THE SECRETS OF THE NCL HAVEN LUXURY EXPERIENCE

[Sthrngary]

30 minutes ago, Wintersun48 said:

Might be a silly question but are there any additional charges in the haven restaurant? Any supplements? How about food bought to your room, can we order anything and it’s included?Assume drinks are covered in our premium beverage package? Thanks.

Allow me to break this down for you. Assuming you are on a ship with a Haven Restaurant, that is on the larger ships.

 

There is no fee for foods like when you go to some of the Specialty Restaurants.  The only time I had a fee was when I ordered a desert that came from Cagney's one evening.  If you order something with advance notice from the MDR, again, no charge.

 

Room Service in the Haven Suites are done by your butler and there for no service fee.  I ask the butler for Haven Menus and try to order just from the Haven Restaurant ask long as they are open.  If I want something from a specialty Restaurant, I have to have a perk meal there or pay for it.  My butler will service in courses.  

 

I hope I answered your questions.

 

Cruise well. 

[Sthrngary]

I am completely bored.  We live in a state that has a Covid-19 issue so we am isolating for now.  I have no cruises planned until December 2022.  So let's attempt to relive some good times.  Here is a question, 

 

"What was favorite part of your last NCL Haven Cruise?"

 

My Answer: 

 

"My early morning coffee and light breakfast at the Horizon Lounge.

What I would not do for an Almond Croissant right about now!"

 

Love to hear you favorite experience.  

 

Cruise well!

 

 

[nhtravels]

37 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

 

 

"What was favorite part of your last NCL Haven Cruise?"

 

 

My answer:   The Haven sundeck (and our fabulous bar waiters and attendants).  They even ran to Starbucks for my husband!!  All the staff in the Haven was wonderful of course!

[debnjoe1438]

13 minutes ago, nhtravels said:

My answer:   The Haven sundeck (and our fabulous bar waiters and attendants).  They even ran to Starbucks for my husband!!  All the staff in the Haven was wonderful of course!

I'll let you know in about 9 days. Will have my first haven experience starting Saturday. 

[debnjoe1438]

59 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

I am completely bored.  We live in a state that has a Covid-19 issue so we am isolating for now.  I have no cruises planned until December 2022.  So let's attempt to relive some good times.  Here is a question, 

 

"What was favorite part of your last NCL Haven Cruise?"

 

My Answer: 

 

"My early morning coffee and light breakfast at the Horizon Lounge.

What I would not do for an Almond Croissant right about now!"

 

Love to hear you favorite experience.  

 

Cruise well!

 

 

Someday, hopely soon, this COVID !@#$ will be a bad memory

[momofjohnjr]

2 hours ago, debnjoe1438 said:

I'll let you know in about 9 days. Will have my first haven experience starting Saturday. 

I'm the next week! 😀

[Sailing12Away]

The bartenders of course, Veronica & Marciel. We were on an Encore Alaska sailing and did the Tracy Arms excursion our of Juneau. The smaller excursion ship grabbed a hunk of iceberg and made glacier margaritas on board. We saved our leftover ice and ran it up to the Haven bar when we got back on the bigger ship. They transferred it to a new glass and poured some Talisker on top for a 2nd helping of glacier (literally) cold whiskey.

 

Veronica promised us she would be on the Prima next fall, so we're hoping we see her there for more of her special concoctions. We'll be in Iceland... but I doubt we'll find any ice to take back on board.

[fox02554]

11 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

I am completely bored.  We live in a state that has a Covid-19 issue so we am isolating for now.  I have no cruises planned until December 2022.  So let's attempt to relive some good times.  Here is a question, 

 

we're about to get walloped by a snow storm , 😞  ☃️ I'm dreaming of the Horizon lounge on the Joy , coffee & a scone , wish I had one of those sofas and those windows to watch the storm

[vacation44]

29 minutes ago, fox02554 said:

we're about to get walloped by a snow storm , 😞  ☃️ I'm dreaming of the Horizon lounge on the Joy , coffee & a scone , wish I had one of those sofas and those windows to watch the storm

Going to get walloped also by the same storm tonight with two weeks to go for my Joy sailing. 

[fox02554]

13 minutes ago, vacation44 said:

Going to get walloped also by the same storm tonight with two weeks to go for my Joy sailing. 

We're on the cape , 24 inches of snow , 70 mph gusts and astronomical high tides , I'm hoping the wind will blow all the snow out to sea   

[Sthrngary]

12 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

The bartenders of course, Veronica & Marciel. We were on an Encore Alaska sailing and did the Tracy Arms excursion our of Juneau. The smaller excursion ship grabbed a hunk of iceberg and made glacier margaritas on board. We saved our leftover ice and ran it up to the Haven bar when we got back on the bigger ship. They transferred it to a new glass and poured some Talisker on top for a 2nd helping of glacier (literally) cold whiskey.

 

Veronica promised us she would be on the Prima next fall, so we're hoping we see her there for more of her special concoctions. We'll be in Iceland... but I doubt we'll find any ice to take back on board.

Great story.  Thank you. Loved it!!!

[darius427]

Well it took a few days but I have finally finished all 52 pages of this thread.  Cheers to you Gary.🍻 This thread may as well be pinned with how often it is on the first page and how much useful info has been provided by you and all the other contributors.  

Wife and I will be having our first Haven experience in March.  Looking very forward to it.  We have booked one of the spa suites as she really wanted access to the Thermal Suite.  

I do have one question that I saw someone ask a few pages ago, but I did not see anyone answer so I will ask again here.  Does the pool area and sundecks get shut down at a certain time?  If so, what time?  Also, how about the Haven bar and lounge?  On previous cruises that we have purchased Vibe passes, they shut everything down at 7:00.  Hoping the Haven is open at least a bit longer than that.  Thanks in advance.

Bob

[Two Wheels Only]

16 minutes ago, darius427 said:

Does the pool area and sundecks get shut down at a certain time?

 

The area is open but the hot tubs get closed after a certain time. You'll see a mesh/net type of thing over the hot tub. It isn't shut down at an exact time and the staff will usually wait until everyone has left the hot tub before closing it. You can walk around on the sundeck but if they are pressure washing the area, you might not be allowed to walk around. 

 

The lounge is always open but the bar hours are listed somewhere (I don't remember them).  

[Sthrngary]

1 hour ago, darius427 said:

Well it took a few days but I have finally finished all 52 pages of this thread.  Cheers to you Gary.🍻 This thread may as well be pinned with how often it is on the first page and how much useful info has been provided by you and all the other contributors.  

Wife and I will be having our first Haven experience in March.  Looking very forward to it.  We have booked one of the spa suites as she really wanted access to the Thermal Suite.  

I do have one question that I saw someone ask a few pages ago, but I did not see anyone answer so I will ask again here.  Does the pool area and sundecks get shut down at a certain time?  If so, what time?  Also, how about the Haven bar and lounge?  On previous cruises that we have purchased Vibe passes, they shut everything down at 7:00.  Hoping the Haven is open at least a bit longer than that.  Thanks in advance.

Bob

@darius427Thank you for your kind words.  It was my pleasure.  I don't remember if the Haven Pool/spa's have a time when the close down.  I do remember going in the Haven Courtyard Spa at 9:30 PM.  The bar stays open longer then the Restaurant but again, I have exact information. I have had drinks at 11:30 PM.  

 

Cruise well.

[ppcox]

15 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

The bartenders of course, Veronica & Marciel. We were on an Encore Alaska sailing and did the Tracy Arms excursion our of Juneau. The smaller excursion ship grabbed a hunk of iceberg and made glacier margaritas on board. We saved our leftover ice and ran it up to the Haven bar when we got back on the bigger ship. They transferred it to a new glass and poured some Talisker on top for a 2nd helping of glacier (literally) cold whiskey.

 

Veronica promised us she would be on the Prima next fall, so we're hoping we see her there for more of her special concoctions. We'll be in Iceland... but I doubt we'll find any ice to take back on board.

If that’s the Prima TA in September I’m sure we can get glacier ice for the Talisker  sounds too good to miss.

[Sailing12Away]

17 hours ago, ppcox said:

If that’s the Prima TA in September I’m sure we can get glacier ice for the Talisker  sounds too good to miss.

I'll be on the Iceland - Southampton sailing in 2023. Haven't looked into excursions yet as I still need to finalize ones for this coming May first. I'm good at booking cruises early... not so much when it comes to the excursion part.

[ppcox]

I

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2022 by ppcox
Forgot to quote

[ppcox]

34 minutes ago, Sailing12Away said:

I'll be on the Iceland - Southampton sailing in 2023. Haven't looked into excursions yet as I still need to finalize ones for this coming May first. I'm good at booking cruises early... not so much when it comes to the excursion part.

 

Just now, ppcox said:

I know that feeling we have an April cruise and have only one excursion planned so far. I’m going to blame all the virus uncertainties but truthfully it’s usually the last couple of weeks before I start researching what’s available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Suite Heart]

Here's the biggest NON-secret of The Haven: once you've done it, you'll never go back...🙃

[Niffernay]

19 minutes ago, Suite Heart said:

Here's the biggest NON-secret of The Haven: once you've done it, you'll never go back...🙃

100%

[Sailing12Away]

38 minutes ago, Suite Heart said:

Here's the biggest NON-secret of The Haven: once you've done it, you'll never go back...🙃

We've gone back to regular rooms just fine. It all depends on the itinerary, ship, and cost. That's not to say that I won't bid on a Haven upgrade every single time it's available, but I have my budget for what I feel each ship is worth and I'll stick to it (for the most part, except when I don't...)

[Sthrngary]

1 hour ago, Sailing12Away said:

We've gone back to regular rooms just fine. It all depends on the itinerary, ship, and cost. That's not to say that I won't bid on a Haven upgrade every single time it's available, but I have my budget for what I feel each ship is worth and I'll stick to it (for the most part, except when I don't...)

What is very important about your post is you make a very valid case.  There is a fare amount that is just to high for most of us.  We all have a budget simply to live life.  If for any reason budget or otherwise someone whom loves the Haven choose not to book it, there are alternatives.  I as well as other Haven Frequent guest rarely consider those as options.  I am breaking the mold on my upcoming Breakaway Cruise.  

 

For transparency, my next cruise had a discount from the Casino for 20% off the fare.  They would not allow the Haven to be part of that promotion.  The club Balcony Suite was $1249.00 where the Haven was $3,321.00.  That is a savings of $2,072.00 per person.  I will log that amount so when they send the upgrade bids, I know what it would have been at the normal fare when I booked it.  Upgrading has a strategy if you really want it.

 

If we are unable to upgrade, our plan is kind of simple.  We have the perk of 2 Specialty meals, we will get a 3 to 5 specialty meal package.  We will consider the Vibe Beach Club and or the Thermal Spa.  We will upgrade to the Premium Plus Drink Package.  Not the Haven however a alternative that is worthy.

 

All of you read my posts and know I love the Haven.  Yet @Sailing12Away makes a point.  Choose your Fare, Ship, Facility, Budget, Expectations and Itinerary carefully.  I still prefer NCL over other brands even if not in the Haven.  Wish me luck in December.  

 

Cruise well. 

[complawyer]

for lack of a better term, lets call it "point of no return" or break even point.  i think anyone should only book a cabin that they can comfortably afford. while i love the haven complex almost as much as sthrngary, when the ship has a choice of a suite or a haven suite and the ship has no "haven complex, i'm going with the suite. the perks and the rooms are almost identical. onships like the jade or dawn, where they have only the dedicated pool area, it's really not worth the extra $$$ to pay for the haven just for the pool area (at least imho).

 

through CAS, we also get a 10% discount for suites and 20% on all other cabin categories (this includes club balcony). the discount makes the haven costs a little more palatable. 

 

while in the past, we were very happy in the former mid ship mini-suites, ncl ran a promotion allowing us to book a haven. like most others, we became spoiled. we have a very lovely and helpful CAS person, that advises us of what credits we have, and to what comps we are entitled.

 

so inthe end, my advice, is "JUST" book what you can afford, no sense going into debt for a haven, especially whenyou need to factor inthe costs of all shore excusions, gifts, air travel, hotel etc.

 

bottom line: whichever cabin you pick, chill, enjoy, and bon voyage.

 

[Sthrngary]

1 hour ago, complawyer said:

through CAS, we also get a 10% discount

What does "CAS" stand for??  Thank you for your post.

[don't-use-real-name]

10 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

What does "CAS" stand for??  Thank you for your post.

CAS - Casinos At Sea