Tears from Haven

[TrinaLC]

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.

 

 

 

We found kids taking over on Breakaway Haven made the whole experience, well, un-Havenly.

 

Also, I refuse to participate in a bidding process. I don’t want to book a “lesser” cabin in the hope that I can win a bid for the cabin I want at a reasonable price. Just price the cabins fairly seems a more respectful way to run a hospitality business. And yes, I know it is a profit making venture, but this business practice is a real turn-off to many.

 

 

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[Notnewtoit]

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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That's an interesting comment... can you expand?

[TrinaLC]

That's an interesting comment... can you expand?

 

 

 

Need to keep MSC YC a little known secret [emoji4]

 

 

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[TrinaLC]

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.

 

 

 

Agreed, different roles. I think the MSC model works better. Although you are assigned a specific Butler, there are many and they all chip in and play multiple roles. There is always one or more at your “service”. Concierges staff a desk, make resies, help with any issues, more like a land based hotel concierge. It seems often on NCL your experience is based on whether the Concierge “likes” you - much more dependent on personality. And on NCL if you have a bad butler, your experience will be poor. On one cruise, we couldn’t even get ice delivered when we wanted it. Room service would tell us it was the butler’s job, and the Butler was overworked and/or non-responsive. MSC just walk out and ask any of the butlers in the adjacent bar area and done!

 

 

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[RDH377]

I am not sure where these prices for the haven come from. Then again, we have 8 ppl traveling in a garden villa. When you divide the cost by 8 and add in the NCL "freebies" the cost is quite reasonable and no where near 9k a person for a 7 day. As far as the concierge and butlers are concerned, we have a limited number of what we feel are very reasonable requirements;

 

1. In-suite dining. We do not need course-by-course, just a separation between the savory and the sweet.

2. Escorts to the shows and on and off the ship for my in-laws.

3. Reservations to our specialty dining choices for my wife and I (the ones with the dining package).

4. Delivery of requested snacks or small plates once or twice a day. Also, refreshed water, iced tea and soda as needed.

 

We fully expect that these requirements will be met with ease and graciousness. Of course, we will tip well if this is done. On the other hand, I have absolutely no issue going up the management chain if it is not done. I have learned from the boards that this means addressing the hotel director. Hopefully it will not come to that. We do not sweat the small stuff. After all, it is a vacation. Sailing on the Gem out of NYC in December. Have a nice day.

[GA Dave]

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.

 

YES! 100% agree with this post. What I consider to be great value for my money may be considered a total waste by others. When I was raising my kids, I would drop $2000-$3000 on a week at Space Camp or some other activity for them, and my neighbors would think I was out of my mind. BUT, I would see them spending a fortune on lawn services that I thought were a total waste of money as I could just do it myself (and get exercise!). Everyone has a different idea of what is important to them.

[sverigecruiser]

I am not sure where these prices for the haven come from. Then again, we have 8 ppl traveling in a garden villa. When you divide the cost by 8 and add in the NCL "freebies" the cost is quite reasonable and no where near 9k a person for a 7 day. As far as the concierge and butlers are concerned, we have a limited number of what we feel are very reasonable requirements;

 

1. In-suite dining. We do not need course-by-course, just a separation between the savory and the sweet.

2. Escorts to the shows and on and off the ship for my in-laws.

3. Reservations to our specialty dining choices for my wife and I (the ones with the dining package).

4. Delivery of requested snacks or small plates once or twice a day. Also, refreshed water, iced tea and soda as needed.

 

We fully expect that these requirements will be met with ease and graciousness. Of course, we will tip well if this is done. On the other hand, I have absolutely no issue going up the management chain if it is not done. I have learned from the boards that this means addressing the hotel director. Hopefully it will not come to that. We do not sweat the small stuff. After all, it is a vacation. Sailing on the Gem out of NYC in December. Have a nice day.

 

Your requirements are very reasonable.

 

Eight people in one suite, even if it's a Garden Villa, really change the price for each person. We are always two and some travel alone and then the price for each person becomes much higher.

[njkate]

I am not sure where these prices for the haven come from. Then again, we have 8 ppl traveling in a garden villa. When you divide the cost by 8 and add in the NCL "freebies" the cost is quite reasonable and no where near 9k a person for a 7 day. As far as the concierge and butlers are concerned, we have a limited number of what we feel are very reasonable requirements;

 

1. In-suite dining. We do not need course-by-course, just a separation between the savory and the sweet.

2. Escorts to the shows and on and off the ship for my in-laws.

3. Reservations to our specialty dining choices for my wife and I (the ones with the dining package).

4. Delivery of requested snacks or small plates once or twice a day. Also, refreshed water, iced tea and soda as needed.

 

We fully expect that these requirements will be met with ease and graciousness. Of course, we will tip well if this is done. On the other hand, I have absolutely no issue going up the management chain if it is not done. I have learned from the boards that this means addressing the hotel director. Hopefully it will not come to that. We do not sweat the small stuff. After all, it is a vacation. Sailing on the Gem out of NYC in December. Have a nice day.

I just received my upgrade on the Breakaway Baltic in August to a 2 bedroom Haven, now granted I did not pay the market rate my original cabin was a mini suite with large balcony.

My bill was 12K, now mind you this is 3 adults, I prepaid the DSC, the gratuity on free drink package, port fees, 1 night pre and 1 night post cruise hotel,and booked two very pricey tours for 3 through NCL so it comes to about 4K per person.

Considering the ship is sold out I am very grateful for the Haven and hopefully some quiet. My bid was $1250 pp, in the poor range, I think it was the minimum.

[Seminole1975]

I just received my upgrade on the Breakaway Baltic in August to a 2 bedroom Haven, now granted I did not pay the market rate my original cabin was a mini suite with large balcony.

My bill was 12K, now mind you this is 3 adults, I prepaid the DSC, the gratuity on free drink package, port fees, 1 night pre and 1 night post cruise hotel,and booked two very pricey tours for 3 through NCL so it comes to about 4K per person.

Considering the ship is sold out I am very grateful for the Haven and hopefully some quiet. My bid was $1250 pp, in the poor range, I think it was the minimum.

 

You will love it. This is a very port intensive cruise. Priority disembarkation is so great based on some of the reviews I am reading. Sounds like some people have been standing in long lines to get off the ship especially in St. Pete. Haven passengers were escorted right off and got right in an immigration line. We stood in that line maybe 20-30 min. We were on time for our 8:30 am tour. The only NCL tour we did was in Sweden.

 

The ship was full, but the Baltic cruise was not the party boat that it is in the Caribbean. There were a lot of European and Asian cruisers as well as America and Canadian. Not as many people partying around the main pool and such. The Haven was very quiet-no kids. The weather was warm during the day for mid September. For us, the Haven was wonderful all things considered. Enjoy the cruise!!

[njkate]

You will love it. This is a very port intensive cruise. Priority disembarkation is so great based on some of the reviews I am reading. Sounds like some people have been standing in long lines to get off the ship especially in St. Pete. Haven passengers were escorted right off and got right in an immigration line. We stood in that line maybe 20-30 min. We were on time for our 8:30 am tour. The only NCL tour we did was in Sweden.

 

The ship was full, but the Baltic cruise was not the party boat that it is in the Caribbean. There were a lot of European and Asian cruisers as well as America and Canadian. Not as many people partying around the main pool and such. The Haven was very quiet-no kids. The weather was warm during the day for mid September. For us, the Haven was wonderful all things considered. Enjoy the cruise!!

Oh thank you, that is good to read

[April42749]

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.

 

What's "scrum"? That line alone is why I'd never sail in the Haven...I like to avoid "certain things" too.

[Casino Comp Chick]

David is very good but he also has certain hours, he is there in the mornings and then the evenings. He has always been responsive to any request I have had both as assistant and main concierge. I am sorry I will not have him again October. He has always come up to my group to say hello and check in on us at dinner/s during the cruise also. My group is never demanding and require minimal help, perhaps he makes himself less available to the passengers that demand 24/7 hand holding,

[CruisingSince1982]

Yes! Another whiny Haven thread!

 

I have cruised in the haven about ten times. I feel after my last cruise that it no longer delivers like it used to. While its still a nice place, with great suites and a great restaurant. it has lost a lot of what made it great. Yes a lot of these things are minor things but they add up.

Firstly, the kids!. Its been covered on CC numerous times. I think Kids should totally get to be kids in the Haven. I also think adult should be able to enjoy some peace. So maybe some quiet hours or adult only hours is the solution.

 

The prices have practically doubled while what you get for that money has decreased. I think when I pays $12,000 for a suite giving me 1 bottle of free water is just a joke. It just feels cheap. Give me no water or free water, or charge me $12100 and give me unlimited water.

 

They charge $500 for internet for 2 people for 7 days and it doesn't even work in your suite or on the Haven sundeck. When the Internet does work it is beyond poor compared to their competitors some of who include it when buying a suite.

 

The concierge is pretty much useless, you can make all your reservations online or on the app. He was never at his desk. The assistants that were there are very nice but even more useless. I asked them to change 2 reservations, which they did, but never canceled the original ones which caused lots of confusion for the restaurant managers.Speaking of restaurants it might be nice if they would keep some nice table for haven guests. One manager did this and it was very nice. I also asked the "concierge team" if they could see if the spa had any openings. It was very last minute so I figured maybe this is what the concierge is for. I figured he must have some pull or clout. Nope. So I went to the spa myself and they fit me in. I will say the priority disembarkation is great but every line offers that.

 

As far at the Butler goes I am sure some people love it and have great use for them but as far as I am concerned all they do is maintain the coffee machine and leave some old looking sandwiches in the room once a day. I think Royal has the right idea with their genies. Ncl should remove the concierge from the haven and let him be the loyalty program concierge. Let the butlers be the concierge for the suites they have. Then when they come to add water to the coffee machine you tell them what you want to do that day and they make it happen.

 

If you have not tried the Haven I encourage you to do so and decide for yourself as it can be amazing. If you have tried the Haven it might be time to try other lines and see if your money is better spent there. I will be.

 

We are sailing Escape to Bermuda next year. I cancelled our $12k two-bedroom suite, and booked 2 balcony cabins instead. The issues with the bratty kids are too rampant, unfortunately. We will eat in specialties every night, for a fraction of the cost.

[GA Dave]

What's "scrum"? That line alone is why I'd never sail in the Haven...I like to avoid "certain things" too.

"Scrum" is a rugby term when all the players are in a bunch pushing and shoving for the ball. I think his point was that you do not have to put up with that in The haven restaurant, as the Garden Cafe is the buffet for all the other categories on the ship outside of The Haven.

[Notnewtoit]

"Scrum" is a rugby term when all the players are in a bunch pushing and shoving for the ball. I think his point was that you do not have to put up with that in The haven restaurant, as the Garden Cafe is the buffet for all the other categories on the ship outside of The Haven.

 

Correct, Haven breakfast and lunch are genteel affairs in the Haven restaurant or Moderno/Cagney’s dependent upon the ship class...

[dexddd]

Agreed, different roles. I think the MSC model works better. Although you are assigned a specific Butler, there are many and they all chip in and play multiple roles. There is always one or more at your “service”. Concierges staff a desk, make resies, help with any issues, more like a land based hotel concierge. It seems often on NCL your experience is based on whether the Concierge “likes” you - much more dependent on personality. And on NCL if you have a bad butler, your experience will be poor. On one cruise, we couldn’t even get ice delivered when we wanted it. Room service would tell us it was the butler’s job, and the Butler was overworked and/or non-responsive. MSC just walk out and ask any of the butlers in the adjacent bar area and done!

 

 

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Yes, they definitely did seem to work MUCH more as a team on MSC. And you are right about getting a concierge or butler who isn't good on NCL, you don't have much recourse other than having to talk to management about things that should have been right in the first place. When you are only on a ship for 7 days who wants to get two days in to then have the hassle of getting things they way they were supposed to be in the first place.

[njkate]

Yes, they definitely did seem to work MUCH more as a team on MSC. And you are right about getting a concierge or butler who isn't good on NCL, you don't have much recourse other than having to talk to management about things that should have been right in the first place. When you are only on a ship for 7 days who wants to get two days in to then have the hassle of getting things they way they were supposed to be in the first place.

Then I would tip accordingly

[dexddd]

Then I would tip accordingly

 

We do on NCL. Interestingly enough, MSC says there is no need to tip butlers or concierges, at least as of last August when we sailed them.

[dexddd]

David is very good but he also has certain hours, he is there in the mornings and then the evenings. He has always been responsive to any request I have had both as assistant and main concierge. I am sorry I will not have him again October. He has always come up to my group to say hello and check in on us at dinner/s during the cruise also. My group is never demanding and require minimal help, perhaps he makes himself less available to the passengers that demand 24/7 hand holding,

 

If barely making an effort while sitting at his desk to lift his head and say "hello" by Wednesday is demanding 24/7 hand holding, we are guilty.

[Notnewtoit]

Please for the love of all that is holy... don't turn this into another tipping thread please folks! ;p

[omarchs]

Have sailed in the Haven multiple times, but I agree I wouldn’t want to pay the going rates now for the product.

 

We did just sail the MSC Seaside in May in the Yacht Club. We felt the cabin/yacht club spaces were far superior than ncl havens we have been in. Otherwise we felt the food/entertainment were tailored to the international rather than US tastes and we wouldn’t sail with them again until this changes.

 

They did have a different show each night, but they were basically the same show. A cirque knock off, singers up/down stairs then acrobats, repeat cycle again. Theater about same size as Breakaway class. 3 shows each night so technically a few thousand each night would miss the show if everyone wanted to go since there are over 5000 passengers with a 900 seat theater. They did get rid of the opera show after a few months that anyone in the US market could have told them doesn’t appeal to the masses.

 

They don’t have any secondary venues large enough for a comedy club so they would do them very late in the show lounge.

[graphicguy]

Have sailed in the Haven multiple times, but I agree I wouldn’t want to pay the going rates now for the product.

 

We did just sail the MSC Seaside in May in the Yacht Club. We felt the cabin/yacht club spaces were far superior than ncl havens we have been in. Otherwise we felt the food/entertainment were tailored to the international rather than US tastes and we wouldn’t sail with them again until this changes.

 

They did have a different show each night, but they were basically the same show. A cirque knock off, singers up/down stairs then acrobats, repeat cycle again. Theater about same size as Breakaway class. 3 shows each night so technically a few thousand each night would miss the show if everyone wanted to go since there are over 5000 passengers with a 900 seat theater. They did get rid of the opera show after a few months that anyone in the US market could have told them doesn’t appeal to the masses.

 

They don’t have any secondary venues large enough for a comedy club so they would do them very late in the show lounge.

 

Thanks for that feedback. I'm going back and forth between the Seaside YC and the Getaway Haven. Once the "perks" are added in, the price is about the same between the two ($4,600). The Devina and Meraviglia were beautiful ships. Pics I've seen of the Seaside have me even more excited about it. However, the entertainment, while not bad on MSC, is nowhere near as good as it is on NCL, which I consider the best at sea.

 

So, now I'm leaning towards NCL, again.

 

Not sure I understand why folks have had issues with Concierge and Butlers. Mine have been exemplary, regardless of who they are or which NCL ship I've sailed. Then again, I engage them more. They book everything for me. So, I talk to them more.

[Two Wheels Only]

Thanks for that feedback. I'm going back and forth between the Seaside YC and the Getaway Haven. Once the "perks" are added in, the price is about the same between the two ($4,600).

I haven't seen a Haven price that low for a long time....unless it's per person.:p

[BNBR]

We are sailing Escape to Bermuda next year. I cancelled our $12k two-bedroom suite, and booked 2 balcony cabins instead. The issues with the bratty kids are too rampant, unfortunately. We will eat in specialties every night, for a fraction of the cost.

 

After sailing the Haven on Escape, this is EXACTLY what I would do too. Though I would also book the spa pass for the week and see if you can get a Vibe pass. With all that saved Haven cash, the spa is nothing. Not sure if you have used the spa on Escape, but it's pretty incredible.

[BNBR]

entertainment ... nowhere near as good as it is on NCL, which I consider the best at sea.

 

Lol, seriously!? I can't imagine worse entertainment than NCL, which is why I'd book the Seaside in a heartbeat if comparing the two.