Platinum Concierge vs. Haven

I've done The Haven several times in the past and always valued the service from the concierge, but due to multiple bad butler experiences we've decided to forgo the Haven and just stick to regular rooms and add the spa. We did reach platinum level on our last sailing which I see includes concierge service. How does that service compare to the concierge you access via the Haven and how do you access them? Is there a walk-up location or is it by phone only?

The haven concierge went above and beyond and treated you like a VIP typically getting you in to places you might not otherwise be able to... Or watching out for cancellations and slipping you in... Does the platinum Concierge provide the same level of service as the haven concierge?

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I've done The Haven several times in the past and always valued the service from the concierge, but due to multiple bad butler experiences we've decided to forgo the Haven and just stick to regular rooms and add the spa. We did reach platinum level on our last sailing which I see includes concierge service. How does that service compare to the concierge you access via the Haven and how do you access them? Is there a walk-up location or is it by phone only?

 

The haven concierge went above and beyond and treated you like a VIP typically getting you in to places you might not otherwise be able to... Or watching out for cancellations and slipping you in... Does the platinum Concierge provide the same level of service as the haven concierge?

 

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I'm glad you've had good experiences with Haven concierges. We have not seen Haven concierges do much on the big ships. In non-Haven suites or Haven suites on the older ships they have been pretty good though.

To answer your question from all the posts over the years, you will have a hard time getting them to do anything for you.

YMMV but we got very good service from Carlos when we were on the Sun as Platinum cruisers and not in a suite

On all the ships we've been on the non haven concierge was the same person.

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YMMV but we got very good service from Carlos when we were on the Sun as Platinum cruisers and not in a suite

 

On all the ships we've been on the non haven concierge was the same person.

 

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I've read reports on CC from Platinum cruises that they didn't have much success using the concierge. You may have a better experience on a smaller ship like the Sun but Carlos is exceptional anyway.

teh Concierge is a clearly defined benefit as a Platinum and up guest. That said, NCL does not seem to want to be overly forthcoming with providing it.

a couple of cruises ago, we wanted to contact the concierge to help us wtih one reservation we wanted. We asked for the number at guest services, they refused to provide it. we said we wanted help with a restaurant reservation, they told us to call reservations. we said we did and that they were full for the date and time we wanted. I said that i know from exsperience that the concierge can get us in. we asked for a supervisor, they said no one was available, that they would call us. tehy did call, and then the supervisor said we werent in the Haven/suite could not get it. we again restated our Platinum status and that we were well aware of our rights. We were then told we'd get a call back. Later that day, soemone from Cruise Next called us. this person FINALLY provided us wiht the concierge phone number. and he did get is in the date, time and restaurant we wanted.

If NCL feels that offering this benefit is too much burden on their concierges, then they should just remove it from the program. Bottom line is you can get hte service, but know your rights and be persistent.

DH and I have been in the Haven a few times and used the concierge. We're both platinum and have tried to use the concierge when not in the Haven to make dinner reservations. Once, we never heard back from the concierge. On another try, they did return our call, but only to tell us they couldn't help us. :rolleyes::rolleyes:So, we've stopped trying - it's not a real "reward".

I must be lucky. I had Elvina as the concierge (non Haven) on the GEM. She was outstanding, to the point where she answered her phone even when she wasn't on duty at the concierge desk. She seemed to take pleasure in doing even the most mundane tasks for me. All reservations, for just about everything, including excursions were taken care of by her. Problem with billing? Problem with getting the proper OBC? I turned it over to her (at her insistence) and she promptly took care of it.

I had Adrian on the Breakaway, but that was in the Haven. He was outstanding, too. Seemed like there's nothing he couldn't do, including getting us into the Cirque show, right in the front row, without reservations, even though we arrived late. Again, billing snafus, internet problems, just a host of other things we didn't think he could help with, he did.

I use the concierge more than the Butler, as a matter of fact.

Carlos is exceptional anyway.

Just wanted to emphasise this [emoji2]

I use the concierge more than the Butler, as a matter of fact.

That's been the same for us when in non-haven suites.

I use the butlers in MSC YC a lot more.

Maybe you get more use out of the butlers in the Haven.

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Just wanted to emphasise this [emoji2]

 

 

 

That's been the same for us when in non-haven suites.

I use the butlers in MSC YC a lot more.

Maybe you get more use out of the butlers in the Haven.

 

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You are right. I do use the Butler more when sailing MSC. I use the concierge less on MSC, too. Not sure why that is.

You are right. I do use the Butler more when sailing MSC. I use the concierge less on MSC, too. Not sure why that is.

On msc we spent most of our time in the YC. We don't do a lot of specialty restaurants ( although the sushi on the seaside was amazing).

We don't like the shows on msc that much, and your butler can help with that anyway.

The concierge can't help much with the casino.

For disembarking at ports and after the cruise the butler assists you with that.

So I think on MSC the butlers do a bunch of things that the concierge does on NCL.

Which makes the butler just sort of an extra steward.

The concierge on MSC to me is more like an info point/corporate secretary.

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I think a lot has to do with the ship you are on. The Away/Away+ ships have the concierge desk located in the haven itself, so unless you are in haven, it's next to impossible to just drop in to see them. On the Jewel class and earlier, the concierge desk is outside the haven, so you can try and catch them face to face. Also, the larger ships have a lot more haven rooms, so I think the concierge is stretched thin just taking care of haven,

I think a lot has to do with the ship you are on. The Away/Away+ ships have the concierge desk located in the haven itself, so unless you are in haven, it's next to impossible to just drop in to see them. On the Jewel class and earlier, the concierge desk is outside the haven, so you can try and catch them face to face. Also, the larger ships have a lot more haven rooms, so I think the concierge is stretched thin just taking care of haven,

I agree with your comment about Concierge services on the smaller ships as he/she is readily available. We always had great service dealing with Specialty restaurants reservations, tender boarding and disembarkation. Never been in the Haven but did one cruise on Getaway and the Concierge never returned our calls and never provided any assistance.

Thanks for all of the replies. All I do are away class ships, so I'll make sure I'm prepared for the fight to use my perks then. How unfortunate.

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Thanks for all of the replies. All I do are away class ships, so I'll make sure I'm prepared for the fight to use my perks then. How unfortunate.

For concierge service it boils down to time and tips. As plat/plat+ you are entitled to concierge service for certain things. However, the concierge is usually very busy handling suite passengers and doing his/her best to make them happy which usually equals bigger/better tip. The non-suite passengers rarely tip the concierge simply because they usually have so little contact. As such, most ships/concierges make the path to their service arduous unless you are in a suite.

My advice, unless you are in a suite, don't bother trying to get service from the concierge. Not worth the time or trouble.

I must be lucky. I had Elvina as the concierge (non Haven) on the GEM. She was outstanding, to the point where she answered her phone even when she wasn't on duty at the concierge desk. She seemed to take pleasure in doing even the most mundane tasks for me. All reservations, for just about everything, including excursions were taken care of by her. Problem with billing? Problem with getting the proper OBC? I turned it over to her (at her insistence) and she promptly took care of it.

 

I had Adrian on the Breakaway, but that was in the Haven. He was outstanding, too. Seemed like there's nothing he couldn't do, including getting us into the Cirque show, right in the front row, without reservations, even though we arrived late. Again, billing snafus, internet problems, just a host of other things we didn't think he could help with, he did.

 

I use the concierge more than the Butler, as a matter of fact.

Adrian trained Elvina and Rashi and a host of others. Awesome.

On a cruise several years ago, there was a letter in our cabin stating that my platinum status earned me the privilege of using the services of a concierge. One day, I was unable to get a restaurant reservation at the time I wanted, so I dug out the letter which listed the phone number of the concierge desk. I called and asked if the concierge could try to make our reservation for us. He said he would try and call me back. He called back to let us know he was able to make the reservation - and then he asked how I got his number.

We sailed on the Breakaway last month. We stayed in a Haven suite and DH and I both have Platinum status. The one and only time I called the concierge I left her a message but my call was never returned, nor did she follow through on my request. Our butler was very good and he made the dinner reservation I had requested through the concierge.

On a cruise several years ago, there was a letter in our cabin stating that my platinum status earned me the privilege of using the services of a concierge. One day, I was unable to get a restaurant reservation at the time I wanted, so I dug out the letter which listed the phone number of the concierge desk. I called and asked if the concierge could try to make our reservation for us. He said he would try and call me back. He called back to let us know he was able to make the reservation - and then he asked how I got his number.

This is our experience also. On a smaller ship we asked for and finally got the concierge phone number. It appears to be a closely guarded secret outside of the Haven. Concierge helped us with one reservation, then asked how we got the number.

On the larger ships we asked once about concierge number (just to see) but were unable to get it. We have been Platinum for years and Platinum Plus since they created that group.

We sailed on the Breakaway last month. We stayed in a Haven suite and DH and I both have Platinum status. The one and only time I called the concierge I left her a message but my call was never returned, nor did she follow through on my request. Our butler was very good and he made the dinner reservation I had requested through the concierge.

Unfortunately, not surprising.

If they are going to have this benefit, they should have a separate concierge, at least on the bigger ships. The Haven concierge is very busy with Haven passengers to give the Platinum guests equal attention.