pkay1

@debenson0723 You may be right about the Joy. In addition to my comment above about using one dinner at Q, we also went to Food Republic and used a Platinum dinner that four of us shared. We only ordered 7 items, which was enough for us. No one had a problem with it. 

My DH and I just shared 1 specialty dinner in Q on the Joy. We asked the hostess if it was okay and she said it was not a problem. It was more than enough food for he and I. We did tip our waiter as if we both had ordered entrees. 

I've left out of LA many times and every time we have sailed in the Haven, we've walked up to the entrance tent, not the tent the initial line is winding in, and asked for the Haven. We were then shown to the Haven checkpoint in the entrance tent. There is a podium where they check your name off and then escort you to your own security screening.

• So you know what you're ordering, the premium drink package is what's included with the Free at Sea package. I think you are referring to the premium plus drink package. You can also upgrade to the Free at Sea Plus package, which includes the premium plus drink package, two additional specialty dinners, unlimited wifi, and the $50 discount for the second passenger in your room. My DH and I upgrade to the FAS Plus every trip because we like getting all of the benefits I listed above. We like to drink wine and we were not happy with the wines that were included in the premium package, especially the reds. We are pretty happy with the wines included in the Plus package, and we also enjoy getting Starbucks a couple times a day, we drink San Pellegrino and Aqua Panna with our meals, and better liquor in our mixed drinks. We also like getting bottles of water whenever we want on board. It's up to you if it's worth it to upgrade your drink package. For us, we factor it in to the total cost of our cruise and are okay paying more.

@puppyluv1 My DH and I cruise 3 or 4 times a year and decided a while back that we won't cruise without upgrading the drink package. We are a little picky about the wine we drink and we find that we're much happier with the upgraded wines than we were with the wines included with the regular package. We also like getting bottled water and Starbucks when we feel like it. Do we need those things? No, but since they're included in the Plus package, we're happy to make the most of our package.

@Sailing12Away My husband has ordered a pina colada in the Haven restaurant and asked them to make it with vanilla ice cream instead of ice. They have to run down to the bar to get the drink anyway, so they take the ice cream down to them, but he felt like he was being a little too much work! He did tip them nicely. And it was delicious!!

You will be able to walk in the gate at 1st st. It’s not a manned gate. 

When you walk up to the entrance tent, tell the people working there that you have a Haven room. I don't believe you need to stand in the line outside the tent. There is a line for Haven guests inside the tent that you will be directed to.

@wncretired You can make your reservations for your two platinum dinners, as long as you’re not reserving one of the fixed charge restaurants (Teppanyaki or Moderno). These two restaurants always need to be reserved first or second in order to not be charged out of pocket. The reservation system doesn’t know that you have platinum dinners to cover the cost. 

3 hours ago, phissy said:

DH and I are both Platinum. We are looking to book cruise with DD and SIL.

If I book one cabin in my name with daughter and book second cabin with DH and SIL, then each cabin would received Platinum vouchers for dinners,?   Wondering if this would work? Thx

My DH and I did this on our last cruise. You'll just need to get your keys changed at guest relations after you get on the ship. We were staying in the Haven and the concierge took care of it for us so it was quite easily done. Not sure how difficult it will be at guest relations. It was definitely worth it!

On 12/9/2023 at 5:09 PM, PandaBear62 said:

I sailed on the Escape this past summer in the Haven and will be on the Prima in March and the Encore in June. I'm looking at the Bliss for March 2025.

 

Is the Haven essentially the same on all of these ships? Or does it vary? If so, has anyone made any type of comparison chart (or is there a published one?) of the different ships and what the Haven is like or each one?

 

Thanks for any help.

 

@PandaBear62 I don't know of any chart comparing the Havens on the different ships, and they are different from ship to ship. My suggestion would be to watch videos on Youtube. There are some very good ones that give tours of the Haven facilities. I have stayed in the Haven on the Escape(my first cruise), Prima and the Bliss and all were different. The Bliss is probably my favorite because of the Haven observation lounge in the front of the ship. It's a really nice place to hang while cruising to Alaska.

4 hours ago, CDR Benson said:

 

Very pleased that you and your husband had such a wonderful Haven cruise.  Much of what you relate in your trip report echoes what the Good Mrs. Benson and I experienced.  That's why we'll be back on Norwegian Joy next November in the same Haven suite we enjoyed last year.  So, I completely understand your enthusiasm.

 

Welcome back!

 

 

 

(Appropos of nothing in your post, but I know some folks are wondering, the GMB and I returned from our Regent Seven Seas cruise this past Saturday.  I'm working on both my trip report, which I'll post on the Regent board, and a "Regent Vs. NCL Haven" comparison, à la Sthrngary's "Oceania Vs. NCL Haven", which I will post on this board.  I'm shooting for having them up this week-end.)

Looking forward to your thoughts on Regent as I just sailed on my first Regent cruise. I was on the inaugural cruise on the Grandeur out of Trieste. 

@kenzie Pommery Rose is pretty highly rated. It's not an inexpensive champagne, but it is a rosé, so different. I thought it tasted good, but very different from Veuve.

7 minutes ago, kenzie said:

Maybe they changed it since January as I was having Verve everywhere, I am on Escape and Epic (Haven) in February, will definitely upgrade in Haven but not sure on Escape, have NCL issued new information on what is available now? 

 

The current list is available on the website in the chart that shows what you get if you upgrade to premium plus. I cruised in May and September and Pommery Rose was the champagne poured on both of those trips. I sailed four times in 2022 and drank Veuve on those trips, so you're not wrong, just not up to date. 

2 minutes ago, kenzie said:

You can get verve by the glass on the premium plus anywhere they stock it at no extra cost, I do this every time I cruise.

This has not been the case for most of 2023. It is only available with plus in Le Bistro, which was stated above. The ships are now carrying Pommery Rose Champagne instead.

The premium plus package is usable at the Cellars Wine Bar. There are certain wines that will be included and you may drink them by the glass. You can have as many glasses as you wish though. With the plus package, you can purchase bottles of wine for 40% off of the posted price. This is on any bottles that are sold here or elsewhere on the ship.

We traveled with another couple and used two FAS for the four of us at Food Republic. And the husbands were big eaters. Our server had no problem with us only using two meals for the four of us. We were on the Bliss and Food Republic is open for lunch on sea days. We went two times on that trip. Really enjoyed it.

When I sailed on the Prima, there was no alternative lunch venue because the restaurant is large enough to accommodate all of the Haven passengers at once.

Anyone think there will be a bigger send off for the inaugural departure of the Grandeur in November? Every port we will be going to will be the first for the ship, so I would expect local dignitaries to be there for that also, wouldn't you? I haven't heard anything and I'm on that cruise! So excited!

I sailed on the Prima last year on December 3 and all of the decorations were put up over the first couple days of our cruise, including a huge gingerbread display the chefs created. That was the second week after Thanksgiving, so I don't know if they waited until December to decorate. Maybe others can chime in as to when their ships were decorated.

I give up! Not everyone you talk to at NCL has the correct answers. I guess you will see what is available to you when you get on the ship. Have a great cruise!

50 minutes ago, justacruiser1 said:

I called and they said that premium plus gets a 40% discount over anything $15. Guess i'll just end that here

That is correct for any bottles of alcohol, but it's not the case for shots of premium plus liquors. As @Liljo22 stated above, any of the whiskeys listed, if that's what you're interested in, with exception of the ones with an asterisk, will be included in the premium PLUS package. My DH and I always upgrade to Premium Plus, mostly for better wine, but we also upgrade our margaritas to Patron, which is $25 a shot. No extra charge for us. Starbucks is also included in the Plus package, as well as Aqua Panna and San Pelegrino in the restaurants. 

I just traveled on the Emerald Princess last month. I have not traveled on the Jade, but have sailed on the Jewel, a similar ship. I thought the Emerald's food was decent, somewhat bland, except for the pizza, which was delicious! I think the specialty restaurants are much better on Norwegian, and as far as the complimentary restaurants, I'd say the two cruise lines are about the same. The common areas on the Emerald were nice, but my stateroom really needed updating. The furniture in the room definitely needed to be replaced and the hairdryer was from another century. It barely worked. My kids are grown so I can't help with that. As far as the Jade being a party ship, probably not the case. The bigger ships with more bells and whistles tend to have a more robust crowd, but I'm not sure Norwegian is ever really known as a party cruise line.

@Chan50 I stayed in an aft balcony suite on the Dawn last summer. You are right about there not being a Haven on the Dawn, but you do get some Haven-like privileges with a suite, not a club balcony suite. We had a butler that brought us snacks daily and handled room service. We also had priority getting on and off the ship, if we chose to do so. Breakfast and lunch were in Moderno every day and it was up at the top of the ship, so a very nice place to eat. Only suite passengers were allowed to eat there. My parents were also on the cruise and they had a Deluxe Owner's Suite, so they had the same privileges I stated above, along with three bottles of spirits/wine in their room. They were in the front of the ship, had a front facing balcony and an enclosed balcony on the side of the ship. This was their first Norwegian cruise after sailing many times on Regent and they were pleasantly surprised how much they enjoyed everything about the Dawn and the cruise. We walked to them so we got a lot of steps in! The Dawn is a smaller ship. Doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles like the Breakaway and Prima class ships, but we were very happy with the ship! I'd definitely sail again on the Dawn!

3 hours ago, Mike Moore said:

This change is not going in effect until after Sunday, so you will still be doing you reservations at 8pm ET.

Thanks for letting me know! DH and I are celebrating our anniversary on our trip in November, so we really have our heart set on eating at one particular restaurant that night.