sargemrs

5 hours ago, seemoreroyals said:

I read about it from a utube video I watched plus it was discussed here on cruise critic as well.  We love Mexican food and we are going on the Joy later this year so naturally I was interested.

 

It wasn’t until I was able to see the new deck plans released earlier this week that I realized there would be no Los Lobos on the Joy.  Disappointed but not the end of the world.  We have never gone hungry on a cruise ship abd there are still plenty of good specialty dinner choices all is good.

Do you have a link to the deck plans of the JOY?  We're on her to Alaska in May and sure would love to see the actual deck plan. We have just been assuming it was like the Bliss?!

22 minutes ago, AtlantaAlly said:

We are on Bliss in a Haven Courtyard Penthouse and got the email at 80 days. The offer was 600 for 2BR or $750 for DOS. We’ll pass. But wanted to share what the minimum bids were for us.

I would grab the DOS if I could!  Don't think I'm going to be allowed. But thanks for your input!!

4 hours ago, erdoran said:

I’m on the April 28 Jade sailing and the roll call all got upgrade invitations about a week ago, I think something like 45 days out.  Hang in there...

 

btw the haven and suite folks did not get offers to bid for upgrades.......  Haven is totally sold out and has been for months, other than the two GVs which sold about a month ago.

Thanks!!  If my DIL (who is also in Aft Haven) hadn't gotten her upgrade offers, I wouldn't have been concerned, but she did, for the 2 bedroom Haven and DOS.  I'll just keep checking every day I guess...… 

6 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Joy only has 2 DOS (18100/18700).

I guess they just have 1 left.  So is it your understanding that the offer to bid to upgrade is a random thing?  I think it might be because I was already checked in?  Anyway the Aft Haven will be a wonderful experience, especially since we have 5 couples in those cabins.  

1 minute ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

The bid if for each of the the first 2 guests...

 

Is the offer amount per person per day or for the entire duration of the cruise?
The offer amount is per person for the entire duration of the cruise. Offers are based on two occupants per stateroom - only the first and second guest will be charged. - FAQ

We're about 58 days out with no offer to bid to upgrade.  I called my TA and she called NCL and they said it's a random offering!  The only thing I would be willing to upgrade to would be the DOS, since we're Haven Aft.  There are 2 maybe DOS cabins left on the Joy on the May 18 cruise.  My daughter-in-law got her offer (she's also in a Haven Aft) last night.  I have been checked in for about 2 weeks or so, and wonder if that is the reason they didn't offer a chance to bid to upgrade.  The DOS is currently about $21,000, so completely out of our budget but would love to bid and get it more reasonably!  Any thoughts?

15 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Your room steward will replenish your coffee (do not order from room service unless it is breakfast or you will be charged a delivery fee). 

I have seen on these boards that possibly the Haven rooms use Nespresso coffee makers.  Is that correct?  We've had Lavazza in our suites before and it was fine for us, but Nespresso is a step up IMO.

On 2/17/2019 at 9:18 AM, Mike D. said:

I was just on the Breakaway also.  I can't say about what your experience will be on the Joy, though.  

 

Haven restaurant was open 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on port days and until 10 a.m. on sea days.  Then 12 n to 2 p.m. for lunch.  And 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner.  I'm a Cagney's fan but the steaks in the Haven restaurant were just as good and the service was better.  We switched one Cagney's reservation to Teppanyaki for variety.  

 

Morning coffee was fine in the Haven Restaurant but lukewarm when served "outside" in Haven area.  I would go grab my first cup at Margaritaville, do my usual circulating around the decks (perhaps refilling at one of the coffee stations set up outside on deck 8), and then come back to the suite.  The coffee maker in the room worked just fine.

 

Breakfast and lunch in the Haven Restaurant were great.  One sea day, Moderno was serving "Taste of Spain" as a lunch buffet and we did that for variety.  

 

The tables in the Haven Restaurant were pushed together for larger groups.  The biggest group I noted on our cruise was about 8.  The restaurant isn't huge...my guess is that it would hold 80 in a pinch.  But as a previous poster mentioned, there is also seating outside in the Haven atrium area.  We didn't eat out there because there was space inside and we figured it was more of a hassle for the servers but others did.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

 

 

Thanks SO much for all the info.  It sounds wonderful!  I'm going to help the parents in our group to try to use the children's activities/clubs during dinner hours for their sakes and ours! lol

On 2/9/2019 at 11:39 PM, BirdTravels said:

Yes. Book at the Bliss Theater Box Office, Deck 7, Forward, Starboard entrance on embarkation day. Sells out fast. 

Is this something our concierge can do for us?  Also when we write/call concierge desk before cruise can we request our dinner reservations also?

Oh, I'm sure!!!  You've really made it sound great!  Thanks!

Oh, I understand!!  Certainly wouldn't want to waste those Specialty Dinners.  I knew the Haven menu doesn't change.  Do you remember what time the Haven Restaurant opens?  Is there coffee/snacks available there or do we need to plan to find other areas for coffee/snacks?  I know the butler will bring snacks in the afternoon, but they're small and sometimes not what we like (tho we will try to tell them what we DO like).  We've never been in Haven, but have enjoyed the suite life several times.  We're SO excited.  Thanks so much for your feedback!

Enjoyed your review.  A few questions;  I notice you were in a Haven cabin but ate in other venues.  Did you do that to have a variety?  We have a large group, all in the AFT Haven suites on the Joy and I'm wondering how that will work out for seating arrangements, etc.  You said you had your coffee in the Garden Café.  Was the Haven Restaurant not open yet, or you preferred the scenery, etc. elsewhere.  Just trying to visualize and plan our trip in May!  

So could someone explain the upcharge on the SDP?  We're Haven and if the upcharge is too much, we could just eat at the Haven Restaurant and not incur any upcharges?

Enjoyed your cruise review!!  Could you explain something to me?  You mentioned the surcharge/gratuity on the Specialty Dining Perk.  We are a large group traveling in the Haven, but with the 3 Specialty Dining Perks.  If we choose to just eat in the Haven Restaurant (I know the menu doesn't change and it might get boring) would we be charged anyway for the Specialty Dining extra charges?  Just curious as some in our group REALLY fuss at all the extra charges for "free perks"!!!

Seems like I remember a website a cruiser could go to and find out if there are large groups on their cruise.  Does anyone know about that?

Oh, OK.....I understand!!  We DO have 3 specialty restaurants perks but we were waiting until later in the cruise to decide when to use them, but just wondered why the Haven wasn't mentioned.....I understand it's supposed to be comparable and maybe better than the specialty restaurants so wondered.  Thanks for the replies.

I'm curious, no one has mentioned the Haven Restaurant, so are they not open the first night (we're in the Haven on our next cruise....1st time)  just wondering?

Thanks so much for that info!  Can’t hardly wait till May!!

Skierjj

Thanks for your intensive review!  A couple of questions.... can your conscierge arrange the go cart rides?  Would you say the Haven Restaurant is comparable to the other Specialty restaurants or better?  Other than our 3 Specialty restaurant meals, our group will most probably eat all meals in the Haven restaurant, hoping we won’t be disappointed.

Yes, thanks!  That makes sense that during the refurb, they'll get it up and running!!  Here's hoping!!

23 minutes ago, ColinIllinois said:

 

The link I provided says it is available on all ships now.

I just deleted, then reinstalled my NCL app and the Joy is not supported, alas.  Does anyone know when it might be?

Ok, I’ll reinstall my app and see if it works.  I just checked my current NCL app and it said Joy wasn’t supported.  Thanks

Unfortunately at this time the NCL app does not apply to the JOY!  Hopefully by May it will!  Anyone know the timeframe for the rest of the ships to be supported?

Oh, well guess the food will be good there too!!  Thanks for the "heads-up".

Thanks for all your help and advice!!!

3 hours ago, BNBR said:

 

I hope I have encouraged more than discouraged! My point has been that the Haven is full of families and kids and you will fit right in. So go and enjoy it! 

Oh definitely.  I think the fact that we're not in the Haven itself will help tremendously!  We adults wouldn't be in the pools or spas, not saying the children won't, but of course someone will be there watching for sure!!  We're REALLY excited and if it's too much stress, we won't repeat it!!  It'll be adults only next time.  Too much money to just baby sit!!  Can do that at home a lot cheaper!!