, although I was once below the bar/pool area and it wasn't a factor.

Thanks. I was there w Michael's Club but before Lumiere opened. Curious abt how Lumiere compares to the French restaurant, which is the only other restaurant we thought was particularly good. We didn't like the steak house Grill on the top level -- I think the cuts are too thin and I don't think they have a premium dry-aged steak.

We did like and make good use of Wine Masters and participated in a high end wine tasting which was terrific. I think that may be gone. There was also a high end cosmo-fusion bar which we liked (not the bar, but the creative and elaborate drinks).

Naturally, I would presume the entertainment has changed, for better or worse. I don't know whether the Equinox has been refurbished, so I presume the decor is the same.

BTW, our luggage took a long time to wind our way to our room. Isn't it supposed to be prioritized/expedited?

Also, how do people feel about making a 9:45am flight home out of Miami in coach w no status?

My last cruise was no the Reflection in 2015. Now, we're considering a cruise on the Equinox, both in a Royal Suite. What's new/different besides Luminae?

I think you make an important point. 1607 on Deck 11 looks like it is under the pool deck, so there could be sliding chairs above. 1118 on Deck 10, is under a Penthouse suite on Deck 11, so likely to be quieter, but it does open into the hallway with the elevators vs tucked down the hall.

Does anyone have a preference/recommendation for Royal Suite 1607 on Deck 11 vs. Royal Suite 1118 on Deck 10?

What do you do when your server tells you that you cannot have 2 orders of escargot? Is it written somewhere on the NCL website? Thanks!

Never was an issue at any restaurant. We always ordered multiple apps, sales, soups, sides, deserts all 7 nights, depending on what we wanted. Never once questioned.

Anyone know if this is available on the Dawn? The website indicates only certain ships so was wondering if maybe they have now included the Dawn.

Yes.

I know the difference between champagne and sparkling wine and frankly prefer Shramsberg, which they also have, to some lesser champagnes. Perhaps this was a one off case or perhaps this is a new policy. I don't know. The Butler thought he would be able to switch to Moet but it's not his call and he was denied and came back with the printed upgrade list. I didn't care that much. I actually took home my bottle of Cava because I live so close and had room in my suitcase and will use it for mimosas one day (maybe).

Did you care about that? If yes, did you asked about it? If you asked, what did they say?

 

I should not accept it. If it's changed not much to do but since their website still say that it shall be Champagne can they really say no if someone asks for real Champagne?

It wasn't really negotiable. The Butler originally thought he would be able to exchange the Cava for Moet and then came back with the printed upgrade sheet. I was more focused on the scotch and told him he could take all three bottles of booze and the Cava for two bottles of MaCallan. Ultimately, two days later, I got my two bottles for $33 and they left the Cava. I didn't push it at that point.

Are you saying that you got Cava Pere Venturea Tresor Reserve in the DOS and they wanted $40 extra for Champagne?

 

I just checked ncl.eu and it still says that the DOS shall get Champagne, not Cava.

Yes. Exactly.

Did anyone pre-purchase the photo package? was it worth it? do they discount photos later in the week if you wait?

We bought a package of 50 photos for something like $349 (I forget the exact price, but this is close). We got the hard copies and a thumb drive with the digital pics. On the last day of the cruise, from 5-8pm in the main lobby, they set up a white floor and backdrop and have free form unlimited family (or individual) portrait sessions...just line up and take your time, tends to be about 5-15 mins per family...they have some props, like a bench, and a jumbo frame, some funny hats, and a big teddy bear...all of which made for an invaluable take home package of photos. We only got a few others from previous days on the ship. The portrait pics were available by 9pm after the illusionist show.

They did not discount or change the picture package prices during the cruise.

We were in the DOS on the Gem and the champagne was Moet & Chandon Vintage Brute, $40 a bottle on line. When we received our "request" list for the 3 bottles of liquor, we didn't like the scotch listed and asked for a bottle of Chivas. That was waiting for us when we got to the cabin. My husband didn't like the Vodka and that was changed also. No added fee.

What I reported was the experience from the Dawn in a DOS last week. Given the vagueries of ppls experiences, I was surprised to see a print out for each of the UG options with the various categories I referenced.

Painfully slow. Painfully frustrating, even with two accounts.

It seems to vary on the Dawn whether they put the sign up "limiting" the suite seating to just the Grand Villa and Owners suites -- probably a function of how many people are traveling in them. Usually it was wide open with a staff member standing "guard".

 

We've always stayed in an SJ and been invited in when we've asked (if the sign was up and it wasn't anywhere close to full -- sometimes the concierge/assistant recognized us and waved us in, sometimes we had to show our key to an unfamiliar face). That said, the view is better from the regular seats. If it's a solo performer standing center stage it probably doesn't matter much, but if anything will be going on on the left side of the stage that you want to see without craning your neck and body sideways, you're better off in the regular seating. You can check it out and leave without offending anybody.

The advantage of the reserved front row balcony seats is that you can arrive late and generally get a seat...not that they are better than orchestra seats...it's just that to get a good orchestra seat, you have to arrive early and hang around, not that there's really a bad seat...but the come and go as you choose ability (can be limited depending on demand) was a nice advantage for us.