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Our Silver Wedding Escape was a HAVENly surprise!

meltingmoments

By meltingmoments,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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meltingmoments

meltingmoments

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Hi everyone. Thought I'd best make a start on my review of our Escape trip! We arrived back yesterday as we continued our trip with a visit to Key West after Escaping!

 

So, as the title suggests, this was a special cruise and holiday for us as we will celebrate our Silver Wedding anniversary in September. We are both in Education, so have to cruise in August but it's always okay to start celebrating early, right? ;)

 

After flying in to Miami from England, we were met at the airport by my brother-in-law, who lives in Miami and who would be cruising with us again, along with his family. We had done this on our Getaway trip 2 years previously and were looking forward to doing it again.

 

During dinner at his house that night, he announced he had a surprise for us.

He had upgraded us to the Haven!!!!! Well my excitement levels were already high! They were now through the roof! Embarkation day couldn't come quickly enough. :)

 

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meltingmoments

meltingmoments

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So Sunday came around and we drove to the Port of Miami.

Embarkation was calm and easy in the Haven check-in area and we were soon being escorted aboard the beautiful Norwegian Escape.

We were taken to the Haven Lounge and indulged in snacks and prosecco whilst hearing the Concierge, Virginia, tell us all about our *ship within a ship*.

 

We were then very naughty, and slipped away to see if we could find our cabin! Even though it was still only about 12 noon by now! Well we were VERY excited!

So we found it, and it was ready! Here is the sight that greeted us!

 

28723759324_39f48b5569_c.jpgDSCN5471 by smilinglady, on Flickr

 

28725616053_510af64829_c.jpgDSCN5472 by smilinglady, on Flickr

 

28722159754_8eb3d11fe5_c.jpg20160814_145556 by smilinglady, on Flickr

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meltingmoments

meltingmoments

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To say I was overwhelmed was an understatement! I'm not sure how I managed to take the photos, I was shaking so much!

We explored the gorgeous room and the balcony and then set off for O'Sheehans where we had arranged to meet the family for lunch. Yes, I know we could have had lunch in the Haven, but hey, this was a family holiday after all.

 

After a lovely lunch, a wander around and of course, lifeboat drill, we headed back to our room for sailaway.

More surprises! Our Butler, Kelly, arrived with champagne, courtesy of the Captain!! and a beautiful cake, courtesy of our fab family! This day just kept getting better and better! :)

 

28725559603_d33ecdf74b_c.jpgDSCN5479 by smilinglady, on Flickr

 

28748043483_cc8824d824_c.jpgDSCN5473 by smilinglady, on Flickr

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meltingmoments

meltingmoments

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Congratulations on your Anniversary! We did the Haven for our 35th. My Sister made arrangements for Decorations but they weren't as elaborate as yours. So jealous!

 

Thank you so much! :)

 

The room looked amazing, we were overwhelmed.

The banner fell from the ceiling a couple of times during the trip but I just kept making DH put it back up! :)

 

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meltingmoments

meltingmoments

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So Kelly, our Butler brought along our luggage and startled the life out of us by ringing the doorbell of the cabin!!! I didn't even KNOW these cabins had a doorbell.........such a Haven virgin! ;)

Kelly talked us through the coffee machine workings and asked us our snack preferences and asked if there was anything he could help us with. He was so lovely.

 

We unpacked and settled in to this beautiful cabin and then got ready for the evening.

We met the family in O'Sheehans and made use of the Viva Vino wine package we had purchased!

Tonight we visited Pinchos Tapas bar and really enjoyed it! I think between us, we tried almost everything on the menu!

We had the SDP for 3 meals but chose not to use one of them for tonight as it was just as good value to pay as you go and save the dining package for another speciality restaurant.

 

After dinner, we went for a wander and ended up in the Skyline bar where we caught the tail-end of a group, A-Minor. They were good, but as I said, they were just finishing up and were followed by a DJ playing Latin music and whilst the ladies of the group were happy to listen, the men were not, so we vacated the Skyline bar and hit Headliners where we Howled at the Moon till the end!! Great night!

 

The family then headed off to their cabin and DH and I had a drink in O'Sheehans and then wandered into the Casino, like you do! We also grabbed a snack here!

 

After a few turns on the slots, we made our way back to our Haven.

The bar area was deserted so I snapped some pictures of there and the pool area at night. Just gorgeous.

 

29239305712_175afb20dd_c.jpgDSCN5502 by smilinglady, on Flickr

 

28726124073_a46c2b2273_c.jpgDSCN5503 by smilinglady, on Flickr

 

29239276952_188b1bde33_c.jpgDSCN5505 by smilinglady, on Flickr

 

29239267252_96f30e8983_c.jpgDSCN5506 by smilinglady, on Flickr

 

29311723826_86171170fe_c.jpg20160815_052751 by smilinglady, on Flickr

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meltingmoments

meltingmoments

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When we arrived back in our cabin, we found a bottle of prossecco and a dish of m and m's, so we thought how rude it would be if we didn't check that they were good! Out on the balcony we went and I can tell you all was good! :)

 

The balcony was lovely, nice wicker furniture and room for a lounger as well. Happy days!

 

29313290486_ebf492a816_c.jpgDSCN5480 by smilinglady, on Flickr

 

29311749746_db18f2a053_c.jpg20160814_145753 by smilinglady, on Flickr

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meltingmoments

meltingmoments

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So onto Day 2....a sea day.

 

We woke early and just kept pinching ourselves that we were in this beautiful cabin!

Next on the list of new experiences to try out was breakfast in the Haven.

Well I can thoroughly recommend it! It is extremely calm and peaceful. We were greeted warmly by the Maitre D and escorted to what was to become *our* table by the window!

I have to say this was an amazing way to start the day.

Please don't get me wrong, we have always enjoyed breakfasts on NCL ships, whether it be in the Garden cafe or O'Sheehans or the main dining room, but this was just so peaceful and relaxing. We loved it.

 

After breakfast we went for a wander around the Haven pool and sundeck area.

The lower level, where the pool is, was quite busy and there were a fair few children around, enjoying the pool. We wandered upstairs to the sundeck and decided that was the place for us. There was a shower if we needed to cool off and those beds were SO comfortable. Best of all.........empty beds!

 

Unfortunately Mother Nature conspired against us and there was a thunderstorm, so no sunbathing this morning!

 

We went for a walk around the ship, taking pictures as we went.

 

29268389231_32754247a6_c.jpgDSCN5555 by smilinglady, on Flickr

 

28724044384_6d99a528a7_c.jpgDSCN5554 by smilinglady, on Flickr

 

28724055714_db91fb5103_c.jpgDSCN5553 by smilinglady, on Flickr

 

29346948115_b4ee23dbb0_c.jpgDSCN5552 by smilinglady, on Flickr

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