DMH15

I have cruised with my mom, diabetic and my niece, vegan - our butlers have been wonderfully accomodating. Some days we had a nice Haven Breakfast, a great Haven dinner or a and a specialty dinner and the snacks in between.

Thank you for the kind words.

Thanks for an enjoyable read.

Thank you. My mom loved cruising. Great memories for me… I remember you on this board. I have not cruised since right before the pandemic and now my pup is 15.5 years old with health issues so I am still waiting. I have not been on CC for a while so I find it gratifying to read this thread and see names I recognize from all of my NCL cruises. So, maybe they do not remember me but I do them. And if I can say hello and tell them they positively impacted my cruise experience that is good enough for me.

This is not always the case. I cruised with a certain cruise director at lease 3 times and had previously met his wife when she was on staff. She retired to stay home with their children. He asked us if we could cruiee again in a few months forward when his wife and kids were to sail because he knew we would enjoy spending time together. Perhaps staff would remember a small percentage of guests? Maybe 5%? I could name a few more and give examples as well. Sometimes it requires a point to trigger the memory. * the exceptional concierge who found my niece’s cell phone after we disembarked and arranged with a current pax from our home town to bring to us. * the hotel manager we had dinner with h twice who when telling us his life story we remarked “this needs to be amovie starring Denzel”. * the restaurant manager who arranged a covert mission torescue my momfrom another pax seated with us who was coughing all over us and moved us behind plants as to hide us and save embarrasment. Some people are truly memorable. My mom waz one of those. When my mom won on Wheelof Fortune (2 cars) people in our big city recogniized her all over town for 2 years. Lost mom 6 years ago. Sigh.

I have not been on Cruise Critic in a while and your post / review is my return and could not be more satisfying and delightful. I have not cruised since before the pandemic and now I would except my dog is over 15 with health issues. So, for the near future i am living vicariously through Cruise Critic. I agree 100%. Once I went to NCL full suites and Haven I was hooked. You are a great writer. I feel like I am there. I am the Aunt to my Vegan niece who I have cruised with twice. NCL were superstars with her. Have fun.

I can speak to the vegetarian issue. I took my niece on a high school grad cruise in a suite on Jewel and I cruised with her again along with my sis in The DOS on Epic. We let the pre-concierge know in advance that Katie is a vegan and we also discussed with the concierge (for dining reservations) and the butler (for in-room snacks). So… drumroll… on a scale of 1 to 10 they were 10++++++. The Haven breakfast and lunch she had choices. They got her almond milk, I think. She had grapefruit, oatmeal, potatoes, etc. always satisfied. She always had a few choices at lunch. the snacks were incredible. I remember her receiving a crudite’ platter with, instead or ranch which has dairy, a delicious tomato vinagrette dipping sauce. But, dinners were a home run. We did quite a few specialty restaurants and we would stop by the evening before and talk to the maitre D and they would discuss options. Everything she was served was thoughtful, beautiful and enjoyable. Some people might think this is being self-centered but rather we were told several times they appreciated the heads-up to prepare something she would enjoy. Because she was happy, it made a better cruise for all of us and we showed our gratitude. Wink wink.

My niece is vegan and NCL was fantastic. Both her cruises were Haven. But she did some buffet and we did lots of specialty restaurants. Checked in with them 24 hours in advance each time. So, we were impressed.

Did TA Miami to Athens. I loved it. Very peaceful. Lots of trivia, spa and naps. Six sea days at beginning. Well rested for ports. It was like 2 different cruises in one. We got lucky. Great weather. Smooth seas.

I have done both Haven and YC. Several NCL Haven and suites, from non Haven ships, Sun with aft 2 room suite and huge balcony (same suite twice), which was my favorite until the Epic DOS which was incredible and my first forward facing. I love NCL Haven. I chose MSC with the match and because I cruised solo the YC interior spoke to me. I did not spend a lot of time in the suite but rather in the YC and the spa. While in a Haven suite I definately took advantage of the suite and balcony. I expect I would do the same on MSC if I cruised with someone else and in that case, chose a larger suite with a balcony. I never felt the MSC inside diminshed my YC experience. I loved the pool area and al fresco dining. But I also loved the EPiC Haven pool area with the POSH right there. I give NCL Haven restaurant the edge, by a good margin. But the specialty restaurants tie. Where NCL has an edge, and this is a matter of preference… not everybody cares, are the Haven staff and ship officers who are friendly and accessible. I cannot remember anyone from MSC, but NCL, lasting memories. Both great. It is NCL HAVEN with an edge if money is not an issue. However, the experience MSC YC offers is a very good choce if it is. I feel blessed to have done them both.

A lot of us read on our phones. It was more difficult to read cursive. Thank you OP for the adjustment. i am sorry OP it wasn’t better. You expressed yourself well while still pointing out negatives. Case in point, it did not become a rant, I hope your mext cruise ranks higher.