Haven on the Getaway Review

[lujack]

We just returned from the 10/24 sailing on the Getaway in the 2 bedroom family suite in the Haven. We are a family of 5 (DH and myself 45, DD 11 and DS 7, my Mom 70) I have used these boards so much for planning, I would like to return the favor. Forgive any mistakes, it's been years since I posted anything. I wanted to give my thoughts, cover some areas I didn't get as much info on and of course can answer any questions.

 

We have sailed RCCL 2x and Disney 3x, kids have only done Disney. A bit of profile on us, kids very timid, not real adventurous, love the full, familiar Disney experience. We don't really gamble, but love to have cocktails through out the day. We like to visit shows, comedy/piano bars/live music. The Haven offered the quiet space for my Mom...my husband and I loved it as well.

We arrived at port around 10:45, DH dropped us off at Terminal, parked (parking $140 for week) and met us to walk in together. No line to walk in, Haven guests have their own waiting room immediately to your left. We sign in, get our cards/photos and are escorted up. We pass all the people on line to check in, we have our own elevator and go right up to the Haven section. Amazing check in! We have food being passed around, brief announcements from concierge and ready to relax just after 11:30. Don't eat before you go, maybe don't eat for a week before you go. You can find food everywhere. Haven restaurant always an option. After 2pm during sailing there is a limited menu, but still satisfied everyone. We did had unlimited Dining and Beverage.

 

Illusionarium was 1st night (one of the best shows we have seen on any ship), we did comedy, Burn the Floor and Howl at the Moon with the kids through out week.

 

We took Ferry to Trunk Bay in St Thomas/St John, Baths Tour in Tortola and just walked around straw market in Nassau (we have friends from there and have been there way too many times).

 

My daughter watched times for rock climbing and ropes so we always got there when they opened and no waiting. We did slides during port days in afternoon and once at night....usually no wait. We did arcade, games in O'sheehans, golf/shuffle board etc...kids loved all of that.

 

I hate to say but they had no desire to go to kids club! We went 1st day to register, walked in to an empty, uninviting room. A couple days later, tons of kids, games my kids didn't find fun and forced them to go again 1 other time for 30 min, I could not get them to go. We are so used to Disney, I mean Andy's room, vibrant, playful..larger than life. Splash Academy just didn't do it for them. I know I have heard that kids loved it. It is just my kids, if your kids are used to Disney and don't have a personality to jump in, they may find it boring. This was really the biggest disappointment, but now we know. Disney open more hours which offers flexibility, Splash Academy had more limited hours and it doesn't help my kids are 4 years apart so they couldn't always be together. BTW, kids pool/splash area fully open

 

Haven was a dream! If it was just my husband and myself or a group of adults, this would have been our favorite cruise.

 

We ate at Cagneys 2x, Le Bistro, Moderno, room service one night for fun. My Mom has traveled the world, eaten at the finest restaurants (Her Dad was a butcher, selling meat to hotels/resorts/restaurants all over s Florida and the Islands) She said the food was excellent, lamb in Cagneys the best she has ever had. There was so much food everywhere, anytime. We were stuffed every night.

 

There is so much to say, I have covered what we did, but I could probably answer questions from any area except spa and casino.

 

I will think of more and post when I get a chance, feels like this is getting long and boring to read. We really did have a good time, Haven hot tubs/ pool always open, loungers always free, calm music playing like you are in a spa environment. If you want fun and crazy you can have that too (we did RCCL for friend's 40th...party for 5 days, great time) I get that is what some people want on a cruise. With Mom and 2 skiddish kids, Haven was the ticket.

Hope this helps someone!

[f1mauro]

Sounds like a great vacation. Was Illusionarium included free on the first night or did you have to pay extra. Will be sailing in just over a month and was told it is no longer free with the UDP as was earlier promised.

[lujack]

Not free, I booked when I got on board hoping not to pay, but we did get 1/2 price. Paid for floor seating...$17.70 I think. It really was one of the best shows, sitting up front, my whole family got to be part of it in some way. All of our receipts showed balances, but our room bill only ever showed any extra tipping we did or of course the charge for Illusionarium ($35.39, then credit for 1/2)

[bagzrpacked]

Your review made me laugh!

Glad you had a good time.

[TSUmom]

I was planning on pre-booking the Illusionarium so we could get the floor seating. Since you had no trouble booking with the concierge I just might wait.

[Saraphine]

We are sailing in the Haven in January. I booked back when the Illusionarium was included on the first night. :rolleyes: Now that it is not longer included, how did you get the 1/2 price? Was that a first night promo?

[Greciangirl]

Please call ncl to pre book the illuminarium for free if you booked under that promo. I called talked to a supervisor because the regular agents will tell you no!

 

 

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[TSUmom]

Please call ncl to pre book the illuminarium for free if you booked under that promo. I called talked to a supervisor because the regular agents will tell you no!

 

 

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Guess I will make that call because when we booked we got the UBP and UDP when booking a suite. Thank you

[Greciangirl]

Goodluck! I was polite but firm that it was in the terms and conditions when i booked that it was free for the first night!

 

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[Working_To_Cruise]

I was planning on pre-booking the Illusionarium so we could get the floor seating. Since you had no trouble booking with the concierge I just might wait.

 

Hey I will be with yall on this cruise. My son and I were in the Haven Last year.... We meet with concierge before shows and get in about 15 minutes before everyone else

[RN Cruiser1]

We too were on this cruise in Haven. We had a wonderful time also. My question to OP is did you stay in The Haven or in one of the suites off the floor? We were on 11 forward and although the cabin was spacious and beautiful I don't think we would do that again. Too much of a hike to enjoy the benefits of a suite life.

Just wondering if anyone else felt the same? We also felt a bit slighted by our Butler but that is another story :(

[lujack]

We were in 15108, 2 bed suite, just below the Haven courtyard. Very convenient, had breakfast there everyday, visited bar all the time because it was always free from crowds. We too didn't see what the Butler really did, very nice, but our room steward was awesome.

Some other thoughts, we too called concierge for tickets, always could them even last minute. They serve as guest services so we never had to wait or go down to the main one for anything.

 

We booked in March so we probably shouldn't have been charged at all for Illusionarium, but it was really that good, no big deal.

 

Picture book is great. $99/35 pictures. Be sure to get all the photos you can from everyone taking them on the ship or ports. Wish we did, tried to avoid them sometimes, then scrambled to get more photos to fill book towards end.

You can even put walk the plank pictures in them.

 

Not sure how we felt about Atrium, kind of noisy, not best location for presentations, also had movies. We really love the big screen on Disney always showing movies and such while you swim or lay out. They had very few movies anywhere. Just our observation.

 

If you are not in the Haven I would probably visit Flamingo Grill more as options for meals, buffet looked ok, but was very busy. Soft serve was great for kids, they do like you to have shoes on even if just going in quick for this treat. It is right by doors and my son didn't have them on, but she let us in quickly anyway.

[TSUmom]

Hey I will be with yall on this cruise. My son and I were in the Haven Last year.... We meet with concierge before shows and get in about 15 minutes before everyone else

 

Have you joined our roll call? I am looking forward to this cruise. We will be in a forward PH again. We don't mind the walk to the Haven, lets me eat more because I am getting more exercise;)

 

That being said we did book and actual Haven Courtyard PH for our Escape cruise in 2017. The price was right and I thought we would give the actual "stay in the Haven" idea a try.

[ksmcali]

Have you joined our roll call? I am looking forward to this cruise. We will be in a forward PH again. We don't mind the walk to the Haven, lets me eat more because I am getting more exercise;)

 

That being said we did book and actual Haven Courtyard PH for our Escape cruise in 2017. The price was right and I thought we would give the actual "stay in the Haven" idea a try.

 

You will love the forward PH suite. We were on deck 12 in July and loved the set up. Last year we were in the Owner's Suite deck 10 on Gem, again outside of the Haven. We love a forward view! Like you mentioned, the walk eased some of my grief over all the food. We didn't find the location on either ship to be an issue for us enjoying the Haven amenities. Also, our butler was wonderful. We didn't feel neglected at all. He took care of everything we asked for and even a couple of things we didn't!

 

Also just like you, we've book an S4 for next year on the Breakaway. We will see if the makes a difference!

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[TSUmom]

Our first forward PH was on the Pearl and we loved the view even though it was at times a bit windy. Of course that did not include the actual Haven at all just suite perks and Cagneys. This past April we were in a 2 bedroom fwd on the Epic. Loved it!! We used to prefer the aft balconies but there is now something special about the fwds to us.

 

Do you happen to have any pics of the Getaway fwd PH cabin? We will be in 12706

[ksmcali]

Our first forward PH was on the Pearl and we loved the view even though it was at times a bit windy. Of course that did not include the actual Haven at all just suite perks and Cagneys. This past April we were in a 2 bedroom fwd on the Epic. Loved it!! We used to prefer the aft balconies but there is now something special about the fwds to us.

 

Do you happen to have any pics of the Getaway fwd PH cabin? We will be in 12706

 

We must have a lot in common! I noticed you're from Texas also. We're in Canada now, but we were in Texas for 12 years prior to this move. Also, 12706 was our cabin! I posted all my pictures at cruiselineroom.com. I tried to include the link but it wouldn't work. If you can't find them, let me know and I'll try to post them

 

 

Enjoy!

Edited November 3, 2015 by ksmcali

[TSUmom]

We must have a lot in common! I noticed you're from Texas also. We're in Canada now, but we were in Texas for 12 years prior to this move. Also, 12706 was our cabin! I posted all my pictures here

 

Enjoy!

 

The link did not work. Excited to see your pictures. I can't believe it - the same cabin. I don't suppose you plan on staying in 17714 on the Escape....That is ours for 2017

 

My DH and I are Texas transplants - He is originally from Ohio and I spent my childhood in MN, teenage years in CA and now Texas. We have met so many cruisers from Canada, many that we plan to cruise with again someday.

Edited November 3, 2015 by TSUmom

[TSUmom]

Love the pics Thank you!!!

[ksmcali]

The link did not work. Excited to see your pictures. I can't believe it - the same cabin. I don't suppose you plan on staying in 17714 on the Escape....That is ours for 2017

 

My DH and I are Texas transplants - He is originally from Ohio and I spent my childhood in MN, teenage years in CA and now Texas. We have met so many cruisers from Canada, many that we plan to cruise with again someday.

 

Ok, trying again!

 

[ksmcali]

And just for good measure, here's the view of St. Thomas from our forward picture window.

 

And from our side balcony.

 

We're originally from MS, spent 12 years at three different locations in TX, and now on Expat assignment in Canada for the time being.

[TSUmom]

Oh my what a fabulous cabin!! I can see myself there now and I absolutely love St Thomas. We are going back on the Escape in April 2017.

 

Thank You so very much!!!

[Fyruf]

I'm setting in my room 12706 and it is the same as the picks,I'm on the Getaway

[TSUmom]

I won't be sitting in that cabin until April. Gosh that is such a long way off!!

Enjoy Fyruf

[Saraphine]

Please call ncl to pre book the illuminarium for free if you booked under that promo. I called talked to a supervisor because the regular agents will tell you no!

 

 

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Thanks for the advice! Was there a specific number to call? My PCC has already told me no, and I thought that was the end of that. Any specific suggestions on who to speak with/what to say? Obviously, I took "no" too easily the first time! Was it like pulling teeth to get them to agree to honor the original promo, or did they cave quite quickly once you were speaking with a supervisor?

[Greciangirl]

The original person kept trying to explain why they wouldnt do it any longer i listened told her i disagreed and requested a supervisor who she said would tell me the same thing but she put me on hold to get a supervisor and the original girl came back on and said great news the supervisor said ok....so my guess is the regular people are told to say no but if you ask for a supervisor they will do it!

 

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