Are NCL Suites A Waste of Money? (Suite & Haven Perks Explained)

Booking a suite on any cruise ship isn’t just about the extra space you get. You also get extra perks for being a suite-class guest.

These range from those little touches that make your cruise feel a tiny bit more special, to some serious benefits that justify the cost.

With Norwegian Cruise Line, there are a lot of different suites and a lot of different perks, depending on the suite that you’ve booked.

In this guide, I’ll take you through all the extras you can enjoy whether you book a standard suite or one of the speciality options that NCL offers.

Suggested read: Suite Vs Mini Suite Vs Balcony – What’s The Difference?

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Three Main Categories of Perks

The NCL suite perks you can enjoy are split into three main categories –

1. ‘Special Services’,
2. ‘Delicious Extras’
3. ‘Thoughtful Touches’

They sound a bit sexy don’t they? Lol!

Tese are all offered for all suites, although some have slight variances.

There are then extra benefits if you book a Haven suite. And it’s also worth explaining that Club Balcony Suites are not considered full suites – they are what used to be called Mini-Suites, and so they have some of the suite perks, but not all.

Let’s break it down, starting with the perks you get for booking any suite or penthouse on any of the Norwegian Cruise Line ships.

NCL Suite and Penthouse perks

The benefits you enjoy when booking a suite (including a Penthouse) on an NCL ship are broken down into three main categories.

1. Special Services

2. Delicious Extras

3. Thoughtful Touches

Unless stated, all of these perks apply to suites across the fleet. The only other difference is Norwegian Joy, which is missing a few of the perks – I’ve marked those with an asterisk (*).

The Haven Perks

The Haven is a luxury area situated at the top of some of the ships, which is where you’ll find the most luxurious of accommodations.

It’s not available on every NCL ship, but you will find it on the Prima, Breakaway Plus, Breakaway, Epic and Jewel Class ships, as well as the upcoming Prima Plus class, including:

• Norwegian Aqua (Prima Plus)
• Norwegian Viva (Prima)
• Norwegian Prima (Prima)
• Norwegian Encore (Breakaway Plus)
• Norwegian Bliss (Breakaway Plus)
• Norwegian Joy (Breakaway Plus)
• Norwegian Escape (Breakaway Plus)
• Norwegian Getaway (Breakaway)
• Norwegian Breakaway (Breakaway)
• Norwegian Epic (Epic)
• Norwegian Gem (Jewel)
• Norwegian Pearl (Jewel)
• Norwegian Jade (Jewel)
• Norwegian Jewel (Jewel)

Suites in the Haven enjoy all of the same perks as suites and penthouses elsewhere in the fleet, but they also offer a number of extra benefits as well:

• A courtyard attendant in the Haven Courtyard to offer you fresh fruit, drinks and cold towels
• An upgraded platinum keycard

As well as this, guests in the Epic, Breakaway and Breakaway Plus Haven suites will also be given a mobile phone that they can use for the duration of their cruise – ideal for keeping in touch with other members of the travelling party without worrying about WiFi or roaming charges.

Haven guests also have access to three exclusive areas of the ship:

1. Haven Lounge

The Haven Lounge is an exclusive lounge area with luxurious seating and a fully stocked cocktail bar. It’s the ideal place to relax alone or to meet up with other guests of the Haven suites when you want a quieter location to unwind.

The Haven Lounge is available on Breakaway and Breakaway Plus ships.

2. Haven Restaurant

The Haven has its own private restaurant that has a varying menu, giving Haven guests more options alongside the regular Main Dining Room and speciality restaurants. Guests can choose to eat in the restaurant or have their butler bring their meal to the suite.

Read more: 14 NCL Haven Butler Requests You Can Make

Here’s an example of the Haven Restaurant menu from my cruise on Norwegian Encore.

The Haven Restaurant is also found only on Prima, Breakaway and Breakaway Plus ships.

3. Haven Courtyard and Sundeck

The Haven Courtyard is the exclusive sun deck area that only Haven guests can access. Here you can relax on a lounger or in the hot tub, while attendants ensure your drinks are topped up and you’re provided with cool towels to relax in hotter areas.

The Haven Courtyard is available on all ships with a Haven area, although access to the Sun Deck is restricted to guests aged 16 or over only.

Spa Suite Perks

On the Breakaway and Breakaway Plus-class ships, you’ll find Spa Suites within the Haven.

Breakaway Plus ships also have Deluxe Spa Suites with even more space. These suites are extra luxurious and include their own hot tub next to the balcony, letting you relax in absolute comfort and enjoy an amazing view.

They also include complimentary access to the Thermal Spa Suites onboard during normal spa hours, so you can enjoy the sumptuous and rejuvenating facilities there alongside easy access to the Mandara Spa and Fitness Centre.

If you want to fully reinvigorate your mind and body, these suites are some of the best choices.

Club Balcony Perks

The Club Balcony Suites are what used to be called Mini Suites on Norwegian Cruise Line ships. These aren’t full suites, but instead offer a middle ground between the suites and the balcony staterooms.

They’re a little larger than a standard balcony stateroom, but not by much. The real benefit of choosing a Club Balcony Suite is the chance to enjoy some of the suite perks, without paying the full price of a suite on board.

The biggest benefits are the more luxurious bedding, and the option to pre-book your reservations and make sure you get the dining venues and entertainment you want. 

The sparkling wine, laundry and pressing services and the extra treats are a nice touch, but you can pay for these separately anyway and it would be cheaper than the upgrade from Balcony Stateroom to Club Balcony Suite.

Read more: NCL Club Balcony Suite Vs Balcony

So, are suites really worth it?

There are two factors in making your decision on whether a suite on an NCL cruise is worth it – how much time you plan to spend in your room, and how much will you make use of the NCL suite benefits that you get?

Norwegian Cruise Line ships are known for being packed with things to see and do, including a wealth of speciality dining restaurants and entertainment facilities.

While the suites, especially those in the Haven, are fantastic accommodations that are beautifully appointed, if you aren’t going to spend much time in them because you’re off exploring the ship, you could argue they aren’t worth the extra cost.

And it’s important you check the perks you get for your room too – because if you don’t think you’ll use them all, then the extra cost for the suites likely doesn’t justify the one or two perks you will use. Most of the perks are things you can pay extra for anyway.

But, if you do think you’ll enjoy the perks being offered, you intend to spend some time on your cruise enjoying the space and furnishings provided by your suite, and you have the budget, then they are absolutely worth it. They are wonderfully comfortable and situated in fantastic locations on the ship, and the perks are useful.

If you’ve already booked your NCL cruise and want to upgrade to a suite, take a look at this guide next: How To Upgrade Your Cruise Cabin After Purchase.

And if you haven’t, here’s how to get the best deal on your suite…

Consider NCL Priority Access instead

NCL Priority Access is a package that gives you some of the suite perks, regardless of your stateroom type. This includes priority-check-in and disembarkation, first access to tender boats and some nice extras like canapes and breakfast in bed.

To see the price for this and decide if it’s worth it, take a look at my NCL Priority Access guide here.

What does a butler do on an NCL cruise?

If you book a Haven Suite on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, you’ll be able to enjoy the services of a butler.

But if you’re new to suites or to having a butler, it might be a bit daunting. What can you ask them to do? Are there things which aren’t their responsibility?

Don’t worry – the whole point of a Haven Suite is to relax, and so I’ve looked through forums and cruise groups to see what kind of things others have asked of their butler so you know what your options are.

NCL Butler and Concierge Services Explained

When staying in a Haven Suite, you don’t just get a butler, but you also have access to a special Concierge.

It can be a little confusing, but the butler is mainly responsible for any in-suite requests, while the Concierge handles everything else about your cruise – speciality dining reservations, reserved seating in the theatre, excursions etc.

So, when it comes to what a Norwegian Haven butler does, it tends to be handling requests related to your suite and your experience there, rather than the rest of your cruise.

However, always feel free to ask your butler for help with any aspect of your cruise – they might pass on your request to the Concierge if it’s more their area, or sometimes they’ll just do it for you.

It’s important to know that there isn’t one butler per suite, so while you can ask your butler for anything, bear in mind they will be looking after a few different suites at once, and they aren’t at your beck and call 24/7.

Unique Haven Butler Requests

Here are some of the things you can ask your Haven Butler to do for you:

1. Unpack Your Luggage

One of the most common requests is for the butler to unpack your luggage on the first day of your cruise.

They’ll make sure everything is put away neatly, and your formalwear is properly hung to protect it, before hiding the suitcases for you – leaving you to just enjoy your suite.

Understandably, some people aren’t a fan of this service and prefer to unpack their own clothes, or at least their own underwear. They won’t do it without you asking, for that reason.

2. Bring Snacks

Butlers will bring snacks to your room, sometimes on request or sometimes without you even needing to ask.

You can tailor the requests, though – a lot of people like to ask for M&Ms, others prefer chocolate-coated strawberries, or maybe you’re a cookie person.

Sometimes, they can get a little eager, though, as this review shows…

3. Serve Meals

If you would rather eat in your suite than attend a restaurant, your butler will be able to serve you instead.

They can also visit multiple restaurants for you, if you want to eat from different locations, though they’re only human – don’t expect everything to arrive at the same temperature.

Also, if you dine in-suite, all of your courses will usually be served at once. It’d be unreasonable to expect a butler to trek back and forth to each restaurant to serve courses one at a time.

4. Draw You a Bath

One of the best ways to relax at the end of a long day exploring a port is with a hot bubble bath, and if you want, your butler will happily draw it for you, making sure it’s at a good temperature.

Of course, you’re perfectly capable of turning on a faucet yourself, but if you want to feel pampered then this is a nice touch.

5. Shine Your Shoes

Butlers are trained in shining shoes, and while NCL isn’t a very stuffy cruise line, you may still look forward to putting on your best clothes for a nice formal night around the ship.

Ask your butler to shine your shoes before the evening and they’ll look as good as new.

6. Remove Your Coffee Machine

Haven Suites all come with a Nespresso coffee machine in the room, but not everybody drinks coffee – and those that do might have particular tastes.

If you’re not going to use the Nespresso machine, you can ask your butler to remove it for the duration of your cruise. It’ll free up a bit of desk space which might be useful, or you might just prefer the suite to be a little less cluttered.

7. Clear the Mini Fridge

When you arrive in your Haven Suite, the Mini Fridge will already be stocked with a selection of drinks, but just because you’re in a Haven Suite, you don’t get to enjoy them for free.

If you’d rather use the space for your own drinks, just ask the butler to clear the fridge for you, and they’ll take away all of the chargeable drinks.

8. Bring Fitness Equipment

Have you ever considered making use of that beautiful balcony space with a bit of sunrise yoga? Ask your butler if they can bring you a yoga mat – it’s not a common request but they should be able to fulfill it, and you can start your day the zen way.

9. Emergency Clothes Cleaning

While you will still need to go through the proper processes to get a full load of laundry dealt with on an NCL cruise, if you have a clothing emergency – even the most refined of us can accidentally spill something sometimes – then you can ask your butler to take care of it.

They may not guarantee a full laundry service but they’ll be able to remove the mark before any permanent stain takes hold.

10. Tailor Your Room Service Requests

Room service is something you can enjoy in any cabin on an NCL cruise. But if you have a butler available to help, you can tailor your requests and they’ll do what they can to resolve it for you.

You can’t ask for anything, but minor adjustments to existing dishes, or having something prepared a certain way, would be a reasonable request.

11. Make Towel Animals

Towel animals are not the job of a butler – your room steward would take care of that for you. But if you do want towel animals in your room, you can ask your butler and they will see to it that it happens.

You might not see your room steward if you’re out during the day a lot, so asking your butler in-person or via a note to pass on the message will usually see to it that it happens. Perfect if you’re travelling with kids.

12. Help Host Parties

Some of the best suites on NCL ships are easily big enough to host a small party, and your butler can help prepare the suite for it if you want them to. Whether it’s the addition of a few decorations, or making sure there are canapes served, they’ve got you covered.

13. Find Lost Laundry

Sometimes you can send a bag of laundry off to be cleaned and something can go a little wrong. It’s not just at home where those pesky socks can wander off.

Yet if it happens while you’re in a Haven Suite (or in this case, a Norwegian Jade suite with butler), just let them know…

14. Seek Urgent Assistance

Quite a unique one this, but your butler will basically try to help with anything you ask, even a serious and urgent incident.

This story from a cruise passenger maybe doesn’t shed the best light on the normal Guest Services team, but it shows how a butler can take charge of a situation:

Tipping a Haven Butler

Your Haven Butler (along with the Concierge) is not included in your regular gratuities when you cruise with NCL – the expectation is that you will tip them separately.

Because of that, your butler is likely to go above and beyond to help you as much as possible during your cruise. They want to impress you so that you, in turn, want to reward them for the service offered.

As a guide, guests tend to tip between $100 and $300 per week for their butler. If you don’t use them much, then don’t worry about tipping a lower amount – they will likely be kept busy enough by other guests, who will hopefully tip the higher amounts. Tip what you feel is right for the amount of time you keep your butler busy.

Final Word

Haven Butlers are really helpful, and will do everything they can to make your suite feel special – so don’t be afraid to ask.

Some people can feel uncomfortable asking the butler to do too much, but remember that this is their job – so they expect you to lean on them with a few requests.

At the same time, the more you use them, the higher you should aim to tip, as a thank you for the service.

And don’t panic about your request seeming a little too unusual. As long as you aren’t expecting something unrealistic, they will be happy to help if they can.

Related Topics

• Is NCL Priority Access Worth It Or Not?
• NCL Ships By Age And Size
• These Are The Newest NCL Ships You Can Book Right Now