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Haven = Bleh


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I can feel your pain! Although we did not book the Haven the amount of young people on our cruise was very surprising for the second week of February. We found a very diverse passenger base on our cruise which was wonderful, but so many more children than we've experienced, even on Spring Break! I hope your enjoying your cruise, go see Jay at 5 O'clock Somewhere on the Waterfront. He will dull your pain!

 

Thanks PJ. We are enjoying it anyways. The waterfront is a killer feature! We also have the thermal spa which is simply awesome. The staff are wonderful, etc.

 

I don't mean this to be an NCL sucks thread, and I don't think it's viewed that way. But just for clarity sake.

 

Haven is sold as a "haven" and a "sanctuary"... But it's really a children's playground. Now I know. Hopefully others know now too of they didn't before.

 

Would I book the Haven again? Maybe. But I'll bring my 2 kids and let them splash and play too. May as well. Its a good family product. But totally unacceptable considering how it's marketed by NCL.

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Royal’s Solarium is really wonderful. Super quiet and beautiful ambiance/decor. When we cruised without kids we really enjoyed this area. I could sit and read all day if I wanted. NCL doesn’t really have an area like this for free.

 

 

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Royal’s Solarium is really wonderful. Super quiet and beautiful ambiance/decor. When we cruised without kids we really enjoyed this area. I could sit and read all day if I wanted. NCL doesn’t really have an area like this for free.

 

 

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NCL doesn't have an area like this at any price. I think that was supposed to be the Haven, lol.

 

Spice H2O is pretty cool, I like the adults only main pool idea, too. They don't seem to mind making plenty of things adults only, which makes the Haven issue all the more bizarre.

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My point exactly. You are the one the Haven clearly caters to. It's fine, I just wish it was advertsed that way and I wouldn't have wasted my money on it. Why should I have to go to the complimentary venue like Spice? What's the point of booking the haven?

 

Lesson learned. NCL isn't for me and that's ok. I prefer royal as they have the adults solarium, no premium price for it either. Thought this would be unique and better but definitely not.

 

Just kind of a warning to others who may have considered it. And maybe a nice notice to families that it's an excellent place to let your kids jump and splash around while you are pampered.

 

Yes, I think NCL is definitely a family oriented line. Kids need to behave and nobody, be it adult or child, should completely take over an area. The new Celebrity Edge looks like it might be a better fit for you!

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Lets just say, this picture was after it quieted down....

 

20180225_124151.jpg

 

And the little boy standing falls backwards & cracks his skull open .....it’s not the yelling etc as kids are kids it’s this potential for a bad ending. I have always booked the Haven but after the first time watching kids doing this I thought I take a weeks vacation from the medical profession I felt sitting there I was on call for an accident to happen. Sad part these are the parents who would likely sue NCL because the ship hit a wave & knocked the child over. I think it was the parents ignorance that bothered me the most. Now I walk thru eyes down very quickly & book a room on front of the ship where I can enjoy the breeze & sun. The Haven restaurant I find first day a bit crazy but I think after that the kids discover the Buffett with the soft ice-cream, pizza.

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NCL doesn't have an area like this at any price. I think that was supposed to be the Haven, lol.

 

Spice H2O is pretty cool, I like the adults only main pool idea, too. They don't seem to mind making plenty of things adults only, which makes the Haven issue all the more bizarre.

Yes they do, the Spa and Vibe.

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Does anyone have any idea how many Haven cabins on this class of ship are 2 bedroom FAMILY Cabins? C'mon people, there are going to be kids, its not sold as an adult venue by any stretch. Do your homework and stop complaining.

 

Yes, misssing some other hot tub photos and the other side of the pool.

 

Drama, drama, drama. If I'm on a cruise in the Haven, I'd be spending my internet minutes doing something better than this!

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Does anyone have any idea how many Haven cabins on this class of ship are 2 bedroom FAMILY Cabins? C'mon people, there are going to be kids, its not sold as an adult venue by any stretch. Do your homework and stop complaining.

 

Yes, misssing some other hot tub photos and the other side of the pool.

 

Drama, drama, drama. If I'm on a cruise in the Haven, I'd be spending my internet minutes doing something better than this!

 

Truth.

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So sorry it was not great for you.

 

Sometimes the Haven is the "Rich kid's pool", other times it truly is a "restful haven". Unfortunately, one can never be sure. But booking during the summer, spring break, or any week with a holiday tends to up the odds toward kid central.

 

That being said I cruised in April 2013 on the Jewel expecting tons of kids. I took my 18 year old niece when she was available. The casino was not smoky as families spent time together. I cannot recall any rude kids.

 

Last year we cruised Epic in DOS Feb/Mar and our Haven was very chill. I expected more kids so we booked thermal spa passes and it ended up the loud drunks in the spa hot tubs were worse than any kids on the ship. We loved POSH on Epic which is 18+ only and is included with a suite. It was near the pool and eatery but still quiet and relaxing. I have never been a main pool person so I never ventured down on the main pool deck other than to walk through.

 

There have been many threads on CC as to NCL's inconsistant marketing as to whether the Haven is a quiet getaway or a place for families. Since the havens are small, even a few kids can seem like more.

 

I have been lucky cruising haven and suites. But whenever I book NCL I realize it is a mainstream line and even in the haven there could be lots of kids.

 

I have taken three cruises 11 days or longer and those definately have lots less kids. I did not take those cruises for that reason it was just an observation.

 

 

 

 

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If you want adult only, low to no noise, I would not expect that in a general area even in the Haven. They have multiple bedroom suites there for a reason.

 

Want that peace and quite. Book the Thermal spa.

Sauna, heated lounge chairs, hot tub, etc etc etc.

Best part.

NO KIDS allowed.

 

If some family was in Haven and children running amuck and being loud I would have no issues bringing attention to the staff who will deal with it.

Kids can be kids but kids don't need to be allowed to run amuck and yelling etc either.

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Considering the number of Haven Suites that have multiple bedrooms, I find it hard to believe that anyone would be surprised that there would be a lot of families staying in the Haven. If it was intended to be "adult only" they would have designed it to only have 2-person suites.

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Doesn’t look too bad to me. Is there a second hot tub? I’d plop myself down right in the middle...they’d eventually leave, not wanting to be around the weird adult!

Children shouldn’t be allowed in hot tubs period, anywhere on the ship.

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And the little boy standing falls backwards & cracks his skull open .....it’s not the yelling etc as kids are kids it’s this potential for a bad ending. I have always booked the Haven but after the first time watching kids doing this I thought I take a weeks vacation from the medical profession I felt sitting there I was on call for an accident to happen. Sad part these are the parents who would likely sue NCL because the ship hit a wave & knocked the child over. I think it was the parents ignorance that bothered me the most. Now I walk thru eyes down very quickly & book a room on front of the ship where I can enjoy the breeze & sun. The Haven restaurant I find first day a bit crazy but I think after that the kids discover the Buffett with the soft ice-cream, pizza.

 

Doesn't the contract we agree to say that NCL is not responsible for injuries?

But, I fully understand what you're saying. We had a "non-cruise" situation like this and the mother was so negligent about watching her son, it was as if she wanted him to drown. (Mom in a lounge chair....with back to the pool....kid was about 5 and couldn't swim)

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Every cruise is different. In the Pearl haven we had only two young well mannered teens that we rarely saw. No children at all ever in two weeks. The pool and hot tubs were empty most of the day. Sorry you had a tough time but cruises are like any other vacation...some are diamonds...some are coal.

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I am amazed that people will pay what they do for the Haven. For the same costs, and often less, you can sail the luxury lines, and have a much better experience.

 

Very true. Most of those premium lines only have two-person staterooms for a reason (even if they don’t specifically exclude children).

 

I’ve been on two luxury cruises for what I paid for one in the Haven. The differences between the two experiences were staggering.

 

The Haven is a wonderful experience - it’s just not for everyone (especially those that know what comparables are out there).

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Why? If they can behave properly, what’s the problem?

Kids have their own pool and activity area. I love watching kids have fun but not in hot tubs. I believe the Breakaway doesn’t allow kids in their hot tubs. Many hotels and resorts don’t allow kids in hot tubs. Kids don’t belong sitting at bars either and kids don’t belong attending shows that are rated adult entertainment.

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Concierge isn't going to kick the kids out. It's not so much the screaming, it's the total takeover. Kids are being kids, it's understandable in a sense. But CLEARLY the Haven is a family area. Parents get to unwind on a lounger, drink service, and kids splash and play for hours in a contained area.

 

It didn't even occur to me to see if it was adults only. My fault I guess. But for people without kids, the Haven is a disaster, at least the courtyard aspect of it. Concierge is nice but not worth the hefty price.

 

I know it’s easier to complain anonymously on the internet, but why haven’t you expressed your dissatisfaction/concerns with Anoop or Deepak ?

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We booked our Haven cruise early September of last year in the hopes most kids were just starting school and less likely to miss it. My strategy worked and there were almost no kids.

 

Too bad early September is also smack dab in the middle of hurricane season (and I’m from Florida so I should have known better) and we were on the Escape 7 day cruise that turned into an 11 day cruise. It would have been nice except I was worried sick over my family and home.

 

I’m sorry you didn’t have the experience you hoped for. I would be upset too.

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