roddy good boy

We will be there first week of Sept. I’m 65 and my husband is 64. I’m not in the best shape, but my husband swims several times a week and walks the dog 4 times a day. I have an excursion booked that will take us up, but would have to either walk down or take the cable car. I’m really considering staying on the ship! 😬

I’ve relayed this story before, but I completely understand how GrouchoMarx feels! We were on the Bliss in a Haven aft suite, Fall of 2018. Reports showed a hurricane building in the region ( Mexican Riviera cruise). NCL kept assuring us that they could move around the hurricane, right up to the point of departure. As soon as we pulled away from the port, they announce we would be going to San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada! A lot of folks on board were from San Francisco and San Diego. We spent a year planning excursions and had paid quite a bit for the aft suite. It was too cold to use it the entire trip. I would rather not have gone or just stayed in L.A. ! It was the deception that annoyed me, more than anything! And, of course, we got no compensation. I don’t even recall port fees being refunded.

Yeah, we’re doing NCL’s Greece/Turkey itinerary this fall, but I won’t book another European cruise with them until this issue is resolved. I may book something out of New Orleans (just because we haven’t been there since the week before Katrina). Also, we have a 1k FCC that we need to use. I’ll stick to land trips to Europe for now.

I first sailed in the Haven in 2013. I understand unlimited specialty dining for haven passengers ended shortly thereafter. Others here may know of the exact year.

I just poised this same question a few weeks back and got similar responses! It was a nice perk and it relieved the Haven restaurant on embarkation day. Back then, my entire family took advantage of going to both Margaritaville, and then later Food Republic. But then, I also remember when Haven passengers didn’t pay gratuities on free at sea, and could eat unlimited meals with the specialty meal package! Long gone…

That Haven spa suite on the Epic was a heck of a deal! Was that shortly before sailing?

Happy wife…happy life! I’m all for peace in the household! It’s taken us 38 years to get there! 😁

OMG! I can relate to the dog issue! We have a shih tzu mix breed with anxiety issues! We use Rover.com and found a lovely lady (retired nurse) who loves dogs and keeps him for our long vaca’s.

I’m beginning to think that strategy is best for Caribbean cruises, where the Haven sells out. It may not be the case for European cruises. The Haven on my fall 2024 med cruise has gone down in price (approx $1,500) from last year this time. It dropped immediately after final payment, and there are quite a few Haven cabins left. I may re-think my strategy and book after final payment for port intensive, European routes. Of course, the problem is that I book my own air fare, and have to do it a year out to get optimum pricing. I’ll be out of luck if my strategy doesn’t pan out and the cruise sells out! 🤣

I actually agree with you. I know it’s a touchy subject, but I don’t want to hear music from adjacent balcony’s when I’m on my balcony. I like to Sun, nap or read during the afternoon. I’ve had some challenging situations over the years. More than a few times, I’ve had to go back inside my cabin and/or go to the spa to relax. I’m 65 years old! I can somewhat remember how it was to party hardy 😁, but I don’t want to listen to rap, or Taylor Swift while I’m trying to relax. Nothing against either, but not my choice. I don’t want to hear you blasting music on your balcony in the evening hours either, but that would be more tolerable than the afternoons. For me, it’s up there with cigar smoking on the balcony! Thank God they permanently put an end to that!

I have liked all of our butlers (some more than others), but all were perfectly fine. We have very few requests. When the kids sailed with us they just wanted endless bowls of potato chips! Now that it’s just the two of us, we like to order room service for breakfast on port days with early excursions. One butler told us he had a few ‘owners’ cabins with demanding passengers and he would get our breakfast to us ‘when he could.’ 😬 He said it would be best if we just went to the restaurant to get our own breakfast. We were a bit taken aback by that, but continued to fill out our breakfast requests and it always arrived in time, fresh and hot! I still tipped him well. 🤷🏻‍♀️

They are advertising a 24 piece towel set for $19.99! And, first time purchasers get an additional 15% off. I’ve never seen a deal quite like that.🤷🏻‍♀️

My guess it’s mostly cost cutting. Those flowers would only last the week. They can just leave those same succulents indefinitely.

This Sept. will be our first post-Covid Haven cruise. I probably wouldn’t have even noticed the absence of the floral arrangement! But, now that I’ve read this thread, I’ll lament its loss! 😁

I received the same email last month and then again this month. Another poster on CC said that we will get this email instead of the old package they used to send out. Allegedly, the only mailing we’ll get is the luggage tags.

You know, it’s like you’re saying, “I’ve got my mind made up; please don’t confuse me with the facts.”🤣 But, I said I was moving on from this topic, and I need to stick with that.

Sigh. The up charge was on the menu. It has since been removed. Now, I’m finished with this. I have life to live and cruises to plan!

Clearly not the case. Many believe NCL monitors these boards.

It’s called cruise critic for a reason. Cruisers have the right to disagree with other posters and express concerns. I find it sad that some spend way too much energy attacking anyone who raises an issue. And, why is the solution, love it or leave it?

Or, you can express your concern and effect change! So, for those who raised the alarm about the up charge on extra lobster tails…I thank you!

This debate could continue indefinitely, but the bottom line is that we are often paying 3x’s the price of a standard balcony. The Haven was originally promoted as a ‘have it your way’ experience. I won’t go into all the things that were originally included that are no longer offered. However, at a minimum, we should have the option to substitute or supplement items on the menu (within reason). Yes, and that includes your cookies. It’s the little things that matter and add to the luxury experience. If not, why are we paying thousands of dollars more?

Why don’t we just start with a tail or two? 🙂

I guess I should weigh in and defend my City. I live in Chicago, right off Michigan Ave and just a short distance from the amazing museums previously mentioned. I’ve never been a victim of crime, never seen anyone attacked or murdered and am security conscious whatever Country/Town I’m in. I can understand how you would feel like the poor stepchild, however, having driven through Milwaukee! 😝 The point was well made by others, that a cruise is a pretty darn good value. Each person must decide what amenities they must have, or can live without.

I understand that, but as someone previously said, it’s not a “good look for the luxury experience.” We pay premium prices prior to stepping onto the ship. I think my Haven fare should cover a few extra lobster tails.

Or, it’s just a money grab!