Breakaway Haven

[celie1110]

I am thinking of surprising my husband and upgrade from balcony to haven. Tell me all about it. Is it worth the upgrade? Perks?

[tmilak]

I am thinking of surprising my husband and upgrade from balcony to haven. Tell me all about it. Is it worth the upgrade? Perks?

 

Once you go Haven you can't go back. I did it in 2012 and have not done anything else since. Priority treatment, better food, no chair hogs, peace and quiet when needed and a higher level of service overall. Haven dining is awesome. Just be careful as it becomes addictive.

[Two Wheels Only]

Tell me all about it.

Your check-in will be much easier. There is a separate check-in for Haven guests. You will then be escorted onto the ship (bypassing the crowd) and taken to an elevator reserved (velvet rope) for Haven guests. The elevator will take you straight to the Haven lounge where you will meet your concierge, be treated to a quick tour/explanation of the Haven, treated to snacks, etc.

 

You will see the Haven courtyard, Haven restaurant, Haven pool, Haven hot tubs, Haven bar, etc. These areas will be much less hectic/crowded than the corresponding areas of the ship that are open to everyone.

 

 

You will eventually go to your suite and meet your butler. He/she will take care of your needs within your stateroom. The butler will be "on call" 24 hours a day (a nighttime butler will cover for some hours) to fulfill any requests such as in-suite meals or snacks. Even without asking, your butler should surprise you at least once a day with various treats and can provide more or less of whatever you like. There is a nearly infinite list of things that the butler can do for you. Your suite will also have a Haven robe, slippers, umbrella, upgraded toiletries and upgraded linens.

 

Haven guests can also dine in the Haven restaurant for breakfast, lunch, or dinner without using SDP/UDP or paying à la carte. There's nothing stopping you from having a meal/snack elsewhere on the ship immediately before or after dining in the Haven restaurant.

 

While visiting the Haven courtyard, staff will offer food/drinks as well as take orders for the same. There will be towels for your use and padded loungers.

 

 

You will also be given priority when in port to exit the ship (skipping the mass exodus), seating at shows, and dinner reservations. Your concierge will work wonders, if asked.

 

 

 

Is it worth the upgrade?

Absolutely, IMO. There are other benefits which others will probably mention.

 

(I'm using NCL's pictures, not mine)

Edited September 7, 2016 by Two Wheels Only

[celie1110]

Your check-in will be much easier. There is a separate check-in for Haven guests. You will then be escorted onto the ship (bypassing the crowd) and taken to an elevator reserved (velvet rope) for Haven guests. The elevator will take you straight to the Haven lounge where you will meet your concierge, be treated to a quick tour/explanation of the Haven, treated to snacks, etc.

 

You will see the Haven courtyard, Haven restaurant, Haven pool, Haven hot tubs, Haven bar, etc. These areas will be much less hectic/crowded than the corresponding areas of the ship that are open to everyone.

 

 

You will eventually go to your suite and meet your butler. He/she will take care of your needs within your stateroom. The butler will be "on call" 24 hours a day (a nighttime butler will cover for some hours) to fulfill any requests such as in-suite meals or snacks. Even without asking, your butler should surprise you at least once a day with various treats and can provide more or less of whatever you like. There is a nearly infinite list of things that the butler can do for you. Your suite will also have a Haven robe, slippers, umbrella, upgraded toiletries and upgraded linens.

 

Haven guests can also dine in the Haven restaurant for breakfast, lunch, or dinner without using SDP/UDP or paying à la carte. There's nothing stopping you from having a meal/snack elsewhere on the ship immediately before or after dining in the Haven restaurant.

 

While visiting the Haven courtyard, staff will offer food/drinks as well as take orders for the same. There will be towels for your use and padded loungers.

 

 

You will also be given priority when in port to exit the ship (skipping the mass exodus), seating at shows, and dinner reservations. Your concierge will work wonders, if asked.

 

 

 

 

Absolutely, IMO. There are other benefits which others will probably mention.

 

(I'm using NCL's pictures, not mine)

 

 

This all sounds so awesome! I fell in love with the Aft Haven Suites when looking at videos on YouTube. I'm thinking since we are saving money by not having to fly in, what the heck!

[Two Wheels Only]

I fell in love with the Aft Haven Suites when looking at videos on YouTube.

 

Keep in mind that the H6 (aft-facing Haven suites) come in 2 different room configurations and that the balcony sizes differ depending on deck. If taking an up-sell, your choices will be limited.

 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

[luckyinpa]

I am thinking of surprising my husband and upgrade from balcony to haven. Tell me all about it. Is it worth the upgrade? Perks?

 

i see you are a long time cruiser and i'm new. just going on one next month. however when i booked i did tons of research about the haven and i booked it. circumstances changed and i had to downgrade. when it came down to it, i got lucky and had tons of OT over summer and i was able to upgrade again

 

my point is if you can spend the money i do think it's worth it. the little things do add up. the priority boarding, the relative peace of the haven. if you want a snack in your room you just call the butler and it's there. i'm not a sun worshiper but having your own private deck seems to be a nice feature. also since you have haven you dont pay the gratuities. or the 18% on all the other things like drinks and SDP

 

i will report back oct 24 if it really was worth it :)

[celie1110]

Keep in mind that the H6 (aft-facing Haven suites) come in 2 different room configurations and that the balcony sizes differ depending on deck. If taking an up-sell, your choices will be limited.

 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

 

What is the difference between an up-sell and upgrade?

[celie1110]

i see you are a long time cruiser and i'm new. just going on one next month. however when i booked i did tons of research about the haven and i booked it. circumstances changed and i had to downgrade. when it came down to it, i got lucky and had tons of OT over summer and i was able to upgrade again

 

my point is if you can spend the money i do think it's worth it. the little things do add up. the priority boarding, the relative peace of the haven. if you want a snack in your room you just call the butler and it's there. i'm not a sun worshiper but having your own private deck seems to be a nice feature. also since you have haven you dont pay the gratuities. or the 18% on all the other things like drinks and SDP

 

i will report back oct 24 if it really was worth it :)

 

I'll be looking for your report::D

[graphicguy]

I've been in a solo cabin (BA), a balcony cabin (EPIC), and the Haven twice (BA and GA).

 

In all frankness, the gap between the Balcony and the Haven is pretty big. Service is a couple of notches higher in the Haven, having the Butler take care of everything in the cabin and the concierge taking care of everything outside the cabin (customer service, shows, restaurants, billing and customer service), it's hard to understand how big the differences are.

 

Throw in the Haven restaurant, available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Haven Bar, which always seemed totally over congenial, and the beautiful pool and lounge areas, it's just over the top.

 

Priority embark/debark, special seatings at all shows, SDP, UBP, and all the rest of the "perks", it's really quite special, and to me, well worth it.

 

Not sure I can cruise any other way, now.

[graphicguy]

Haven pics

 

Restaurant....

DSC00182 by D J, on Flickr

Edited September 7, 2016 by graphicguy

[BirdTravels]

What is the difference between an up-sell and upgrade?

 

A few weeks before departure, the upsell department will sell all available Havens rooms for a discount upgrade price. $750-$1500 pp (upgrade). Versus an upgrade where you can do that any time by paying the difference between you current cabin price and the current retail price of the Havens room.

 

But,,, it assumes that there are unsold Havens room. On our cruise next week, there were none.

 

 

Edited September 7, 2016 by BirdTravels

[graphicguy]

Pool area.....

 

DSC00181 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

Haven Lounge Area....

 

DSC00180 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

Top of Haven area.....(looking down)

 

DSC00196 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

Seats for Cirque Dream.....(courtesy of the concierge)

 

DSC00296 by D J, on Flickr

[ImADaneFan]

I can highly recommend the aft suites. We were in 12304 and the balcony is huge! We had a sail away party for our cc rollcall and had 35+ people on the balcony while passing the Statue of Liberty. The only downside is the walk to get to the courtyard. [emoji20]

 

 

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Edited September 7, 2016 by ImADaneFan

[Kosi]

"Your check-in will be much easier. There is a separate check-in for Haven guests. You will then be escorted onto the ship (bypassing the crowd) and taken to an elevator reserved (velvet rope) for Haven guests. The elevator will take you straight to the Haven lounge where you will meet your concierge, be treated to a quick tour/explanation of the Haven, treated to snacks, etc. "

It is funny you mention the reserved elevator.. last time on NCL.. I had a mini suite.. so not haven room.. and there was a mad rush to use elevators ..and the poor lady that had to keep saying no to this one elevator , with a ton of very angry passengers .. wonder if that is what they should have done.. Too many mad for a very few late Haven passengers?

[celie1110]

I can highly recommend the aft suites. We were in 12304 and the balcony is huge! We had a sail away party for our cc rollcall and had 35+ people on the balcony while passing the Statue of Liberty. The only downside is the walk to get to the courtyard. [emoji20]

 

 

 

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I just read a review af someone who had a aft suite who said that their butler was hardly around. When she would call him he said he was helping someone else. She seemed to think since the aft suites were so far from the haven he didn't want to make the long walk. Can you tell me your experience with the butler?

Edited September 7, 2016 by celie1110

[ImADaneFan]

I have to admit our butler wasn't the best we've ever had, but definitely not the worst. We had one breakfast ensuite and it was delivered on time and was hot, we always had the snacks delivered every day, and all our special requests were met. He just wasn't as "present" as the butlers I've had while staying in the courtyard.

 

Linda

 

 

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[celie1110]

How about the forward facing suites? Has anyone had them? I know the balcony is smaller but it will just be my husband and I. How is the butler service there?

[TYSONBOXER]

We had both the aft suite and our butler was always there. She was terrific. We also had the forward suite and never saw our butler. The aft suite us great with a big balcony, the only thing is, it's s long walk to the haven courtyard

 

 

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[Two Wheels Only]

I just read a review af someone who had a aft suite who said that their butler was hardly around. When she would call him he said he was helping someone else. She seemed to think since the aft suites were so far from the haven he didn't want to make the long walk. Can you tell me your experience with the butler?

The location of the suite isn't the issue. Whichever butler is assigned to the aft suites is only assigned to that section. The butler doesn't serve the "inside" Haven suites and the "outside" suites at the same time.

 

However, the butler that serves the aft suites is usually the only butler for those (12 on Breakaway) suites. If other guests make a request right before you call, the wait will be longer.

 

My suggestion would be to make requests in advance. Call, leave a note, or tell the butler in person what you would like and when. Your advance order will be delivered on time while "on the fly" orders would come second.

 

For example, if you are going on an excursion and will return at 4:00pm, tell the butler what you would like for lunch/early dinner when you see him/her earlier in the day. Even if you get back 10 minutes after 4pm, your food will be there and will still be hot (covered) and set up.

[rubylake]

Keep in mind that the H6 (aft-facing Haven suites) come in 2 different room configurations and that the balcony sizes differ depending on deck. If taking an up-sell, your choices will be limited.

 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

 

We did not know this. We are looking at H6 on Breakaway and Escape for the large balcony. Would you please share how we may tell which stateroom has large balcony? Thank you.

[jimandami]

DH and I had a forward facing on the GA and the room was fantastic. Our butler, however, was well...not great. I would go so far as to say he was downright rude at times. However, we met a couple people in the Aft rooms and their butler was great. So, I don't think it's room specific, I think it's butler specific.

 

I didn't see anyone answer your upgrade vs. upsell question. An upgrade is when you book a higher category cabin at full price. You will receive all the perks that come with that category cabin. An upsell is when you call a specific NCL number (usually less than 30 days from sailing) and pay a smaller amount to get a better cabin, typically a Haven. For example, DH and I booked a balcony guarantee cabin, then did an upsell about 27 days out for $750 each. The total we bad for our FF Haven was about $2000 less than it would have cost to book it outright. We did not get the Haven perks (when I say perks, I mean the things like UDP/UBP/Wi-fi, etc...), but did keep the perks we got with our original sailing. We did, however, get everything else that comes with the Haven. I cannot recommend it enough...we loved it so much we paid full price for an Aft Penthouse for our May 2017 cruise.

[ThePhoenix]

We just got off the Breakaway, forward facing Haven penthouse, and I completely agree that once you go Haven, you'll never go back.

 

For me, the priority embarkation and disembarkation is worth the price all by itself. Watching the HUGE line of people we were bypassing at both ends of the trip, I could not believe how many people were waiting in those lines!

 

I was not at all impressed with our butler. I doubt he was assigned to only the forward facing suites. I think he was busy up on the Haven courtyard. He didn't even get my simple requests right: keep the room stocked with coffee pods and Splenda.

 

We had breakfast and lunch in the Haven restaurant a couple times late in the week but wasn't impressed. They were the worst meals we had on the ship. I definitely wouldn't pay extra for that perk. The concierge escorted us to reserved seats a couple of times for shows and that was. I've except that they want you to meet them 45 minute before show time high I thought was excessive. One time our concierge found us as we were finishing dinner right before the Cirque de Soleil show and personally escorted us to a sweet front row table. That was pretty cool.

 

Finally, the beds! I don't know if Haven cabins have different beds, but our bed was amazing. It is the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in besides my own. My wife and I really did not want to leave the bed.

 

You won't regret spending the extra money!

 

 

 

 

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