What is the Haven experience like if your room is not actually in the Haven?

[sacteach]

I have an upcoming cruise on the Joy and have the option to bid on upgrades. There are two categories of Haven rooms available, but they are not located in the actual Haven area.

 

For those that have stayed in these rooms, what was your experience like? I'm assuming you get all of the same perks (priority boarding, access to the Haven pool, sun deck, etc) but you just have to walk farther to get there - the rooms are on a completely different deck and are mid-ship.

[Sailing12Away]

I was in an HH Family Haven Villa in September. The room was fantastic, and I upgraded my next trip in February to be in a similar category room again.

 

The HH, HI, and HJ category rooms are a great value. The room sizes and balcony tends to be much larger than the courtyard rooms, and they're a lot cheaper too (at least 2-4K on my sailings). They're located on decks 14 & 15, but near the elevator that will take you right up to the Haven access areas (the courtyard pool, observation lounge, bar, restaurant).

 

So for us, it was a piece of cake to grab the elevator up 2 flights, and then walk (stumble) down the stairs at the end of the night when the bar closed down to get back to our room. We loved the location and it was a great experience, so when we sail on the Joy again we will always look to book those rooms first.

 

Aft rooms for us are too far away from the rest of the Haven amenities. But those midship rooms on the Joy are perfect and a great bargain.

[sacteach]

5 minutes ago, Sailing12Away said:

I was in an HH Family Haven Villa in September. The room was fantastic, and I upgraded my next trip in February to be in a similar category room again.

 

The HH, HI, and HJ category rooms are a great value. The room sizes and balcony tends to be much larger than the courtyard rooms, and they're a lot cheaper too (at least 2-4K on my sailings). They're located on decks 14 & 15, but near the elevator that will take you right up to the Haven access areas (the courtyard pool, observation lounge, bar, restaurant).

 

So for us, it was a piece of cake to grab the elevator up 2 flights, and then walk (stumble) down the stairs at the end of the night when the bar closed down to get back to our room. We loved the location and it was a great experience, so when we sail on the Joy again we will always look to book those rooms first.

 

Aft rooms for us are too far away from the rest of the Haven amenities. But those midship rooms on the Joy are perfect and a great bargain.

 

We are looking at HI and HJ - I'm glad to hear that it was easy to get to the Haven area. Did you have a butler and all of the other Haven perks? 

[Two Wheels Only]

43 minutes ago, sacteach said:

Did you have a butler and all of the other Haven perks? 

 

Any "H" suite has the Haven amenities on Joy. 

 

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/joy/staterooms

[vacation44]

We also stayed in one of the Haven cabins on deck 14 and loved the location.  Also, it took us less than a minute to enter the Haven Courtyard.    Would choose this location again instead of the Haven Courtyard.   Plus, our cabin was huge too.

 

 

 

 

[J0Y0US]

Its a better deal but the butler wasn't someone you would see very often (you would need to ask) and having your room away from the haven did make it inconvenient when you might be in the pool, on the sun deck, or at the bar.

 

Its still a good time but part of the reason they are less expensive is because of that downside of location.

 

Would have no issues booking outside the haven area again as long as we got a good deal for it. 

 

Haven is the only way to do NCL as well IMO.

Edited December 9, 2022 by J0Y0US

[Dcoy]

We had an aft Haven cabin on the Getaway in October. We booked it because the large balcony was more important than the pool, bar or spa. Sure it was a walk for meals in the Haven restaurant but we needed the steps anyway.
 

The butler was efficient making sure we always had ice and dropping off something for our evening snack. He always responded if we called to request something.  Our room steward was the best. 
 

we will definitely book and aft Haven again. 

[Laszlo]

8 hours ago, sacteach said:

I have an upcoming cruise on the Joy and have the option to bid on upgrades. There are two categories of Haven rooms available, but they are not located in the actual Haven area.

 

For those that have stayed in these rooms, what was your experience like? I'm assuming you get all of the same perks (priority boarding, access to the Haven pool, sun deck, etc) but you just have to walk farther to get there - the rooms are on a completely different deck and are mid-ship.

I'll let you know in about a month Lol. My wife and I are on the Getaway in a H9 (Haven Spa Balcony). We are a few cabins from the forward stairs and two floors from the Haven Courtyard. Our last cruise on the Escape we had a Haven Courtyard Cabin. It would be nice being in the Haven Courtyard how the cabin would have been 2K more and add to that spa passes. Neither of us is worried about not being in the Haven proper.

Edited December 9, 2022 by Laszlo

[cruiseny4life]

I've cruised Haven twice on the Getaway (a third in three weeks) and then the Joy in March. None of our previous Haven cruises were in the Haven. Once we were on deck 14, just below the deck 16 Haven area. In September, we were in an aft suite (same exact suite we're in, in three weeks). We love not being in the Haven! 

 

I love being able to walk up/down the stairs to get to the Haven. You need a wee bit of movement with all the rich food available. We had all the amenities, and will have all the amenities, of the Haven, including the doting room steward and butler. The only difference in service is that the steward will sometimes service non-Haven rooms, but they drop anything and everything for you, if you need it (they do for other passengers too, as they should). 

 

You'll enjoy yourself and you'll have all the amenities! 

[complawyer]

if you've booked a "haven suite" it doesnt  mattter where it's located, the haven perks are the haven perks, regardless 

[Laszlo]

5 minutes ago, complawyer said:

if you've booked a "haven suite" it doesnt  mattter where it's located, the haven perks are the haven perks, regardless 

You are right, but I know people who won't book the Haven unless they can be right in the Haven proper. For whatever reason they think the service is better.

[cruiseny4life]

27 minutes ago, complawyer said:

if you've booked a "haven suite" it doesnt  mattter where it's located, the haven perks are the haven perks, regardless 

You put it so much more succinctly than I!

[wil e coyote]

We've sailed Haven twice, once in a forward-facing balcony (deck 9) on Getaway and once on deck 14 on Breakaway - neither are in the Haven area but we were fine with that. We felt like we still got all the butler service and other perks. Even the cabin on deck 9 was only a few minutes from the Haven area.

And as others have said, a little walking helped us feel like we were burning off some of the food!

 

We'll be in the Haven area next month so I will be able to give a more informed answer then - maybe. So much depends on the ship/crew/fellow passengers that it's really hard to make an objective comparison.

Bottom line, if you're willing to pay the fare, you can't go wrong in a Haven room, in my opinion.

[CherWolf]

Having been in the Haven proper and also having a Haven cabin aft or forward outside of the Haven, I can admit that having a room in the Haven is a bit better because of immediate access to all of the amenities of the Haven.  That said, when I have had Haven rooms outside of the Haven, I didn't feel like I had a diminished experience and enjoyed the Haven perks as well.

[Sailing12Away]

On 12/9/2022 at 1:24 AM, J0Y0US said:

Its a better deal but the butler wasn't someone you would see very often (you would need to ask) and having your room away from the haven did make it inconvenient when you might be in the pool, on the sun deck, or at the bar.

 

We saw our butler daily, and had no less of a level of service than when we've stayed within the courtyard area.

 

Bar, lounge, restaurant.... no issues at all by being a little further away. With all the excessive drinking we do on our trips we have never once had a problem getting back to our room 2 decks down after closing the bar out every single night. The only thing which I'll give you is the pool I suppose, but for me I always wear a coverup anyway so walking back through the halls to my room is no big deal after a swim.

[mafig]

We've been in the Haven area once.  What I did like was the proximity to the Concierge area.  

Just out the door to ask them how much OBC do they see listed on my account. 

Right there for escort to the shows (although if you did that after dinner you'd be in that area anyway if you dined in the Haven restaurant).

 

Close by for priority escort from the ship.  

[gunner22a]

We have stayed in both Haven suites in and out of the Haven proper.  Although being directly in the Haven puts you closer to the amenities the experience has been equally great regardless of where our suite actually was.  Our next two cruises are both in the Haven but outside the complex and I'm certain we won't be disappointed.  

[Elvis1209]

On 12/9/2022 at 1:24 AM, J0Y0US said:

Its a better deal but the butler wasn't someone you would see very often (you would need to ask) and having your room away from the haven did make it inconvenient when you might be in the pool, on the sun deck, or at the bar.

 

Its still a good time but part of the reason they are less expensive is because of that downside of location.

 

Would have no issues booking outside the haven area again as long as we got a good deal for it. 

 

Haven is the only way to do NCL as well IMO.

Couldn't agree more!  Once you sail in the Haven it is next to impossible to sail in a "regular" cabin!  I will be sailing on Escape in September.  This will be my third NCL cruise, my second Haven cruise.

 

Elvis

[CDR Benson]

On 12/8/2022 at 11:37 PM, vacation44 said:

We also stayed in one of the Haven cabins on deck 14 and loved the location.  Also, it took us less than a minute to enter the Haven Courtyard.    Would choose this location again instead of the Haven Courtyard.   Plus, our cabin was huge too.

 

On our cruise this past September, the Good Mrs. Benson and I stayed in the Haven suite "opposite" the one occupied by vacation44 (same dimensions and arrangement, but on the starboard side), and I echo everything she said.

 

Certainly suum cuique, but for my money, there are no better Haven suites on board Norwegian Joy than the ones vacation44 and I have described above.  In fact, I've reserved the same suite that we had before for another cruise in 2024.

 

 

 

 

[palpieha]

On 12/9/2022 at 12:46 PM, Laszlo said:

You are right, but I know people who won't book the Haven unless they can be right in the Haven proper. For whatever reason they think the service is better.

 

I like being able to get out of the hot tub, throw a towel around, and walk right into the courtyard suite. Or go to the bar quickly to grab an Aqua Panna/drink and back to the suite.

 

But if the suite a little further away is significantly cheaper, then that's something to consider in the trade off.

[cruiseny4life]

1 minute ago, palpieha said:

 

I like being able to get out of the hot tub, throw a towel around, and walk right into the courtyard suite. Or go to the bar quickly to grab an Aqua Panna/drink and back to the suite.

 

But if the suite a little further away is significantly cheaper, then that's something to consider in the trade off.

Am I doing it wrong by walking in my bathing suit (no shirt) to get a drink at the bar? Or wrapping my towel around my shoulders to wander back to my aft room in flippie floppies? Actually, usually I do manage to get my t-shirt back on before wandering to the back of the ship.

 

I don't mind showing off my manly chest. I could win hairiest chest contest and biggest belly contest all at once! 

 

OP, no one will care if you wander around after having a nice time in the courtyard pool/hot tub. Well, at least this chubby guy won't.

[palpieha]

Just now, cruiseny4life said:

Am I doing it wrong by walking in my bathing suit (no shirt) to get a drink at the bar? Or wrapping my towel around my shoulders to wander back to my aft room in flippie floppies? Actually, usually I do manage to get my t-shirt back on before wandering to the back of the ship.

 

I don't mind showing off my manly chest. I could win hairiest chest contest and biggest belly contest all at once! 

 

OP, no one will care if you wander around after having a nice time in the courtyard pool/hot tub. Well, at least this chubby guy won't.

 

You're not doing anything wrong.

 

I prefer to be closer because the air conditioning in the hallways is cold with a wet bathing suit. That's my preference.

 

As for the bar, I meant going from the suite to the bar and back. Again, my preference is to be closer in. First world problems, but these are the trade offs when picking a suite!

[cruiseny4life]

Just now, palpieha said:

 

You're not doing anything wrong.

 

I prefer to be closer because the air conditioning in the hallways is cold with a wet bathing suit. That's my preference.

 

As for the bar, I meant going from the suite to the bar and back. Again, my preference is to be closer in. First world problems, but these are the trade offs when picking a suite!

Phew!! Thank you! You're not either. 

 

I do typically wander back using the outside decks as I enjoy the view of the ocean while I get my football field hike in. 

 

Mmmmmm, the bar! I like the bar. 

[graphicguy]

Have never stayed in Haven Suites (Haven Spa Suites, to be exact) anywhere near the Haven Bar/Restaurant.  The Haven Spa Suites are within steps of the Spa, which I found very convenient.  You'll find the Haven Spa Suites to generally be less expensive, too.  And, those suites are still within a minute or two walk of the Haven Bar/Restaurant.

 

Have stayed in an Aft Haven Suite, which was wonderful...and it was no where near the Haven Bar/Restaurant.  I wouldn't have traded that Suite for one near the Bar/Restaurant.  It was that nice.

 

So, I guess what I'm saying, book the Haven cabin you want.  They're all good.  Location is, at most, a secondary consideration.

 

If you're in the courtyard or by the pool, the Haven wait staff with get you drinks.

Edited December 12, 2022 by graphicguy

[complawyer]

we've stayed both in and out of the courtyard area, and personally, it made no difference in the quality of service. in fact a few years back, e were in the aft penthouse on the epic, and except for the ridiculous configuration of the room, our butler was one of the best we've ever had.

 

walking a little (or a lot) never affected our cruise