Haven passengers, talk to me about your schedules

[Mslmesq]

we will be sailing on a 7 day bliss mexican riviera cruise in the haven. We have 4 nights of specialty restaurants, 3 from the cruise and le bistro from our agent. I assume the rest of the nights we’ll eat in the haven, unless someone suggests the mdr. But I wouldn’t see why.

 

So, other haven guests, irrespective of the ship, what was your schedule on the boat for dinner and shows. What restaurants did you book, what times, and what shows did you see on what nights?

 

Thanks in advance. Somewhat new to ncl and trying to figure this freestyle stuff out.

[MaryZ]

Our schedule is to wake up at like 930, shower, stroll into breakfast at the haven dining room, then go do whatever it is we usually do during the day. Sit and read. Gamble.

Night time, we go eat dinner. See a show. Gamble.

We spent a lot of time in haven when booked in haven.

I do all my reservations for dinner and shows online when they open. I do occasionally ask the concierge to change a few things here and there.

It's a very relaxing way to cruise.

[Enavigo]

We've actually never had a meal in the MDRs. We tend to have breakfast in the Haven around 9:00am and then go about our day. We usually skip lunch and just snack on whatever the butler brings that day. Most nights we have dinner in the Haven as well, after we grab a few drinks in the Haven lounge of course. We have even cancelled some reservations at the specialities to just stay in the Haven. Like others, on occasion we've asked the Conceirge to move around our dinner reservations and we've never had a problem. I really is a very flexible and relaxing way to cruise.

[Mslmesq]

Our schedule is to wake up at like 930, shower, stroll into breakfast at the haven dining room, then go do whatever it is we usually do during the day. Sit and read. Gamble.

Night time, we go eat dinner. See a show. Gamble.

We spent a lot of time in haven when booked in haven.

I do all my reservations for dinner and shows online when they open. I do occasionally ask the concierge to change a few things here and there.

It's a very relaxing way to cruise.

 

Do you need a show reservation? I thought haven guests were automatically reserved. Or am i wrong.

[Mslmesq]

We've actually never had a meal in the MDRs. We tend to have breakfast in the Haven around 9:00am and then go about our day. We usually skip lunch and just snack on whatever the butler brings that day. Most nights we have dinner in the Haven as well, after we grab a few drinks in the Haven lounge of course. We have even cancelled some reservations at the specialities to just stay in the Haven. Like others, on occasion we've asked the Conceirge to move around our dinner reservations and we've never had a problem. I really is a very flexible and relaxing way to cruise.

 

Wow. You found the haven restaurant that good?

[chars]

For my upcoming cruise, we are in the Haven and have the UDP and are platinum so have two dinners as well. I honestly don't see ourselves using all of these dinners, because we really enjoy the Haven for dinner and can't see spending only two dinners there. I find that even though I pre-book restaurants, once we board we usually have to change some times when we find out the times other things are scheduled.

[strykes]

Wow. You found the haven restaurant that good?

 

We've also canceled specialties to eat in the Haven restaurant. While the food can get repetitive, the service can be really stellar, so we stay for the wonderful experience. We have a trip coming up and I debated about whether to take the dining package. We did but might not use all three nights.

[BirdTravels]

We have sailed in the Haven multiple times. The Haven Restaurant is good for a couple of dinners and 1 or 2 lunches. Menu never changes. And is O.K.

 

Food republic, Q, Los Lobos and other restaurants (worth paying cash for).

[AF-1]

Does the Haven restaurant change from ship to ship or is it the same; also do you need to make dinner reservation for the Haven? Thanks

[tombec1]

No reservations needed for the Haven Restaurant.

 

As others have said, we've bailed on booking speciality restaurant's when we had the UDP, and we'd eat at the Haven.

You can go when you want, there's typically no wait, and it's quiet. They'll even bring you something that's not on their menu.. if it's found in a MDR or any of the specialty restaurant's, just ask and you can get it in the Haven.

[calicakes]

We are sailing with our friends who are booked in the Haven. We're booked in the room right next door to them( its NOT Haven). Are they allowed to bring us with them to the Haven dining room or pool?

[Poop_Deck]

We are sailing with our friends who are booked in the Haven. We're booked in the room right next door to them( its NOT Haven). Are they allowed to bring us with them to the Haven dining room or pool?

 

 

 

You would be able to dine with them if approved by the concierge & for a fee (I believe $35 per person). You are not allowed to use any other amenities.

 

 

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[Mslmesq]

We are sailing with our friends who are booked in the Haven. We're booked in the room right next door to them( its NOT Haven). Are they allowed to bring us with them to the Haven dining room or pool?

 

Yes, of course. I just paid thousands and thousands of dollars so you and other people could come and use it for free. (Sarcasm font added).

 

I just honestly don’t know why people think they can come and use the facilities (paid restaurant guests excluded). I see people keep asking this question, and it’s odd at best.

[joyful1nh]

We sailed on the Breakaway 3/4/18 in the Haven. We spent a lot of time in the Haven because the BA is a huge ship, it was spring break, and we enjoyed the more relaxed atmosphere. We did breakfast in the Haven restaurant each morning, they have a small buffet set up along with the menu, so ample variety for us. We did lunch most days in the Haven as well, although DH loves wings so he regularly lunched at O'Sheehan's, which I did not like at all. DD is a vegetarian so she liked the veggie wrap they offer at the less formal table at the Haven poolside.

 

For dinner, we had the 3 UDP package 'free.' We booked four specialties: Cagney's, Teppanyaki, La Cucina, and the Cirque dinner show. We also visited Shanghai Noodles one evening, and Wasabi sushi bar twice (once at lunch). In retrospect, we should have skipped Cagney's (we paid out of pocket) as service was so much better at the Haven, they have a much better wine list, and the food at the Haven was also better. Teppanyaki was worth it for the fun and the food was okay (too much food though!) - at La Cucina we dined outside on the Waterfront, the service was excellent, as was the food so I would go there again. Cirque, you don't go for the food or the service and I'll leave it at that. There were a LOT of empty seats at that show so you'd probably be safe booking onboard. We liked Shanghai as well (they don't take reservations and there was always a long line there at opening to get in, we only waited about 15-20 minutes but we went on the first night when most people were hitting the MDR's.

 

We did pre-book the shows - always the latest one. The concierge will have you arrive 30 minutes prior to showtime in the Haven and escort you to the reserved seating area. I wasn't thrilled with the reserved seating on BA - it was off to the side so everyone wanted to sit on the end of the row because the other seats were against the wall and offered a poor view of the stage. About 5 minutes prior to showtime they open those remaining empty seats to standbys. So you have to get up and down to let people get to those seats. For Burn the Floor the people next to us in a large group got up ten - yes ten - times to go in and out. The last time one of them had the grace to apologize and assure us they weren't coming back - and then a new group came in a sat down in those seats. Probably just bad luck for us, but on other cruise lines where I've sailed in suites with reserved theatre seating, they put the reserved seats in the center of the theater so you aren't forced to sit on the end to have a good view (and can avoid having people climbing over you).

 

The one item they will not bring you from another restaurant to the Haven Restaurant is sushi. We were told it is because it is too hard to make sure the proper temperature is maintained (makes sense).

Edited March 17, 2018 by joyful1nh

[MaryZ]

Do you need a show reservation? I thought haven guests were automatically reserved. Or am i wrong.

 

I just do it while I'm making my dinner ressies. I guess I could just show my haven card and get in without a reservation. I just am in the habit of making reservations I suppose because I don't always sail in Haven.

 

We also do not like the Haven seats and avoid sitting in them. We have seats we like to have up high in the middle.

[VideoTech]

we will be sailing on a 7 day bliss mexican riviera cruise in the haven. We have 4 nights of specialty restaurants, 3 from the cruise and le bistro from our agent. I assume the rest of the nights we’ll eat in the haven, unless someone suggests the mdr. But I wouldn’t see why.

 

So, other haven guests, irrespective of the ship, what was your schedule on the boat for dinner and shows. What restaurants did you book, what times, and what shows did you see on what nights?

 

Thanks in advance. Somewhat new to ncl and trying to figure this freestyle stuff out.

 

On a 7 day cruise, on the ships with Haven restaurants, we never eat in the MDR's. The Haven restaurant is the best of the all of them, and then with the UDP and Platinum free dinners, we usually do 2 nights at Cagney's and one night at one of the other specialty restaurants.

 

Can't help you with the shows as we never go to them.

[DMH15]

Wow. You found the haven restaurant that good?

 

 

 

We found the haven restaurant on Epic superior to all the specialties. And we had the old 7 night UDP. So we could've gone to Cagney's, le bistro, Moderno, etc. Any of them. But we chose the epic club for half our nights.

 

 

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[DMH15]

We are sailing with our friends who are booked in the Haven. We're booked in the room right next door to them( its NOT Haven). Are they allowed to bring us with them to the Haven dining room or pool?

 

 

 

You can invite them to dine with you in the MDR or all of you can do the specialty restaurants together.

 

I have cruised in suites and haven many times with family and friends who were not. It is doable. You meet up after breakfast and do things that are open to everyone. Your friends can entertain you in their suite but cannot entertain you in the haven common areas, restaurants, bars, pool or pool area. This is out of respect for other haven guests. I learned this when my friends introduced me to the haven on my transatlantic and I was hooked and have not looked back.

 

 

 

 

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Edited March 18, 2018 by DMH15

[hate2shop]

Wow. You found the haven restaurant that good?

 

Yes absolutely that good. Had surf and turf at Cagney's one night and was wishing it was as good as the standard surf and turf in the Haven. Kids liked O'Sheehans for lunch or snacks and we all enjoyed Shanghais and Teppanyaki.

Edited March 18, 2018 by hate2shop
spelling

[amygutman]

The best thing about the Haven...well...EVERYTHING is the best, but absolutely shutting your brain off for a week tops the list. The food, service and staff are outstanding. As for the menu in the Haven - it does not change, true, but the food is so darned good that rarely do you care. In fact, as a vegan, they went out of their way to make me awesome meals every night - not just a salad with baked potato!

 

Haven breakfast buffet - incredible! Plus, you can order off their made-to-order menu as well. Honestly - the french roast coffee is the ONLY way to wake up on vacation.

 

You can always choose room service - anything on the boat, with the exception of sushi (which I think was mentioned in their thread) - violates a law about must keeping the temp at a particular level during transit.

 

As for reservations - most shows I think are at 1900 or 1930, so we always choose an early dining time. You can just walk in the Haven, though if you have a show reservation, let the concierge know in advance so you can get an escort (or a later dining time).

 

Have a wonderful time - we are on our 4th Haven coming up with 3 more booked in the next 18 months. There is a reason - and that is pure, pure excellence and enjoyment.

Warmest - Amy

[Caroldoll]

I want to thank all of you for comments regarding The Haven. I was just not "getting it", but now I am understanding. I guess the best way to enjoy dinner is The Haven restaurant, even if you have a lot of other perks. Thank you, thank you.

 

Carole, the newbie!

[AF-1]

The best thing about the Haven...well...EVERYTHING is the best, but absolutely shutting your brain off for a week tops the list. The food, service and staff are outstanding. As for the menu in the Haven - it does not change, true, but the food is so darned good that rarely do you care. In fact, as a vegan, they went out of their way to make me awesome meals every night - not just a salad with baked potato!

 

Haven breakfast buffet - incredible! Plus, you can order off their made-to-order menu as well. Honestly - the french roast coffee is the ONLY way to wake up on vacation.

 

You can always choose room service - anything on the boat, with the exception of sushi (which I think was mentioned in their thread) - violates a law about must keeping the temp at a particular level during transit.

 

As for reservations - most shows I think are at 1900 or 1930, so we always choose an early dining time. You can just walk in the Haven, though if you have a show reservation, let the concierge know in advance so you can get an escort (or a later dining time).

 

Have a wonderful time - we are on our 4th Haven coming up with 3 more booked in the next 18 months. There is a reason - and that is pure, pure excellence and enjoyment.

Warmest - Amy

Question for you Amy, do you always book the same cabin in the Haven; or do you book different ones depending on your trip. What is the average square footage of a haven cabin; I have only been in non haven Penthouse suite on NCL

[AF-1]

On a 7 day cruise, on the ships with Haven restaurants, we never eat in the MDR's. The Haven restaurant is the best of the all of them, and then with the UDP and Platinum free dinners, we usually do 2 nights at Cagney's and one night at one of the other specialty restaurants.

 

Can't help you with the shows as we never go to them.

 

I enjoyed reading your escape review and your review of the haven. Question for you; I have sailed in aft penthouse suite on NCL; non haven. Do you like the aft penthouse with haven access better than a suite inside the haven area?

[DMH15]

I enjoyed reading your escape review and your review of the haven. Question for you; I have sailed in aft penthouse suite on NCL; non haven. Do you like the aft penthouse with haven access better than a suite inside the haven area?

 

 

 

I am not the one you asked but I can give you my reply.

 

I love the aft suites, my favorite is the Sun, which I've cruised in twice. But there's nno Haven, so n/a.

 

last year I cruised iin the DOS on the Epic. Once or twice I thought about the fact I was missing my aft balcony… But over all I much preferred being right in the thick of the Haven.

 

 

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[bluesea777]

We had a week in Haven once - on the Breakaway - we bid low for upgrade and won and got the "worst" H cabin - 15100, lol - and had a great week! If you look at the deck plans - cabin was fine, but we clocked on a lot on our pedometers!

 

We loved dining in the Haven - menu was the same all week but they had different daily specialty. In fact, as it turned out, we had difficult time choosing what we wanted because we liked ALL on the menu!

 

So we ended up dining in Haven 4 times, used 2 out of our 3 SDP for sushi lunches on sea days, and the remaining one SDP and 2 Plat on other days.