amygutman

@www3traveler Not to hijack @justhappy's thread, but any thoughts on Seattle Sunset cruises? We are on the Encore Sept 24 (26 days, 75 minutes from today but who's counting) and arriving a few days early to see the city. Booked a sunset cruise the night before we board the Encore as it has rave reviews and figured it was a good way to see the Sound. Have been on the Seattle Port threads, TripAdvisor and Viator and a little overwhelmed with amazing choices to see, eat and do. Warmest Amy

@Wombservice Anything to help out the person with by far the coolest user name on CC. One thing that may be helpful as well are an inexpensive set of small cloth storage bins to put on the shelves in the 2nd bedroom. Very helpful for things like socks, undies, swim goggles, etc. Amazon Basics Cloth Drawer Storage Organizer Boxes, Set of 6, Gray is about 12$ US and we have used a set for many cruises. Also great for the bathroom to store toothbrushes, hairbrushes and toiletries if you do not have a Dopp kit. They pack flat, take up little space and clean easily. Our housekeeper liked our set so much that on our last Pearl cruise we gave them to him when we packed up. Warmest Amy

@UKstages Agree wholeheartedly. Personally, I do that opposing views are always interesting, but stir-potters are often fixed in their opinions and resistant to reasonable discussions. However - they do make for some lively discourse! Warmest Amy

@Georgia_Peaches That made my heart so happy!!!! And no - you can't take the gal out of the ED. The med kit my DH and I bring on cruises is better equipped than a few of the off the beaten paths I've worked in my life! Warmest Amy

@MonsterJoe Lovely review, and you and your family took such a wonderful memory photo. I personally am terrified of those stairs, but you guys really made them work to your advantage. Great memory - thank you for sharing. Warmest Amy

Ah...the Haven area specifically. Apologies for not clarifying that. Yes...they did say the rest of the ship, especially the shopping area was too bright. Don't you think the colors do look drab especially in the Haven bar area? Maybe it's just me, or maybe the video. Heck...we are on a cruise, not at work, so it could be painted pure black and I'd still be pretty darned happy. Warmest A,y

Love, Love, Love this room. The luxury of a full separate bed / bathroom is amazing. Yes, it is smaller than the main bedroom, but it is very cozy and well-appointed. The pullout is quite comfy with the mattress topper - have spent a number of nights there when kiddo preferred to cuddle with my husband (in his pre-teen years...now he wants nothing to do with either of us 😄). Is it as soft as a "real" bed - no. But it's easy to get in and out of, and fits two average-sized adults. It can be a challenge though for the "inside edge" sleeper as they do have to crawl over the "outside edge" sleeper if they need to use the facilities at night. When tucked away as a couch the room space is good. Bathroom is surprisingly large with storage though if I remember correctly the outlets are in the 2nd bedroom wall by a shelf. There is also an adequate amount of drawers / shelves and closet space in the bedroom for 2 adults for "average" packers on a 7 days cruise. If you needed more space, the main bedroom / bathroom does have a ton of storage. The living room is a great place to hang out for the 2nd couple if they need a little more breathing space. Actually...that's the only complaint with the smaller bedroom is that it can get a little stinky if the bathroom is used as the "number 2 room" (as my kiddo refers to it). A little poopouri or solid air fresher takes care of that problem though. You can go to Youtube and see lots of examples, but I recommend Harr Travel's Youtube review - very detailed. Your friends are lucky your other family dropped out...they will have a wonderful time! Warmest Amy

@justhappy So HAPPY myself to see your introduction to your cruise. I've been excited to read it ever since we met you and your lovely husband on the Getaway and cannot wait to hear your report. Wishing you great weather and a wonderful cruise! Warmest Amy

@Fla Mike and @Essiesmom I should have realized based upon the lack of sparkles and mirrors 🤣 Warmest Amy

@Daniel A From my understanding, you can order the majority of the same massage / facial experiences with the exception of the full-body salt rubs as there is no "spa shower" area in the Haven. It's actually more relaxing I understand as they often do not push products to sell as hard as they do not have those products on hand (and have to be sent to your rooms). Honestly, I have always gone to the spa itself or on the spa on the private island vs having a massage in the Haven; I hate the upselling of products (stresses me out to say no, as I know the spa team is heavy on commissions) and the pricing is super high unless I have OBC. Plus, if you have your treatment in the spa area, you can just walk right over to the thermal loungers which are my favorite thing in any spa on any ship. I'd love to have one in my bedroom at home! Warmest Amy

Love these guys - actually have a Patreon with Ben and David them so I am biased and didn't post a link to their video for that reason. Don't always agree with them but found their review interesting for 2 reasons: 1) They LOVED the Prima, though had the same complaints on as the Viva re: entertainment and dining venues being too small. It's interesting that they give the Viva such a negative review when it's essentially the same ship as the Prima. 2) They appear to be sailing in the Haven which is not what Ben and David usually do. It's a shame as it appears to be a very different Haven experience than on the other ships. It's really a terrible color scheme and decor - 1960s Ikea with poor lighting and dim spaces. The outdoor areas look nice, but not spectacular. Disappointing all around - but, as I've mentioned before, we booked the Viva 2025 for the itinerary in spite of the ship. It's usually the other way around. Thank you for sharing...Warmest Amy

@Daniel A My husband has tried this for a birthday surprise. The pre-concierge will write down the request but the times / type of massage cannot be booked until on the ship. No worries though...there is always a spa therapist in the Haven (and often in the Haven terminal area) to take care of your requests. I hope you enjoy your spa time! Warmest Amy

@Norwegian Cruiser 73 Thank you so much! Very excited to look at these later (my phone is not cooperating re: videos right now). Much appreciated - Warmest Amy

Is this real? Is she OK?

@cruiseny4life Thank you so much for sharing. I'm a very data-driven person so this was really interesting to read. Appreciate the information. Warmest Amy

Let's try that again.... 😉

@Fla Mike As a Red Sox fan, I would find NO time when a Yankees cap would EVER be considered acceptable. Warmest Amy

@jcathers1 We were told that info on our April Meraviglia and July Seaside cruise, both by the spa staff (on day 1 when we toured the facilities) and the YC concierge during their introductory welcome. Raja (the chief concierge on the Seaside) was very direct in saying he and his staff were more than happy to make the reservations but they did need to be made to avoid overcrowding. There has been mention on other forums about YC members being turned away without reservations whilst some never are questioned. Everyone's experience is different of course, but just passing on the information given to us on our last two cruises. Warmest Amy

@schmoopie17 Yes...The Spinnaker on the Pearl (and Gem) are very similar plus have lovely bar areas. Honestly, they are our favorite spots to hang out on these ships. There is a ton of trivia, performances, and activities here as well and the best views on the ship. Warmest Amy

@kessdarln Love to see another Emma Cruises fan with her Captain Hudson! Saving lives one stuffed animal at a time! Warmest Amy

@jcathers1 Agree that the Yacht Club amenities are in general broader than in the Haven. There are been very "vigorous" CC forum discussions re: pros and cons of the Haven vs the YC, including perks. We fall in the middle - love the NCL ships and Haven areas so much more than MSC, but agree that the YC perks in general can be more enticing for (often) a better price. Is the stateroom mini-fridge included? In the Owner Suites or Garden Villas, Yes. Otherwise, No. As kiddo loves diet soft drinks and DH and I love vodka seltzers, we find that if we give our butler 100$ and say "can you make sure that we never run out of drinks", we generally have a never ending supply. Not presuming this will work for everyone (though as @Sthrngary has stated that it never hurts to ask politely) but it's never failed us when we book non-OS rooms. Is the thermal suite included (for non "spa" rooms)? No, but on many of the ships there is a lovely sauna in the Haven pool area. On MSC you get 1 hour / day at the thermal spa (it's no longer unlimited) which has to be reserved in advance by the concierge. It's a nice perk, but it's always been so busy in the MSC thermal spa that it's neither relaxing nor quiet. Compared to NCL where it's rare to run into another cruiser in the Haven sauna. I prefer walking out of my door, having a lovely bake, then back onto my balcony without traversing the ship in a robe and bathing suit to go to the ship spa. Do Haven guests get the highest level beverage package? I believe it's premium plus, so not the highest, but pretty darn good. I believe it depends on how you book your cruise. We use a TA and his agency and always have the premium plus as part of our package. Perhaps another CC forum member can give a definitive answer. Does the Haven restaurant menu change every night? No, but there are specials every night plus a basic non-rotating menu. You can also ask for special meal "tweaks", and if you really love something not on the menu, speak to your waiter. It's amazing how hard the restaurant staff works to keep you happy and your requests (when within reason) met. That's how I ended up with curried Indian veggies and dal with pappadams on the 3rd night of a cruise - had mentioned at lunch that we were planning on going to the buffet for dinner as the Indian selections looked so enticing. Our waiter told us to come to her in the Haven instead for dinner and "she would make it worth my while". And yes....she absolutely did! Warmest Amy

Agree that 16 was a great location, central to everything. Loved being near the bar / lounge / restaurant area but especially the pool and pool deck as it was a very "easy in / easy out" for kiddo to go from the room to the pool then back and not worry about wet clothing. We were in 16112 Two Bedroom Suite. As you can see from the deck plans below, there are really no "long distances" to travel to the Haven proper f you are deck 16. Deck 15 has a very similar layout with easy stairs or elevator access. The aft Haven suites have glorious balconies, but do require a bit of walking - which, considering how good the food is in the restaurant, may be a good thing to keep those cruise pounds down! 😃 Hope that's helpful, Warmest Amy

@morpheusofthesea right back at you! I love your take on the YC ad cruising in general. Actually...I enjoy reading CC in general. Yes, opinions are like, ahem...ya know, but still - I love reading opining on ships, locations, restaurants, tours...etc. We have an amazing TA but I would say 75% of our bookings are based upon something I read or saw on CC. I am disappointed to have no photos of the velociraptor sighting if you saw Peter Punk - was such a funny Seaside moment and wondering if it's part of the Seashore experience. Warmest Amy

Great photos...it sounds like you had an exhausting trip but I am sorry you had to leave the Peter Punk show before the dinosaur came out! it was the funniest part of the show. Loving your report and look forward to hearing more. Warmest Amy