Haven Sundeck and Children

[KateQ22003]

49 minutes ago, dandelpino said:

 

There's nothing wrong with wanting that but I think NCL may not for you if you want extensive adult only areas. NCL has been a family cruise line years now. The water slides, galaxy pavilion, laser tag, and go carts aren't there to attract retirees. The largest and most expensive amenities are aimed at families with kids. There are plenty of cruise lines out there catering to every type of vacation style but NCL isn't going to exclude kids from entire decks when they spend so much money to get them onboard.

NCL isn't just a family cruise line; they are trying to cater to everyone (hence the Haven). Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only adult only area on the smaller ships is the top sundeck in the Haven. I don't see why adults can't have ONE place they can go to be with adults. Even the bars, late night-parties and 18+ comedian shows are full of kids lately - what is wrong with having just one place for adults only?

[scooter6139]

12 minutes ago, KateQ22003 said:

 Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only adult only area on the smaller ships is the top sundeck in the Haven. I don't see why adults can't have ONE place they can go to be with adults. 

 

I think it depends on the ship, but there is also the Vibe, which is 18+.

[Treasure Hunter]

All the toys mentioned like lazer tag and go carts are also for retired grandparents with money to bring their kids and grandkids on board. Those amenities are not in the Haven. We are talking about one upper deck in the Haven for adults. And I love the shows, casino, trivia, shooting pool with grandkids in the main ship. Just let me have the one spot for a few hours. Remember the Haven is advertised as the boutique ship within the ship. I’ve been on 50+ cruises including Regent , Oceania, Princess, Celebrity  and RCCL and we have found our happy place  in the NCL Haven.

[detroitlions]

1 hour ago, KateQ22003 said:

NCL isn't just a family cruise line; they are trying to cater to everyone (hence the Haven). Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only adult only area on the smaller ships is the top sundeck in the Haven. I don't see why adults can't have ONE place they can go to be with adults. Even the bars, late night-parties and 18+ comedian shows are full of kids lately - what is wrong with having just one place for adults only?

I think you may be missing on a major point here. The Haven was never meant to be adult only. Why do you think they have 2 room suits ETC. They did not make those rooms for adults that want to split the room with there friends so they can afford the Haven. And a side note I think I have seen the worse kid behavior on cruises well maybe 2nd to Disney. And I know the parents were prob the issue. The folks that want adult only that's great there are adult only cruises.

[KateQ22003]

1 hour ago, scooter6139 said:

 

I think it depends on the ship, but there is also the Vibe, which is 18+.

That's true, but the smaller ships don't have a Vibe area. I guess you could think of the haven sundeck as a Vibe-type area on these ships.

[dandelpino]

1 hour ago, KateQ22003 said:

NCL isn't just a family cruise line; they are trying to cater to everyone (hence the Haven).

 

I would have to disagree. On the breakaway/plus ships, 25% - 30% of all Haven cabins are 2-bedroom family villa suites. They're really 1.5 bedrooms in my opinion where the 2nd bedroom is pretty much only intended for kids.  In the Haven courtyard area itself those cabins account for over 50% of the cabins up there. They are the most numerous type of Haven cabin. The ones meant for kids.

 

They do try to cater to a broad audience, yes. But the bread and butter Haven customer is a family with kids. If it weren't then why would they devote so much Haven real estate to family cabins? 

 

1 hour ago, KateQ22003 said:

what is wrong with having just one place for adults only?

 

Nothing wrong with that. But consider that Haven pax are paying $3k - $4k on the low end for a 7 day cruise. A family of 4 in a 2-bedroom is spending $12k - $15k a week. If they want to be with their kids at all times and NCL wont allow it, a different cruise line will. People will vote with their dollars and the current vote is for kids to be everywhere at all times it seems.

 

 

[KateQ22003]

1 minute ago, detroitlions said:

I think you may be missing on a major point here. The Haven was never meant to be adult only. Why do you think they have 2 room suits ETC. They did not make those rooms for adults that want to split the room with there friends so they can afford the Haven. And a side note I think I have seen the worse kid behavior on cruises well maybe 2nd to Disney. And I know the parents were prob the issue. The folks that want adult only that's great there are adult only cruises.

NCL sells the haven as a luxurious, well-appointed and spacious area of the ship, with complete privacy and tranquility (their words, not mine). They have a wonderful area with a pool for families and children. They have a separate sundeck for the adults. In my mind they are trying to cater to everyone who has the $$$ to afford the haven. And yea, me and my girlfriends have reserved the Haven 2-bedroom; it's not just for families with small children.

 

We aren't asking for an adult only cruise; we are asking for one space that is adult only. Seems like a reasonable request.

[KateQ22003]

4 minutes ago, dandelpino said:

 

I would have to disagree. On the breakaway/plus ships, 25% - 30% of all Haven cabins are 2-bedroom family villa suites. They're really 1.5 bedrooms in my opinion where the 2nd bedroom is pretty much only intended for kids.  In the Haven courtyard area itself those cabins account for over 50% of the cabins up there. They are the most numerous type of Haven cabin. The ones meant for kids.

 

They do try to cater to a broad audience, yes. But the bread and butter Haven customer is a family with kids. If it weren't then why would they devote so much Haven real estate to family cabins? 

 

 

Nothing wrong with that. But consider that Haven pax are paying $3k - $4k on the low end for a 7 day cruise. A family of 4 in a 2-bedroom is spending $12k - $15k a week. If they want to be with their kids at all times and NCL wont allow it, a different cruise line will. People will vote with their dollars and the current vote is for kids to be everywhere at all times it seems.

 

 

Not sure if we are getting priced out because we cruise out of Boston, but I have never been in the haven for less than $10,000 per cabin. Our last cruise was higher than that. If I could find a $3-4,000 cruise in the Haven I would faint from joy!

[KateQ22003]

1 minute ago, KateQ22003 said:

 

 

Edited October 27, 2022 by KateQ22003

[KateQ22003]

Just now, KateQ22003 said:

Oh, and I have slept in the small bedroom of the 2-bedroom suite several times. If you get the room steward to cushion the bed, it's really not so bad!

 

Just now, KateQ22003 said:

 

 

[dandelpino]

22 minutes ago, KateQ22003 said:

Not sure if we are getting priced out because we cruise out of Boston, but I have never been in the haven for less than $10,000 per cabin. Our last cruise was higher than that. If I could find a $3-4,000 cruise in the Haven I would faint from joy!

 

I meant 3k-4k per person.

 

Anyway if you can drive down to NYC, you can faint on the Joy on Nov 12th. I think the cheapest Haven cabin is $4400 all in for 2 people for 7 days. I booked a forward facing Haven cabin for under $4600 (including our darling toddler).

[KateQ22003]

1 minute ago, dandelpino said:

 

I meant 3k-4k per person.

 

Anyway if you can drive down to NYC, you can faint on the Joy on Nov 12th. I think the cheapest Haven cabin is $4400 all in for 2 people for 7 days. I booked a forward facing Haven cabin for under $4600 (including our darling toddler).

I have looked at that cruise, but it's a bit too far away for me to be able to drive it. I also am not a big fan of the larger ships; I cruised the Bliss a few years ago and didn't care for it at all. Maybe if the price is right, though!

 

[lisa928]

Can someone clarify for me when the rule is 16 and up for the Haven "sun deck" is that the upper deck inside (on the Breakaway) or the outside, or maybe both?

[cruiseny4life]

7 minutes ago, lisa928 said:

Can someone clarify for me when the rule is 16 and up for the Haven "sun deck" is that the upper deck inside (on the Breakaway) or the outside, or maybe both?

The upper deck. It's the one you take stairs to from the Haven Courtyard. Kids can be present in the Haven Courtyard. 

[dandelpino]

7 minutes ago, lisa928 said:

Can someone clarify for me when the rule is 16 and up for the Haven "sun deck" is that the upper deck inside (on the Breakaway) or the outside, or maybe both?

 

It's outside on all Breakaway/B+ class ships. The upper area inside the glass dome (deck 17 on Breakaway) has no age restrictions. Only the outside/open air sun deck has the age restriction.

[PTC DAWG]

It’s either 16 and up or not..enforce the stated policies..

[Two Wheels Only]

27 minutes ago, lisa928 said:

Can someone clarify for me when the rule is 16 and up for the Haven "sun deck" is that the upper deck inside (on the Breakaway) or the outside, or maybe both?

 

 

The area OUTSIDE of the area pictured is 16+. Any age can go up the stairs and hang out/lounge there but by the sliding glass door that leads to the outside there will be a sign that states that Haven guests 16 and older beyond that point. 

 

 

[lisa928]

7 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

The area OUTSIDE of the area pictured is 16+. Any age can go up the stairs and hang out/lounge there but by the sliding glass door that leads to the outside there will be a sign that states that Haven guests 16 and older beyond that point. 

 

Thank you!

[JandC_Cruising]

Here is an image of the top deck of joy.  Front of ship outdoors, top deck is the Haven Sun Deck and is 16+ .  I've highlighted the area.  You access this from the sliding doors on the upper level of the courtyard area.

 

[PATRLR]

I don't know how many 100s of thousands of square feet of public space exist on these ships, but it's a big number.  Yet still people seem to feel a need to be able to bring their kids into the one relatively miniscule place NCL has identified as no kids.   

The word "entitled" comes to mind at this time.

 

[gingersvp]

I wonder if the OP really understands how small of a space the Sun Deck is within the context of the greater Haven area. I travel Haven with kids. We do not go to the Sun Deck. I wholly agree that adult areas should be adult areas only. I've actually never ventured on to the Sun Deck, my kids and I hangout in the courtyard pool area. 

[IronRobi]

21 hours ago, IronRobi said:

I say shouldn't because you will always run into the people who follow every rule to the letter and will take every opportunity to complain and point out when somebody doesn't. 

 

19 hours ago, Beamco said:

Rules are rules and they are not meant to be broken. The rule is there for a purpose. Also it's not about the staff breaking up the  monotony of their job its about the comfort of your fellow guests that are following the rules. The no kids under 16 on the Haven sundeck is a hard rule not a soft one.

This is the perfect example of the point I was making.

 

If you have a 14yr old kid who is sitting with their parents reading a book with headphones in not making a single sound..... who are they bothering? Nobody! Except for this person who will place a complaint about it and lessen somebody else's family vacation simply out of principle. This kid is doing nothing to affect your vacation, but you are certainly making a mark on theirs. Well done, you should be proud!

 

To be clear, I'm talking about well behaved older children here. Primarily teens. I'm not talking somebody's toddler or a kid blasting their music on their phone and causing a disturbance.

[gingersvp]

14 minutes ago, IronRobi said:

 

This is the perfect example of the point I was making.

 

If you have a 14yr old kid who is sitting with their parents reading a book with headphones in not making a single sound..... who are they bothering? Nobody! Except for this person who will place a complaint about it and lessen somebody else's family vacation simply out of principle. This kid is doing nothing to affect your vacation, but you are certainly making a mark on theirs. Well done, you should be proud!

 

To be clear, I'm talking about well behaved older children here. Primarily teens. I'm not talking somebody's toddler or a kid blasting their music on their phone and causing a disturbance.

 

I think where this becomes problematic is that one family may see this and then bring up another child who is not being quiet. This area is supposed to be for 16 and up, and if I do manage to sneak away from my kids, I would want to have that experience. If they're 14 and listening to their headphones, they can certainly do that in the Haven courtyard area which is nearby and also sunny.

[Treasure Hunter]

It is not just principle. It is for the 10 and 12 year olds right behind him and who’s mother wants to know why her kids ( who are throwing a towel back and forth like it’s the Super Bowl) can’t stay too. 

[Bbaker9760]

Why would anyone want to teach their child it is okay to break the rules? It doesn’t matter if the child is well behaved or not - he is not old enough to be in this area of the ship. There are plenty of areas on the ship where he is welcome.