Comparison Beyond Retreat to NCL Haven?

[taylortime05]

52 minutes ago, FlyGal25 said:

I really enjoy Celebrity, but their price point is insane compared to NCL and MSC. I get that they are a more premiere ship and cannot expect the price to be the same. However, $4K more? No, no and NO! Can't justify that. 

 

I know Celebrity did have mysterious price slashes for the Retreat suites on Beyond, but it hasn't touched the date for the sailing I need. I held out hope with so many suites still left but we are at the 60 day point and that price tag hasn't budged. 😟

 

Do you know which dates were avail where the prices were slashed for the Beyond Retreat suites?  I’ll do some searching tonight after my grandson goes home.  

[FlyGal25]

12 minutes ago, taylortime05 said:

 

Do you know which dates were avail where the prices were slashed for the Beyond Retreat suites?  I’ll do some searching tonight after my grandson goes home.  

There was a post on here about it not too long ago. I will see if I can find it. 

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, FlyGal25 said:

I really enjoy Celebrity... I get that they are a more premiere ship and cannot expect the price to be the same.

I can't say that I necessarily agree with this. A more premier ship?

[FlyGal25]

@taylortime05 here is the post:

 

 

[FlyGal25]

2 minutes ago, RichYak said:

I can't say that I necessarily agree with this. A more premier ship?

 

Higher end cruise line was what I mean. Misuse of wording. Sorry. 

 

I put NCL on par with RCCL. I think by the looks MSC would fall into that category too. 

 

I am not saying X is Regent, Azamara, Seabourn but I do think it is higher end than the ones listed above. 

[RichYak]

8 minutes ago, FlyGal25 said:

I do think it is higher end than the ones listed above. 

Ok yes, I understand now. Though I've always felt that X, along with HAL and Princess, being a little less family oriented than the other mass market lines can add to the illusion of being higher end. All that said, based on very recent reports, it seems that the gap between them may have narrowed quite a bit.

[Tyler414]

I've been on Apex, Beyond and NCL Encore, however not in the suites.  Doubt I'll sail NCL ever again.

[voyager1964]

7 hours ago, FlyGal25 said:

Personally, our pro is that I can book a suite that is very large for a good price.

You are considering Joy sailing on April 8-15, correct? If so, what particular suite do you have in mind? What I see as available are a variety of penthouse suites, none of which are particularly large

[FlyGal25]

There was one left on the 14th floor that was 450-475 sq feet. Not a family size but larger than the others on higher floors.

[asnaleah]

I suggest reading the live from thread from @GenerationX. She is a great writer and has a good perspective on both ships.

[FlyGal25]

15 minutes ago, asnaleah said:

I suggest reading the live from thread from @GenerationX. She is a great writer and has a good perspective on both ships.

Thanks, I’ll check it out! 

[voyager1964]

27 minutes ago, FlyGal25 said:

There was one left on the 14th floor that was 450-475 sq feet. Not a family size but larger than the others on higher floors.

OK. The itinerary on Joy is much better, you are a single ship in Roatan and Belize. You are not going to be in Haven proper, but a short elevator ride will get you there. I believe a family villa will become available closer to the sailing date, and the price differential would be relatively small, so that you have a good chance to snag a really great suite for your family at a reasonable price.

There are often specials in the Haven restaurant (specials = new mains that are not on the menu) which could justify dining there over, say five evenings. At the same time, it is never as crowded as Luminae. For your daughter, there is a higher chance to make friends in the Haven than in the Retreat, if she wants to of course. Entertainment of Joy could also be much better than on Beyond, just look at their shows.

 

Bottom line, I would not hesitate to book Joy's Haven

[FlyGal25]

22 minutes ago, voyager1964 said:

OK. The itinerary on Joy is much better, you are a single ship in Roatan and Belize. You are not going to be in Haven proper, but a short elevator ride will get you there. I believe a family villa will become available closer to the sailing date, and the price differential would be relatively small, so that you have a good chance to snag a really great suite for your family at a reasonable price.

There are often specials in the Haven restaurant (specials = new mains that are not on the menu) which could justify dining there over, say five evenings. At the same time, it is never as crowded as Luminae. For your daughter, there is a higher chance to make friends in the Haven than in the Retreat, if she wants to of course. Entertainment of Joy could also be much better than on Beyond, just look at their shows.

 

Bottom line, I would not hesitate to book Joy's Haven

Appreciate your feedback. You’re making great points! 🙂

 

I didn’t mind an elevator and a few floors separation in lieu of a larger room. As long as it isn’t loud - and by the looks of location, we should be ok. 

 

I liked Roatan as I have never been there before. In reality, for myself, this trip is really more about the ship versus the destinations. Been to Caribbean before. 
 

About shows, I’ve heard they hold spots for Haven, is that correct? Do we have to do anything prior or just show up? 

 

As for my daughter, she has always found friends on Celebrity. Oddly enough, more than RCCL. All it usually takes is one trip to teen club on first night - god bless my grandma for passing on that extroverted gene because husband and I are introverts. 😉

[voyager1964]

1 hour ago, FlyGal25 said:

About shows, I’ve heard they hold spots for Haven, is that correct?

Yes, the concierge will escort you to the dedicated seats.

Also, whereas the "space ratio" on both ships is 36, you get ~200 suites on Beyond versus ~130 Heaven suites on Joy if I counted correctly

[Cruise a holic]

17 hours ago, FlyGal25 said:

Appreciate the honest review. I know it is all personal opinion but I love reading both sides.

 

Can you tell me what ship you were on in the Haven?  

 

Breakaway. Pre pandemic

Edited February 9, 2023 by Cruise a holic

[1longhorn]

We have cruised Norwegian Bliss Haven 1 time, booked for Breakway Feb 12, and Celebrity Suites multiple times.  The X suites are so expensive now.  We have decided on cruises where we are just repeating ports to opt for the Haven.  The Haven restaurant is open in Port unlike X.  The menu is the same everyday but way more options.  The outdoor dining is nice.  Haven is different from X some things are better and some not.  It comes down to what you feel makes a cruise exceptional.  You probably need to experience both to make a decision.  

[LadyShiva]

Regarding butlers, I had our Apex Retreat butler request I be quiet and listen to his 5 minute spiel that wasn't ended after 20 minutes.  🙄  Bad first impression, and he just kept dropping in my esteem throughout the week.  My cruising partner loved the pampering that arrived later and later each day, while I could have walked to the coffee shop myself and gotten her latte and my <whatever> in the time until he showed up with whatever he interpreted our standing order into that day.  Meanwhile, our room controls still thought it was snowing (seriously) and 32 degrees F in our room when we checked out in Miami.  Our butler still hadn't gotten the sensor fixed... but he had demanded we reinstall our Celebrity apps on our Android phones, rebooted our phones, etc... for a WALL SENSOR.

 

I realize the running issue with the butlers on both lines is me, though.  I'd rather they heard me when I said I really DON'T need assistance with working the room controls, but I would like presents to my room to be <non-peanut or shellfish>, please provide the wedge pillow from the pillow menu for my husband, etc.  Needy butlers (versus professional) irritate me--and yes, personal problem, I get it.  I am almost to the point of giving up and providing the 1 page summary of what we would appreciate from our butler for the week.  I thought it was incredibly rude when I saw another Cruise Critic member provide her 1 page summary, but I truly get the inspiration now. 

 

I gotta tell you, if I'm ever told to be quiet and listen by another butler, though--that's a call to a Hotel Director.  One and done. 😡  We still joke about how I will book Aqua versus Sky suites because I might run into the same underperforming butler.  *sigh*

[jean87510]

21 hours ago, RichYak said:

I, like you, no longer see good value in Celebrity's Retreat product. FWIW, After researching some other lines, I've decided to move to MSC Yacht Club next year. The more research I do, the happier I am with that choice. That said, I didn't do much research on NCL Haven so I can't help there.

I joined you.  Just moved my $9000 Beyond 11 day holiday 2023 cruise in AquaClass to Reflection 6 day AquaClass December 2024.  In place I put MSC Divinia Yacht Club December 28th, Executive/family Suite with discounts, $5800.  I had to pay the penalty but truthfully, it was a small price to pay to save thousands.  We usually try to go on the holidays anyway so moving to the Reflection worked out for us.  Plus on both ships we get the thermal spa area for free.

[Stem to Stern]

1 hour ago, LadyShiva said:

Needy butlers (versus professional) irritate me--and yes, personal problem, I get it.  I am almost to the point of giving up and providing the 1 page summary of what we would appreciate from our butler for the week.  I thought it was incredibly rude when I saw another Cruise Critic member provide her 1 page summary, but I truly get the inspiration now. 

 

I gotta tell you, if I'm ever told to be quiet and listen by another butler, though--that's a call to a Hotel Director. 

Kinda like your preference sheet when one charters a yacht.  Hee hee.  Totally understand especially when allergies are involved.  And the 20-minute butler's monologue is totally uncalled for.

[S18278C]

On 2/8/2023 at 4:55 PM, Tyler414 said:

I've been on Apex, Beyond and NCL Encore, however not in the suites.  Doubt I'll sail NCL ever again.

That's a shame to hear. I was on Beyond in December in the retreat and loved it. Will be hard to non retreat cruise in the future as a loyal celebrity customer. Taking our adult kids on NCL Encore in December 2023 in the Family suite with Haven and was expecting a similar experience. Celebrity didn't offer a similar room we could share without me winning the lottery to be able to swing it and sleep at night. I do love lobster and if that's on havens menu every day, who knows?

[luckyinpa]

just watched a vid about beyond retreat area. compared to the breakaway, getaway and bliss haven areas, beyond seems gigantic. is this correct or just how the vid was edited?

 

i see in a post above it says 200 suites in beyond vs 130 in haven, maybe thats why it's bigger?

 

secondarily. the suite restaurant and lounge on beyond really seem to overshadow the suite areas on oasis of the seas. which i just experienced in the past year. but then again. i can get a crown loft suite with balcony deeper than most on beyond for just 3K pp,