sivRVT

We completed our first cruise in December to the Caribbean and I was petrified of sea sickness. In Canada, we are not able to get the scopolamine patches unfortunately, and the only over the counter anti nausea meds is Gravol/Dramamine which make so so sleepy.  I had my husband pick up Bonine/meclizine in the US when he was traveling earlier in the year for work (which we can't get in Canada either sadly, but it's over the counter in the US) and I took that the day before boarding, and all through the cruise. I had 1 night I felt sick (didn't vomit) but it came on suddenly late in the evening so I just took Gravol and my sleeping pill and by the morning I was fine.   

We cruised on the Escape in December 2022, and I am considering the same cruise (different ports) for December 2023, but worried that all the shows will be the same.  Does anyone know how frequently the mix up the entertainment?  Thanks!

21 hours ago, smeck said:

I just debarked from the Escapes Haven.  It was a 9 out of ten a couple of things I would improve upon. 
   The Menu in the Haven never changes and gets repetitive after a few days especially if you have a less than stellar Pallet.  It’s my belief that a couple of Chefs specials in addition to the regular menu would improve the experience.  One other issue with the dining room was the length of the dining experience, your looking at two hours for dinner and a bit less for breakfast and lunch.  I do appreciate a leisurely dinner on occasion but when your on a busy cruise ships with shows, nightclubs and other entertainment options their are times when you want a expedited dinner.  I did mention we had a show to attend at a certain time it didn’t seem to make much of a difference. Having said that the food was excellent the best I have tasted on any cruise ship and we cruised pretty much all of the mass market lines. 
   The Bar service is exceptional by the beginning of your second day they know your name and personal likes.  The bartenders and support staff makes you feel right at home and like my wife said they make you feel like your at a bar named Cheers.  It was nice not waiting for a drink longer than two minutes a home run for sure. 
    The concierges are very good with expediting getting on and off the ship getting you in the shows early and arranging those hard to get reservations. 
    Our favorite spot in the Haven is the Sundeck.  No fighting for chairs, and It was terrific not having to fight the crowds.  Marco Pole as we called him and others always made sure you had beverages and whatever you needed.  The best part you didn’t wait forever for your drinks and always delivered with a smile. 

   The Butler always made sure you had snacks in your room and delivered room service.  A couple of times we used room service for breakfast when we had a early port and she was always on time and delivered white glove service.  Our Room steward kept the room immaculate and worked around our schedule perfectly. 
   The Haven lived up to its name, it certainly was a Haven from the chaotic pace of the cruise ship and worth every penny. 
   Any questions don’t hesitate to ask. 

 

Thanks for the review, we are sailing on NYE in the Haven as our first cruise. Can I ask you what the embarkation was like? Where does one go when they arrive to the port?

On 12/2/2022 at 5:24 PM, rbxlady said:

OK, to follow up, we took a shuttle from our hotel to the port. All the buses/shuttles are dropping people in this one area and unloading luggage, and the porters are picking it up and putting it on carts to send on board. I would describe it like a parking bay/bus depot. There's a sidewalk section in the middle with buses/shuttles pulling up on either side. There's a wide staircase (I don't recall if there was an escalator) that goes upwards from the sidewalk, and that's where everyone goes into the port terminal. There was no special Haven entrance like the video I posted shows.

 

Once we got up there, we told the first person we encountered that we were in the Haven, so they directed us to a person who checked our passports and had us go through security. This was no different than everyone else except that we didn't have to stand in line like everyone else since it was just us four and a couple who were also Haven passengers who arrived at that particular moment.

 

After that, you're just sort of let loose into the big room with everyone sitting and a long line of check-in desks along the right side with big windows and the ship behind them. You do not go to those check-in desks. I repeat, do not go to those check-in desks! Haven passengers are not supposed to be checked in there. Go all the way to the back left of the giant room. Someone will inevitably try to stop you, but if you insist that you're in the Haven and show proof if need be, they'll get you to where you need to be. We had some confusion on that, so don't feel like a jerk announcing your status and be vocal about it.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

More details in my comment here: 

 

Thank you!

On 12/2/2022 at 8:45 PM, Pat said:

I don't know why everyone has had such a different experience,  but this video was very close to the experience we had in October, 2022.   The only difference is that there was a little popup canopy at the bottom of the escalator.  We got there fairly early (maybe 9:30), we were let off the Budget car rental shuttle under the long covered area,  left our luggage with a porter there and asked about a Haven checkin,  a very nice disembarking passenger told us she had just passed the sign back up the left side of the building,  we found the popup canopy marked "HAVEN"  waited with about 6 other couples until a NCL checkin person met with us,(maybe 10 minute wait) checked that we were indeed in the Haven, she led us up the escalator and thru security.  Haven had their own line through security and then to a smaller room where there were other NCL staff doing Haven check in.  It was one of the most efficient Haven checkins we've been through and we've done them in Boston, New York, Tampa and Miami.  Funny how everyone's experience is different.

Thanks for this, hoping for a similar experience at the end of the month!

On 10/12/2022 at 11:18 AM, rbxlady said:

Granted, this was from pre-COVID, so it doesn't answer the question on arrival times, but it does show the separate Haven check-in area:

I'll be there on 10/22. but our check-in times got wonky. My husband and I got 9AM, our older son got 9:30, and our younger son got 11AM. Those were all the earliest available as I did online check-in. The kids are minors traveling with us to the port (in other words, they're not arriving separately from me and my husband), so suffice it to say that we will just be showing up as close to 9 as possible. We'll also be in the Haven, so I expect that they won't turn us away just because we don't all 4 have 9AM check-in times. I actually created a post where I asked about this and was told not to sweat it.

We are traveling at the end of the month, wondering if this video portrayed what you experienced this past October?  this is our first cruise, and we are in the Haven, so just want to make sure we know where we are going! Thanks!

When my family returned home from a trip in February (when they were testing practically everyone on arrival), our results came scattered over 24-72 hours.  I suspect now that there a much less people getting tested you'd be looking at 24 hours on average.  

Our family is taking our first cruise this coming new years on the Escape.  My husband and I will have the included drink package, but we will be purchasing the pop package for our tweens/teens.  They do enjoy virgin cocktails though, which I know are not included in the pop packages.  If they would like to order a virgin cocktail, would the cost be the same as an alcoholic beverage? Or do they have a reduced fee for such drinks?   

3 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Usually, right after the xray screening, you'll find a corkage desk manned by ships personnel.  

We didn't leave our bottles with the Haven restaurant.  It was such a short walk, that it was easier to carry them.   Plus you may not always dine in the Haven.  I know other restaurants can fetch the wine for you, but that may take awhile.  

Thank you!

3 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

You will pay the corkage at security. It has to be hand carried. 
 

You can arrange with the restaurant to hold your wine. Or take it with you to other Specialty Restaurants. 
 

Wine & Champagne Policy
Guests may bring bottles of wine and champagne on board. When bottles are brought on board and served or consumed in any restaurant, public room area or in their stateroom, a corkage fee will be charged according to bottle sizes noted below.

 

750 ml Bottle: $15.00 USD

1,500 ml Magnum: $30.00 USD

Thank you!

First time cruiser question.  We are staying in the Haven, but not upgrading our drink package so will likely bring on a few bottles of wine. I know there is corkage fee.

1. Where do we 'declare' the bottles when arriving at the port as Haven guests.

2. Once on board, can we have our wine kept at the Haven restaurant to be served for our meals?

Thank you!