FM

On 4/7/2022 at 4:02 PM, KurtMo said:

My DW was happy to eat surf & turf every night we weren't at a specialty, and they were happy to give her extra lobster tails.  As an added hint, they will make your surf & turf with the pork tomahawk or the lamb ribeye if you wish - at least they did for me! 😋

That's the way to go! 

Does the Concierge Club Lounge aboard the Quantum class ships ever get too busy/crowded? Are you confined to drinking your free evening cocktails within the lounge itself?

RE Coastal Kitchen, understanding is that reservations need to be made ahead of time? Is it rare that one wouldn't be able to dine in the Kitchen if you are a Suite guest and it's too busy?

Thanks.

11 hours ago, academytim said:

Dinner came right on time. Hoping the rest of the cruise goes the same. Will chalk this up to just getting off on the wrong foot. I didn’t write a letter because I had planned to just speak with him in person on the first day. That not happening I think put a damper on the first couple of days. I think it will be smooth sailing from here on out. 

Good to see that it looks like it'll be smooth sailings ahead, so to speak.

It seems from reading other's experiences with the Haven that providing an introductory letter or note to your butler with what your requests, plans etc are for the week is something one should consider.  Not sure what the butler/number of Haven staterooms ratio is, but unless they have a note pad with them at the time of introduction it would be difficult to remember each families likes, dislikes etc.  

Hope to hear how the rest of your week turns out.  Have a great time!

Sorry - posted twice.

On 3/21/2022 at 10:05 AM, Bebop1088 said:

Thank you, That is the hope! Once we hit US soil we certainly started seeing the humor in our first time traveling together being such a debacle but it made us closer and showed us we are a good team!

 

There is limited and mostly incorrect information on what happens in these situations on the internet. I was hoping to shed some real life knowledge on the subject.

Although in actuality missing our ship was our own negligence it is not always the case, sometimes other things happen be it injury or illness and some of this can be applied in those situations as well. 

The stigma associated with being in a foreign country with no passport is scary but I wanted people to know that with the right mentality you can get through it. 

The attitude and the manner in which you dealt with the unexpected situation is amazing.  It'll be an experience you can regale your friends and families with forever :).  Kudos. 

1 minute ago, Sthrngary said:

 The information that was provided was based on the captain and his focus on safety. I have been on so many cruises where they have diverted from a port. For me it was nothing new. I never thought to challenge it or question it. All I can share with you is that we have had smooth sailing and from what I can gather the engines are fine.

Any day at sea relaxing is a day well spent. 👍🏼

2 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

The NCL Joy does not have a Thermal Spa.  It was made for the Asian market and it was not installed.  Most of the other NCL ship have the Thermal Spa.  

Thanks. Just finished chatting with an agent online. A week long pass to the Thermal Suite is $249 USD per person, which is the pre-booking price.  

2 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

I will attempt to do attach a Daily Agenda some time soon.  That information is on it.  The issue on the shows is the time sometime changes.  For example, if my memory hold well, the first night Beatles show has two time on my November Cruise.  This time it was only 08:00 PM.  

 

You can get the dailies quicker by searching the key word dailies in the NCL blog.  A very kind member of cruise critic just downloaded them two weeks ago.  I hope that helps you out.

 

I am cruising well.

Checking to see if we could locate a few. Just wondering if we can fit dinner in at the Haven Restaurant, go see a show and then spend some time in the Thermal Suite before it closes for the night.  

30 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

Good Morning Everyone: Sunday, March 20, 2022

 

This is a short update on a couple of questions I have been asked.

 

Starbucks in the Observation Lounge:  I have the Premium Plus Drink Package, Starbucks are included in that plan.  The other items they have are like Starbucks nuts are not included. The normal Starbucks price are a little higher then state side.

What??! Starbucks is included in the Premium Plus Drink Package?! 

Good to hear that you are having a great time so far.  Just a few questions ...

• When you were in the Haven, what time did dinner usually commence in the Haven restaurant? And when does dining end?
• What are the hours that the buffet is open for dinner?
• What time do the evening shows commence aboard NCL? And how long do the shows typically last?
• What are the operating times for the Thermal Spa? Are you able to find out how much a week long pass to the Spa is?  

Look forward to hearing more ...

7 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

 

teppanyaki is the best filet ive had on NCL, which includes haven and cagneys. i just love it.  i only had bfast and lunch buffet on royal (all that was open in october) and i did think it was a step up from NCL. the layout was much much better for sure because royal uses stations, not the single line buffet. then again maybe i was influenced because it was my 1st royal trip and it was all new.  

 

Yes, definitely prefer the buffet style stations as opposed to the single cafeteria style line, so to speak. 

Would definitely cruise Celebrity again and would book an AquaClass stateroom just to get access to Blu. 

As we have yet to cruise aboard RCCL and our last cruise aboard NCL was in the late 90's, decided we would celebrate our milestone anniversary in a suite and with a cruise line we haven't experienced yet or recently. 

23 hours ago, Hutcha said:

It was a great ship, and the Haven was lovely. As I said, this was my first time in a suite. I have done A LOT of research though on the Haven and RCL's Sky and Star class. In my opinion (for what that is worth), they'd get ranked Star, Haven, and then Sky. Sky gets you the concierge and access to costal kitchen and the suite lounge, but I've read some reviews where people were disappointed with not really getting service that stood out. 

 

I look forward to trying Star class in three months, so I can validate my assumptions.

 

I don't think you can go wrong with either cruise. The Bliss is a great ship for Alaska. Especially in the Haven.

Thanks. Considering the cost for a suite on either cruise line, definitely want the experience of being pampered a bit more. 

Does one have to make reservations for dining in the Haven restaurant? 

14 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

 

 

to me the CK and haven restaurants are really totally different. i do not like that haven never changes the menu. also the service last week was super super slow. never had that in CK. both restaurants have 'breakfast bars' where you can get lunch meat or baked stuff for bfast in addition to the sit down meal. but in haven you wont ever be on top of someone else and basically sitting on their lap where CK has the bench seating around the rear of the room so you can get a butt seat there and have that pleasure of seeing theirs as they go in and out of the seat and also sit so close to them. no privacy. 

What were your opinions regarding the specialty restaurants between RCL and NCL ... and their versions of the buffet? 

14 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

 

as much as i prefer the enclosed haven spaces on some ships for rainy days, id prefer the oasis overall because the balcony and suite lounge perk being so close to the CLS cabins, and the super low pricing of the CLS relative to sq ft of the cabin and balcony.  i know owners suites arent up on 17 near the lounge on your ship but i still think you will like the ship better than NCL. i def prefer oasis to the breakaway/getaway ships. 

Haven't been on RCL yet and the last time we were on NCL was in the late 90's so unable to ascertain which we would prefer.  Our last cruise was aboard the Celebrity Edge, which we quite enjoyed.

14 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

 

all that being said. every single employee on the NCL ship is so darn friendly and cheerful. you are overwhelmed with it. oasis may have had good service but i didnt get the friendly vibe, it just didnt seem to have as many employees on oasis. or at least ones that greeted you constantly. id call the staff on the ncl ships very very friendly and it's more of a friendly cozy ship. oasis is the behemoth that has all the bells and whistles and more 'behind the scenes' staff. i really had minimal to no interaction on oasis other than room steward and concierge. on ncl it seemed like there was staff every few feet to greet you cheerfully. in october i was on both lines within 3 weeks so maybe it's different now on oasis but i just didnt get that close knit comradery feeling that was on NCL.  

From what I could see, the suite experience seems to be a bit more 'isolated' on Royal and not as 'clubby' I guess you could call it on NCL? Read about the availability of evening cocktails in Royal's Concierge Lounge so assume that it's the most busiest there at that time - otherwise would Suite Class guests spend much time there? 

Great review overall though!

25 minutes ago, AlohaLivin said:

It won’t be like the Haven (not a separate area and not quite the experience of being ushered up front on everything), but it is very nice just the same. It depends on how much KA one needs and is comfortable with getting (we like Sky and Haven, but Royal class is over the top for us). It is a nice suite, likely our favorite - enjoy!

It's the little details that matters the most sometimes.  The Owner's Suite aboard Quantum looks like a great way to spend 10 days cruising to Hawaii  -  but then the Bliss has a thalassotherapy pool and the Haven area up front which would make enjoying an Alaskan cruise that much more special.  Sigh. 

7 minutes ago, DCPIV said:

I don't mean to cast shade at RCI, but anyone who's looking to put down OS and above type money ought to look at some other lines unless you're travelling with kids or just like the waterslide amusement park sort of atmosphere. 

 

I can't comment on the Haven, but we're long time RCI cruisers who pretty much have shifted over to Celebrity for a number of reasons.  Pricing is remarkably similar, even up through suites.  To the extent loyalty status matters to you, there is (limited) reciprocity.

Lol - we're one of the rare couples out there that hasn't tried RCL yet since we began cruising. Love AquaClass aboard the Silhouette and quite enjoyed the Infinite Verandah stateroom aboard the Edge. Would cruise with Celebrity again. 

Great review @Hutcha !   Nice to read a recent account of the Bliss as we have a deposit on a Penthouse Suite this fall on an Alaskan itinerary.  The idea NCL is selling, of the Haven as a getaway,  is what makes us wanting to give it a try.  

At the same time though we have a deposit on a Sky Class suite (Owner's suite) aboard the Quantum for a cruise from Vancouver to Hawaii. It seems that the perks of Sky Class are similar to the Haven except for the 'suite only area' at the front of the Bliss and the butler.  The layout of the Owner's Suite though looks quite similar to the Aft Facing Penthouse you stayed in aboard the Bliss, which looks amazing.  

This will be our first suite experience. The Quantum itinerary is at least $3-4 K more but it is three days longer - and it goes to Hawaii (don't mind the 5 days at sea because of the Owner's suite).  Being able to take advantage of the uniqueness of the Bliss for an Alaska cruise is also quite enticing. The fact that we have yet to cruise with RCL and the last time we cruised with NCL was in the late 90's doesn't make this an easy choice. 

11 hours ago, goin-away said:

Last time we cruised in the Haven on the Escape you could meet with the Concierge in  the Haven lounge and they would take you down to the show and you would go right in. 

Now that's what I call Concierge service!  So were you able to favorable seating, near the front and not battle with the crowds?  (DW doesn't want the front row but a row or two behind).  

13 minutes ago, orville99 said:

Breakfast is great, lunch is uninspired, and dinner in Coastal Kitchen can range in both food selection and preparation quality from excellent to unidentifiable, depending on the creativity and talent of the chef. We have been on B2B cruises where the chef changed between cruises and the same menu items were prepared so completely differently that our view of CK mid-cruise went from "outstanding, can't wait to try tomorrow evenings selections"  to "let's order in suite from the MDR menu for the rest of the week".

 

On our last cruise (Harmony 2/27/22), we gave up on CK after the first evening, and will not even bother with CK for our next B2B in April for anything other than breakfast and do a mix of specialty dining and in suite dining instead.

How was the in-suite dining? Do they set it up for you in your suite or is it just dropped off on a tray? Is it limited to offerings from the MDR or can you also order items from CK? Thanks.

18 minutes ago, orville99 said:

We enjoy sailing in Sky class, but the perks are not really the deciding factor for us. We simply enjoy the extra room, extra attention, and the ability to "disappear" from the crowds and just enjoy being with each other and relaxing on our own terms. If I were to rank the extras from top to bottom however, the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen would not be anywhere near the top of the list. In Suite dining, S+S Internet, the Concierge, and the away from the crowds sun decks would be at the top.

Just blown away by the size of the Owner's Suite aboard Quantum.  Can't imagine a better way to cruise to Hawaii than in a room like that - 

31 minutes ago, mom2tcdx2 said:

I would probably compare the Haven to the Star class, though while the Haven may look more expensive than sky, it has perks sky class doesn't offer.  It has typically drinks, specialty dining, wifi and often OBC included that are additional costs in the sky class.  

 

The 'extra perks' offered by NCL are quite enticing with the beverage package, 'free' internet, specialty dining credits etc.  Whereas with RCL had to price out all three in addition to the suite fare.  Also the OBC for NCL was $400 USD - NICE! 

6 hours ago, sandebeach said:

The Haven on NCL is closer to the Yacht Club experience on MSC since both are in a totally separate, enclosed area of the ship. But we do enjoy the Sky class cabins on Royal. Currently in a two-floor Crown Loft suite on the Allure (Sky class) and it is a beautiful room. Have not done the Suite Neighborhood on Wonder but that may be closer to the Haven/Yacht Club experience. 

The Crown Loft suite looks great.  How do you find the Coastal Kitchen compared to the MDR?

We haven't done a 'suite' experience yet so it's tough to make a decision. 

6 hours ago, George C said:

Owner’s suite is really nice , as for perks like costal kitchen is ok , I like it for breakfast and lunch prefer specialty restaurants for dinner, concierge can be very helpful, he can reserve shows . Before Covid it was never necessary to reserve any because there were reserved seats  for sky class, now you still need to get there early to get good seats sky class is allowed to get there 45 mins before the show. Happy hour is nice free drinks from 5 to 8, as for suite perks in general I prefer celebrity and MSc yacht club over rccl, have not done the haven.

Surprised hadn't considered the suites aboard Celebrity. Did AquaClass aboard the Silhouette years ago and was quite blown away by Blu, it's specialty restaurant. Haven't yet tried MSC so may consider that in the future. 

Have a deposit down on an Owner's Suite aboard the Quantum of the Seas later this fall on a cruise to Hawaii.  The room looks gorgeous ... but how were the other perks of being a Suite guest, such as dining in the Coastal Kitchen, use of the concierge and the lounge or reserved seating for shows etc?  Trying to ascertain if it on par or above the Haven Suite experience aboard NCL.  Thanks. 

Can concierge really get you in early for a show and seated before the rest of the audience. Would be extremely helpful for those who have mobility issues and not to have to stand for a long period of time or battle the crowds to get a seat.  Thanks.

4 hours ago, aubreyc1988 said:

Once while talking to some people at the bar, they asked me if I had kids. I said "no, just my two dogs" and then they were like "Oh well are you gonna have kids" and I replied "probably not" and then they went into this huge spiel about why I needed to have kids and how much I was missing out and blah blah blah.

As the saying goes, "Dogs leave paw prints on our hearts." 'Nuff said. 🐾💕

11 hours ago, aubreyc1988 said:

basically when she introduced herself it was a "Sorry I missed you on the first day, I was really busy, this is my card, call me if you guys need anything" and I replied "Awesome, I was wondering if we could have extra coffee pods and some corn nuts in the room" and she was like "Yes of course".  Took her a few days to realize I was not joking about the coffee pods haha. 

 

But yeah, I think if you didn't follow this thread, you wouldn't know about everything the butler can/cannot do. 

And therein lies the rub ... as noted on NCL's website ... 

• 24-hour trained and certified suite butler. From unpacking your suitcase to pouring your champagne our butlers are at your service

The availability of a butler is suppose to enhance your cruising experience above and beyond what your stateroom attendant already provides. So it appears that there needs to be some fine tuning in that department on the Joy.

Nonetheless, a butler never really factored into our decision to put a deposit down on the Haven Penthouse on the Bliss (if that ends up being our final choice) but overall what the Haven offers. Reading about your experience and others helps towards that decision. Thanks. 

1 hour ago, Sthrngary said:

I actually address the Butlers as Hit/Miss in my past.  When I don't see the butler when I first get to my Haven Suite, I call the Haven Concierge and ask for the butler to stop by.  This usually handles the issue and I can provide my letter.  NCL over works their crew and the butlers are crazy busy that first day behind the scenes.  I feel for them however I also have a vacation that I want to set up properly.  

 

Bottom line, call the Haven Concierge to have the butler come to your suite right away.  Be brief, hand them the letter and move on. Not ideal but the way it is.

 

Cruise well everyone. 

My understanding is that part of the service available from the suite butler is unpacking/packing.  Is it something that is conveyed to your butler the day of arrival or prior? 

It's not something we ourselves would use - but having a butler as part of the suite experience is something above and beyond having access to concierge and I would personally find it quite problematic that no contact was made to a Haven Suite guest the day of arrival.  "First impressions never have a second chance" as one would say.