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@gracebest I have having to make the same decision. My gut tells me Nice and my friend joining us wants Monte Carlo. WHY, they want to get all dressed up and go to a Monte Carlo Casino like James Bond did in a movie. Our cruise is in October 2025. We have lots of time. The Hotels choices seem to be better for Nice and it is lovely. Either way we both WIN big time. I have cruise 30 plus times. Europe was by far my best experience. That is why we booked it again. What a GREAT experience. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@SaltyPawz I was on the Pearl, in the Haven, for a trip to Canada/New England. Before that cruise, I did a 7 day cruise on the much larger ship the Getaway in the Haven. After the getaway, I cancelled the Pearl and booked the Joy in the Haven. The bigger ships have the best Haven's when they have a Haven Restaurant and Bar. Unless your investment is great, I would recommend you reconsider a ship like, the Bliss, The Encore or the Joy. Now either way including the Gem, you will have a good time. I just wanted to give you my opinion and we all know what opinion are. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@RocketMan275 I am thrilled to here of our improvement. We are all getting a bit older. When that happens we need maintenance for our wear and tear. Replacement parts are hard to come by at our age. Please take good care of yourself. Enjoy all you can, you deserve it. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@McGarrett5oh I am sad to hear of your diagnosis. I am impressed with your extremely positive outlook on life and want you to know, you are a role model. I hope what every your situation is, it improves. Thank you for your comment. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I am a cruise guest transfer from NCL, Celebrity, MSC, HAL and Royal. I LOVE the fact that something as simple as Soda, Juices and waters are in your stateroom on Oceania. I don't know why I like this tiny little thing so much but I really do. I also really enjoy the Barista and the fact it was for everyone on the ship. Yet I NEVER waited for a coffee. Little things made the difference. Cruise Well and Enjoy every Soda.

@MSEm I am going to do my best to help you. The below information is from an OP-ED I recently did. I am cutting and pasting so the format will be off a bit. Also, it was based on the Riviera which was the ship I cruised Last Month. I did this work for the guest that was joining my wife and I. We were in a Vista Suite. You can find what a stateroom has on the Oceania Website. So that is always a source of excellent information. I hope the below efforts help you. “To Penthouse or Not to Penthouse, that is the Eternal Question”: This is a tough topic. Significant cost increase from a Balcony or Concierge to a Penthouse. Even more significant for above a Penthouse in an Oceania, Vista, or Owners Suites. Besides the size of the stateroom, the real difference for Penthouse or above is the 24/7 butler. Until you have had a well-trained butler, you simply don’t understand the value of this important crew member. It does confuse me when someone comments online that they have no need for a butler. To each his own, I like it! Now, in the NCL Haven™, the butlers were average at best. This observation was based on having a truly professional butler on Crystal Cruises, which has NO comparison until this Oceania voyage. The NCL Butler dressed the part but were over worked having way too many suites to take care of. On the NCL embarkment day, these butlers were hard to find because they were doing non-butler type duties for the brand. On Oceania Cruises, the butler service is much more luxurious and personalized. The butlers have less suites to allow for better service. The butlers are also part of the pre-cruise gratuity program which most likely gained a better trained and quality crew member. I still provide an additional gratuity which is my choice. Penthouse (PH) categories: (In addition to all stateroom amenities.) Accommodations: Last time renovated was during drydock at the end of 2022, except for a few (PH3) Penthouses that did not eliminate the tub. 1. 440 SF including Balcony. Larger than a Concierge Stateroom. 2. Desk, chair with large mirror and standalone lighted makeup mirror. Outlets are right by makeup mirror. 3. Complimentary still & sparkling “Vero™” Water with two (2) stainless steel Vero™ refillable bottles that can be taken off ship for excursions and as a gift. 4. Walk-In Master Bedroom Closet. This is always appreciated. This will be all the storage any two (2) people will need. NOTE: The safe is NOT large enough for a laptop. 5. Love seat, table, and round storage ottoman/seat. 6. Dining room table and seating for two (2) for in-suite dining. 7. Recently redesigned master bathroom with single vanity sink, rain fall shower head and lots of extra storage. NOTE: I found it odd that a Penthouse Suite had only one (1) sink. Usually they have two (2) on other brands. 8. The veranda has two adjustable back cushioned chairs and a side table. NOTE: Perfect for drinks yet NOT large enough for a full meal on your balcony. Some Penthouse suites on the back of the ship have extended and much larger balconies that wrap around the ship. Amenities and Privileges: · 12:00 PM Early Embarkment, priority luggage delivery: NOTE: Unlike other cruise brands, this early embarkment means in most cases, your suite will be ready when you come on board. No waiting unless an unusual situation happens. · Butler: 24/7 personal butler service with a suite wireless phone to take with you onboard to contact you’re the butler. NOTE: If you are of the opinion, butlers do nothing for you, save your money and do not consider a Penthouse Suite or above. · Refurbished Suite: The newly refurbished suites on the Riviera were done late 2022 have been rewired to accommodate more U.S. outlets and USB outlets. NOTE: Not so on Oceania, Vista, and Owners Suite which lack this wiring upgrade. · Pillow Menu: “Sweet Dreams™” Pillow Menu is located on the bed as you view your master bedroom. Choose your selection on day one and share your decision with your Butler. · Welcome Champagne: Complimentary welcome bottle of Heidsieck & Co Monopole™ Blue Label French Champagne. Not sparkling wine, REAL French Champagne. Nice touch! · Welcome Petit Fours and bowl of Werther's Original Candy: Other brands have some items when you first get in your stateroom as well. These Petit Fours are a small plate but of high-quality items. “Less is more in this situation.” · Priority Pre-Cruise Early Online Specialty Restaurant Reservations: Earlier than other staterooms below Penthouse. When everyone on the ship gets one (1) guaranteed reservation per specialty restaurant, when you can book them early is a valuable amenity. Many new guests don’t understand the value of early pre-booking for Specialty Restaurants. This can be a cause of disappointment when desired days and times are completely booked. · 24-Hour Room Service: Suite expanded Rooms Service Menu. I am rarely a Room Service Person. In the past, on other brands I found the food not very good, average to below average quality and a limited menu. This expanded menu is an enhancement to the experiences I have had prior. I also noticed no add-on charges for things like Steak and Eggs which was a pleasant surprise from mainstream options. Still, even in Oceania, the room service other than butlers delivering specialty restaurants meals is average to below average. Looks and tastes better in the Movies. · In-Suite Dining: In-Suite white tablecloth dining from ANY restaurant including ALL specialty restaurants. The Penthouse Suite Table is a bit small but will work nicely for two (2) people. If you can’t make a reservation at Polo Grille that night, have it served in your suite. Nice touch especially if you can eat comfortably. · Afternoon Tea: In-Suite Afternoon Tea Service is available. This is also a nice luxury touch. I would rather go to the Horizons Observation Lounge for the ship afternoon tea. I do like having the choice. “Choices make a more luxurious experience for me.” · Afternoon Hors d’oeuvres/Canape’: Usually served between 4:00 to 5:00 PM, This amenity can be chosen from a special in-suites Hors d’oeuvres/Canape’ menu. The ability to make a choice is lovely, the quantity is small which does not affect your enjoyment of your dinner. Personalized service is all about providing a personalized choice. On other lines these afternoon Hors d’oeuvres are standardized for all and not always as flexible as a guest might like. We only made a request for this once. The dinner meal was so good we did not want to be less hungry. · Vero™ Water System: Oceania (as well as NCL/RSSC) no longer uses plastic bottled water. You are provided aluminum containers for the Vero™ Water System to be refilled throughout the ship. This is a focus on environmental landfill reductions. I REALLY liked this system over all. · Thick Terrycloth Bathrobes: You also receive two (2) pairs of bathing slippers. Just a little bit of class to establish a sense of sending a message. “When in your suite, we want you to relax and be comfortable.” · Executive Lounge: Exclusive card-only access to private Executive Lounge staffed by a dedicated Concierge featuring complimentary soft drinks, coffees, and snacks throughout the day. Many cruisers use this lounge for a light continental breakfast. The first time I had this kind of environment was on the Celebrity Equinox (Michael’s Lounge). It was small and cozy. I loved it then and even more in Oceania. Not everyone feels the same way, so it is empty most of the time. For me that is a value. · Complimentary Laundry Service: Up to 3 bags per stateroom (20) items per bag with a three-day turn-around time. Ask your Butler and know the rules and deadlines for providing your laundry service. · Pressing: Complimentary pressing of garments upon embarkation (certain limitations apply). Concierge and higher get four (4) items provided within the first three (3) days of sailing. · Shoeshine: Complimentary shoeshine service by your Butler. · Aquamar™ Spa Terrace: Unlimited access to “Aquamar™ Spa Terrace”. This lovely outdoor place is underutilized by most guests, especially when in a colder climate. For me, this area is very important. I used it often. NOTE: It reminds me of the Haven Sundeck, Vibe Beach Club and Thermal Spa combined, yet complementary. This was a big benefit to my enjoyment. · Apple iPad® (upon request): for your enjoyment on board. A nice to have but not a have-to-have amenity. NOTE: This is based on limited availability. · Cashmere Lap Blankets: Needed at night in colder climates for the veranda. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@RocketMan275 Sometimes, you write something that is so on-point. It took me five years after retiring to figure this out. When we work so hard and long all of our lives. Then for what every reason, we choose to retire. We feel so vulnerable for a long while. We trained ourself to work when sick, or when not into it. We sold ourselves we had to do it to have a nice retirement. Then we are afraid to use it when we retire. I asked a good friend of mind about this feeling and he said it happens to all of us. Habits are hard to break. @RocketMan275 Your motto is a great motto and I will give you full credit for it for one years. Then I am claiming it for myself and never giving you credit. You have been warned. Cruise well "In first class" and enjoy every moment.

I am not sure that NCL Flights are a Haven Issue however it can be. Whether to use the cruise brand for flights or do it yourself is a major debated weekly on almost every cruise blog site. It is SO tempting when you hear, second person free flights or 1/2 off flights for second person. If you have never had experience with Cruise Brand Flights you think nothing of it. If you have or studied the subject, you use more caution. Then you start cruising, a lot. You make the potential mistake of booking with a cruise brand, it does not matter which brand. You find out sometimes, the flights are just OK. Never great just OK. Other times it is a problem. The real issue is a lack of control vs. a potential cost savings. You also THINK that the Cruise Brand has some obligation to get you to your next port if you miss the flight at no cost. That would not be correct. It is also a very frustrating, costly and messy mistake. Does it happen all the time, no. Does it happen enough to be aware and concerned, yes. That was the setup for my response. I NEVER take Cruise brand Air. What I do, is find out how much may fare goes down if I don't take the air. On my last cruise, which was a 10 day Mediterranean Cruise. The Reduction was $1,000.00 per person. I then waited for the Airlines to open up itineraries for my dates which happens 330 before the flights for Delta Airlines. That is when I can get the best prices for, wait for it, "Fully Refundable Airfare". BINGO. Why Fully Refundable? If we cancel the cruise before full payment, if I did not purchase cruise insurance that would cover my air yet (If you buy cruise insurance and cancel your cruise, you lose the premium paid so I hold off) we can get all our air money back. If we booked the air with the cruise brand, we can cancel ALSO before full payment with NO liability for air cost so this becomes a wash. In my actual case, the Fully Refundable Air was $200.00 per person higher cost and I had to give the money upfront. Please keep that in mind. I initially paid, $200 more for each flight. So I booked the seats, paid for the tickets in full, choose the air itinerary based on other going with us so we all fly together and best connections, choose to fly in the day before the cruise and out the day after the cruise because again I had complete control. As time went on, I had some other options that most folks don't think about. Let me share some: Cruise Travel Insurance; The Type of insurance I purchase allows for losses for cancelation for any reason. Again a product I purchase directly from the insurance company, never the cruise brand. I also purchase the elements that is most important to me so I study it. The bottom line, now I can re-look at the air fare and get discounted prices if I choose knowing if I cancel the cruise or the air, the insurance compensates me. My choice and my option. Airline Upgrades and Free Bags: I notices that often, when a person books with the cruise brand, they have no baggage allowance of any sort. Not always the case but the case that often causes a unwanted financial surprise. When I book directly, I choose a fare that gives me one checked bag with the fare. I also, daily look to see what the Upgrade offers are from the airline. With my last trip with Delta, I was able to upgrade all the domestic flights to first class for a "Song" (Cheaply), and one of the long-haul legs to Delta One Business Class Suites for $699.00 per person. You just have to look often, and be willing to pull the trigger. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes not. Airlines Points: Sometimes you get your airline brand miles and sometimes you do not. Since with the Cruise Brand, you don't know the airline brand being used until the last minute, it is a hit or miss. With my choice of Delta, I knew that all those points from international travel would go into my account with no debate. Again, Control. I don't like writing about flights and air. There are some folks on this and other blogs that are the true experts. They sometimes take offense that someone not in the Airline business like me expresses my opinion and they correct every aspect of what I said. That is why when I wrote this LONG response, to a Haven Thread all I was claiming is how I do it and how it has effected me. Now it is up to everyone reading this if you made it this long, to consider what you want to do. All I ask is make a decision for you and don't complain about it if it does not work out. Do your due diligence upfront and make your trip the best it can be. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@harryw I fully understand why you asked the question. I also wish there was a way to gain this information. The reason is I really liked cruising on Oceania. It kind of hit my sweet spot with out breaking the bank. So let's make a deal. If and when a sales comes to pass, not a private only special travel agent deal, a deal like Four Category Upgrades, Or like the Extraordinary Sales Event, lets commit to post it here on CruiseCritic.com. Another idea is something we did on the NCL Board. When NCL Haven suites were a bargain, there is a stream were folk report the deals. NCL does fares differently than Oceania that is for sure, but we still can help each other. Oceania sometimes during sales does not show the sale price on their website. Crowd sourcing is a powerful benefit on a cruise board. Just a thought. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Aurora George No luck needed. You have a great plan. It is so nice to be able to buy wine in different ports. Just as nice to bring wine onboard with you. It reminds me of the Old Days. I can still remember that my wife and I would save money just to get the three bottle of wine package when we cruised. Those were the days. I am so excited for your World Cruise. Just a bit envious as well. It will be a true experience of a life time. Please journal your experiences and share with us. It will also allow you to relive the experience in a future date. RSSC is the gold standard for "All-Inclusive Ultra-Luxury Cruises". No question about that. You give up some of the amenities to go on Oceania. However, I simply can't imagine the difference in investment to do the same cruise on RSSC. Thank you for posting and commenting. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@daydreamer62 To be fair, every brand blog has those same negative type comments. Some are surprisingly the same members of CruiseCritic.com. I find that somewhat amusing. Just know, It is defiantly NOT a Oceania thing, it is a social media thing. For most but not all, it is kind of like the Brand becomes a family member and we hold family members to a higher standard. The other thought on negative comments is some folks simply need an outlet to share their feeling especially when they feel unheard. Human nature. Hear is my take on the good news. My first cruise was in November 2023 on Oceania. I had no frame of reference. All I could compare Oceania to was my past cruising experiences. It is like when you first meet someone and start dating. That last line is funny because I have been married for 45 years. Back to the point. The first couple of dates can be really lovely because it is fresh. Then, you see some issue and flaws. So some of the comments by folks are after many dates, covid transitions and changes which no one likes or want much changes when you are comfortable with a product or service. Love your comment on food, cooking and dining. My wife and I say all the time, we cook better then some of the restaurants we frequent. Oceania had good food as compared to most (not all) of the cruises I have gone on for 44 years. Not one cruise I have been on was all HITS for food. Always some misses. I just sent it back and get something else unless the issue is bad service which also happens. No one should ever expect a 5-Star Dining experience on a Cruise Ship unless you are paying an investment so high that you could have purchased a new Small SUV for the fare. Attitude as you outlined it is everything. When you read a complaint, or issue someone has consider looking at it in a different way. If you know what folks who cruised a brand liked or did not like, you can make a plan to avoid it or do it. Just make sure there is enough folks agreeing on the issue and it is not a one off. Example: When I cruise the NCL Haven, the Haven Restaurant has Lobster Tails and they are quite good. So a Mainstream Cruise brand in there exclusive area/restaurant does Lobster tails well. Yet it was my experience that the lobster including the Lobster tails cooked to order at the buffet was well not very good. Then, my friend got Lobster at of all places, Red Ginger and loved it. I knew to avoid the lobster because of what I learned online prior to cruising Oceania. For the most part it proved to be good advice. My guest and wife did not choose to take the information I shared as accurate and supported the online findings. However, then Red Ginger made the claim subject to preparation and not quality. Funny, confusing and what actually happened. Food is relative. Bottom line, I assure you that your time will be new, fresh, lovely and have a couple of issues. Just the way a new cruise brand happens. Thanks for responding to my post. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Thanks to everyone the downloaded my document and made comments. Glad you saw some value in the thought process. That document was sent to Oceania Head Quarters and shared with the leadership. I was honored to hear that. This morning, I was writing a NEW topic for my personal blog, not CruiseCritic.com. It was about how to create a "Ultra-Luxury Cruise Experience on a brand that is not Ultra-Luxury". The notion was stimulated after reading a good CruiseCritic.com friends review of his resent Ultra-Luxury Cruise. We are all looking for something when we cruise. What I want, may be the same or different then what you want. Yet what we all want and the one thing that seems keep coming up is "Personalized Service". That is not the ship, brand or dishes in the restaurant. It is how the crew treats us. Not being treated like a number. Being treated like a valued guest. Whether it is remembering your name when you check in to the Grand Dining Room (Happened every visit for me) or the bartender in Martini's remembering you love the "Big O" martini. Those tiny little things make a huge different. Sometimes, we can help that kind of treatment to happen more often and provide a sense of satisfaction for both the guest as well as the crew member. Should it simply happen naturally, YES. But the world is simply not perfect. Will we enjoy our cruise better if it happens to us, YES. So help it along. Here is an additional item to my list of "Secrets List" that I wished I had included. I call it, "Find a Crew Member That Did Something Outstanding and tell their boss about it." Not hard to find this item if you are open minded to being observant. It happened to me on my Oceania cruise last month. When it happened, I was both impressed and excited. What it was does not matter because your criteria may be different then mine. I went to the front desk, asked to speak to the General Manager (Emma). You can imagine what the GM thought I wanted to talk about. When it was a sincere complement for some (More then one) crew members, the GM was thrilled. From that point forward, when the GM saw me onboard, she said hello and visited for a minute or so. I would always introduce the GM to everyone around me. The crew member were praised by their bosses and thanked me for the kind words when they say me next. They told other crew members. We can be so quick to find fault with something on a cruise and let it effect our entire cruise. I know, I have, I am a pro at it. I can destroy the entire cruise with my attitude because something did not go my way. Then a great friend taught me that perfection and cruise vacations is an "Unrealistic Expectations". They were right and I was wrong. So I came up with "Finding Someone Doing Something RIGHT!" strategy. Not original but what really is. Some folks say, when I write I tend to preach or talk down to folks. NEVER my intention. Long winded, absolutely. My goal is always to find a way, even if it is my own effort, to make my cruise regardless of the brand, a better experience then the last cruise. That kind approach made every cruise after using it, a better cruise and yes, more like an "Ultra Luxury Cruise". "Cruise well and enjoy every moment."

Food in general is one of the most debated topics on any cruise board. I can see why. At home, many of us, myself included are very careful with our eating program. My wife watches ever calorie and logs them. I Skip meals and fast once a week. Why? Because, when we go on a cruise, we want to indulge, which is exactly what we do. Cruises are motivation to stay a normal size to enjoy special delights for 10 days a year on a cruise. Cruise food has taken an evolution in the last 4 plus decades of my cruising life. You would think, if you go on an ultra luxury cruise brand, your dining would be greatly improved even in a buffet. Well it is all about the choices you make. It is also all about the brand of cruise you choose. There is a very lovely couple who has started to do some YouTube videos on Ultra-Luxury Cruises. It is very interesting and RSSC is one of the brands they review. As a matter of fact, they did more then one sailing. To nutshell their findings, there is another ultra-luxury brand that had what they call the best food across the board. Yet they still choose RSSC. Like everything on a cruise vacation, their are trade offs. When they weighed dining vs. other things, they made a decision RSSC was their choice. The dining was excellent to so/so for them as is indicated on this thread but it their minds, making good choices was their solution. My approach to good choices is to read all the food topics for a specific brand and ship. It is not perfect but I get some good advice. The bottom line, food and dining will be debated for ever. Just glad to have the opportunity to do so on as many brands as I can muster. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@kahuna21 NCL has two rates. One is the Non-Haven Rate and the other is the Haven Rate. In the Haven Rate it is more but it is important to recognize it "DOES NOT" include the gratuities for the butler. This situation of not including the butler always confused me. I just went on Oceania Cruises. We had a Butler. Oceania includes the butlers in their gratuities program. Just like NCL, the gratuities amounts are higher for Penthouse and above. I still provide my butler with extra over and above the Gratuities paid. However it is nice to know they are part of the gratuities program. Just my two cents. Side Note: One of the main reasons I cruise is the Crew. I have traveled all my life and rarely did I ever have a staff so committed to excellence in a hotel. These fine and hard working folks deserve a raise if that is what Oceania has in the future. No issue from my clan. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I am quite sure you are correct. What we client have is more powerful. When the price, exceed the value by one cent in the clients mind, they don't buy. This is a seesaw and not the easiest decision to make for the cruise brand. But let us all not forget, if we clients stop buying they go out of business. A great company needs to read the room. The client have the control and since it is Their money, they should. It just takes some time for the cruise brand to as I said, read the room. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@9tee2Sea No, the Haven do not take reservations. The longest wait I have ever had for a table was 20 minutes. Specialty Restaurant, because you are in the Haven, you can reserve them, online, before anyone else can do so. I believe you can do that reservation 130 days in advance. Again, the Haven Restaurant does not offer reservations. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Yinster The issue happening is what we all simply have to weigh. Cutting benefits when you are also raising prices it my issue. I am of the thoughts, raise the price to keep with the rising costs; Just don't cut the benefits and amenities while raising prices. Every business especially a great business like NCL deserves a fair profit. Especially after the hardship they went through with no clients, having to gain funding during the covid times. We as loyal brand and Haven cruisers fully understand that. It is just business. However, we came to the Haven for a different kind of cruise experience. We did not want to give up the grand mega ship attractions yet we wanted a certain level of luxury, exclusivity, and quality at the same time. The notion of a "Ship within a Ship" concept was initially the "Best of Both Worlds". What was missing was a really good way to consider this concept of the Haven. Information written from a guest point of view. That is what this and other threads offered and it had a significant impact on he popularity of the Haven Concept (unprovable just boosting). Once we all knew the Plus/Minus, we evaluated the Value Proposition and the Haven became for many of us myself included "The Only Way To Cruise". Slowly as one could have expected, the investment went up. Especially on the newer ships. I don't know when the line of value vs investment was crossed but it was. We can all live with that. It is when price goes up and value in the form of what was provided in the past, is not in the future. Little things started to be reported and all of a sudden, it opened up the thought to look at other brands simply base on cost comparison. That is the history. All I am saying is, NCL has to rethink the Haven Concept. Either increase amenities and benefits to support increased pricing. OR, Decrease amenities and benefits and reduce prices. You can't have it both ways. Well you can actually and when folks figure it out, they look at your competition and other brands. That is happening factually is we all read other blogs on CruiseCritic.com. It is also happening to Celebrity Retreat and MSC Yacht Club guest. NCL is simply my favorite cruise brand with the Haven dear to my hear. That is why I focus on the topic. Do I love the Haven, YES. Will I cruise in the Haven again, YES. Will I support those that cruise the Haven, YES. Is it a great concept, YES. NCL has to ask themselves a question, "Is the Haven part of their future and if so, make it all it can be and make the investment equal to the benefits." Just my two cents. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Yinster Wow, I never thought of doing that. I think not at this time. The key to the original thread and the updated 2022 thread was to help other get every ounce of value from the Haven. The original thread pales in comparison to the wonderful comments in real time by all the Haven Cruisers over the years. Funny thing on the Secrets of the Haven and on the other thread I wrote on the Premium Plus Beverage Program. NCL seems to change things when they see we figured out how to leverage all their amenities. Then folks cruise, see some of what used to be part of the privileges are now gone. That is interesting but a credit to all the folks that made all the great comments over the years. Thank you for asking, I love the topic. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Sailing12Away Thank you for taking the time to comment. My main point was, the Haven has to evolve in value to sustain the investment it is now at. This is compared to other brand, ship and stateroom options. Now what I would think is a value, might be a complete waste to other. That is why their are so many brands and options. Again, thank you for your comments. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@CDR Benson Hello my old friend. Everyday since you returned I have been coming back to the RSSC CruiseCritic.com Blog to read your thoughts. Not sure if everyone on this thread fully understands how you take your written thoughts extremely seriously. Your reviews are always fair and balanced which takes time and focus. What impresses me most is your skill to state an area of dissatisfaction in a way that is balanced with an area that is outstanding. I have recently read so many threads where a cruiser felt the brand they cruised was the worst brand of all time. Not one positive thought and the areas outline were extraordinarily picky. Your review clearly outlined balanced fairness. Bravo. I read your comments twice to make sure I fully understood your engaging story. Not one thing surprised me. The difference is as most folks say, "Personalized Service" across the board with every crew member. That is something special. Is it worth the Premium Paid. To some, yes. To others, no. On your comments about the food/dining. We all know food/dining is relative but I was impressed on your lovely bride enjoying her lobster. We recently cruised on another brand, we so looked forward to the Lobster and it was uneatable. I was also very impressed with your review of the Steakhouse. I have had some bad luck on Cruise Brand Steak houses of late. The hit/miss aspect of food even on an Ultra-Luxury Brand seems to be a common thread. Your embarkation and dis-embarkation experience was excellent. About what one would expect with a Ultra-Luxury Brand and smaller ship. The same holds true of your review of your stateroom. What struck out to me as being a positive was your experience with Ground Transportation (Hotel to ship excluded), Pre-Cruise Hotel, and airfare arrangements. These three area's are the most criticized on most cruise brands. Nice to know RSSC has their respective act together. I am thrilled you and your lovely bride had this experience. I am even more thrilled that someone I trust, did such a lovely review to allow me to consider RSSC as a future brand to be considered. Thank you for your time, experience and as always the service you provided to our country. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Sailing12Away GREAT advice. The original question is also a good one that led to your response. One of the many improvements I suggest for the Haven on all NCL ships is this coffee thing. I actually sent it to the executives at NCL because I really like the Haven, think it has some room for improvement that would be little to no increase in cost for NCL. The idea came after comparing the Haven to other brands accommodations and amenities from a value proposition standpoint. Some of what I suggest were but not limited to the list below: Coffee: All Haven guest should have complementary Starbucks coffees. I know that all Haven Guest can gain the French Press from the Haven Restaurant but that is loved or hated. Other brands have a full fledge barista bar that is complementary to everyone on the ship. Premium Plus Beverage Package: All Haven Guests should have the Premium Plus Beverage Package. This eliminates the need to provide your card when at the Haven Bar. The Premium Plus Beverage Package is a shell of its former self. This is not a stretch for NCL. Butler Deliver Adult Drinks to the Suite: If everyone has the same Premium Plus Beverage Package, then the Butler should have the ability to bring drinks to the suite as long as a bar is open. This is done on many brands and it makes a difference. Butler Gratuities: NCL needs to include the gratuities for the butler. It is wrong not to do so. Again, they price/investment of the Haven needs to be as all inclusive as possible to support the value proposition. Specialty Restaurants: These should be complementary to all Haven Guests. At absolute least, just provide every Haven Guest with the Free at Sea Plus program. Vibe Beach Club: The complaints with the Haven Sundeck is not having a bar up there. If the Vibe is open to the Haven Guest, it will not cause a issue with crowding. The Vibe is never crowded. It will open up the bar which is rarely busy in the Vibe. My Haven Guest will simply go back to the Haven sundeck. Soda's In the Suite: The only Haven Suite that has complementary soft drinks/mixers is the H2 Owners Suites, Owners Suites or on the small ships the three bedroom villa's. When you go on other brands, the mini-fridge is complementary with soft drinks. Thermal Spa: The number of Haven Guest is about 200. The only Haven suite that has complementary access to the Thermal Spa is the Haven Spa Suite. Give it to all Haven Guest with age restrictions. Haven Pool Adult Hours: The issue is not nor has it ever been the children. NCL is a family cruise brand. That is why even in a Haven suite, the 3-4 person is discounted or free. NCL wants the entire family. The issues have been the children's parents thinking the Haven Pool is the Kids center. Have a couple of hours a day for ONLY adult swim. Now some of you may be confused why I would suggest these updates in the Amenities of the NCL Haven. Allow me to share. As the Haven has gotten more and more popular, it has also gotten more and more expensive. There comes a point when you have to consider what other brands provide. That time came for me when I compared a 10-Day Mediterranean Cruise on another brand and mostly all that I suggested above was provided as part of everyone's fare price. Add to that, the ship was just refurbished and the cost of the fare was 65% less then the Haven on a per day basis. This makes it difficult to always book a Haven Suite even for the same Itinerary. I am still a huge Haven Fan. I just want a better value proposition based on the issue I and other Haven Guest have recognized. I will be a slight premium over other brands but there is a limit. I hope NCL is listening and will consider some of not all of my suggestions. I will send this post to them once publish to remind them of the letter I sent some time ago. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Thanks for doing this. The Original Post was done in 2019. It was updated in 2022. The one you have was the updated one. I remember taking out most references to children in the Haven as part of this update. Thanks again for doing this. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@HHI Cruiser1 Thank you for asking. I wrote the NCL Haven Secrets twice. Updated at the end of 2022 I believe. I never posted the PDF for that topic. I don't have one. Sorry but thank you for the complements. Much appreciated. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Yesimapirate That sound great. I was not all that concerned but thought it was interesting. The more the merrier on the travel to Venice and hotel. Let's plan on it. Thank you for your note. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@cruisemom42 Thank you. Since Trieste is at the end of our cruise, it just provides some interesting options for visiting a new place. Maybe, we add more then a day at cruise end. Spend time in Trieste and take the train to Venice for a day before flying out. I totally get the reasoning and after my first trip last month to the Mediterranean, absolutely no fear of Trains and Buses in Europe. Thanks again. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.