I've said it several times in this review - upgrade to the Haven. It made the trip what it was. Great ship overall but the VIP treatment is the only way to travel.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Having the Haven, we began in a private area with drinks, snacks and friendly staff - much better than the cattle herding we saw in the main concourse.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Having cruised the other "Big 2" before NCL, the food was amazing across the board. The only area that my wife and I felt lacked was the desserts. All specialty restaurants we dined at were top notch (but stay away from any scallop dish as they were all rubbery and salty no matter the venue/price point). Buffets were stocked with a variety of amazing foods and the Haven restaurant will spoil you!
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Most of our time on the boat was spent in the room...doing honeymoon stuff...but when we did venture out, the activities were great. No chance to be bored!
Entertainment
3 out of 5
This is the only area that my wife and I disagreed. Million dollar quartet - AMAZING (we both agreed). The Illusionarium was great in my opinion but my wife felt it was slow in areas. Burn the Floor was 60 minutes, which made it about 55 minutes too long - we are both young (lower 30s) and even we tired of the constant sexual overtones, lack of clothing on the dancers (yes, even I objected to the scantly clad female dancers) and lack of a plot line. You can only watch people grinding on each other in suggestive ways for so long. Don't get me wrong, all the dancers were amazing and attractive but the dancing became repetitive and stale quickly. Numerous people walked out of the show. Howl-At-The-Moon was the best show on the boat and we found ourselves there night after night, it never got old and the performers were top-notch.
Children's Programs
Honeymoon...no kids
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Everyone from the Haven areas (as you'd expect in the VIP area) to the regular waitstaff and stewards were always smiling, accommodating and seemed to enjoy themselves. Even security when coming back on-board from island stops were cordial and professional - no bad attitudes or muted faces here.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Again - having sailed the other "Big 2", NCL was head and shoulders above the rest. I like the 6-7-8 design with most restaurants and activities in one area (other than the pool deck).
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
If you are even remotely considering the Haven...DO IT. Five star service, 5 star accommodations, 5 star food and beverage...it doesn't get any better than this at sea without chartering your own yacht!
Ship tip
If you can afford it - get the Haven, worth every penny.
Can you say Tequila? Grab a cab down to the main port (NCL's is about 5 miles away and way overpriced), or better yet, do what we should have and rent a Jeep to see the island.
Once again...Haven rocks! Off the boat whenever we wanted up to 10 am and expedited (private elevator) down to the gangway. Flash those preferred luggage tags at Immigration and you are greeted with a smile and a wave through.
My husband and I had a Haven Spa Suite. Absolutely the BEST. Spa tub for 2 in the room with all access to the actual spa upstairs. I wouldn't hesitate to book that room type. Also, the HAVEN is amazing. So intimate and personal. Top notch treatment the whole time.
So glad you enjoyed the Getaway, as I fell in love with the Getaway and especially NCL after sailing both RCCL and Carnival. I feel they are above the rest also. So glad you got to enjoy the Haven on your honeymoon! I know that’s an area I will never be able to afford, as my hubby and me are retired, and thus living on a retirement budget. Which means inside cabins only! Lol! I do feel the food on NCL is better than RCCL and Carnival, by far!
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
