Beamco

I really like the forward facing PH's on all Breakaway ships - I stayed in 10108 on the Joy on a 17. day Panama Canal cruise - it vibrates quite a bit and is very loud when the Joy docks so beware if you like to sleep in you will wake up when docking!

While I have not made use of the changing rooms in the Haven Courtyard I do remember seeing the private spa treatment rooms and sauna at the front of the courtyard. I pasted a description of what is available note it says "changing room" no mention of lockers but some type of bag for your change of clothing would work. I also would not have a problem with placing my bag on a lounger while in the hot tub and I'm sure it would be quite safe, so no real need for a locker. Additionally, there are many seats and even a few tables in the courtyard that you can use for food and drink with table service from the Haven staff. Enjoy the Escape Haven I have experienced it twice and enjoyed it both times! The two-story Courtyard in The Haven has a retractable roof, a swimming pool, two whirlpools, private sundeck, private spa treatment rooms, changing areas, and a sauna.

All the deals I have seen are for Europe and Trans Atlantic but I am only searching for a November trip on NCL's newest ships. $500 for 2 people per night on the Prima and Viva are great deals for me! My "deal number" is usually a Haven cabin under $600 per night so these are even better for me but you are right it appears to be Europe or Trans Atlantic - the airfare can kill the "deal"!!! I have not pulled the trigger yet because airfare is so high or to many air miles.

One of several Prima and Viva cruises I am tracking right now- all at least 10 days: PRICE SUMMARY STATEROOM 2 Guests The Haven Penthouse with Balcony $6,366 70% Off 2nd Guest $4,137.90 FREE AT SEA Open Bar Selected Specialty Dining Selected Shore Excursions Included WiFi Included +MORE OFFERS 70% Off 2nd Guest Included GRATUITIES Open Bar Gratuities $436 Specialty Dining Gratuities $39.60 Subtotal $4,613.50

I was on the Bliss in the Haven as a Gold Level and for reasons unknown to me and my wife we were invited to dinner in Cagney's with the Captain. It was the same night as the officers party in the Haven Lounge. At the end of the party 3 couples and the Captain went to dinner at Cagney's. The captain was very engaging and led much of the conversation as he answered our questions very memorable and a great evening!

I get a bagel with my Lox on every cruise in the Haven! I even have it toasted for me! It has never been a problem!

While I don't write a letter - I pay attention to the letter suggestions and all the knowledge imparted through other letter writers who have replied to the @Sthrngary thread. I have a nice getting to know you chat with the Butler day one. I am always grateful and pleasant in my interactions with them and they always seem to respond with great service without me really asking for it! What a novel idea being pleasant gets rewarded! I look at the OP's post differently - the OP went looking for an issue with the Haven and found it. Stranger things can be true but I was in a FF Haven cabin for 15 days in early 23 on floor 10 , my butler was awesome, my room steward equally awesome, 50/50 chance I was in the same cabin as the OP. I can't see the Haven experience on Joy going downhill that much since I got off in early Feb! I didn't ask for much but what was asked for was immediately accommodated - including chocolate chip cookies! The afternoon snacks are not always the greatest but the ones that I like I eat, the ones that I don't want I ask the Butler to not deliver them and to bring something else - I ask for PB&J sandwiches and BLT's and I always get them once or twice per cruise, the pates and other canopies rarely come to my room because I ask them not to bring them. I explain they will only be wasted. I love going to the Haven bar ordering drinks chatting for a few moments with whoever is there or the bartenders and then taking the short walk back to the Horizon Lounge - typically in the afternoon - and watch the sun go down, oh the horror I had to walk 200 feet to get a drink to enjoy in the Horizon Lounge. Oh and if there was a snack I liked from the Horizon Lounge i.e. Pretzel Rolls I didn't ask the Butler for them I wrapped a few up in a napkin and brought them to my room for later, easy peasy I had what I wanted with little to no effort and I didn't even have to ask the Butler to do something I easily could do myself. Because I read the posts of the letter writers I know to expect a leisurely paced meal in the Haven restaurant, and I also know I can ask for multiple lobster tails with dinner, or more dumplings in the chicken consommé, etc. I am always grateful when they accommodate a request and I am always understanding when they can't - but for some reason maybe it's that concept of being pleasant and only making reasonable requests I have not been told no for anything in the Haven Restaurant, and neither has my daughter who tends to travel with my wife and I. Patrick has been the concierge on at least 2 of my cruises and has been visible and helpful each time, along with the entire concierge team - they have been great and provide the services noted by @graphicguy above. Personally I can't wait to sail in a Haven with Patrick as the concierge again. And for what it's worth (which is basically not very much!) I read these threads and the FB threads often and I am seriously tired of the postings referring to the entitled attitude of Haven Cruisers and I do take insult to the OP's comments on "letter writers" and use of the word "entitled!" The rare entitled people I have met in the Haven could never diminish my enjoyment of the Haven! Again if you look for it you will find it - me I choose to be blissfully ignorant as I relax and unwind in the Haven that I worked so hard to be able to be in once or maybe twice per year - I'm on vacation and nothing is going to spoil it for me and believe me even in the Haven I have had things happen that I could complain about all day online but again I adjust so I can enjoy my hard earned vacation - unfortunately most of this world is looking for ways to denigrate things under the guise of just posting my honest opinion. An honest opinion can be posted without insulting a multitude of people with snarky snide comments!

You should never say never but I don't think I will ever sail on Getaway, Breakaway or Escape again! Solely because of the smoke from the casino spreading across all of the main activity areas on decks 6-7-8. If that does not bother you they are all great ships to vacation on. So far Bliss has been my favorite of all the Breakaway and + class.

We stay in the FF cabins often - regardless of higher or lower deck the walk to or from the elevators will seem "far" to someone who wants to be "just an elevator ride away" - more like a third of the ship not half!

I was on the Joy for 15 days in January and found very few issues on my return to cruising. However one big issue was how bad the coffee is now. I used to love the French Press in the Haven but it was almost undrinkable every day. At home I drink my coffee black with stevia as my sweetener so the coffee needs to be good. I switch between grinding various beans at Fresh Market and ordering a few varieties from Black Rifle Coffee. I find Starbucks to be undrinkable however it is made and I think that is what they use in the French Press in the Haven now. The only reason I wanted to get off the ship was to get a good cup of coffee!

Thank you @BirdTravels Good info as always!

@BirdTravels Were these pictures taken at the middle of the terminal or off to the left side of the building? I ask because we embarked in Miami and Jan 25th - we arrived some time between 12 and 12;30 - the Uber dropped us off at the far left side of the terminal - this was the only place he could pull in because the parking at the middle of the terminal was filled with buses - it looked like the buses were letting passengers off probably from the airport. I gave my bags to a porter then I dove into a sea of humanity! Needless to say it was a zoo. There were very long lines everywhere outside the terminal. Having sailed haven many times before I walked to what I thought was the middle of the terminal looking for signage but saw none. I saw a terminal official and asked where to check in for Haven they sent me back to the far left side of the terminal, they instructed me to go to the head of the very long line and tell the guard I was Haven, I did that, they let me in an area where it appeared people who needed assistance were waiting. I had to show my documentation to someone at a folding table , they then let me get on an elevator that brought me right up to the Haven security, check in and lounge area. I never once saw a Haven sign until I got off that elevator. It all worked out and it was probably just me trying to multitask in a sea of humanity. Other than a few anxious moments thinking I would have to stand outside in a line outside that was incredibly long embarkation went real smooth. I am planning another Haven trip from Miami soon and would like to avoid the mess so if anyone can tell me what I missed it would be appreciated! I also may have arrived just when the Joy passengers from the previous cruise were still disembarking and loading onto the buses delivering passengers from the airport either way it seemed like they were not letting people in at the middle of the terminal but were sending them through the left side of the building, maybe that's why I didn't see any Haven signage, or again it was just me LOL

Everyone who thinks rules should be bent for them because they are traveling for a "special occasion" should read this; https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-03-15/white-lotus-vibes-hawaii-superstitions-and-other-resort-secrets That being shared - sail aways at the beginning of the cruise are loose and if your grandson wants to take pictures I am fairly certain no will complain, and probably not complain if he is taking pictures as you sail into and out of other ports, but you are correct you run the risk if he is occupying a lounger etc.

@mickeysgal I don't have pictures of the balcony but looking at the deck plan for the Encore it should be the same situation as the Bliss. The last time this was discussed on these threads a lot of people joined in and commented on these cabins for the Bliss - perhaps someone who has stayed in 17126 or 17726 on the Encore can comment and with luck have pictures! If it is the same large balcony you will enjoy it. I noticed in another comment that some people have been successful asking the pre cruise Haven concierge for loungers on their deck and they were there when they arrived, it can't hurt to ask - if not your room attendant will do it for you. During the day you will hear the music coming from the main deck but for me that added to the experience. At night it is quiet. Enjoy your cruise and please follow up with your experience I am currently searching daily for a deal on the Encore and will book it when it happens and will also hope to get cabin 126/726!

@mickeysgal The balcony in room 17726 on ships like the Bliss are huge because they are next to to a storage area of some type that is at the end of the hall. It is my favorite cabin on the Bliss - the balcony could easily handle two lounge chairs along with the standard table and chairs. I have only asked for one lounge chair and the crew always delivers it for me. The only downside is there is a door for the crew access across the hall - it is busy in the AM as the crew begins to work for the day - they tend to let the door slam - I sleep heavy and wake up fairly early so it did not bother me - my wife sleeps through it - but light sleepers who like to sleep in may be bothered by the noise. The next time I cruise Haven proper I will look to book 17126 it has the same large balcony and hopefully less crew traffic in the morning. My guess is all Breakaway Plus ships have the same balcony situation for 17126 and 17726.