roddy good boy

Yes, it’s my understanding that if you booked and sailed by Jan. 1 2024, you still got free access to the thermal spa. I saw someone say that they lowered the price to accommodate the change. Who knows?

You check into the Haven in an area that has all kinds of snacks: sandwiches, cookies, water and juice. You then wait for a butler to take you onto the ship, up to the Haven lounge. Once there you can have champagne in glasses, an open bar, mini burgers and fry’s in fancy cups (until the Haven restaurant opens shortly for a full lunch)! You go to your cabin with everyone else…when the cabins open. Sometimes they do allow you to go drop off your carryon (especially if your room is in the Haven courtyard area). Until the rooms open, you can hang out in the Haven lounge, go out into the haven open sun deck area, or rom the ship and eat in the common areas, like everybody else. It’s a great experience! However, I’ve been in both Haven and regular rooms and have enjoyed..every..single..one of my cruises (even the ones diverted/delayed by hurricanes). But, that’s a story for another day!😀

MSCDivina2016 is correct, there’s not much difference in price between the Haven Penthouse suite (the old spa suite) and the Haven Penthouse courtyard suite (which is located in the Haven complex). As mentioned, you no longer get complimentary access to the spa with the HI, but its location is conveniently located close to the spa. The balcony of the HI is typically larger than the courtyard suite’s. It’s unfortunate your TA didn’t know the differences.

Well, I just contacted the excursion NCL desk and was assisted by a really nice lady, who informed me that she can’t book a tour that isn’t already listed as available for our cruise. She said that IT is working on adding Ephesus tours for our cruise, so that was some good news! However, her guess was as good as ours, as to when any new tours will be added. In other words…I guess we wait…

I saw that! 🤣

It’s odd, because the excursions offered for our Sept 1 cruise are limited. As CCJack mentioned, there’s nothing listed for Ephesus. I just checked for Istanbul and the classical Istanbul isn’t offered, nor is the religious history tour in Rhodes. I’d love to book both of those tours. Nine years ago, I do recall that some excursions for our ports (Venice, Kusadasi, Croatia, and Athens) were uploaded a little closer to the sail date. I wonder if that’s still the case.

Thank you for all of the excellent tips! We are also on the Sept. 1st sailing! Sorry, I meant Kusadasi, not Kudasi. What makes it even more disgraceful is that I’ve been there previously, in 2015, on the Jade. It was my favorite port of that Mediterranean cruise. My husband couldn’t make that trip, due to the recent death of my father in law (he didn’t want to leave his mother alone that soon), so I really want him to experience Ephesus and Mary’s house. Thanks for letting me know I’ll need to cover my hair in the mosques in Istanbul. I wasn’t sure about that. I’m 65, so the days of wearing a short dress and/or short shorts have long passed. You have all given us much to consider. I’ll rethink the outside tours…

I have combed the reviews and boards and have seen conflicting opinions on this issue. I am concerned about using outside vendors for some of the ports with early afternoon boarding times (Ephesus/ Kumasi is 6:30am -1:30 pm). However, one poster stated that the outside tours were the way to go for tender ports like Santorini. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Thank you!

I am platinum, but my spouse is gold. Will I be able to book the FAS dinners at day 125 with reservations for 2?

Why is that?