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Thank you for doing this stream. I do fake bookings all the time. Usually to see if the Haven is booked completely for an upcoming cruise. Also, to see what the solo prices look like. The only time I ever log in is when I clicked the "Past Guest" under the advanced search function. That is to find out if there is a price advantage for past guest on cruises I am interested in. I find if I do my due diligence, I can tell my PCC (independent from NCL) exactly what I want and confirm the pricing. If I had the choice, I would book all of my cruises with the brand like NCL. Yet, the brands are missing the boat (Pun intended). I want my American Express Platinum card perks which can only be given if you book with American Express Travel of an agent that supports the AMX program. Funny story, I was going to book an Oceania Cruise for next November 2023. I called the Brand and told the PCC what I wanted. He never called me back. I booked with an American Express Agent and got the perks. If he would called or even shown interest, I would have done business with him even though the AMX perks were lost. When you want personalized service, you don't get it. When you want to simply do research, they are all over you. Interesting world we live in. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Amen. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Sundiego We should unite. I am attaching a spreadsheet and something called a Journey Document. I think all of us "Planners" will appreciate the effort. I have not posted this stuff for a very long time. The last time I did, I got so much heat from folks saying any planning for a cruise makes the cruise worse. I must disagree. Planning allows me to relax and know that the things I could control were done. Now I just let what happens on every cruise happen which is out of my control. Hope you like it and it gives everyone a smile. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.Cruise_Agenda_Template.xlsx NCL_Joy_Family_Journey_Document_template.docx

@lisa928 You and others are the reason why I love CruiseCritic.com. I assure you when folks are mean, or rude or turn up the heat on me I have to have a internal conversation with myself. It goes like this, "Gary, you can take the High Road, or the Low Road. The Low Road is like scratching an itch. It initially feels GOOD and then becomes infected. The High Road is much harder work and rarely recognized." The way I look at it, when anyone spends the extra premium to be in the Haven, they should know all the benefits and how to utilize them. To many folks say things like, "I never asked the butler to do anything", or something else related to the Haven. By sharing the "Secrets" so they are no longer "Secrets"; benefits current and future Haven Guest as well as NCL. I always want to make sure that everyone has Realistic Expectations about the Haven also. That is why when folks write a review and the give Pros and Cons of the Haven; it support others enjoyment of the experience. Now for me selfishly. The last two cruise (One I did on the Joy Solo the other we are about to do on the Breakaway) My wife and I will not be in the Haven. I wish we were however like everyone else, we all have to look at our budgets and do the right thing for our selves. In my case, I want to take a 10 day cruise in the Mediterranean at the end of 2023. I can't do that and do the Haven. The best part of this is I have learned to have a GREAT time doing Haven lite. The key is cruising and the ocean. Being with old and new friends. We all put in our Bids for upgrade and hope for the best. In my case, it really won't matter. I just love to cruise. Thanks again for your kind words. I wish my family knew that I am not thought of as an idiot on CruiseCritic, LOL. Just being a Dad, I think. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

In my humble opinion, a Brilliant Strategy if I could not say so myself. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

That cake at Cagney's is my all time favorite. I can't wait. They used to have this cake in the Haven but it looked different. Thanks so much for this picture. Makes my current diet worth doing. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Excellent and I do mean Excellent list. Thank you. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@lisa928 I see we completely connect on the need for the details. Your question has so many ways to answer it. I have tried guessing the times of the shows based on old cruise dailies. I have tried a standard time for all dinner reservations. Neither was a perfect fix. So my strategy is the following and it ALWAYS works better if you are in the Haven. The Haven Concierge has never let me know. I make my initial reservations for Specialty Restaurants for 07:00 PM. The Haven Restaurant does not take reservations. Depending on how many days I am traveling and number of specialty Restaurants I have, I alternate Haven and Specialty to gain variety. When I get on the ship, I ask the Concierge when the shows are playing and if I have to make a change in my dinner, I have them do both at the same time. A hint on how to do this. Either get on first thing and go straight to the Haven Desk, or understand, you will have to wait a bit because other Haven guest will be on line to talk to the Concierge with the same plan. If you say, "The line is to long, you will worry about your timing until you get it done." Another words, do it upfront and wait if you need too. With cruising, they are always fluid. Just the way it is. Now my next cruise in December will not be as easy. I am not in the Haven so my reservations are at the mercy of the restaurant manager. It will always work out but this just shows one more reason the Haven creates lovely experiences. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I answered the question posed by the author earlier in this stream. I answered showing respect to the question and knowledge of following NCL and pricing for some time. What I am about to say is from the heart. I hope everyone will take it that way. Some of the terms used in answering the authors question sound like terms used in politics. That is what sets some folks off and streams being shut down. Everyone has the right to have an opinion and just base that opinion on experiences, knowledge and research. That is just respectful to the board and the folks that enjoy this board. When it starts to become a "Little" aggressive, it has to end. I left all my social media accounts in the past because no matter what someone said, it was met with a certain level of hostility. It is my hope that here, on CruiseCritic.com we can focus on cruising as a passion and hobby. We all know that marketing for cruise lines are designed to sell cabins. The prices are what they are. It is up to all of us to make a determination if they are fair for the vacation we want. Whether NCL, Celebrity, MSC, Royal, Carnival and the list goes on, if we don't think the fare is acceptable, just don't book it. Please folks, let's keep CruiseCritic.com clear from the other distractions we have in life. Sorry for ranting, I am just trying to enjoy the thought of being on the ocean, with a nice drink after a fine meal and show. Not to much to ask based on the them of this site. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Sundiego Hello Denise. I want to answer your question the way I would handle it. Please understand, I am a insane person about details. I would call them without a doubt. It makes my vacations so much better if I can do what ever I can, prior to boarding. Just know, if you are in the Haven, it will get handled either way. Hope your trip is GREAT. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

The sales to my knowledge never include these kinds of programs. They focus on cruises. I would purchase it now, so it was done and paid for. If the cost goes down, cancel it and rebook it. I don't think that is going to happen. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

As the ships fill up, the answer is yes. Just ask your Haven Host to handle it for you. I am looking forward to Six. It is a show I have never seen. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

What you will find is that rarely is there any deals on any cruise brands. To answer your question, NCL changes the percentage but the price stays about the same. I have also compared cruise brand to cruise brand and they seem always to be close. As it relates to price increases, all brands have increased their prices. All of them. Everything costs more today. Still brand to brand the prices for similar cabins and Itineraries are very, very close. I have cruise many brands. I do like NCL because of the type and style of entertainment they have. I love the approach of Broadway shows. Reminds me of growing up in New York. I hope that helps. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Try to book it from your cell phone or ipad device. I know that sounds crazy but give it a try.

@CCruiser08 The fees are baked into the daily fee for the plan. Once you pay for the plan, no additional tips or fees will be charged on your cabin portfolio. The exception is if you order something with an extra fee at a specialty restaurant like Crab Cakes. Hope that helps. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@dcipjr You make a very good point here. It is very important that we create realistic expectations for those that ask questions. If we say something is so, then a guest is told "NO", that guest is disappointed on their cruise. I know this because a long time ago, I said something was so and it ended up not being. I want to give an example. On my last trip on the NCL Joy, in a Club Balcony Suite, as a solo guest; I had a week long pass for the Vibe Beach Club. One day, when it was a port day and I had the Vibe to myself, the Vibe Manager asked me if I wanted a "Haven Burger and Fries". I never asked for this but he knew me from my writings on Cruise Critic mostly about the Haven. I said YES and can you get me one of those Almond Croissants if it is not to much trouble. This was a crew member being nice, it was not something that will ever happen to me again. I was appreciative for the burger and croissant which made my day. Sometime, crew members do things that are special. You never know when it will happen. When it happens to me, I usually keep it to myself. But in this case, I wanted to make an example. Back to your situation about using the French place for another restaurant. If we can all agree on one thing. NCL is not as consistent as we think when they say "No". You just have to find the right angle which sometimes their own employees don't know. My example is having Four Adults in my Suite on the Joy. All four had the Premium Beverage Program. I wanted the Premium Plus Beverage Program for only my wife and I. That is usually impossible but I got it done by using FCC pre-cruise. I have no clue how I found that out but it worked. OR, did someone make an exception. Welcome to the world of NCL. My only advice is look for another angle. In your case go directly to the restaurant before they open as you stated. When someone says "NO" to me it means they "Just don't KNOW enough" to say yes yet. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

GREAT outline. I remember when it was much less to go YC. Those were the days. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

If the issue is simply Syd's, or the Comedy Clubs and the Cavern club venues. I fully agree. Let all be clear, I was never given Haven Access to these clubs and to be honest, I only asked once. If access was offered, I would have jumped on it. Nowhere is it stated on NCL marketing that these little venues are included in Haven Perks. That is why I was surprised about Syd's. As you said, if it was a perk, and I was in the Haven, I would use it. If it is dependent on the ship you are on or the Haven Staff decision, then this entire stream is missing the point. My only debate here is Haven Guest should have access to the entire ship not just the Haven Proper. If special access is provided, it should be consistent from ship to ship and well documented by NCL. If perks are documented, and non-Haven guests (I will be one in December) need to take their issues up with NCL. Sidenote for context: On November 2021, I finally did my family vacation put off due to Covid with four cruise cancelations. We were in the Haven, after all the extra's for cancelled cruises, I gave my family and especially myself a treat. A "Once in a Lifetime" "Bucket List Suite". We were on the Joy and had one of the two, H2 Haven Deluxe Owners Suites. Folks don't hate the messenger. This happened because all the stars and the moon were finally in the right places. I asked if I could get early entry to the Cavern Club and or the comedy venue and told, "NO". On this situation with my family, I did ask. So many things and experience people have on NCL can be inconsistent from one cruise to another. I just thought that might bring some flavor to what I am trying to say. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Thanks. I am thrilled to hear that La Cucina is improved. My choices for the four specialty restaurants are; Cagney's Steakhouse; Ocean Blue; La Cucina and Teppanyaki Japanese (Always the last night). I have not eaten in La Cucina in a long time. Can you recommend your favorite dish? I also love Sushi, however I am hoping it is open for lunch one day. If not, the once thing my area has is excellent Sushi. I usually always go to LeBristro. It is part of the Perk as Dinner for two with American Express Platinum Cards. This time, my reservation was with NCL Casino's at Sea so I also won't go. I like the food their but only one entrée so passing on it, like you. won't be hard. Thanks again for the kind words. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@graphicguy I want to thank you for always being the voice of reason with your posts. It makes these kinds of communities a better place. I am excited for you. I can't wait to hear about your experience and adventures. It will give me even more to look forward to on my upcoming trip on the Breakaway. My I suggest just one thing? If you eat in Cagney's, please leave room for the Chocolate Cake for desert. I originally had this cake when it was a three inch circle about four inches high in the Haven. They stopped making it I thought. Then, I ordered it in Cagney's as a normal cake slice. This was unusual for me because I usually do the Apple Pie. The Cake was over the top. Regardless, have a great time. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@CruizinSusan70 I never mind a person disagreeing with me. I am not a Know it All and never wanted to be considered one. Yet, I am a person that will appreciate boundaries. All me to explain. The Haven Area was designed to increase the profitability of the NCL Sailings. From day one, with the premium paid, it was the highest profit area of NCL sailings per cabin. It was marketed from the beginning as the best of both worlds. You could have the Mainstream experience and have a Haven area to retreat too. I actually met one of the executives, a previous retired ship captain on the Getaway that told me the whole story. NCL wanted to open up an area that would attract clients that would go on Luxury and Ultra-Luxury cruises. They learned that if they could provide a Mainstream environment for all the activities, dining venues and public events; add to this a VIP area; that would bring in other higher profit clients. It worked. It worked so well other brands followed. The entire ship plus this VIP area was always the notion. If it were the case that Haven Guests would not have full access to the entire ship, their would not fare less folks willing to pay the premium. That experience exists on brands like Viking, Seaborne, Oceania, Regents. Those entire ships are all Haven on steroids. Those other options also cost very similar to what a Haven Suite costs. So guests are willing to go on a Mainstream Cruise Line like NCL, if they can have that experience plus the rest of the ship. You disagreed that the Haven Guest should have access to the rest of the ship. That is your opinion. The marketing, and intent of NCL for those Haven Guest are much different then your opinion. On another note, I wrote the op-ed, "The secrets of the Haven VIP Experience" and recently revised it. It is try I did not know that Syd's early access was not part of the perks. Now I was educated differently. That is the purpose of this stream. When not in the Haven as will be my case in December, I fully realize I will not have that early access and understand completely why that will be the case. I have said all I can say on this topic. My apologies to the Op-Ed. I will not stop following the topic. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@graphicguy I would have to agree. Not sure how it happened however if I was in some way the cause, I apologize. To help change the subject, allow me to say this. I am cruising on the Breakaway on December 4, 2022. I can't wait. I have not had the opportunity to be in a Syd's for quite some time. The most recent ships I cruised had the Beatles and the Cavern Club both of which were true highlights to my past cruises. Syd's will provide that small venue feeling with live music that creates a down home feeling. Whether I am standing or lucky enough to be sitting, this is an experience I look forward too greatly. We all are coming off some stressful time. We all seem to really love cruising. Having something to look forward too is so essential for our mental health. My Cruise is in 40 + days. I have a bit more spring in my step every day knowing that. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

They don’t partner with AMX. They can take your card for payment. But don’t partner with the AMx cruise perks. Simple as that. Cancel and rebook with an agency that provides the AMX perks or directly with American Express Travel. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Yes, if served by the glass. If your wine is served only as a bottle, that would not qualify unless it is denoted “Selected Bottle” clearly described on the list. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

The TA needs to Authorize by AMX. You need to make sure that is the case first. If they are not, you don’t get the perks. Perks are both OBC and a dinner for two in the French Resturant. Every cruise I go on with NCL, I get both perks. All TA know the drill. They should have told you up front. Cancel and rebook with another TA for the benefits. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.