Cruising Sisters

I was fortunate to have booked a Haven 2 bedroom and was able to utilize the Haven check-in. Arrived at my check-in time and was immediately directed to the Haven check in line to check Covid Test results and documents. Once cleared was directed to another private area for check in before being directed to the lounge. The lounge in Miami is spacious and light snacks (sandwiches/ cookies/ cakes) and non-alcoholic drinks were served. The entire Haven waiting area were escorted on at the same time, around 12 PM, so if you checked in at 9:30AM or 11:30 AM you all were boarded together.ed

The food was great , but we primarily ate in the Haven Restaurant or Haven room . We ate at La Cucina and Cagney's as specialty. We were disappointed in Cagney's the rib-eye steak my sister and I had , had so much fat and grizzle that we could not enjoy it. The Haven restaurant was 5 star all the way. Steaks were what one would expect from a steakhouse like Cagney's .

The HAVEN experience can not adequately represent what others may experience. Having your own lounge, restaurant, and pool area, there were not issues of no loungers. I do wish the pool in the Haven did not have the dining tables. Unlike other Haven lounges, the "outside dining" is situated around the pool hot tub area. The loungers are in the pool. If you wanted to use the pool, you would need to wait between breakfast or lunch service, or use it while people are dining. Also because the loungers are in the pool, you really have little room to swim or wade in the water. We did try the main pool area, expecting to have the music and games around the pool, but the configuration of the Breakaway there is little room around the pool. It seems very crowded and I cannot imagine what it will be like when or if they ever get up to 100% capacity

My family and I enjoyed the entertainment. I enjoyed Six immensely, the vocals and harmonies were superb I did not care for Velvet, however, one of my sisters loved it and stated she would see it again. As in other reviews, the food was a typical conference mass serving and being forewarned made arrangements for dinner afterwards in one of the specialty restaurants. I felt the show loud and the story-line , all over the place. We also saw Burn the Floor which we all hands down would see again. It really had your feet tapping. Syd's Pour House is everything the reviews say. Get there early. Although I am not one for comedy shows, NCL has a good mixture. I would say it would be worth your time.

Again, the HAVEN, 5 star service is what they trained to provide, and what those paying the upcharges to stay there expect. This group on this particular cruse did not disappoint. If you had a need they would do their best to meet it. The Haven restaurant ,in my opinion, is the best restaurant on the ship, the staff were very attentive. I will admit that they did seem a little understaffed, so service, especially dinner was slower than usual, and if you had a show scheduled would recommend it be factored in. Despite that, the service and personnel are excellent. . The steaks were better than Cagney's , and no upcharge for the lobster, and yes you can ask for an extra one if you so desire. Our butler Romel and Steward Linwood were the best of any I have had in the Haven's I have stayed in. From special room requests, to almond croissants , coffee and juice each morning, and special request afternoon snacks. The concierge desk made sure all dinner reservation requests and excursions were properly booked and confirmed. The Haven bartenders were great, and good with the drinks but a little too reserved for us. I guess it's the Haven so a certain decorum is expected. We enjoyed and found another bartender, outside the Haven, by the casino who was great and fun. Come on it's a cruise. He. ended up knowing us and our preferences and made our drinks accordingly and always with a little extra kick . We did catch a quick snack at the buffet twice and the staff there were also very friendly and seemed happy that things were getting back to the new "normal" One note, The Cruise Next Desk has a good promo going but their sales technique is very aggressive to close the sale. I felt that one gentleman was condecending and tried to speak over me to explain the program and why it was a no brainer that I purchase their deal, when I really only wanted to ask a question.. I am a retired corporate executive, have done may cruises, purchased cruise next certificates before , and did not want to buy 8 certificates for $2k with a $1k credit. I finally had to just walk away and return later to speak to someone else who was slightly less aggressive, but at least did listen to me and fulfill my request.

Staffed worked hard to keep the ship clean. You constantly saw someone washing down heavy touch zones. They did not have the "washy/washy" sprayers around like in prior cruises, but anti-bacterial dispersal machines around the ship. Inside the buffet, before the food line they have installed sinks for all to wash their hands before getting on line. I noticed, on the two times I went to the buffet, that some did, most did not bother.

We selected two cabins side by side. Haven 16720 and 16722 . This question has come up and yes, 16722 is slightly smaller than the other 2 bedrooms. It is on the end and next to door that the staff come in and out of it. One of my sisters in the second bedroom, says she could hear the banging . Not enough to disturb her sleep but felt it was noisy. The second bedroom in 16722 also has less storage space. The living room area in 16722 compared to 16720 was also several feet smaller. I guess that is why it only sleeps 5 in lieu of sleeping 6 like the other 2 bedrooms. The two sisters in that room, despite being slightly smaller, felt it was fine as well cabin 16720

Disembarkation was great, As a Haven guest, we had priority, taken down through the service elevator and right out. Once out , however the shuttle service operators are very aggressive, trying to rope you in before you can get to a cab, if that's what you want, or other services. Just be warned. If you prefer a cab, which we did, $27 flat fee for 4 of us, just keep walking straight ahead to the cab service line