Breakaway Haven Spa Suite Sailing 9/29/19-10/06/19

[graphicguy]

Misc areas on the ship....

 

 

[Deeliteful]

5 hours ago, RedwingHockeyFan said:

 

Can't really put a full size pool there, it is above the Fitness Center and part of the Spa.

Lol, then they didn’t think it through when designing the ship imo 😱

[RedwingHockeyFan]

21 minutes ago, Deeliteful said:

Lol, then they didn’t think it through when designing the ship imo 😱

 

No disagreement there.  I often wonder why they never put a full size pool in an adult only area like Spice or Vibe.  They are basically forcing anyone who wants to get into a pool into that one small area.  If there is one thing I'm not a fan of when it comes to NCL ships it is the layout of the top decks.

[Deeliteful]

Totally agree.

[graphicguy]

EXCURSIONS.....With the Platinum Latitudes 10% discount and the $50 credit per excursion perk, booking excursions through NCL was quite reasonable.  I don't think I spent more than $50 on any excursion and I think $0 with the credits and discounts.

 

-Roatan...ruins I had never seen before (and I've seen quite a few Mayan ruins throughout the Yucatan) and aviary/monkey/sea lion exhibits, along with a beach relaxing area....

[graphicguy]

Belize-Spice Farm....wasn't really sure I'd enjoy this, but I did.  Again, ruins I hadn't seen before and a tour of the local (and quite large) spice farm.  It was on a tram and the tour operator would actually stop along the way to pick and let us smell/taste the spices, fresh off the plants.....

 

 

Edited October 11, 2019 by graphicguy

[graphicguy]

Harvest Caye....NCL's private island.  NCL has done quite a nice job with this.  It's very clean.  Has a big pool/beach area, cabanas, changing areas and a small shopping area.  It was not crowded, at all.  They are going to expand this area.  As it is, worth it to hang out.....

[graphicguy]

Cozumel....I can't even count the number of times I've been here.  I was originally going to just wander around a little and make it a ship day.  But, with the "deals" on the excursions, I booked a cooking seminar coupled with beach time.  Well worth it, as I think the entire day cost $49 all totaled.  Plus, the meal we cooked was fantastic......

 

 

[RedwingHockeyFan]

30 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

EXCURSIONS.....With the Platinum Latitudes 10% discount and the $50 credit per excursion perk, booking excursions through NCL was quite reasonable.  I don't think I spent more than $50 on any excursion and I think $0 with the credits and discounts.

 

-Roatan...ruins I had never seen before (and I've seen quite a few Mayan ruins throughout the Yucatan) and aviary/monkey/sea lion exhibits, along with a beach relaxing area....

Is this the Maya Key Private Island excursion?

[graphicguy]

20 minutes ago, RedwingHockeyFan said:

Is this the Maya Key Private Island excursion?

Yes!

[graphicguy]

Edited October 11, 2019 by graphicguy

[RedwingHockeyFan]

1 minute ago, graphicguy said:

Yes!

That place was excellent.  Great snorkeling and the animal encounter with the monkeys was a riot.  I had one pulling at the necklace I was wearing in my profile pic while another one was digging in my pockets for something.  Another one had crawled into the top of my friends shirt and came out the bottom, it was hilarious!  I'd do that excursion again for sure.

[graphicguy]

Just now, RedwingHockeyFan said:

That place was excellent.  Great snorkeling and the animal encounter with the monkeys was a riot.  I had one pulling at the necklace I was wearing in my profile pic while another one was digging in my pockets for something.  Another one had crawled into the top of my friends shirt and came out the bottom, it was hilarious!  I'd do that excursion again for sure.

It was a fun excursion.

[graphicguy]

For good or ill, I did see two people being pulled aside by the Cozumel Police as we were entering the Cozumel area at the end of the ships’ dock.  One had their “vaper” being inspected....the other seemed to have a baggie of “snacks” being inspected.  They had dogs as you entered Cozumel, dogs wandering around with the police, and dogs sniffing as you came back. Heads up!

[graphicguy]

[ggTexasGal]

graphicguy, I love the photos you've posted.

Thank you for this review of the Breakaway and Western Caribbean.

Also, thank you very much for taking the time to make special posts for those of us who asked!

 

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, ggTexasGal said:

graphicguy, I love the photos you've posted.

Thank you for this review of the Breakaway and Western Caribbean.

Also, thank you very much for taking the time to make special posts for those of us who asked!

 

Glad you like them and happy to help where I can.  Have a bit more to post when I get the chance.  Thanks!

[graphicguy]

One of my favorite Platinum Latitudes perks is free laundry.  It allows me to pack less, and in turn use only carry on luggage......

[graphicguy]

Every time we docked, we weren’t alone...either docked next to us or at the same port at the same time, just at a different pier.

[graphicguy]

More Raymond concoctions in the Haven bar....

[brookie848]

Did you happen to get a photo of the Haven dinner menu? I saw the breakfast and lunch menus, but not the dinner.

 

It looks like you had a great trip and I'm enjoying reading about it. 

[graphicguy]

I thought I posted the Haven menus earlier.  But, here's a link to one.....

 

https://images.app.goo.gl/HFZvKPGAgf3k4Rjq5

[graphicguy]

One of the nice touches NCL does to extend their focus on customer service is to have water/lemonade as well as cool water towels waiting for you when you come back on board after being on a hot excursion, and they're excited to see you back on board....

 

 

[graphicguy]

So, I can't think of a better way to sum the whole trip up than of this view.....

[graphicguy]

If you couldn't tell by now, I had a fabulous time.  I think I've sailed in most of NCL's cabin classifications....solo,  balcony, Aft Suite, and Haven. I've sailed some of their largest (Escape-Epic) and some of their smaller (GEM) ships, as well as the "in-between" ships ("-Away").  I've never had anything but an excellent time on any of them.  The ships, regardless of class or age, are always impeccably maintained and clean as a pin.  

 

Aside from some less than stellar passenger interactions, service is always great and offered with a sincere smile.  I always get the impression that the crew are actually trying their best to help you enjoy yourself, not just going through the motions.

 

I felt the food, while always quite good (at least over the last 9 years or so), has improved on each subsequent cruise I've taken.  I did not dine in the MDRs this time around.  But, from the Garden Cafe, to the Specialty Restaurants, to the Haven Restaurant, my food was high quality, prepared well, and delicious.

 

The value equation has been high with NCL, too.  Compared to what I would have paid on NCL's competition, when including all the perks, OBC, etc, NCL has provided the best value I've been able to find the last few years.  In addition, my end of cruise bill has been $0 the last 3 cruises.  Matter of fact, I've received a check from NCL for the part of my OBC I've not used a few weeks after I've cruised.  This time is no different.  I'll get a $7 refund this time (hey....beats having a big bill at the end of the cruise).  Part of that stems from the amount of OBC that NCL, my TA and my credit card company offers.  Part of that stems from the fact I don't buy much in the way of jewelry, alcohol, etc while on board.

 

I could have spent more on other cruise lines.  I can't imagine I would have received more.

 

Once you total up everything....fares, DSCs, perks, tips, etc....I'd be hard pressed to find a better value.

 

Speaking of tips......being in the Haven, DSC is not part of the compensation for staff at the bar, Butlers, and Concierges (although those in the Haven Restaurant and the cabin steward DO participate in the DSC).

 

Lots of debate on what to tip.  Personally, if someone went out of their way for me, I tip.  So, how did that shake out this cruise.....

 

-Butler...Narcisco....nice person...I didn't really need him for much (as a matter of fact, I didn't need him for anything that I wanted).  He delivered snacks every after noon.  He encountered me in the hallways and asked to make sure I had everything I needed (I did).  So, I tipped him $20.

 

-Cabin Steward...again, nice person.  I didn't request anything from him.  He was efficient and always seemed to know when I would be out of the cabin as it was NEVER untidy.  He seemed to slip in and slip out without me seeing him doing so.  I'd shower in the a.m., go to breakfast, come back and the cabin was spic and span.  I'd go on an excursion, change clothes, and come back to a magically clean cabin.  Don't know how he did it.  But, he did it.  I tipped him $25.

 

-Haven Bar....spent a whole lot of time at the bar.....usually a couple hours a day/night (if not more).  You really get to know most of those who stay in the Haven as it's a limited group.  So, we'd "hang out".  Cocktails before dinner?  Cocktails after hanging out around the Haven Pool? Cocktails before a show?  Cocktails after returning from an excursion?  Cocktails after seeing a show?  The Haven Bar was THE HANGOUT for all of that.  The two who made that time special were Raymond (night time bar tender) and Davidette (day time bartender).  I've shown some pics of their mastery of drinks.  Moreover, they were just wonderful people to talk with.  They went out of their way to make sure we were all having a good time.  Didn't take long for them to know what we liked, either.  They are "pros" and it shows why they had the "plum" Haven Bartender roles.  

 

While I didn't drink much during the day (believe it or not, there were people at the Haven Bar at 7:30 a.m. before they went to breakfast having cocktails).  I couldn't do that, but some could.  However, there's nothing quite as satisfying as an ICE COLD beer after a sweltering daytime excursion.

 

I gave them both $50 (total of $100).

 

-Concierges...I used both of them.  They did EVERYTHING for me...even the seemingly impossible.  Dinner at a sold out restaurant?  No problem.  Front row seats at a show that was scheduled to start in 20 minutes?  Done.  Problem with my charges?  Excursion planning?  Reminding me of conflicts in my schedule?  Escorting me on and off the ship, while skipping all the lines?  Friendly smile first thing in the morning?  Same smile at night?  Done!!!!!!!!  They were there outside of their published hours, too.  They were supposed to be "open" from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  There was someone at their desks at least ½ hour earlier than that, to hours later than that (Captains Reception).  They seemed happy to help and glad we were sailing with them.  $75 ea ($150 total).

 

I'm done cruising for 2019.  Don't know if my next cruise will be with NCL next year.  But, they'll be the first cruise line I look at when I get ready to book.

 

Hope you enjoyed my postings and pictures.  Glad I could offer a little glimpse into my cruise.