Upgrade to Haven - Which category?

[FPJC03]

We will be able to bid on upgrades on Thursday for Getaway March 10 cruise. Have paid for midship mini-suite so far. Looking at a few categories of Haven suites, not sure which is best for us. The aft penthouse has the largest rooms and balconies but is so far away from the Haven area. The forward facing suites are second largest with small balcony. My question on them is do you actually get a balcony or just a sliding window? Since they face into the wind, is that an issue? Also, only decks 9-11 are available for sale now, so they are also several decks from Haven area. The Spa and courtyard suites seem to be convenient, since they are adjacent or inside the Haven complex. But those cabins are the smallest.I have seen recommendations on all four categories so am unsure as to which is best.

Our last cruise was on HAL and got upgrade to a Neptune suite which was just down the hall from the Neptune club lounge. HELP PLEASE.

PS - we are part of a group block that are all on deck 11 mini-suites. But we are ok with moving if we get a great deal.

[Two Wheels Only]

The balcony on the H7 is on the side of the ship. The "forward-facing" part is the window in the bedroom (or bathroom in the HC 13106).

[jlowe420]

I personally like the H5 for two but have never tried the aft rooms.   I really like being close to the bar. 

[GetMeOutOfMN]

Hearing how many people bid for upgrades after booking, I am really starting to feel like an idiot for paying full price for our H4... We were possibly bringing a 6th guest and I wanted to be sure we had the space.  Is there any chance I would get a free bump to a higher cabin so they can bid out mine?

[boopsahoy]

4 hours ago, FPJC03 said:

We will be able to bid on upgrades on Thursday for Getaway March 10 cruise. Have paid for midship mini-suite so far. Looking at a few categories of Haven suites, not sure which is best for us. The aft penthouse has the largest rooms and balconies but is so far away from the Haven area. The forward facing suites are second largest with small balcony. My question on them is do you actually get a balcony or just a sliding window? Since they face into the wind, is that an issue? Also, only decks 9-11 are available for sale now, so they are also several decks from Haven area. The Spa and courtyard suites seem to be convenient, since they are adjacent or inside the Haven complex. But those cabins are the smallest.I have seen recommendations on all four categories so am unsure as to which is best.

Our last cruise was on HAL and got upgrade to a Neptune suite which was just down the hall from the Neptune club lounge. HELP PLEASE.

PS - we are part of a group block that are all on deck 11 mini-suites. But we are ok with moving if we get a great deal.

We like being forward.  Its a walk to go aft to Haven but it just takes 5 minutes and its our exercise (also going back to the room to get more money for the casino) to burn off those meals snacks and drinks! Its a great cabin for 2 people IMHO

[Two Wheels Only]

3 hours ago, GetMeOutOfMN said:

We were possibly bringing a 6th guest and I wanted to be sure we had the space.  Is there any chance I would get a free bump to a higher cabin so they can bid out mine? 

 

If you have more than 4 people and you are on Epic, Breakaway or Getaway, you have no place else to go.

 

If you are more than 4 people and you are on Escape, Joy, or Bliss, you only have the H2.

 

You wouldn't happen to be on Jewel Class ship because if you are, there is a place that you could move but it definitely won't be for free....(H1)

 

Well, none of them will be for free.

 

 

Edited December 18, 2018 by Two Wheels Only

[FPJC03]

We are on the GETAWAY on March 10. Did mock reservation on the NCL site and it seems that there are still 7 out of 8 forward penthouse Haven suites still available, about 75% of the courtyard suites open, and over 50% of the aft suites available.

So if we were going to put in a reasonable bid, how much over minimum is enough to have a good chance of success but not too much? Looks like minimums on the previous cruise were between $400-750 depending on category.

[HollyRF]

I just got off the Getaway on Sunday and we had a forward facing penthouse on 11. It was an amazing room and I did not have an issue with having to walk to the Haven. The bathroom in these suites are huge! To me, that sealed the deal. The balcony is small but totally fine for sipping morning coffee or reading a book, etc. Wind was not an issue at all, but like an earlier poster said, it faces the side , not the front. You have a very large window facing forward in your bedroom, which we loved. It was nice to be able to see forward. We were in 11106, let me know if you have specific questions. Happy to help!

[Son of a son of a ...]

7 hours ago, GetMeOutOfMN said:

Hearing how many people bid for upgrades after booking, I am really starting to feel like an idiot for paying full price for our H4

 

Before the price surge and bidding, Haven and suites prices were more reasonable if you booked early.  Now, they are set high and stay high.  

 

Some folks don’t blink at paying $3-$4k/pp or can fill the cabin with more than 2 passengers to drive the pp cost down.  So they pay “list price.”  

 

More experienced cruisers and those who study up before booking realize that bidding is the best method for paying less, assuming they accept the possibility of not staying in the Haven or a suite.

 

[BirdTravels]

2 hours ago, Son of a son of a ... said:

 

Before the price surge and bidding, Haven and suites prices were more reasonable if you booked early.  Now, they are set high and stay high.  

 

Some folks don’t blink at paying $3-$4k/pp or can fill the cabin with more than 2 passengers to drive the pp cost down.  So they pay “list price.”  

 

More experienced cruisers and those who study up before booking realize that bidding is the best method for paying less, assuming they accept the possibility of not staying in the Haven or a suite.

 

So,,, you realize that NCL has always sailed with their suites full. And that bidding just automates the manual process that was in place a few years back. This is nothing new.

 

The manual call center method did not scale well as NCL added a new mega ship every year. So, they went to an automated bid system. 

[Son of a son of a ...]

deleted

Edited December 18, 2018 by Son of a son of a ...

[GetMeOutOfMN]

I definitely should have paid more attention.  Coming from Royal I was only aware of the "upgrade fairy" though after a quick search yesterday, it sounds like Royal is going to a bidding process too.  I could have done a couple of rooms instead...  I am excited about the Haven experience and the 2BR is a great setup for us, but I am definitely the type who likes to get a bargain so I am kicking myself a bit.

 

FPJC03 - good luck with your decision! 

[FPJC03]

After reading reviews and seeing Youtube videos on all the Haven suites, I reduced my preferences to a few categories.

 

1. Forward facing - if we can bid on a higher deck ((12-14) with a better view, I would bid on this one first. Closer to the Haven area than aft suites and second largest cabin size.

2. Spa suite - being on deck 16 and close to the Thermal spa area and Haven, Also it is the lowest priced Haven category.

 

The aft cabins are huge  but seem like it is a super long walk to the Haven area.

The courtyard suites would be ok but they are adjacent to the 2 bedroom family suites - it is spring break and school is off, so TOO MANY KIDS....

 

Any commentary and recommendations are happily appreciated. Only 81 days till our cruise on Getaway....

[Two Wheels Only]

3 hours ago, FPJC03 said:

Forward facing - if we can bid on a higher deck ((12-14) with a better view, I would bid on this one first

 

3 hours ago, FPJC03 said:

Only 81 days till our cruise on Getaway....

 

The highest H7 on Getaway is deck 13 which has a partially enclosed balcony and 13106 is HC which is one large room and large bathroom (no separate bedroom). If bidding, you do not get to choose your stateroom.

[BirdTravels]

On 12/19/2018 at 7:54 AM, FPJC03 said:

After reading reviews and seeing Youtube videos on all the Haven suites, I reduced my preferences to a few categories.

 

1. Forward facing - if we can bid on a higher deck ((12-14) with a better view, I would bid on this one first. Closer to the Haven area than aft suites and second largest cabin size.

2. Spa suite - being on deck 16 and close to the Thermal spa area and Haven, Also it is the lowest priced Haven category.

 

The aft cabins are huge  but seem like it is a super long walk to the Haven area.

The courtyard suites would be ok but they are adjacent to the 2 bedroom family suites - it is spring break and school is off, so TOO MANY KIDS....

 

Any commentary and recommendations are happily appreciated. Only 81 days till our cruise on Getaway....

There will a very limited number of suites available for upgrade. If you want the Haven, I would not get picky and limit my bidding. Bid all that you can afford. Once awarded, you are automatically upgraded and your original room cancelled. You do not get to chose a room, and often get the rooms that no one else wanted to pay for. 

[FPJC03]

Birdtravels - appreciate your commentary and advise. But having checked availability of Haven suite on the 3/10 cruise, there are about 3/4 of the four categories available (H5,6,7,9) on the Getaway. So I am thinking that bids would be fairly low, maybe about 20% of so over minimum or some categories might go for the minimum price. We have a mini-suite midship cabin, so would not be heartbroken if we don't get it. Got an upgrade on HAL Konigsdam last January to their Neptune suite, similar to Haven. But it cost us $1,000 pp for that one. Felt it was worthwhile then, since we only take 1 vacation a year in winter. We just wanted to narrow down our choices for bid to cabin that will be worthwhile for us overall.

[FPJC03]

Just got our upgrade email from NCL and here are our bids:

 

H9 Spa - bid $450

 

H7 Forward - bid $500

 

H5 Courtyard - bid $500

 

Hope those are reasonable even though they are ranked in the poor category.

[FPJC03]

I know that you don't get the perks of Haven when you win an upgrade bid. But if we won a SPA HAVEN suite, do we get passes to the Thermal Spa included? We were considering getting 2 since we are in mini-suites and are going during spring break (Mid March).

[Hºoºwie]

we love the H6 even though it is a schlep to the Haven; I am disabled and for me it is great exercise especially after all the food on board; after a couple of days, the walk seems to get shorter - the automatic  part of the brain just takes over lol;  and the 2nd bathroom is a plus too;

[etob]

2 hours ago, FPJC03 said:

I know that you don't get the perks of Haven when you win an upgrade bid. But if we won a SPA HAVEN suite, do we get passes to the Thermal Spa included? We were considering getting 2 since we are in mini-suites and are going during spring break (Mid March).

 

What perks of Haven do you not get when upgrading?  Do you still get access to the Haven area and dining?  First cruise and trying to be as informed as possible.

[Hºoºwie]

it is very confusing but here it is in a nutshell:

 

1) if you originally book a non-Haven room and then win a bid to a Haven you get butler/concierge/Haven access, Haven restaurant access, etc.

2) your perks, whichever you chose when you first booked your room, i.e., UBP, specialty dining, etc. or none - that is what you stay with - no changes from your original booking;

 

hope that clears things up(and hope I am right since it has been confusing in the past lol);

 

[etob]

17 minutes ago, Hºoºwie said:

it is very confusing but here it is in a nutshell:

 

1) if you originally book a non-Haven room and then win a bid to a Haven you get butler/concierge/Haven access, Haven restaurant access, etc.

2) your perks, whichever you chose when you first booked your room, i.e., UBP, specialty dining, etc. or none - that is what you stay with - no changes from your original booking;

 

hope that clears things up(and hope I am right since it has been confusing in the past lol);

 

Thanks, that makes sense, I didn't expect to get those perks.

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, FPJC03 said:

I know that you don't get the perks of Haven when you win an upgrade bid. But if we won a SPA HAVEN suite, do we get passes to the Thermal Spa included? We were considering getting 2 since we are in mini-suites and are going during spring break (Mid March).

If you bid and win any spa room (Spa Minisuite or Spa Haven) you will get free access to the Thermal Suite. 

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, etob said:

 

What perks of Haven do you not get when upgrading?  Do you still get access to the Haven area and dining?  First cruise and trying to be as informed as possible.

You keep your current Free at Sea promotions. Recently, that has been the Take All 6 (which is the same as the Haven). 

 

Other than that, you are a regular Haven guest and have all of the benefits of being in the Haven. https://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/cruise-accommodations/the-haven?cid=PS_TSI_SUITES_LIFE_GOO-g_LEN_SRH_NA_ncl haven_aud-397749879355:kwd-47522408938&kshid=_k_EAIaIQobChMIrdDnou693wIVCLjACh2IgwvpEAAYASAAEgJ_LvD_BwE_k_&kwid=4255818&anchor=NA&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrdDnou693wIVCLjACh2IgwvpEAAYASAAEgJ_LvD_BwE

[TrpngBilly]

On 12/19/2018 at 7:54 AM, FPJC03 said:

After reading reviews and seeing Youtube videos on all the Haven suites, I reduced my preferences to a few categories.

 

1. Forward facing - if we can bid on a higher deck ((12-14) with a better view, I would bid on this one first. Closer to the Haven area than aft suites and second largest cabin size.

2. Spa suite - being on deck 16 and close to the Thermal spa area and Haven, Also it is the lowest priced Haven category.

 

The aft cabins are huge  but seem like it is a super long walk to the Haven area.

The courtyard suites would be ok but they are adjacent to the 2 bedroom family suites - it is spring break and school is off, so TOO MANY KIDS....

 

Any commentary and recommendations are happily appreciated. Only 81 days till our cruise on Getaway....

We stayed in an H6 Aft Haven suite on the Escape and it was amazing.  Considering the monstrous corner balcony we enjoyed, I did not mind the walk to the Haven area at all.  We also weren't as impressed with the Haven restaurant as we thought we would have been.  The Haven private pool area was also very nice, especially after returning from port calls and hanging out in a very private area without a lot of people around.  The Haven was a great experience and we did get it via the bid system so we were very happy.  We met a lot of others in the Haven who were also there thanks to bidding.  We found out about a week before sailing that we our bid was accepted, from BD to H6.

 

All that being said, we loved the Haven but we won't have any trouble in our traditional Balcony cabin if we aren't as lucky to score a winning bid down the road.