Lisbon/Galveston Transatlantic Review – NCL Viva in The Haven (page 4 of 5)

I get your disappointment 😕

The next day: Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic.

I loved this stop! Just a heads-up—there isn’t much to visit; it’s a beach stop. It’s a cruise port, but it’s really well set up with everything right at the exit. There are free pools, plenty of shops and bars, and a free public beach. There’s also a paid public beach, a beach club, within walking distance from the ship. I booked it as a simple boat excursion because it was cheaper—with NCL, I had a 50 € credit per excursion. Actually, it was just the entry to the Beach Club. From what I remember, it was 70 €, so it cost me 20 €. That price included access to the beach, sun loungers, umbrellas, and all-inclusive drinks. It was a great deal. Plus, the Beach Club was really nice—there were plenty of loungers, it was quiet, the beach was pretty, and there were showers and servers coming by to ask what we wanted to drink. The cocktails weren’t amazing—too sweet, as usual—but it wasn’t a big deal. All in all, a fantastic day of relaxation.

On the way back, a little snack by the yacht club pool. Simple but good.

Hey Nath!

That beach stop was great—it let us really enjoy the island’s facilities. But honestly, the beach didn’t seem very clean (sargassum in spots). Given what you paid ($70), they could’ve cleaned it up.

Nope - There wasn’t any— the water was super clear and it was really, really clean. On my private beach

And here we are at the last stop! Falmouth, Jamaica. After this, we’ll have 2 days at sea before arriving in Galveston.

Well, this stop was extremely disappointing. Actually, it’s mostly the excursion that’s disappointing. Priced at 89 € (but still $50 for the first person).

The real letdown is the Beach Club. First, the organization for getting into the minibuses is a bit slow… but mostly, there’s almost a 45-minute drive for a 5-hour excursion—that wasn’t mentioned. I was already a little annoyed and frustrated, but in the end, 3 hours would’ve been more than enough given the Beach Club and especially the fact that there’s no shade!

It was stated that chairs would be included in the price, but instead of loungers, they were wooden chairs in full sun! Also, supposedly a meal served—it turned out to be a piece of chicken with rice… which I didn’t eat, being a bit wary of the hygiene I noticed on this beach. Same goes for the drinks—they were awful!

In short, this last stop won’t leave great memories. Thankfully, the sea was nice and beautiful! But the sun was beating down hard!

After that, we’ll have two days at sea... we’ll still get to enjoy the relaxation, food, drinks, etc. It’s time now to take stock of The Haven.

Following that, there’ll be a little bonus with a day in Galveston, a night at Houston airport, and three days in Cancun.

Here’s a comparison between NCL’s "Haven" and MSC’s direct competitor, the Yacht Club...

Of course, this is a personal take based on "my tastes."

**The Haven cabin advantages:** a bit better than a YC1, especially thanks to the larger bathroom, L’Occitane products, and above all, the bigger, better-designed balcony: a real high table for eating, very comfortable armchairs, plus a lounger with a mattress, and also a very large king-size bed.

**Room service:** way more choices than on MSC, and the option to have all restaurant meals served in the cabin.

**The Haven’s indoor and outdoor restaurant:**

**Menu:** a bit more upscale but repetitive (the menu doesn’t change, but there’s plenty of choice and a different "special" dish at every meal). For example, unlimited lobster every day. Excellent service. Very calm and refined. For me, The Haven wins here.

3) **Indoor bar (lively) and outdoor bar**, but no real TSL (Top Sail Lounge), just separate lounges. No music. No snacks during the day, unlike the TSL. Yacht Club wins here. It’s different.

**One pool:** two levels with an infinity pool and another with a jacuzzi, plus very comfortable armchairs/deck chairs. The Haven wins here. But no buffet. However, the restaurant is on the same deck and accessible from outside. Option for hot snacks all day. **Shows:** meh... but there’s a reserved space for Haven guests.

**Priority disembarkation/embarkation** with a private elevator and separate entry/exit, so no conflict with other passengers. The Haven wins here.

**Dress code:** very, very casual... you’ll either love it or hate it.

**Concierge:** open from 8 AM (or earlier if in port) and closes at 8 PM. Okay, it’s less than in the YC, but honestly, I never need the concierge at night... or really during the day either.

For me, the value for money was excellent, but that’s also because I think I got a great price for The Haven.

Any questions?

No questions, your review is very clear.

I’d love to try The Haven—it sounds great! I like the Viva and the Prima outside of school holidays, but since I don’t want to do a transatlantic crossing, I’m guessing the price must be pretty steep 😎. So I’m thrilled to have discovered it through your review!

Thanks Nathalie for this super detailed and informative trip report—it was a real pleasure to read! Now we just have to keep an eye out for deals... 😉

Thanks Nathalie for your review—it really gave us a sense of what The Haven is like. It might just "broaden" our cruise options... Next time, I’ll definitely check out the prices. Best, Claudine

Hi there!

Thanks to you, I’m discovering—with joy, amazement, and a touch of excitement—that this awesome site is up and running. I had no idea at all... "I’m never told anything!"

I’m really enjoying your trip report, and I’m joining in with all of you.

See you soon,

Hi Nath!

Thanks for this great review that introduced us to NCL’s "Haven."

After my disappointment with the Sky in the Indian Ocean last year, your review might just make me give NCL another chance and try a Haven cruise sometime in 2027—if I can find a good deal like you did!

Thanks again for sharing! !

Hi there, Thanks for this interesting review! Is The Haven adults-only?

Nope... And apparently during school holidays or spring break, it’s pretty awful. There are a lot of really big suites with multiple bedrooms, after all...

Yes! - We... And you interest us, because MSC just canceled our transatlantic for March 2027, and we now have a chunk of our schedule to renegotiate. We don’t know NCL at all.

. .. Thanks Nathalie for this report—I devoured it in one sitting, given my late arrival on this site.

As I mentioned earlier, we’ve got a window in March-April 2027, and trying NCL could be an option based on your feedback. We’ll look into it.

Poupou mentioned kids being around. . . . Well! ! - - - Is speaking English just important, or a deal-breaker?

No one spoke French in The Haven, even though there were quite a few French-speaking Canadians. It's best to avoid summer and American school holidays, but anyway, that's not really the kind of trips you take.

For the transatlantic crossing, there were 4 or 5 of them. A bit annoying in the pool, but otherwise, we never saw them in the restaurant

Thanks! ...

"If" – we’ll talk to you about it before.

Hugs to you both

Yeah 🙁

And Explora, have you already checked it out?

No, didn't try it. I struggle with the "YC" concept and the size of the ship. Plus, the price differences between cabins don't inspire confidence. But honestly, we never really looked into it properly.