Do you still need to pre-book when cruising in the Haven?

[Whirled Peas]

We will be traveling in a Haven suite on the Joy in March (Yay!).  We want to be at least a little impromptu and flexible.  I have read others posting about having to pre-book everything:  shore excursions, restaurants, activities like the race cars and laser tag, maybe even spa appointments.  The last time we cruised NCL, we did get one call from a pre-cruise concierge, but she basically said "take it up with the concierge onboard" to every question.  We really don't want to have to nail all of this stuff down weeks or months in advance. Will the on board concierge be able to get us all of these types of reservations on the same day, or maybe a day before, the activity or dining experience requested?

[Sauer-kraut]

If you don't plan on eating in the specialty restaurants you don't need to reserve.  If you don't mind trying to get a seat in the show on standby you don't need to reserve.  They open up seating about 15 minutes before showtime, it all depends on available seathing.

[Harratine]

In the Haven, you will have reserved seats in the theater so no need to book that or wait in line.

 

Have the concierge get you dinner reservations if you want to be impromptu.  It’s a benefit of the Haven.

[Whirled Peas]

But if I DO plan to see the shows and eat in specialty restaurants (and other things that require you to schedule), I should be able to do that with little notice through the concierge because I am in the Haven?

[Harratine]

Just now, Whirled Peas said:

But if I DO plan to see the shows and eat in specialty restaurants (and other things that require you to schedule), I should be able to do that with little notice through the concierge because I am in the Haven?

Shows you just need to know when the concierge is escorting the Haven guests down to the show.  They have a section reserved.

 

for the restaurant, stop by the concierge desk.  There is someone there most of the time.  They can set up dinners, spa, etc.  they also have vibe passes if you want those (need to get day 1 tho).

 

coolest thing is disembarkation, the concierge will escort you on a back of house elevator that brings you to the back door for getting off the ship.  Last haven trip was 6 minutes from room to curbside (including customs/immigration).

 

enjoy the cruise

 

 

[Sea saw 56]

The first few days on the cruise, preferred dinner times do get booked.  Sometimes we have had to settle for a 2nd choice of time if we try the impromptu route.

Top-rated shore excursions will definitely sell out, at least the best times for them.

 

[Whirled Peas]

Wow!  The fast trip through immigration is worth the price of admission!  Thanks, everyone, for the info.  I think I will book the Teppanyaki restaurant before we cruise, cause I know that books up fast.  other than that, we will go with the flow......

[mertziek]

27 minutes ago, Whirled Peas said:

But if I DO plan to see the shows and eat in specialty restaurants (and other things that require you to schedule), I should be able to do that with little notice through the concierge because I am in the Haven?

Not necessarily.  Specialty restaurants are much busier these days due to so many having the dining package but you should get what you want for the most part if you book as soon as you get onboard.  After onboard for a couple of days, restaurants can be booked up so even the Concierge cannot always get you in at a time you want.  We ran into that on the Epic.  Popular excursions could be sold out if waiting until getting onboard.  On the big ships, they usually have special Haven seating for shows - not the best location but you don’t need to pre-reserve.

[BirdTravels]

2 hours ago, Whirled Peas said:

We will be traveling in a Haven suite on the Joy in March (Yay!).  We want to be at least a little impromptu and flexible.  I have read others posting about having to pre-book everything:  shore excursions, restaurants, activities like the race cars and laser tag, maybe even spa appointments.  The last time we cruised NCL, we did get one call from a pre-cruise concierge, but she basically said "take it up with the concierge onboard" to every question.  We really don't want to have to nail all of this stuff down weeks or months in advance. Will the on board concierge be able to get us all of these types of reservations on the same day, or maybe a day before, the activity or dining experience requested?

As a Haven guest, you get the assistance of the Concierge. 

 

If a shore excursion sells out, you are out of luck, even the Concierge can build an extra seat on a bus for you.

 

Main Theater Shows, no problem, you can get a reservation through the concierge. 

 

Comedy Club, you need a reservation. The Concierge has some latitude to oversell a show, but when it is completely sold out, you are in the standby line with the commoners. 

 

Dining Reservations, similar to comedy shows. The Concierge has some latitude to over book a restaurant. But when it is sold out at prime time, even the Concierge won't be able to get you a seat. Or, you may be offered a seat at 9:30, just before closing. When we were on the Bliss, Cagney's was 100% booked for commoners by 1 pm on embarkation day for the entire cruise. It was 100% booked for the entire cruise for Haven guests by the evening of embarkation day. 

[Calif. Cruisers]

We pre-booked and then asked for assistance if we needed to change something, or when our previously made plans didn't work with something else we decided to do onboard.

[neilmae_ko]

Its always better to pre-booked everything before joining the ship.  As a Haven guests; you have the flexibility to cancel or modify all your bookings.

[andymattmom]

We were in Breakaway Haven in May. We had specialty dining and prebooked . I tried to change one reservation and it wasn’t easy- took a day for them to get us in. Just because you’re in the Haven doesn’t mean things that aren’t there magically can appear. I’d definitely book restaurants then if times need tweaking see what they can do. I wouldn’t not book anything thinking I’m in the Haven so I don’t have to - I can get in whenever I want to wherever I want.

 

 

Edited July 9, 2019 by andymattmom

[don't-use-real-name]

2 hours ago, andymattmom said:

We were in Breakaway Haven in May. We had specialty dining and prebooked . I tried to change one reservation and it wasn’t easy- took a day for them to get us in. Just because you’re in the Haven doesn’t mean things that aren’t there magically can appear. I’d definitely book restaurants then if times need tweaking see what they can do. I wouldn’t not book anything thinking I’m in the Haven so I don’t have to - I can get in whenever I want to wherever I want.

 

 

 

All this is TRUE - the Concierge is not a miracle worker able to conjure up extra space or

an empty table to accommodate a Haven guest when the house is FULL.

However - - -

Excellent idea book something anything in and close to the actual time that you would like

to dine considering show times and getting back on board from late shore excursions.

Then you can use that to barter - swap times - tweak things.

There are just so many tables and events that space can be reserved in limited numbers

for unexpected last minute guests to use and when that cushion is used one is going to

have to take a number in the waiting wings.

Consider also the Concierge (and staff assistants) can only be in so many places to work

the changes you have requested - on a large ship it becomes even more of a challenge !

A bigger Haven capacity and more guests to compete with.