DrNora

Plenty of seating. Rows and rows.

There is no closer elevator. The FFP are a bit of a hike so a scooter would be put to good use.

HAve a great trip!

Cool post, DrNora, thanks for the insight

 

I am still confused by something, many people have posted that the haven ends up only bring a little more than 2 connected balconies (which is what we do for 4 people), but every time I price it out, it's more than double the cost. Is it the time I am sailing? Always peak, unfortunately, as I don't take the kids out of school

 

 

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We don't take them out either and sail in the summer now. My most recent 2 balcony vs suite comparisons have been RCL 2 balconies vs NCL FFP and adjoining balcony. With the OBC and perks we got last summer the price was the same. It has been a couple years since I compared solely on NCL, so I misspoke. I do know that the 2 BR suites on the big NCL ships now are ridiculous. I used to book at least a year in advance as they went quickly. Not so much anymore!

This thread really got me thinking. We have always cruised with our three kids and always in suites. Our first cruise with them was Disney, we got upgraded to a 2BR suite and were hooked. For the five of us on NCL, RCL,a 2 bedroom suite was about the same as two connecting balconies ..a little more, perhaps but the perks were worth it.

Last cruise we had a FFP with connected balcony. We all had Haven privileges. The kids used the Haven lounge to play cards, we had breakfast and one or two dinners there.

When husband and I decided on a cruise for our anniversary I automatically booked a suite, uphold myself to a bigger suite. Final is due shortly .

HAd I not seen this thread I may have just bitten the bullet and paid close to 7K for the 2 of us. YEs, 4 perks and 300 OBC.

I just can't see it anymore. Changed to a large aft balcony. Including the gratuities on the dinner and drinks we are saving over 4000.00. We have 4 ports, we don't have parties or entertain in our suite ( cuz with 3 teens that would even be possible!) and we enjoy each other's company.Our butlers have always brought cookies and gummy bears, I need neither. Concierge got us down the elevator early for excursions..not an issue.

I am actually embarrassed that I even considered spending that kind of money with three kids head to college in the next three years. Yup- we have lost loved ones young , life is short....but 4K is 4K.

As many have said.to each their own. I am so glad that the OP started this conversation. I raise my glass to the OP-and will toast them from my large aft balcony with my "free plus gratuity" cocktail whilst I sail away with my spouse.CHEERS!!!

This appears to be the promo starting May 1.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2350172

No. As someone new to cruising, or relatively new, no. NCL was the cheapest of any cruise line other than Carnival (in many but not all instances) AFTER paying all the nickels and dimes, by far. And you get what you pay for. In my estimation, NCL is by far the best value in terms of quality for what you pay. I'm not sure how they do it. Why they aren't as much as RCCL for instance?

NCL offers us the best value in suites as well. Same week in September-RCCL 5 days on Grandeur in an OS And our 7 nights NCL in Aft Penthouse Getaway suite are the same price for us. With NCL we have the 4 bonuses, 300 OBC . On RCCL there is a free cocktail hour in the concierge lounge. We are diamond so would get free cocktail hour without the suite, but it is only for 3 hours.

July cruise- Royals RFS is larger but 3k more for our family of 5 on Freedom vs smaller but similar Haven 2 br suite.

I am sad that Falmingo grill is leaving Getaway. But I have not felt nickeled and dimes on any cruise I have taken on any line.

With 3 starting college in the next Couple of years we probably won't be cruising ..but I am happy that our last-booked cruise will on NCL.

Pay for the extra service charge and look forward to a wonderful cruise! And Yes, NCL

is nickel and diming you to death! Apparently this is their new logo!

Except that they wiped the gratuity slate clean. He is paying ZERO gratuities on the pkg now. Hardly nickel and diming😜

I love FG - and I must say in 3 Getaway cruises we never found it crowded. So nice for lunnch or a snack . Lrgpizza turned us on to the breakfast as well.

Really a drag to now have a pay venue in that location.

Two thumbs down!

I am not a fan of celebrity self-agrandizing chain restaurants in the first place

Last time I heard of the all you can eat lobster at the buffet was on my June 2014 cruise. I don't know the date they stopped it. I don't really eat that but my family loved it.

We did July of 2014 and it was gone. But they served us whole lobs in Haven.

This ship gets such mixed reviews. We are sailing on it in July. It will be our first NCL cruise and reviews like this make me nervous.

We are going n her for the fourth time despite other options .Yup, lots of options out there but this ship is very special. We have cruised quite a bit and Getaway is our favorite, then Freedom class on RCL. We have been treated like special guests each time on Getaway. Had crappy experience on Pearl years ago but decided to give NCL another shot when Getaway arrived. Glad that we did.

We do get Haven suites but don't hang out in the Haven. We like our cabin and spend time there, I can't do tiny spaces that well, thus the suites.

OP had fun and that is important. Our family, however, really loves THIS ship. Will miss her when she leaves!

You will have a blast. We are totally hooked on Howl at the Moon- just a great , great time.

You can rent a satellite phone for $10 a day and $1.99 a minute, usually plus shipping, taxes and a few other fees, minimum 7 day rental. So for about $100 to $120 on each of your cruises you could avoid that high fee for ship-to-shore calling.

This is amazing-I did not know that this service was even available. Did a search and lots of info. Thank you. You have lifted a weight off of my shoulders!

I would jump on a FFP in a flash. It much nicer than the spa suites ...look at the layouts ( just don't book the accessible room) If you can get this lovely suite just buy your wife a spa pass

The FORWARD FACING are not even comparable to th in-Haven penthouse suites. The FFP is an cruel suite. The penthouse suites are big rooms.

I'm on an iPad and can't link to the floor plans for the different categories but you should check it out.

What ship and which category of suite will you be in?

There is nothing that you need to request ahead of time from the butler. It can all be done on board. You,won't get Haven luggage tags so close to sailing.

They will take very good care of you...

another question. As I am reading the Welcome to Haven pamphlet I just received the other day it states that one could smoke on their Haven balcony. Is this an old book, because I have read in numerous locations one can not smoke on balconies any longer. Husband is unfortunately a smoker and would love to smoke on his balcony if it is allowed.

T used to be only on the balcony of the Garden Villas ...that was back in 2014 when they went to non-smoking.i have we not heard that you can smoke on Haven balconies ..unless it has changed in the lalast six. Months

So what you're saying is that there is no pool for kids other than slides or a splash area?! I find it hard to believe that NCL would be so shortsighted on a megaship.

There is a pool next to the splash area for older kids and teens. My kids are all teens and they used it. It is near the exit of the slides. You can't miss it!

I actually used it as well- didn't want to slide, so I swam instead. It wasn't even crowded.

Can I pre-book my excursions using OBC or do I have to wait until on board? We have all four perks as we are staying in a suite and also OBC from our TA and want to use this for excursions.

I tried emailing the concierge but have had no reply a week later so thought I would ask you good folks :)

Yes - call the excursion number and you will not be charged until on board. The shore excursion credit will be subtracted from total due.

We have done this twice.

It must be a glitch- we had been looking at Getaway for August but couldn't make the kid's schedule work. I see there is nothing listed. Hmmmm

To knowingly put your unborn child at risk is vile. I will not lecture you from the viewpoint of a Neonatologist.

If your OB approves this trip, he/she is committing malpractice.

Now I know bottled water is not included in the UDP. I plan on bringing my own case on board in my carry on. does anyone know if there is a fee for this?

No fee . But I have only taken it on in Miami.

Usually on the last sea day before disembarkation, they offer specials, aimed at those who want/need to airline OLCI with a limited internet special - short answer, yes.

 

What is your fight time out of MIA, as you should have time while the ship is coming into the channel w. land tower signals to do that - unless you need to change seat assignments, etc. (flights are flying pretty full these days, once we pinned down good seats - it's usually not worth the trouble to change - unless it's confirmed/paid upgrade to the forward cabin as offered. Connectivity would not be optimal as bandwidth will likely be stretched among users.

 

Or, have someone trusty at home to do that on your behalf, and you can print your paper BP at the airport kiosk or retrieve mobile eBP once you are on land tower.

Flying Southwest. No seat assignments. Also don't fly it of MIA- either FLLL or West Palm.

I need to check in about 7:45pm the night before. I don't knoe if we will have any land signals

Why don't you purchase the Early Boarding for $12.50/pp from southwest? You'll be automatically checked in and have nothing to,worry about. You can pull up,your pass on your phone or at the airport. We find it worth the extra $$ for all our return trips . And you have a good boarding position to boot!

d

 

Did you have to cancel and rebook to get the obc.. Or did the price of you fare change to the current fare?

I called and they simply added the 300 OBC to our suite. Sailing in September. No re- booking or anything

Lounge is open basically every time I went by and our room was right off of lounge. Pool I think is closed around 10:00. They put a net over it. I don't remember the hot tubs closing.

The bar in the lounge closes around 10-10:30 pm depending on the crowd.

I have seen nets over the hot tubs but it hasn't been consistant.

Not the Seafood Extravadanza thing, just the regular menu.

 

From what i am reading, with the SDP at the specialty restaurants, you get as many appetizers and desserts as you want, and one entree per person, but in some recent threads folks are saying at Ocean Blue, and only Ocean Blue, you are limited to one of everything.

 

So is this the case or are servers just preventing people from ordering?

OCean Blue is not included in the Dining plan.,but you will receive a 20% discount. And it is one of each course and side dish.