Haven Suites-Perks, Newbie Info and Hidden fees??

[dexddd]

Phissy and Sailing have covered most of the points.  We were on Escape just shy of one week from now last year in a DOS.  

 

Escape Haven best we've had but what you get vs what NCL lists is hit or miss.  Also depends what port as say NYC Haven check in area is packed.  Drinks and snacks are limited like juice, water, coffee, finger sandwiches and cookies in all ports we've been to.  We got on ship starting at 10:50 with next groups after that in sequence so not hours of ship to yourselves.

 

Depends what suite type you have.  DOS and OS will get unlimited in room waters and soda plus three bottles of booze plus champagne - they will sometimes give sparkling but supposed to be champagne but other suites it will be sparkling.  Matters to some, others could care less.  Other suites get a couple waters.  Dining in room can be tough as many have very small tables.  

 

Typically Margaritaville has been free for lunch the first day but on some cold departures it has been La Cucina.  Food Republic half off first night too although the concierge made no mention of it during welcome speech.

 

On Escape there is section of chairs port side, mid roped off until a few minutes before main show.  Never was escorted there.

 

Haven restaurant menu static.  There is an outside, covered portion as well.  There is a small courtyard menu for lunch.  Cookies, shortbread, candy, juice, water in courtyard during the day.  Snacks in room late afternoon, tell them what you like and generally they'll listen.

 

Even with drink packages, butlers can't bring free drinks to room.

 

Welcome to CC BTW.

Edited June 6, 2019 by dexddd

[morrisretired]

We were recently on the Epic Transatlantic from Port Canaveral to Barcelona, and were in the Haven. The Haven key cards do get you priority service, as long as no one else has punched another deck, before you insert your key card. It only worked on the 2 outside set of the front 4 starboard elevators, and not on the middle 2 elevators in that bank of 4. There is a slot at the bottom below the deck numbers. Put your card in and press the deck you want to go to. You will see Priority Service scroll across the top screen, and elevator goes directly to deck you selected. You could get on one of these 2 special elevators and get priority service, as long as another deck had not already been punched in. It does not work on any of the other 3 elevator banks, though. Also, the Assistant Concierge was on the lower Haven floor on port days, and kept one of these special elevators locked out to transport Haven Guests down, for 1 hour after the Captain's announcement you were able to go ashore. That was a nice perk.

[Two Wheels Only]

4 hours ago, Kfeldmar said:

8. Elevator: like I said in a few above comments, it was based off of someone else’s review (which was apparently misguided) and they stated they had used an elevator that went from the floor the shows were on, straight up to the haven no stops. I’ve already stated it’s being removed off the list.  

 

That person may have been thinking of the MSC's Yacht Club (same concept as NCL's Haven) which does allow guests to hijack the elevator and take them directly to the Yacht Club deck (negating the requests to stop on other decks). It isn't available on every elevator, though.

[BirdTravels]

18 hours ago, Kfeldmar said:

We're looking at the Norwegian Escape which has the Haven Restaurant. 

We kinda bounce between paying for suites, trying for upgrades, and just booking minisuites. The first link below was from our April 2018 cruise on the Escape with a bid upgrade. 

 

 

The Second link below is from our April 2019 mini-suite cruise on the Escape with current menus

 

[Skipper305]

OP looks like you’re getting the straight skinny here. The only thing I would add is be aware not all Haven rooms on the Escape are in the Haven proper. H2, 3, 4 and 5 cabins will be in the Haven complex, all others will be scattered around the ship. 

[Kfeldmar]

15 minutes ago, Skipper305 said:

OP looks like you’re getting the straight skinny here. The only thing I would add is be aware not all Haven rooms on the Escape are in the Haven proper. H2, 3, 4 and 5 cabins will be in the Haven complex, all others will be scattered around the ship. 

I was wondering about that!! the room we were looking at was close to the spa, and it didn’t appear to be in a separate Haven floor but was a row of 8 or so rooms near the spa. They shared the level with other amenities so I was wondering if it was separated the way other haven rooms are. 

[Kfeldmar]

3 hours ago, morrisretired said:

We were recently on the Epic Transatlantic from Port Canaveral to Barcelona, and were in the Haven. The Haven key cards do get you priority service, as long as no one else has punched another deck, before you insert your key card. It only worked on the 2 outside set of the front 4 starboard elevators, and not on the middle 2 elevators in that bank of 4. There is a slot at the bottom below the deck numbers. Put your card in and press the deck you want to go to. You will see Priority Service scroll across the top screen, and elevator goes directly to deck you selected. You could get on one of these 2 special elevators and get priority service, as long as another deck had not already been punched in. It does not work on any of the other 3 elevator banks, though. Also, the Assistant Concierge was on the lower Haven floor on port days, and kept one of these special elevators locked out to transport Haven Guests down, for 1 hour after the Captain's announcement you were able to go ashore. That was a nice perk.

I can’t seem to find the review I read but I do believe it was a Barcelona trio they were talking about.  Maybe it wasn’t a bad review but simply a ‘perk’ that is ship dependent, which is why most people seem angrily upset at my mention of an elevator, since they haven’t experienced it on all the ships. 

[Kfeldmar]

5 hours ago, dexddd said:

Phissy and Sailing have covered most of the points.  We were on Escape just shy of one week from now last year in a DOS.  

 

Escape Haven best we've had but what you get vs what NCL lists is hit or miss.  Also depends what port as say NYC Haven check in area is packed.  Drinks and snacks are limited like juice, water, coffee, finger sandwiches and cookies in all ports we've been to.  We got on ship starting at 10:50 with next groups after that in sequence so not hours of ship to yourselves.

 

Depends what suite type you have.  DOS and OS will get unlimited in room waters and soda plus three bottles of booze plus champagne - they will sometimes give sparkling but supposed to be champagne but other suites it will be sparkling.  Matters to some, others could care less.  Other suites get a couple waters.  Dining in room can be tough as many have very small tables.  

 

Typically Margaritaville has been free for lunch the first day but on some cold departures it has been La Cucina.  Food Republic half off first night too although the concierge made no mention of it during welcome speech.

 

On Escape there is section of chairs port side, mid roped off until a few minutes before main show.  Never was escorted there.

 

Haven restaurant menu static.  There is an outside, covered portion as well.  There is a small courtyard menu for lunch.  Cookies, shortbread, candy, juice, water in courtyard during the day.  Snacks in room late afternoon, tell them what you like and generally they'll listen.

 

Even with drink packages, butlers can't bring free drinks to room.

 

Welcome to CC BTW.

The free drinks makes sense, it’s disappointing but it makes sense. They likely don’t want non drink package guests abusing a drink package with in-room service, by allowing visitors who don’t have a drink package consuming them. It would be all to easy to have guests in a room and only those with the drink package ordering endless free drinks-so I totally get that. 

[Skipper305]

27 minutes ago, Kfeldmar said:

I was wondering about that!! the room we were looking at was close to the spa, and it didn’t appear to be in a separate Haven floor but was a row of 8 or so rooms near the spa. They shared the level with other amenities so I was wondering if it was separated the way other haven rooms are. 

Yes, we've stayed in the H9’s on Escape and loved it. That corridor is by key access only and very quiet, plus you’ll have passes to the amazing thermal spa. When you want go to the Haven it’s just one flight of stairs up. Honestly,  It’s almost like being in the Haven proper.

Excellent Choice

 

Part of the Thermal Spa

Good size balcony, unfortunately not deep enough for lounge chairs

 

 

Edited June 6, 2019 by Skipper305

[Kfeldmar]

12 minutes ago, Skipper305 said:

Yes, we've stayed in the H9’s on Escape and loved it. That corridor is by key access only and very quiet, plus you’ll have passes to the amazing thermal spa. When you want go to the Haven it’s just one flight of stairs up. Honestly,  It’s almost like being in the Haven proper.

Excellent Choice

 

Part of the Thermal Spa

Good size balcony, unfortunately not deep enough for lounge chairs

 

 

Omg the thermal spa 😍😍 I plan to spend half my day in there. I always love seeing photos from people’s trip SO much more than the promotional photos online. Looks just as nice in your photos!! 

[amygutman]

On 6/5/2019 at 3:08 PM, gizfish said:

The biggest hidden expense of the Haven is that once you have traveled like that, you will be spoiled for life and paying for it forever ; )

Agree 120%...

Once you go Haven......Sigh. Amy

[kitty-sail]

On 6/5/2019 at 4:51 PM, Kfeldmar said:

We're looking at the Norwegian Escape which has the Haven Restaurant. 

Have been on the Escape many times and my favorite big ship. I like the upstairs hot tub/sun deck area. Private restaurant. Haven bar - met wonderful fellow cruisers.  You can stay either in the Courtyard or in one of the Haven suites outside.

[Kfeldmar]

15 hours ago, kitty-sail said:

Have been on the Escape many times and my favorite big ship. I like the upstairs hot tub/sun deck area. Private restaurant. Haven bar - met wonderful fellow cruisers.  You can stay either in the Courtyard or in one of the Haven suites outside.

We picked the Escape because it seemed to have more Haven benefits than other ships. We had researched a few ships and decided on a 5 day sailing on Escape vs a 7 day sailing on another ship. It also seems like escape was renovated more recently than other ships on NCL. I’m glad you hear you had a good experience on the ship, makes me feel like we’re making the right choice!! Now we just have to convince our friends to go haven as well so we will be able to hang out with them in the haven not just the other parts of the ship. 

[dmms]

We sailed in the Haven Owners Suite last year on the Escape 

Best money spent cruising hands down!!!

Even if there are kids around- you can escape them on the Escape 😉

Have nothing but fun on your first cruise!

You are literally & figuratively starting out at the top 😁

[Two Wheels Only]

29 minutes ago, Kfeldmar said:

It also seems like escape was renovated more recently than other ships on NCL.

 

Escape is one of the newer NCL ships. Only Joy, Bliss, and the soon to be completed Encore are newer.

[Laszlo]

On 6/6/2019 at 1:19 PM, Kfeldmar said:

Omg the thermal spa 😍😍 I plan to spend half my day in there. I always love seeing photos from people’s trip SO much more than the promotional photos online. Looks just as nice in your photos!! 

 

 

 

[Navis]

Totally agree with everything dexddd said. Been on the Escspe and Breakaway 6 times, all in the Haven and all in DOS. The Escape, for us, was more enjoyable than the Breakaway. Not only did they fix the big DOS issue with the Breakaway class cabins, I found the restaurant options better and more varied and the Haven was better laid out (although I did miss the bar being right outside the restaurant).

 

I am confident you’ll have a great cruise as we have enjoyed all of our NCL cruises. That said, I would caution you to manage expectations on the Butler front. I think some people come back and have “bad” Haven experiences in part because they expect, well, a true butler. Don’t my get me wrong they are helpful but they are not truly butlers ... more like in room situational Concierges. When we first started cruising with NCL in the Haven, the Butlers were truly exceptional. Ramona, our first butler, was amazing and would take care of things before we even knew it was an issue or was something we didn’t even know we wanted. For example, she noticed we were always back to the cabin early (around 9pm). Asked us if we were having fun and why we were back so early. We told her we like to relax at night with a drink and watch a movie. Next night, we return at 9 to find a huge bowl of popcorn and candies waiting on the table with some movie recommendations from her. Did we need that? No. Was it nice that she thought about us and how she could make our vacation a little more special? Absolutely.  We had similar exceptional experiences with Peter. Ramona I know for sure is gone from NCL and i’m not sure where Peter is now.

 

The last 4 cruises we noticed a significant decline in the level of service and, well, it’s just not the same. Now it’s more of a homogenized product ... “let me tell you what we do” rather than “what can I do to make this a memorable vacation.” Again, I totally understand NCL here ... as they roll out more and more Havens, they need more people as butlers and they need to ensure consistency of product. For us, though, this has resulted in just mediocre service (in fact, I don’t even remember our other butlers’ names). So much so that we are off to Seabourn for our next cruise. We’ll see how we handle a 450 passenger vessel! It might be luxury ... but that is still awful small! 

 

[phissy]

On 6/6/2019 at 7:37 AM, Two Wheels Only said:

 

That person may have been thinking of the MSC's Yacht Club (same concept as NCL's Haven) which does allow guests to hijack the elevator and take them directly to the Yacht Club deck (negating the requests to stop on other decks). It isn't available on every elevator, though.

On MSC, we figured out that our YC cards only worked when sign on elevator , that said priority was lit up. Otherwise, it did not work. Got lots of looks from those on elevator when you zap you bracelet and then push floor. Their floors got skipped and they look at you  like, "what did you do?" 

[Two Wheels Only]

27 minutes ago, phissy said:

On MSC, we figured out that our YC cards only worked when sign on elevator , that said priority was lit up. Otherwise, it did not work. Got lots of looks from those on elevator when you zap you bracelet and then push floor. Their floors got skipped and they look at you  like, "what did you do?" 

 

Through trial and error, I figured out which ones worked better than others. Our butler also advised us which elevator he prefers.

[Birdie And Sue]

I have never had any hidden fees on any of my cruises.  All fees and costs are fully disclosed.  Failure of the passenger to read the details of the cruise being booked does not equal a hidden fee.

Other than the cruise fare, you will most likely pay the following:

Port fees and taxes.

The daily service charge (DSC), some mistakenly refer to this as gratuities or tips.
Aauto-gratuity of 20% on dining or drink packages (purchased of comped as part of the FAS offer).

All of that is fully disclosed so it is not hidden in the least.

Gratuities (other than the 20% mentioned above) are completely option on NCL.  It is of course encouraged, but totally optional.

"Unlike most other ships in the cruise industry, there is no required or recommended tipping on our ships for service that is generally rendered to all Guests. While you should not feel obligated to offer a gratuity, all of our staff are encouraged to “go the extra mile,” so they are permitted to accept cash gratuities for exceptional or outstanding service if you care to offer them. Also, certain staff positions (e.g., concierge, butler, youth program staff and beverage service) provide service on an individual basis to only some guests and do not benefit from the overall service charge. We encourage those Guests to acknowledge good service from these staff members with appropriate gratuities. Additionally, there is an 20% gratuity and spa service charge added for all spa and salon services, as well as an 20% gratuity and beverage service charge added for all beverage purchases and an 20% gratuity and specialty service charge added to all specialty restaurant dining and entertainment based dining."

[Greenpea2]

Re the Haven key card... I’m probably in the minority here but I am uncomfortable getting on an elevator and swiping my key then pushing the Haven floor. So often the people in there are suddenly silent and several times someone ( clearly drinking) has said in a loud voice “well, la-di-da!”  I find it embarrassing, and uncomfortable. I realize it’s not my issue, but rather is that of those who are obnoxious but I still don’t like it. Im not into showing off and I’m not into people acting like I think I’m special. 

[Harratine]

Other fun Haven things on Escape from 2 years ago,,,,, free Margaritaville lunch on day 1,  50 percent off Food Republic dinner day 1.  Bathrobe is really nice, so much so missus got one for her birthday.  They have food whenever you want in the bar, pool and sun deck, just ask a staff member.  The Haven restaurant has outdoor seating which is awesome for breakfast.  Speaking of breakfast, try the French press coffee and seafood eggs Benedict.

[Kfeldmar]

7 hours ago, Laszlo said:

 

 

 

This was amazing, thank you! Just confirmed that I will be spending half my day in there! 

[Birdie And Sue]

3 hours ago, Greenpea2 said:

Re the Haven key card... I’m probably in the minority here but I am uncomfortable getting on an elevator and swiping my key then pushing the Haven floor. So often the people in there are suddenly silent and several times someone ( clearly drinking) has said in a loud voice “well, la-di-da!”  I find it embarrassing, and uncomfortable. I realize it’s not my issue, but rather is that of those who are obnoxious but I still don’t like it. Im not into showing off and I’m not into people acting like I think I’m special. 

 

 

Don't let how others act control how you choose to feel.

Edited June 8, 2019 by Birdie And Sue

[Shidah]

Just confirming what another poster mentioned, only the Epic currently has the elevator card feature at least on the ships I’ve been on ( Escape, Getaway,  breakaway and Epic).  iMHo, Epic has the best Haven experience, but the Escape overall is my favorite ship so far.  I’ve had 2 great butlers, and 2 not so great ones.  Don’t let it ruin your trip if you get one of the latter.