Logistics of Breakaway Haven Suite embarkation

[klepton]

I'll be cruising in a Haven suite later this month and I'm curious about my plans.

 

Because I'm travelling with our two kids (age 3 and 11) I'm thinking it would be better for all involved if we skipped lunch in the Haven restaurant. Other haven guests would probably appreciate a quiet(er) lunch without my 3 year old, and my kids will be excited to get to the pools/slides/ropes course/rock wall (and Daddy might be equally excited :D). I figure the best time to do this is as soon as we can, since we'll be one of the first to board we can avoid many of the crowds/lines.

 

For haven guests, do they escort you on, show you around the haven area, and then take you to the restaurant for lunch? Is it possible to skip out after the tour and skip lunch?

 

Are the slides, pools, ropes course, etc open right when guests start boarding? Or will they not open until later anyway on embarkation day?

 

Thanks for any insight you can provide!

[cruiservictor]

You'll be taken up to the Haven and given some snacks (usually sliders) while the concierge welcomes you and briefly explains what he/she can do for you during the week. Then, you are free to do what you want. Some will go to the Haven Restaurant for lunch, many more will go to their cabins and drop stuff off and then explore the ship. Sorry, can't answer about the slides, ropes, etc. Hope you enjoy your cruise.

[ImADaneFan]

Here's a couple of Breakaway tips that I wish I knew before our trips. When you return and are disembarking the concierge will escort you off the ship, but they only take you as far as the walkway. There is a special Haven line at the terminal, but the sign is just before the door. Everyone else will be waiting in line (and it will be long), but you can walk past to the front of the line. Of course be prepared for the comments of the people in line.:rolleyes: There will be someone at the sign that will verify you're in the Haven, but then they will take you past the lines to get your luggage.

 

And the 2nd tip.... use a porter. They don't have to wait in the regular customs line. ;)

 

On our 1st cruise, we waited almost 30 minutes in line to get to our luggage, and 45 minutes in the customs line. On our last cruise we were out of the terminal and in our car in under 15 minutes.:D

Linda

[luckyinpa]

does the using a porter also pay if you are not haven

[KweezyCruiser]

You can skip out on the Haven intro whenever you want. You don't have to wait for sliders or lunch. Your suite won't be ready, but you can usually drop off your carry ons. Wear bathing suits under your clothes, and head right on over to the pools.

[klepton]

You'll be taken up to the Haven and given some snacks (usually sliders) while the concierge welcomes you and briefly explains what he/she can do for you during the week. Then, you are free to do what you want. Some will go to the Haven Restaurant for lunch, many more will go to their cabins and drop stuff off and then explore the ship. Sorry, can't answer about the slides, ropes, etc. Hope you enjoy your cruise.

 

You can skip out on the Haven intro whenever you want. You don't have to wait for sliders or lunch. Your suite won't be ready, but you can usually drop off your carry ons. Wear bathing suits under your clothes, and head right on over to the pools.

 

Thanks guys, this tells me what I need to know. I figured it was the case but wasn't sure if there was any sort of "structure" to the Haven tour or not.

[klepton]

Here's a couple of Breakaway tips that I wish I knew before our trips. When you return and are disembarking the concierge will escort you off the ship, but they only take you as far as the walkway. There is a special Haven line at the terminal, but the sign is just before the door. Everyone else will be waiting in line (and it will be long), but you can walk past to the front of the line. Of course be prepared for the comments of the people in line.:rolleyes: There will be someone at the sign that will verify you're in the Haven, but then they will take you past the lines to get your luggage.

 

And the 2nd tip.... use a porter. They don't have to wait in the regular customs line. ;)

 

On our 1st cruise, we waited almost 30 minutes in line to get to our luggage, and 45 minutes in the customs line. On our last cruise we were out of the terminal and in our car in under 15 minutes.:D

Linda

 

Thanks for the unsolicited tip! :) That will come in handy for us as I like as stress-free of debarkation as possible, especially when the kids are with us.

 

does the using a porter also pay if you are not haven

 

Speaking as someone who always gets a porter, both in suites and not, I can say it depends on the port. In port everglades and and miami we always seem to get funneled into the same lines as everyone else, no time savings. In other ports like San Diego, Charleston, and San Juan we have had porters take us to separate shorter lines.

[peg013]

does the using a porter also pay if you are not haven

 

Yes, it definitely helps at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in NYC. You will be placed in a much shorter Customs line. We tip $2 per bag in NYC. :)

[darrengs]

We were in the Haven on the Breakaway a few weeks back, and we boarded around noon. As soon as David the concierge greeted us (and remembered us from over 4 years ago on the Gem) he told us our room was ready. So we dropped off our bags , checked out the room and then walked over to the Haven restaurant, we did have to wait about 25 minutes for a table, so my wife and I relaxed in the lounge while the kids went exploring.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[luckyinpa]

Yes, it definitely helps at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in NYC. You will be placed in a much shorter Customs line. We tip $2 per bag in NYC. :)

 

since i'm out of NYC this is good info.