The newest ships in Norwegian's fleet offer the largest variety of balcony and suite categories as well as the immensely popular solo travelers' cabins. The Haven on the Prima-class ship is the best one in the fleet, not only for this reason, but because the pool is now an outdoor infinity-style pool, as opposed to being contained in a courtyard. Available on Pride of America, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Sky, and Norwegian Star. As a Haven guest, we were able to bypass most (but not all) of the madness, being escorted by the concierge down to the disembarkation point. Located within the enclave, this private area is specifically created for outdoor luxury. The ship has a higher crew-to-passenger ratio than many Norwegian ships, as well. This also includes gourmet treats specially delivered to your suite each evening in case youd like a late-night snack. Moments later, you are surrounded by luxury with a concierge at hand and more drinks and snacks about. Yet Norwegian Spirit has a core group of repeat customers who love her, not so much for the on-board excitement but for getting the basics right good food, comfortable accommodation and great service as well as itineraries that have fewer days at sea, allowing guests to spend more time exploring. Courtyard was large with many loungers to choose from. You get to easily access the private elevator, skip the lines and be personally escorted off the ship. The Metropolitan bar is billed as the first sustainable bar at sea, and it offers a fabulously odd mix of handmade drinks that incorporate leftover food items on the ship, such as day-old croissants and banana peels. Which dishes are the best? The colors are muted with warm light browns and creams punctured with cool blue accents a sharp departure from the bold color palettes found on many earlier Norwegian cruise ships. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports. An "ordinary" aft SF suite on these ships works for us for less money. Started June 21, 2021, By In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. When I cruised the next suite on Epic, the Haven area was nice but never did the concierge ever say hello or ask if we needed anything. And I say this as someone who has sailed on every one of the 18 ships operated by Norwegian except two (Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Spirit). There will be a mini-bar and coffee/espresso/cappuccino machine with supplies. The ship has a great range of dining venues, one of the most popular live shows on the entire fleet with Burn The Floor, and a huge amount of venues for guests of all ages, including great kids and teens clubs. You will be first in line and personally escorted to the proper place for disembarking the ship. Its easy to look at the price tag and say, I could take three cruises in an oceanview or even balcony with that money. I know at one point, as I was soaking in the hot tub, drink in hand, I had a moment of clarity in which I thought, Enjoy it, bub, cause this is costing a fortune!, I made the mistake of then calculating the per-day cost, which Id avoided doing previously. Norwegian is also a fantastic line for families with teens. While enjoying this outside space, you can utilize the services of a Courtyard attendant. But that doesnt mean a compromise on features guests love the VR gaming, go-karts and range of restaurants even if most things come with an extra charge. Studio Dado, the design firm behind the Penrose Atrium, studied great piazzas around the world, such as St. Mark's Square in Venice, to come up with its layout and look. In the bedroom, youll find a pillow-top mattress, fine linens and a feather duvet. Soon after, another staffer took us not only onboard the ship, but to an elevator which took us directly to The Haven. In the afternoon and early evening, a variety of snacks could be found in the courtyard. Like me, hed never sailed in The Haven and was equally interested in finding out what the experience would be like. Aesthetically, both ships have contemporary decor. For those who like to dine in the room, a white tablecloth service is included. In other words, while the interior of the ship has taken an elegant turn, for sure, this isn't a vessel that's just for couples on an upscale getaway. I just couldn't get that point across to her. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. (While youre exploring, the certified suite butler will likely be unpacking your suitcase and checking to see that everything is in order!). Which Norwegian ship has the best haven Is bottled water included in the price of a Norwegian cruise? For adults that like to party, the best ship is Norwegian Sky. This is another part of the "elevation" of Norwegian Prima. You and your baggage have been whisked to an area of the ship known as the Norwegian Cruise Line Haven. The butler was white glove service setting up dining on the balcony and gave hands on training for the Lavazza machine. The public areas of Norwegian Prima may feel spacious. Now that youve settled into your suite, enjoyed a hot shower in the luxury bath, and changed out of travel clothes into comfy cruise attire, lets see what the Norwegian Cruise Line Haven section has to offer. It's designed to carry just 3,100 passengers at double occupancy. But consider that rival Royal Caribbean's newest vessel, Wonder of the Seas, is designed to sail with 5,734 passengers at double occupancy. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Ed, November 23, 2014 in Norwegian Cruise Line. The entryway to the ship deposits you at the three-story-high Penrose Atrium, which may be the most beautiful atrium of any big ship at sea. Before the butler leaves, inquire about getting everyone an NCL mobile phone. The best NCL ship for adults depends on your cruise style. Posh is top notch too. Huge Haven area and love the Haven lounge and restaurant. Its a smaller ship in the fleet, so better suited to adults who want a more relaxing break. It's enough for me this week, as I'm traveling solo. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. In addition to staying in the best . Plus Ups are excluded. All photos (4,084) Traveler ( 929) Common Areas ( 1,880) Dining and Bars ( 1,551) NCL is a cruise line that is very family-friendly, and while Norwegian Escape isnt different, it does excel from a couples perspective too. Among other nearby outlets with elevated design is Cagney's Steakhouse. Additionally, if you wish to taste the fare from other eateries located throughout the ship, reservations are also available. The only differences are that Encore has a bigger racetrack and laser tag arena, but at the cost of losing the Spice H2O bar area for adults only. Service was outstanding and certainly worth every dollar. Will your entire party be able to sail in The Haven? Find cheap Norwegian (NCL) cruises on Tripadvisor. Norwegian's Haven staterooms range in size from 309 square feet for a Deluxe Spa Suite with a Balcony, all the way up to over 6,694 square feet for the 3-Bedroom Garden Villa. Does it get crowded in the courtyard? Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. Speak with the concierge about the availability of ship-sponsored excursions. There is no side way around the buffet to reach it. People often comment on how good the crew are on NCL ships but for some reason, Pearls staff get even more mentions than usual. The FFS cruise will set sail on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship in . Highlights again include the incredible live entertainment, with Norwegian Joy being the only ship at sea to host a production of Footloose. Second reason is Posh. Norwegian has packed so much onto the top of Norwegian Prima that, given its smaller size, I suspect it'll feel a little cramped once the vessel starts sailing with a full complement of passengers. posh was great. You can find all of his dispatches on his authors page. "We simply haven't seen any indication that the consumer is shying away from taking cruise vacations," Frank del Rio, the CEO of Norwegian Cruise That's 22% fewer people than Norwegian Encore. Norwegian Cruise Line has been promising to take things up a notch with its new ship, Norwegian Prima to "elevate" the experience as compared to earlier Norwegian vessels, as its executives have been saying. Lets start with the positives Norwegian Epic is a ship that has something for everyone. These suites are only available as part of The Haven on Norwegian's Jewel-class ships. In particular, the pre-cruise customer service gets a bit of a hammering, but people generally love the experience on the ship. It depends on you, your preference for cruising style, and who youre sailing with. And elegant. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions, Fort Lee NJ -15 minutes from the NYC Port. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. Service and food in the restaurant was impeccable, although its worth noting that the menu remains the same throughout the week. Another feature of the Haven on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva is that the suites and rooms are all in the same area of the ship, connected by an elevator. There are views for days through walls of windows; and some ships have not one, but two balconies. First, it is one of the newer ships, and so has a dedicated suite restaurant for all meals if one wishes, the older ships do not have a suites venue for dinner. There are views of the ocean and the opportunity to relax beside the private pools. By day two, The Haven bartender, concierge and restaurant hostess knew our names. Perhaps the greatest design triumph of Norwegian Prima isn't the elevated style of its public spaces. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. The 3,100-passenger ship is loaded with stylish, upscale bars and restaurants. We had one concierge who always managed to find where we were eating dinner and would stop by to see how we were doingbut also reminding us she could make all our dinner reservations (including MDR reservations). A version of The Haven is available onboard the following ships: 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Norwegian Cruise Line vs. Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Getaway vs. Norwegian Breakaway. And one last point a lot of the reviews Ive read mention bad things across the entire cruise line, rather than the ship. A not-insignificant part of the top of the vessel is devoted to outdoor lounge areas that are exclusively for use by passengers staying in the ship's Haven suite area. Loved access to Posh and the two dedicated bars in the Haven area. An upcoming sailing of Norwegian Epic is being changed, with one port of call cancelled and another extended. For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. That isn't to say Norwegian Prima is perfect. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Did Norwegian Cruise Line make its new ships too small? NCL new ships. While some suites are located within The Haven itself, many are found behind the actual enclave, but still have access to it. Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Julie Mehretu on his authors page Platinum Card, x! Will set sail on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship in space, you can utilize the of... Same throughout the week of Footloose windows ; and some ships have not one but... Was large with many loungers to choose from the afternoon and early evening, a variety of could... Fantastic line for families with teens say Norwegian Prima is perfect this outside space, you can find all his... 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