Booked elsewhere this time - anybody with The Haven experience on NCL?

[AliceIn]

Lots of good info here. Just wanted to add my name to the Haven beats Disney concierge list. Hands down, in our opinion. We'll take NCL anyday.

We are Platinum on both Disney (all concierge) and NCL (all Haven, plus one massive suite on the Dawn that doesn't have a Haven).

No comparison. Don't forget to include all the extras you get on Norwegian. We need to factor in drink prices on Disney, not on NCL. While Disney gives you free nightly happy hour with cheap brands, NCL gives you free unlimited beverages up to 15$ good any time, any place. We paid significantly less for a 9 night Eastern Caribbean out of NYC on NCL in April than we did for a 7 night Eastern Caribbean on Disney in October. Disney can try to sell me that the "Disney charm" is worth the price. It's not.

Are you going to Harvest Caye? Can't remember if you are doing an Eastern or Western. Harvest Caye Beach cabanas are cheaper and seriously make CC cabanas look ghetto.

Yes, we are going to Harvest Caye. We got a Cabana on Castaway Cay, and we really enjoyed that. Do you know how hard it is for a first time NCL Haven passenger to be able to book one? When are you able to start requesting those?

 

[AlexandNessa]

Yes, we are going to Harvest Caye. We got a Cabana on Castaway Cay, and we really enjoyed that. Do you know how hard it is for a first time NCL Haven passenger to be able to book one? When are you able to start requesting those?

No worries. You'll get access at 100 days out in the Haven (everyone else 90 days). Book quickly as they do sell out (book when your window opens). I mean, there is a full private bath with each cabana! Air conditioned! Plenty of comfy seating. A fridge, not a chilling box that is near the sun. Enjoy!

If you have the beverage package, I recommend accumulating a supply and taking it off the ship with you discreetly. Food is priced about the same as your local Applebees.

 

[cruiser21]

You will love the Baltic itinerary. We did it in 2013 on the NCL Star it's still one of our favorite cruises even with it being on an older ship. It'll be even better on the Getaway or Breakaway.

Looks like we'll be putting the Baltic off to 2019. I just booked the Bliss in Alaska. We've done 2 European cruises and one land trip to Europe, but still haven't been to Alaska. Sailing to Alaska on a brand new ship seemed like a no brainer.



FYI NCL is offering 50pp deposits until Monday. I booked through Costco. I got free drinks, free restaurants and a 450.00 Costco cash card. 200.00 deposit. Someday will try the Haven, booked a mini suite on this cruise.

 

[AliceIn]

Looks like we'll be putting the Baltic off to 2019. I just booked the Bliss in Alaska. We've done 2 European cruises and one land trip to Europe, but still haven't been to Alaska. Sailing to Alaska on a brand new ship seemed like a no brainer.



FYI NCL is offering 50pp deposits until Monday. I booked through Costco. I got free drinks, free restaurants and a 450.00 Costco cash card. 200.00 deposit. Someday will try the Haven, booked a mini suite on this cruise.

I will need to look into the Baltic cruises, it sounds heavenly.

 

[KalamityJane]

Looks like we'll be putting the Baltic off to 2019. I just booked the Bliss in Alaska. We've done 2 European cruises and one land trip to Europe, but still haven't been to Alaska. Sailing to Alaska on a brand new ship seemed like a no brainer.



FYI NCL is offering 50pp deposits until Monday. I booked through Costco. I got free drinks, free restaurants and a 450.00 Costco cash card. 200.00 deposit. Someday will try the Haven, booked a mini suite on this cruise.

DO you know if the deposits are refundable? I've been on the fence and Haven looks amazing. Hubby REALLY wants to do Alaska. Also, I can't seem to tell if there will be water slides on the Bliss.

 

[AlexandNessa]

Haven deposits are refundable (yet another perk of NCL over Disney concierge).

Haven deposits for the two of us are 1500$ a sailing, unless you have a cruise deposit.

Note the 50$ pp deposit is good for minisuite and below categories.

 

[firsttimemom]

After 12 DCL cruises, we are considering the 2br on the bliss to alaska in 2018. DCL hasn't released their pricing yet but NCL's price is close to the top end of my vacation threshold so I'm pretty sure DCL will be too much. I've loved reading all the positive haven reviews! It will make leaving DCL just a little bit easier.

 

[cruiser21]

DO you know if the deposits are refundable? I've been on the fence and Haven looks amazing. Hubby REALLY wants to do Alaska. Also, I can't seem to tell if there will be water slides on the Bliss.

I know on some cruises they offer the 3rd and 4th passenger free in the 5 free offer deal, and this includes the Haven. I remember pricing out the Escape a month or so ago, and it was only 6,200 for the 4 of us in the Haven. This was an offseason cruise. I believe October. I thought that was an incredible price for four people in concierge.

 

[cruiser21]

After 12 DCL cruises, we are considering the 2br on the bliss to alaska in 2018. DCL hasn't released their pricing yet but NCL's price is close to the top end of my vacation threshold so I'm pretty sure DCL will be too much. I've loved reading all the positive haven reviews! It will make leaving DCL just a little bit easier.

The ship looks amazing and it was built for Alaska. I'm guessing there will be a lot of indoor viewing areas, and hopefully a covered pool and hot tubs.

 

[AlexandNessa]

The ship looks amazing and it was built for Alaska. I'm guessing there will be a lot of indoor viewing areas, and hopefully a covered pool and hot tubs.

The Bliss Haven has a two-tier observation deck.

We have a group of six families who are ditching DCL and doing the Escape this fall. Folks could get their families of four in a balcony or minisuite for 2100$ or 2350$ compared to 6k in a balcony on DCL. Ridic. I wouldn't even be on here, but we are burning a non-refundable concierge deposit on our last DCL cruise.

 

[KalamityJane]

I know on some cruises they offer the 3rd and 4th passenger free in the 5 free offer deal, and this includes the Haven. I remember pricing out the Escape a month or so ago, and it was only 6,200 for the 4 of us in the Haven. This was an offseason cruise. I believe October. I thought that was an incredible price for four people in concierge.

We always go off season, so I should wait for one of those offers! We have 5 people

 

[cruiser21]

We always go off season, so I should wait for one of those offers! We have 5 people

They have that offer now.

 

[kaseyC]

Looks like we'll be putting the Baltic off to 2019. I just booked the Bliss in Alaska. We've done 2 European cruises and one land trip to Europe, but still haven't been to Alaska. Sailing to Alaska on a brand new ship seemed like a no brainer.



FYI NCL is offering 50pp deposits until Monday. I booked through Costco. I got free drinks, free restaurants and a 450.00 Costco cash card. 200.00 deposit. Someday will try the Haven, booked a mini suite on this cruise.

We have the Bliss booked for the November 2018 Panama Canal. Very excited about this ship.

The Bliss Haven has a two-tier observation deck.

We have a group of six families who are ditching DCL and doing the Escape this fall. Folks could get their families of four in a balcony or minisuite for 2100$ or 2350$ compared to 6k in a balcony on DCL. Ridic. I wouldn't even be on here, but we are burning a non-refundable concierge deposit on our last DCL cruise.

We have one more non-refundable deposit left for DCL as well. Have been moving it around for about 2 years. I think I'm going to just book a quick 4 night cruise in the off season to be done with it.

 

[KalamityJane]

We have the Bliss booked for the November 2018 Panama Canal. Very excited about this ship.

See, Panama Canal is my bucket list cruise I will look at their ports. Kids are at the age where Alaska should be put off for a year or so (youngest is 4 so he can't do a lot of excursions).

 

[AlexandNessa]

We have the Bliss booked for the November 2018 Panama Canal. Very excited about this ship.



We have one more non-refundable deposit left for DCL as well. Have been moving it around for about 2 years. I think I'm going to just book a quick 4 night cruise in the off season to be done with it.

This is exactly is our situation. We moved our reservation for two years also before i took pity on my TA. We're doing a 5-night double dip on the Dream to say saynora. And that will really be it, until DCL can match its pricing to what it can deliver.

We have four upcoming reservations on NCL. Most excited about the WBTA from Copenhagen to NYC in 10/2018 (Breakaway). Free drinks, shorex credits, enough upcharge dining, free WiFi in the Haven for a fraction of what DCL wants for its WBTA. And that is the cruise that will make us Platinum Plus on NCL. Their rewards program also beats DCL's by a mile.

Personally, I think that as DCL continues to price themselves higher and higher without any real added benefits, more and more people (like us) will branch out and realize that DCL isn't worth THAT much extra. Sure, you'll have your diehards who wouldn't dream of considering anything else under penality of blasphemy. But how many times can you be happy doing the same old, tired itineraries (and let's face it, any time DCL offers a special itinerary, it is offered at "very special prices.").

Ok, I guess I've said I'm over DCL in about a dozen ways. I will bow out now.

 

[KalamityJane]

This is exactly is our situation. We moved our reservation for two years also before i took pity on my TA. We're doing a 5-night double dip on the Dream to say saynora. And that will really be it, until DCL can match its pricing to what it can deliver.

We have four upcoming reservations on NCL. Most excited about the WBTA from Copenhagen to NYC in 10/2018 (Breakaway). Free drinks, shorex credits, enough upcharge dining, free WiFi in the Haven for a fraction of what DCL wants for its WBTA. And that is the cruise that will make us Platinum Plus on NCL. Their rewards program also beats DCL's by a mile.

Personally, I think that as DCL continues to price themselves higher and higher without any real added benefits, more and more people (like us) will branch out and realize that DCL isn't worth THAT much extra. Sure, you'll have your diehards who wouldn't dream of considering anything else under penality of blasphemy. But how many times can you be happy doing the same old, tired itineraries (and let's face it, any time DCL offers a special itinerary, it is offered at "very special prices.").

Ok, I guess I've said I'm over DCL in about a dozen ways. I will bow out now.

Do you have kids? Just wondering the kid's club situation We had promised the kids a Disney cruise and the EBTA in May will be that, so I don't mind branching out. I've also looked at the new Carnival ships, they look amazing. Also, the newest MSC has some pretty incredible stuff on it.

 

[RedSox68]

We have always loved the Epic. I've never stayed in a a non-haven room but I know those get a ton of complaints because of the weird bathroom setup. We are bigger fans of the Breakaway, Getaway and Escape, with those they took the best of the Epic and added more outdoor spaces which was missed on the Epic.

Are you sure the Epic is sailing the Baltic? I thought the Getaway was sailing that itinerary in 2017 and the Breakaway in 2018? The Epic usually sails the Med.

What is the weird bathroom setup people complain about?

 

[kaseyC]

Do you have kids? Just wondering the kid's club situation We had promised the kids a Disney cruise and the EBTA in May will be that, so I don't mind branching out. I've also looked at the new Carnival ships, they look amazing. Also, the newest MSC has some pretty incredible stuff on it.

My two youngest DDs first non DCL cruise was the Epic's Inaugural TA crossing in June of 2010. They were 7 and 9. They had a blast in the kids club. They are now 15 and 13 and have sailed the Epic 2 more times and also the Star, Jade, Breakaway and Getaway. In between those we did a few DCL cruises. They have enjoyed all of the youth programming but seem to prefer NCL's and the main reason is because it's not so crowded. They are also now at the age where they make friends the first couple of nights in the club and then they are all off enjoying the ships activities as a group.

We did the Carnival Vista last summer for a 10 night Eastern Med. Loved it, so different than the Carnival of old. beautifully, tastefully decorated ship with so much to offer.

We are also trying MSC in 2018 for Spring Break and a UK and Iceland itinerary in June. Both new ships and their Yacht Club (similar to the Haven) gets very good reviews.

What is the weird bathroom setup people complain about?

The shower and toilet are separated in individual frosted glass cubicles (best way I can describe it) and the sink is part of the main room. Google images and there should be plenty of pictures. Very unpopular and they did not include them in the Breakaway class.

 

[OhioWDWDuo]

Thanks for starting this thread, OP! We are also considering NCL Haven vs. DCL concierge. Have done DCL both non-concierge and concierge before, but we'd be new to NCL. Considering the Epic for the Med. I am shocked at the price difference ( we're 2 adults).

Can the Haven be booked through a TA (i.e.- Costco) and would you receive the current NCL specials booking that way? Or do you need to book directly with NCL to receive the free drinks package, etc?

Does the Haven give an advantage in booking excursions early like DCL concierge does? Will the Haven concierge book excursions for you in advance or do you have to wait to be on the ship? I like the DCL process but willing to consider other comparable options.

Thanks very much!!!!!

 

[kaseyC]

Thanks for starting this thread, OP! We are also considering NCL Haven vs. DCL concierge. Have done DCL both non-concierge and concierge before, but we'd be new to NCL. Considering the Epic for the Med. I am shocked at the price difference ( we're 2 adults).

Can the Haven be booked through a TA (i.e.- Costco) and would you receive the current NCL specials booking that way? Or do you need to book directly with NCL to receive the free drinks package, etc?

Does the Haven give an advantage in booking excursions early like DCL concierge does? Will the Haven concierge book excursions for you in advance or do you have to wait to be on the ship? I like the DCL process but willing to consider other comparable options.

Thanks very much!!!!!

Yes, the Haven can be booked through a TA. The specials come from NCL so you will get those with whoever you book. I usually book my NCL cruises through a TA, usually one of the bulk online agencies, whoever gives me the most OBC. Since I know what I want and don't need any special services, I'm good with doing that. For example on our last Haven cruise on the Escape, we got all of the perks offered by NCL- free beverage package, gratuities, specialty dining and wifi plus the TA gave us $1200 in OBC.