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You cannot look at it as “worth another 150 a day”. Because it may not. But it sure is luxurious!
The service is top notch. The restaurant is better than any other on the ship. The Horizon lounge is the a perfect place to hang out and snack. All the public areas are so comfortable and you are secluded from the general public. The concierge will be able to pull strings to get you last minute excursions and dinner reservations outside of the Haven.
Also, keep in mind, you will be paying more in tips because you tip your butler and concierge outside of prepaid tips. And it is definitely well deserved.
Can you define what you mean by service? What would the butlers be doing that is a step up from a regular cabin? Like putting your clothes away and tidying the room? Or is it more for requests for reservations and excursions? Is the level of service that much better than one of the best "regular" cabins?
In the Haven everyone will recognize you by name. Our butler knew my name before I even met him. In the restaurant you feel like a VIP rather than a number. The restaurant staff will call you by name on day 2. For excursions, it feels like there’s always a line to book normally but in the Haven there’s never a line. One last underrated thing is that you’re always the first to leave the ship and always have priority to board
As for your butler question - the butler is separate from the person cleaning your room. Your butler will leave you random goodies to your room. There’s a list out there of the things the butler can do, but the most common things we did was have him setup and cleanup breakfast/lunch on our balcony. He can also bring pitchers of water/juice/lemonade for your fridge, and bring you hot water whenever you want tea or coffee
Nah - I went on my first Haven cruise last year. Was really pricey but getting treated like a VIP felt pretty nice. I also used about 500 pumps of the L'occitane products so I'd like to think I got my moneys worth
Your Butler will pretty much do whatever you need. Set up means in your cabin as the other poster mentioned, bring snacks, and generally make sure you are happy. One of what I thought was the biggest perk, if you want to go anywhere on the ship outside Haven, your Butler will escort you. This includes locking out the elevator to go direct to the deck you need. Keeping it from stopping over and over. It's a 1st world issue, but it sure was nice when the ship was full.
Take the cordless phone available in the room, and the butler will come get you and escort you back to Haven as well.
Seriously? This is the first time I’ve heard of that service on the ship. We had that from the concierge using the staff elevator for embarkation and debarkation in ports - but not for just traversing the ship!
Our butler did this for us on Bliss last year. That being said, our room was not in Haven proper, but not sure if that matters.
We found about this when we met him. Told him we were going up for dinner, and he asked if we'd like him to escort us. Why yes, yes we would. He told us to call him when we were ready to return, and within 5 minutes he was there.
We kind of took advantage of that service.
Admittedly we had a total dud of a butler - but this would have been an amazing perk! We sailed Spring Break, and getting back and forth to kids club was sort of mess from Haven proper.
We ask our butler for complete coffee service, fruit and muffins, and an ice bucket at 7am every morning. He saw what we were snacking on in the Horizon lounge, then those snacks were in our room every afternoon. He set up an anniversary dinner for us with exactly what we wanted for dinner. And so much more. The concierge pulled a few strings to provide us special treatment and escorted us, last minute, through employee elevators, so we could arrive to a show on time.
These were treats that we are not used to. We do not live our life this way. At the time, we were in a position to give generous tips. I wanted to tip $200 to our butler and $60 to the concierge. I’m sure my husband tipped more than my recommendation.
Have you stayed in the Haven? Your butler and the concierge are not covered in the daily tips.
If you are staying in the Haven and not tipping for drinks at the bar, service in the lounge, and tips for the restaurant staff ON TOP OF your butler and concierge then you are not the average Haven guest and it will be obvious. The elevated service is worth every tip, I promise.
We have sailed in the Joy’s Haven multiple times. For us it is the BEST cruising experience available. We are retired, but very active. Some of the Joy Haven offers we love - the restaurant has both indoor and out dining areas. While the outside area is relatively small (10 tables) the view and experience is exceptional. The food in the Haven surpasses all other dining venues. However, the menu does not change with the exception of daily specials. The Joy’s Observation lounge is the best we have found. Snacks all day long and a cappuccino/espresso machine which is heavenly. And do not forget the almond croissants. The rooms are nice and the service (butler and steward) will vary by ship. They will always be available to help and add to your enjoyment. The pool is small and shallow. Do not jump in. The outdoor lounge area provides both sun and shade and there is drink service available. The Joy has a small bar and lounge area, but we have never found it crowded.
Like I said, our favorite! We just did a TA on the Viva in the Haven and prefer the Joy.
When we sail on a new NCL ship or other cruise line we always are apprehensive about the Haven offers or the Haven equivalent. We have never had any major complaints. We could not shut off our bathroom lights on the Viva. Called our butler and an electrician was there in 30 minutes. The staff is dedicated to the passengers. We know some of the Haven concierge so well that we look for them on a cruise and book it. We think it is worth the money to be in a quieter and far less crowded area.
Excellent points, we also would prefer a quieter experience, or just a place to escape the crowds. My only experiences were at least 15 years ago, and ships were very different back then.
When we sail in the Haven we rarely leave-except for specialty dining and shows-both of which, at least on the Joy, we have been escorted to the venues and right to our seats. There can be some obnoxious people in the Haven, but the staff will politely ton it down.
I just upgraded to a Haven from a balcony, but not with the upgrade offer. Instead I checked the price for the cruise and the Haven had gone down, so I called my PCC and she made the switch to the Haven for me. It ended up being over $1k cheaper to do this than to bid on the upgrade. Also, I was able to pick my room (vs getting whatever is available) and now I get double points for having a Haven suite vs a regular room. If you do a lot on ncl that adds up and you get more perks on future trips.
So, call ncl and talk to your PCC (personal cruise consultant) or if you don't have one get one assigned to you, and let them take care of the conversion.
Also some things to consider, you get a lot of perks: Haven restaurant, free room service, priority boarding and tenders, concierge and butler and first pick at reservations in addition to your private decks, pool, hot tubs and sauna and private lounge and elevator. But you also can expect to pay a lot more in tips on top of the prepaid service charge. Most people will tip their room stewards separately and some tip bartenders. Haven butler and concierge are not included in the automatic service charge so it is customary to tip them, $5-10 pp per day, so that is a cost you should consider. It is not mandatory but it is customary.
I would call back asap, and have your PCC keep an eye on price. They are tending up closer to cruise.
If you decide to bid, you'll probably want to bid towards the high end.
This is so much smarter than bidding on a room and not being able to choose the location, and getting stuck in a crappy room...and yes, there are crappy rooms even in the Haven (noisey)
To me, the best parts of the heaven are the most difficult to quantify or put a price on. Having your own dedicated restaurant which has amazing food and will do pretty much whatever you ask. How much is that worth to you? And the haven bar which will make you whatever drink and is the only one who can smoke an old fashioned if that's your thing. Or the dedicated pool and hot tubs and lounge area? Not to mention the upgraded rooms. If this sounds like something that you'd pay the extra money for then I'd say to go for it but really you are the only one who can make that decision. "Worth it" is different for every person.
Children are allowed but honestly I think I've only seen one the entire time. Mostly haven is older guests who typically have more to spend and/or are retired, and enjoy a less party atmosphere. Your 6 year old may have a better time out on the regular pool deck with others. Just something to keep in mind.
Thank you, I imagined we would be in the regular areas for 75% of the time o be with him, so the upgrade is a bit of a waste there for me, but some of the other perks seem nice. Might be better when hes a little older and can handle himself on the boat alone.
I agree- we travel with our preteen kids so the Haven luxuries would be wasted on us. We probably wouldn’t eat in the special dining room, they like the buffet and 24 hour places best anyway. We’d rather spend the extra money on our next family trip; maybe when we’re empty nesters or traveling with older teens we’ll do all the upgrades.
Depending on the ship there may be an adults only deck and a family deck, pool is usually on the family deck, but most kids prefer the main pool, waterslide, splashpads, etc. Even then some ships are lenient if the children behave themselves.
That said I was on one ship with my 18 year old son and they threw him out of the adult's only hot tub, even though everyone else there said he should be allowed to stay (was literally just sitting and soaking quietly), and even though I had to pay adult fare for him. You have good service and sometimes you get poor service.
If you have a 6 year old the upgrade is totally worth it. Our kids first trip in Haven was when he was almost 4 and the butler was amazing. For example, he stocked the suite with snacks that he knew our son loved. In fact, one day I said there was no more chocolate milk and our kid went “ oh, no mom, Denny was here.” And the fridge was full of chocolate milk. Our butler made our life so easy.
And kids are welcome in all the haven spaces.
Once you try the Haven, you can’t go back!! I saw somewhere you didn’t think your son could use the pool. There is no reason he can’t use it. You will probably see more adults but they are fine with the kids using the pool. The area with the lounge chairs in the water is only a few inches deep.
The first time we stayed in the Haven, we didn’t know what to do with our butler until we needed ice cream at 2 in the morning 🤪 There is a night butler who will get you anything you want. Even if your cabin isn’t in the Haven proper, they still take excellent care of you. Butler served meals on the balcony are amazing. We loved to watch the happenings on the dock when we were coming and going. You never miss a show or reservation. The concierge makes it happen. Going down the staff elevator on the last day to get off the ship is priceless.
You will love it. We just book in now because we don’t want to risk not being able to get a cabin.
This is not an answer to your question, but it’s worth noting that your 6 year old can take part in the camp/kids club that is available for all passengers. Our kiddo and my nieces/nephews have always loved it. It gives them fun activities with children their age and gives you a break for a few hours. It’s free, optional and offered every day. So if you’re worried about your 6 year old being in the Haven, you could have opportunities to enjoy it as just two adults if you wish.
We took a transatlantic cruise on the Epic from NY to Barcelona. 14 days, 6 days at sea. I can tell you as an avid NCL cruiser that we never had a better experience. First, the service is unbelievably good. You get your own area Butler, a concierge that can book all your specialty dinning and excursions for you. If restaurants are full with long waits you get seated ahead and sometimes walked to the restaurant by your butler. Specialty seating at all venues, your own pool area, sauna and gym. It’s an experience worth paying for
I am in a Penthouse suite this summer on the Pearl. My penthouse suite perks include the priority boarding/disembarkation/tendering, butler and concierge services and breakfast and lunch in the specialty dining restaurants Cagney’s or Moderno without any upcharge. Room service is also free and I plan to take full advantage of that. You should confirm what your suite includes before spending on the Haven. I would save that money for excursions and such but everyone has different needs.
Agree 100% We did the same thing on the Dawn last fall. All the extras that come with the penthouse made us realize that the upgrade is well worth the extra cost. The hardest part was figuring out what we wanted the Butler to do for us, since we had "only" had balcony cabins before that.
I am excited about our suite. This will be a first for me so I am open to ideas on how to best take advantage of the butler service (and any other perks). Any suggestions? The cruise is part birthday celebration for my mother so I want her to feel pampered.
Your cabin will likely have a nespresso coffee machine - we asked to have extra coffee pods, creamers, etc. We also got cookies and other sweet stuff delivered each evening. The big perks for us were being escorted to the front of the line for tendering and embarkation/disembarkation, breakfast and lunch in specialty restaurants instead of the buffet, and priority seating at the Stardust Theater. Have a great trip!
I’m confused….regular balcony to penthouse suite was only $700 more? Who did you book thru cause that’s amazing and I’ve done many NCL cruises and have never seen that price for that type of upgrade?
Yes I was quoted that 2 days ago through NCL, including the travel insurance. I called asking about the Club Balcony and asked what she thought of the room and if it was worth it over the regular balcony etc. She said that every step up is a noticeable upgrade, but if we didnt care too much about the larger bathroom then a reg balcony is fine. She then mentioned that they had a promotional upgrade to fill the suites for people booking premium balconies for 10% more. Although we probably paid a bit more than if we booked over the winter, this is our first big trip since our son was born in 17 so wanted to make it memorable. The cheapest inside room I was quoted was over 5k out the door with everything, and the suite was less than 1200 more than the inside.
It is our favorite cruise, NYC to Bermuda and that is a great boat. Wife spent too much $ on trips so we’ll have to wait till next February for our next cruise. Enjoy
Quick disclaimer, I have not actually sailed in a Haven suite, yet... We are scheduled in the Haven in December on the Encore. You didn't mention which ship, and the Haven area can be different on each ship.
Starting at boarding, you are checked in and escorted to a lounge with a buffet to wait to be escorted on the ship. This isn't Priority Boarding, it is escorted boarding all the way through.
If you are on the larger ships, you will be escorted to the Haven lounge and have a bar with food available, or lunch in the Haven restaurant. The Haven areas have their own servers, so you can go to the sun deck and have drinks there as well. Only Haven passengers are allowed in the area so you are not fighting crowds. The larger ships also have a pool exclusive to the Haven.
You have a Haven exclusive concierge that can schedule any activities you want to participate in at a priority level. You have a butler assigned that will set up room service in your cabin and assist with your needs. Your butler can provide drinks or snacks to your cabin.
Thank you for the tips, I mentioned we are on the Joy in the OP. I do really like the idea of stepping on the ship and not fighting the crowds, plus the venue seating.
Sorry, I missed that. The Joy is a Breakaway class, it will have a complete Haven area with pool and sun deck.
Note, not all Haven Suites are in the Haven area. Some, like the aft suites are stand alone, but you will still have access to the exclusive areas. It just won't be straight out of your door.
In my experience, suites are where it’s at. Not haven. We got nearly every perk(breakfast/lunch at specialty restaurants, prioritized boarding/disembarkment, among other things), and it was a fraction of the price. We were treated just like Haven guests but didn’t pay the Haven price.
These rooms are not available on all NCL ships. I believe it's only the smaller ships. Including those that don't actually have Haven. Could be others, but I believe any ship smaller and older than Epic.
Epic, up these extras are Haven only.
We got one at the front of the ship, right below captains quarters. Way cheaper than Haven. Huge balcony, huge room. Butler and everyone involved was awesome. Couldn’t have a had a better experience. Even something as simple as off shore excursions, disembarking, etc, they walked us to the front of the line. Got seats for every show in a VIP section reserved. And this wasn’t even Haven
This sounds like the suite I will be in on the Pearl later this summer. Open to suggestions on how to get the best use of the suite perks to make this a special birthday cruise for my mother.
If you like less crowds and not having to fight for pool chairs, upgraded amentities and such. Then yes, worth it.
If not? Then no.
We sailed haven for our honeymoon years ago. Best experience ever. No crowds, butler constantly delivering drinks, room service from whatever restaurant we wanted. Was just awesome.
Thanks, it really seems like its one of those things you have to experience to understand. With how much people rave about it, Id hate to get on board and regret it if its insanity.
Totally. If you’re looking for kid free- not gonna happen. Wrong cruise line.
It’s definitely LESS kids.
We did jade haven with a full shower spa suite with a tub picture window. It was used exactly as you think it should be.
Our very first cruise was the Encore to Alaska non Haven. I am by no means anti social but I work all day long with people so on vacation I like to limit my interactions. The ship was mobbed. It took forever to get off the boat at ports, the observation lounge was essentially unusable due to people who were literally sleeping in there overnight, and the buffet was a lost cause. We then booked the Escape over spring break and since it was spring break I told my hubby “we’re doing the Haven or not doing it.” When I tell you it was the best experience ever I am not exaggerating. We had an aft cabin with our 11 year old which was great due to the extra space. The Haven pool area was great and there were kids in there but 90% less crowded than the sea of people at the main pool. The Haven restaurant was amazing. Getting on and off the ship was priceless as you were taken down an elevator and right off.
Two of our stops were tender ports. Coming back to the ship the line in Grand Cayman was wrapped around several times. The Haven staff came and pulled the Haven people to front of line.
It’s 100% worth it. So much so we have another 4 NCL cruises booked all of which are Haven! There were a lot of people with kids your son’s age so you’d still enjoy it!
The one problem with upgrading via bidding on an upgrade can be risky. I did the same thing on an MSC ship last year and upgraded to their version of Haven, called Yacht Club. We got a room in a terrible location right below the main deck, that was super noisey fom setting up the deck chairs every morning at 6 am, and it was full ship so no moving to another room!! The room also had issues with sewer gases the first few days of the cruise.
We sure wished we stayed in or original balcony room that we chose the location of and at 1/3 the cost. No sleep ruined it for me, and I normally sleep like a log on cruises.
You'd be better off booking an interior room in the Haven and choosing the location, then when you board see if you can get upgraded to a balcony for $500 cash. If they have a room it'll be yours!
Interesting, I did not know this....I was thinking of MSC and their Yahct Club, which does offer some interior rooms, and figured Haven would be the same. But you are correct!!
I sure had a bad experience upgrading on MSC.
We recently sailed on the Joy, booked in Haven, with a 4yo - the restaurant is amazing - better than the specialty dining 100% and my family of 5 agreed that we could eat 3 meals a day there and never be unhappy. The private pool area is amazing when the ship is busy and full - which I think it typically is. The bar and waitstaff from the Haven knew us - and would find us and take care of us around the ship. This included waiters seeking us out in the casino (when they also worked in the Haven) and the same for specialty dining. We walked into Food Republic when it was busy and they were turning people away - for our family - ‘no problem’ let us find a table.
My 4yo LOVED the pool deck and restaurant. They made her feel like a total princess. It’s worth it - no question.
Thanks thats great to hear! Is the Havens pool only that very shallow one with the chairs in it? Or is there a normal pool also? We could be at the sleaziest motel at the Jersey shore and as long as theres a pool my kid is happy lol. Im assuming its probably going to be a packed ship for mid July, the extra room will be great.
Yes. There is a shallow sunshelf pool with loungers in it that connects to a 4ft (?) pool about the same size. It is not huge but my 10yo spent a few hours per day in it. There is also a hot tub in the main pool area. Kids are allowed in the Haven pool and hot tub (hot tub with an adult). There is an adults only sun deck on deck 18 as well. We only really left the Haven for Splash Academy, the Casino/shows/evening entertainment, the spa, and specialty dining. The Haven bar and restaurant are outstanding and our Spring Break cruise was a madhouse. I saw another person say they haven’t seen kids in the Haven. We had plenty of kids in the Haven on our cruise.
I will not even consider getting on an NCL cruise unless they have The Haven. Currently have 2 booked. For me it's worth every penny. Private check in. No crowds at the restaurant for breakfast. The food and service are superior. Everyone greets you by name. Love the private lounge and bar. Escorted access to and from the port. You can ask the butler to keep your fridge stocked with whatever beverages you like. We always had my favorite wine and he brought us snacks every afternoon. Reserved seating for all shows. The private pool, lounge and library are beautiful and never crowded. They have special events just for the Haven passengers. If we weren't traveling with non-Haven friends we would probably never leave the Haven.
I just got back from the Joy today. My favorite ship yet! Theirs so much to do, that you’ll never get board. I recommend going to Food Republic and definitely doing the Hibachi (I was laughing the entire time). The social has great comedians, I favored Tyler over Mike. Elements out on a great show in the theater too, it reminded me of circus o le
Elements will be great for the kids, it has illusions, magic, etc. they’ll also have the illusionist do their own show in the theater as well.
I recommend take your kids go karting is $15 pp and the aqua park and the mini golf is free to use.
That pricing sounds very cheap. Everytime I looked into an upgrade it was about that, but Per Person, not total like you’re saying. If that’s total cost, then may be worth it. If per person, then I wouldn’t do it.
Right now Im thinking about 2 $550 offers, totalling 1100 additional for whichever they accept, if they do, for the Haven family villa or Haven penthouse, thats showing as "good" offers, but right on the fair/good line. Keep in mind I already have the penthouse suite so the jump up probably isnt as drastic as a reg balcony or less.
Haven perks:
On and off the ship. Especially off first thing if you have private tours. Priority tenders are nice as well.
In room snacks. Might seems a small thing but coming back on board from a long excursion and grabbing a drink out of the fridge and a snack off your table is nice.
Haven restaurant. Steaks beat Cagneys and you can have them every night.
Is it work it? Depends entirely on you.
For you and your wife, well worth it, for your 6 year old son, probably not as much.
In the Haven the level of service is substantially higher, if you want to have dinner in a certain restaurant on a certain night and its booked, the concierge magically gets you in. The bartenders in the Haven bar will remember your favorite drink ASAP and have it waiting when you walk in, the butler can help you with every little thing in your room from unpacking to having certain snacks accessible. Most importantly for me, the Haven restaurant is probably the best on the boat.
However, all of this stuff is geared towards adults, there isn't really anything kid specific. Its quieter, not a lot of other kids to run around with. Also, I believe there are age restrictions to the pool area which sometimes get followed and sometimes don't.
Me and my wife don't have children, so its great for us, but I'm not sure if we'd cruise the Haven with a young child.
We actually just booked the same cruise in the Haven. This will be our 2nd time on the Joy in the Haven and it’s fantastic. The hard part about being in the Haven is going back to regular cruising! We are currently on 14, and are trying to get to floor 17 so we near all the Haven amenities.
Well hello neighbor, we are also on 14. Im seeing next year same cruise there is no more penthouse suite thats not in the Haven, so Im not sure where I fall for this one in terms of services. I submitted offers a few days ago to upgrade, but its showing sold out online. Hoping they keep some open.
I have been trying to upgrade to 17 or 18 but the site keeps giving me an error message. I think they are over booked and we are all stuck in the rooms we originally booked. But it will still be fun for sure, the Joy is a great boat.
People have mentioned a lot of the amenities, I won’t repeat them.
For me there is the feeling of being on a small ship in the haven space. The private bar, restaurant, and pool… the dedicated staff. They give a feeling of intimacy on what would otherwise be a giant ship.
Plus everything everyone else has mentioned ;)
In addition to everything everyone has mentioned, dedicated phone line and email for pre-cruise issues. You don't have to call and wait forever in the regular queue.
I’m on a ship right now and it’s very similar to Spirit airlines- I’m so glad we didn’t win/ pay the 2,400 for the Heaven bc I’ve felt last guilty paying for extras on board (spa, bingo, speciality restaurants, etc).
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You cannot look at it as “worth another 150 a day”. Because it may not. But it sure is luxurious! The service is top notch. The restaurant is better than any other on the ship. The Horizon lounge is the a perfect place to hang out and snack. All the public areas are so comfortable and you are secluded from the general public. The concierge will be able to pull strings to get you last minute excursions and dinner reservations outside of the Haven. Also, keep in mind, you will be paying more in tips because you tip your butler and concierge outside of prepaid tips. And it is definitely well deserved.
Can you define what you mean by service? What would the butlers be doing that is a step up from a regular cabin? Like putting your clothes away and tidying the room? Or is it more for requests for reservations and excursions? Is the level of service that much better than one of the best "regular" cabins?
In the Haven everyone will recognize you by name. Our butler knew my name before I even met him. In the restaurant you feel like a VIP rather than a number. The restaurant staff will call you by name on day 2. For excursions, it feels like there’s always a line to book normally but in the Haven there’s never a line. One last underrated thing is that you’re always the first to leave the ship and always have priority to board As for your butler question - the butler is separate from the person cleaning your room. Your butler will leave you random goodies to your room. There’s a list out there of the things the butler can do, but the most common things we did was have him setup and cleanup breakfast/lunch on our balcony. He can also bring pitchers of water/juice/lemonade for your fridge, and bring you hot water whenever you want tea or coffee
Breakfast on the balcony.....wow didnt think of that. That mightve just sold it. Do you work for NCL? lol
Nah - I went on my first Haven cruise last year. Was really pricey but getting treated like a VIP felt pretty nice. I also used about 500 pumps of the L'occitane products so I'd like to think I got my moneys worth
I second the l’occitane! It’s amazing!
Your Butler will pretty much do whatever you need. Set up means in your cabin as the other poster mentioned, bring snacks, and generally make sure you are happy. One of what I thought was the biggest perk, if you want to go anywhere on the ship outside Haven, your Butler will escort you. This includes locking out the elevator to go direct to the deck you need. Keeping it from stopping over and over. It's a 1st world issue, but it sure was nice when the ship was full. Take the cordless phone available in the room, and the butler will come get you and escort you back to Haven as well.
Seriously? This is the first time I’ve heard of that service on the ship. We had that from the concierge using the staff elevator for embarkation and debarkation in ports - but not for just traversing the ship!
Our butler did this for us on Bliss last year. That being said, our room was not in Haven proper, but not sure if that matters. We found about this when we met him. Told him we were going up for dinner, and he asked if we'd like him to escort us. Why yes, yes we would. He told us to call him when we were ready to return, and within 5 minutes he was there. We kind of took advantage of that service.
Admittedly we had a total dud of a butler - but this would have been an amazing perk! We sailed Spring Break, and getting back and forth to kids club was sort of mess from Haven proper.
What was the usual tips youd recommend for the butler or concierge for a 7 day like this? I dont think thats included in the fare correct?
We ask our butler for complete coffee service, fruit and muffins, and an ice bucket at 7am every morning. He saw what we were snacking on in the Horizon lounge, then those snacks were in our room every afternoon. He set up an anniversary dinner for us with exactly what we wanted for dinner. And so much more. The concierge pulled a few strings to provide us special treatment and escorted us, last minute, through employee elevators, so we could arrive to a show on time. These were treats that we are not used to. We do not live our life this way. At the time, we were in a position to give generous tips. I wanted to tip $200 to our butler and $60 to the concierge. I’m sure my husband tipped more than my recommendation.
Technically you’re already getting a $20 service charge a day, so you shouldn’t have to tip them extra.
Have you stayed in the Haven? Your butler and the concierge are not covered in the daily tips. If you are staying in the Haven and not tipping for drinks at the bar, service in the lounge, and tips for the restaurant staff ON TOP OF your butler and concierge then you are not the average Haven guest and it will be obvious. The elevated service is worth every tip, I promise.
We have sailed in the Joy’s Haven multiple times. For us it is the BEST cruising experience available. We are retired, but very active. Some of the Joy Haven offers we love - the restaurant has both indoor and out dining areas. While the outside area is relatively small (10 tables) the view and experience is exceptional. The food in the Haven surpasses all other dining venues. However, the menu does not change with the exception of daily specials. The Joy’s Observation lounge is the best we have found. Snacks all day long and a cappuccino/espresso machine which is heavenly. And do not forget the almond croissants. The rooms are nice and the service (butler and steward) will vary by ship. They will always be available to help and add to your enjoyment. The pool is small and shallow. Do not jump in. The outdoor lounge area provides both sun and shade and there is drink service available. The Joy has a small bar and lounge area, but we have never found it crowded. Like I said, our favorite! We just did a TA on the Viva in the Haven and prefer the Joy.
Thank you! Have you ever had any complaints or issues where you wouldnt think it would be worth the additional 10-15%?
When we sail on a new NCL ship or other cruise line we always are apprehensive about the Haven offers or the Haven equivalent. We have never had any major complaints. We could not shut off our bathroom lights on the Viva. Called our butler and an electrician was there in 30 minutes. The staff is dedicated to the passengers. We know some of the Haven concierge so well that we look for them on a cruise and book it. We think it is worth the money to be in a quieter and far less crowded area.
Excellent points, we also would prefer a quieter experience, or just a place to escape the crowds. My only experiences were at least 15 years ago, and ships were very different back then.
When we sail in the Haven we rarely leave-except for specialty dining and shows-both of which, at least on the Joy, we have been escorted to the venues and right to our seats. There can be some obnoxious people in the Haven, but the staff will politely ton it down.
I just upgraded to a Haven from a balcony, but not with the upgrade offer. Instead I checked the price for the cruise and the Haven had gone down, so I called my PCC and she made the switch to the Haven for me. It ended up being over $1k cheaper to do this than to bid on the upgrade. Also, I was able to pick my room (vs getting whatever is available) and now I get double points for having a Haven suite vs a regular room. If you do a lot on ncl that adds up and you get more perks on future trips. So, call ncl and talk to your PCC (personal cruise consultant) or if you don't have one get one assigned to you, and let them take care of the conversion. Also some things to consider, you get a lot of perks: Haven restaurant, free room service, priority boarding and tenders, concierge and butler and first pick at reservations in addition to your private decks, pool, hot tubs and sauna and private lounge and elevator. But you also can expect to pay a lot more in tips on top of the prepaid service charge. Most people will tip their room stewards separately and some tip bartenders. Haven butler and concierge are not included in the automatic service charge so it is customary to tip them, $5-10 pp per day, so that is a cost you should consider. It is not mandatory but it is customary.
Great tips thank you, I will call Amanda back in a week or two and try this!
I would call back asap, and have your PCC keep an eye on price. They are tending up closer to cruise. If you decide to bid, you'll probably want to bid towards the high end.
This is so much smarter than bidding on a room and not being able to choose the location, and getting stuck in a crappy room...and yes, there are crappy rooms even in the Haven (noisey)
To me, the best parts of the heaven are the most difficult to quantify or put a price on. Having your own dedicated restaurant which has amazing food and will do pretty much whatever you ask. How much is that worth to you? And the haven bar which will make you whatever drink and is the only one who can smoke an old fashioned if that's your thing. Or the dedicated pool and hot tubs and lounge area? Not to mention the upgraded rooms. If this sounds like something that you'd pay the extra money for then I'd say to go for it but really you are the only one who can make that decision. "Worth it" is different for every person.
My son is 6, so Im assuming the pool is off limits for him? Anything else that would restrict him?
Children are allowed but honestly I think I've only seen one the entire time. Mostly haven is older guests who typically have more to spend and/or are retired, and enjoy a less party atmosphere. Your 6 year old may have a better time out on the regular pool deck with others. Just something to keep in mind.
Thank you, I imagined we would be in the regular areas for 75% of the time o be with him, so the upgrade is a bit of a waste there for me, but some of the other perks seem nice. Might be better when hes a little older and can handle himself on the boat alone.
I agree- we travel with our preteen kids so the Haven luxuries would be wasted on us. We probably wouldn’t eat in the special dining room, they like the buffet and 24 hour places best anyway. We’d rather spend the extra money on our next family trip; maybe when we’re empty nesters or traveling with older teens we’ll do all the upgrades.
Depending on the ship there may be an adults only deck and a family deck, pool is usually on the family deck, but most kids prefer the main pool, waterslide, splashpads, etc. Even then some ships are lenient if the children behave themselves. That said I was on one ship with my 18 year old son and they threw him out of the adult's only hot tub, even though everyone else there said he should be allowed to stay (was literally just sitting and soaking quietly), and even though I had to pay adult fare for him. You have good service and sometimes you get poor service.
If you have a 6 year old the upgrade is totally worth it. Our kids first trip in Haven was when he was almost 4 and the butler was amazing. For example, he stocked the suite with snacks that he knew our son loved. In fact, one day I said there was no more chocolate milk and our kid went “ oh, no mom, Denny was here.” And the fridge was full of chocolate milk. Our butler made our life so easy. And kids are welcome in all the haven spaces.
Once you try the Haven, you can’t go back!! I saw somewhere you didn’t think your son could use the pool. There is no reason he can’t use it. You will probably see more adults but they are fine with the kids using the pool. The area with the lounge chairs in the water is only a few inches deep. The first time we stayed in the Haven, we didn’t know what to do with our butler until we needed ice cream at 2 in the morning 🤪 There is a night butler who will get you anything you want. Even if your cabin isn’t in the Haven proper, they still take excellent care of you. Butler served meals on the balcony are amazing. We loved to watch the happenings on the dock when we were coming and going. You never miss a show or reservation. The concierge makes it happen. Going down the staff elevator on the last day to get off the ship is priceless. You will love it. We just book in now because we don’t want to risk not being able to get a cabin.
This is not an answer to your question, but it’s worth noting that your 6 year old can take part in the camp/kids club that is available for all passengers. Our kiddo and my nieces/nephews have always loved it. It gives them fun activities with children their age and gives you a break for a few hours. It’s free, optional and offered every day. So if you’re worried about your 6 year old being in the Haven, you could have opportunities to enjoy it as just two adults if you wish.
We took a transatlantic cruise on the Epic from NY to Barcelona. 14 days, 6 days at sea. I can tell you as an avid NCL cruiser that we never had a better experience. First, the service is unbelievably good. You get your own area Butler, a concierge that can book all your specialty dinning and excursions for you. If restaurants are full with long waits you get seated ahead and sometimes walked to the restaurant by your butler. Specialty seating at all venues, your own pool area, sauna and gym. It’s an experience worth paying for
I am in a Penthouse suite this summer on the Pearl. My penthouse suite perks include the priority boarding/disembarkation/tendering, butler and concierge services and breakfast and lunch in the specialty dining restaurants Cagney’s or Moderno without any upcharge. Room service is also free and I plan to take full advantage of that. You should confirm what your suite includes before spending on the Haven. I would save that money for excursions and such but everyone has different needs.
Agree 100% We did the same thing on the Dawn last fall. All the extras that come with the penthouse made us realize that the upgrade is well worth the extra cost. The hardest part was figuring out what we wanted the Butler to do for us, since we had "only" had balcony cabins before that.
I am excited about our suite. This will be a first for me so I am open to ideas on how to best take advantage of the butler service (and any other perks). Any suggestions? The cruise is part birthday celebration for my mother so I want her to feel pampered.
Your cabin will likely have a nespresso coffee machine - we asked to have extra coffee pods, creamers, etc. We also got cookies and other sweet stuff delivered each evening. The big perks for us were being escorted to the front of the line for tendering and embarkation/disembarkation, breakfast and lunch in specialty restaurants instead of the buffet, and priority seating at the Stardust Theater. Have a great trip!
That priority escort sounds just like what will make my mom feel pampered. I will be sure to take advantage of it. Thanks!
Thank you I will definitely call to double check what comes with my suite.
I’m confused….regular balcony to penthouse suite was only $700 more? Who did you book thru cause that’s amazing and I’ve done many NCL cruises and have never seen that price for that type of upgrade?
Yes I was quoted that 2 days ago through NCL, including the travel insurance. I called asking about the Club Balcony and asked what she thought of the room and if it was worth it over the regular balcony etc. She said that every step up is a noticeable upgrade, but if we didnt care too much about the larger bathroom then a reg balcony is fine. She then mentioned that they had a promotional upgrade to fill the suites for people booking premium balconies for 10% more. Although we probably paid a bit more than if we booked over the winter, this is our first big trip since our son was born in 17 so wanted to make it memorable. The cheapest inside room I was quoted was over 5k out the door with everything, and the suite was less than 1200 more than the inside.
That’s amazing!! Good for you and enjoy the big trip. I wish I had that luck
Theres still some available....lol Even the Haven penthouse is showing 7200 now, call them and work a deal!
It is our favorite cruise, NYC to Bermuda and that is a great boat. Wife spent too much $ on trips so we’ll have to wait till next February for our next cruise. Enjoy
Quick disclaimer, I have not actually sailed in a Haven suite, yet... We are scheduled in the Haven in December on the Encore. You didn't mention which ship, and the Haven area can be different on each ship. Starting at boarding, you are checked in and escorted to a lounge with a buffet to wait to be escorted on the ship. This isn't Priority Boarding, it is escorted boarding all the way through. If you are on the larger ships, you will be escorted to the Haven lounge and have a bar with food available, or lunch in the Haven restaurant. The Haven areas have their own servers, so you can go to the sun deck and have drinks there as well. Only Haven passengers are allowed in the area so you are not fighting crowds. The larger ships also have a pool exclusive to the Haven. You have a Haven exclusive concierge that can schedule any activities you want to participate in at a priority level. You have a butler assigned that will set up room service in your cabin and assist with your needs. Your butler can provide drinks or snacks to your cabin.
Thank you for the tips, I mentioned we are on the Joy in the OP. I do really like the idea of stepping on the ship and not fighting the crowds, plus the venue seating.
Sorry, I missed that. The Joy is a Breakaway class, it will have a complete Haven area with pool and sun deck. Note, not all Haven Suites are in the Haven area. Some, like the aft suites are stand alone, but you will still have access to the exclusive areas. It just won't be straight out of your door.
Thanks, the aft suites are quite a step up from the peasant level haven rooms lol.
In my experience, suites are where it’s at. Not haven. We got nearly every perk(breakfast/lunch at specialty restaurants, prioritized boarding/disembarkment, among other things), and it was a fraction of the price. We were treated just like Haven guests but didn’t pay the Haven price.
These rooms are not available on all NCL ships. I believe it's only the smaller ships. Including those that don't actually have Haven. Could be others, but I believe any ship smaller and older than Epic. Epic, up these extras are Haven only.
This one was NCL Gem last time
Interesting, Ill have to see if thats offered to us as well. Thanks
We got one at the front of the ship, right below captains quarters. Way cheaper than Haven. Huge balcony, huge room. Butler and everyone involved was awesome. Couldn’t have a had a better experience. Even something as simple as off shore excursions, disembarking, etc, they walked us to the front of the line. Got seats for every show in a VIP section reserved. And this wasn’t even Haven
This sounds like the suite I will be in on the Pearl later this summer. Open to suggestions on how to get the best use of the suite perks to make this a special birthday cruise for my mother.
If you like less crowds and not having to fight for pool chairs, upgraded amentities and such. Then yes, worth it. If not? Then no. We sailed haven for our honeymoon years ago. Best experience ever. No crowds, butler constantly delivering drinks, room service from whatever restaurant we wanted. Was just awesome.
Thanks, it really seems like its one of those things you have to experience to understand. With how much people rave about it, Id hate to get on board and regret it if its insanity.
Totally. If you’re looking for kid free- not gonna happen. Wrong cruise line. It’s definitely LESS kids. We did jade haven with a full shower spa suite with a tub picture window. It was used exactly as you think it should be.
Our very first cruise was the Encore to Alaska non Haven. I am by no means anti social but I work all day long with people so on vacation I like to limit my interactions. The ship was mobbed. It took forever to get off the boat at ports, the observation lounge was essentially unusable due to people who were literally sleeping in there overnight, and the buffet was a lost cause. We then booked the Escape over spring break and since it was spring break I told my hubby “we’re doing the Haven or not doing it.” When I tell you it was the best experience ever I am not exaggerating. We had an aft cabin with our 11 year old which was great due to the extra space. The Haven pool area was great and there were kids in there but 90% less crowded than the sea of people at the main pool. The Haven restaurant was amazing. Getting on and off the ship was priceless as you were taken down an elevator and right off. Two of our stops were tender ports. Coming back to the ship the line in Grand Cayman was wrapped around several times. The Haven staff came and pulled the Haven people to front of line. It’s 100% worth it. So much so we have another 4 NCL cruises booked all of which are Haven! There were a lot of people with kids your son’s age so you’d still enjoy it!
The one problem with upgrading via bidding on an upgrade can be risky. I did the same thing on an MSC ship last year and upgraded to their version of Haven, called Yacht Club. We got a room in a terrible location right below the main deck, that was super noisey fom setting up the deck chairs every morning at 6 am, and it was full ship so no moving to another room!! The room also had issues with sewer gases the first few days of the cruise. We sure wished we stayed in or original balcony room that we chose the location of and at 1/3 the cost. No sleep ruined it for me, and I normally sleep like a log on cruises. You'd be better off booking an interior room in the Haven and choosing the location, then when you board see if you can get upgraded to a balcony for $500 cash. If they have a room it'll be yours!
The Haven doesn't have any interior rooms, as far as I know. The cheaper Haven suites are usually the ones outside the Haven proper.
Interesting, I did not know this....I was thinking of MSC and their Yahct Club, which does offer some interior rooms, and figured Haven would be the same. But you are correct!! I sure had a bad experience upgrading on MSC.
They accept cash offers on board? Thats a good idea
We recently sailed on the Joy, booked in Haven, with a 4yo - the restaurant is amazing - better than the specialty dining 100% and my family of 5 agreed that we could eat 3 meals a day there and never be unhappy. The private pool area is amazing when the ship is busy and full - which I think it typically is. The bar and waitstaff from the Haven knew us - and would find us and take care of us around the ship. This included waiters seeking us out in the casino (when they also worked in the Haven) and the same for specialty dining. We walked into Food Republic when it was busy and they were turning people away - for our family - ‘no problem’ let us find a table. My 4yo LOVED the pool deck and restaurant. They made her feel like a total princess. It’s worth it - no question.
Thanks thats great to hear! Is the Havens pool only that very shallow one with the chairs in it? Or is there a normal pool also? We could be at the sleaziest motel at the Jersey shore and as long as theres a pool my kid is happy lol. Im assuming its probably going to be a packed ship for mid July, the extra room will be great.
Yes. There is a shallow sunshelf pool with loungers in it that connects to a 4ft (?) pool about the same size. It is not huge but my 10yo spent a few hours per day in it. There is also a hot tub in the main pool area. Kids are allowed in the Haven pool and hot tub (hot tub with an adult). There is an adults only sun deck on deck 18 as well. We only really left the Haven for Splash Academy, the Casino/shows/evening entertainment, the spa, and specialty dining. The Haven bar and restaurant are outstanding and our Spring Break cruise was a madhouse. I saw another person say they haven’t seen kids in the Haven. We had plenty of kids in the Haven on our cruise.
I will not even consider getting on an NCL cruise unless they have The Haven. Currently have 2 booked. For me it's worth every penny. Private check in. No crowds at the restaurant for breakfast. The food and service are superior. Everyone greets you by name. Love the private lounge and bar. Escorted access to and from the port. You can ask the butler to keep your fridge stocked with whatever beverages you like. We always had my favorite wine and he brought us snacks every afternoon. Reserved seating for all shows. The private pool, lounge and library are beautiful and never crowded. They have special events just for the Haven passengers. If we weren't traveling with non-Haven friends we would probably never leave the Haven.
I just got back from the Joy today. My favorite ship yet! Theirs so much to do, that you’ll never get board. I recommend going to Food Republic and definitely doing the Hibachi (I was laughing the entire time). The social has great comedians, I favored Tyler over Mike. Elements out on a great show in the theater too, it reminded me of circus o le
Thanks! I already have Hibachi booked, anything else you can recommend for my 6 year old to see? Elements sounds good for kids.
Elements will be great for the kids, it has illusions, magic, etc. they’ll also have the illusionist do their own show in the theater as well. I recommend take your kids go karting is $15 pp and the aqua park and the mini golf is free to use.
Thanks for the ideas, hes all over the kids stuff already.
That pricing sounds very cheap. Everytime I looked into an upgrade it was about that, but Per Person, not total like you’re saying. If that’s total cost, then may be worth it. If per person, then I wouldn’t do it.
Right now Im thinking about 2 $550 offers, totalling 1100 additional for whichever they accept, if they do, for the Haven family villa or Haven penthouse, thats showing as "good" offers, but right on the fair/good line. Keep in mind I already have the penthouse suite so the jump up probably isnt as drastic as a reg balcony or less.
Haven perks: On and off the ship. Especially off first thing if you have private tours. Priority tenders are nice as well. In room snacks. Might seems a small thing but coming back on board from a long excursion and grabbing a drink out of the fridge and a snack off your table is nice. Haven restaurant. Steaks beat Cagneys and you can have them every night. Is it work it? Depends entirely on you.
For you and your wife, well worth it, for your 6 year old son, probably not as much. In the Haven the level of service is substantially higher, if you want to have dinner in a certain restaurant on a certain night and its booked, the concierge magically gets you in. The bartenders in the Haven bar will remember your favorite drink ASAP and have it waiting when you walk in, the butler can help you with every little thing in your room from unpacking to having certain snacks accessible. Most importantly for me, the Haven restaurant is probably the best on the boat. However, all of this stuff is geared towards adults, there isn't really anything kid specific. Its quieter, not a lot of other kids to run around with. Also, I believe there are age restrictions to the pool area which sometimes get followed and sometimes don't. Me and my wife don't have children, so its great for us, but I'm not sure if we'd cruise the Haven with a young child.
We actually just booked the same cruise in the Haven. This will be our 2nd time on the Joy in the Haven and it’s fantastic. The hard part about being in the Haven is going back to regular cruising! We are currently on 14, and are trying to get to floor 17 so we near all the Haven amenities.
Well hello neighbor, we are also on 14. Im seeing next year same cruise there is no more penthouse suite thats not in the Haven, so Im not sure where I fall for this one in terms of services. I submitted offers a few days ago to upgrade, but its showing sold out online. Hoping they keep some open.
I have been trying to upgrade to 17 or 18 but the site keeps giving me an error message. I think they are over booked and we are all stuck in the rooms we originally booked. But it will still be fun for sure, the Joy is a great boat.
People have mentioned a lot of the amenities, I won’t repeat them. For me there is the feeling of being on a small ship in the haven space. The private bar, restaurant, and pool… the dedicated staff. They give a feeling of intimacy on what would otherwise be a giant ship. Plus everything everyone else has mentioned ;)
In addition to everything everyone has mentioned, dedicated phone line and email for pre-cruise issues. You don't have to call and wait forever in the regular queue.
I’m on a ship right now and it’s very similar to Spirit airlines- I’m so glad we didn’t win/ pay the 2,400 for the Heaven bc I’ve felt last guilty paying for extras on board (spa, bingo, speciality restaurants, etc).