palpieha

Ok, I guess I have to call and switch the order of the guests. Thanks!

If the guest who booked is not interested in specialty dining, can guest 2 use their keycard and use it for a "dinner for 2" (but with the second person being guest #3 on the reservation)?

If you have the regular drink package, you get 20% off the cost of the bottle (for a $79 price). If you have the Plus package, you get 40% off (for a $59 price). Although with the Plus package, you can just get as many glasses of Veuve as you want at no additional charge.

Just to be clear, whether the ship has a Starbucks store or not, you can get a French press pot of coffee with breakfast in the Haven. In addition to that, the Haven bar has an espresso machine with Starbucks coffee, so in the Haven restaurant (or lounge, pool, bar, etc.) you can order an espresso, cappuccino, latte, or my favorite an espresso martini. Those will come from the Haven bar and are included in your Haven fare (martini depends on your drink package), not from the Starbucks store (if the ship has one) which requires payment or the Plus drink package. The ships that have a Starbucks store have more options, not different options.

That's because the "upgrade" only applies if you already have a package, which only guests 1 and 2 have. If you'd like guests 3 and 4 to also get a dining package, you have to buy packages for them, not upgrades. You can see what packages are available here: https://www.ncl.com/onboard-packages/dining-packages

The escape room uses VR goggles when you first walk in to give you an introduction to the escape room you will be in. After that short video (2 or 3 minutes), you are led into an actual physical escape room without VR elements.

Wait, so MSC Yacht Club has a DJ by the pool? Ugh, I was considering them for my next cruise, but I will scratch them out now. The Haven not having any music in the pool area is a huge positive. If I want a DJ, I can go to the main pool, if I want to read a book, I can stay in the Haven. Adding music to the Haven would mean not having the choice of quiet. As for coffee, does the Haven bar on Prima not have an espresso machine? Every other Haven bar I've been to has one and they can make espresso drinks for you, whether martinis or non-alcoholic.

You really missed the opportunity here to say that it would be "hard" to explain.

Deck 16. They are on the same level as the bar, pool, and restaurant. From deck 15 you have to go up the stairs to get to any of the amenities. Starboard side you'll be closer to the stairs that take you to the sundeck, but port side is not a long walk to get to those stairs.

This seems very strange. Why does the article keep saying that Encore sailed from Miami on 2/23/2023? That's easy to verify that it's not true. Encore sailed from Miami on 2/19 and on 2/26, but on 2/23 she was docked in the BVIs.

Another thing to consider is whether you're concerned with noise. 18126 is under Vibe, which might have noise from deck chairs earlier/later, while 17726 is under the outdoor part of the restaurant, which might have chair noise in the morning but not much late.

18126 is the only cabin on the 18th deck that has a larger balcony, which is why it's an HE category instead of HF. HE is usually more expensive than HF because of the larger balcony. If the price is the same, I would take deck 17 just because you're on the same deck as the bar and pool area. 18 has the restaurant, but I certainly go the bar a lot more often than the restaurant 😀.

Look at the deck plan on NCL's website, and it has those next to the description of the different staterooms.

We only ordered a bottle once, and it was one of the more expensive ones by the glass. Definitely higher than $15. Unless you expect slow service, no reason to order by the bottle anymore since they are the same ones available by the glass.

I've been to the observation lounge where it's hard to find a seat near the windows, and another where they had noisy Mardi gras parties. Glad you didn't have the same issue.

Yes, it's much quieter. The sundeck is 16+ and has hot tubs which are much less crowded than the ones in the standard pool deck. The Horizon Lounge is much quieter than the Observation Lounge. The Haven restaurant has the best food on the ship. We don't even use all the included specialty restaurant credits, because I'd rather have the filet and lobster tail (or as many filets and as many lobster tails as you want) every night in the Haven restaurant. It's better than anywhere else, unless you have to have foie gras, then go to Le Bistro and pay the upcharge. The bartenders at the Haven bar get to know you and what you like. Want an espresso martini in the morning and a smoked old fashioned before dinner? They do it all, and no lines. The only drawback to the Haven: I used to cruise not in the Haven, then I went and now I'm spoiled. I don't think I'd ever cruise again if it's not in the Haven.

On Encore last month, they didn't give them to us when we checked in, but they were waiting for us in our stateroom. If you don't get them, I would definitely ask the concierge for them. They are my favorite "slim" wallet that I use out and about for months after the cruise. They put a smile in my face reminding me of the last cruise, and they have led to quite a few conversations with people about the Haven. Probably has netted NCL several Haven bookings from it.

I cannot answer for Joy, but I recently cruised on Encore's Haven. The only dress code I'm aware of in the Haven restaurant: no swimsuits, and no baseball caps in the indoor area of the restaurant (I was in fact asked to remove my cap at lunch one day when I inadvertently came in with it still on).

Good call, forgot about Escape's idiosyncrasies. So 2 of Escape's Haven hot tubs are covered.

All Breakaway and Breakaway+ class ships except for Gateway have a Haven pool with retractable roof for inclement weather or while sailing. Breakaway+ Haven sundeck (age 16+) also has 2 large hot tubs, although not covered.

On smaller ships that don't have a dedicated Haven restaurant, you get breakfast and lunch at either Moderno or Cagney's. The menu is the standard Haven menu, not the menu for those restaurants.

It works on Android with T-Mobile, can't comment on other combinations. Note that the connection is not super reliable at all times. If possible, plan the conference call for a port day and make the call from an actual cell network.

You can have dinner together even without reservations! In the MDRs, not every table is reserved, as they hold back tables for people to show up whenever they want (Freestyle dining). You might have to stand in line and then wait a little bit to get seated, especially with a large party, but there's always a bar near the MDR you can use your drink package at while you wait...

Just like shoplifting, you might be able to get away with it a few times. Until you don't, and then the consequences can be severe. You can use your card to get any drink you want at the bar, and charge it to your room. Since you only drink occasionally, the amount you spend won't be too much.

They are included. Also as far as the cost, you mentioned $170 charged. Note that the part related to the alcohol package should be $152.60 per person (20% of $109/day x 7 days). The remainder would be gratuities for the specialty dining package. So you wouldn't save the whole $170 per person by removing the drinks package, you'd also have to remove the specialty dining.