o n ’ t h n e e v se a a H ‘ A BY DEBBI K. KICKHAM
HAVE YOU EVER STAYED IN A HOTEL ON ITS CONCIERGE FLOOR? Lucky me — I’ve done it
dozens of times throughout my 30-year travel writing career, and it’s always a treat. Basically, it consists of a hotel-within-the-hotel where you will be pampered with all kinds of exclusive, posh service, including a wealth of food presentations all day long. That’s why I’m excited to tell you about The Haven on Norwegian Cruise Line. Indeed, I recently interviewed a United States senator who had sailed on The Haven two years ago and he was unabashedly enthusiastic about it — and its incredible service. “It was amazing,” he kept telling me. No doubt, it’s impressive — and exactly where you can get your daily dose of Vitamin Sea. With Norwegian Cruise Line sailing again, you may want to put this special site on your bucket list. Norwegian’s first sail date was July 25 with a seven-day Greek Isles cruise aboard Norwegian Jade, departing from Athens and visiting Iraklion (Crete), Rhodes, Mykonos, Olympia (Katakolon), Corfu and Santorini. The cruise line has enhanced its robust Sail Safe Health & Safety Program, which includes mandatory vaccination requirements for all guests and crew on all sailings through Oct. 31 to ensure that you and your loved ones can cruise confidently. The cruise line will even help you get to the ship with its Free Air for Second Guests and
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transfers from the airport to the pier. But back to the heavenly Haven. The Haven by Norwegian is a ship-within-a-ship concept exclusive to Norwegian Cruise Line. The keycard-access-only area is available on 11 of its 17 ships. Guests of The Haven enjoy access to the upscale complex, which includes the most luxurious and well-appointed suites on the ship, exclusive amenities, including a dedicated concierge and 24-hour butler; a private courtyard, pool and sundeck to retreat to after a day full of shipboard activities; a private bar and lounge; and a dedicated Haven restaurant available on the Breakaway- and Breakaway Plus-class ships. The Horizon Lounge, the two-story observation space available on Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy, offers Haven guests breathtaking panoramic views that they can enjoy as they sit back and unwind with a complimentary coffee and tea service and select dry snack options. (I’ll take a cappuccino, please.) The Haven by Norwegian even offers a wide array of suite accommodations. However, each ship differs in the type of accommodations available. A guest favorite for larger groups of families or friends looking for connecting room options is the Three-Bedroom Garden Villa — the largest and most luxurious suite — found on six of the fleet's 17 ships. Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn. offer the largest Garden Villas aboard as they both span approximately
The Haven is an excellent "homewithin-a-hotel" that guarantees a first-class experience on Norwegian Cruise Lines. Courtesy Norwegian Cruise Lines.
6,694 square feet. The villa has panoramic views of the ocean and sleeps up to eight guests with three separate bedrooms, each with a king- or queen-size bed and luxury bathroom. It features a dedicated living area, dining room and an expansive private garden complete with a hot tub. The Haven Three-Bedroom Garden Villas are also available on Norwegian Gem (approximately 4,252 square feet), Norwegian Pearl (approximately 4,252 square feet), Norwegian Jade (approximately 4,719 square feet), and Norwegian Jewel (approximately 4,891 square feet). The Haven by Norwegian provides the boutique benefits and service of a luxury small ship experience while also offering the activities, entertainment and dining options that only a large ship can house — such as Broadway- and West End-caliber productions, premium dining choices, expansive aqua parks and sports complexes and dedicated youth programs. Make sure to bring the kids. The vast array of options appeal to multigenerational families as parents and grandparents can take advantage of the privacy of the complex, while kids can enjoy exhilarating attractions like Norwegian’s Speedways — the cruise industry’s only racetracks at sea — found on Norwegian Joy, Bliss and Encore. That area is certainly the “vroom” at the top — and designed to get your motor running. For more, visit ncl.com. And follow Debbi on Instagram @DebbiKickham.
