I Put The Newest First Class "Ship-Within-A-Ship" To The Test
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 พ.ค. 2024
- Just before my much anticipated and costly $1,800 a night cruise in Norwegian Viva’s all-suite Haven, “Cruise with Ben and David”, one of the leading TH-cam cruise channels, released a critical review raising many issues and complaints about it. So many that friends of mine suggested I cancel, as they knew that it was THE most expensive Mediterranean cruise I had ever booked.
As it was so costly, I was really torn but in the end I decided to risk it hoping that as they'd been on the maiden voyage, things might have improved. This is what I discovered.
Links mentioned in the video:
Cruise With Ben & David Norwegian Haven Video: • We Go FIRST CLASS on t...
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00:00 Start
00:35 What is The Haven?
07:00 Adult Experience?
08:24 Haven Suites Like?
10:09 Included and Excluded?
11:16 Money Down The Drain?
When you said ‘charge for a coffee’ when you are staying in the Haven, I almost spit out my coffee! 😂😂😂
😂😂😂
It's quite extraordinary.
I mean - MSC YachtClub AND The Retreat (Celebrity) ***include*** the premium drink package, including bottled water and fancy coffee / tea - so NCL better get their act together or people will choose one of the other, more pampering / inclusive ‘Ship within a Ship’ concepts…This Nickel & Dime’ing is starting to be what NCL is known for….not a good thing, IMHO.
But if you add Bailies to your coffee its free with drink package. Just meant I was always getting Irish Coffee instead of black.
@@AngieRTaylor Right on, I still cruise both lines but I am spending my extra money to cruise in the Yacht Club.
It’s pretty sad when the best thing about a set of perks is when they help you get off the ship
it's seem like sending those dumbbells pax quickly off the ship from haven after been suck off the last drops of blood 😅
not when getting of the ship is the best part of the cruise.
Don't forget never waiting for an elevator is costed in to the £1,800 a night.
This is why you are my absolute number 1 cruise content creator. You provide INVALUABLE information to us all. Thank you so much! 💜
Thanks for watching and great to hear this. Much appreciated
I don't even cruise and LOVE his channel and watch every video. His professionalism and objectivity are a class act. I learn so much about this form of travel from him and were I to take a cruise in the future, he'd be my go-to for advice.
So true. He is the gold standard for cruise reviews.
Totally agree
Nickel and dime has been the philosophy of NCL for the longest time, they can’t even manage to break away from it for high level suite guests. It’s why I would agree with your takeaway and go with a premium cruise line for that sort of money.
This is why our choice now is Regent.
@@TheJohnebeyregent is Owner by NCL LOL
Oceania for us!
@@cptsuits8038 oceana also owned by Norwegian.
Because of the nickel and dime of NCL . I will never sail on them because of this
Thanks for the shoutout, Gary! Great video - so similar to our experience and we absolutely agree with everything you said - so disappointing that it wasn't just the inaugural!
Thats why we cruise on Seabourn. Intimate, one class throughout the ship, Luxurious, Very personal and one on one service. No crowds and no extras. ALL tips , alcohol, coffees, meals included.
and way , way overpriced.
@@dlgregory35 disagree. Look at Retreat prices on Celebrity v Seabourn. 450 pax v 2k plus . Run of the whole ship v small part. Better range of Alcohol and the food is consistently good.
I am planning my first Seabourn cruise. Happy to see all the included items.
We have been Azamara junkies for more than 10 years, and I've been asking why I would want to jump to Seabourn and company. Oddly enough, this video on Norwegian answered that very question.
Wow! It would be so uncomfortable to have the butler keep reminding you that his tips weren’t included. Thanks for the in depth review. We’re hoping to cruise on the Viva next year, but in a balcony state room.
why the hell would ordinary people even want a but when they do not have one at home?
@@dlgregory35 That would be the point - to be able to relax and have the little things done for you while you're on holiday.
It's very disturbing as it very blatantly suggests that other passengers hadn't "tipped" the person going above and beyond for them...
Their approach in charging extra for minor things like coffee in the Haven lounge really would put me off. I think they put together a plan in terms of setting aside a ship within a ship and then just hahazardly decided on what would be included and what they would still charge for. I am in full agreement that for that money, the small luxury ship would be far superior.
I think they really might have misjudged the idea that people who pay $1800/night for a cruise won't mind paying for this and that, as cost really might not be an issue for them. I think it's not really about the cost per se, but more about the feeling of being nickel and dime after paying so much that people might have an issue with. Even people of means care about getting value out of their dollar.
They nickel-and-dime the standard-class PAX to death so I guess they lost themselves on the idea of "premium" service. This is becoming a habit in so many businesses today, the term "all-inclusive" is almost cynical now.
Let's not forget that they also have an rather large and nice coffee machine in your room
@@fucker1714yes I would guess that people would actually react less negatively to $1,900 a night without any additional charges.
Charging for extras in the Haven? That’s just chintzy
Sounds like a ridiculously hefty price for what you actually received.
Yes 100%
It’s pretty scammy. You get complimentary tea and coffee elsewhere but not in the Haven lounge?
@@kimc555right? And you pay THAT much and zero free drinks even the dedicated lounge
I don't really get why anyone would want this. You don't go on a cruise to sit in your luxurious cabin, do you?
@@thomasdalton1508 I feel like NCL built a quasi luxury space on this ship, then when it came time to provide what’s included to guests, they went with the absolutely bare minimum. Escorts to bypass lineups is literally using 1 employee; having a tea/coffee station with small nibbles available 24hrs in the Haven lounge would take too much labour in their eyes.
I'm with you. I'll spend that money on a small ship itself rather than a small ship within a huge ship. I think I can do without the go carts.
Exactly - "ship within a ship" means I should never see the hoi polloi if I don't want to ...
Are you sure? 😂😂
Go carts you can get away from, it's the undisciplined screaming kids, their mess, and their parents lack of consideration that keep us on the small ships.
When British cruise influencers collide, you know it’s going to be a great video.
Now we just need Emma for the trifecta!
You called? 🙋♀️😅
@@Rosenburge Emma, Ben and David are the UK's cruise clown trifecta. Gary is in a league of his own with his highly reliable reviews and should ignore those clowns who constantly click bait and spread misinformation and neither do they care.
Gary is the only one who actually knows what he is talking about the others are complete amateurs.@@denizalgazi
As a frequent Haven passenger, I am fairly convinced that many of the comments you expressed may be related to just the Viva (and possibly Prima). Much of this could be related to the significant increase in size for the Haven on these new ships. I have recently sailed on both the Encore and Bliss (Breakaway Plus class ships) and found that the entire Haven staff definitely knew my family member's names (and actually asked about family members who were not traveling with us but had previously done so), the 16+ sun deck area was enforced, the Horizon lounge was a place that had Espresso and snacks all day where people DID gather, and the Haven Bar was a gathering place where the Free at Sea beverage package pretty much covered the drinks (limited extravagant exceptions and a couple of stupid ones like sparkling water vs free club soda). I agree that the Haven Restaurant menu is fixed BUT you can order any item listed on the menu to create your own meal AND it's been my experience you can request (in advance) the Haven Restaurant to bring specific food items from other restaurants. Your Butler can also bring you meals from any restaurant to your cabin as well as bring specific snack items that you desire rather than the pre-defined canapes. It is true that NCL has a PITB habit of nickel and diming you in many areas but you learn to work around many of them and just live with the service charges (as with most other cruise lines.) Do I think that NCL could price things better and include more with a Haven fare? Yes, absolutely. But the value of what I receive vs other mainstream cruise lines remains high.
I totally get that ur a fan of the product, but find my way around the extra charges are not in my vacation plans. If I'm on vacation, it is to relax, not to find solutions for new problems. And I mean even airport hotels change their breakfast menus daily so ppl don't get sick of eating the same thing over and over again... and most people only stay one or two nights there!!! It's the little things that make the difference, it would't take a lot of effort from the company to change those things, but it would make a lot of difference for the guests
I believe it may be the Viva as well and probably post-pandemic price increases to boot. We stayed in the Haven on the Escape in 2019. Our experience was so much different. They knew our names and were very accommodating. Our room was great and we only saw the butler when we wanted to. He never asked for a tip either. It was certainly too much money but the space, comfort, luxury and treatment was great for a one time “let’s just do it”! We were on the Prima the week before Christmas. I certainly prefer the Breakaway class ships more. I’ve never been on the Bliss but heard it’s lovely. Will certainly continue our NCL cruises but think we’ll avoid the Prima class ships..
I believe it may be the Viva as well and probably post-pandemic price increases to boot. We stayed in the Haven on the Escape in 2019. Our experience was so much different. They knew our names and were very accommodating. Our room was great and we only saw the butler when we wanted to. He never asked for a tip either. It was certainly too much money but the space, comfort, luxury and treatment was great for a one time “let’s just do it”! We were on the Prima the week before Christmas. I certainly prefer the Breakaway class ships more. I’ve never been on the Bliss but heard it’s lovely. Will certainly continue our NCL cruises but think we’ll avoid the Prima class ships..
I don´t even go on cruises, but damn this guy is just so interesting to listen to. I can´t stop watching haha
Right?!?!?!?!
Small luxury lines are my choice for one reason: the staff call me by name. Yes, they know my preference of beverage, etc., but it is the fact that they bothered to learn my name.
We've never sailed with Norwegian, but we have experience with its sister companies, Regent and Oceania. Norwegian has never appealed until I saw an advert featuring The Haven. Thanks to you and to Ben and David we have been disabused of the notion that this could be a good thing to try out. So, thank you for saving us.
Hello.... I wanted to ask a question if I may?
My wife and I are considering taking a future trip and Regent and Oceania are two lines we will be looking into.
Which one was your best experience?
Are there a lot of differences between the two lines?
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards.
Hello.... I wanted to ask a question if I may?
My wife and I are considering taking a future trip and Regent and Oceania are two lines we will be looking into.
Which one was your best experience?
Are there a lot of differences between the two lines?
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards.
Hello.... I wanted to ask a question if I may?
My wife and I are considering taking a future trip and Regent and Oceania are two lines we will be looking into.
Which one was your best experience?
Are there a lot of differences between the two lines?
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards.
Hello.... I wanted to ask a question if I may?
My wife and I are considering taking a future trip and Regent and Oceania are two lines we will be looking into.
Which one was your best experience?
Are there a lot of differences between the two lines?
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards.
Whether it's on a cruise ship, or a flight, or even in a hotel, I feel that one of the biggest disservices from a provider to its client/customer is to market and sell exclusivity and then fail to deliver or reinforce the terms that give the product its exclusivity. I have on a few occasions taken providers to task over that issue.
Thanks a bunch. Before the end of the video, I told my wife we'd stay on ultra-luxury lines instead of the Haven based on your review. Then you said the same thing. Great minds think alike! We were seriously considering the Haven but now will steer clear & stay with RSSC/SS/SB.
I must say, for $1800 a night, I wouldn't be expecting ANY extra charges at all, but COFFEE? Wow, that alone would put me off booking Norwegian and is like a slap in the face to guests paying so much money. Great video by the way!
For me, the value of NCL is the free at sea and their solo cruiser friendliness. The nickel and diming is absolutely real, but I also would likely not have used any of those services in the first place. If I wanted a premium experience, I would go with a premium line, not a mass market one.
For the insane amount of money that was spent, there should've been more things included -- including beverages. Thank you, though, for an honest review. I love Ben and David for that same reason -- it's going to be honest.
Most mid-level hotels (Marriott Courtyard, Hilton Garden Inn, etc) have tea and coffee available all day in their lobby. Norwegian can't even even provide that simple service in the Haven?
@@baydweller8241they actually do...Lemonade, iced tea, a limited selection of juices, chocolate and regular milk, tap water and standard coffee and tea are free of charge. You can get these complimentary beverages in onboard restaurants (including the buffet) and in some bars and lounges, including in the Haven. They also have a Nespresso machine in your room.
Alcohol, soda, specialty coffees and drinks and other premium beverages cost extra.
Great video. I’m with you when it comes to kids changing the vibe of a cruise especially when you are dishing out so much dough.
You know, I never cared about cruising and rarely take them, but I'm addicted to your channel. Your voice is authoritative yet peaceful and something about your aura is simply beautiful. I really hope you're able to get as much joy from your adventures as we all seem to from hearing about them. You're truly inspirational when it comes to making a TH-cam community
Gary until they get the kid issue under control I think many people will agree with you and pay for the ultra-luxury cruise lines, or go to Virgin, and settle for a smaller cabin.
Princess has kids but they don’t seem to be so out of control so if I am having to cruise during family time princess for me
why Vorgin that is not ultra luxury far from it.
Absolutely agree. The rest of the short comings aside that would be in my face bug me more than many other things
This is why we mostly cruise on Viking. It is in the upper premium category, along with Oceania and maybe Azamara. They don’t allow anyone under 18, like Virgin, but even their lowest cabin category is a lovely balcony cabin with unobstructed views. We think the price point and multiple inclusions equal the Haven, Celebrity’s Retreat, etc. They are proud to say that they do not nickel and dime passengers.
Virgin is fantastic with no kids running around
Thanks Gary for another balanced & informative video. NCL are not new on the cruising block, so I’m surprised & disappointed that they seem to have got so much wrong/in need of improvement. I would be somewhat bemused & upset to have the experience you had for that amount of money. I hope this video helps those less experienced cruisers to make a better informed decision - your earlier ones certainly helped me & I’ve not been disappointed with any of my trips yet. Thanks again.
I watched Ben and David's vid and was rather horrified at what so much money per day doesn't get you.
Wow..... I totally agree with your review.
Spending that much money EVERYTHING should be included. I would expect a more inclusive experience.
Thank you Sir.
1800 dollar a day....10 nights and no coffee in the Haven itself. Noway for us. We did Yachtclub on MSC last time. What a difference. All inclusive it was. Anyway...great video. Also saw the one with Ben and David. Great videos to help decide.👍
A few quick thoughts. First, I agree with your assessment (and Ben and David's). It's overpriced for what you get. Secondly, I'm not a huge fan of these giant ships. So, I'd most likely pass all around. And lastly, why on earth can't we just call these "ship within a ship" arrangements what they are in plain English? They are the modern version of First Class. Have we really gotten so uptight that we can't use the 'C' word anymore?
To answer your closing question, the answer is yes, unfortunately.
Gary, you are always so thorough with your information and understand that different things matter to different people.
We'll be on Norwegian Bliss to Alaska this fall for our 25th anniversary, and I've been debating whether or not to upgrade to a Haven suite. Thank you for a thorough video. We'll probably skip the Haven and save the money to take another cruise another time
Thanks Gary for another great review. We are going on Seabourn for the first time in March and are doing so because we are fed up of being nickeled and dimed by the big ships. However, we did wonder if the ship within a ship would give us the same exclusivity as the smaller ships and apparently not. Our kids have grown and we no longer want to be dodging kids so You have saved us a lot of money! We shall spend it on the all inclusive options moving forwards.
Repeat Haven guest here: I totally agree on the Haven Restaurant - we rarely eat there. The menu isn't that appealing in the first place, and it never changes. That might be fine for breakfast and lunch, but the same dinner selection every night? Just inexplicable to me. They do accomodate special requests - you can request anything from menus of the complimentary onboard restaurants, but only with advance notice. As for the Haven lounge, what you show as the forward observation lounge, complete with free coffee and snacks, is what we are *_expecting_* to find in the Haven. Seems that NCL needs to quickly reimagine what they are doing on the Prima class ships.
On Encore and Bliss there is the Horizon lounge which is constantly stocked with juice, coffee, tea and treats. NCL is dropping the ball by not putting up a small table for the same kinds of things in the wasted space of these giant Haven lounges with nothing going on with the Prima class.
I agree with you regarding the cost vs service in the Haven. While I absolutely loved the aft penthouse suite, the rest of the Haven experience was lacking. Never saw or used the butler, the concierge helped with two shows, the bar was unsocial, the pool area was dead and the only other "perk" was disembarkation. Thank you for your input!
That's another one off the list.
Good to hear this helped make that decision. Helping people know what not to do as well as do is always good I think …
Thank you for the review! Now i know that i am not missing out on anything.
Such a fair and in depth review. As always Gary, your videos are very informative. thanks for sharing.
I have cruised in Star Class on RCCL and literally everything was included...All specialty restaurants, all drinks, drink service in the Suite...even a bartender for a couple hours daily was sent up to our Suite. Our Genie (like a Butler) was great, made all our reservations and even sat in the seats we wanted at shows to save them before anyone else could take them. He even got each of us some kind of gift...I commented that I liked his cologne and he surprised me new bottle of that fragrance as a gift. Star Class allowed us to cut any lines for attractions on the ship (Oasis) and we even had our own private use of things like the Surf Machines for an hour...No additional charges, we just needed to reserve...plus private tours of the Bridge and Galley and unlimited internet for all our devices. It was truly special and very much a giant step above any other cabin or class...not even the Diamond Cruisers on the millionth cruise had privileges or access to anything before or more than us. Star Class was a great experience.
I’m so glad it’s family friendly in the haven. I’ll be booking in the future.
Hello Garry. I’m on the Prima now in the Haven and agree with many of your points. We’re fairly inexperienced cruisers, and taking our first family cruise with two small children (3, 6). We’ve found the Haven two bedroom suite absolutely wonderful for our needs. The value proposition rises when considering that. The food and staff have been amazing. I do appreciate the complaints the ship class gets as some spaces seem congested. We also try to be aware of our children’s noise levels and do our best to manage it. We would not got to the adults only area and expect be accommodated. I do wonder though if the concierge/butler head emphasized that during their welcome aboard talk. The only way I knew about the age restriction is by reading/watching online reviews such as this one. I’ve also found the staff even outside the Haven trying to bend over backwards to help.
One thing I’m less than happy with is being close to those large slides causing our view to be somewhat obstructed. I recommend booking further aft as you can in the Haven on those ships.
We have been on Prima Haven twice - love it. We are on Viva Haven next month. It’s a remarkable experience but I agree with you about Haven menu - wish it was changed daily.
You nailed it when you said ‘meet other guests.’ I can see NCL marketing looking at cruisers’ point of pains and developing the ships to solve them. However, there’s one thing even cruisers may not be able to articulate, the serendipity of the cruise experience. They aren’t providing the environment to encourage it. NCL should get training from the Ritz and Peninsula. They identify you, repeat customers, at the registry and doorman. They have some type of system that allows them to do so.
We are booked on this ship for 19 days in April. Glad that we decided the Haven prices were not worth it to us. We're not usually big ship people, but the itinerary was too good to pass up. I'm sure we'll have fun since we know what we are getting into. Thank you so much for your very informative content!
I think your observations were spot on, I do think if you are going to make a fuss of their 'VIP' experience then it should be more than just a better cabin and a private lift. I was really surprised when you said about the seating area without anything in it, as they could have easily installed a bean to cup coffee machine, and a hot water dispenser with some tea bags.
Totally agreed, it a "Ghost Lounges" nobody be there if they're no entertainment or snacks bar 😮
People complain that HAL suites don't have many perks, but at least coffee is in the Neptune Lounge! 😂
Very interesting! I was super curious about The Haven & it was good to hear your perspective. The cabin & pool area did look gorgeous 👏
LOL I got scared when you were talking about the ports and being escorted to "jump..." oh, jump the lines!
Thank you so much for this! I understand many of your concerns. It’s fair to say it depends on the which ship you are on. On the Encore and the Bliss, the Haven is at the front of the ship. As such, instead of that useless lounge there is a Haven Observation lounge two decks above the regular observation lounge. It has tea, coffee, snacks throughout the day and a dedicated bar with very talented mixologists. For our upcoming Alaska cruise, I can’t wait to pass through the glaciers in the peace and quiet of that lounge. They definitely need to do better with their packages, though. Not having good quality coffee, sodas and water without an upcharge is really silly. So is not rotating the menu, particularly for longer cruises. I’m very much looking forward to being in The Haven in Alaska.
Thanks Gary, this was a really amazing and thorough review!
Hi Gary, we love all your videos and have learned a lot!
so helpful! that changes my plans. THANKS A TON!!!
I recently did the Haven on Norwegian Bliss, and their lounge was great! Had coffee, cappuccino, snack buffet that changed throughout the day, games, and a gorgeous view out the front of the ship. The Haven dining area food was superb, and the menu had enough that we didn’t mind it not changing (although I’d prefer it did). The other restaurants were mid at best, specialty and buffet. We traveled with my mom who is disabled, and the concierge was invaluable. So helpful in maneuvering with her for boarding, shows, all kinds of things. Also, Haven guests will get into any restaurants, shows, etc, no such thing as sold out, despite what the app showed. The Bliss Haven looked much warmer and inviting, albeit smaller and much less pool space. One thing that Haven doesn’t help with is the lack of onboard activities, like bingo, trivia, etc. Very lacking. It was actually cheaper than regular for us, because there was a separate bedroom (so we didn’t need 2 rooms), and the rooms were so big, even though it was one of the smaller Haven ones.
Thanks for the video Gary. I also had watched Ben & David’s video. Will be interesting as we are taking a cruise on the Prima (category H4) this summer. We absolutely love the NCL Haven. It will be our first in the haven on the larger ships. We have found on the smaller ships just the opposite to your and B&D’s criticisms. Maybe on the smaller ships the staff/butlers/concierge have fewer guests/cabins to deal with and can have more personalized interactions. Thanks again for the video and information.
Gary -- 'Tis so good to hear you say kind things about Seabourn. We just concluded the 20-day Allure of Aloha voyage from LA to Hawai'i and back. Absolutely grand.
Thank you for your review, im on the Prima in the haven from iceland next week, very exited, looks great
Beautiful review Gary, some superb points here! Quite astounded at the lack of stuff included for suite guests! Even as a family cruiser, I’d expect a lot more for that kind of money!
Great video. I hope you really listen and truly take to heart the advice you received from people you respect. Your friends and other TH-camrs warned people about it. I’m sorry that you spent so much money on a cruise ship that really disappointed you. May all your future travel be great. Have a great day.
Your comments are spot on. We did Haven pre and post COVID. Pre-COVID we had a better menu selection and, snacks during the day in the Haven pool area, and a very attentive butler. Post-COVID we experienced the same frustrations you’ve detailed. The kicker for me was when I asked the butler if I could get a shirt pressed he told me to call and ask for an iron (i.e. do it yourself) Life is short - we’ll spend our money elsewhere.
Another great review, Gary!
One of your best video reviews! Thanks for the valuable insights. Was on the fence about trying the haven, but will go on Oceania Vista again instead!
Thank you Gary, excellent review. I too love Ben and David and follow you both often.
Awesome, thank you!
Great video as always, Gary!
Always wondered what the Haven or similar experience is like on higher suites.
I can see it being useful when you absolutely want the mega new ship experience but get some luxury benefits.
I presume for a similar price, I'd spent a day at a land Go Kart place and other similar acitivies, then board an Oceania cruise (or even Regent) 😂
I have watched Ben & David's video about The Haven, and now TFT, and have come to the conclusion that The Haven does not offer good value for money. As mentioned, rather book a smaller luxury cruise, or save the money and book a balcony cabin.
I love your reviews because you're very objective. Ben and David's reviews are usually negative. You always see the good and the bad and have us make our own minds. Love it. Thank you very much
Interesting insights. Especially about letting the crew clear the tables. I would return a coffee cup myself also. Handy to know it is a gaffe especially on an ultra luxury ship. Thank you for the video!
Great video and very informative. You are my trusted source of cruise info. I was considering giving this cruise line a try with the Haven package, but not any more. The non enforcement of the over 16 year old rule on the Haven sun decks kills it for me. I want an adult experience and have enjoyed many great cruises on Celebrity with the Retreat suite package. Keep up the good work.
My MSC Yacht club experience was the same ,thank you I was considering Haven will rethink it! Will probably stay with Viking !
Hi Gary thanks for your insights .Saw the Viva in the Caribbean last week, Looked lovely ship and considered looking at The Haven but coming to the same conclusion as you regarding mid premium lines with there Exclusive areas and Retreats and their increased costings to get these. When you add it all up the price is not far off a Luxury/ Premium line costing where they have the experience in providing this level of service.
I was looking at a cruise on the Viva for later this year, this is a really helpful review. I'm now thinking twice about it. I'm sure the room would be great, but if the rest of the perks can't keep up, then there are just so many other options.
Good video. Liked that Observation Lounge and the Go-karting.
Thank you for sharing a great reviews.😊
Thanks for watching!
Really great info. Thanks
I can't help but wonder if some of the issues you experienced on Viva with regards to the Haven are related to the fact that on this class of ship, they vastly expanded the Haven. This could be having a negative impact on things like service. When I stayed in the Haven on the Getaway, I was so pleased with the personalized service. My butler and room service crew were top-notch, the concierge (the incredible Omar) checked in with me personally every single day. The lounge area and bar always had people in them and were filled with laughter. (There were also snacks and things like coffee, hot chocolate on a table just outside the lounge, next to the Haven pool.) Of course, I've found that service on NCL has gone down hill quite a bit over the past few years when staying outside of the Haven, but inside, I had a wonderful experience. Thanks for your honest take!
Great review and well-balanced. Sounds like NCL is still nickel-and-diming you even if you're a Haven resident, which is par for the course.
ncl executive should look into the matter asap for those that paid for exclusivity in the haven
Excellent review. We were in an H5 last July sailing from Iceland thwn Norwegian Fjords, Ams and Bruges. It was an excsllent trip.
I have also sailed on Bliss in the Haven and I think its much better particularly in regard to the Haven Lounge.
I knew the concierge, John, so we always chatted, i had coffees and other hot drinks in the lounge and never paid.
I agree the Haven menu could do with changing but we had 7 speciality restaurants booked for dinners.
We do like the big ship atmosphere but with being able to "get away" to the peace and quiet if the Haven.
On final thing with the Viva and Prima type ships is that they dont really suit cold weather sailings. There is plenty of outdoor seating and activity but not enough if its chilly! And I definitely agree with you about the AC and lighting - far too complicated!!!
As with all things, these days there is so much choice and your excellent videos help greatly in making those choices.
Agree 10000000000% NCL’s nickel and diming is really out of hand. I’ll stick with Celebrity spa suites. Not having to deal with the crowds in the MDR is my main objective when cruising.
Amazing commentary. We sailed in the Haven on one of NCL smaller ships and it was an amazing experience with only 14 cabins. They delivered the drinks to out exclusive hot tub 🤭.
Gary - Thank you for this wonderful report. I am on this ship in summer 2025 with my family and was thinking about a Haven upgrade. I can not believe the extra costs for gratuities and drinks and the no change in the Haven restaurant food. It just is not worth the cost. Going with my spouse on Silversea all inclusive in 2026 and the cost / value just seems so much more justified versus the Haven. NCL should take note!
Super helpful, thank you
Your reviews are the most balanced and highly logical that I have found. Thank you for not being so sensational and dramatic like other reviewers. I just got off the Prima for the first time and will have a video in the works, hopefully able to finish by April, and I plan on using a very similar style to yours. Yes, there were some puzzling decisions NCL made on their new ships... and things we would change. But did it ruin my vacation? Absolutely not, we would definitely sail Prima class again. The fact that so many people have passionate opinions about the Prima class proves that in the end, they are still engaged and care enough to consider another purchase.
Thanks for the heads up. Definitely, a cruise we’ll pass on. We’ve done The Retreat on Celebrity Edge and loved it.
Truly interesting video. As others said, it's striking that so many things are not included in such a fare.
I am finding NCL the worst at the nickel and diming. The premium dining is over priced as compared to other cruise lines. I also find the inability to change reservations on the app ridiculous. Keep up the good , I agree that your are one of the best cruise TH-camrs. Thanks for channel.
I'm a regular cruiser from Asia and sail on board NCL many times years ago, but with the last 3-4 years review, it's going straight South wards 😢
Thank you for lovely condensed but detailed review. (You're the king at this!!) Paying for things like coffee in a "premium" space would give me an eye twitch.
Loved your honest review. I agree the are some fun activities. For luxury I would still want to be a Regent cruiser.
This is a great information for those who haven't tried the Haven yet. My partner and I went in the Haven on the NCL Prima for our Iceland & Norway cruise in June 2023. Because the weather wasn't "hot" even though it was summer, the interiors of the ship were very crowded. This meant the Haven was just that, a much quieter place to escape the crowds. I fully agree that the lounge was pretty useless and it was rarely occupied. Our Haven restaurant experience was great though, much more personalized than what it sounded like you received. I think if I were booking a Prima class ship again, I might consider Haven for cold weather cruising, but regular cabins for warm weather as other passengers will be more dispersed onto outdoor decks, so it wouldn't feel as crowded.
Thank you for your honest review, which matched David’s very much. We are not “Haven” type people, although a quiet pool would be nice. The cost of it is beyond plausible, especially after seeing both videos with the incredibly small amount of perks you get for your money. All I could think when you said the butler reminded you he did not get the gratuities several was, no tip for you then!!! Love you reviews and travel tips. Keep on sailing!
Excellent analysis
My wife and I have traveled to most the world, but always happy to get back to Alabama. We did 53 cruises and seven on NCL, and noticed the HAVEN sign in the elevators. Seems to be a bummer! Between books seven and eight, friends suggested I become a Group Cruise guy. Lots of work, but saved the 50 couples on NCL to Europe many thousands. If you do this I suggest you do not take money, let them handle that aspect. We noticed that many of the cruise lines, (much like restaurants have reduced quality and service), but many are still work the money. We also have taken many major bus tours with large tour companies and this too is a great way to travel abroad with great hotels and same with their choice of restaurants. However, the only disadvantage to these land tours is most days you must be up and ready at 5:00 A.M. Not good!
My Haven experience was great aboard the Bliss. I agree with all of the cons of gratuities and non-exclusive extras for drinks, uncharges, and fees. I think its something NCL needs to reconsider to meet their "exclusivity" of the Haven. However, the priority boarding/disembarkation for families called it for us to consider rebooking and because it is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle throughout the trip. Thanks for the all the great info as always Gary, you got us to cruise, and made our first time easier while probably saving us thousands!!
this is my view as well, the priority boarding/disembarkation and the comfort of a large room means i will never cruise any other way than haven suite or whatever the equivalent is on another cruise line
So you’d pay $$$$ simply for that. Okaaaay.
The amount of money you're paying for that is absolutely ridiculous, though. Have you tried suite experiences on other lines? Look at Celebrity, for example, and everything they include in The Retreat. The number of amenities is like night and day.
@@xr6lad yes, same reason i pay for business or first class plane tickets, the experience is night and day, so to me it is worth it
I think what I missed mentioning is, I would still be financially smart looking into the cost of utilizing the Haven. Length of a cruise, location, and cruising season is a HUGE deal to consider if I'm getting a better bang for my buck. That takes a lot of research, consideration, and testing quotes before deciding on a final purchase. I would never enter this arena of premium advertisements for cruising on a wim.
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I love staying in the Haven. My last trip was in July and it was wonderful.
Gary, you do good cliffhangers from at the ends of your videos. Even though I know it’s to get me to another video, here I am 😂
Good content as always.
Thanks for that review gives me quite a bit to thin about before considering that type of ship. Enoy watching your channel, Peter ( Penang, Malaysia ).No coffee in the lounge put me off. Even Oceania has a dedicated coffee shop which I loved and it was popular for socialising.
I like Norwegian enough, but I don't really understand their pricing model. I was on the Bliss to Alaska (as a solo traveler) and thought the ship was great, but the nickel-and-diming is a bit silly!
I love Celebrity and would much rather cruise on one of their ships as opposed to Norwegian. I think Norwegian could be great if they cut down on all the "extra" charges for just about everything!
**As a side note, although the trip to Alaska was great and beautiful, I'm not sure I'd choose Norwegian for that itinerary again! The time to get into the cities, usually by bus transport, was extensive, as they did not have access to the "prime" docking spots. A lesson well learned on my part. ☺
Great and thorough video as always, Gary!
Gary, Enjoyed your review and it is spot on according to our experieces (we just completed our Viva sailing yesterday). Nickel and diming were taken to extremes - despite having the free at sea package and paying over $10,000 for a Haven suite, we were told that having a carton of drinking water in our suite each day would be an extra charge. Similarly, a request for a carton of water at the Haven bar was an additional charge, and even witnessed a Brittish Gentleman requesting hot water for tea and being told it was an extra charge! We were very disappointed that the Haven menus were the same throughout the trip, and found the food unremarkable - we found Hudson's main restaurant to be of higher quality and much more varied than the Haven. As a result, I plan to cancel our October, 2025 cruise on the Aqua - not enough value for the money. Cheers
Done the Haven several times but will no longer do it, because the prices have skyrocketed and the value has been reduced considerably. I am going on NCL again twice this year but instead of the Haven I am spending money to upgrade to Free at Sea Plus. You get extra shore excursion credit, better wifi and the premium drink package and a bottle of wine with every dinner. For the Ship within the Ship experience, I now favor and do the Yacht Club from MSC, it's a much better value for what you pay.
As soon as you showed me the menu, I thought the Haven was nuts. For that kind of money, you’d think you’d get those ultra formal and luxurious top Queen Mary 2 meals. You don’t even get a change in the menu each day though? Cruise lines need to remember that the culinary experience is a huge part of cruising!
great review.
I wasn't aware this ship in a ship was even available, thank-you for bringing that to my attention. The wife wants to go on a cruise; the thought of those mile long lines, was a deal breaker to me, so am glad now that is no longer an issue. Hopefully this post will help your analytics, consider it your gratuity, cheers.
I was on Allure of the Seas last week and here's how I'd compare my experience to yours: I had an owner's suite on Allure which had all the amenities yours did though decor was a decade old and it showed. We had a suite lounge with happy hour, snacks and drinks whereas yours did not. I had escorted debarkation, but not embarkation; you had both. We didn't have our own elevators; and did have priority reserved seating at shows, but weren't escorted.Suite dining was varied every day, but food was average. And my cost was $1400/night vs. your $1800, though of course prices, being dynamic, can vary somewhat from guest to guest. Fast wi-fi was included with price, but drinks and specialty dining were extra.
We all like different cruise experiences and perhaps Norwegian is right for some. For me though, your video reiterates to me (as did Ben's / David's) that I will never book Norwegian. I prefer traditional cruising on Seabourn, Celebrity and Holland America.
Now they look marvelous great lines on them so look like a ship not with something that dangles off the sides such as this ridiculous without any lines Celebrity ships.