Will our marriage survive? Debate over Celebrity Retreat vs NCL Haven

Join us in this exciting episode as we delve into a friendly debate about two amazing suite experiences: Celebrity Retreat and NCL Haven. We can almost guarantee that our opinions will differ, making this discussion even more interesting! We'll share our genuine thoughts based on our personal experiences, ensuring an honest and authentic perspective. We navigate the pros and cons of each, offering you valuable insights that can help shape your own preferences.
0:00 Intro
1:19 Food
5:56 Drinks
8:14 Staff
9:13 Room
12:25 General Spaces
16:07 All Inclusive
18:46 Final
#celebritycruise #celebrityretreat #NCL #NCLHaven #suite #retreatvshaven #cruisetips
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About us:
We are the Lindsay's, Emma, Jack and Poppy. (and sometimes our dog Mezi) We love travel and our goal is to take our experiences to help you plan your next trip. Whether it is a big once in a lifetime trip or a fun weekend getaway… we want to help!
Hope you enjoy how little experiences can help you live life to the fullest. Come along with us and get out and live a little!
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. Thank you for supporting our channel.

[@pterrypower5140]

Hi - thanks for the video. I wish you had done a price comparison. I prefer the Haven because of the age restriction of 16+ for the hot tub and pool. I pay extra money to have that peaceful experience minus the “ main pool” mayhem. When my kids were younger, that is where I was at. Bottom line, enjoy the spaces, the food and yes sir, the evening cocktails - I enjoy the haven and the retreat and the longer cruises 10+ days make it perfect.

[@lindsayslivealittle]

The price comparison is the hardest to do because right now with dynamic pricing it changes so frequently. We have seen each being cheaper and more expensive for the same trip. Thanks for watching! Emma & Jack

[@21400]

Where is the age restriction? I’ve been to two haven cruises and the main pool in the haven and the two hot tubs on the side weren’t any age restriction

[@brunkerj]

Yes! Adventurous. Last month we had 12 days on Apex in the Med. I wante to spread my wings a bit with food. So I tried dishes in Luminae like veal cheeks. No clue, but went with the waiter’s advice. So glad I did. For me, I’d rather have all drinks included than give points to ‘showy’ cocktails. I give point to Retreat.

[@rnfaboy]

The last two videos I’ve seen on your channel have been very informative and timely for us. We have travelled on NCL in the haven twice and enjoyed both experiences. We were in a forward facing penthouse on one and a suite within the haven area. Both had their pros and cons. Our next cruise, this November we scored a celebrity aqua class sky suite with retreat and are really looking forward to see the differences. Your video comparison has really been helpful in preparing us for the celebrity retreat. Thanks so much.

[@lindsayslivealittle]

Glad our vlogs could help you out! We hope you have an amazing time in the Retreat. Emma & Jack

[@sandrarums9405]

Really like the way you both had an opinion on each topic you compared. This gave me a better picture of each ship.

[@lindsayslivealittle]

Thank you so much. This video is getting a lot of mixed feedback but glad you enjoyed the content and understood what we were going for. Emma & Jack

[@deniscoakley7342]

You guys are the best. Thanks for sharing your tips, advice, and adventures. Sailing in Retreat on Celebrity Apex at Easter, and then Haven on NCL Encore summer of 2025. God bless you and your family always.

[@lindsayslivealittle]

Thank you so much! Hope you enjoy both you experiences. Alaska on the Encore is what really started up this channel and we had an amazing time. Have a great week! Emma & Jack

[@KLine-aka-Kathy]

Very informative. Looking to cruise NCL in May/June of 2024 to Alaska. Cruised celebrity apex march 2023 Caribbean. I booked another cruise on board celebrity retreat level and the cruise credit was $800. Enjoy your channel.

[@lindsayslivealittle]

Thank you so much. We just got off the Bliss to Alaska last week. If you are doing NcL we would highly suggest the NCL Encore for Alaska. We think that is the best of the two between the Bliss and Encore. Glad your enjoying the channel and hope you continue to enjoy. Emma & Jack

[@happilybaked]

Love the singing!!!! Jack

[@lindsayslivealittle]

Finally someone appreciates my angelic voice and lyrical skills! I have honestly been waiting for someone to mention the singing.

[@LamaMontana]

Love it! I love the comparisons between them and the honesty which is very helpful in my opinion as someone trying to decide. Hi Jack. Met you last week on the bliss. Thanks for the "how to use your premium drink package" tips. Love the channel!

[@lindsayslivealittle]

Thanks much Brad. Glad you enjoyed the Monkey 47. It was a pleasure meeting you and hope you enjoyed your trip. Hope to see you again on one of your trips! Jack

[@LamaMontana]

Oh btw, I was the solo cruiser from Montana.

[@lindsayslivealittle]

@@LamaMontana I definitely remember you from the bar in the atrium. How was your first cruise?

[@LamaMontana]

@@lindsayslivealittle It was amazing. I've been to Alaska but not the Inland Passage so that was outstanding. Bummed we didn't make it up to Dawes Galcier but early May is a gamble for that I'm sure.

[@marylevy9415]

On the drink package, Celebrity premium package is much better than NCL premium package. Other than water is included, Celebrity premium package has true premium liquors, which are in NCL premium plus package (cost much more).

[@lindsayslivealittle]

That is a great point! Emma & Jack

[@happilybaked]

Miss you all!!! 🎉🎉

[@lindsayslivealittle]

We miss yal as well!! Next time can’t come soon enough.

[@eah8185]

Good on you Emma for holding strong on the rankings for Food . . . those restaurants are where you will eat for the week or two you're aboard, and if you're booking a premium experience like the Retreat or Haven, then a major piece of that is whether the food is upscale. We sailed Silversea for the first time in 2021, on a ship which had only one true premium dining experience which they called "La Dame" . . . even on that "all inclusive" ship, that restaurant was $60pp extra - a total disappointment compared to other dining options on the ship. Btw, our daughter and son in law are FTA 2003 - when did y'all graduate?

[@lindsayslivealittle]

Food can definitely make it break a trip! We have never done Silverseas but would like to eventually but it’s a bit of a bummer to hear the 1 specialty restaurant you pay for isn’t worth it but will save us the $. I am not an Aggie. Born and raised right outside NYC and went to school in the city. But Jack is an Aggie and wears his ring everyday proudly. He is class of ‘08! Glad you enjoyed the video and have a great week. Emma

[@richardepifer]

Go Jack! I agree with you.

[@lindsayslivealittle]

Woohoo! I won something! Jack

[@farab4391]

Your best video I've seen so far. Have you ever tried any bid up programs to get a better cabin/suite? If so, have you been successful?

[@lindsayslivealittle]

Thanks much! We have tried bidding before but haven’t been successful. A few times we have bid and monitored the price and just called to upgrade.

[@johndavis1922]

In the Haven restaurant you also can order from any restaurant onboard. You just have to ask them a day ahead. Also on both videos I’ve watched about the Haven, you did not mention the snacks you get in your room around 2 in the afternoon. You can request different items every day for the butler to bring. We had chocolate covered strawberries every day along with something else.

[@lindsayslivealittle]

We did forget to mention about the ordering from other places thanks for commenting that for people. As for the snacks in the room, we do cover in some of our episodes from the specific trips, but in all honesty we don’t really request or even need the snacks. There is so much food options already. It is a nice benefit however we don’t really use it. Emma & Jack

[@marciasanguinetti3900]

Hi hi ! I've only had to watch two of your video's to know you are both right up my alley, thus I am a new subscriber. Question please: May I ask about suite soundproofing relative to side walls and ceilings ? Any issues on either line ? Also one thing I'd like to add my 2 cents on 🙂: Our Celebrity MDR experience versus NCL's MDR - there's no comparison. Hugely Celebrity wins on that score. Their food and presentation are excellent for MDR mass production, and their service level is super attentive as well. I also bring this opinion up because when cruising in the Retreat suite and having room service to your suite from the MDR, this is very elevated and offers scads of choices changing daily of course. However when it comes to the Breakaway Plus class ships, there is no finer interior space for sea/scenery gazing and relaxing than in the Haven Forward side to side floor to ceiling windows ! NTM and oh my goodness those chaise lounges adjacent to that huge wall of windows wins my heart. Cheers you three -- happy travels and may you travel to the ends of the earth !!! Marcia/Tim

[@lindsayslivealittle]

Thanks so much for watching, commenting and subscribing! We really didn’t notice much of a difference between the 2 on soundproofing. While the rooms are sound proofed, we found that in the rooms we stayed in, if their was noise traveling, it was coming from the sides. Now we may have been lucky with our upstairs neighbors, but that was our experience. Also we never book any room that doesn’t have rooms above and below. We hope you have a great week! Emma & Jack

[@marciasanguinetti3900]

Thanks kindly for your great and helpful reply ! This is good to know, as we do not enjoy the sound of pounding foot tread above our noggins 🙂, or adjacent voices muffling through common walls. We, like you two, are picky about our stateroom choices as far as location (we typically go for end rooms and NEVER under a pool deck). I shall enjoy watching more videos from you both !!! Cheers and enjoy the remaining summer time. PS - have the two of you considered a cruise to the Hawaiian islands from Vancouver - a one way cruise ? Or that NCL Pride of America 7 nighter out of HNL ? @@lindsayslivealittle

[@sharonpernes3487]

The retreat sky suites no longer have a dedicated butler, but a butler team. Nit much of a difference in some situations though. We are going in the retreat to Alaska and can’t wait to see the glaciers from the retreat deck. Probably won’t be as crowded as on the regular deck area and should be more calm. Less kids on the ship too. I just went on the Apex and saw less than 10 kids on the entire ship, all under school aged and well behaved. We cruise Celebrity for that reason, I know there will be some, but not as many as other cruise lines. Also the all inclusive has changed for the retreat, it no longer cover’s gratuities.

[@lindsayslivealittle]

Thanks for watching and commenting. We did an episode on the changes but haven’t been on Celebrity since the changes. Glad there wasn’t a significant change with the butler team. We also are doing Alaska this year in the Retreat. Emma & Jack

[@Nicholas-l]

Nice video! We typically travel with our soon to be 6 year old in the Haven, curious if you thought the Haven or Apex was better with a kid…

[@lindsayslivealittle]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Can’t answer this black and white but will give our opinions. If you child is a water slides, mini golf and activity focused than the NcL and Haven will always win. Celebrity does have a really good kids club that includes camping on the roof and areas similar to NCLs kids clubs. However if you exclude that specific aspect it really depends on where you are going. Celebrity in warm weather is probably better because you can leverage the outdoor sun deck with your children. NCL Haven in the Breakaway class is best for cold weather cruises because of the indoor pool area and lounge at the front of the ship. We were very surprised at the options Celebrity had for kids and honestly were not expecting it. They are definitely catering to a more family oriented cruise in their new ships. Have a great weekend. Emma & Jack

[@Nicholas-l]

Thanks for the info!

[@KVDC2008]

By the way, does Retreat guests have priority access to excursions at the ports like NCL? I'm speaking of getting escorted down to the excursion buses first prior to other passengers that signed up for the similar excursion. Thanks!

[@lindsayslivealittle]

For Celebrity booked excursions, they generally have everyone meet in a location regardless of booking level. However, if it is a tender port you will receive priority access. Additionally, you can be escorted off the ship at any port if you don’t use Celebrity excursions. Emma & Jack

[@KVDC2008]

@@lindsayslivealittle Thanks for the info! This little thing NCL does for Haven and suite-level guests is something that I really like. Because at every port, the meeting areas for the excursions are a bit chaotic and once your number is called, everyone starts a mad dash to the bus for the best seats. It's just to much, especially with a young daughter in tow. Also, once you're a the pier, there's always this confusion about which is the correct bus, even the staff is confused, and it is just a frustrating way to begin a overpriced excursion. I'd rather pay extra for a staffer to just escort my family to where we need to be and not try to figure it out.

[@Jodster223]

I got 1200 onboard credit on celebrity sailing.

[@lindsayslivealittle]

Woohoo. That is amazing and a huge perk that most people forget when looking at the price! Emma & Jack

[@agulot1]

Did you know on the Retreat you can order anything? You don't have to stick to the menu. For instance on the first day I had a fantastic tuna tar tar salad thing that wasn't available on the second day. I was told that the menu was more of a suggestion but if I wanted the tuna I could have that instead.

[@lindsayslivealittle]

I think we had read that but hadn’t heard from anyone who actually had experienced it. Thanks for letting us know and watching our video. Have a great rest of your week. Emma & Jack

[@AB-nf3mw]

When we were in the Retreat on the Millennium the Luminae staff also gave us the dinner menu from every restaurant to chose from if we wanted.

[@lindsayslivealittle]

@@AB-nf3mw that’s fantastic!

[@ashleys4652]

I don't think that's true on all classes of ships. On E class ships the Luminae galley is very small and the MDR galley is quite far away. We were told you cannot order from the MDR while in Luminae due to the proximity of the galley.

[@rgruenhaus]

Internet of 150 minutes on NCL! There is no cost for Wi-Fi! Even though NCL labels the pkgs Wi-Fi. Once your 150 minutes are gone you still have Wi-Fi!

[@lindsayslivealittle]

We did not know that. We typically have to upgrade to streaming anyways to be able to continue to put content out. Thanks for sharing. Emma & Jack

[@johnlindsay7352]

Any Bloopers?

[@lindsayslivealittle]

No bloopers this time sorry!

[@dnw9181]

You guys should have done a little more on this topic. More detailed compare and contrast between the two Cruise Lines. Everyone is ripping off NCL Haven concept now at least attempting to?

[@lindsayslivealittle]

We will be releasing a video comparing all the cruise lines we have now been on in the future. This video just focused on the main question we get which is ‘do you prefer the retreat or the Haven’. Definitely can see how cruise lines are stealing the concept for NcL but seeing the nuisances each is putting on their package/design is very interesting. Each is trying to pull a slightly different clientele. Emma & Jack

[@rgruenhaus]

What determines Haven Prime?

[@lindsayslivealittle]

It is the classification of Haven proper. Some ships have Haven rooms outside of the Haven so your room wont open directly to the Haven. Great rooms they are just further from the Haven proper. Emma & Jack

[@AlanGlowacki]

Is it true that you don’t get free bottled water with the standard free at sea package.

[@lindsayslivealittle]

That is correct. Here is a recent link that breaks down the base free at sea drinks package and the premium upgrade. static1.squarespace.com/static/617ac6f28abd337ac8fc5f75/t/6453afebebcf2b79d7ea9a78/1683206126142/Updated+5+Unlimited+Open+Bar+%26+Premium+Plus+Beverage+Packages+%7C+NCL+Norwegian+Cruise+Line.pdf

[@AlanGlowacki]

@@lindsayslivealittle thanks we decided to go with the retreat, better bang for the buck.

[@fc1114_]

"All Inclusive" - didn't mention laundry

[@lindsayslivealittle]

We didn’t discuss laundry for a couple reasons. 1) from a priority stand point for travelers it is usually not a key driver in decisions 2) we rarely use laundry and neither offered a free package so it didn’t drive our opinion 3) typical all inclusive refers to room, food, drinks, WiFi and tips when referring to cruise benefits on mainstream lines. Higher end luxury lines do offer it free of charge most of the time. NCL does offer a discount midway through a 7 day cruise to all passengers and both offer frequent traveler benefits as you move up the levels.

[@user-vo8tp9mw4s]

@@lindsayslivealittle Also, depending on your cruise status with NCL, you can get discounts on laundry and once you hit Platinum and beyond, you get free laundry. I don't want anyone doing my laundry so that would never factor in for me, but clearly, there are some that are interested in it.