Monica887

Day 1 Daily

Just now, Sand and Seas said:

Thanks for sharing!  Love your photos. I miss that Banana Banoffee.  They had mini's of that dessert in the Haven's Horizon lounge on the Bliss.

 

Have you tried the roasted tomato over spagetti squash at lunch yet?  I'm not a vegetarian, but I loved that dish on the Haven lunch menu on Bliss & Getaway 😋

I haven't yet but I will! A mini banoffee would be perfect - this was huge, especially for lunch time. 

Just now, Molokai-Chuck said:

Great Job keeping us informed through your words and Photos! Any chance you might be

able to do the Freestyle daily's scanned in?

 

Thanks for your work!

 

Chuck

Here's today, day 3! Can't bring up other days on the app, and I'll check to see if I have the paper ones still. free-style-daily.pdf

ln this post, I will give my definitive answer to the age old question, "IS THE SPA PASS WORTH IT IF I'M IN HAVEN?"

In the spa, we tried everything! I didn't get pics of everything since after lunch time it did get more crowded and I couldn't take a million pics. Not too crowded though, at all. I do wonder how packed it is on a sea day. 

There's a sauna, a sanarium (like the sauna but not as dry), steam room, snow room, salt room, and the therapy pool with hot tub. We alternated between each of the hot rooms and the snow room, before ending in the salt room. I sweated, I froze, a good time was had by all. 

All clean and relaxing, often having space to ourselves, and occasionally encountering some friendly folks. 

***So, would I get the weekly spa pass next time? If I wasn't in Haven, 100% without a doubt. It's peaceful and relaxing, and an oasis of calm on a ship full of people. I thoroughly enjoyed it. But if I had the Haven pool area, it provides a lot of the same luxuries - a more comfortable space to lounge, an un-crowded hot tub, and peace and quiet away from crowds. I don't think you need both. But as they say, your milage may vary. ***

We got back to the room and snacks were waiting, of course. We did put in some specific requests, which they met. She wanted pb&j, I wanted veggies and dip. 

I also discovered that the little espresso cups in the room are the perfect vessel for the mini M&Ms that they keep well stocked for us! 

Until tonight....

After returning from the port, we relaxed in the spa with our day passes for a little while. It was very quiet with only a handful of people and we had a whole side section to ourselves. The padded loungers are fantastic. The hard heated ones are nice for a while, but too hard for me for a longer period of time. There are towels and robes, oranges, infused and regular water, and tea. 

We had lunch in the Haven, and I missed a few pictures, but she had the couscous salad with shrimp and the angel hair with shrimp. 

I had the mushroom flatbread and a Cobb salad minus the meat. 

She had the banoffee and I had the pavlova. I was obsessed with the pavlova and could eat that every day!

Next spa post in a minute...it's easier for picture posting to separate them!

I'll do a few separate posts for today.

Coffee in the room, breakfast in the Haven. No exciting pics, because I forgot, but my beautiful life-giving iced coffee was there for me. I had eggs Benedict with tomato instead of Canadian bacon. Aunt had the pancakes. Both good choices. 

Pulled into Roatan early, with no plan at all, but after yesterday's laziness figured we should walk a bit. It didn't appear that there was much beyond the port stores, but I didn't look into it that much. We browsed the shops. It was too early in the morning but otherwise we would have gotten some nachos and frozen drinks or something. Bought some color changing nail polish for my 9 year old at home. 

Getting off the ship was a breeze, meeting in the Haven lounge and being brought down the service elevator elevator. And when we got back on, asked if there was a Haven entrance, and they had someone escort us up the elevator. Since I'm clearly turning into a Haven-snob, I will say that I do hope that newer ships will have a dedicated elevator and not just the service one!

Super fun night! We eventually ventured out of the Haven for Choir of Man. For the record, I wasn't going to drink tonight because my stomach wasn't feeling great from yesterday's eating and drinking. But first....

DINNER AT THE HAVEN 

I was a little worried because the menu doesn't change and I hate asking for major accommodations. But they are so accommodating and offer suggestions and ways to help. Tonight I ordered from the menu but will work with them next time to try other things. Tonight was the raviolo. And a full salad size portion of the kale side salad. Both delicious! Aunt had trout. 

Had the OMG Butterscotch Cheesecake which was good but not OMG. 

We had an open bottle of wine being held for us at Bayamo from last night, but instead of getting us that one they opened a whole new bottle. And poured me a very large glass. And I didn't want it to go to waste, so drinking happened.

CHOIR OF MAN

For the 9:30 show, Haven guests are asked to gather in the Haven lounge at 8:45. They bring us down a service elevator into the empty theatre to sit wherever we like. I had a nice aisle seat in the second row. The show is just a music medley that takes place in a pub with all the regulars of the pub. They invite audience members up on stage to get a beer before the show. So more drinking happened. Then Aunt goes ahead and tells the cast it's my birthday (still not yet, but I guess it's all week now!) and yada yada yada the show starts and I get dragged up on stage and have to dance with some super cute cast member half my age. And I don't dance. And now I'm dead of embarrassment. And I sit at the on-stage bar for the rest of the scene while they give me another beer. 

Which leads me to tipsy typing in bed to all of you. Because better here than on my actual socials. 

Tomorrow: Roatan, day passes at the spa, and Cagney's

Just now, goldmom said:

OMG, that fruit plate is gorgeous.  Did you request it?  

Loving your lazy day.  That's my plan too in a few weeks.

Be lazy and enjoy!

Nope, that's just what was sent! Same with the sandwiches. The pastries were sent by an officer my Aunt remembered and greeted from a past cruise. And the chocolates from the casino. 

Went back to the room for some balcony time and have alllll the snacks. We're going to actually have to ask them to slow down on the snacks. Too much of it goes to waste, but it IS fun to see each day. And I just accidentally took a bite of turkey thinking it was cheese, since I talked to him about cheese yesterday when reviewing my vegetarian preferences and sandwiches. Sigh. 

On the plus side, the bathroom does smell better, though strongly of a cleaning product, so hopefully that actually cleaned it and didn't just cover it up!!

3pm. I have been doing massive amounts of nothing. This has been my view all day. 

Started the day with the coffee delivery followed by that magical life changing iced coffee at breakfast. Breakfast was also fruit, an almond croissant, and avocado toast. The avocado toast was delicious and had a ton of avocado. Fruit was fresh. The almond croissant was tasty, but a little crunchier than a croissant should be - not what I was expecting. Didn't get more pictures because I was too excited about the coffee. 

After breakfast some quiet time on the balcony watching the flying fish jump across the bluest water. 

And then to the pool where we have been ever since. It's just after 3:00 now and I only have about 2000 steps. That's what happens when your room is about 40 steps from your pool chair. 

The pool is fantastic. There are a dozen or so kids. A little louder than I would like, but well behaved and having fun. There are pastries and candy by the pool, and infused water and iced tea. I do wish there was regular water (after a while I've had enough cucumber). And an ice machine would be nice, since only the water comes out of the cooler. I've also been eating so heavily that I would like some fruit, so that I'm not tempted to just eat M and M's if I'm feeling snacky. The chairs are comfy, the hot tub is warm, there are loungers in the pool with nice cool water, and the space itself is climate controlled and perfect. All the adults are friendly and well behaved. 

There's a light lunch menu just for the pool. 

I had a falafel wrap and she had the burger. Falafel was good, not dry, but more veggies than falafel. Which is fine since I needed something light! 

Oh, also, yesterday the spa representative who came to Haven said I couldn't make a day pass reservation in advance. But the concierge was able to make it happen, and so tomorrow's lazy day will mostly be spent at the spa rather than the pool! 

Roatan. Are there different areas? NCL if that helps. 

What kind of shopping etc is accessible from the port? I don't want to get off the ship for long here, but just want to browse and walk. 

Just now, thesh0rty said:

@Monica887, May I ask your cabin number? We’re on the Escape soon and our friends will be in a courtyard penthouse. Just wanted to know if they’ll have to deal with the smell so we can prepare. Thank you!

I'll share once we're off the ship! It's an HF on 17.

You guys! This deserves its own post! 

I'm an iced coffee drinker. I'll drink regular if I must. But usually the only way to get iced on a ship (without a drink package) is by sticking some in the fridge for tomorrow. 

But just now in the Haven restaurant I asked for iced coffee and they said they didn't have any. But then I asked if they had any cold coffee and he said "let me see what I can do". And then this appeared. And I'm so happy I could cry. 

Just now, disneylover89 said:

When we were on the Escape last month, my bathroom had a horrible urine smell.  The room attendant tried everything to make it go away but nothing helped.  I finally started to leave a towel completely over the vent behind the toilet bowl and it helped immensely. Try it. 

Yes! I learned that trick here and have used it in the past. And in fact when they came in to look at it he said "the drain must be thirsty" - ha! But this is not that smell and feeding it did not help. 

I'll add tidbits as I think of them...

MAGNETIC WALLS

One oddity of the room is that the walls aren't magnetic! It's fine since it's just the two of us. But when I'm with my kids I DEFINITELY need the hooks for extra storage. I also usually use magnets to keeps dailies and schedules on the wall to avoid surface clutter.

HAVEN CHECK IN

And when my aunt got to the port around 2, the lines were much longer. And only 1-2 stations open, even for Haven. She was disappointed that she didn't get to experience the port lounge, so if that's of interest to you, get there early! 

MORE FROM YESTERDAY 

Oh, and last night before dinner, a birthday cake appeared for me in the room! (A few days early). SO much food is being delivered to the room!! 

CURRENT THOUGHTS

Just woke up. Coffee delivered to the room (I forgot to ask for the famous almond croissants!!!).

Weather is beautiful. Haven is magical, and we love Escape. But it's like when you stay in a nice hotel in a city and then step outside into the city itself and there's a totally different vibe between the two. (And I'm a city girl at heart, so I truly love the energy of both!). 

Back to drinking my coffee...

1 hour ago, LouChamp said:

Aloha. Thank you for sharing your vacation and as I always post…the food pictures!

I had to tell me Aunt I was going to be "that person" taking food pics. So if they're not great, it's because I'm trying to be quick about it and not keep adjusting the plate! 

8 hours ago, Shidah said:

Thanks for taking the time to do this!  Are you on the 17th or 18th floor of the courtyard?  We go in a few weeks and now worried about mildew smells.  Should I pack room spray?

17. I love the location!! Idk if room spray would help. We left the bathroom door open to hope to air it out, but all that did was make the bedroom smell. With the bathroom door closed the bedroom is fine. 

Just a quick update -

Luggage arrived by 3. 

We hit the American Diner for lunch, since we know we'll mostly be at Haven for lunch and it was included today. 

Lobster rolls for my Aunt, mozz sticks to share, and a veggie burger for me. The burger took a while (cruise ship veggie burgers usually do) and was pretty good. 

When we went back to the room, in addition to the original snacks (regular mini M and Ms, peanut M and Ms, pistachios, and fresh fruit) there were canapes (they were pretty but not so great). We hit the Haven bar for a drink, and I let them pick something for me, and I got something with house made apple cinnamon rum that was delicious. 

Explored the Haven a bit. Stopped by the restaurant and met the team to talk about vegetarian requests. They were very helpful and said I can just let them know at breakfast what I want for the day. 

Spoke to the spa representative who was in the Haven to try to get day passes for a port day. She said you can't buy them in advance - only day of, and to come back that morning. 

The room is lovely but not much bigger than a regular balcony room (we are HF). The bathroom smells like mildew and they tried to clean it but I'm not sure there's anything they can do. Tons of storage. Plenty of drawers and cabinets for 2 people. One of feature is that there's only an outlet on one side of the king sized bed. I'm sleeping on the pull out chair and not sure that's going to go well. I'm so exhausted that for tonight it will do. 

Bayamo for dinner. Tuna app and entree for her. Beet salad and cauliflower steak for me. The beet salad could have used more flavor. The cauliflower was filled with flavor, a bit of curry and very peppery. I enjoyed it but it was too spicy for her. Sorbet and cheesecake in a jar for dessert. I ordered the cheesecake based on recommendations here and it was delicious! And I often don't care for their desserts, but this has a nice balance of flavors, and wasn't slimy for a pudding texture. 

A beautiful sunset (obviously pictures don't do it justice!) And lost money in the casino. Looking forward to doing a lot of nothing tomorrow! Haven for dinner, then Choir of Man (which I somehow have never seen before...)

2 hours ago, kruiserkatie said:

Enjoy! We love the Escape Haven! Who is your concierge?

Dilip. I've been on Escape before but not Haven. I'm already hooked forever!!

Posting again just to test the ships wifi!

Was on the ship by 11:30. 12:30 now and room should be ready soon. 

We did receive a card holder. They took Haveners from the port lounge in small groups according to muster station. We walked through the theatre to scan cards but didn't have to stop, and were taken up and elevator and met the concierge who gave out forms to reserve comedy shows and dinner theatre. 

Light snacks by the pool. Waiting for my Aunt who is still on a shuttle from the airport so we can eat for real! 

And the adventure begins! I woke up 5 minutes before my 2:45 am alarm, while I'm the middle of a dream about a big floating suitcase. The Uber came 15 minutes early. I caffeinated with bad coffee at the airport. We landed almost 30 minutes early, a little after 7:30. By 8:00 I had my luggage. 

I thought the first shuttle was at 10:30, but it was 9:30. Yay! On the Haven security line and check in there was only one group in front of me. So now, at 10:30 I am firmly planted in a comfy chair in the Haven port lounge, and re-caffeinating. Life is good. 

So I actually got myself an Internet package, I should I a Live, I guess? Will internet work well enough? If I disappear, wifi isn't working. Or I'm too busy drinking mojitos. 

WHO AM I?

Just a middle aged mom, leaving her husband and kids at home, and escaping with my Aunt, who I frequently travel with. This will be my 8 th(?) NCL cruise in addition to 9(?) other cruises. I don't drink enough to justify a drink package. And I'm a vegetarian, which usually isn't a big problem. I have found previous posts from vegetarians helpful so I figured I'd return the favor.

WHY AM I GOING? 

I'm tired. I need a break. Last summer was a trainwreck of a summer, and I'm trying to make up for it after an intense year of family stress, which seems to finally be in a good place. On my Alaskan cruise last summer, we never got our luggage (and that trip was with the kids). On our Christmas week cruise this year, I got Covid pretty bad and was stuck in bed while they had all the fun. I work on a school schedule and am making the most of this summer!

WHY THIS CRUISE?

We wanted to try out the Haven, and a ship with a Haven proper. The itinerary doesn't matter to us at all, as we've done these ports many times before (Roatan, Harvest Caye, Costa Maya, Cozumel), and just wanted to enjoy relaxing. So we picked a ship with a good Haven that worked for our schedules. I can't promise too much excitement in my live - I anticipate spending a lot of time by the pool being anti social and listening to podcasts. But I'll share what I can and you can live vicariously through my total relaxation. 

I'M PACKED!

I'm living dangerously and booked the flight through NCL, which means I have a 3am Uber and arriving day-of. After last year's luggage fiasco, I now have a Tile tucked away in my big suitcase, and a packing cube for my carry on with one sundress that can work for day or night, a bathing suit, and 2 pairs of underwear. Some day I'm actually going to pack that way and it's going to be glorious.

We have reservations at Bayamo, Cagney's, Moderno, and Bistro, if anyone has vegetarian recommendations or tips! 

It's definitely not the place to assume you're getting good stuff. I once bought a name brand watch which died within weeks. I was able to bring it into the brand's store on land and they replaced it for free. 

8 minutes ago, stellarose33 said:

so you can only do spa passes for port days? not sea days?

I believe that's just when they are more likely to be available. Yes can buy the week long pass, but if you want to do a single day, it may or may not be offered at all, depending on availability.