sr71_1

More newb cruising questions related to restaurant reservations (For restaurants that take reservations)

• Is it advised to book in advance? ... (I'd prefer to wait until the cruise and decide based on how the day is going)
• Do you have the option of picking a table (for instance by a window) ... etc?
• Does being in the Haven make a difference for dinner reservations?  

Thanks 

So far I've booked all our shore excursions directly (not through NCL).   I just booked our June, 2020 whale adventure (20 person boat) with https://icystraitwhaleadventures.com/tour/whale-adventure/.    

Thanks everyone for the thoughts .....going to stick with the Haven 2 Bdrm for this cruise.   

Not being a regular cruiser I find it rather amazing that NCL does not show the room layout for one of their most expensive suites - Haven DOS.   Rather lazy on their part.      

After watching a few customer video's yesterday, I have feeling that their website "footprint " estimates for Haven DOs are for perhaps another ship  - the balcony for instance is noted as "roughly" 567 sq. ft.   My best guess is that the balcony is 200 sq. ft... (I plan to send a note to NCL)....

Thanks again  

Currently have a Haven 2-BDRM booked on Jewel (Alaska)... 2 x parents + 2 adult children (girls).    I'm having second thoughts.. thinking the DOS might be a better choice for 4 of us.   Looking for comparative opinions!! 

Questions:

DOS: 

 - Does anyone have a layout of the Jewel DOS ?  (I cannot find one anywhere)

 - Is there a closet for the guests sleeping in the living room?

 - How big is the living room bed?

 - I assume the staff does a turn down service each evening?     

2-BDRM

 - Is there a closet in the 2nd bedroo 

 - It appears that there are two beds (one high & one low) in bedroom?

 - I assume the staff does a turn down service each evening?     

Thanks 

Not a regular cruiser like many on this board.   We'll likely only do the Alaskan trip once ....booked in early June, 2020 - Seward to Vancouver.   We have a 2 bedroom Haven suite on the Jewel.   Given that we don't cruise much and this is one of our bucket list trips... we just booked the Haven - more or less a "no regret" decision - hopefully NCL will show us why the Haven is worth the extra cash.   Jewel is a smaller ship (we wanted that) and it sounds like it has some private areas for kicking back and relaxing .. hopefully fall deep into a great book.  While we like to swim the Haven pool looks a little small (more like a lap or big jacuzzi)   

Wow .... I like this forum - you guys are awesome!  Thanks so much for the quick response !

Ship departs June 1, 2020 from Seward to Vancouver ( 9:00 pm)   

Taking the train from Anchorage to Seward (June 1) and arriving at 11:00 am.   Plan to take the ORCA Cruise from 1pm- 5pm.    Would like to get rid of our bags before the ORCA cruise.  

• Is it possible to check our bags at the ship terminal (or with NCL) after arriving by train? 
• What is the earliest you can board the NCL Jewel? 

Thanks for the replies!!

1st time NCL cruiser.  Booked on NCL Jewel from Seward to Vancouver - June 2020.   Have a Haven 2 bedroom suite.  Somehow I missed the detail that Jewel class ships do not have a private restaurant or private bar.    

 - I've read somewhere that instead of a private restaurant, "Jewel" Haven guests have the option to eat breakfast and lunch in one of the restaurants not open to other ship guests.    Is this correct ?   

 - Is the food served in the Haven restaurant or the Jewel alternative better in some way that other restaurants on the ship?

- for Dinner (in the absence of a private restaurant) does NCL offer anything special for Jewel class Haven guests?