With 28 bars and restaurants onboard, most people will have . It's still very much a family-focused ship, as Norwegian ships have long been. For a cruise ship to have over 100 solo cabins is incredibly high. Go figure. I loved the Epic Haven. This is in contrast to the spaciousness of the public areas in the interior of the ship. While NCL pitches itself as a family-friendly cruise line, the newer ships definitely have a lot more to do onboard, and are more about the at-sea experience. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports. Taking a bite-the-bullet approach, I booked an amazing two-bedroom suite and invited Doug (aka Mr. Cruise Radio) along for the ride. I understand. It certainly meets the "ship within a ship" concept since The Haven features small luxury ship amenities and service. Norwegian Epic - Best Deals in December 2023. And this is why people love it the ship itself is nothing too special, although people do enjoy the quieter atmosphere and the extra space offered by hosting fewer guests. Powered by Invision Community. If you need special assistance, the ships staff will also take care of this. Executives hint at an answer. Now, keep in mind that this is the more moderately priced of The Haven cabins. Even if I had my opinion is exactly that, a single opinion. Take a moment to look over the schedule of these top-rated shows and go ahead and make your reservations with the concierge service. CC Help Jenn So much so that I'm sort of in shock. Norwegian has had promenades on earlier ships that have offered outdoor restaurant seating and additional features. All photos (4,084) Traveler ( 929) Common Areas ( 1,880) Dining and Bars ( 1,551) A notable element of Norwegian Prima (and the sister Prima-class ships that will follow) is that it has an unusually wide wraparound promenade that is filled with resort-like outdoor lounge areas. 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. In 2020, Porthole Cruise Magazine named Norwegian Encore it Best Ocean Ship in the magazine's 2020 Reader's Choice Awards. One of the newest ships in the NCL fleet, Norwegian Prima is the first in the Prima Class and it feels like a lot of lessons have been learned from the Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes. 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. No votes so far! Rooms come with a king-sized bed, a hot tub and an oversized waterfall shower with multiple jets. Catching up with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection - What's it Like On Board Evrima? They feature two bedrooms with king-size beds, a double sofa bed, two bathrooms with jetted showers and a large balcony to gather together and enjoy the beautiful views or snuggle under the stars. The top 5 ranked ships for cabins include: Norwegian Escape 4.467. Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. You'll find the equally sculptural Onda by Scarpetta, a high-end Italian eatery, right off its top level, and a string of stylish restaurants with new-for-Norwegian themes not far from its midlevel. Once you are back on board, spend the evening relaxing in the private Haven Lounge or Haven Bar. The nicest NCL ship is Norwegian Prima, which is the newest ship in the fleet. Dubbed "Ocean Boulevard" and located on Deck 8 much closer to the waterline of the ship than the lounge areas at the vessel's top, which are located on decks 17 and 18 it offers unusually luxurious lounge chairs in some places (think: extra-thick cushions), sunbeds and swinging seats. Well, we're old school freestylerswe don't like making advance reservationswe go to dinner at whatever time we get hungry that night, and that means we rarely know very far in advance. They think you're there for dining. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Cruise fare for a room in The Haven varies by cabin category, length of cruise and destination. On the other hand, Carnival has . Hidden away at the top of the ship is The Haven by Norwegian, home to our most luxurious, well-appointed and spacious accommodations. Norwegian Bliss is considered to be quite upmarket by NCLs standards not that NCL ships are cheap anyway, but Bliss just has an aura of being more refined. The added floors mean it has more suites (107), as well as more expansive interior public lounge, bar and restaurant areas than previous Haven complexes. By day two, The Haven bartender, concierge and restaurant hostess knew our names. 15. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each 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. In my basic balcony cabin, there was just a relatively small area of built-in closet space. The Epic is the only ship which has the exclusive adults only sun deck included for Haven guests. And, indeed they are. Wasn't crazy about their courtyard setup, seemed smallest. The Haven allows passengers to enjoy everything from a private bar and lounge to a custom restaurant, secluded sun deck and calm courtyard, without ever leaving the suite complex. Norwegian Prima's top deck also still is loaded with family fun zones, including the largest go-kart track at sea (yes, this is a thing, ever since Norwegian began adding them to ships in 2017). She is popular for her upmarket feel, her exciting attractions including go-karting and Jersey Boys show, and her mix of Caribbean and Alaska destinations. Once the attentive staff have escorted you to your room, take a beat to soak in the surroundings. There's no separate dinner venue on any ships other than the Epic, Breakaway and Getaway (and presumably the new big ships that are on order). I didn't get to spend the night in the Haven this week or experience its amenities firsthand, so I don't know if its bigger size results in any service issues. What Is the Norwegian Haven and Which Ship Has the Best One? Located in and amongst the enclave is the all-suite accommodation section of the Haven. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. Its a ship that is super lively, has great food and overall just feels like a classic short break cruise experience, without a load of fancy bells and whistles. For a ship that launched in 2010, it is starting to feel like its quite old compared to the vibrancy of the Breakaway and Prima Class ships. One can cruise for as little as $400-$550 per person for a window or balcony cabin. Posh is top notch too. Keep in mind that actual square footage, floor plans, suite locations on the ships and lists of amenities will vary by vessel. The new location also allows for a more elaborate and comfortable outdoor lounge and pool area. The Horizon exudes a subdued resort look, though its signature whale-tail-shaped funnel remains. This change might seem simple but its a dream for sunseekers, as you typically have less wind at the back of the ship than in the front. Thats helped by the shorter itineraries Norwegian Sky specialises in 3-5 day cruising. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. The largest ship in the NCL fleet is Norwegian Encore, the last of the Breakaway Plus ships. 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. As a Haven keycard holder, you will have priority reservations and seating at all entertainment venues. Related: How to get the most from Norwegian's Latitudes Rewards loyalty program. On both sides of Ocean Boulevard, there are infinity pools as well as shallow dipping pools. Priority embarkation, debarkation, seating at shows and dining reservations also come de facto with that special metallic Haven keycard. Penthouses are great for people who love to entertain. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. Neither ship has the Haven suite-only area but does feature suites. Related: Why I loved Norwegian Prima's ridiculously big go-kart track. While some suites are located within The Haven itself, many are found behind the actual enclave, but still have access to it. The regular Owners Suites can sleep up to four, while the Deluxe Owners Suites, some with two bedrooms, can hold six. I just couldn't get that point across to her. A bubbling hot tub and bar are included on this sundeck, and a fitness center is nearby. Many people prefer the Norwegian Epic Haven as there are fewer suites, so service is slightly more personal. Moments later, you are surrounded by luxury with a concierge at hand and more drinks and snacks about. During the voyage, the ship will dock at harbors along the route. This tells you that Encores slight shift in focus to maximising family areas isnt as important as the adults-only spaces that Bliss has. For adults that like to party, the best ship is Norwegian Sky. Priority and reserve seating at the shows was a plus and not having to get there 30 minutes before the shows. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. The most noticeable one is the crowds. So it feels a little harsh that this exciting, feature-packed ship is nearer the bottom of the list. At ports with deep water, the ship may anchor at the pier. There are no bad NCL ships. Shore excursions at these ports-of-call are also highly ranked among passengers as favorite activities on a cruise. P.S. Makes me think "motel" pool. It is fascinating to read the original reviews of Norwegian Epic when she first launched, compared with modern customer reviews. The latter area only is accessible to passengers who pay extra. I then try to answer the seemingl. If youre sailing with a family, youll have more fun on the newer ships, but the smaller ships offer some of the best itineraries too. A ship's traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com, which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Norwegian Jade rounds out the top 10 and also the popular Gem Class of ship for the fleet, with a score that has improved since she received her Norwegian Edge upgrades a few years ago gone are the dated colours and smaller restaurants, with more choice added including the popular OSheehans. NCL is a cruise line that is very family-friendly, and while Norwegian Escape isnt different, it does excel from a couples perspective too. Its still not the most modern ship, but it doesnt look too tired or dated. But better-than-average pricing and a whole lotta accumulated Future Cruise Credits left me saying, Its now or never. (This despite having been warned by numerous people that once I experienced The Haven, Id never want to go back to regular cruising again.). Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Additionally, if you wish to taste the fare from other eateries located throughout the ship, reservations are also available. 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. Like me, hed never sailed in The Haven and was equally interested in finding out what the experience would be like. 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