LIVE-Prima Feb 2-9, 2024 from Galveston-Western Caribbean with PICs, Haven (HE)

[mking8288]

Noticed your DL flight is on those B737's - good thing they are the 700 series, not the MAX's.  Boeing and partners pushing the original design envelopes too far - oops.  

 

Are you packing a standalone USB battery pack ?  It's been a game changer for me over the past 7 to 8 years, gone from 5000 mAH to 10,000 mAH as more "juice" is needed these days.   eBags' MotherLode Junior (carry-on) was briefly on sale, down to just $50 plus $5 flat rate shipping - a steal vs. its MSRP, paid $85 for mine ... Looks & sounds like you are all set ... do check out onboard (if you can & ask around) how this "new" MDR dining system is working out, since for our Spring trip - they aren't taking reservations unless it is for a party of 6 or more in the Hudson & Commodore.   

[graphicguy]

58 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Noticed your DL flight is on those B737's - good thing they are the 700 series, not the MAX's.  Boeing and partners pushing the original design envelopes too far - oops.  

 

Are you packing a standalone USB battery pack ?  It's been a game changer for me over the past 7 to 8 years, gone from 5000 mAH to 10,000 mAH as more "juice" is needed these days.   eBags' MotherLode Junior (carry-on) was briefly on sale, down to just $50 plus $5 flat rate shipping - a steal vs. its MSRP, paid $85 for mine ... Looks & sounds like you are all set ... do check out onboard (if you can & ask around) how this "new" MDR dining system is working out, since for our Spring trip - they aren't taking reservations unless it is for a party of 6 or more in the Hudson & Commodore.   

Hey Henry, thanks.....I've go so many portable battery banks from my corporate traveling days, I'm overflowing.  Plus, I've got probably 3 MagSafe battery packs for my iPhone.  Plus, I've got the MagSafe Apple Watch, AirPods, and iPhone foldable all in one charger.  If I run out of juice, it's my fault.

 

I think I've even got a 25,000 mAH portable battery with USB-A and C, as well as lighting connections.  It's a big honking battery.  I don't like traveling with it, but used it when I was in Europe for a month.

 

Biggest issue I have with those Mother Lode backpacks from eBags is they don't have a back strap to slip over my roll aboard.  I don't like slinging on a back pack to my back anymore.  I'd rather just haul it on top of my rollaboard.  Speaking of which, I get email offers about Hartman luggage these days.  Don't know if it's still good or not, but some attractive pricing on what (used to be?) indestructible luggage.  Just noticed they were taken over by Samsonite, too (same as eBags).  

 

Been eyeballing this, however......https://www.ebags.com/winter-sale/mother-lode-evd-backpack/148690XXXX.html?dwvar_148690XXXX_color=Pine Green&cgid=winter-sale

 

Thanks for the heads up!

[graphicguy]

Getting "gear" in place to take with me.  

 

Aside from the clothes I spoke about, I also pack tech.

 

I find the best time to find deals on "tech" is right after Christmas when people have returned what they received to places like Best Buy.  Found an M2 Apple 13.6" MacBook Air-512GB  for $750 and change.  No box, but comes with the charger and Apple's full warranty.  Snagged that.

 

Also got this as an open box...https://www.insta360.com/product/insta360-go3 for $279...with box and accessories.  Usually $399.

 

Used $100 worth of Best Buy points.  Sold my iPad 11" for $250.  Will just use the MacBook Air since it looks like I'm going to be doing video editing, too.  Will use it as an iTunes Media player while I'm gone.

 

The thing about having time on my hands, just like shopping cruises, I have time to shop the daylights out of everything.  That's either a good, or a bad, thing!  LOL!

 

 

[MagnoliaBlossom]

2 hours ago, graphicguy said:

 

Can't remember, are you going to be at the M&G?  Looking very forward to meeting you on board!

 

 

Yep, I’ll be there.  Signed up as Georgia and Dwain

[graphicguy]

7 minutes ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

Yep, I’ll be there.  Signed up as Georgia and Dwain

Gotcha!  Looking forward to seeing you!

[MagnoliaBlossom]

2 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Gotcha!  Looking forward to seeing you!

ggTexasgal and I are meeting at 5;00 on embarkation day at the Whisky Bar. Joint us if you like.  I’ll be wearing a shabby chic (more shabby than chic these days) white hat.

Edited January 14 by MagnoliaBlossom

[graphicguy]

49 minutes ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

ggTexasgal and I are meeting at 5;00 on embarkation day at the Whisky Bar. Joint us if you like.  I’ll be wearing a shabby chic (more shabby than chic these days) white hat.

Got it marked in my calendar. Thanks for the invite!

[MagnoliaBlossom]

It’s always such a treat to meet people who’ve your chatted online with for so many years.

[RocketMan275]

6 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Got it marked in my calendar. Thanks for the invite!

 

21 minutes ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

It’s always such a treat to meet people who’ve your chatted online with for so many years.

Can I stop by?

[graphicguy]

6 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

 

Can I stop by?

Not my party.  @MagnoliaBlossom is the hostess with the mostest!!

[MagnoliaBlossom]

But of course, we’ve been faceless friends for way too long.

[graphicguy]

Age old question about OBC....

 

Some of you NCL vets know this, but OBC is exactly that....ON BOARD Credit....only can be used on board.

 

Just spoke to the pre-cruise concierge (all of them are always so nice) with my list of reservations she's taking care of for me.  

 

So, have quite a bit of OBC.  While I'm mildly curious about the FAS+ package, unless I'd be knee deep in the "premium spirits".  Don't know that I'd utilize it enough to warrant the cost.

 

Internet?  Yeah...sure!  I'll be posting this review live.  So, unlimited would be helpful.  But, upgraded internet alone is about ⅓ the cost of FAS+.

 

2 more Specialty Dinners?  I already have 5.

 

The question becomes can I use the OBC for excursions?  I know I can.  But, I've been to these ports numerous times.  I know where to go and what I want to do (if I want to do them).

 

Will I drink the "premium" drinks and appreciate them?  Given I only pay for the price difference over $15 (+ grats)?

 

These are rhetorical questions I'm asking myself as we're about 2 weeks away from embarkation!

[JIMESOPUS]

@graphicguy The Viva offered a Behind the Scenes tour that included the bridge and engine control room, I think it was around $150, was going to use our OBC for that but our tour got canceled. I wish the OBC was refundable or be able to use it in the casino. MSC allows OBC to be used on the DSC, say that three times fast.

[graphicguy]

1 minute ago, JIMESOPUS said:

@graphicguy The Viva offered a Behind the Scenes tour that included the bridge and engine control room, I think it was around $150, was going to use our OBC for that but our tour got canceled. I wish the OBC was refundable or be able to use it in the casino. MSC allows OBC to be used on the DSC, say that three times fast.

Great suggestion.  I know I get an abbreviated "behind the scenes tour".  But, this might be something I'd consider.  Thanks!

[laudergayle]

@graphicguy  Buy the GF a “wish you were here” gift/s.  Jewelry, perfume, chocolate 🥰

[graphicguy]

9 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

@graphicguy  Buy the GF a “wish you were here” gift/s.  Jewelry, perfume, chocolate 🥰

Yeah....good idea!  She was supposed to come up for the weekend but we got a snow storm.  Looks like it's next weekend or wait until I get back. Thanks!

[bluefish17]

1 hour ago, graphicguy said:

Age old question about OBC....

 

Some of you NCL vets know this, but OBC is exactly that....ON BOARD Credit....only can be used on board.

 

Just spoke to the pre-cruise concierge (all of them are always so nice) with my list of reservations she's taking care of for me.  

 

So, have quite a bit of OBC.  While I'm mildly curious about the FAS+ package, unless I'd be knee deep in the "premium spirits".  Don't know that I'd utilize it enough to warrant the cost.

 

Internet?  Yeah...sure!  I'll be posting this review live.  So, unlimited would be helpful.  But, upgraded internet alone is about ⅓ the cost of FAS+.

 

2 more Specialty Dinners?  I already have 5.

 

The question becomes can I use the OBC for excursions?  I know I can.  But, I've been to these ports numerous times.  I know where to go and what I want to do (if I want to do them).

 

Will I drink the "premium" drinks and appreciate them?  Given I only pay for the price difference over $15 (+ grats)?

 

These are rhetorical questions I'm asking myself as we're about 2 weeks away from embarkation!

I'm wondering the same thing about the premium plus but also about availability. Could you confirm what types of bourbon in Haven bar and maybe take a picture of the Haven bar menu? Thanks!

[graphicguy]

14 minutes ago, bluefish17 said:

I'm wondering the same thing about the premium plus but also about availability. Could you confirm what types of bourbon in Haven bar and maybe take a picture of the Haven bar menu? Thanks!

There are some menus floating around here somewhere for FAS and FAS+.  Haven Bar Menu is the same as anywhere else on the ship.  Plus, the brands of liquors seem to be in flu depending on the ship and the itinerary.  I don't anything definitive.

 

The Haven Bar only differs that their mixologists are exactly that.  And, they are excellent. You can get drinks from them you can't get anywhere else on the ship.  Just request something from them and they'll make it, if they have the ingredients.  I know of some who actually mix their own flavor additives.

 

There's not a menu of what they can or can't make, though.

Edited January 19 by graphicguy

[cruiseny4life]

41 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

There are some menus floating around here somewhere for FAS and FAS+.  Haven Bar Menu is the same as anywhere else on the ship.  Plus, the brands of liquors seem to be in flu depending on the ship and the itinerary.  I don't anything definitive.

 

The Haven Bar only differs that their mixologists are exactly that.  And, they are excellent. You can get drinks from them you can't get anywhere else on the ship.  Just request something from them and they'll make it, if they have the ingredients.  I know of some who actually mix their own flavor additives.

 

There's not a menu of what they can or can't make, though.

I'll add that even when they don't have the exact ingredient for a recipe, they'll be able to figure out a way to make the drink almost exactly like it's supposed to taste. The bartenders in Haven are absolutely fabulous! My husband doesn't drink alcohol, but loves the various Haven embarkation drinks (they're all non-alcoholic). He has a collection of recipes and gave them to Maria and Rommel on Pr1ma. I forgot what they didn't have, but they substituted something and he was a very happy man sipping on his drink the entire cruise! 

[graphicguy]

Bourbons....I know they have Buffalo Trace (my preferred bourbon) and 1792 (like it, too).  They have Woodford, which is extra charge.  I wouldn't pay more for Woodford, ever.

 

I also found if you. tell them what you want, they'll make it.  But, the Haven doesn't have "drink of the day" (DOTD) like they do at the pool bars.  Those are mostly pre-mixed, anyway.

Edited January 19 by graphicguy

[bluefish17]

Thanks for the tips. I'm more concerned about availability than menus I guess. For example Pommery Rose champagne was on the menu in Haven on Viva on my last cruise but wasn't always in stock. They told me they only were allocated 2 bottles and when that was consumed, they had to order more.

 

And I found not all bars have the same things. e.g. Whiskey Bar had 1792 Full Proof, Haven did not.

[graphicguy]

Not a wine fan.  So, can’t help you on the wine/champagne choices.  

[Seas2mountains]

On 1/19/2024 at 11:11 AM, bluefish17 said:

Thanks for the tips. I'm more concerned about availability than menus I guess. For example Pommery Rose champagne was on the menu in Haven on Viva on my last cruise but wasn't always in stock. They told me they only were allocated 2 bottles and when that was consumed, they had to order more.

 

I found if they didn’t have the wine in the Haven or at a bar we tended to hang out at, the bartender or bar servers would find a way to get that wine back in stock by the following day as long as it was somewhere on the ship. We have had servers go to other bars to get the wine we liked when placing our wine order.  Of course, we tipped them for this and never asked them to go to another bar, they did this without us asking. 
 

For FAS+ or P+, we drink a lot of San Pelegríno so we tend to go through about 6-8 bottles a day for two of us. We also like trying the higher end wines and spirits. After having morning coffee, I like sipping on hot or cold herbal teas from Starbucks while playing trivia. My DH usually gets some sugary Starbucks drink, too. It’s also convenient to grab some of the boxed waters to take off the ship for excursions.  We definitely get our $ worth from the upgraded drink package. 

Edited January 20 by Seas2mountains

[Charon13]

Hopefully this isn't a redundant question AND apologies for jumping into the middle of y'alls cruise conversation...

Looking at the Haven Bar menu I see a section called Premium Plus Selection (see page 4 on the attached) which lists rums, gins, scotch, etc with prices next to them.  If we have the standard Unlimited Open Bar Package (ie dinks up to $15) is the price indicated on the menu the upcharge price?  To complicate this question we are looking at upgrading to the Premium Plus Beverage Package (my wife enjoys a nice champagne and I am fond of a nice scotch or whisky after dinner).  If we have the Plus package would those items on the Haven Bar menu with prices be available to us without an upcharge?  We did an NCL cruise a couple of years ago with the Plus package and everything on the ship from Veuve to Macallan Quest was available without an upcharge is this still the case?

Menu NCL Bar-Haven.pdf

[cruiseny4life]

On 1/20/2024 at 4:14 PM, Charon13 said:

Hopefully this isn't a redundant question AND apologies for jumping into the middle of y'alls cruise conversation...

Looking at the Haven Bar menu I see a section called Premium Plus Selection (see page 4 on the attached) which lists rums, gins, scotch, etc with prices next to them.  If we have the standard Unlimited Open Bar Package (ie dinks up to $15) is the price indicated on the menu the upcharge price?  To complicate this question we are looking at upgrading to the Premium Plus Beverage Package (my wife enjoys a nice champagne and I am fond of a nice scotch or whisky after dinner).  If we have the Plus package would those items on the Haven Bar menu with prices be available to us without an upcharge?  We did an NCL cruise a couple of years ago with the Plus package and everything on the ship from Veuve to Macallan Quest was available without an upcharge is this still the case?

Menu NCL Bar-Haven.pdf 1.62 MB · 7 downloads

Hey there! If you have Unlimited Open Bar Package, the price on the menu is the upcharge price. Remember to include 20% gratuity on top of it. With the Premium Plus you will not pay the upcharge. You will need to pay for the flights, but those with either package receive a discount. 

 

There are some beverages (called experiences) that you will have to pay for with Premium Plus. Think super duper fancy premium drinks like Dom Perignon or Johnny Walker Blue/Don Julio 1942, etc. I don't see them on the menu, so it's probably based on whatever is available onboard.