HAL cruiser here, giving the Haven a tryout... what difference can I expect?

[Denverbri69]

I have two questions. 

 

First, with your HAL login you can see all your cruises, past & future. I have two cruises booked on NCL and only one of them was showing up when I logged into my account. I called NCL. I was told by the NCL customer service agent that on NCL each cruise needs its own specific login. It is correct? There is no way to have all your cruises listed in one login?

 

Second, for those that have cruised on both HAL and NCL what do you see are the differences between the two experiences? We usually stay in a Neptune Suite right across the hall from the Neptune Lounge. But, in doing some comparative research I notice that the Haven cabins are equally as nice and have a lot more facilities and features.

 

Thoughts?

 

We have booked Alaskan cruise on the Bliss May 4th, 2024 and Mediterranean/Transatlantic on the Getaway next November.  

[RocketMan275]

22 minutes ago, Denverbri69 said:

Second, for those that have cruised on both HAL and NCL what do you see are the differences between the two experiences? We usually stay in a Neptune Suite right across the hall from the Neptune Lounge. But, in doing some comparative research I notice that the Haven cabins are equally as nice and have a lot more facilities and features.

 

Thoughts?

 

We have booked Alaskan cruise on the Bliss May 4th, 2024 and Mediterranean/Transatlantic on the Getaway next November.  

I can't comment on viewing cruise history.

I have been on four HAL cruises and two NCL.  We have no plans to return to HAL since we like the Haven. 

Our biggest attraction to HAL was the huge aft neptune suite balconies.  We can do just as well with NCL after Haven suites.

We much prefer dining in the haven.  Here's a link you'll find useful.

HAL simply can't compare.

We would not cruise NCL except in the Haven.  

Nor can the Neptune Lounge compare to the Haven Lounge. 

While you can self-serve drinks in the Neptune Lounge that doesn't compare to the bartenders in the Haven Lounge.

The concierges in both cruises are fairly comparable except the NCL concierges will escort  you to the entertainment and greatly expedite debarkation.  They will escort  you past all the lines.

Specific questions?

[goldmom]

You should be able to see all your reservations when you log into your account.

 

If one of them is missing there is a place on the left side of the screen where it says something like "don't see your reservation"  fill in the info and hopefully the missing reservation will come up.

 

Been on many NCL cruises and never had to set up a separate account for each cruise.

 

Agree with above poster.  Been in Neptune Suites and Haven.  Haven is hands down the winner!

[Denverbri69]

34 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

I can't comment on viewing cruise history.

I have been on four HAL cruises and two NCL.  We have no plans to return to HAL since we like the Haven. 

Our biggest attraction to HAL was the huge aft neptune suite balconies.  We can do just as well with NCL after Haven suites.

We much prefer dining in the haven.  Here's a link you'll find useful.

HAL simply can't compare.

We would not cruise NCL except in the Haven.  

Nor can the Neptune Lounge compare to the Haven Lounge. 

While you can self-serve drinks in the Neptune Lounge that doesn't compare to the bartenders in the Haven Lounge.

The concierges in both cruises are fairly comparable except the NCL concierges will escort  you to the entertainment and greatly expedite debarkation.  They will escort  you past all the lines.

Specific questions?

Thanks!!!

[Denverbri69]

19 minutes ago, goldmom said:

You should be able to see all your reservations when you log into your account.

 

If one of them is missing there is a place on the left side of the screen where it says something like "don't see your reservation"  fill in the info and hopefully the missing reservation will come up.

 

Been on many NCL cruises and never had to set up a separate account for each cruise.

 

Agree with above poster.  Been in Neptune Suites and Haven.  Haven is hands down the winner!

Many thanks

[Ken the cruiser]

We've cruised on both HAL (11 cruises) and NCL (4 cruises) as well as with a few other cruise lines, but only once in a Neptune suite and once in The Haven.

 

First, we currently have 5 cruises booked with NCL, a B3B and a B2B. However, the B2B only shows up as "one" cruise when I log onto my account, even though they are advertised online as two separate cruises. It seems NCL chose to "link" the two legs together as one "combined" cruise with one booking number when we initially booked them through our TA. Not sure how that works if the fare for our cabin category on one of the legs goes down prior to final payment, and we want to refare it to get the lower fare applied. In any event, check your NCL confirmation to make sure your B2B wasn't "combined" under one booking number, as that might explain why you only see one cruise when you log into your account. BTW we also got only $100 SOBC for each 11-day cruise rather than $250 SOBC for the "combined" 22-day cruise. 🤔

 

As far as comparing the two cruise lines, my suggestion is don't but rather appreciate each one for what they "bring to the table". They are two totally different cruise lines, with different approaches when it comes to perk packages as well as catering to their guests, both in the entertainment and dining sectors, regardless of whether you are in a "suite" or not. But I will say The Haven does offer a unique "suite only" atmosphere on certain ships, such as the Getaway or any of their larger class ships, which you pay a serious price for, whereas not so much on their Jewel-class and smaller ships.

 

In fact, we had more fun and experienced more of the ship environment, especially when it came to dining in their specialty restaurants over half the time, when we cruised in an aft-facing Club Balcony cabin on the Jade on a 38-day Africa cruise last year (see my Live From thread in my below signature area if you're interested). 

 

Anyway, that's my 2 cents on the subject.

Edited November 29, 2023 by Ken the cruiser

[travelmatron]

In our opinion there are a several nicer perks with HAL.  The balconies are better, the free laundry service was great, and I think the king size bed could be separated. The single room suite cabins on HAL are larger and we felt, more comfortable, than the single room suite cabins on NCL. In the Haven though, there are many more choices to have additional rooms and bathrooms within your cabin.  That extra, private space is invaluable when traveling with older children or adults.  We were oversold on how good the Pinnacle restaurant was on HAL.  Very subjective, but it always disappointed us in some way, the service, the food, or the seating, just nothing special.  And unless there have been changes, it wasn't exclusively available for all meals with no extra charge as it is on most of the NCL cruises.  We love the Haven restaurants to the point that we don't cruise on NCL ships without one.  The small Neptune lounge with cold snacks doesn't begin to compare to the Haven's private bar/pool/sun deck. Outside the Haven there are many many more entertainment options available during more hours.  The atmosphere outside the Haven though can feel more crowded and somewhat hectic.  Some people enjoy that added energy, others do not.  The special Haven embarkation in most ports was great, and being able to disembark without a long line was even better. We enjoyed the HAL suites when we stayed in them.  Once we started staying in the Haven we've never been back. I think the Haven is also someone more expensive, so at some point we might reconsider.  Personally, I'd miss it.

[AlexandNessa]

We are 3* Mariners on HAL, all Neptune suites. We no longer sail them. They are fine, but nothing to get too excited about, other than itineraries. 

 

We are Sapphire on Norwegian all suites/Haven. This is our home.  We are just off Getaway Haven and have sailed Bliss Haven as well. Love the Breakaway+ class, but will happily sail Breakaway class over a Neptune suite any day. Our preference is to be on the same deck as the Haven lounge/bar (but no longer bother with Jewel class Haven, unless we're considering an OS or DOS).

 

With the drinks package, your own restaurant, and pool/sundeck area in the Haven, and the Neptune with no cocktails and only continental type foods ..  they don't come close in comparison. 

 

At any time, i have more than one Norwegian cruse booked and i can see them under my cruises no problem. I can see all past cruises as well. Never heard of needing a separate login for each cruise. 

[Denverbri69]

Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences and assessments.  Very enlightening. We are now more excited about our choices. 

[albingirl]

We sail on both.  Love them both.  I have to say HAL is quieter but has a charm that's hard to beat.  Great smaller ships which can go places the huge ships can't.  But, NCL has much better entertainment.  Food is generally the same on both lines, so that's not an issue.  We have fun on both.

[Laszlo]

On 11/29/2023 at 11:13 AM, Denverbri69 said:

I have two questions. 

 

First, with your HAL login you can see all your cruises, past & future. I have two cruises booked on NCL and only one of them was showing up when I logged into my account. I called NCL. I was told by the NCL customer service agent that on NCL each cruise needs its own specific login. It is correct? There is no way to have all your cruises listed in one login?

 

Second, for those that have cruised on both HAL and NCL what do you see are the differences between the two experiences? We usually stay in a Neptune Suite right across the hall from the Neptune Lounge. But, in doing some comparative research I notice that the Haven cabins are equally as nice and have a lot more facilities and features.

 

Thoughts?

 

We have booked Alaskan cruise on the Bliss May 4th, 2024 and Mediterranean/Transatlantic on the Getaway next November.  

 

 

The Getaway Haven Courtyard does NOT have a roof. You might want to consider getting Thermal Spa Passes for that November cruise

Edited December 1, 2023 by Laszlo