The NCL Haven Luxury VIP Experience "Secrets" REVISED for 2022

[Sthrngary]

25 minutes ago, Ballwin Babe said:

Why would the NCL agent talk them out of coming in a day or two early?  That's the part that doesn't add up.  Even if the NCL agent did try push to fly day of departure, why would they agree?

 

Would you book a $60K vacation without travel insurance?  (purchased independently, not through the cruise line)

@Ballwin Babe Good point. All I can do is talk from my own perspective.  When I first started to cruise, 44 + years ago, I trusted the cruise line would give me good advice.  I and many others got lucky.  As time went on, I did something kind of important.  I read the cruise contract.  It was frightening.  Still, I cruise many more times but knew, I as a consumer had very few rights.  Still to this day, folks book a cruise and don't read the contract.  They trust the cruise line will take car of them.  

 

For decades I thought there was a benefit for booking airline with the cruise line.  I had the impression as many do, that if the cruise arranged airfare got delayed or cancelled, the cruise line would take care of me.  Hold the ship, or get me to the ship or to the next port.  I thought the cruise line would take care of me.  I was wrong, I was misinformed. At first, I would fly in the day of embarkment so save the money for a overnight hotel.  Until I almost missed my cruise ONCE.  I got lucky and learned a lesson.

 

After a while and 30 + cruises, you start to get the picture.  Yet still, I had NEVER purchased Cruise Travel Insurance until two years ago.  That was my first time for cruise insurance.  Good thing, I got lucky.  My wife got Covid-19 8-days before the cruise left and I would have lost thousands of dollars.  Instead, because of the Cruise Travel Insurance, I was made whole in 15 business days.  For the life of me, I do not know what made me buy that insurance the first time.  I am lucky I guess.

 

These folks in the article did not use good business judgement.  I know, for years neither did I.  Neither did a lot of us.  We just got lucky.  In this case, these folks did not get lucky.  Now do I think with all the media and press on this that NCL will make the whole, maybe.  

 

This and other reasons are why I am so grateful to CruiseCritic.com. If you have a question, a concern or need an option; you can go to the blog and ask.  The community will for the most part give you their opinion.  $60,000 for a family vacation is a ton.  These folks did a leap of faith and got a very unlucky outcome.  I am sorry for them but in the same tone, their story will be an example to others to do their due diligence.  Just my opinion and everyone has one.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[Daniel A]

31 minutes ago, Ballwin Babe said:

Why would the NCL agent talk them out of coming in a day or two early?  That's the part that doesn't add up.  Even if the NCL agent did try push to fly day of departure, why would they agree?

NCL advises the air arrangements anywhere between 60 to 30 days before embarkation day.  Passengers who want to arrive in the embarkation city on a day prior to embarkation day must make their request no later than 75 days before departure.  So, the family should not have waited to figure out that it wasn't such a good idea to fly in on embarkation day.

 

They seem to be inexperienced at cruising and probably should have gone through a reputable travel agent who could have advised them how best to protect their $60K vacation.

 

The wife was probably somewhat emotional with the NCL agent after learning they couldn't now switch to an earlier date, so the agent seeing a 5:40 AM departure was probably trying to calm the wife's concerns.  I doubt there were any earlier flights out, especially from a small airport like Greensboro, NC.

 

Life lesson for all of us.

[Ballwin Babe]

Just for the record, we do not routinely buy travel insurance for our "routine cruises".  However, if $60K was at stake (no chance of THAT happening) it would be insured.   The premium would be VERY high. 

[Sthrngary]

1 minute ago, Ballwin Babe said:

Just for the record, we do not routinely buy travel insurance for our "routine cruises".  However, if $60K was at stake (no chance of THAT happening) it would be insured.   The premium would be VERY high. 

@Ballwin Babe The premium for $60,000.00 would be very high.  On the the other hand, the premium for a $4,000.00 cruise is surprisingly low.  Both are risk tolerance.  Some folks like I did for 28+ cruises did not purchase this protection.  Others never have at all. Yet others do it all the time.  

 

Risk tolerance!  The decision is the guest 100%.  If a guest chooses not to do so, and they have an issue that costs them, they should consider not complaining.  It was their decision and they knew the rules.  In the case of the folks in the article, they simply used poor business judgement yet want to blame everyone while not acceptable the slightest bit of accountability.  That is simply not fare to all involved.  Again, just and only my personal opinion.  That and a dime won't get you a starbucks on an NCL Ship.  

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[Daniel A]

2 minutes ago, Ballwin Babe said:

Just for the record, we do not routinely buy travel insurance for our "routine cruises".  However, if $60K was at stake (no chance of THAT happening) it would be insured.   The premium would be VERY high. 

Travel insurance can cover a whole host of unanticipated expenses.  Should you need hospitalization/surgery at a foreign hospital do you have insurance that will cover it?  There are plenty of nightmare stories about people who needed to fly home from a foreign port via a chartered air ambulance jet.  That can be quite costly as well.  Add the cost of surgery, hospital and air ambulance and you could be wishing you took out insurance.  Travel insurance covers much more than your cruise fare or flights.

 

As an aside, Dad in this story is a surgeon.  He certainly had the option of saying the heck with the booking from NCL air and booked his own flights to Vancouver for the day before.  Penny wise, pound foolish...

[amygutman]

Oh Happy Haven Day!!!!

Am I the only one who feels that other than the joy of embarkation, the most exciting day is when the magic envelope arrives with the luggage tags? Came home from a horrific overnight shift to find my husband had sorted the mail and left this on my pillow. 

I'M. JUST. SO. HAPPY!!!!!!!

31 Days 23 Hours to go until our next Haven Bucket List Trip. Off to sleep with a smile.🥰

Warmest Amy 

[Sthrngary]

30 minutes ago, amygutman said:

Oh Happy Haven Day!!!!

Am I the only one who feels that other than the joy of embarkation, the most exciting day is when the magic envelope arrives with the luggage tags? Came home from a horrific overnight shift to find my husband had sorted the mail and left this on my pillow. 

I'M. JUST. SO. HAPPY!!!!!!!

31 Days 23 Hours to go until our next Haven Bucket List Trip. Off to sleep with a smile.🥰

Warmest Amy 

@amygutman I am SO happy for you and your Husband.  You deserve this vacation and it will be everything you hope it will be.  When cruising the Haven Letter is the first spark of excitement.  The second is the drive or flight when you see the port.  The Third is the walk onto the ship.  Enjoy every aspect.

 

Let all of us know your experience.  Teach us what we need to know to enhance our future cruises.  Not to much though.  It is so important that you enjoy every single second of your long-awaited cruise.  That is your real job so don't let yourself or your family down.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[rattla]

Have been asking a few questions as I got my MIL&FIL booked on Haven on Getaway later this year.

 

Been keeping an eye on my own cruise (we go on the cruise before them), as prices have been falling and I’ve just been able to upgrade our own Cabin to Haven Courtyard for our cruise 😃😃🎉

The crazy thing is we booked in January originally in and Ocean View and we’ve only ended up paying $200pp more than our original OV booking! I think at the time the price for Haven Courtyard was about 2.5-3x higher!

We had upgraded a couple of times to Family OV then a club balcony, then got a re-price just before final payment, but prices have kept falling, and will be excited to try Haven for the first time 😊

[Sthrngary]

37 minutes ago, rattla said:

Have been asking a few questions as I got my MIL&FIL booked on Haven on Getaway later this year.

 

Been keeping an eye on my own cruise (we go on the cruise before them), as prices have been falling and I’ve just been able to upgrade our own Cabin to Haven Courtyard for our cruise 😃😃🎉

The crazy thing is we booked in January originally in and Ocean View and we’ve only ended up paying $200pp more than our original OV booking! I think at the time the price for Haven Courtyard was about 2.5-3x higher!

We had upgraded a couple of times to Family OV then a club balcony, then got a re-price just before final payment, but prices have kept falling, and will be excited to try Haven for the first time 😊

@rattla Have a great time.  I have one piece of important advice.  Do not expect perfection.  Do not think you are in a Ritz Carlton Hotel.  Manage your expectations to be realistic.  That way, when you finally receive this new level of cruise experience, it will exceed your expectation.  

 

Since I wrote this stream about five years ago, many New Haven Guest have expressed disappointment at things like not getting the type of candy they wanted in their suite.  Or not meeting their butler until day two.  The fact for the most part the snacks given at 4:00 PM are the same for every Haven Suite.  Frequent Haven Guest talk about all the wonderful extra's they get without saying these were unique and not always offered.  Whether special escorts to small venue shows or a butler that kindly brought you a drink to your suite both of which is not policy for Haven Guest.  

 

The strategy of "Realistic Expectations" will make your cruise and the Haven over the top.  Read everything you can and do as much planning.  Yet when you get on the ship, go to the Haven Lounge for the first time, STOP, let your planning take hold and enjoy joy your vacations.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[McGarrett5oh]

We have an Alaska cruise booked for next summer using a Travel Agent for the first time.  When flights opened up last week, I asked her to compare the Holland America flight options to what I could book directly with an airline.  The prices came back exactly the same as what I saw online.  When I asked the TA what the advantage was to booking through the cruise line, she said "NONE".  Even the included "transfers" only apply if you arrive same day, not if you arrive the day before, which is what we will do via our own airline bookings.  We get what we want, when we want, seats we want etc. by doing it ourselves.  

[Sthrngary]

1 minute ago, McGarrett5oh said:

We have an Alaska cruise booked for next summer using a Travel Agent for the first time.  When flights opened up last week, I asked her to compare the Holland America flight options to what I could book directly with an airline.  The prices came back exactly the same as what I saw online.  When I asked the TA what the advantage was to booking through the cruise line, she said "NONE".  Even the included "transfers" only apply if you arrive same day, not if you arrive the day before, which is what we will do via our own airline bookings.  We get what we want, when we want, seats we want etc. by doing it ourselves.  

@McGarrett5oh Amen brother.  

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[rattla]

19 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

@rattla Have a great time.  I have one piece of important advice.  Do not expect perfection.  Do not think you are in a Ritz Carlton Hotel.  Manage your expectations to be realistic.  That way, when you finally receive this new level of cruise experience, it will exceed your expectation.  

 

Since I wrote this stream about five years ago, many New Haven Guest have expressed disappointment at things like not getting the type of candy they wanted in their suite.  Or not meeting their butler until day two.  The fact for the most part the snacks given at 4:00 PM are the same for every Haven Suite.  Frequent Haven Guest talk about all the wonderful extra's they get without saying these were unique and not always offered.  Whether special escorts to small venue shows or a butler that kindly brought you a drink to your suite both of which is not policy for Haven Guest.  

 

The strategy of "Realistic Expectations" will make your cruise and the Haven over the top.  Read everything you can and do as much planning.  Yet when you get on the ship, go to the Haven Lounge for the first time, STOP, let your planning take hold and enjoy joy your vacations.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

I’m cool with that, have sailed multiple cruises lines and many cruises, but never sailed in Suite class before.  However, I’m a regular cruise nerd and regularly read a lot of posts and all sorts of things.  We are easy to please and will undoubtedly be pretty low maintenance 😊

 

We are perfectly happy normally in an ocean view cabin or standard balcony and are easy going, so pretty relaxed about expectations 😊

Edited August 23, 2023 by rattla

[Sthrngary]

1 minute ago, rattla said:

I’m cool with that, have sailed multiple cruises lines and many cruises, but never sailed in Suite class before.  However, I’m a regular cruise nerd and regularly read a lot of posts and all sorts of things.  We are easy to please and will undoubtedly be pretty low maintenance 😊

 

we are perfectly happy normally in an ocean view cabin or standard balcony and are easy going, so pretty relaxed about expectations 😊

@rattla That is a great attitude.  I an assure you, with that attitude, you will have a wonderful time and I hope you will honor us all with your review afterwards.  I am cruising on another brand in 78 days.  I will miss the darn Almond Croissant only available in the Haven.  My wife and I have lost lost of weight doing Keto for our upcoming cruise so you can imagine what that first pastry will taste like.  

 

Go to the Haven Horizon Observation Deck, the Coffee Machines are Over the Top, get an Almond Croissant and remember I made the suggestion. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[Daniel A]

4 minutes ago, rattla said:

I’m cool with that, have sailed multiple cruises lines and many cruises, but never sailed in Suite class before.  However, I’m a regular cruise nerd and regularly read a lot of posts and all sorts of things.  We are easy to please and will undoubtedly be pretty low maintenance 😊

 

We are perfectly happy normally in an ocean view cabin or standard balcony and are easy going, so pretty relaxed about expectations 😊

After coming back home from my first Haven sailing, when asked how I enjoyed the cruise, my response was always "I don't deserve to be treated so well..." 😏

[rattla]

21 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

@rattla That is a great attitude.  I an assure you, with that attitude, you will have a wonderful time and I hope you will honor us all with your review afterwards.  I am cruising on another brand in 78 days.  I will miss the darn Almond Croissant only available in the Haven.  My wife and I have lost lost of weight doing Keto for our upcoming cruise so you can imagine what that first pastry will taste like.  

 

Go to the Haven Horizon Observation Deck, the Coffee Machines are Over the Top, get an Almond Croissant and remember I made the suggestion. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

We will be on Getaway, so not sure they have an observation lounge?  
also slight shame that we are in Northern Europe and Iceland so will be cooler weather and understand the Getaway is the only Breakaway class ship without the covered Haven area.  Hoping to get a few days we will be able to use towards the start of the cruise. 😊

[CDR Benson]

2 hours ago, amygutman said:

Oh Happy Haven Day . . .

31 Days 23 Hours to go until our next Haven Bucket List Trip. Off to sleep with a smile.🥰

 

For me, the excitement starts the day I pay the final balance on the cruise fare (although my wallet feels something quite the opposite).  For that's when the cruise becomes real.  We book so far ahead that for over a year, a given cruise is only something in back of our minds.

 

Arriving in the embarkation city the day before, the hotel stay, and the embarkation process at the port terminal are exciting, but tinged with concern over something that I might not have anticipated or that I overlooked.  The thrill sets in the instant I step foot on the ship.  That's when I relax and relish the voyage to come.

 

I am excited for you and your family, doctor.  Alaska is truly one of the most picturesque cruise destinations on Earth.  When you get up into Glacier Bay, you will be seeing unspoilt beauty, the same view that Grok the caveman saw two million years ago, and the majesty of it gives you pause.  I've been to God-knows-how-many places around the globe, but only two are etched into my brain from their sheer beauty.  In thirty days, you're going to one of them.  Wishing you and yours an absolutely wonderful experience!

 

Can't wait to hear about it when you get back.

[LindaKB]

16 hours ago, McGarrett5oh said:

If you need more proof, read this:

https://martinsvillebulletin.com/news/state-regional/norwegian-cruise-line-jewel-denies-refund-to-family-that-missed-ships-departure/article_6c0623e9-4cef-5d43-8612-a70f57ed7959.html

Proves the importance of getting Travel Insurance. Especially for such a big vacation. 

[LindaKB]

1 hour ago, Sthrngary said:

@rattla That is a great attitude.  I an assure you, with that attitude, you will have a wonderful time and I hope you will honor us all with your review afterwards.  I am cruising on another brand in 78 days.  I will miss the darn Almond Croissant only available in the Haven.  My wife and I have lost lost of weight doing Keto for our upcoming cruise so you can imagine what that first pastry will taste like.  

 

Go to the Haven Horizon Observation Deck, the Coffee Machines are Over the Top, get an Almond Croissant and remember I made the suggestion. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I'm still reading this thread. On page 75. But this question pops up in my head. You mentioned the Haven Horizon for coffee & croissants. What time does that open? We're early risers & I think the Haven Restaurant opens at 7?

We're sailing on The Bliss in December. Panama Canal 

[CDR Benson]

11 minutes ago, LindaKB said:

I'm still reading this thread. On page 75. But this question pops up in my head. You mentioned the Haven Horizon for coffee & croissants. What time does that open? We're early risers & I think the Haven Restaurant opens at 7?

We're sailing on The Bliss in December. Panama Canal 

 

He was referring to the Horizon Observation Lounge, the part of the Haven complex set all the way forward, providing a panoramic view of the bow.  The lounge itself is always open to Haven guests.  In the morning, an array of pastries, fruits, yoghurts, juices, and coffee are set out.  I don't know how early those items are set out, though.

 

 

Edited August 23, 2023 by CDR Benson

[Sthrngary]

12 minutes ago, LindaKB said:

I'm still reading this thread. On page 75. But this question pops up in my head. You mentioned the Haven Horizon for coffee & croissants. What time does that open? We're early risers & I think the Haven Restaurant opens at 7?

We're sailing on The Bliss in December. Panama Canal 

I think keyword think it opens at 6 AM. I would go down there, it would be absolutely vacant. I would get a cup of coffee and an almond croissant. 15 minutes later my son would come down and do the same. When my wife walk we went to the Haven restaurant for breakfast. I hope that helpsI 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[Sand and Seas]

15 minutes ago, LindaKB said:

I'm still reading this thread. On page 75. But this question pops up in my head. You mentioned the Haven Horizon for coffee & croissants. What time does that open? We're early risers & I think the Haven Restaurant opens at 7?

We're sailing on The Bliss in December. Panama Canal 

You are lucky you will be on the Bliss!  Not every ship has the Observation Lounge with the upper private Haven Horizon Lounge.  We loved it on the Bliss last September.  Unfortunately, we never got up too early.  We enjoyed a late light breakfast there or an afternoon snack.

Edited August 23, 2023 by Sand and Seas

[RocketMan275]

11 minutes ago, Sand and Seas said:

You are lucky you will be on the Bliss!  Not every ship has the Observation Lounge with the upper private Haven Horizon Lounge.  We loved it on the Bliss last September.  Unfortunately, we never got up too early.  We enjoyed a late light breakfast there or an afternoon snack.

The Breakaway class ships do not have either an observation lounge or a haven horizon lounge.

[LindaKB]

12 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

The Breakaway class ships do not have either an observation lounge or a haven horizon lounge.

I've been a Carnival cruiser most my cruise life. Until my sister booked The Bliss last March for a little "Girl's Cruise" 

It's beautiful & I loved the Observation Lounge. I remember walking around the big model of The Bliss in there & closely examining every deck. (My husband loved the Carnival Miracle *me too, it's my favorite ship) because of the Observation DECK. I know, long story, but we sailed last January on Panorama Havana Suite, which is nice, but Panorama has no Observation Deck!! 😠

So back to why I was studying the Bliss model. I was talking to my husband that with The Bliss Observation lounge, it doesn't matter there's no Observation DECK...(it's so nicely done)

However I saw an outside Deck on that model. My sister said, "oh that's for The Haven. Only Haven people can get there"

That's all it took when we booked Panama Canal 

 

[azappraiser]

22 hours ago, kasimir said:

 Never ever ever ever, fly on the same day of the cruise departure day. 

 

We had non-stop from Phoenix to Honolulu to catch the POA.  We started boarding at 7:30am for a 8:00am departure.  We deboarded after about 45 minutes for a maintenance issue.  11:00am and we're finally on our way... almost. Landed in Los Angeles 3-hrs later, fixed the issue again after 2-hrs on  the ground, only to have the issue occur once more on takeoff.  2 1/2 hours later, we landed again at LAX and ended up spending the night.

 

Got to Honolulu the next day... fortunately, the POA departed on Saturday, and our original flight was on a Tuesday, so we only lost one day of vacation, but saved one night of hotel & rental car bucks.

 

We also received 2-R/T vouchers from Hawaiian Airlines to go back within a year.  No maintenance issues on that flight.

 

[Sthrngary]

Social Media is One Interesting Place:

 

Over the last six year I have attempted to think, before I post.  Sometimes I delete my post and wait until the next day.  Other times I say to myself, "Gary, your reply is mean and harsh.  Re-write it with with empathy and understanding."  Yet I am frustrated with one approach by some contributors that I have felt since ever participation in social media.  I call the posters, "Unexperienced Experts".

 

These are the members that come on a topic that they have no actual experience, the NCL Haven is a perfect example, with what seems to be very pointed and specific facts about the topic.  As we read the reply, we start asking ourselves, "That does not sound like the experience I have had over the last 6 cruises?"  A debate usually ensues with members on that post stream.  Sometimes the debate becomes heated.  The instigator or better known as the "Unexperienced Expert", is firm in their complete dislike of the in this example the Haven.  

 

We all soon find out eventually that the "Unexperienced Expert" never use or purchased the item they are so upset about.  Their information presented is heresy, inaccurate or what they think instead of actually received.  Now if someone said, "the Haven is way to expensive and I cold cruise three times to my one time in the Haven."  That is an observation that is verified and valid for anyone.  Never needed to cruise in a Haven Suite to fully understand the cost difference,  that making everyone qualified on a budget topic.  

 

I would hope when folks come to a board that is focused on legitimate experiences in a topic like the Haven that they share their ACTUAL likes, dislikes and improvements.  I know it is social media but Trolling a subject is all about making people angry because it is fun to them.  If I want that kind of Social Media, I go to Reddit.com and say the word "Haven" in any sentence.  That is why many of us are contributing here on CruiseCritic.com.  

 

My rant is plea to keep the information provided to new, current and future CruiseCritic.com members actual experiences that will assist in the purchase or improved cruise experience.  Help members simply have a better time when they spend what ever amount of money the choose too.  

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.