The NCL Haven Luxury VIP Experience "Secrets" REVISED for 2022

[Branbay]

9 minutes ago, knscruiser322 said:

 

Funny story. I did the same thing as you. I noticed the price difference between the bidding and upgrading to Haven was not that big of a difference so I upgraded to the Haven. 

 

My wife still thinks we're in a Club Balcony on deck 11, the surprise is we're in the Haven on deck 14. I thought she deserved some relaxing and this would be a first for both of us in the Haven.

 

Oh she also is a school teacher! I guess there are a lot of educators who frequent these boards.

That's too funny! This morning I looked up deck 15 on the Escape as I told her that deck; I now have a stateroom number should she inquire further...I plan to keep her waiting until we board in Miami.  I may even walk past the Haven check area (just briefly). This is a first for us as well.

[wolft927]

17 minutes ago, knscruiser322 said:

 

Funny story. I did the same thing as you. I noticed the price difference between the bidding and upgrading to Haven was not that big of a difference so I upgraded to the Haven. 

 

My wife still thinks we're in a Club Balcony on deck 11, the surprise is we're in the Haven on deck 14. I thought she deserved some relaxing and this would be a first for both of us in the Haven.

 

Oh she also is a school teacher! I guess there are a lot of educators who frequent these boards.

Wife and I took our oldest and his girlfriend (both 20) on a cruise last year and we told them we had balcony and they got inside cabins, should have seen there faces when we boarded with the escort and brought to the Haven on the Breakaway. 

[Treasure Hunter]

The Haven is Amazing. We also cruise Celebrity ( retreat) a lot because they give me nice discounts thru the casino but I would just cruise Haven if I could. Took daughter and grandkids on the Breakaway ( two bedroom family suite) and they couldn’t stop thanking and hugging me. Booked next February on the Encore. Wait until they see that Haven!

[CDR Benson]

2 hours ago, Branbay said:

Just for some laughs, my wife asked what stateroom we were in last night, she doesn't know we are staying in the Haven as it's a surprise. So I quickly blurted out it was on deck 15...she bought it...lol.  I also had some difficulty intercepting the Haven letter with the luggage tags, she's a school teacher and she's off for the summer.

 

I didn't have to try to surprise the Good Mrs. Benson about our cruise in the Haven last year.  She doesn't bother with the details---she leaves that to me.  Even though I didn't hide the benefits of the Haven, it didn't really register with her beyond that.

 

. . . Until we got on board and she saw our suite.  The look of delight on her face was worth the price of the trip.  I trust it will be the same for you---it will make all the secrecy worthwhile.

 

The funny part is, while I was planning that cruise, the GMB really didn't get why I was going all out.  She kept saying:  "I don't care how fancy the room is, as long as it has a balcony."---"What do we need a butler for?"---"We don't need a private restaurant; the regular ones on the ship will be fine."

 

That was then.  Now, she won't sail in anything but the Haven.  In fact, she wants the same suite on the same ship (which I've booked for next year).

 

Fair warning, friend.

[js]

On 6/18/2023 at 3:59 PM, mconthehighseas said:

I have a dress code code question.
It's not totally related to the Haven, but if I ask elsewhere on the board, it could start a battle, if not a war.  I am asking for information only, and I know that someone here knows!

How strict are the restaurants about no shorts after 6 pm?
My son is 10, and hates long pants.  He might consent to wear them if the temperature is below freezing, but indoors he doesn't. He does not wear jeans or torn clothes, btw.
Will they make an exception for reasonably behaved kids, or do we have to eat before 6?

 

We travel exclusively in the Haven on NCL and my dh will only wear shorts (the reason why we started sailing NCL back when it turned "freestyle"). He wears golf shorts and shirts to dinners, in Haven restaurant and specialty dining. In LeBistro, they have sat us both inside and once outside (well inside the ship but outside the restaurant) due to the shorts since it says pants are required.

You will not have any issues.

[vacation44]

21 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

It's been reported that one of the MDR's may require long pants, Manhattan?

I really wouldn't know as I've never dined at the MDRs.  

On the Epic this past March, pants were required for men in the Manhattan room.  The men in our group were turned away wearing very nice dress shorts.   They returned wearing sweats and jeans.   They all looked nicer with their first outfits of choice.

[RocketMan275]

27 minutes ago, vacation44 said:

On the Epic this past March, pants were required for men in the Manhattan room.  The men in our group were turned away wearing very nice dress shorts.   They returned wearing sweats and jeans.   They all looked nicer with their first outfits of choice.

I'm always shocked at those who claim disgust at the sight of a man's bare legs in a MDR.  My response to them is this: "You will see far fewer bare legs if you stop crawling under the tables."

[amygutman]

2 hours ago, CDR Benson said:

 

I didn't have to try to surprise the Good Mrs. Benson about our cruise in the Haven last year.  She doesn't bother with the details---she leaves that to me.  Even though I didn't hide the benefits of the Haven, it didn't really register with her beyond that.

 

. . . Until we got on board and she saw our suite.  The look of delight on her face was worth the price of the trip.  I trust it will be the same for you---it will make all the secrecy worthwhile.

 

The funny part is, while I was planning that cruise, the GMB really didn't get why I was going all out.  She kept saying:  "I don't care how fancy the room is, as long as it has a balcony."---"What do we need a butler for?"---"We don't need a private restaurant; the regular ones on the ship will be fine."

 

That was then.  Now, she won't sail in anything but the Haven.  In fact, she wants the same suite on the same ship (which I've booked for next year).

 

Fair warning, friend.

I agree with this 100%.

 

When I surprised my husband with our family's first suite on the Gem for our 10th anniversary he was all "Why are we spending so much money when we can just have a balcony. What will we do with the Butler and concierge? It's so bougie!" Well - he loved every moment from the minute we checked in and had that amazing private escort past the crowds of people.

 

Then we found out about the Haven on that cruise and since that point we've never sailed in anything but a Haven or the Yacht Club or if it's an older NCL ship in a suite. Why? Because we love being on vacation but not STRESSING on that vacation. The Haven lets you be spoiled and truly relax. Is it bougie? Sure but it's worth every penny to be truly on vacation and stress free.

 

Warmest, Amy

[Daniel A]

At the end of the cruise, do Haven passengers get priority disembarkation and luggage retrieval?

[wolft927]

4 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

At the end of the cruise, do Haven passengers get priority disembarkation and luggage retrieval?

Yes, You can brought down to the Gangway Via Private Crew elevator bypassing the lines and crowds

[omahabob]

Maybe we should do a statistical analysis of teachers travelling in the Haven. My wife is a retired teacher (retired Air Force as well), and we'll be taking our first cruise in the Haven on the Viva in March.

[meglet]

35 minutes ago, omahabob said:

Maybe we should do a statistical analysis of teachers travelling in the Haven. My wife is a retired teacher (retired Air Force as well), and we'll be taking our first cruise in the Haven on the Viva in March.

38 years in the classroom. I can only travel when children are also traveling, so the Haven gives a LITTLE more of a break from kids. Tried one Crystal when they first started up after Covid and didn't like the vibe.

[CDR Benson]

6 minutes ago, meglet said:

38 years in the classroom. 

 

"Good morning, Miss Dove."

[Treasure Hunter]

Just remember if the kids are on vacation they will also be in the Haven. Don’t be disappointed. It’s still much better than the rest of the ship!

[omahabob]

The Haven Sundeck is supposedly restricted to guests 16 and older.

[Treasure Hunter]

Yes and it is an oasis of calm when that rule is observed.

[LiMurr]

On 3/19/2023 at 1:07 PM, mearsfansinboise said:

I didn't want to get blasted for coming off as "hoity-toity" on another thread, but I saw that they have 😍 😍 Warm.  Chocolate.  Hazelnut.  Soufflé.  😍 😍 on the menu in the MDRs.

The ONLY thing that bugs me about the Haven is the menu that never changes ....  especially the desserts.  I don't like/want ANY of the desserts on the menu there - mayyyybe the cheesecake, but certainly not enough to have it more than once.  So, we ask our butler to get us a copy of the MDR menu each day so that we could possibly have apps from there as a late night snack .... and desserts.  🤤

Great idea.  Is there a charge if you ask your butler to bring food from the MDR or other free venues?

[graphicguy]

11 minutes ago, LiMurr said:

Great idea.  Is there a charge if you ask your butler to bring food from the MDR or other free venues?

Yes…in the form of a tip, as they are not part of the DSC the rest of the crew shares!

[LiMurr]

On 4/10/2023 at 9:55 PM, UKstages said:

i'm not gary, but i share his love of the almond croissant. it's typically found on the breakfast buffet. (the haven restaurant has a set menu of items, but also a buffet with breads, pastries, fruit, cereals and the aforementioned croissant.) so, there is nothing really to order, per se, unless you're asking for them to be delivered at a time other than breakfast. the croissant has a few sliced almonds on top and inside is a filling of some sort of almond paste. other than that, it's a croissant! (but the almond filling makes it truly special for those who are fans.)

Why do I feel like my upcoming cruise is going to be a total loss if for some reason they don’t have those darned almond croissants? 🤪

[LiMurr]

On 4/11/2023 at 2:45 PM, RocketMan275 said:

Sprinkle a package of Sweet n Low on the croissant.  The granules will absorb the calories from the croissant.  Blow the granules away and you'll have a calorie free croissant.  Just be sure you don't get the granules on yourself or you'll get the full effect of the calories.

If you break it in half, the calories fall out.  

[knscruiser322]

Sorry to derail again, but I have a question that probably would get answered here first. How long does the specialty dining normally take?

 

I noticed all the shows start around 7PM and my dining reservations are at 5:30PM. My wife does NOT like rushing dinner at all. I'm curious should I just have the shows on a night where I don't have specialty dining.

[graphicguy]

16 minutes ago, knscruiser322 said:

Sorry to derail again, but I have a question that probably would get answered here first. How long does the specialty dining normally take?

 

I noticed all the shows start around 7PM and my dining reservations are at 5:30PM. My wife does NOT like rushing dinner at all. I'm curious should I just have the shows on a night where I don't have specialty dining.

Probably book dinner after the shows?  That would take care of any concern about dinners running long.  Or, as you suggest, just go to Specialty Dinners on the nights you don’t have a show booked.

[CDR Benson]

4 minutes ago, knscruiser322 said:

I'm curious should I just have the shows on a night where I don't have specialty dining.

 

I suspect that would be best, to have your specialty dining on evenings separate from the nights you attend the shows.

 

You state your dining reservations are for 1730.  At 1830, I'd be thinking of heading toward the show's venue.  Allowing for delays, including the possibility that there is a line to enter the theatre and the time it will take to find seating.  And the consideration that you want to be seated before the show starts.

 

So, from 1730 to 1830, that gives you an hour to enjoy your specialty meal.  It's possible, if the service is on point, with no delays from the kitchen.   Even so, you'll be looking at your watch the whole time, knowing the clock is ticking.  And that will transmit to your wife, putting static in her desire to dine leisurely.

 

As I said, it's possible, but the envelope is too narrow to be confident that you'll have a leisurely meal then amble your way to the show.  Unless it can't be scheduled any other way, I'd do the specialty dining and the shows on different nights.

 

 

[NikkiPoooo27]

43 minutes ago, knscruiser322 said:

I noticed all the shows start around 7PM and my dining reservations are at 5:30PM

 

That's not going to be enough time to be seated, eat, and get seated for your show even if you did want to rush. On the music cruises with tightly packed show schedules they offer an "express" option in the MDR and even that takes nearly an hour from entering the room to leaving the room.

[knscruiser322]

Thanks so much for the input! Yea it's wishful thinking on my part where everything goes right, lol.

 

I might have to wait for the 25 day window to open for the shows, book the shows and then reschedule any dining if I have to.

 

My wife definitely wants me to get reservations in for the shows.