We stayed in The Haven Penthouse Suite Cabin 17112 on Norwegian Encore for a seven-night cruise. This cabin is located on Deck 17, port side, steps from The Haven lounge, bar, courtyard, and observation area. Here is our review.
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Cabin Overview
- Ship: Norwegian Encore
- Cabin Number: 17112
- Category: The Haven Courtyard Penthouse Suite with Large Balcony
- Deck: 17, port side
- Sleeps: Up to 3 guests
- Bed: King-size bed + convertible sofa
- Bathroom: Bathtub/shower combo, double sinks, separate toilet
- Extras: Nespresso machine, mini fridge, large balcony with seating, L’Occitane toiletries, bathrobes and slippers, daily turndown service, pillow menu, and The Haven amenities.
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What is The Haven on NCL Encore?
The Haven is Norwegian Cruise Line’s ship-within-a-ship concept, designed to offer a more private and elevated experience onboard select ships. Guests staying in The Haven get exclusive access to a handful of areas, including:
- A private Haven restaurant
- The Haven Lounge and bar
- A courtyard area with a pool, hot tub, and sundeck
- 24-hour butler service and a dedicated concierge
- Priority embarkation and disembarkation
The Haven suites vary by ship and category. On Norwegian Encore, Cabin 17112 is a Courtyard Penthouse Suite with a large balcony. Unlike our previous suite in The Haven on Getaway—which wasn’t located in the actual courtyard area—this suite is right in the heart of it. While it’s not the top-tier Haven category like the Owner’s Suite or Aft-Facing Penthouse, it’s consistently one of the most popular, thanks to its prime location in the courtyard, comfortable layout, and full access to all of The Haven’s perks.
Our Stay in The Haven Penthhouse Suite 17112 on Norwegian Encore
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We booked The Haven on Norwegian Encore for a seven-night Alaskan cruise and specifically requested a suite located inside the actual Haven courtyard area. Initially, we were on deck 18 with a standard cabin. Still, we later upgraded to a larger balcony cabin to accommodate family members traveling with us for breakfast on the morning of our visit to Glacier Bay. By the time the final payment arrived, our family had backed out, so we decided to keep it. That’s how we ended up in Cabin 17112—a Courtyard Penthouse Suite on Deck 17, port side, with a larger balcony. No regrets.
This cabin was well located with immediate access to The Haven’s pool, lounge, concierge, and exit to the public areas of the ship. Unlike our previous Haven stay on Getaway, where we weren’t inside the courtyard, this time we felt fully immersed in the Haven experience the moment we stepped out of our cabin.
Our favorite parts of the cabin, besides its location? The incredibly comfortable bed, having fresh Nespresso ready each morning, and the excellent service from our butler and steward.
Right in the Heart of The Haven
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We mentioned the location earlier because it truly makes a difference. Being in The Haven courtyard—just steps from everything—meant we could fully enjoy all that The Haven offers without going far. Having the Observation Lounge right around the corner (a feature unique to Encore, Bliss, and Joy) made it even better. We often stopped in for a drink or snack and took in the views, never thinking twice about the short walk back to our cabin. Everything we needed felt right outside our door—though if you don’t feel like leaving your suite, your butler can bring you most of what you need.
What It’s Like Inside the Suite
The layout of this suite worked well for us. The king-size bed faces a wall-mounted TV above a long vanity and desk area. Tucked into the corner near the balcony is a wider armchair-style sleeper sofa, not a full couch, but large enough to convert into a bed for a third guest. Across from that, there’s a coffee bar with a Nespresso machine, mugs, and glassware.
There’s also a small dining table for two, good for in-suite dining or morning coffee. Off to the side, a short hallway with closets on both sides leads to the bathroom — what NCL might call a walk-in closet, though it’s more of a pass-through dressing area with a long mirror.
The suite felt open, modern, and thoughtfully arranged, and we were comfortable from the moment we stepped inside.
One of the Most Comfortable Beds We’ve Had at Sea
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The bed was one of the best we’ve experienced at sea. The mattress and linens in The Haven on Encore struck the perfect balance—supportive without being too firm, and soft without feeling like you were sinking. I usually struggle to sleep on cruise ships, especially in standard balcony cabins.
In fact, even on our previous Encore cruise, I requested a mattress topper from our steward. However, this time, I had no issues falling asleep and staying asleep. At one point, we even joked about finding out where NCL gets their Haven mattresses and ordering one for our future new home.
A Balcony That Gave Us a Bit More Breathing Room
We initially chose this cabin for the larger balcony, thinking it would be a nice spot for breakfast with family while sailing through Glacier Bay. Even though those plans changed, we were glad we kept it.
The balcony had two chairs and a small table—plenty of space to sit outside and sip coffee. While it didn’t dramatically change the view, it felt less cramped than a standard balcony. That little bit of extra space made it more comfortable to use throughout the cruise. If you wanted to, you could even ask for a lounge chair to be brought out; there was more than enough room for one.
In general, this cabin’s location offered beautiful views throughout the sailing. Being on the port side, we had the first glimpse of the glaciers as we sailed into Glacier Bay—something we looked forward to. The same would be true for the cabin directly above us, even with a standard balcony. There’s a good chance you’d still have a similar view and angle from that level.
One potential downside to the larger balcony design is that it’s only partially shaded. As you move closer to the railing, the space becomes fully exposed—and easy to see into from the decks above. Just something to keep in mind if you’re hoping for a bit more privacy.
Modern Bathroom That Feels a Step Up
This is precisely the kind of bathroom we’ve come to expect in The Haven. While it’s not particularly large for a cruise ship bathroom, the layout, finishes, and amenities make it feel more like something you’d have at home.
It included:
- Double sinks, which made getting ready easy for both of us
- A bathtub and shower combo with glass doors and decent shelf space
- A toilet tucked behind a frosted glass door for added privacy
- L’Occitane products: hand soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
One thing to note is that getting in and out of the tub can be a bit awkward, as it’s higher than a standard tub at home.
USB and Electrical Outlets
Although we had no issues charging our devices because we brought our USB charging station with us, there weren’t as many available electrical outlets as you would expect in a cabin like this.
- Two U.S. electrical outlets: one by the vanity and another on one side of the bed. You’ll get a third if you unplug the Nespresso machine.
- A European outlet was available but occupied by the cordless phone (which you can unplug if needed).
- USB Ports: Two USB-A ports on each side of the bed, and you’d think that seems like more than ennough, but they charged SO SLOW. I mostly used a portable fast charger or USB charging station.
Additional Notes
- Closet and Storage: The pass-through closet setup provided us with enough room to unpack for an entire week. The hanging space was decent, and there were a few shelves, but the vanity area and bedside tables had plenty of drawers. It worked for us, but if you’re packing for multiple people, it may feel a bit tight. The drawers, by the way, were tricky—you had to pull them all the way out and give them a firm nudge to get them to close properly. Ask your cabin steward to show you how if you’re unsure.
- In-Room Dining: We used the small dining table a few times for breakfast and coffee. The butler delivered food from the Haven restaurant and set up the table nicely for in-suite dining.
- Cabin Service: Our butler and steward were both excellent. Towels were always fresh, the minibar was kept tidy, and they always checked in without being intrusive.
- Noise Level: The cabin was quiet. We never heard any noise, even with the courtyard being right outside the other side of the corridor.
What We Loved (and What We Didn’t) of NCL Encore Haven Penthouse Suite 17112
What we liked:
️ Incredibly comfortable bed
️ Fresh Nespresso restocked daily
️ Immediate access to The Haven courtyard, lounge, and restaurant
️ Extra-large balcony gave us a little more space
️ Great views from the port side for Glacier Bay
️ L’Occitane toiletries and double vanity in the bathroom
️ Enough outlets and USB ports for daily charging
️ Quiet and clean cabin with excellent service from our butler and steward
What could be better:
️ USB ports were slow to charge—bring a faster hub
️ Balcony was open to the decks above—limited privacy
️ Bathtub was awkward to step in and out of
️ Drawers were tricky to close
Would we stay in this cabin again?
YES. We wouldn’t hesitate to book this suite again. The location, the bed, and the overall Haven experience made it one of our favorite cabins on any NCL ship so far. We felt at home here.
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Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she’s become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She’s always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.