My first Haven experience: Why I'm not in a rush to go back

[@braddouglasmd8927]

I have been in the haven on the epic, prima, bliss and encore! And it was a wonderful experience on 5 cruises! I had no expectations other than just relaxing and I did not want to be around crowds! Haven is perfect for all that!

[@rgruenhaus]

NCL loves people with buckets of money and no expectations! The shareholders love you for sure.

[@cryhavoc38]

we have sailed on Norwegian twice now on the Encore and both times within The Haven. Let me tell you, from check in to check out, it's the shiznit!! If you want to treat yourself, do The Haven at least once.

[@DWN6172]

Just curious… I understand that your friend had a serious issue happen but what did you guys really expect the ship to do? Get her a helicopter ride from the middle of the ocean? They offered you a way to get in contact with family or a landline, at least which is nice. Sure they could have reached back out but as you stated they seemed to be inundated with guests.

[@TheChillCruiser]

We were not in the middle of the ocean. We had just started sailing away from Bermuda. I didn't have any expectations but considering the gravity of the situation, I didn't think it would hurt to ask if we had any options - especially since the next port was a day and a half away.

[@craigfairbrother]

that is exactlly what they can do....unless it is translanmtic thjey are always...ALWAYS close to land for a medivac

[@Waywardification]

Ok how is that cruise's fault that someone somewhere else was in life or death situation ? You go on ship knowing that you won't be able to just pack it up and leave if something happens. What an entitlement....

[@marylewis79]

We love the Haven. We have never been disappointed in the food, the service or any of the benefits.

[@Ken-Boston]

Andrew, I appreciate your objectivity, however, being a veteran of quite a few Haven cruises. I find that if you have the option of sailing during times that ,for example, children are in school, you will have the exceptional experience that the Haven was designed to deliver. We sailed the exact same route on the Joy the second week of May and Michael and I would have given the experience all 5's. Thanks

[@TheChillCruiser]

Thank you Ken for watching and sharing your feedback! I'm glad you and Michael had a better experience during non-peak times. I guess it's open for debate but I would argue the experience should be consistently 5 stars or close to it regardless of time period - especially since the price increases significantly during peak times.

[@Ken-Boston]

BTW, why haven't you returned any of my emails ? 😁

[@rgruenhaus]

On some cruise lines it don't matter if children have school or not some parents will pull them from school because it's the parents who have to use their vacation when THEY get it with their companies!

[@pincushionllama]

@5:45 you had me at old fashioned. YUMM

[@glent7853]

I do not understand why they put those chairs in the haven pool. It is not a pool by any definition.

[@gavinchafin9447]

I don't get that either. They should have a separate pool for adults only instead of that "pool" with lounge chairs in it.

[@DingDangDandy]

Joy sounds like our Getaway cruise last November. Ship was crowded, elevators were highly congested, and disembarkation from NYC - awful. Making the features in the Haven (which we are considering) more attractive. Sort of like making the "free highway lanes" bad to encourage folks to pay the extra tolls on the HOV/HOTLanes.

[@Wild1995]

The Joy is an odd ship. It was built for the Asian/Chinese market and has many odd things about it like no thermal pools/spa. I have stayed in Haven suites outside the Haven but never again. In real estate they say LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION. I felt like an outsider walking to the Haven every morning for breakfast. I much prefer to stay inside the Haven and in any other ship but the Joy. While I love the Haven many of its perks are geared at making people feel special rather than making them special. There is a difference when you think about it.

[@rgruenhaus]

You are so right! I pay to be special, not to feel I'm in a special area. Anytime I read the amenities of the Haven they seem misleading. Like the words includes and access to! They are not the same.

[@TheChillCruiser]

Great point!

[@jjk9275]

@@rgruenhaus I noticed that too when I was bidding on an upgrade the other day. Seems like you have to be real careful with how things are worded these days, or maybe that's just a business/law person in me lol

[@jjk9275]

You should try a larger or newer ship and do another review. While I agree it should be top shelf, the Joy was originally a smaller, Asian based ship that was re purposed. I went on the Joy last year in a regular state room and enjoyed it for the most part, but yes, this ship gets CROWEDED!!! O Sheehans was busy a round the clock and getting a drink was dam near impossible unless you were at the casino. Casino bartenders were A+ The pool area was to be expected, which is why I am considering a Haven trip. If the Haven area is a mess, I will know it's a gimick. Seems like you are already sold on other lines, I would encourage you to do another ship.

[@TheChillCruiser]

Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts. I would definitely like to sail on one of NCL's newer ships since they seem to offer better amenities.

[@cruzinandcashin]

We loved loved loved the Haven

[@reedaharris1341]

Did the bed separate or was it just the king size?

[@TheChillCruiser]

Hi Reeda - the bed was king size so it did not separate.

[@frankcarlone5130]

I'm sorry about you friend's unfortunate situation, but I feel like you allowed it to negatively influence your review. Just my opinion. I hope everything worked out...in the end that's really all that matters.

[@TheChillCruiser]

Thank you. Everything did work out in the end- but I think this was one of those “moments of truth” from a service and hospitality perspective where NCL could have stepped up and tried to make a really bad situation a little better and they failed. When you’re paying $800+ a night to stay there, I think it’s reasonable for their handling of the situation to affect the final verdict - not all of it but some.

[@reniedavisson8532]

We are going on an NCL cruise and purchased priority access and access to the spa to be "away" from crowds. I hope they don't oversell these amenities. I wish that I would have see your video sooner. Celebrity sounds beautiful. Fingers crossed.

[@TheChillCruiser]

The thermal suite on NCL ships is amazing so you're in for a treat if that's what you mean by spa access. Crowds aside, NCL offers a great dining and entertainment experience so I hope you enjoy your cruise!

[@reniedavisson8532]

Yes, we have a 7 day pass to the spa, including treatments on our first full day at sea. Thanks! @@TheChillCruiser

[@williamhoy742]

imagine this being your biggest complaint in life. pretty silly...

[@SophieJackson1993]

Still entitled to your own problems despite what other people are going through. This is a big deal to people if they’ve spent a lot of their saved up money and believed advertising. They should get their money’s worth. Yes it can be seen as frivolous when you consider people like myself or other people would never be able to afford this and struggle sometimes to put food on the table but it’s an extremely slippery slope to imply people don’t have the right to complain about something they’ve paid a fortune for. I hope this makes sense, I totally understand your point of view but this is a dedicated video specifically for people who want to know, right? It’s not as though they’re screaming through life that their private suite wasn’t up to standard. There’s always someone with far worse problems so none of us would ever be able to complain without it seeming silly.

[@ClifBraley]

I have sailed on the Bliss in The Haven have another 10-day trip booked on the bliss in the Haven and a new boat the new boat aqua in 26 all in the Haven would not sail any other way

[@Ivanslav1]

glad your friends family member was ok

[@TheChillCruiser]

Thank you!

[@craigfairbrother]

thank you, i am looking at the haven and yacht club....thanks to this review i am goin on MSC Yacht Club.....

[@TheChillCruiser]

There seem to be many folks who just love the Haven - so it might depend on the ship. Some of the newer NCL ships have a much larger and more luxurious Haven sun deck with pool etc I guess it depends on what’s most important to you.

[@stephie8978]

@@TheChillCruiser Even since the re- model?

[@lisampb8178]

Holy cow! I have wanted to try it so badly but now, forget it. We're NCL people but I will try Celebrity (less kids than RC) for their luxury experience. Thanks for the honest review.

[@TheChillCruiser]

Thank you for watching and for the feedback. Sorry my experience put the brakes on your Haven plans. Please check out other reviews before giving it a pass. It looks like it can be a better experience during non-peak periods like spring and fall if you're able to travel those times of year. That said, if you're looking for a premium experience with less kids, Celebrity is a great option to explore as well (in regular cabins or suites depending on the level of luxury you're looking for).

[@monstrok]

Despite the great video, the experience with the marginal service items are not typical. The overbooking with 4600 passengers on a ship designed for 3776 pax is a huge issue affecting all spaces. The Haven is truly a refuge away from the crowds at the public spaces, especially on sea days or the observation areas in highly scenic destinations like Alaska and the Panama Canal.. There are many other perks that were not described here but are covered in-detail in other videos.

[@bluemoonsy]

I have done the Haven and the suite experience on Celebrity. The Haven was by far the better experience for me. Everything on Celebrity seemed like an upscale Holiday Inn: nice, but it's still a Holiday Inn.

[@TheChillCruiser]

Wow - I've been on over 10 Celebrity cruises in both Millenium and Solstice classes in most cabin categories and Holiday Inn is not a comparison I would have ever considered! But it's all about finding the cruise that best fits you and I'm glad you found yours!

[@Cha-y412]

If you like battling for pool chairs, enjoy long lines, and dont care for luxury, like waiting for crowded elevators, and do not like a private resturant, then yeah listen to this guy, and save your money hoping to get in via Casino credit.

[@ImaniLearned]

You should cruise Virgin... no children and the entire ship is luxurious. I love NCL and love the Haven, too bad it wasn't enjoyable for you.

[@mr.balloffur]

The Joy is a much smaller ship, the Breakaway is great.

[@CoDplayer458458]

The Joy is 167,725 gross tons. The Breakaway is 145,655 gross tons. The Joy is a bit larger.

[@markanderson4163]

ANYONE that isn't happy with the Haven amenities frankly, can't be pleased...

[@brendamillar3593]

Haven is much better than others ive been on. You are not being reasonable ...just my opinion

[@rgruenhaus]

I'm considering the Haven on the Viva, but the hidden lack of real quality treatment is a concern. If i am told that I get included 24/7 butler and concierge and my butler is not always accessible that is NOT 24/7! One video on KZbin showed a communication device for the butler, but the video said they rarely used it as they felt like it was pestering the butler. I was told that the butler could bring you what you want wherever you were on the ship! Why don't people documenting the Haven show this actually happening! I want reality shown not vague possibilities! If it's not on ALL NCL ships then it's not reality for the price! How can NCL overbook the Haven? They don't overbook the Vibe Beach Club!

[@TheChillCruiser]

The butler I had on Joy did not make that offer of bringing anything anywhere on the ship although there was a mobile phone in the room. He was essentially a more personalized version of room service - he took our order and then delivered it with a nice table setup. If you ordered any drinks, he said he had to charge even if you had the drink package, which was disappointing.

[@rgruenhaus]

I'm not going to pay $5k more than a nice balcony room onboard and not get HAVEN supposed treatment! Those with great treatment in the videos they show never say anything about the price they paid or if any of what they show in their videos is at an added price. Several representatives on the NCL CAS lines have not either been on a cruise or in the Haven! So sometimes the info is hearsay.

[@ClifBraley]

My one experience in The Haven on the Bliss has led to booking two more Haven cruises and yes the Butler will bring you damn near anything you want almost anywhere on the ship The phone they give you is to contact the Butler or concierge or room service these work and I use them frequently

[@stephie8978]

We are going to Panama Canal first of December. I hope there won’t be a lot of kids in the haven at that time, as they will be in school. Supposedly, no kids under 16. If they don’t enforce it, I will!

[@miniprepper8284]

We will be there with you. I think there will be very few children on this voyage, and judging from the number of cabins still available I doubt that we will be at capacity.

[@stephie8978]

@@miniprepper8284 thanks! Will you be in the Haven? I can’t wait to get away and hope to have some tranquil, quality time with family !

[@miniprepper8284]

@@stephie8978 We have a Haven aft suite, so we will be having meals, hanging out in the Haven area but sleep in a big suite in the back of the ship.

[@stephie8978]

@@miniprepper8284 We are on deck 17 Aft. Going for parents’ 65th anniversary. We have two suites there. Less than 3 months to go!

[@miniprepper8284]

@@stephie8978 We are two decks below as of now- we bid for an upgrade which would move us into the courtyard area but from what I am seeing, upgrades were not being allotted up to the weekend before the sailing on the current New England/Canada trip. I am very happy with our cabin though.

[@blaccwidowblaccemporium7972]

Ungrateful

[@jazzyflorida3757]

Sounds like a horrible experience especially with a friend dealing with a major problem while on the cruise. I thought you were going to say to have her choppered off the ship