CT Mommy Blog

This is part 3 of my recap on our cruise aboard the Norwegian Breakaway from New York to Bermuda. I’ve given a general review of our time on the boat and a review about cruising with small children. I’m back again to tell you about our experience in the Haven.

Just thinking about the Haven makes me want to reach into my wallet and book another cruise. It was a week of pure luxury.

Since families of 5 have limited accommodation options on a cruise we decided to splurge and stay in the 2-bedroom family villa as part of the Haven suites. We’re so glad that we decided to stay in the Haven because it ended up being the best part of our trip.

Priority Check-in

We wanted to beat the traffic and ensure that we got a parking space so we got to the cruise terminal by 10 am. As soon we entered the terminal we felt the VIP status of the Haven. There was a special check-in line that let us skip ahead everyone else. Once we got through security there was a special waiting room filled with fruit, baked goods, and drinks. We helped ourselves to a few snacks and sat down with other guests. We waited in this room for no more than 10 minutes before we were walked onto the ship.

Once on the ship, we were greeted by the concierge and given a quick overview of some of the amenities available only to Haven guests. They were passing around a quick lunch (beef sliders and fries) and fruit punch. Our room was already clean so we decided to go straight in and check things out. We were in our room before 11 am. The whole process was smooth and stress-free.

Butler & Concierge

One of the luxurious parts of being a Haven guests are the 24 hour butler and private concierge services. We used our butler every day. He brought us anything we needed — menus, food, drinks, milk for the kids twice a day, a high chair. He also left treats in our room daily. He gave us a tour of our room and showed us how to work everything. He was always available.

We also used the concierge to book all of our dinners and shows. By using the concierge we got priority seating without a wait at all of the dining rooms.

Accommodations

We stayed in the 2-Bedroom Family Villa. It was a balcony suite with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a living room. It was the perfect size for our family of five.

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom featured a king size bed, flat screen TV, makeup vanity, and plenty of storage. The room wasn’t huge but it made good use of all the space. We were able to store our suitcases under the bed. We had plenty of room in the closet and drawers for all of our clothes and shoes.

Master Bathroom

The master bathroom was heavenly. It had double sinks, private toilet room, shower and tub. The soaking tub overlooked views of the ocean. I spent as much time as I could relaxing in the tub while looking out on the ocean below. There was even a menu to order special bubble baths from the spa. I didn’t get that fancy, but I did use the complimentary bath salts.

Mommy Tip: The tub was also helpful when giving my 3 little ones a bath. Remember that a traditional stateroom only has a shower stall, so bathing little ones can be tricky in a standard room!

The shower also had a floor to ceiling window (with privacy shade). It had jets that sprayed water in every direction. I felt rejuvenated after every shower. I fully intend on replicating the bathroom in my dream home. It was that amazing!

Second Bedroom & Bathroom

The second bedroom was perfect for our kids. We had our twins sleep together and they were very comfortable. The room has a pull out sofa and a pull-down bed. There is a flat screen TV, shelves and drawer space. There is also a full bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower in the second bedroom.

Living Room

We spent most of our family time in the living room. It had a couch, flat screen TV, deck & chair, small dining table and chairs. There was also a mini bar (not included) and espresso/coffee/tea machine. The doors that led to the balcony were in the living room.

When we arrived we were greeted with a bottle of champagne and fresh flowers. Every day we had a bowl of fresh fruit and a tray of small bites (canapes, chocolate covered strawberries, cheese platter). Every night our butler gave us something sweet (cookies, brownies, M&Ms). We quickly got spoiled.

Pool & Sundeck

The pool area is right outside the Haven lobby. The atmosphere is calm and serene. There are tables and chairs set up for light meals. They have tea, coffee, fresh juice and flavored water available throughout the day. There was an assortment of cookies or brownies and bowls of gummy bears and M&Ms.

There are two wading pool areas with lounge chairs in the water. There is also a deeper pool for swimming. The area also has two hot tubs. The whole area is covered with a retractable glass ceiling.

There was a private sundeck on the top deck of the ship that was only available to Haven guests.

At first we brought the family to the family pool area on the main part of the ship. We didn’t want our children to be disruptive and spoil anyone’s day. We quickly learned that our kids weren’t a bother. On days that we stayed in the Haven pool we were either the only ones there or we were among other families. A few nights after dinner or after a shore excursion we came back to the pool area and had fun. We don’t have a pool back home so this was our first time going in the water with the girls since they were very little. They loved splashing around and learning how to swim. It was some of our favorite bonding time of the whole trip.

Mommy Tip: There are no life guards on duty. My kids used there Puddle Jumpers to swim in the pools.

Haven Restaurant

Haven guests have private access to their own restaurant. After exploring all of the complimentary restaurants and some paid restaurants on the ship we decided to eat most of our dinners at the Haven Restaurant. The food was great, the view was beautiful and the staff was excellent.

Like our experience with the Haven pool, we were at first a bit hesitant to bring such young children to a fancy restaurant. The concierge assured us that we were more than welcome to dine at the restaurant. The staff, including the manager, went out of their way to accommodate our family. They had kid menus available, prepared the kids special meals not on the menu and even offered to puree baby food. They even entertained our littlest one so we could eat our meal without him fussing. They were truly wonderful. There’s really no reason to eat anywhere else.

Priority Departure

Haven guests get VIP treatment up until the last moment on the ship. On the last day we had our bags picked up from our room and we went to the pool area for breakfast. When we were ready to leave we were personally escorted off of the ship through a private elevator. Once off of the ship, there is a separate line for Haven guests that bypasses the traditional departure line. Sadly the luxuries end when you pick up your bags and go through customs. Bye Bye Haven!

Final Thoughts

The Haven is a bit more money than your traditional stay on a cruise ship but it also comes with lots of perks. We were able to splurge because we went off season. I don’t think we could have managed the extra cost during peak cruising time. I’m so glad that we decided to choose the Haven experience because I honestly can’t imagine enjoying our trip as much if we were all crammed in one little room. It might not be how we vacation every year, but I’m glad that we decided to upgrade this year. It was truly the best part of our vacation.