NCL’s Amazing Haven Forward Facing Penthouse

The Cabin

On our recent Caribbean cruise on Norwegian Joy, we decided to try the Haven Forward Facing Penthouse for a change. After already staying in the Courtyard Penthouse and the Two-Bedroom Family Villa, we thought we’d stayed in the best Haven cabins, aside from the Owners Suites.

Not so!

For a small charge for this sailing, we upgraded to the Haven Forward Facing Penthouse and were pleasantly surprised. Although not located in The Haven enclave, it’s still a fabulous suite—and with a separate living room and bedroom, it’s definitely a suite. At approximately 415 to 466 square feet, it’s a bit larger than the Haven Courtyard Penthouse cabin, although its balcony is smaller.

Pro Tip: On the Joy, only ten Haven cabins are Forward Facing, so if you like this class of cabin, it’s best to book it early.

Located on the forward corners of the upper decks, the Forward Facing Penthouse has a combination living/dining room, bedroom, and large bathroom. The furnishings are elegant and contemporary in a relaxing color scheme of steel blue, brown, cream, and silvery gray.

The Sleeping Area

The separate bedroom holds a king-size bed outfitted with luxurious linens, a down duvet, four king-size pillows, and a comfy mattress pad. With two decorative pillows, two bolsters, and a bed runner, the bedding rivals that in an upscale hotel room.

A small bedside table is on either side of the bed, containing a cubby and a medium-sized drawer. Lamps are on the wall above the bed tables. A long counter surrounding a window seat is below the large porthole window in the bedroom, with drawers beneath. Hidden compartments behind the counter will hold your decorative bedding after turn-down service at night.

This porthole window faces forward, toward the bow.

Your bedroom has two closets: one large clothes closet and a cabinet containing four cubbies, three drawers, and your room safe.

A flat-screen TV is mounted on the wall facing the bed. More cabinet storage is available above and below the TV.

Because the cabin is at the bow of the ship, the ceiling of the bedroom is sloped on one side of the room, but it doesn’t interfere with your headroom.

The Living/Dining Area

When you enter the cabin, you pass through a short entryway with a full-length mirror and three wall-mounted coat hangers into the living/dining room.

The dining table is approximately thirty inches square and is topped with glass. Three cushioned chairs surround the table, and the fourth chair is positioned at the desk.

Next to the butler pantry area is a narrow clothes closet about 18 inches wide with one upper shelf and two lower ones.

The sofa is comfortably cushioned and hides either a single or full-size sofa bed, allowing you to have one or two additional passengers in this cabin. A coffee table is perfect for snacking on.

Across from the sofa is a counter providing a desk with a cushioned chair. Below the counter are four medium drawers plus a pencil drawer.

Next to the desk is a flatscreen wall-mounted TV. Below is a lower set of four drawers, two small and two medium.

Refreshments

In the dining area is a counter and butler pantry of sorts, providing you with a Nespresso coffee machine with coffee pods and Tea Forte tea bags plus condiments, an ice bucket that your butler will keep filled, glassware, dinnerware, and cutlery. Below the butler pantry area is a cabinet holding your mini fridge, a trash can, and more storage.

On embarkation day, your butler will have left for you an iced bottle of sparkling wine next to the dining table, and a bowl of fresh fruit on top of the table.

The Bathroom

The bathroom is large and very luxe, containing a counter with separate sinks, a nice soaking tub, a shower, a water closet, lighted mirrors, and a makeup station with a lighted magnifying mirror.

The sink area has separate lighted mirrors separated by four glass shelves, perfect for keeping your most-used toiletries at hand. Below are deep drawers that easily hold your other toiletries and bathroom needs. L’Occitane soap gel and body lotion are provided in pump dispensers on the counter.

The shower has a bench seat and two storage areas. L’Occitane bath gel, shampoo, and conditioner are provided in pump dispensers on the wall. The shower panel has a small waterfall head and a detachable wand, plus three settings: overhead shower, side nozzles, or wand. It also has a grab bar for safety.

The tub is a simple soaking tub with no jets but it does have a detachable wand. It also has a grab bar for safety.

My favorite part of the bathroom is the makeup station, which has a padded hassock for seating, a lighted mirror, a lighted magnifying mirror, and a hair dryer tucked away underneath. Next to the mirror are three shelves for holding your makeup and hair needs. Tissues, cotton balls, and cotton swabs are provided.

Electronics

The Haven Forward Facing Penthouse cabin has two flatscreen TVs, one in the living room and the other in the bedroom. Remotes are provided for each.

There is a US outlet available at the butler pantry, on one side of the couch, the desk in the living room, one side of the bed, and the makeup station in the bathroom.

A single European outlet is available at the desk in the living room, on one side of the couch, on one side of the bed, and at the makeup station in the bathroom.

The cabin has two telephones, one next to the couch and the other next to the bed (on the side that has no electrical outlets).

Two USB outlets can be found in the Joy’s Haven Forward Facing Penthouse: one in the base of each of the bedside wall lamps.

Pro Tip: Each category of ship will have different situations with electrical outlets, so be aware that these locations and availability of electrical outlets are particular to the Joy.

The Balcony

The balcony is small at approximately 27 to 46 square feet but is large enough for two cushioned rattan armchairs and a small round rattan table, large enough to hold your cocktails or coffee. The wood railing is curved and has glass panels, giving you an unobstructed view of the sea.

The balcony faces to the side of the ship.

Included Haven Amenities

Guests in The Haven on the Joy have access to several wonderful amenities: the Haven Restaurant, the Haven Bar, the Horizon Lounge, the Haven Library, the Haven Sundeck, and the Haven Pool. The concierge desk is in the Haven Lounge, where concierges are available to help with any problems you may have.

You also have access to a butler, who handles all your food needs. They will bring you afternoon canapes and orange juice if you request them, keep your ice bucket filled, refill your coffee and tea station needs, and deliver any room service orders that you request.

Your cabin steward will clean your cabin, make your bed, provide turndown service, and will bring you whatever you need to make your cabin more comfortable. Need more clothes hangers? Just ask your cabin steward.

In your large clothes closet, you’ll find an umbrella for your use during your cruise. Plush bathrobes and slippers for your use will be in the closet or your bathroom.

The Downsides

As wonderful as this cabin is, there are a few downsides. Yes, I love it, but I have to be honest about the bad as well as the good.

1. The cabin isn’t in The Haven proper, so you have to go to the forward elevator and take it up a few decks to reach The Haven enclave where the amenities are located.
2. The walk from the cabin to the forward elevator is quite a long one. However, you get used to it and keep telling yourself that you’re walking off some of the calories you’ve just eaten or drank.
3. There is some extra noise because of the cabin’s proximity to the anchor. Also, when the ship is docking and using the Azipod thrusters to move the ship sideways, the vibration rattles everything in the cabin.
4. In rough seas, this extreme forward cabin on a higher deck will likely experience more rocking.

Pro Tip: Bring towel clips (chip clips, hair clips, or binder clips will also work) to tightly close the blackout curtains over the porthole window. Otherwise, you’ll have shafts of sunlight piercing through your eyelids come sunrise.

What Makes This Cabin A Bargain

Now, why do I say this cabin is a bargain? For an upcoming 10-day sailing in December 2024 on the Breakaway to the Caribbean, the cabin pricing per person breaks down like this (before adding taxes, port charts, gratuities, and insurance):

The Two-Bedroom Family Villa is the cheapest per square foot, but it’s $1,000 per person more for this cruise than the Forward Facing Penthouse. But the Courtyard Penthouse is a lot more per square foot than the Forward Facing Penthouse, and costs $100 more per person for a smaller cabin for this particular cruise!

For some people, staying inside The Haven enclave is more important than the size of their cabin, so you’ll need to consider that. For me, though, I like to spread out, and having a separate bedroom and living room with two TVs is the ultimate, especially for a lower price.

Video Tour

We made a video for you of the Haven Forward Facing Penthouse on Norwegian Joy. Enjoy!

Final Thoughts on the Haven Forward Facing Penthouse

We very much enjoyed our twelve-day stay in the Haven Forward Facing Penthouse. In fact, we have another twelve-day cruise booked on the Breakaway for later in the year and have decided to try to upgrade our Courtyard Penthouse that we already have booked to a Forward Facing Penthouse.

We have some tips and tricks for the Haven! Check them out.

Happy cruising!