NCL HAVEN EMBARKATION QUESTION

[DaisyGoldberg]

The only time I wasn't escorted to the Haven was on the Breakaway out of NYC. Sat there in the Haven area watching a staff member escort small groups on board, then come back 5 mins later and get the next group. Then... she didn't come back. A group of 5-6 of us waited about 15 minutes and then said "should we just go?" and we just walked out and up the ramp.

 

It was about 11:15, so I don't know what the heck was going on - she must have been detained somewhere. At any rate, I got to the Haven at 11:30 and the captain was wrapping up an address to the gathered Haven courtyard guests which I missed. In the end no big deal, but it was not any kind of luxury boarding process (nor is Boston's Haven waiting area - definitely don't arrive early there!)

 

Enjoy a shorter line anywhere you can grab it, but the real vacation starts on board.

[PaulBrowning]

On 11/16/2022 at 8:19 AM, dexddd said:

Welcome to CC.  Maybe add those comments to the ...Haven luxury experience..  thread.

 

Was this at PC and what terminal?  Overall, the experience can vary.  Some have both a separate security line and check in.  Some only have the separate check in.  Our last trip out of South Hampton no separate security line and to get to Haven check in we had to go through the regular check in, then a light check in then Haven.

This was at Port Canaveral.  Others there had the same experience.   Staff demanding tips before taking the luggage from your hands, no special boarding at all, no instructions on where to go once you boarded.  Haven restaurant didn't even open until the day following boarding.   Was a big disappointment to us and our neighbors.   Filed a complaint with NCL & their entire response was "if there is a problem, please go to the customer service window on the ship."   We decided that we are done with NCL.   It used to be good, but has apparently gone way downhill.

[omahabob]

Go to the other cruise line forums and you'll find the same type of complaints and comments. So, good luck switching cruise lines. Every cruise line can use improvement in more than a few areas, and customer experience widely varies between ships, ports, itineraries, and even days of departure. If I had a dollar for every time someone said "I'm not cruising on XXX ever again", I could afford to cruise year round. I do hope it works out for you though. I just doubt you'll see much difference.

 

And by the way, baggage handlers work for the port, not the cruise line, so you complained to the wrong place about that.