Upsell fairy! Must do while staying in Haven Breakaway?

[TraJon9]

I am not bragging here just celebrating our good fortune.. We had a free CAS cruise offer for inside room.. We paid 275 each to upgrade to a balcony.. Then my better half got THE EMAIL, he surprised me with a Haven (h5) that he was offered for 400 each.. A total before taxes and port fees 1350 with the almost free UDP included. We leave in under 2 weeks..

 

We know this will never happen again.. I can't believe it, shocked!

 

For those who have stayed in Haven, what are some great tips or must do's??

 

I will be celebrating my 45th birthday and we are going to enjoy every ounce of this.. Santa came early and I want to make sure we miss nothing..

 

This is our third time on the Breakaway so the ship I know.. Haven I am clueless about.. It's such a surprise because we booked this Bahama itinerary to relax.. In Bermuda we just go go and go..

 

Thank you for the tips!

~Tracy

[triptolemus]

Must do? Only one way to roll...

 

[BingoSlots]

I am not bragging here just celebrating our good fortune.. We had a free CAS cruise offer for inside room.. We paid 275 each to upgrade to a balcony.. Then my better half got THE EMAIL, he surprised me with a Haven (h5) that he was offered for 400 each.. A total before taxes and port fees 1350 with the almost free UDP included. We leave in under 2 weeks..

 

We know this will never happen again.. I can't believe it, shocked!

 

For those who have stayed in Haven, what are some great tips or must do's??

 

I will be celebrating my 45th birthday and we are going to enjoy every ounce of this.. Santa came early and I want to make sure we miss nothing..

 

This is our third time on the Breakaway so the ship I know.. Haven I am clueless about.. It's such a surprise because we booked this Bahama itinerary to relax.. In Bermuda we just go go and go..

 

Thank you for the tips!

~Tracy

 

Congratulations!! That is an AMAZING upgrade!!

 

I am curious as I sail through my free CAS certificates.. who was the one who emailed you? Was it CAS or NCL?

 

Have a great birthday trip!

[BirdTravels]

Use your concierge. Book shows. Escort you into Cirque. Get you into the main theater (haven seats held until 10 minutes before show time),,,, we usually enter with the concierge and get our own seats front and center. Get you to the front of the line for tenders. Get you specialty restaurant reservations.

 

Use your butler. White tablecloth breakfast. The butler will bring you snacks every day in addition to those sent by CAS.

 

Haven restaurant is good for breakfast. Ok for lunch (once or twice). Dinner once. Some eat there every day, go for the variety the ship has to offer. You have been on breakaway before, so you can leverage the haven to get the most of the ship. (We have done the BA twice and GA twice).

 

Take advantage of the haven facilities. Then get out and enjoy the ship too.

[theriac]

Must do? Only one way to roll...

 

 

Who knew Lamar Odom was on the boards with us?

[kernie968]

Love the Haven! I have been in it twice and love the treatment you receive from the staff. Be sure to talk with your butler and let him know what you like. We always get a pitcher of water left in the fridge for filling our water bottles and have him take away the decaf pods for the coffee maker.

 

One thing we found the second time around was that at the Haven bar they have a snack menu and it was some of the best food we had on the ship! We never ate anywhere but the Haven restaurant because the food and service were incredible. I miss the filet of beef!

 

If you like having the swimming pool and hot tubs to yourself, then pack your bathing suit in your carry on. We were the only ones using the pool and hot tub from the time we got on the ship until we had to get dressed and go to the muster drill. Also the pool area was pretty much empty after six so we would eat early and spend the evening in the hot tub. The Haven Courtyard is very pretty at night. Have a great trip!

[SuiteTraveler]

When you arrive at the dock, after security, look for a VIP check in area and go there to check in. They will either immediately personally escort you onboard or put you in the VIP waiting room with drinks and snacks until someone is available to personally escort you onboard. Usually, you will be escorted to the Haven lounge - the elevator used for this is a crew elevator with a red carpet and it comes up right next to the concierge's desk in the Haven lounge. In there, they will give you sliders and you can order cocktails. Once the rooms are ready, you can put your stuff in your room and have lunch in the Haven restaurant - so don't eat too many sliders tempting thought it may be!

 

If you like something - for example, we like to have a snack in the late afternoon, so we placed a standing order with our butler for a turkey sandwich to be brought along with the daily hors d'ouerves he brings anyway. However, you can always call your butler to bring you food and drinks anytime you want - there is a night butler who handles orders during your butler's off time.

 

If you meet others on the cruise, it is fun to have your butler arrange a party in your suite and invite people to see your suite. You have to go let them into the Haven, but it is sort of cool for people not in the Haven to get to see it.

 

The Concierge will actually escort you into shows for the best seats and can help with any onboard issue. For example, we went to muster drill and our cards WERE scanned, but something went wrong and we got a message to report to the makeup muster drill. So I told our concierge and she made some calls and straightened everything out for us so that we didn't have to do anything to fix the problem or attend the makeup muster drill.

 

I LOVE the spa on these ships. Do get a spa pass - you will be wowed if you like spas at all. The water circuit it my favorite!

 

We usually eat at the different restaurants, but with the UDP being a perk, you need to make restaurant reservations in advance of the sailing to avoid disappointment as many restaurants are sold out - especially Cagney's and Le Bistro.

 

Have a simply marvelous time!

[TraJon9]

Congratulations!! That is an AMAZING upgrade!!

 

I am curious as I sail through my free CAS certificates.. who was the one who emailed you? Was it CAS or NCL?

 

Have a great birthday trip!

 

About a month ago he got a email from NCL with upgrades.. Showed the room pictures with the fee. Started at 1000 per person, moved up in price to top tier.. Crazy amounts.. Nothing from CAS was mentioned. It is a Monday through Friday NCL number.

 

Then a few weeks past and another email.. Now down to 500 H5, 750 spa, 1000 family villa, etc. at this point he told me and from reading here I knew you could try to negotiate. I checked to see how many rooms were left, well at least what shows up booking. All the AFT rooms were never available.

 

Now we like the balcony regular room so asking couldn't hurt. He tried to get the spa room at 500, they would not move. But they took 400 for the H5.

 

It was pure luck of the draw I assume.. And our week must be slow . I hope you get this chance at some point. Maybe keep a little extra around JIC.

 

Thanks for wishes!

[TraJon9]

Use your concierge. Book shows. Escort you into Cirque. Get you into the main theater (haven seats held until 10 minutes before show time),,,, we usually enter with the concierge and get our own seats front and center. Get you to the front of the line for tenders. Get you specialty restaurant reservations.

 

Use your butler. White tablecloth breakfast. The butler will bring you snacks every day in addition to those sent by CAS.

 

Haven restaurant is good for breakfast. Ok for lunch (once or twice). Dinner once. Some eat there every day, go for the variety the ship has to offer. You have been on breakaway before, so you can leverage the haven to get the most of the ship. (We have done the BA twice and GA twice).

 

Take advantage of the haven facilities. Then get out and enjoy the ship too.

 

Thanks for this!

 

Yes I still need to get a uptown burger and my shanghai fix. We do have 4 places booked for dinner. I love the outdoor dining so I planned that while we are in the warm waters.

[TraJon9]

One thing we found the second time around was that at the Haven bar they have a snack menu and it was some of the best food we had on the ship! We never ate anywhere but the Haven restaurant because the food and service were incredible. I miss the filet of beef.

 

What great info! Bar food, who knew! Thank you! Jon will think I am genius lol

[TraJon9]

When you arrive at the dock, after security, look for a VIP check in area and go there to check in. They will either immediately personally escort you onboard or put you in the VIP waiting room with drinks and snacks until someone is available to personally escort you onboard. Usually, you will be escorted to the Haven lounge - the elevator used for this is a crew elevator with a red carpet and it comes up right next to the concierge's desk in the Haven lounge. In there, they will give you sliders and you can order cocktails. Once the rooms are ready, you can put your stuff in your room and have lunch in the Haven restaurant - so don't eat too many sliders tempting thought it may be!

 

If you like something - for example, we like to have a snack in the late afternoon, so we placed a standing order with our butler for a turkey sandwich to be brought along with the daily hors d'ouerves he brings anyway. However, you can always call your butler to bring you food and drinks anytime you want - there is a night butler who handles orders during your butler's off time.

 

If you meet others on the cruise, it is fun to have your butler arrange a party in your suite and invite people to see your suite. You have to go let them into the Haven, but it is sort of cool for people not in the Haven to get to see it.

 

The Concierge will actually escort you into shows for the best seats and can help with any onboard issue. For example, we went to muster drill and our cards WERE scanned, but something went wrong and we got a message to report to the makeup muster drill. So I told our concierge and she made some calls and straightened everything out for us so that we didn't have to do anything to fix the problem or attend the makeup muster drill.

 

I LOVE the spa on these ships. Do get a spa pass - you will be wowed if you like spas at all. The water circuit it my favorite!

 

We usually eat at the different restaurants, but with the UDP being a perk, you need to make restaurant reservations in advance of the sailing to avoid disappointment as many restaurants are sold out - especially Cagney's and Le Bistro.

 

Have a simply marvelous time!

 

No one mentioned bring my fat clothes by the end of the week! Ha! This is so helpful, and believe me we will indulge. I have to get it through my brain to use the butler and concierge. I am always so prepared never having a butler option.

 

Many years ago I went to St Bart's. I was young and we won this vacation through work. A gift card at a travel agency. We had a private villa so the housekeeper came around 10. Well I would get up early to clean before she came. It all worked out, her and I became friends. I went grocery shopping with her and picked her daughter up from school. We became friends for years.

 

I will force myself to use the butler. Decaf! Blah! Keep the coffee coming.

 

Do you know if when you get to NCL private island if we tender separately or first? Nassau I would assume we can get off easily..

 

I will report back, thank you!

 

I can roll with anything as long as clean but this will spoil Jon. He travels for work so he has all the airline, hotel perks. He loves it and gets spoiled easily..

[Golfin55]

I am not bragging here just celebrating our good fortune.. We had a free CAS cruise offer for inside room.. We paid 275 each to upgrade to a balcony.. Then my better half got THE EMAIL, he surprised me with a Haven (h5) that he was offered for 400 each.. A total before taxes and port fees 1350 with the almost free UDP included. We leave in under 2 weeks..

 

 

 

We know this will never happen again.. I can't believe it, shocked!

 

 

 

For those who have stayed in Haven, what are some great tips or must do's??

 

 

 

I will be celebrating my 45th birthday and we are going to enjoy every ounce of this.. Santa came early and I want to make sure we miss nothing..

 

 

 

This is our third time on the Breakaway so the ship I know.. Haven I am clueless about.. It's such a surprise because we booked this Bahama itinerary to relax.. In Bermuda we just go go and go..

 

 

 

Thank you for the tips!

 

~Tracy

 

 

WOW, what a cool surprise. Only problem is after being in a suite. Some say you can never go back to steerage[emoji57]

[Sprasa03]

One thing we found the second time around was that at the Haven bar they have a snack menu and it was some of the best food we had on the ship!

 

Oooh share! What is on the Haven snack menu?

 

Actually where can I see some Haven menus? Next summer will be my first time in the Haven [family suite] AND I'm a vegetarian - which NCL already has marked down - I'm just wondering about the different food options.

 

Maybe I should make this a separate thread?

[kernie968]

I wish I could remember all of it. We fell in love with the homemade potato chips with blue cheese. The chips were warm and the blue cheese was melting all over them. We did try other things on the menu and they were great, but we kept going back to the chips.