SoCalCruiseLife

Has anyone started a Roll Call for this cruise?

Well, that answers my question!  Thanks all!

Friends:

Here do these cruise lines stand up against the luxury standard?

Whether on a cruise or land tour, nothing more fun than hanging out with a group of friendly travelers whose first language is not English...especially after a few rounds of cocktails.  Seven years ago, my daughter and I get a nice couple from Italy the wife spoke some English and is a lawyer like me...the hatband, no English at all.  We used a translator in the bar and then hung out for a portion of the trip.  They are visiting us with their Toddlers this Summer to visit Disneyland and we are visitng them on our next Italian journey.  Today, with language APPS and inexpensive translators there is no real obstacle.

So love ALL of your posts and truly appreciate you taking time to put them together...incredibly valuable and always spot on!

On 10/13/2019 at 8:36 AM, Sthrngary said:

This content is very long and detailed. It was designed to give a perspective on the sometimes controversial NCL Haven Luxury Experience.  Prior to booking the Haven, the information on it was incomplete and or an advertisement.  It costs a lot and I wanted more before I was willing to pay the premium. So I wrote this.  I hope it is helpful.  If not, please don't be TO CRUEL!!!!

 

As a frequent cruiser, I research my experience prior to taking all my cruises.  This trait, provides me with a high level of enjoyment.  It allows me to visualize my cruise even before it happens.  For me personality, it also allows me to take care of details ahead of time. Now I can relax from the first second of my cruising experience throughout its conclusion.  Of recently, my wife and I have chosen to attempt to improve our cruise experience by upgrading our cabins to suites levels sometimes in exclusive sections of a larger cruise ship (Reference: NCL Haven; Celebrity Suite).  This trend on our part, started about 10 years ago, when we entered into our 50's.  We started the trend with Holland America Line (HAL), then to Celebrity Cruises and now NCL.  In the cruising industry, the last 10 years has shown a rise in the popularity exclusive suites/ship area’s; also, the perks and amenities these premium cabins provide.

Before I go on, a special note.  My wife and I, for the first time are taking the jump from Main-stream cruise brands (NCL, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Holland America), to an ultra-premium brand in 2020, Oceania Cruises.  This is a first for us and we made this decision because our best friends booked a European cruise and asked us to join. The ship is smaller, it is a different cruising experience then the huge 4000 plus passenger’s ships.  These sailings are also mostly adults due to investment, entertainment, food and accommodations. The ship sailings focus much more on itinerary, since small ships can get into different much more unique ports.  The brand we choose was Oceania Cruises, which is a sister to NCL and the Luxury brand of Regents Seven Seas.  All this for the quest of the best cruise experience possible.

Most recently in November 2018, my family and I went on the Celebrity Equinox in a cabin upgraded cabin level called the “Celebrity Suite”.  This included access to the ships Michael's Club and the “Suites Only” restaurant called the “Luminae”. This upgraded category also provided a butler.  Michael's club was a small, quite private lounge with a full bar. During the day it would provide little appetizers and treats. Even though it was small, I loved this private little hangout perk. The Suites only restaurant, Luminae, was the best restaurant on the ship by far. This is including the so-called specialty restaurants. The Butler was a non-issue because we simply did not know how to utilize their services effectively.  This brings us to topics of this document, “Secrets to the NCL Haven Experience”.

If you don't already know, the NCL Haven is a "Ship within a Ship" concept.  It allows, for a premium investment, a certain level of exclusivity and privacy without taking away a large cruise ship experience.  Another word, you can have a private pool, padded lounge chairs, hot tubs, bars, restaurants, and butler. You can also have complete access to all other amenities that a large ship provides.  Some cruisers get very upset with these special and restricted premium areas.  They don't understand why the cruise ship brands, allow this to happen.  Why they can’t have access to the entire ship for the cruise investment they have made.

The answer is quite simple.  The average cost for an inside state room, is about $499.00 per person (not including taxes & fees).  The lowest cost for a Haven Suite is approximately $2,099.00 per person on average. The cruise brands profit much more on a Haven type level guest.  Even more interesting is these exclusive special guest area suites sell out very quickly.  If a guest can afford the premium, the question, is it worth it? You first must know what are some secrets to getting all the value you can, from the NCL Haven Luxury Experiences.  Here are just a few:

• Pre-Cruise Haven Concierge Desk Requests:

When you book the Haven luxury experience, approximately 60-days prior to your sail date, you get a U.S. mail letter from NCL.  In the envelope are special luggage tags (I will discuss this next) and a letter requesting any special requests. You can communication these request via a special 800 number or send an email.  I always choose to send an email due to my many requests.

My always “pre-thought-out” email, addressed things I would normally ask for, when I arrive on the ship.  40-years of cruising experience, helped my preparation greatly. My Haven requests included, but were not limited to:

1. Extension cord, power strip & sterilized water for my CPAP machine.

2. Removal of all “Extra Cost” or “For Sale” items from our suite. I hate being nickeled and dimed on a cruise.

3. Dietary considerations, as it related to afternoon snacks/teas provided. My wife and I are on Keto. In our opinion, a big perk of the Haven luxury experience is this lovely pre-dinner snacks.

4. Adjustments for specialty restaurant dates and times, prior to cruise. As long-time cruisers, we always pre-book our specialty restaurants online the moment reservations are accepted.  The times as well as dates for these reservations, were not acceptable. The Haven guest have priority.

5. Cruiser personality profile are provided, allowing our butler to knew about us, prior to the cruise. We don’t want our butler to have to read our minds.  This is somewhat over the top, I know. However, has gotten great results in the past.

Think about how much less stress, you would feel if you had some of these issues handled pre-cruise.  The NCL Haven luxury experience gives you this opportunity, for a price of course.

• Haven Layout of Private Sundeck:

From a frequent cruiser stand point, this little perk is much more then it seems to be at face value. Let me explain my three (3) key points.

1. Cushioned Private Lounge Chairs: The lounge chairs have soft nice cushions on them, which is a great plus yet, not the biggest benefit.  The fact that you always have enough sunning lounge chairs with GREAT views, is the major plus.  Unlike the distasteful fact that many cruise guest, wake up early in the morning to put considerable efforts to reserve a pool side lounge chair for their all-day usage.  Chairs that are often unoccupied most of the day.  For me, just not dealing with this situation, is almost worth the entire premium paid for the Haven. Boy I can tell you stories about this one. I love a good argument, just not on a cruise vacation.

2. Bar Service While Lounging at Haven Pool or Sundeck: The Haven pool/hot tubs are usually very close to the Haven bar.  This is not the case on the smaller ships like the Pearl, so they make up for it by having attendants cruise the Haven pool/sundeck area often.  I am not ashamed to tell everyone reading this document, I tip servers, especially by the pool and bartenders on day one.  I do this much more for my wife benefit, then for myself.  My wife is an introvert and won’t ask for anything. I want her service to be over-the-top because selfishly I want her to want to come on another cruise.  If she is not by the Haven pool and is instead up the short set of steps to the private Haven Sundeck; I want that server to check on her drink situation often.  When my wife is HAPPY, I am HAPPY.   

3. Haven Restaurant: Just like my reference to the Celebrity Suite Only restaurant, the Haven Restaurant is known as the best food on the ship.  What you must remember, its menu is fixed and does not change from night to night.  The best strategy is to eat in the Haven Restaurant on the first night of cruising. This allows you to get a feel for the food, service, menu and make relationships with the staff.  This holds true for breakfast and lunch on day two as well.  A couple of notes.

   1. The smaller ships like the NCL Pearl do not have Haven Restaurants or bars.  They provide exclusive use of a specialty restaurant for breakfast and lunch for their Haven guest.  They do have a smaller scaled down version of the Haven pool, hot tub and sundeck.

   2. Most cruise lines have a sale for the first evening of sailing. They reduce the cost for the specialty restaurants by excess of 30% if you go the very first night.  I chose not to do this, yet know it could be available if I would so choose.

   3. If you don’t like what is on the Haven Restaurant Menu, tell your server in the afternoon you want something else and they will do their best to have it for you.  The best examples are steaks, lunch menu double pork chops, salmon and the list go on.  Ask and you will receive.

4. The Haven Bar: This is no ordinary bar.  As a percentage, most Haven guest receive the “Premium Beverage Package” perk.  In addition, most Haven adult guest upgrade that beverage package to the “Premium Plus Beverage Package”. The Haven bar knows this and is a kind of unique mixology experience bar.  There is a very nice video on YouTube titled, the Haven Bar, that give you an example.  My routine is to fine my favorite bar on a cruise ship and make great friends of the bartender.  When in the Haven, this is a no-brainer.

5. Embarkations & Lunch: My history, 40 years ago, was to cruise with the least expensive cabin possible.  That is when deals were available, and cruises were not 4,000 plus guests. I have stood on all the very long embarkation and debarkation lines.  Initially, I just thought it added to the excitement of the cruise experience.  This was until, of course, I could avoid these lines completely.  Then I realized I was missing some quite special treatment.  With your Haven luxury experience, your embarkation is quick, smooth, professional and personalized.  You are escorted to the Haven lounge or specific specialty restaurant, provided with “ship snacks”, drinks and can also have lunch at the Haven Restaurant (space available). Careful though, get to the Haven Restaurant early, they get super busy, fast.  That is where I beeline too.  I also meet the host/hostess.  If they have a wait, here is what I say.

“I fully understand if you are booked up.  Busy exciting day for everyone.  My wife and I are going to have a drink at the bar. We will wait there, if you have a no show or cancelation.”

I then shake their hand with a $10.00 bill in my hand. I never miss.  Sorry if anyone does not approve.  I have done this for years. I used to get upset, but now I get seated for lunch and the rest of the week I get lots of smiles. All I say is that, “I am on vacation!”.

1. Escorts to Shows and Debarkation:

   1. Shows: There are special seating for Haven guest, at most shows.  I do not take advantage of this perk ever.  I always sit in the back of the theatre, on the end of the row. This allows my wife and I to leave any show, without making a scene.  It also gives me quicker access to bathrooms and closest bars.  The bar service in a show is, well, not great.

   2. Debarkation while at a Port: There is a special exit that is quick and seamless from most ships accommodating Haven Guests.  Especially nice when you need to get to a tour, quickly. You might be late or want to get to the beach before the crowds.  The same special treatment happens when re-boarding the cruise ship after the excursion.

2. Haven Select Elevators Access:  The Haven is usually located on the top floors of the ship.  There is one specific elevator that is specially coded to go directly to the Haven area.  All you do is use your access key card.  Watch out though, this deletes the other floors, other guests might have checked prior to your arrival in the elevator. Always play nice.  Regardless, a very nice perk.

3. Haven Spa Suite:  This is a little hint to some of us out there.  When you book a spa suite, in the Haven, the special spa access comes with it as a perk.  The Haven spa suite, is on the same level as the ships spa itself.  The spa on the larger ships, have special heated tile loungers that view the ocean.  Sauna, steam, showers, and salt rooms.  The highlight is a very special indoor spa heated bathing hot tub.  This area is limited to 18 and older.  It only accessible to those with spa suites, Haven or otherwise, and a few passed that can be purchased.  The Haven spa suite also has a huge jacuzzi big enough for two in your suite, with a view of the ocean.  Finally, unlike other spa suites, you also have access to the Haven which is two decks up.  The down side is the suite is a much smaller sq. then other Haven suite. The per guest expense is also the lowest investment they offer Haven suite for.

4. Butler Services:  I read a lot of review of folks that simply don’t utilize their butlers.  I did the same, the first time I had a butler. It was we did not know what to ask for and they feel uncomfortable asking for special services. What a waste of a great services opportunity that you could never get in real everyday life. I researched what a Butler will and won’t do. 

   1. What the butlers won’t do:

      1. They won’t watch your kids, when you go out for an evening. 

      2. They won’t spend all day, escorting you around the ship. 

      3. They won’t be your date, for a show or dinner.

      4. They won’t bring your adult beverages to the room, unless they are charging the cost to the suite.

They will do almost any small task you ask, within reason.  Here are a few things I have had my Butlers do, to enhance my families cruising experience.  Before I provide my list, please know I tip my Butler between $100 and $150 per seven-day cruise, depending on service requested and provided during the week.

1. 1. What the Butler will do:

      1. Unpack Your Bags When You Arrive: This is a request I never ask. To some folks, this is a great benefit.  Up to you, just know it is a request that is totally fine.

      2. Parties in Our Suites: This depends on the size of our suite and balcony.  My next cruise, we have a Haven Spa Suite. Lovely however to small for parties.  If you are in a two-bedroom or owner’s suite, party hardy with all your new friends or family. One of my fondest memories was the huge balcony had with all my extended family singing show tunes.  If on my next cruise with my smaller suite, I want to entertain, I will ask the butler to have it setup in a part of the Haven lounge, if, those guests are also Haven guest.  If you are not in the Haven, you are not getting into the Haven lounge, bar, pool, or restaurants; PERIOD. 

      3. Dinning in your Suite: NCL charges for room service to the tune of $8.00 plus per service.  It is fair, but takes away from the notion of all inclusive cruise.  This fee is complementary because you have a Butler.  The Haven suite room service menu, is also much better then the other cabins.  Your butler will serve you in courses as if you were in the restaurant. You can choose any restaurant including specialty restaurants, if, you have paid that specialty restaurants fee. A little hint about breakfast. I pre-print my breakfast requests on an index card and bring them with me on my cruises.  I staple them to the door room service menu and give my butler a heads up.  Finally, please remember, Room Service for Breakfast sounds good on paper.  It is so much better just to go to the Haven Restaurant.  My biggest reason for saying this is the “French Press” coffee on your table, hotter food and the breakfast side buffet that is super special for the Haven guests.

      4. Afternoon Snacks: Not that we all need more food; yet an afternoon snack is kind of nice.  My wife and I are on the Keto diet.  We lost a ton of weight and love all the foods this diet provides us.  However, the normal afternoon fair, usually is not Keto friendly.  So, we outline what is and is not keto for our butler.  For an example, a meat, cheese, nut, and raw vegie plate would be great.  Key word small plate, just a taste. Tell me if that does not sound awesome as an option? Loss the complementary chocolate dipped strawberries, tasteless so called Belgian chocolate on the pillow, basket of fruit that never gets eaten and cheap champagne. Time to custom design your cruise around just enough however great quality options. Your call.

      5. Shows and Specialty Restaurant Reservations: This is done by the Haven Concierge, not your butler.  The Concierge will absolutely pull some strings to get you a reservation and or change your reservation you have made.  I need to have some dates and times changed, for some specialty restaurants I booked 60 days out.  I also want one of my specialty restaurant reservations outside over-looking the ocean. 

      6. Extra Towels in your Suite: We all ask for extra towels from time to time.  I know I have, haven’t you?  However, my room steward was so busy, I would get the towels eventually.  This does not happen with Butlers.  They get them right away or have them in your room when you ask.  Remember, butlers do lots of stuff behind the scenes. Yet their tips are all about what you give them at the end of the week.  They do not participate in the tips taken out of your account.

      7. NOTE: Adult Beverages in Your Suite: NOT going to happen.  Policy for NCL (and other cruise lines) won’t allow your butler to bring drinks or bottles unless you pay for them on your account.  One acceptations, the initial bottle of champagne on day one.

2. Children in the Haven Area: This is NOT a benefit, it can be a very negative aspect to the Haven.  During Holiday cruises, when school is out, families with the financial means book Haven Two & Three Bedroom Suites.  You can have up to 6 cruisers in each suite.  Therefore, a family can really take all the kids.  The cruise specials usually allow 3 & 4 passengers free. The kids end up taking over the Haven pool and hot tubs areas. Even though the signs are clearly posted not to run, noise, jump or splash; the kids can’t help themselves.  They are usually unsupervised and can be unruly. When this happens, you can go up to the Haven private sun lounge where it is 18 years or older to have accesses. I am the person that WILL let the Haven staff know this issue on day one.  If it persists, I will say something to the parents, whom react differently based on their children’s entitlement issues. The cruise line is in a rock-and-a-hard-place on this topic.

   1. 1. NOTE: On my upcoming cruise, in my special requests pre-cruise.  I outlined this situation with children very clearly.  I know the staff already gets lots of complaints about this from Haven guests.  I asked for a professional courtesy in my written request.  The Larger NCL cruise ships have a special area called the “Vibe Beach Club”.  It has a special access card and only a very few cruise guests have access.  It has a bar, hot tubs and cushioned lounge chairs.  It access is 18-year-old or older all the time.  You must pay $200.00 per guest to get it and they have very limited passes.  It is completely unnecessary, if the Haven luxury experience is as advertised. It is common knowledge that the Concierge desk have a few passes for Haven guest at a price.  I feel they should include the “Vibe Beach Club” because we would not use the area, unless the kids take over our premium area.

Conclusion:

We all must make the decision, if an exclusive area like the NCL Haven is worth the premium investment it demands.  For my family’s needs, yes it does.  For many, it does not.  It is nice to have the option, without having to double your cruise fare again, to go on an Ultra-Premium or Luxury Cruise line.  I personally love the big ships and the feel it gives us when you see it and venture through it.  I don’t want the crowds 24/7, therefore the NCL Haven gives us the best of both worlds.

I can’t leave this conclusion section, without saying a few more words.  Cruises are what you make of them.  Attitude makes a cruise.  Finding compatible new friends will make a cruise.  What we all must understand; no cruise is perfect. Things happen, crew members, like any other humans, have good and bad days.  I believe the best cruises are really the obligation of the cruiser. 

This might sound crazy I know.  I have personally experiences during dinning, show, excursion and entire cruise experiences suffer, because of one issue or interaction with a crew member or fellow passenger.  I have come to realize that no amount of research, will match my perfect visualization of what a cruise should be.  There is no perfect cruise, just the next one in the future. 

I hope this information helps some folks enjoy their next cruise experience.  Whether you go with a NCL Haven luxury experience; Celebrity suites or any other brands upper level experience, you now know what to expect.  Be well and stay healthy.

On 6/8/2021 at 1:44 PM, Rebels82 said:

We have two cruises booked. It is all inclusive (food and drink on board) except S.E.A. restaurant. It is $285 per guest.

I am sure it will be amazing!

WOW!  Living my dream...enjoy!

Got it!

Love and appreciate your response ...thank you!

10 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Oh, to dream of such a wonderful cruise.  There are very few passengers who have had that experience.  Good luck.  Not sure how many of those would also be CC members.

Thank you!

I have reserved a Sky Suite cabin on the Discovery Princess for a 7 day Mexican Rivera cruise from Los Angeles (San Pedro) in October 2022.   WE will have three generations, from toddlers to a grandparent.  For anyone who has sailed in the Sky Suite I am curious as to your experience including noise from the lido deck and how much of the ship's "rock and rolls" you feel on the top deck in stormy weather?

2 hours ago, mj_holiday said:

Also, you should have in mind if you want to have a special celebration one day/evening for your daughter. It could be as simple as cabin decorations or a cake one dinner. 

Thank you!

6 hours ago, LHT28 said:

What might be ideal for you would not be for someone else

 Have a look at the lines you are interested

 When you are planning to travel & where they are sailing

 Pick the one that suits  your needs /wants best

 Do you want all inclusive, semi inclusive , relaxed dress code or dress up nights 

 

 

Thank you!

My 21-year-old daughter and I have been traveling annually since she was 12 years old.  I am planning a special occasion cruise on one of the luxury lines (Regent, Seaborn, Silversea, etc.) for her college graduation next spring 2022.  Both of us are well traveled including the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.  We both enjoy and have incorporated fine dining, historical tours and excursions and Broadway style entertainment during our trips.  I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with the choices available in the luxury category and would appreciate feedback on the ideal line and itinerary for this special occasion cruise.  Thanks in advance!