Tears from Haven

[dexddd]

We've sailed 3 times in the Haven on the Breakaway and absolutely loved each experience! Now maybe our view is skewed from only a few experiences and only in an H2 cabin, but we could not have wanted more out of our experiences! Our two Butlers (Ramona and Peter (x2)) were absolutely amazing and went above and beyond to get us whatever we needed. Ramona was seemingly clairvoyant and often met our requests before we even knew we wanted them!

 

As for the concierge, like the original poster, we did have one who seemed, well, bothered when we asked for something or made a request, but Anoop always went above and beyond . . . checking in on us each night in our speciality dining venue to make sure everything met our expectations and if there was anything he could do for us that evening. In fact, with Anoop we found that each time we checked in for dinner, the host/hostess ask us where we wanted to to be seated.

 

We also tend to cruise when school is in session so we have not had a ton of kids to deal with. That could sway my opinion, but for now NCL Haven still offers a good balance of seclusion, service, dining and entertainment versus luxury lines with an average passenger age 2x mine. I would maybe, maybe try a Star Class suite on an RCCL ship, but I would need to be really convinced that the lack of a secluded space, no contained lounge/dining is worth.

 

That said, we are really looking to our Sept cruise on the Escape .. it will be nice to compare the Haven and see the H2 cabin improvements (hopefully, the sound bleed from the DOS/OS wall issue is fixed!).

 

If that is Ramona from Romania - which I'm guessing it is - she is THE BEST. We saw her on BA as washy washy in buffet then at Le Bistro as a server and as a night butler. SO MUCH ENERGY in that woman! She should replace some of the lazy concierges out there.

 

We too were in H2 on BA and just off Escape. No issue with that dumb wall like on BA as it doesn't open on Escape. Only had a couple kids jumping first day upstairs but really low noise. Closet is smaller but still tons of storage. Inside room a very nice addition. Cost of the room now, not so much.

[dexddd]

Hallelujah! The number of times I felt like I was inappropriately eavesdropping is jarring! Thank you for the information.

 

Yeah, on BA we had that too. The people next door had kids over every night to play cards and you could hear every word. We've had "connecting" rooms before but never that type of noise bleed.

[dexddd]

Check out Jim Zims youtube review of the MSC Seaside. I have never been on the Seaside but according to the you tube review the NCL entertainment beats the Seaside by a mile.

 

The Seaside is a fairly new ship just came out in December. We did sail MSC on Divinia and their entertainment is just different than NCL is the best I can describe it. Some entertaining (to us) and others not (to us) on both lines.\

 

Not sure what the Seaside entertainment is but we will see next year. On Divinia they made it more "international" appealing due to the guest diversity is my guess.

[davesgirl51]

Yep. We were on a couple weeks before you and same experience. He was at the desk at times but never saw him anywhere else, anywhere. Nimpha and the other guy were around though.

WAIT ! Is this THE David Contreras that everyone seemingly raves about ? I’ve never met him (odd, really) but comparing a David to being as awful as Ruth. Wow.

[shaun07]

This is probably one of the best summaries I've seen and VERY accurate.

 

At the end of the day it really doesn't matter though - NCL has been filling suites via upsell and this process must be making them more money so there won't be any change soon IMO. With that being said, we have one certificate left but we are spending our money elsewhere.

 

Thanks😳

 

Yes thats the frustrating part. As a company they don't make me feel like they care. I realize they have to make money etc but i think part of the reason CC is so busy with people posting is they just want to be heard and Ncl does not want to listen so they come here. I did lol.

[Laszlo]

Thanks

 

Yes thats the frustrating part. As a company they don't make me feel like they care. I realize they have to make money etc but i think part of the reason CC is so busy with people posting is they just want to be heard and Ncl does not want to listen so they come here. I did lol.

 

CC is very very small group of people who sail NCL weekly. With all the NCL ships they have between 48K-50K people sailing every week. 2.6 Million every year, you really think they are going to care about a few dozen, few hundred maybe even a few thousand people complaining about something? I think not

Edited July 11, 2018 by Laszlo

[TPgal]

 

Back to the Haven, I believe that NCL should make it clear that although children are welcome, there are behavioral standards.

 

Oh, I severely and ardently disagree. Terrible behavior should be absolutely never be allowed no matter where (in public spaces) the child may be, or what class of room the family has booked. My seven-year-old knows not to splash other people, scream, run, bump into folks, make a mess, and all sorts of other things. Loud, messy, rude children are a DIRECT result of inattentive and disrespectful parents. I'm not talking about kids with developmental issues - but even in that case, those children shouldn't be unattended.

 

Perhaps I'm the unfun mom, but we aren't ever on the receiving end of eye daggers from other people. We have rules about walking softly in hotels/ship hallways, not allowing doors to slam and being aware that there are other families on either side and above/below our room as the case may be. These conversations aren't hard, they aren't cruel they are part of being a considerate HUMAN on this tiny earth.

[graphicguy]

I have sailed the Haven several times, also. I feel the concierges are invaluable. They have done practically everything for me, with no hassle whatsoever. And, they seem to be able to do the impossible (like get me into a sold out show with no reservations). They take care of billing snafus, find my missing OBC, do all of my restaurant reservations. I pre-book nothing as a result.

 

 

My Butler, while nice, I don't require nearly as much of. That said, I've never had in-suite dining (by choice). He has actually taken care of changing bedding (different pillows requested) and was generally available to deliver room service, regardless of how small or large the request.

 

 

Have sailed MSC YC....twice. Similar situation, except the butler also doubled as a Top Sail Lounge waiter.

 

 

Will agree that entertainment on NCL is probably the best at sea, and that MSC has a ways to go. But, I still enjoyed the MSC entertainment.

 

 

Pricewise, I think NCL is waking up. I'm looking at a Haven cruise in the Caribbean for August/Sept. In the Haven Spa Suite, the fare is $4,800 for two. Plus, NCL throws in the kitchen sink....drinks, specialty dining, internet ($125 worth) and a $50 per excursion credit. Also, I'll get at least $300 of OBC.

 

 

 

MSC Seaside's fare for the YC is $4,000, with one specialty restaurant, no excursion credit, free drinks. I will assume the entertainment won't be as good, either. Still, it's a beautiful ship.

 

 

I think it's a wash.

 

 

Your use of the concierge depends on the concierge. On NCL, I've had Adrian twice. He's outstanding. Had Elvina on the NCL GEM several weeks ago. Simply wonderful! They both seem to be able to do the impossible.

 

 

 

Don't remember any of the concierge on MSC, but all were efficient and quite helpful.

[dexddd]

WAIT ! Is this THE David Contreras that everyone seemingly raves about ? I’ve never met him (odd, really) but comparing a David to being as awful as Ruth. Wow.

 

It is. I'm not making this up. He said "hello" as we walked past the desk (that was it) on Wednesday and then the one sentence to my DW when we were ready to disembark.

 

I could see others loving him though based on this one example: While waiting in the terminal lounge, he came down and went over to a lady and I'm guessing her middle school aged son and hugged them both like they were his long lost family and escorted them on the ship.

[dexddd]

CC is very very small group of people who sail NCL weekly. With all the NCL ships they have between 48K-50K people sailing every week. 2.6 Million every year, you really think they are going to care about a few dozen, few hundred maybe even a few thousand people complaining about something? I think not

 

Maybe, maybe not. If they didn't care at all why would they bother providing facilities, staff, and snacks on the ship for the CC M&G? Why do they hand out cards and tell people at the gatherings to call them with issues (and tell some people we'd rather you call us then post on CC)?

 

I'd also add that some of our information is free consulting for them. An avid group of people who cruise more than the norm most likely with expertise to see things others may not.

 

I can tell you MSC takes the CC folks very seriously on the ships sailing out of the US.

[dexddd]

I have sailed the Haven several times, also. I feel the concierges are invaluable. They have done practically everything for me, with no hassle whatsoever. And, they seem to be able to do the impossible (like get me into a sold out show with no reservations). They take care of billing snafus, find my missing OBC, do all of my restaurant reservations. I pre-book nothing as a result.

 

 

My Butler, while nice, I don't require nearly as much of. That said, I've never had in-suite dining (by choice). He has actually taken care of changing bedding (different pillows requested) and was generally available to deliver room service, regardless of how small or large the request.

 

 

Have sailed MSC YC....twice. Similar situation, except the butler also doubled as a Top Sail Lounge waiter.

 

 

Will agree that entertainment on NCL is probably the best at sea, and that MSC has a ways to go. But, I still enjoyed the MSC entertainment.

 

 

Pricewise, I think NCL is waking up. I'm looking at a Haven cruise in the Caribbean for August/Sept. In the Haven Spa Suite, the fare is $4,800 for two. Plus, NCL throws in the kitchen sink....drinks, specialty dining, internet ($125 worth) and a $50 per excursion credit. Also, I'll get at least $300 of OBC.

 

 

 

MSC Seaside's fare for the YC is $4,000, with one specialty restaurant, no excursion credit, free drinks. I will assume the entertainment won't be as good, either. Still, it's a beautiful ship.

 

 

I think it's a wash.

 

 

Your use of the concierge depends on the concierge. On NCL, I've had Adrian twice. He's outstanding. Had Elvina on the NCL GEM several weeks ago. Simply wonderful! They both seem to be able to do the impossible.

 

 

 

Don't remember any of the concierge on MSC, but all were efficient and quite helpful.

 

The butler and concierge duties NCL vs MSC are kind of different. From our Divinia experience there were definitely more of them but they also had other duties as you pointed out like working by the bar outside or in the lounge. I also saw our guy cleaning rooms and never saw the steward. The MSC butlers also disembark you at each port if you want.

 

The MSC concierges do different things like if you wanted room service pizza you ordered through them.

[Stace894]

Sorry to say I have to agree about the recent David comments. We sailed about 3 weeks ago and other than the first day Haven introductions, I NEVER saw him at the desk or around the Haven. There was a lovely young woman who seemed to live at the desk. Her name escapes me right now but she was fantastic. I had her name on the ship and wrote out one of the Vacation Hero cards they have for her. Stated she should be moved up to Head Concierge as she was always ready to assist with a smile. Had the answer to any question I had.

[davesgirl51]

Goodness !

[BNBR]

Need a lot more threads like this. Hopefully more cruisers will be spared the expense and disappointment with the haven.

[Enavigo]

Need a lot more threads like this. Hopefully more cruisers will be spared the expense and disappointment with the haven.

 

Uggh, these threads lose their usefulness when we allow simple hyperbole to replace statement of fact and experience. I've have learned so much from this board in the past 2 years and I can say my cruise experience has been demonstratively improved as a result, but hyper-subjective comments like this are thread killers.

 

Please, let's keep it to out experiences and let others view that through their own value prism.

[hladygirl]

If I payed the high price of the Haven (which I won’t). I would expect a quiete area with no children running around. On NCL website it is advertised as a quite HAVEN. Sorry. Love kids but not on my vacation. I would expect an area with quite pool, restaurant and sun bathing area. Especially for the price they are asking.

[Heartfelttraveler]

I too would love the Haven to be a sanctuary retreat. The big reality is that most of the Haven suites are Two Bedroom Family Suites. The second bedroom is designed for children. (Although some people put a second couple in the small second bedroom.) When we travel NCL it is in the Haven (or suites if no Haven). That being said... I hope to never have unruly children or apathetic parents to deal with.

 

 

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[bromleypod]

I was going to ask what ship. Not surprised. He generally gets good reviews. I put him as bad as Ruth was.

 

We had him a few weeks back and it was literally Wednesday before he even said "hello" when we passed his desk.

 

The last day DW went over by the desk and he said something along the lines "...are you waiting for something..." and she said, "..yes, to disembark.." and he had one of the staff escort us off. That was it all week.

I think we had him on the Epic last year, is he on the Escape now? We found him neither useful nor friendly on the Epic last year!

[sverigecruiser]

I too would love the Haven to be a sanctuary retreat. The big reality is that most of the Haven suites are Two Bedroom Family Suites. The second bedroom is designed for children. (Although some people put a second couple in the small second bedroom.) When we travel NCL it is in the Haven (or suites if no Haven). That being said... I hope to never have unruly children or apathetic parents to deal with.

 

 

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Another reason to book MSCs Yacht Club instead. Very few two bedroom suites there.

[dexddd]

Sorry to say I have to agree about the recent David comments. We sailed about 3 weeks ago and other than the first day Haven introductions, I NEVER saw him at the desk or around the Haven. There was a lovely young woman who seemed to live at the desk. Her name escapes me right now but she was fantastic. I had her name on the ship and wrote out one of the Vacation Hero cards they have for her. Stated she should be moved up to Head Concierge as she was always ready to assist with a smile. Had the answer to any question I had.

 

If she was a bit shorter with hair to just above shoulder it was Nimpha (sp) - she walked us down to the first show.

[dexddd]

I think we had him on the Epic last year, is he on the Escape now? We found him neither useful nor friendly on the Epic last year!

 

Yes, he was on the Escape a few weeks back.

[njkate]

Well I will get to see for myself as I received an upgrade to Haven Two bedroom on the Breakaway Baltic leaving August 18th

[lucywestie]

$12000 !!! and Im assuming that U.S. dollars. I did a 16 day back to back on Navigator in 2016 and in 2017 I did a 7 day Rhapsody and a 10 day Jade back to back. All in nicely situated balconies and I paid about $9000 Canadian (so about $7000 U.S.) for 33 days of cruising.

 

I would never even consider paying that amount of money ($12000) for what amounts to going to the same ports of call at the same speed. The only difference from reading threads on the Haven is that you get a bigger cabin/suite and maybe if you are lucky some free water!

[TrinaLC]

I have a suspicion that MSC has hired children to work undercover as Haven guests and are paid based on the amount of commotion that they cause.:D

 

 

 

 

 

To the OP and to anyone else who has had a less than special experience in the Haven, I highly recommend the MSC Yacht Club. There are differences but the ship within a ship concepts are more alike as far as what they offer....plus the Yacht Club is less expensive.

 

 

 

NOOOO! The MSC YC is highly overrated. It is actually a very unpleasant experience. Stick with NCL Haven y’all. [emoji3]

 

 

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[Notnewtoit]

$12000 !!! and Im assuming that U.S. dollars. I did a 16 day back to back on Navigator in 2016 and in 2017 I did a 7 day Rhapsody and a 10 day Jade back to back. All in nicely situated balconies and I paid about $9000 Canadian (so about $7000 U.S.) for 33 days of cruising.

 

I would never even consider paying that amount of money ($12000) for what amounts to going to the same ports of call at the same speed. The only difference from reading threads on the Haven is that you get a bigger cabin/suite and maybe if you are lucky some free water!

 

Yep you did well and that sounds like a great value combination trip!

 

I think the "I would never pay that" type responses here are fine... from the perspective of those writing them; but 'value' is a very personal thing and we are all calibrated differently in that respect for a myriad of reasons and circumstances. The Haven does (in general, most of the time) offer a different experience and delivers value in different ways to different people. My point being that blanket statements don't really work (in support of either argument).

 

For us the value is generally delivered upon, yes the ports are the same but the experience is different, the lines, the stresses, avoiding the scrum in the Garden Cafe for breakfast and dirty food covered tables, the cabin itself, embarkation, tendering... blah blah... those are all things we value. When we get lucky on an investment or a client buys an extra job, we look in the piggy bank and ask "drop an extra $6k for the Haven on our 11 day Panama at Christmas??? Hell yes...

 

On the other hand I drive a Jeep with a broken fender, not an Audi Q5, but I wear $300 shoes, sleep in $300 bedsheets but buy Wegman's own-brand Corn Flakes and soup, yet drink Blue Label Scotch. None of those choices are right, wrong, smart or stupid, they are personal... I apply my hard-earned cash to things I personally care about.