Sthrngary

I have two OP-ED's on the NCL Haven. The first done in 2019. It was very popular however after two years, a request came to update it. So it was updated in 2022. Many things have happened since that update, important adds/deletions supporting pros/cons. Years ago, I was very upset with cruising in general. The ships were to crowded, the folks in the buffet lines were being rude as well as touching food with their fingers, it was close to impossible to find a lounge chair by the pool, Boarding or re-boarding could be a nightmare the the food in the main dining room was really getting poor. This led me to start to be dismissive of cruising. Then I started to study the notion of a "Ship-Within-A-Ship" concept. The question was, "Why would I pay three times the price, to be on the same ship, going to the same places?" Could that extra premium, make my experience that much better. The answer was, YES. Now I add, "YES, at the time!" What that means is simple. The folks that pay and stay in the NCL Haven, Celebrity Retreat, and MSC Yacht Club usually love it the first couple of times. Myself included. Then something sometimes simple changes. That disappoints those folks and yes myself also. Add to that, the investment goes up because we, those loyal Haven Guest, wrote so many positive things about our experiences. But now, we feel like the experience is somewhat lacking what it used to provide. Whether a lot or a little, something is lacking and it makes us feel uncomfortable. Yet those that try the Haven the first time, feel like we did. "I have finally found the approach to cruising I can really enjoy." See how that works, when it becomes old had, we tend to become critical. I found this emotion at its highest point on the Crystal Cruises Brand. We think we are brand loyal, those folks were a new level of brand loyal at the time. If something chanced as simple as not putting a Crystal Branded Piece of Paper on the bottom a of trash can in the stateroom, the would debate it for weeks. Yet new folks trying the brand, seemed to feel they found their perfect cruise line experience. Understanding the psychology around new vs. normal experiences, I feel we need to bring forth open comments from all those that recently cruised in the Haven. Share with us the "Secrets" you have found so we can adjust our realistic expectations. I will be happy to comment however, over my past few cruises and upcoming bookings, I have chosen two different brands for different reasons. I am no longer the current authority on all things Haven. Now, I ask all of you, to help me see what I and other will gain now, a new time and place. Your efforts will be appreciated. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@thixson Good Saturday morning. Please clarify that you had a booking, they credited you the promotion benefit without canceling and re-booking? That information clarification is very important to those already booking on cruises that the promotion can apply. Thank you. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I might be wrong however, I thought the topic of this thread was "potential changes to Oceania Cruises due to cost cutting measures". The whys, pros and cons of those cuts. Funny how a thread goes down it own path and personalities tend to often clash if opinions are challenged. Social media is designed for engagement, lively debate and sharing of ideas. Cruises by nature are in many ways designed for engagement. Some sites draw a group of people that anonymously want to always be negative. Other draw folks that want to ONLY be positive to a point of losing sight of the fact that NO cruise or cruise brand is ever 100% perfect. Tying back to the topic that @MEFIowa authored. We as a group of like minded cruisers (We like Oceania), need to help each other set expectations. If something is added, deleted or changed; share the item with the group. This allows many cruisers that are new, current and long-time guests, to manage what they can expect on their next voyage. If you don't like what a contributor says, or they always come across as negative, as well as, always saying the same thing. Simply block them, or ignore them. I am quite sure I have been personally ignored more times then I would every want to know. "I tend to be a very sensitive person and love to be part of a group that would have me. Or would never want to be part of a group that would have me. Not sure which one." All we can do is be open to reality, change never stops. If the change effects our choose of a product of service, we take our money elsewhere. Just nice to have a professional place to gain that information that focuses on the fact and reality instead of criticizing the contributors. Rare opportunity to keep our sanity. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

The AMX program I used allowed for 10X the points for up to $4000.00. Once the $4,000.00 was used, the program is over. If that is the question, that is the answer as I know it to be. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Waltershipman I really don't know on this. I am sure someone will respond. I rarely use the cruise lines excursions any more. Yes, that would have been fun. The issue was my older sisters schedule. Another time. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@CJANDH Not an issue. I am never opposed to taking stuff off, giving it to the attendant. I am that kind of guy. Notice the water. I believe this might have had some bad weather and the folks bugged out. Not sure, but a possibility. Regardless, one must have a plan. Cruise well and know I will move your stuff it you are not at the lounge chair within 15 minute. I will enjoy every moment.

See below. Might have some changes, but I would guess, pretty close. Cruise well and enjoy every moment. Haven_Lunch_Menu_Side_Two.jfifHaven_Lunch_Menu_Side_One.jfif

@TheBeardedCruiser No worries. Social Media is all about expressing yourself. The real changes happen when sharing your thoughts with the brand. You did not have to come back and apologize. However, the fact that you did indicates you really love cruising and want to learn/enjoy as much of it as possible. That was a classy thing to do and I thank you. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@cruiseny4life I get your point. Since many opinions have been given, I don't want to beat a dead horse. I have another take however, that I am afraid could possibly hijack this topic. That is not my intent but I figured, I would toss it out there. I obviously love the Haven. Not perfect by any means but for a long while, gave me some of what I was missing and extra benefits I had never had. Having the options of special lunches is kind of nice and you really can't go wrong. After all, you have the next few days to have lunch in the Haven Restaurant and the menu is mostly the same. My tastes have evolved helped by the rising cost of the "Ship-Within-A-Ship" approach used by NCL, Celebrity, Royal and MSC. Other brands actually in the Premium-Plus, Luxury and Ultra-Luxury categories of vacation cruising are now the same or close to the investments of those VIP sections of Mainstream Cruises. You give up Water Slides and have it substituted with Afternoon Tea. Lots of other differences as well, so Pros/Cons. Now lunch on the other brands are for ALL passengers. The entire ship is the Haven on Steroids. I have been so happy with the grills by the pool especially on Crystal and Oceania, the debate on to do Haven Restaurant or American Diner is a moot point then. Again, when in the Haven, I do the Haven Restaurant. I look forward to my first cruise to Alaska on either the Haven on the Encore or the Bliss in the future. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

One of the most profitable companies in the world is Toyota Motor Sales (TMS). Every year they found ways to cut costs. Even years with great earnings. The key, as I have mentioned before, was cut costs, but not quality. They were the best that that kind of thinking. Now do I put NCL or Oceania or Regent in the same category, NO. I do say, "if the value received does not exceed the price by one penny, the client will consider buying elsewhere." Any cruise line, if they cut to a point where it does not suit me or any other client, I will purchase elsewhere. If you charge me a fare, tell me what I will receive and do not deliver, you lose your client base and have to depend on other coming to your brand for the first time. Why, they are looking for a change from the brand they used to love. If Oceania or any cruise brand does not fulfil my needs, I will let my pocket book to the talking. Until that happens, I look forward to my next cruise, on Oceania for 10-days on the Vista in the Mediterranean in October 2025. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Host Jazzbeau Jazz, great to hear from you. Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. My approach has provided much fruit in the past, with many other brands. So when I am working with a new cruise brand, I simply use the same strategy. Where it is true, I may be put into the Norman Thomas file, love that term, which is always a possibility, usually it only takes two cycles of the letter to gain the needed action or response. EJ being a new brand and also associated with a European company may cause a less then acceptable outcome, however worth my effort at least. I assure you, after my retirement, when I approach things like this, it is strictly for hobby and or sport. My excessive blood pressure meds, keep me safe on that front. The great news is most folks that get on the EJ ships seem to really enjoy the experience. For me, that is no downside. As I have said before, we are lucky to have you here as our voice of reason. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@PaulMCO Hello old friend. I know you wrote this topic in 2023, yet it seems to be still very relevant. Many social media contributors want to focus on the systems/products that EJ is using for their website. I on the other hand, simply don't care what a Luxury Cruise Brand uses as a tool. I just want that tool to work. You wrote your topic on October 22, 2023. I am writing my replay on June 26, 2024. That amount of time should have straighten out the website issues but it has not. This situation kind of reminds me of some of our experiences with the "Old" Crystal Cruises. All indications are, those that actually cruise EJ, seem to mostly love it. The same was the situation with Crystal. However, the touchpoints with the land based staff is less then satisfying. Very similar. Now what to do as a potentially new guest on a new brand owned by one of the largest vacation cruise companies in the world. Here is what I have done with the intent to help the brand, not hurt the brand. To outline the issues I am having without threatening them. Why, we need a really good Luxury Brand that delivers. I took about three days and wrote a detailed overview of the issues I am having with two aspects of EJ. First the frustration on their website; second the frustration on their new summer promotion for guest already booked. It takes three days because I read, and re-read the text to hopefully refine the communication and fix my god awful spelling/grammar. That letter was sent out via US Mail Certified to 6 executives in EJ/MSC, sent to both EJ/MSC online guest support locations. I will continue to send this correspondence out every 10 days until someone who can fix the issues can resolve the problems. My goal is to help the brand and myself so that these issues become easy to resolve, in a timely manner that exceeds a luxury guest expectations. Thank you for your original post, it made me feel justified in my frustration and approach to resolve the issues. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@The Hudson Co. Landlubber I cancelled, rebooked, and sent a letter explaining how this process needs to change in the future giving examples of other brands approach. I was frustrated but not surprised. I want to make it clear, I rebooked, same price, same stateroom, same dates. Done and confirmed. I also got another 400 euros for my travel agents efforts based on the promotion. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@sea bright Read Post #5. I hope it helps you. "Cruise well and enjoy every moment."

@RocketMan275 Your are preaching to the choir. I attempt, and it is not easy sometimes, to always play fair with posts/replies. Even when the poster attempts to hijack a simple topic with an even simpler question being asked. Then I have to remember, this forum is Social Media. No one really knows who we are so off topic responses based on agenda's happen all the time. The forum is designed to allow ALL opinions whether we like them or don't. To each their own. I just wish, if we have a issue with something, we have that debate on a topic associated with that issue. Seem logical to me but again, it is Social Media isn't it. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.