Haven Questions

[Fishymom]

 

If we have the gratuities includes in our package price (at the time of our booking promo) that does not include butler and concierge right? That's extra??

 

 

Just want to make sure not to assume and overlook someone

[watchdiva]

Butler and Concierge are not included in any prepaid gratuities (whether it be through promo or just prepaying). Tip them as you see fit...

[Jacy613]

On our recent NCL cruise in the Haven, our butler was absolutely wonderful!

 

We met her shortly after we were checking out our suite. I had made a list of a few things we liked and I showed it to her. She seemed very grateful and glad to have a list of our favorite snacks, treats, etc. for use during the week.

 

She showed us how to use the coffee maker (we never used it, don't like it) and offered to help us unpack! I didn't take her up on the unpacking!

 

She brought us a pot of French pressed coffee and a basket of pastries every morning, left them quietly on the dining table, as we requested.

 

I asked for the mini bar to be restocked with a few diet soft drinks, and I also asked for extra pillows and towels. Everything was delivered quickly!

 

My husband mentioned that he forgot to bring binoculars, and she brought him a pair within the hour! She also brought our late afternoon room service requests, there was no charge for any room service or dinner orders.

 

Our butler stopped by every afternoon with our snacks, and asked if we needed anything else. Our room steward was also great, and he was very helpful. The concierge did the escorting to shows, disembarks, and arranged for spa massages and such. It was a dream cruise!

 

We tipped well, and it was worth every single penny! I hope you have a wonderful time on your cruise, as well.

[IsanTom]

You might want to Email Jose! He can answer all of your questions, but it looks like you want to stay in your cabin most of the cruise! Dining is no problem, but all your drinks delivered to your room could be a problem because Jose has a few other cabins! Bring two walkie talkies and give one to Jose! Be sure and tip Jose accordingly! Enjoy your cabin!

Edited April 2, 2016 by IsanTom

[GorillaPaper]

We stayed in a haven spa suite on escape feb 27 sailing. Loved the butler naveen. He brought sliced limes at my husbands request, breakfast our room one morning and the daily afternoon snacks. We didn't ask for a lot but we're happy with everything provided. He genuinely showed an interest in our daily routine and what we had scheduled. I could not be more disappointed in a concierge. Our concierge was David Contreras. His assistants were better, but he put us aside to talk to another guest even though we had been in line for done time and that was our 1st impression. We passed by the concierge desk almost every morning on our way to breakfast in the haven restaurant and back and he never even said good morning. The one show we tried to book through the assistant was cancelled. They were supposed to try to reschedule us. Never heard from them. Needless to say we didn't tip anything. We did not use them for any disembarkation either. We tipped our butler and room steward well. We personally thought he concierge was useless. Loved the escape and loved our spa suite.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Mikestrange]

Another quick question: For Breakfast and lunch at the haven resturant, can you wear a bathing suit, with shirt and shoes or cover up? Just thinking if we are on the sun deck and want to grab a quick lunch?

 

We leave in 1 day!!!! We are very excited.

[WYTinman]

Another quick question: For Breakfast and lunch at the haven resturant, can you wear a bathing suit, with shirt and shoes or cover up? Just thinking if we are on the sun deck and want to grab a quick lunch?

 

We leave in 1 day!!!! We are very excited.

 

The general answer to your question is no. Once you see the restaurant you won't feel comfortable in your bathing suit. Kinda Fancy.

 

But there is a pool side menu with wait-staff, or ask for a restaurant meal served pool-side. In my experience the butler served the full "lunch" pool side.

 

Mark

[Two Wheels Only]

Another quick question: For Breakfast and lunch at the haven resturant, can you wear a bathing suit, with shirt and shoes or cover up? Just thinking if we are on the sun deck and want to grab a quick lunch?

 

We leave in 1 day!!!! We are very excited.

 

Have them bring the food to you.

 

You'll be more comfortable, those dining in the restaurant will be more comfortable, and the staff won't be caught in an awkward position.

[Mikestrange]

Thanks for the quick reply, sounds good!

[Cmdr Cody]

I'm staying in an OS next month and I called the concierge last night.

 

• In the OS I got to pick 3 bottles of liquor, mixers, and soda
  
• We also had choice of tea and coffee
  
• My wife is a towel hog, so we requested extra towels
  
• Special pillow requests
  
• An additional lounger on the balcony (the room only comes with one normally)
  

 

I think that's everything we asked for.

 

We stay in DOS or OS most the time. We unfortunately have found Miami pre-cruise concierge communication with the ship is less than sucessfull, EVERY TIME we used them. They may be better now, but we find it easier to talk to the concierge at the ship check in and ensure we get what we ordered.

[Seminole1975]

What kind of afternoon snacks did you request? What is available?

[happy cruzin]

What kind of afternoon snacks did you request? What is available?

 

They usually bring a variety throughout the week. We've seen everything from tea sandwiches, cheese and crackers, cookies, macaroons, pettifors and chocolate covered strawberries.

 

On the Getaway we mentioned how great the warm chocolate chip cookies had been and he brought those EVERY day along with whatever the "daily" treat was.

 

We also had friends that requested Coronas, shrimp and cocktail sauce to be delivered every afternoon - at a particular time. Happy hour was GREAT on their balcony!! ;)

[Seminole1975]

Sounds awesome! Can't wait! Thank you!

[GeezerCouple]

Sounds awesome! Can't wait! Thank you!

 

Our wonderful Butler on the Pearl 1+ years ago made a point of noticing what we ate more of (or left a bit of).

 

But that created a bit of a problem (NICE problem, however).

We loved the fresh pineapple and the sweet grapes, so we finished those.

So the next day, a larger portion of each arrived. We ate all of them.

The *next* day... an even larger portion...

... until it began to look like we had serving platters for a party, but for just the two of us. [Oink]

 

Yes, fruit is healthy, but they do have calories last we checked.

So I had to ask him (alternating with profuse thanks and appreciation, which was very genuine) to keep it to a certain amount, as we'd just keep stuffing our faces.

 

Especially if you get a great Butler, the NCL Suite life is superb.

[unfortunately, not all of the Butlers are "great". But that is most definitely a first world problem, and it feels almost inappropriate to mention. But there is a difference.]

[happy cruzin]

Our wonderful Butler on the Pearl 1+ years ago made a point of noticing what we ate more of (or left a bit of).

 

But that created a bit of a problem (NICE problem, however).

We loved the fresh pineapple and the sweet grapes, so we finished those.

So the next day, a larger portion of each arrived. We ate all of them.

The *next* day... an even larger portion...

... until it began to look like we had serving platters for a party, but for just the two of us. [Oink]

 

Yes, fruit is healthy, but they do have calories last we checked.

So I had to ask him (alternating with profuse thanks and appreciation, which was very genuine) to keep it to a certain amount, as we'd just keep stuffing our faces.

 

Especially if you get a great Butler, the NCL Suite life is superb.

[unfortunately, not all of the Butlers are "great". But that is most definitely a first world problem, and it feels almost inappropriate to mention. But there is a difference.]

 

 

LOL...same for our cookies! :eek:

[mm3386]

Can anyone tell me if they had success in getting liquors not listed on the selection menu for the 3 bottles for a DOS? I know I've heard conflicting reports about whether it can be done or not, and if there's a charge.

Also, has anyone ever attempted to ask the butler for a clamshell lounger (round lounger for 2) for the balcony? I've heard people had success when asking for an additional lounger, but couldn't find anything about clamshells. I know it's silly, but we will be on our honeymoon and have always enjoyed lounging together on a clamshell.

We will be traveling on the Epic in DOS #17004. So excited!

[GeezerCouple]

[quote name='mm3386']Can anyone tell me if they had success in getting liquors not listed on the selection menu for the 3 bottles for a DOS? I know I've heard conflicting reports about whether it can be done or not, and if there's a charge.

Also, has anyone ever attempted to ask the butler for a clamshell lounger (round lounger for 2) for the balcony? I've heard people had success when asking for an additional lounger, but couldn't find anything about clamshells. I know it's silly, but we will be on our honeymoon and have always enjoyed lounging together on a clamshell.

We will be traveling on the Epic in DOS #17004. So excited![/QUOTE]

We were NOT able to get anything off the list for our 3 bottles during our first NCL cruise, in a DOS.
Worse, they claimed they were out of 2 of the 3 we wanted, but still wouldn't substitute.
We also couldn't substitute for a bottle of wine.

But this wasn't with our stellar Butler, so it might (*might*) have been different with another Butler.

We'll see what happens next time in an OS.

[xcell]

The 3 bottle of alcohol - is the list given to you on the first day?

We were in a H4 the first time, got the champagne bottle - didn't drink it right away and then it disappeared the second day.

This time we are on the GA in an OS - if you don' t use up the 3 bottles - can you (1) give it away? or (2) take it home.

Do we get free access to the minibar for bottle water???

[Demonyte]

[quote name='xcell']The 3 bottle of alcohol - is the list given to you on the first day?

We were in a H4 the first time, got the champagne bottle - didn't drink it right away and then it disappeared the second day.

This time we are on the GA in an OS - if you don' t use up the 3 bottles - can you (1) give it away? or (2) take it home.

Do we get free access to the minibar for bottle water???[/QUOTE]

Yes, you'll get the list on embarkation day and it's usually provided also via email from the pre-cruise concierge desk before your cruise.

Yes, you can do what ever you want with the bottles once you have gotten them.

Yes, bottled water and soda cans are free in OS, DOS and GV (in-room only).

[xcell]

[quote name='Demonyte']Yes, you'll get the list on embarkation day and it's usually provided also via email from the pre-cruise concierge desk before your cruise.

Yes, you can do what ever you want with the bottles once you have gotten them.

Yes, bottled water and soda cans are free in OS, DOS and GV (in-room only).[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the info...

I booked this late and leaving next week so I don't think I will get the list...

With the water can you request a lot of water (bad joke, since they no longer allow us to bring on a case - can I request a case...not really...)

[Demonyte]

In my experience from GV on Dawn our butler kept us very well stocked once he figured out how much we need to make it through the day.

[dexddd]

[quote name='xcell']Thanks for the info...

I booked this late and leaving next week so I don't think I will get the list...

With the water can you request a lot of water (bad joke, since they no longer allow us to bring on a case - can I request a case...not really...)[/QUOTE]

They typically will store extra water in the cabinets by the fridge. If you run low, just let them know. Note that on GA/BA there can be leakage of sound between the OS/DOS in the corner by the movable wall. Your level of leakage may vary.

[xcell]

My friends are in the h4 which is bigger and less expensive than the h3...not sure why... had to settle with h3 because only one left

[luckyinpa]

[quote name='Two Wheels Only']Have them bring the food to you.

You'll be more comfortable, those dining in the restaurant will be more comfortable, and the staff won't be caught in an awkward position.[/QUOTE]

this post opened my eyes to something i didnt even think about before. they will bring anything in the haven restaurant to your room. correct? (booze not included of course but fountain soda would be?)

if i wind up booking a spa room i realize the tables are terribly small but i would want one meal in my room for the experience.

[Two Wheels Only]

if i wind up booking a spa room i realize the tables are terribly small but i would want one meal in my room for the experience.

If it's a Spa Haven or Deluxe Spa Haven (H9 or H8), it's no problem at all. You can have the butler set it up on the balcony if you want.