Question for Haven travelers

[LovetheCubs]

Just got off the Escape. Took the upsell last min and did the Haven. This was our first cruise and it spoiled us!!! We dont think we could cruise without it now.....just so relaxing and just what we need on vacations.
We did hear others talking about the Haven areas on other boats. We would like to try other NCL ships for different ports. Anyone have expereince with the Haven on others they can share?
We loved the private courtyard...pool....hot tubs....sun deck....bar. Just to name a few!! Thanks!!

[Fido Chuckwagon]

[quote name='LovetheCubs']Just got off the Escape. Took the upsell last min and did the Haven. This was our first cruise and it spoiled us!!! We dont think we could cruise without it now.....just so relaxing and just what we need on vacations.
We did hear others talking about the Haven areas on other boats. We would like to try other NCL ships for different ports. Anyone have expereince with the Haven on others they can share?
We loved the private courtyard...pool....hot tubs....sun deck....bar. Just to name a few!! Thanks!![/QUOTE]

I did the Haven on the Getaway and loved it, it should be very similar to what was on the escape. On some of the smaller ships the haven does not include it's own restaurant.

[bellabaloo]

[quote name='Fido Chuckwagon']I did the Haven on the Getaway and loved it, it should be very similar to what was on the escape. On some of the smaller ships the haven does not include it's own restaurant.[/QUOTE]

We did haven on BA and are doing it again in a few weeks. Awesome and very similar to GA and escape. We are ruined now too. Haha

[cruisemainiac]

Any Jewel class ship and newer have a separate Haven pool area. The Jewel class ships do not however have a Haven restaurant. We did on sea days order lunch at the pool from Cagney's, which was really nice.

[Vyhanek]

If you liked the Haven on the Escape you will really, really like the Haven on the Epic and Breakaway!

I was actually a bit disappointed in the Escape Haven comparatively so. Here's why.

The Escape Haven has probably twice as many family suites as on the Epic or Breakaway. Twice as many family suites means twice as many families, people and children. And the public areas are smaller so they are fitting twice as many people into a smaller space.

The Escape courtyard area gets really, really noisy comparatively. The Escape has the retractable roof which makes the courtyard a 3 story structure made of glass and metal. With all that noise, it just bounced around the courtyard structure, loud and echoing. It was not peaceful or relaxing in any way. It was like when you go to an indoor pool that has lots of kids how the noise echoes. And like I said, twice as many family suites means twice as many people in this area.

Then there's the upper outdoor sundeck. On the Escape, this deck is about 1/3 the size of the upper sundeck on the Epic.....then as I said twice as many Haven guests. There wasn't nearly enough sun loungers for everyone. It was sort of like being on the main pool deck with the lounger situation. They were all full at peak sun times and people were not happy with spending 10 thousand dollars on their cruise to have no where outside to sit. They also allow smoking up there and since it's a much smaller, confined area, you notice the smokers. They've also eliminated the bar on the upper sundeck which is so lovely on the Epic. It was easy to sit there, look out at the ocean and make a new friend. There is no such area like this on the Escape Haven.

On the Epic there were 3 bars specifically designated exclusively for Haven Guests. The Escape has only 1 and again...twice as many people. The Epic also had a bar right outside of the dining room and another one outside the courtyard. The Escape Haven has exactly 1 bar. It gets crowded, there are only like 5 seats at that bar. Its right in the main lobby area, right off the courtyard, right at the entrance to the Haven with the concierge desk, it's busy, loud and lots of kids. It's nice, but this is the main lobby where the concierge sits and right at the main entrance to the Courtyard so imagine....lots and lots and lots of kids, right in the one bar area walking thru.

It isn't nice like the Epic Haven is nice. It's set up so it can't service the customers like the Haven Epic can.

There's a few other minor things like this. I think NCL has reached the peak of maximizing the Haven area. There's too many family suites. They've reduced important things like bars, like upper sundeck space, like adult spaces. Edited May 21, 2016 by Vyhanek