Haven Passengers Cruising with Non-Haven

[Tantsee]

We are experienced cruisers, sailing on the Jewel in a Haven Penthouse suite (H5). Family members will be in a standard balcony cabin, and it will be their first cruise. I hate to abandon them and say "sorry, but you can't go to ____ with us". (I wouldn't really say that). [emoji4]

 

I am sure we aren't the first for this situation. I am looking for feedback from anyone who has experienced this.

 

- I have read in another thread that they can use priority boarding with us. Was that your experience?

 

- When we first board and are escorted to Cagney's (or wherever) for lunch, can they join us or will the have to go to the buffet? On a prior cruise, we were heading for the buffet but were discouraged from doing so. They said we should go to Cagney's (to assist with crowd control?).

 

- Will they be able to join us in the suite section for shows? On previous cruises, there seemed to be plenty of seats available there.

 

- Can they join us on priority tender?

 

- Any other Haven/suite perks that I have not thought of that they can or cannot be included in?

 

We are certainly not above foregoing our perks if necessary to spend time with them; however, since we paid the price for a suite, we would like to take advantage of the amenities if we can include them.

 

Thank you for sharing your experience.

[Leavethekidswithmom]

Suite perks are only available to those that have booked suites. However they can visit you in your suite only, not the Haven and you will have to escort them there.

[xriva]

They don't have to go to the buffet after boarding - one of the main dining rooms will be serving lunch.

 

You can always join them in the MDRs (or the specialities) for meals. You can make reservations earlier than most because you have a suite, and you can make reservations for four.

Edited January 2, 2016 by xriva

[cruzsnooze]

If you pay for a suite you get the perks that come with it. Why would you take away the seats in a show or a tender away from someone who PAID for the perk by bringing someone who didn't pay. The question shouldn't need to be asked. NON haven passengers may visit you in your suite only, not join you in any Haven public areas or perks.

You may get away with checking in together in the priority line but if you want to stay together until boarding you would have to go into the general boarding area with them since only suite guests with a suite card may go to the suite/ haven waiting area.

[Loonbeam]

There have been reports you can arrange for them to dine in the restaurant with prior approval and with a fee. Not sure what that fee is and it is most definitely subject to availability.

 

The courtyard is not an option, nor is suite boarding, priority tendering or haven show seating.

 

The concierge can help make reservations for the whole group.

 

Also, your butler probably will be willing to serve a larger party in your cabin if desired.

[Kingofwylietx]

We are experienced cruisers, sailing on the Jewel in a Haven Penthouse suite (H5). Family members will be in a standard balcony cabin, and it will be their first cruise. I hate to abandon them and say "sorry, but you can't go to ____ with us". (I wouldn't really say that). [emoji4]

 

I am sure we aren't the first for this situation. I am looking for feedback from anyone who has experienced this.

 

- I have read in another thread that they can use priority boarding with us. Was that your experience?

 

- When we first board and are escorted to Cagney's (or wherever) for lunch, can they join us or will the have to go to the buffet? On a prior cruise, we were heading for the buffet but were discouraged from doing so. They said we should go to Cagney's (to assist with crowd control?).

 

- Will they be able to join us in the suite section for shows? On previous cruises, there seemed to be plenty of seats available there.

 

- Can they join us on priority tender?

 

- Any other Haven/suite perks that I have not thought of that they can or cannot be included in?

 

We are certainly not above foregoing our perks if necessary to spend time with them; however, since we paid the price for a suite, we would like to take advantage of the amenities if we can include them.

 

Thank you for sharing your experience.

 

You paid for the services when you booked your suite, but they have not paid for the services and perks because.....they are not in a suite. You did not pay for them to get all the perks, you only paid for yourselves.

 

What if everyone did it?

You'd arrive at Cagney's to find a line.

You would go to the tender.....and find a line.

You would go to the reserved show seating area to find no seats.

You would show up to the suite lounge at embarkation to find a line.

And the list goes on.

 

Yes, there will be times that the perks are underutilized, but anything else would only serve to dilute the perks from others who have paid for them. This is a dead horse that has been beaten on here many, many, times.

 

I think it is inappropriate. The exception is Cagney's, because I think they can join you for a fee.

[Aladdin1968]

As mentioned above, the answer is no. Apart from them being permitted to be in your suite, they are excluded from any "perks", albeit that check in together should not be a problem (but no entry to the suite waiting area). However, this might not be the whole story. My experience on multiple occasions is that the concierge may make some exceptions. From permitting them to join you in the suite only restaurant to full access to the haven area. We even once had the concierge provide with an extra room key in order to use the elevator and Haven door. My experience is that this depends on 2 things: the level of the suite (for instance GV or DOS versus non-Haven suite) and level of kinship (elderly parents in a non-suite versus siblings or children in a non-suite). And of course the level of suite occupation on your sailing. I know this is not the rule and I know it is inappropriate to ask the concierge. And tipping (bribing) will be counterproductive, I am sure. But making the situation known to the concierge, one way or the other, might lead to some solution. But as others mentioned, they have not paid for a suite, so do not count on anything, let alone force anything.

[Tantsee]

Thank you for your replies. I got the answer to my questions loud and clear! Case closed. [emoji4]

[Laszlo]

- Will they be able to join us in the suite section for shows? On previous cruises, there seemed to be plenty of seats available there.

 

- Can they join us on priority tender?

 

- Any other Haven/suite perks that I have not thought of that they can or cannot be included in?

 

Please explain why they should be allowed any of the suite perks? Have they paid for them? If not the answer is should be no.

[DMH15]

I know you said case closed. But I have been in your shoes so I will reply. If not for you then others.

 

We boarded separately. Met up after lunch.

 

We never asked the concierges for any favors. However, the concierges usually ask if our friends/relatives would be joining us on port for excursions. They offered us additional priority tendering tickets. I think we used them once.

 

It is simple. We would meet up after meals if we dined in Cagney's or we would dine with them in the main dining room.

 

Oh, we were introduced by friends in the Haven that we met at our pre-cruise hotel. When they had us up to their suite a couple times, they explained to us that they could only give us a quick tour of the Haven courtyard area out of respect for other Haven guests. We have remembered this and we use this philosophy ourselves.

 

Anyone who is not booked in a suite who is traveling with friends or relatives should understand this is protocol.

[TSUmom]

Thank you for your replies. I got the answer to my questions loud and clear! Case closed. [emoji4]

 

I asked this question last year and got the same replies:o

 

Let me tell you how it worked out for us. First, my DH, my SIL and I were in a suite. An elderly relative of ours ( 80 yrs young) was in a regular balcony cabin. It was his first cruise also. We went to suite boarding first and then went with him to regular boarding, took our group picture and ate in the buffet. When rooms were ready we took him to his room then went to ours.

 

He dined with us once in the suite dining room, we asked the concierge. The dining room was not at all crowded so I am sure that helped.

 

We never asked for any other perks for him, he did spend time in our cabin but never elsewhere in the Haven.

 

The night before disembarking the concierge asked if he would like to leave his one suitcase with ours for collection and he was escorted off the ship with us. This was a nice gesture and much appreciated.

 

Did we miss out on the suite perks, of course but spending time with a first time cruiser was what was most important to us.

[Kingofwylietx]

I asked this question last year and got the same replies:o

 

 

I remember that! How funny! Good grief, a year passes quickly. I hope you enjoyed your cruise.

 

I'm glad it all worked out. That was a great gesture for them to think of him for disembarking.

[bobg529]

The only way I know of for a non Haven passenger to dine in the Haven is to buy your way in via the Chefs Dinner. I did that on the Getaway. I admire the Haven a great deal and aspire to book a cabin there some day, but it always comes down to $, and my preference in taking three less expensive cruises in a year, to one extravagant one. Still, the folks that pay for the privilege certainly should get to enjoy it without being bothered. I don't think I would care to sail with someone else that was staying in the Haven while I was in a regular balcony. I think I would feel embarassed somehow. But that's just me, to each his own.

[funat55]

Thank you for your replies. I got the answer to my questions loud and clear! Case closed. [emoji4]

 

I would like to say that I thought your question was fair and polite and you did not come across as someone who was trying to get away with something you were not entitled to. I feel bad that some of the responses were so derogatory as if "How dare you even ask". What is the point of these boards if we cannot nicely and politely ask a question about something we are not familiar with and another cruiser is. We should be here to help not flame. Some of the responses were kind and helpful but others, not so much.

[xcell]

I would like to say that I thought your question was fair and polite and you did not come across as someone who was trying to get away with something you were not entitled to. I feel bad that some of the responses were so derogatory as if "How dare you even ask". What is the point of these boards if we cannot nicely and politely ask a question about something we are not familiar with and another cruiser is. We should be here to help not flame. Some of the responses were kind and helpful but others, not so much.

 

+1

 

Read your post and then the responses...as pervious poster mention, I felt some were genuinely helpful and understanding, whereas the others were a bit more...entitled...

 

We are here to learn not to be chastised...

Edited January 3, 2016 by xcell

[Tantsee]

I would like to say that I thought your question was fair and polite and you did not come across as someone who was trying to get away with something you were not entitled to. I feel bad that some of the responses were so derogatory as if "How dare you even ask". What is the point of these boards if we cannot nicely and politely ask a question about something we are not familiar with and another cruiser is. We should be here to help not flame. Some of the responses were kind and helpful but others, not so much.

 

 

Thank you for saying that! I was thinking the same thing, but just felt it was best for me to drop it after reading some of the replies. I had absolutely no ill intentions with my post, and would certainly not try to "get away with something". I just wanted to know what others had done in the same situation.

 

Thanks again to those who answered respectfully.

[Kingofwylietx]

Thank you for saying that! I was thinking the same thing, but just felt it was best for me to drop it after reading some of the replies. I had absolutely no ill intentions with my post, and would certainly not try to "get away with something". I just wanted to know what others had done in the same situation.

 

Thanks again to those who answered respectfully.

 

Hopefully I didn't come across as disrespectful, if so, it wasn't the intention. I had so much I was wanting to convey, that I was trying to keep it short (though it was still a bit long). I can be a bit direct, but no unfriendliness is intended. I did like your case closed comment. In any case, I'm writing this because when I re-read my comment.....it doesn't come across as particularly helpful. Sorry.

[DMH15]

The only way I know of for a non Haven passenger to dine in the Haven is to buy your way in via the Chefs Dinner. I did that on the Getaway. I admire the Haven a great deal and aspire to book a cabin there some day, but it always comes down to $, and my preference in taking three less expensive cruises in a year, to one extravagant one. Still, the folks that pay for the privilege certainly should get to enjoy it without being bothered. I don't think I would care to sail with someone else that was staying in the Haven while I was in a regular balcony. I think I would feel embarassed somehow. But that's just me, to each his own.

 

Once you do try it - it is hard to go back.

 

I would rather cruise once a year or year and a half in a NCL suite than more often not. I would be like that lady in the old Mervyn's commercial with my face pressed to the glass at Cagney's breakfast saying "open, open, open!"

[monteman]

There should not be a problem having your non-suite guests wait with you in the suite waiting area. You should check in and once in there just ask the concierge if it's possible to bring your friends there to wait with you. If it is not crowded and it's only a couple of non suite guests, the concierge will probably be fine with it. Then you can go find them in the regular waiting area and bring them over there. It dies not hurt to ask. Worst case scenario, the concierge says no in a nice way.

 

The other perks, probably not so much. Enjoy your cruise!!

[TSUmom]

I remember that! How funny! Good grief, a year passes quickly. I hope you enjoyed your cruise.

 

I'm glad it all worked out. That was a great gesture for them to think of him for disembarking.

 

It really worked out fine. He was actually a favorite of the Haven staff, everytime we would meet him and take him to and from our cabin they would smile and ask Mr Tom how he was and if he was enjoying his first cruise. He loved talking about his port days with them. He says if he ever cruises again he will pay the extra to stay in a suite.