I have to say my wife and I are not your average cruisers. We've only recently started cruising in the last 2-3 years. Traditionally when we vacation, we like to relax, splurge, go off the beaten path, and treat ourselves to a more laid-back luxury experience.

For many years when planning vacations, though, the thought never crossed our minds that a cruise would give us this kind of experience. But then we researched The Haven by Norwegian Cruise Line.

This was a different experience than our previous cruises. And if you are like us and gravitate towards a more exclusive, care-free, luxury cruise experience, then you'll want to read further. This article will give you an in-depth look at what it's like to cruise The Haven.

Our Cruise Experience on The Haven by Norwegian

Planning Ahead

We booked our cruise vacation with Norwegian last August. We chose the Western Caribbean itinerary on Norwegian Escape, at the time the latest addition to the NCL fleet. While we were excited about the itinerary to various destinations such as Honduras and Belize, we were also excited about what we would experience in The Haven.

Arriving in Luxury

We were welcomed at the port with an expedited experience through security into a room where we received personalized service and attention while our travel documents were being checked. Before getting onto the ship, we could already feel the luxury experience Norwegian was aiming for.

We were guided on board and taken to the exclusive Haven lounge and enjoyed a welcome drink while being introduced to our concierge and personal butler for the duration of our stay. More importantly, this unique experience made us feel relaxed and excited for what was in store.

We were in awe when we were taken to our stateroom, where we noticed the attention to detail in every corner of the room, from the linens and soaps in the bathroom to the large comfortable king-sized bed. Not to mention the close proximity to the Mandara Spa just around the corner.

A Welcome Respite

Once the cruise was underway, we enjoyed fine dining in the private Haven dining room where the food was just amazing and the service was top notch. One of the best parts of The Haven experience is that you get to enjoy everything that Norwegian has to offer on board the cruise ship, from Specialty Restaurants to Entertainment, Onboard Activities and more. But at the end of the day, we were able to retreat back into the private Haven lounge and enjoy a cocktail before calling it a night.

During the day, the spacious sun deck was at our disposal with exclusive access to Haven guests, so we didn't have to worry about waking up early to find a chaise lounge. Our concierge attended to our needs by assisting us with booking shore excursions at the various ports. And we were able to have quick access to disembarking and embarking the ship through The Haven entrances.

Spa Access

The close proximity to the Mandara Spa was a huge contributor to the experience onboard Norwegian Escape. We enjoyed using the spa facilities such as the Salt Room, the Snow room, and the thermal beds overlooking the ocean view.

Top Notch Service

And finally, our kind and attentive butler, who remembered our names from day one until we went home, was amazing. They made sure that everything we needed, from booking entertainment to additional products for our room, was delivered right away. I have to say the champagne and strawberries were also a nice touch!

It's that attention to detail that contributed to the experience we never thought we could have on a cruise ship. After cruising The Haven on Norwegian Escape, we wouldn't want to experience cruising any other way. We were able to create lasting memories and look forward to making more next time we are on board a Norwegian Cruise Ship.

Have you cruised The Haven? What were some of your favorite details?