ramdoggiesmom Posted February 10, 2020 #1 Share Posted February 10, 2020 We just got off our five day cruise on the Getaway on Friday. This was our 17th Cruise, the majority of which have been on NCL. We’ve always had a balcony room which was just fine. But this time we were lucky enough to stay in a spa suite in the Haven. I’ve enjoyed all our cruises but being in the Haven was the most wonderful experience we’ve had cruising in a long time! There wasn’t one thing I didn’t love about it. When it comes time to book our next cruise, the practical voice in my head will say balcony room but the spoiled (brat) voice will scream HAVEN! Which voice will win? That remains to be seen. Thanks NCL, it’s official, I’m ruined and there may be no turning back 😊. 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esm54687 Posted February 10, 2020 #2 Share Posted February 10, 2020 (edited) Voice will always win now that you've had a taste FOMO Edited February 10, 2020 by esm54687 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BirdTravels Posted February 10, 2020 #3 Share Posted February 10, 2020 I think that being ruined is the normal state after a Haven stay. We can only afford to sail in the Haven once a year,,,, but on those cruises between (staying in Balconies and Minis), you always dream about what is happening in the Haven throughout the day. And when you're stuck in that line trying to get off the ship when your cruise is over, you wish you were escorted to the front of the line. Our last cruise was in a mini. Our next cruise is in the Haven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davencl Posted February 10, 2020 #4 Share Posted February 10, 2020 1 hour ago, ramdoggiesmom said: We just got off our five day cruise on the Getaway on Friday. This was our 17th Cruise, the majority of which have been on NCL. We’ve always had a balcony room which was just fine. But this time we were lucky enough to stay in a spa suite in the Haven. I’ve enjoyed all our cruises but being in the Haven was the most wonderful experience we’ve had cruising in a long time! There wasn’t one thing I didn’t love about it. When it comes time to book our next cruise, the practical voice in my head will say balcony room but the spoiled (brat) voice will scream HAVEN! Which voice will win? That remains to be seen. Thanks NCL, it’s official, I’m ruined and there may be no turning back 😊. Me too.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sverigecruiser Posted February 10, 2020 #5 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Even worse is when you try flying business class, or first.... 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don't-use-real-name Posted February 10, 2020 #6 Share Posted February 10, 2020 It tis easy to get "Spoiled Rotten" to the core - and then reality sets in and one can only dream on ! When I win that lottery - Publishers comes to my house with that forever check - the odds in the Casino finally tilt in my favor - "IF ONLY" my ship would come in - I keep saying IF ONLY ! - Fade to black back to normal ! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sverigecruiser Posted February 10, 2020 #7 Share Posted February 10, 2020 3 hours ago, don't-use-real-name said: It tis easy to get "Spoiled Rotten" to the core - and then reality sets in and one can only dream on ! When I win that lottery - Publishers comes to my house with that forever check - the odds in the Casino finally tilt in my favor - "IF ONLY" my ship would come in - I keep saying IF ONLY ! - Fade to black back to normal ! For me the reality now is suite and businessclass or no trip! I rather travel less to be able to book a suite and fly in businessclass. For me there is no way back! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcell Posted February 10, 2020 #8 Share Posted February 10, 2020 7 hours ago, BirdTravels said: I think that being ruined is the normal state after a Haven stay. We can only afford to sail in the Haven once a year,,,, but on those cruises between (staying in Balconies and Minis), you always dream about what is happening in the Haven throughout the day. And when you're stuck in that line trying to get off the ship when your cruise is over, you wish you were escorted to the front of the line. Our last cruise was in a mini. Our next cruise is in the Haven. LOL -- I feel the same way too. I was lucky enough to sail in Haven twice but alas, been back the "gen pop" and find myself walking past the Haven's door and thinking the exact thing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suometar Posted February 10, 2020 #9 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Last year I booked the Haven as a surprise for my husband for our annual anniversary/spring break cruise (hubby is a teacher). When we walked past the rabble in the NYC terminal into the Haven check-in area his expression was priceless--he kept on mouthing "the Haven" as if he had just won the lottery. This year I have booked the Haven again. Haven't told him yet. I hope the element of surprise will still be there! 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhtravels Posted February 10, 2020 #10 Share Posted February 10, 2020 We've become spoiled on our travel - and now I don't think we can ever book a trip without the comforts of the Haven (or at least a suite). I find myself only pricing out trips that I know we can go Haven and first class! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vpearlkc Posted February 10, 2020 #11 Share Posted February 10, 2020 On our last cruise we had a Haven Suite, we just lucked into it, and it was great but a Large Balcony with loungers is fine and that is what we have booked for our next cruise. For the price of a Haven Suite I can have a Large Balcony cruise and a trip to Europe. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb Nahoumi Posted February 10, 2020 #12 Share Posted February 10, 2020 11 hours ago, sverigecruiser said: Even worse is when you try flying business class, or first.... We did once, and we didn't have to pay extra for it. Business class was awarded to us from the airline, when they screwed up our original reservation home from Europe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seemoreroyals Posted February 10, 2020 #13 Share Posted February 10, 2020 13 hours ago, ramdoggiesmom said: We just got off our five day cruise on the Getaway on Friday. This was our 17th Cruise, the majority of which have been on NCL. We’ve always had a balcony room which was just fine. But this time we were lucky enough to stay in a spa suite in the Haven. I’ve enjoyed all our cruises but being in the Haven was the most wonderful experience we’ve had cruising in a long time! There wasn’t one thing I didn’t love about it. When it comes time to book our next cruise, the practical voice in my head will say balcony room but the spoiled (brat) voice will scream HAVEN! Which voice will win? That remains to be seen. Thanks NCL, it’s official, I’m ruined and there may be no turning back 😊. Looking forward to hearing in detail your thoughts on the Haven. We will be doing the Haven for the first time on the Breakaway later this year in a H9 Spa Suite and are really looking forward to it. Details please!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BostonGal35 Posted February 10, 2020 #14 Share Posted February 10, 2020 it is hard to go back, but sadly prices often prevent us from sailing haven. not because we cant afford it but because as awesome as it is, i dont think its worth $4kpp for a 7 day sail. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals22 Posted February 10, 2020 #15 Share Posted February 10, 2020 As a "reward" to my husband and myself, I had booked a 12 day Mediterean cruise on the Spirit followed by a 21 day trip on the Jade . I booked them a year in advance. the spirit was a balcony cabin and the Jade was to be mini suite. When I received the "invitation" to bid on an upgrade, I decided to try for a Haven suite on the Jade since it was 21 days and probably a once in a lifetime itinerary for us (Rome to Dubai). I did not tell my husband I was doing it. I found out two days before boarding the Jade while we were still on the Spirit that my bid had been accepted for the 2 bedroom Courtyard suite. I managed to keep the secret until we got to the pier to board the Jade. My husband was certainly surprised! I too fear that I am now ruined and won't be able to go back to our normal interior cabin! I may have to do at least a balcony! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weltek Posted February 10, 2020 #16 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Sounds awesome! I was worried balcony cruising had ruined us, but nope! My desire to vacation often, and not always having $3K to spend on a week long vacation, has made it okay to go back to an interior room when needed. BUT, it's a harder pill to swallow on ships that don't have quiet areas to read and relax. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BostonGal35 Posted February 10, 2020 #17 Share Posted February 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Petals22 said: As a "reward" to my husband and myself, I had booked a 12 day Mediterean cruise on the Spirit followed by a 21 day trip on the Jade . I booked them a year in advance. the spirit was a balcony cabin and the Jade was to be mini suite. When I received the "invitation" to bid on an upgrade, I decided to try for a Haven suite on the Jade since it was 21 days and probably a once in a lifetime itinerary for us (Rome to Dubai). I did not tell my husband I was doing it. I found out two days before boarding the Jade while we were still on the Spirit that my bid had been accepted for the 2 bedroom Courtyard suite. I managed to keep the secret until we got to the pier to board the Jade. My husband was certainly surprised! I too fear that I am now ruined and won't be able to go back to our normal interior cabin! I may have to do at least a balcony! i have twice sailed in a 2 bedroom suite with just 2 of us. i love the space and that bathroom is hands down the best one! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sprint180 Posted February 11, 2020 #18 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Mine screams balcony or inside. My check book always wins with inside. So sad, so sad. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don't-use-real-name Posted February 11, 2020 #19 Share Posted February 11, 2020 1 hour ago, sprint180 said: Mine screams balcony or inside. My check book always wins with inside. So sad, so sad. Don't go away so mad, so mad = Consider if offered an opportunity of bidding or upgrading just a token bid for that balcony. You could come away with a winning bid offer for a few token dollars more. Secondary alternative of getting an Ocean View. Can't win if you don't play and try to improve your cabin situation ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfun4me Posted February 11, 2020 #20 Share Posted February 11, 2020 I'm 100% with you. We booked haven on our first NCL cruise and, when booking our second (which is coming up in May), there's no way I could do anything but the haven. Ruined for life, I'm afraid. But boy, is it worth it!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanishguy1970 Posted February 11, 2020 #21 Share Posted February 11, 2020 (edited) I have never been in the Haven, however i have seen it in the cabin crawls,It looks wonderful and i can definitely see the appeal. I have flown first class and the experience was outstanding however was coach ruined for me? hmm no. Is about budget for me. If a cruise is 800 dollars inside cabin, or ocean view does it mean i would spend 8k or 10 k per person to be in the Haven? the answer is no, the way i figure, the people in the haven are eating the same food as we the people in the lower cabins 🙂 as opposed to first class on a plane where the menu can be high end. I have put up bids for the Haven but never gotten it. C'est la vie,😢 but if i ever do i will definitely enjoy it, but will not mean that it will ruin my experience for future cruises on lower cabins.If you can afford it by all means go for it and have fun. Edited February 11, 2020 by spanishguy1970 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sverigecruiser Posted February 11, 2020 #22 Share Posted February 11, 2020 1 hour ago, spanishguy1970 said: the way i figure, the people in the haven are eating the same food as we the people in the lower cabins 🙂 as opposed to first class on a plane where the menu can be high end. I don't agree with this. My opinion is that the Havenfood is better than the food outside the Haven. The meal I got in business class the last time I flew home from Miami was one of the worst meals I ever have eaten. The fish was so dry so I doubt that it ever had seen water! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Georgia_Peaches Posted February 11, 2020 #23 Share Posted February 11, 2020 (edited) On 2/10/2020 at 5:22 AM, sverigecruiser said: For me the reality now is suite and businessclass or no trip! I rather travel less to be able to book a suite and fly in businessclass. For me there is no way back! Same. I will travel less to enjoy what we view as the finer things...in this case first class and a Haven suite. It's funny though, when I cruised for the first time back in 1992, we booked an OV cabin and we thought having a window was a splurge... and a balcony, if it even existed, was pure luxury. I'll never forget the excitement we felt when we splurged on our first balcony. It took off from there... Edited February 11, 2020 by Georgia_Peaches 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sverigecruiser Posted February 12, 2020 #24 Share Posted February 12, 2020 6 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said: Same. I will travel less to enjoy what we view as the finer things...in this case first class and a Haven suite. It's funny though, when I cruised for the first time back in 1992, we booked an OV cabin and we thought having a window was a splurge... and a balcony, if it even existed, was pure luxury. I'll never forget the excitement we felt when we splurged on our first balcony. It took off from there... We had a OV forward on deck 10, which was then a rather high deck, when we cruised on the Norwegian Wind 2004. After that we booked cabins with balconys until I surprised my girlfriend with a suite when we got engaged on the Jade. After that, no way that we are going back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceydm Posted February 13, 2020 #25 Share Posted February 13, 2020 This is why I won't sail in anything above balcony....it'll keep me UN-ruined. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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