Treasure Hunter

Haven cabins sell out first. There is a reason. In this case it is "You get what you pay for". The prices on Celebrity are now thru the roof and people are still booking. Cruisers have just gone crazy. We are going to be on the Encore in February from Miami with our daughter and grandkids in a Haven two bedroom family suite. Last winter we sailed on the Getaway from NY with 1800 kids ( NY winter break). It was a wonderful cruise. We enjoy the Haven so much more than RCCL suites. The Haven restaurant tops by far Coastal Kitchen. There is a finite amount of cruises in our life and we want each one to be the best it can be. The entertainment and a big casino are important to me as are the toys for the kids. In the Haven you have everything.

Absolutely upgrade. We have been on Regent, Oceania, Celebrity ( in a Royal suite no less! ) and nothing compares to the Haven. Getting on, getting off, restaurant. Custom order a delicious chicken BLT by the pool, go down before a show escorted in the crew elevator so you can pick your theater seats, a real butler, have your NY Times crossword printed out by the concierge, etc. nothing compares. Do it. Life is short.

Glad it worked for you.

It is worth every penny not to make reservations each night but to come in when you are ready and feel like it. You are seated promptly and service is superb.

I think we are going with a British Air first class mid afternoon and hope for the best. The Delta non-stop is not until after five o'clock. We often come days early to a destination before a cruise but my husband always wants to go right home after. And after 55 years together, I don't fight him on this.

👍

I book through the casino. I went on the website after final payment to change the bed from separate to queen and the next day was told ( after final payment that I owed $6000. Nearly had a heart attack as I had booked three concierge cabins for family to Greece and we had paid flights. I called and was on hold for 44 minutes but all was resolved. You cannot change anything online after you pay as all discounts are dropped. I can’t believe Celebrity is still in business

We went to the splash academy on boarding day before we went to our room or lunch or muster to sign them up. Every time they wanted to attend we got on line a half hour before opening and always got them in. Chatted on the line with other parents. Some times it moved very fast. It was worth it every time. Only missed one nighttime session when we were turned away.

We will have a day flight going home😁

Thank you. Yes, we did that recently in Minneapolis ( after an awful Viking Mississippi) when the whole eastern seaboard was shut down for rain/flooding. We stayed at the Intercontinental at the airport with no luggage ( it was on the cancelled plane). But knowing my husband, he will want to go home. So we will probably book British Air for a late afternoon departure. I hear their first class is terrific. This is our first Crystal cruise . The closest we can compare are two Regent cruises many years ago. And we certainly are looking forward to it.

You are correct. I don’t mind waiting in the airport. We will book a flight around 3:00 or 4:00. We once took a Princess cruise ( and their bus from London). The trucks were backed up for many miles. Because it was a cruise transfer they held the ship and pulled up the gangway behind us.

The return will be on a Wednesday by Crystal bus. I was looking at a 1:50 flight ( British Air) but maybe the next one will be better. Thanks!

I only see Royal Caribbean putting on the true Broadway shows because of their enormous ships. They do it great too but unless I’m traveling in a large family group with tons of kids, I now find RCCL not my cup of tea. Even in a suite. Costal Kitchen is mediocre. I too loved NCL’s real shows . The only one left that’s really great is Choir of Men.

We are booked on the September 18, 2024 round trip Dover on the Symphony. I need to book flights. What timing is good for the return flight considering the journey from the port to Heathrow and traffic. Thank so much for the help

We were in the Falklands thirty years ago on a Princess cruise. Lots of small cottages with colorful front gardens. 30,000 people and 300,000 sheep. Our crossing was smooth as glass but the previous one was a disaster. Everyone left for the excursion and couldn’t get back to the ship. They had to sleep in peoples houses on the floor until the next day. Be sure to bring your meds with you. The comedian “ they had a war, and the loser got the islands”.

@Sthrngary Just curious how you felt. If I was going to Europe or the Far east and wanted a lot of ports and easy on and off then Yes to Oceania. If the Caribbean or New England ( we've gone on 50 cruises) and sometimes we don't get off the ship, then NCL Haven. I love the big entertainment and the Casino. I do hate the smoke in the casino so the new NCL ships with an enclosed smoking rooms are a great addition. As is the private Sun Deck. We did three Celebrity ships last year ( two in the Retreat and one a concierge cabin with family on either side). I called to book for next winter and the price was INSANE. So instead, are in a suite January 2025 thru the casino on the Enchanted Princess for $4,000 total. No special suite restaurant ( except for breakfast) no drinks ( we don't) and we don't care about the ports as long as it's warm. So every booking is different. And every cruise is great.

I just doesn’t make sense to be in the Haven and have a stocked refrigerator that you must not touch. It’s the only thing about the Haven that I don’t like. I don’t even mind the unchanging menu, because I found out that they will make you lots of stuff as long as they have the ingredients.

Sthrngary. How did you like your Oceania cruise? We are on the NCL Encore in February with family in the two bedroom Haven suite. Booked on Oceania Allura 2025 for Europe. There will be itinerary changes for sure ( Egypt, Israel, Tunis).. new ship

We cruised a few years ago on the Gem. We had never been in the Haven and didn’t know any better. We ate breakfast in Moderna ( spectacular with great service and dinner in Cagney. Because it was small and uncrowded I think the service was a step above. Because the ship didn’t have all the toys there were very few kids and seemed more upscale. We loved it. If you asked for something special for lunch at the pool ( like a chicken BLT) someone ran to get it for you. The New England cruise is great. We’ve gone twice. I wouldn’t worry. You’ll have a wonderful time and next cruise you can do a larger ship.

Beautiful photos

Inside the train facing the engine sit on the left for best views. The other side is against the mountain. We took the excursion thru the cruise line and I spent half the ride straddling between cars getting the best photos( no glass in the way). Great day.

We did this with Princess and the train tracks were right on the pier next to the ship. You just walked over to the train. Sit on the left side going up. The train reverses on the way down but by then everyone was asleep

Just call. I believe they will make the adjustment on board if you pre payed too much.

If you can’t do it on line call

I repeat. Book for six. A table for four doesn’t help you. I have done this.