Ordering (partially) off the MDR menu when eating at the Haven Restaurant

[sherylc]

We will be sailing in the Haven on the Prima in a few weeks. I've seen both the MDR and the Haven dinner menus and noted that the MDR menu has a lot more options although both seem to stay the same the entire week. Is it possible to order perhaps an appetizer and a dessert (or any combination) off the MDR menu while other items off the Haven menu while eating in the Haven restaurant (We do this on non E-class Celebrity cruises all the time while in their Retreat). If yes, can they handle these type of orders when we sit down to eat, or do they have to be made in advance (and if so how far in advance)? Thanks all -- we have some pretty picky eaters who would do better with the MDR menu, but hate to miss the Haven Restaurant experience or that menu for others in our party. 

[ChiefMateJRK]

This one should be fun.

[PATRLR]

4 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

This one should be fun.

I'll start.

 

On our recent Viva cruise, we found nearly nothing in the MDR that was decent enough to order again.  To the point where the first time in our cruising history we decided to try the buffet for dinner (not good either).  I sure hope Haven folks have better quality food than the MDR in which case you aren't going to want anything that comes from the MDR.

Edited December 31, 2023 by PATRLR

[Two Wheels Only]

18 minutes ago, sherylc said:

If yes, can they handle these type of orders when we sit down to eat, or do they have to be made in advance (and if so how far in advance)? Thanks all -- we have some pretty picky eaters who would do better with the MDR menu, but hate to miss the Haven Restaurant experience or that menu for others in our party. 

 

It can be done but is a burden to the Haven restaurant staff. If it must be done and you don't want to involve your butler, let the restaurant know in advance. 

[debenson0723]

Prima MDR dinner menus change every night and you won't know which menu the chef has chosen for that night until later in the afternoon when it is posted. Maybe those that prefer to eat in the MDR can do that on some nights and those that want the Haven can eat there. Or if it's just an MDR dessert, go there after your Haven dinner. 

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, sherylc said:

We will be sailing in the Haven on the Prima in a few weeks. I've seen both the MDR and the Haven dinner menus and noted that the MDR menu has a lot more options although both seem to stay the same the entire week. Is it possible to order perhaps an appetizer and a dessert (or any combination) off the MDR menu while other items off the Haven menu while eating in the Haven restaurant (We do this on non E-class Celebrity cruises all the time while in their Retreat). If yes, can they handle these type of orders when we sit down to eat, or do they have to be made in advance (and if so how far in advance)? Thanks all -- we have some pretty picky eaters who would do better with the MDR menu, but hate to miss the Haven Restaurant experience or that menu for others in our party. 

You can have your butler serve the mixed dinner in your stateroom. One of the two will be cold when served since it is two different galleys. 
 

Taking waiters off the Haven dining room floor or galley staff to fetch food for you degrades the service for others in the Haven. 
 

If you want MDR food, dine in Hudson’s or The Commodore Room. 

Edited January 1 by BirdTravels

[IAcruising]

To make Bird's comment a bit clearer, your butler and/or the Haven restaurant staff will try to do anything you wish. The question is not whether you can, but whether you should.

 

Picky eaters belong in the buffet.

 

 

[wally4ever]

I've never been a Haven guest, but I always go to the specialty dining rooms... it would never occur to me to consider ordering a main dining room appetizer or dessert in the specialty DR, but I've definitely visited the main dining room earlier to grab a tasty-sounding appetizer before my reservations.

[sherylc]

Thanks all for the responses. I didn't realize they changed the MDR menu back to the rotating menus. That makes a big difference. We had the rotating menus on the Star when staying in the Haven (no Haven dining room) and we struggled to find anything good most days, so it looks like we will be doing a combination of the Haven Restaurant and Specialty Dining.  

[IAcruising]

7 minutes ago, sherylc said:

We had the rotating menus on the Star when staying in the Haven (no Haven dining room) and we struggled to find anything good most days

 

Wow. Just, wow. Are you sure you should be cruising on a mass-market cruise line?

 

[sherylc]

38 minutes ago, IAcruising said:

 

Wow. Just, wow. Are you sure you should be cruising on a mass-market cruise line?

 

LOL. The specialty dining was very good as were the breakfast and lunch in their "modified Haven option", but the quality of the food in the MDR was disappointing. We have done several Celebrity cruises and got used to Luminae level food, but even the MDR food on other cruise lines seemed better than NCL this last August  (and unfortunately it wasn't just us -- many diners sent food back around us, which we didn't do.) 

[ChiefMateJRK]

46 minutes ago, IAcruising said:

 

Wow. Just, wow. Are you sure you should be cruising on a mass-market cruise line?

 

Be careful my friend.  You're just about to that line....🤣

[ChiefMateJRK]

5 minutes ago, sherylc said:

(and unfortunately it wasn't just us -- many diners sent food back around us, which we didn't do.) 

Just to clarify.  You saw MANY diners send food back in an MDR?  Did you take any photos??  This is fascinating.😀

[zqvol]

25 minutes ago, sherylc said:

LOL. The specialty dining was very good as were the breakfast and lunch in their "modified Haven option", but the quality of the food in the MDR was disappointing. We have done several Celebrity cruises and got used to Luminae level food, but even the MDR food on other cruise lines seemed better than NCL this last August  (and unfortunately it wasn't just us -- many diners sent food back around us, which we didn't do.) 

Over 50 cruises and I have never seen food sent back in the MDR, ever!

[debenson0723]

Huge difference in the dining venues on the Star vs.the Prima.

[sherylc]

34 minutes ago, zqvol said:

Over 50 cruises and I have never seen food sent back in the MDR, ever!

Wow, they have always gotten it right and served hot? Our whole table actually finished our food while waiting for them to serve a steak to our 4th that was anywhere near mid-rare (first was well done and then just took forever for a replacement). Maybe the people around you are willing to spend thousands of dollars and then just accept whatever comes, regardless of quality.

[ChiefMateJRK]

8 minutes ago, sherylc said:

Maybe the people around you are willing to spend thousands of dollars and then just accept whatever comes, regardless of quality.

You spend thousands of dollars for a cheapo MDR meal?

[IAcruising]

41 minutes ago, debenson0723 said:

Huge difference in the dining venues on the Star vs.the Prima.

 

Absolutely true (Sun vs. Prima), but "struggling" to find something good, every day, on a rotating menu in the MDR, is a bit over the top. In my very humble opinion.

 

[gizfish]

OP, ignore the people trying to shame you for your request.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with requesting things from the MDR menu in the Haven restaurant.  There is also nothing wrong with requesting something off menu to be made for you if it's something they would have the ingredients for in the Haven restaurant galley.  Yes, my comment sounds entitled.  But paying the price for the Haven comes with this entitlement.  If for some reason they can't accommodate you, they can tell you no.  But you are paying for yeses when you plunk down that Haven cabin money.  If it's possible, you can contact the Haven maitre'd earlier in the day to notify them of your request.  Sending a runner, butler or even a waiter to use the staff elevators and passageways to obtain your special request is not going to wreck havoc on the dinner service for the Haven restaurant.  If it's a dessert you want, a good idea is to have your butler get it and leave it in your room to have for "second dessert" later.

[david_sobe]

I think NCL may not be thrilled about doing this anymore.  First lets rewind time.  Remember 15 years ago and it was almost standard with people getting specialty restaurant appetizers for free in the Haven restaurant.  They stopped that around 2013.   Back in 2010 when I was on the Epic and NCL still had lobster night in the MDR the Haven staff would tell people they could still order lobster from the MDR and have it delivered to the Haven restaurant.

Fast forward to more current time.  When I was on the Encore in 2020, Onda was sold out and even the concierge could not score a reservation (yet). I asked the concierge if we could have Onda delivered to the Haven restaurant.  There were 4 of us and it would be too cramped in the cabin.  The concierge looked at me like I had 2 heads and reluctantly said it would have to be ok with the Haven restaurant manager.  I could tell this was going to be a problem so I dropped it.  A reservation came up at Onda so it became a moot point anyway.

My hunch is they really do not like bringing outside food into the Haven restaurant.  Its not a great look for them plus its a staffing issue.  Once people see one table do it...."Oh look, where did they get those sliders?"  Then more tables will start and its a slippery slope.

IMHO those were the old days of NCL where they catered to people more.   Could this still happen?  Yes but they may not be thrilled about it.  

[G-DawgMN]

13 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Just to clarify.  You saw MANY diners send food back in an MDR?  Did you take any photos??  This is fascinating.😀

 Don’t you watch and listen to other diners when you’re on a cruise to see what they think of the food?

  I certainly like to people watch and will keep an eye out if there’s loud drama at any nearby tables. 

 

 

[ChiefMateJRK]

24 minutes ago, KSSS2013 said:

 Don’t you watch and listen to other diners when you’re on a cruise to see what they think of the food?

  I certainly like to people watch and will keep an eye out if there’s loud drama at any nearby tables. 

 

 

That's funny.  No, I don't pay any attention to what others are doing.  DW sometimes does, but I tell her I couldn't care less what they eat, wear, talk about, etc.  If we're fortunate enough to get a table by the window (which we almost always do because we tend to show up at opening time in the MDR venues), I'm more interested in ocean watching than people watching.

[dexddd]

We sailed Prima Sept. 2022 and found the Haven menu quite good.  Even some special items once in a while.  That being said, we sailed MSC on same ship in February and October 2023 in YC and the food stunk second time around.  Only make mention as we've seen reports here about savings pressures but not sure how deep they've gone in regards to Haven.

[sherylc]

13 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

You spend thousands of dollars for a cheapo MDR meal?

It's the problem of having the Haven on a "non-Haven" ship. We were in the 3 bedroom garden villa, so yes, we did spend quite a bit on the suite (2 week cruise). But only included dinner option was MDR. We ate in the Specialty restaurants several times and sometimes in our suite. But the times in the MDR (except for one exceptional night) were unimpressive. But the SERVICE -- OMG! We could barely tie our shoes without someone trying to do it for us! Escorted us everywhere (even to dinner no matter where we ate), escorted off ship, then found if we ever got in line for tenders and escorted back on. So the service was great. They just need to figure out a Haven restaurant for these older ships for dinner -- they have it figured out for breakfast and lunch. 

[slavetoabunny]

We were in the Haven on Escape in December.  Except for our two specialty dining meals, we ate all other meals in the Haven restaurant.  Even though the menu is fixed, we never had an issue finding something we enjoyed (it helped that lobster is on the regular menu!) and every meal was delicious.  The only thing special I requested was for a toasted bagel to eat with the lox that was on the breakfast buffet.