fdpevey

If you look at a picture of a Haven Spa cabin on the NCL website - specifically on Breakaway or Getaway - the picture of the cabin shows a cute little table and two chairs across from the whirlpool tub. Try a dummy booking, comes up every time.

Last year when we were actually in the Haven Spa cabin on Breakaway, however, there was an awful lounge/sofa there instead. The reason I say "awful" is the furniture had not real support in the cushions and was so close to the floor you could not sit on it and eat from the table. When you sat, your knees were above the seat of the lounge. For someone like me with hip issues, getting up from it was a challenge and actually aggravated my hip more. We finally had our steward bring in a real chair for me to sit in.

I would like to ask the pre-cruse concierge to move the sofa/lounge out and replace it with table/chairs as shown on the website. My husband says I would be wasting my breath.

Do you think this is worth asking?

see this, ncl?

 

You get people into the haven through upsells who say they will never pay the inflated full price.

 

Is it worth it? As long-time, dedicated ncl suite pax, like me, are looking at other options. I feel like you have taken me, and my dollars, for granted.

 

Used to be, i paid a lot, but felt like the value was there. Yes, there were upsells, but they were initiated by ncl, so it was not an "option for everyone" like it is now. It does change one's perspective. I do not want to book a balcony on the hopes of "winning the haven" without all the promotions... But on the flip side, i feel like ncl's current inflated pricing for booking a full suite is too much a disparity between those who upsell. Perhaps if ncl had slightly raised the prices i would look at it differently.... But it appears ncl wants it both to ways and perhaps takes their established suite customer for granted.

 

Msc gave me a loyalty match. Have cruised x and liked it. And almost cruised azamara and want to. I thought i was a ncl suite pac for life but now i see myself checking other options.

 

Sigh.

 

 

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well said!

I'm always hoping for the Prepaid Service Charges to go with my UBP:D

I also think the Prepaid Service Charges are the best!

I recommend looking into a private tour operator.

They could be waiting for you when you land at the airport, stow your luggage in their car/van as you tour (saving you the time to/from the port that your could be spending on tour), arrange for tickets in advance and have them in hand so you don't have to stand in line for anything. When you think of the time you'd spend and money for taxis, this is a good option.

We used Spanish Trails Tours for the exact same thing a few years ago and it was great! Not inexpensive, but absolutely worth it!

My wife and I went on a very long walk this morning.

 

On the other hand in 2010 we were here the same time of year for four nights. First day high in the 70's and with each succeeding day it got cooler and by the last day a high in the high 40's and windy. Early January of this year we stayed in Fort Lauderdale for three nights starting around January 6. It was cool and windy but the week before we arrived quite nice.

 

When it comes to weather you never know.

 

Keith

So apropos you mentioned this - 2010 was the last time we were in Miami pre-cruise for extra days and, because of that, I'm looking for a hotel this time with an indoor heated pool. I want to enjoy my pre-cruise even if there is another cold snap in February.

This hurts. Expresso martini is also my fav. Drink a couple a day. Does anyone have updated menus?

No guarantee BUT drinks are often made more expensive by using and promoting in the description a more expensive brand of liquor. If the bar/bartender will do it, you can sometimes ask for a "mixer" brand of the liquor instead of the name brand ... and specifically state your goal it to make the cocktail come out to meet the UBP limit.

We absolutely LOVED the Thermal Spa and would buy passes if we were not in a Spa room. The variety of pools including therapy and whirlpool, the heated loungers, the sauna, the regular loungers. Loved it all. Went every day.

There have been tales of the Haven courtyard having noisey children and adults, making it a less than relaxing location. On our cruise, it was typical to have every lounger covered in towels before lunch (which we noticed when we went down for lunch). Don't know if that happens on other voyages.

It's, once again, personal choice. I am hope you enjoy whichever you select.

Always remember minisuite is really just a balcony-plus. It's a balcony cabin with more space.

It does not include Suite perks.

Every ship we've sailed on - from the tiny American Hawaiian MANY years ago to the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas - has had something we liked and something we'd do differently.

What we've realized is to just roll with it. Don't expect perfect - expect fun and time together. We've found that on every cruise and every line whether we were in the inside cabin that was so small you had your feet in the shower when brushing your teeth, or the aft balcony that was bigger that that inside cabin twice over!

Planning to fly into Miami. Priced BWI to FLL and BWI to MIA. It pretty much equals out ... the baggage fees of other airlines [a major complaint of mine] are offset by the transportation fees from FLL to Miami and the general hassle of FLL.

There was a point in time that the Holiday Inn PoM was the only 3.5 star hotel in the area so you could get a good deal by bidding right on Priceline, but even that is no longer the case.

I'll keep watching. Thanks, all.

We enjoyed our stay at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami five years ago before a cruise, so I started there when planning for a pre-cruise stay in February, 2017. Saturday night before a Sunday cruise departure.

Rates right now are $300 a night for the least expensive room. That seems really high for this property.

Anyone stayed there recently? Is this the price range you experienced?

Thanks, all.

I've been reviewing the shore excursions for a Getaway Cruise we're considering. I can see the possible excursions, and it shows me how many people have reviewed it and an estimation of the rating, but not the actual reviews.

Follow this path on the NCL website: Get Ready for Your Cruise --> Shore Excursions --> Where Would You Like to Go --> Caribbean ---> Belize City, Belize ---> Find Excursions

Pick an excursion, then click where it says reviews. A box comes up, but nothing ever comes through.

Is it not there? Do I have to wait to book to get access to the reviews?

Couldn't agree more about people "toweling" the heated loungers. They're the worst. But also wish there was an attendant in there monitoring and enforcing (politely of course) [emoji6]

 

 

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Couldn't agree with you more - but that is just as unlikely as an attendant monitoring pool deck chair hogs.

I wish we could count on passengers following the rules but, until then, I just assume towels or other materials left on heated lounges have been forgotten and move them to one of the stationary benches before taking my seat.

You also could do what we did when we cruised out of NYC in January on the Breakaway and add the cost for Thermal Spa passes to your cruise fare.

It's a wonderful place to spend those chilly days at sea ... and, quite frankly, even the nice afternoons after port. I may never again sail without a Thermal Spa pass.

Looking to cruise end of February, which means that would be less than 90 days out, and trying to decide when to make the jump to a purchase.

I know the relatively consistent "Free at Sea" promotions, but I am talking about a real price drop.

Does that ever occur for Black Friday/Cyber Monday?

We enjoyed it on Breakaway last year and imagine it's the same thing.

The show is silly but the actors are top notch. With an intimate setting and a wide variety of good wine to sip as directed, it is a fun lunch activity on a sea day.

There are three live news channels, two live sports channels. And the "favorite" tv shows and movies (which are classic shows that repeat).

I may remember it a little differently, but it is not necessarily any better. I do remember soccer on a couple channels, but not what I would consider sports channels that showed a variety of sports, and I remember some British news, but not general news or news shows like a 60 minutes or CBS Sunday Morning.

I interpreted the OP's question about general entertainment television - and, with that, still would want a few more shows and a lot fewer repeats.

But, be aware, the viewing options are VERY limited.

Your idea of no TV might win out simply because he will be tired of seeing the same shows over and over (and over and over and over ...) within a few days.

One of the very few aspects of NCL that is done poorly.

30+ years ago my husband and I took our first cruise together around the Hawaiian Islands for OUR honeymoon.

Quite frankly, I don't remember who else was on the ship - probably pretty self-centered, but it was all about us. I remember the beauty of the islands, our helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, the whale watching trip, renting the convertible to go to Volcano National Park ... but not much about the other people on our ship. And we were on an old American Hawaii Cruise Lines ship that is no way as nice as what's sailing now.

Go! It is a great first experience to have together as a married couple.

Every line is different and has all it's own part of special.

Love laid-back NCL. Don't have to even think about dressing up and the Thermal spa is so Great!

Love sophisticated Holland America. They do speakers, and symposiums, and workshops so well.

Love adventurous Princess. Their variety of cruise-tours has quite an appeal.

Love stylish Celebrity. They do things with modern style.

Love trendy Royal Caribbean. Those big ships certainly make a statement.

Can you tell - we don't have frequent-sailor on any line? We look at when we want to go, then who is offering what itinerary for what price. And we select the better option for what suits our fancy.

I walk on the ship expecting to have a great time - and I usually do!

Unfortunately, in-cabin television is a very poorly operated extra - when compared to other cruise lines.

I think they have 5 to 10 network tv episodes (not shows, episodes) which they will broadcast over and over and over throughout your week. I know they played the same episode of "Two Broke Girls" at almost he same tie EVERY day last year on the Breakaway!

No guide I could figure out, so catching the beginning of anything was pretty hit or miss.

I know they want us out and about, but some of us like TV while dressing for dinner or before sleep some nights instead of reading.

NCL does "catch up" on other lines' good ideas, so I can hope they'll catch up with in-cabin entertainment, too. It is the only part of our cruise I look back on that was REALLY disappointing.

Interestingly, these "ship to lounges" were also a favorite places of ours but I always remember them as being mostly empty (on many different cruise lines). We like quiet and calm - and the nice views. These lounges also were/are typically separated from most other places where people would be going - like the dining rooms, or theaters, or casino, etc.

Perhaps too many passengers just found different places they liked better.

We sailed on the Breakaway last year and enjoyed the Thermal Suite. Now we are thinking of taking a cruise on the Pearl.

Has anyone experienced the Thermal Suite on a Jewel Class ship (Jem, Jade, Pearl, etc) and on a Breakaway class?

Does the Jewel Class Thermal Suite compare well to the Breakaway Class Thermal Suite - heated lounges, pool with therapy section, and jets, and hot tub, plus sauna and steam rooms?

I think a lot may depend on your history with concierges. We sailed Haven for the first time out of NYC late February, and he accomplished every task I asked ... There just wasn't much I needed.

I didn't particularly feel "known" - no one checked on us at dinners - but I really don't need more.