wolft927

I have cruise many times. The second time in the haven nobody ever knew I was a former cruise director, service outside haven areas was fantastic , but service inside haven areas was beyond amazing!!!! We cruise about 3 times a year in or out of the haven , but I will say I would much rather be in the Haven

I am assuming bookings will go up, looking at my September 29th cruise Havens sold out with exception of owners suite, within 5 days of press release, all spa suites sold out best available cabin outside the owners suite is a family club balcony. My guess our cruise will sail around 80 to 90%. Last 2 where lest then 50%

Haven owners suite with large balcony and the haven owners suites do have forward facing balconies in the breakaway and the getaway. But I have also had the forward facingbhaben suites and love them

So a little back story, I am almost 43 years old and have been cruising since I was 10 or so with my family. Have sailed NCL, RCCL, Princess, Carnival, Premier, Dolphin cruise lines. I loved cruising so much when I was about 23 I decided to work on a Cruise Ship. I worked for NCL for 5 years starting off as Cruise Staff Host and eventually becoming a Cruise Director, ( Worked onboard the Dream, Star, Dawn, Sea, Majesty Crown and even did a short stint on the Marco Polo with orient lines) I returned and began cruising onboard NCL again 1 year ago and have officially became addicted to the Haven. Last December booked a balcony on the Breakaway and got the invitation to bid. Not knowing much did some research and decided to put in some bids. It was off season so bids where pretty low and Covid was still heavily around. Amazing I bid not much more then Poor and won the forward facing Haven Suite! My wife and I arrive to the terminal in New Orleans and the perks started from there. After Security check point was ushered to the Haven check in which took all of 2 minutes, then to the Haven lounge in the terminal to sit and relax and enjoy some coffee and a snack. Now this was the cruise that got delayed boarding due to covid and we did spend almost 6 hours in the terminal. But once that ordeal was done, was escorted onto the ship by our concierge. First off I love the Breakaway class ships! We followed the concierge to the elevators where they where waiting to send us up to deck 16. Feeling like royalty, 1st on the ship and then to the Haven. First impression is WOW! the haven lounge and bar area is beautiful, and also not overly large. The staff in the Haven where all nothing but the best from the bartenders, waitstaff and deck attendants. The pool area is nothing enormous, but it was great! The Haven Restaurant....Best food on the ship! Next we went to our cabin, again not staying in the Haven itself we walked to deck 9 forward and went into our room. I will say that i love the forward facing haven, the bedroom is huge, window in the bedroom as well as separate living and dining area, balcony was small but all we needed for two of us. We then met our Butler Johnathon who was by far the friendliest and amazing staff member we met. He had noticed my backpack that had the NCL logo on it and said Norwegian Star Crew 2005....we talked about it and when i told him what i had done on NCL he asked if I knew Alvin Olivia? Alvin was a Junior host when i was an Asst Cruise Director and now he was the CD on the Breakaway...was absolutely amazing seeing him again after all those years! Our butler noticed I was drinking Michelob Ultra and asked is that typically what i drink. I said yes and after dinner we came back to the cabin and there where 6 Ultras in the Fridge. The entire cruise was amazing and we loved the haven so much that we booked another cruise for 3 months later same ship but this time we took our oldest son and his girlified. I informed the kids that they would have an inside and my wife and I would be in a balcony, they didn't care since heck we where paying lol. But the secret was that I booked both of us in courtyard Penthouse suites. Then when bidding opened I bid on a two bedroom suite and won (wife never found out about the two bedroom until walking into the room lol) boarding the ship for this one we told the kids that we got priority boarding so we would have to go through separate and faster lines. This cruise thank the lord no delays and we immediately went to the lounge for about 20 minutes then by 11:30 was being escorted on the ship. my son i think at this point was thinking this isn't normal as he has cruised with us before but never in the haven, but his girlfriend had not clue as this was her first cruise. When we arrived at the Haven we informed both my son and his girlfriend what the Haven was. My son only cruising carnival with us, was in absolute aww. His girlfriend still thinking they have an inside cabin, when we got to there room opened it up and was so shocked and suprised. But when my wife an I got to our cabin and she seen the 2 bedroom and the absolutely amazing bathroom she started to cry lol..... As always the Staff food service in the Haven was again amazing! So, Now I have a 9 day Cruise for September 29th on the Getaway and had a balcony booked and was going to bid, but i noticed inventory was almost sold out and while doing a mock booking noticed 1 courtyard haven available at the same price I was willing to bid and immediately locked it up called NCL and upgraded. I will always love cruising do i need the Haven, no, but I think the next cruise I go and can not get a Haven Suite, I think the first few minutes I will be disappointed. I promise what they say is true, If you cruise in the HAVEN, you will never want to cruise ay other way on NCL.

Thanks for the advice!

I absolutely agree, I sail always during off-season not on holidays, main reason is I prefer not to be on a ship with 500 kids, nothing against since I have 3 of my own, 15 18 and 21. My last 2 cruises when I won haven one was in December and the other was first week of March. When I won the bids there where over 20 havens available and I went from balcony to haven

Well for 2 people I was willing to bid in the top of fair range, which was 1300PP for a 9 night. It cost me $2550 total to just buy into the haven in advance for balcony. Also I get the double latitude points as well. For me it was worth it knowing I am staying in the haven

If I did sorry lol…. 49 days away lol….

I will make a recommendation, if you are bidding watch the inventory, my 9 night September 29th cruise on the getaway before the press release saying no more tests etc there where 14 haven suites left, Now today none left! I was able to scoop up the last courtyard penthouse this morning for the same as what I was gonna bid. If you really want the haven and can swing it do t rwly on bidding , and this is coming from someone who won my last 2 haven bids as well

We don’t leave until September 29th

So after I thought all hope was lost this morning when i seen that all haven suites where showing sold out, i kept going back to the site every 30 minutes or so and there it was, Haven Courtyard Suite 16126 on the getaway and was priced $150 less then I had my total bid at....hopped on the phone with NCL ( by the way 30 minute hold) and was able to snatch it up. So happy to be in the Haven for my 9 night cruise on the Getaway....I will not tell my wife until we arrive at the Temrinal lol

I have won my last 2 haven bids going from balcony to haven with a fair bid

Typically the most profitable bid

If you want an early arrival time like 9am, make sure that at midnight the 21st day before you cruise do all your check in documents.

I will be on the Getaway for the 9 night September 29th sailing. Will update you during the cruise on what the entertainment is.

It says no other staterooms availbale, may only be one aft balcony available.

So, Create a mock booking, choose Haven then see what Suites are not sold out. Pic one, and then click select another room, it will then prompt you to choose forward or Aft, then what deck, then it will show all the available cabins on that deck, for haven its fairly easy to do.

Maybe maybe not, I have been reading about alot of people canceling becasue they don't feel safe with no vacination or pre cruise testing stuff, but your probobly right. anyways here is to hoping.

Our cruise is 51 days out and only 4 2 bedrooms left and the owners suite with larg balcony on the getaway. I am watching the price like a hawk on them, i may just have to bite the bullet and just upgrade instead of bidding..been to spoiled my last two cruises having haven suites.

Max would be for 2, only pay upgrade bid for the first 2 guests,

me as well mine is a 9 night and agree 9 nigths in the Haven would be great. I actually have a bif on the owners suit on the Getaway, nervouse if i actually win it my wife is goona poop her pants lol

Bids wont really lower all the much as in the minimum bid but it does happen sometimes. I am willing to pay a certain amount and adjust my bids to match the inventory. I look at it as if i can save a few thousand from just purchasing a Haven I will bid in the fair, only bid once in the good range simply becasue Haven inventory was low.

I also Just called the Hotel and Verified, My rate includes 10 nights of parking ( but the cruise and park includes 8 nights parking for a standard 7 day cruise, I had to pay for an additional 2 nights at $17 per night) Also if you call the local number to the hotel, even in there recording asks for park and cruise program press #2.

My Reservation for September 29th Clearly states park and Cruise...and to call 48 hours before to schedule a shuttle to and from the Ship. Total cost was $231.00. I will be more then happy to upload my reservation page but would need to black out certain things if need be.

Typically Once you have been declined bidding is then closed and all upgrades have been issued. When i have won, the losing bids all say expired with the winning bid first still saying pending, then says processing. Remember typically latlely the bids have been awarded about 4 to 6 days out depending on occupancy of the sailing