Cabana if you have a balcony?

[jjeffjb]

If you have a room with a balcony, would you still rent a cabana on Eurodam?

[schoolinmy3]

If you have a room with a balcony, would you still rent a cabana on Eurodam?

We did rent a cabana after we had already booked a room with a balcony for the Eurodam in May. It was sort of after the fact. I had forgotten about the retreat cabanas and had already booked our rooms. Then I saw on the cc boards how much people were enjoying them on their cruises. Especially since we are travelling in two rooms (half our family is in an inside on another deck) we thought this would be a cool way to spend time together. My husband did mention that if he had known we were going to get the cabana he may not have booked the balcony. However, we did get a great price on the balcony room and do not have any regrets. We will post after we get back and hopefully we will have enjoyed it as much as others seemed to have.:D
diane

[Nauga146]

When we were on the Eurodam, we rented a cabing for the day we were in San Juan. We'd been there so many times and didn't want to get off the ship. It was really nice, and I could check in with work since I got AT&T service there. I turned it off pretty quickly though since I was on vacation after all. We actually had an SY suite that time, but really enjoyed the cabana.

[mkl55]

We booked the retreat cabana (family) on Eurodam even though we had a balcony cabin. We did it because we were traveling with another couple and on a New Year's cruise where there were lots of families and kiddies. We loved that we had a spot to touch base without searching for each other or chairs together. We also loved all the goodies that went with the cabana. It was quiet and lovely...however...were we traveling as a couple we wouldn't do it again. It is a retreat in the sense that you are more removed from the activities of the ship (people watching) and you can get as much privacy and quiet on your veranda. The retreat also closes at about 5ish I think. Your veranda is open 24/7. Room service can bring you many treats to enjoy on your veranda as well. Whatever you decide, enjoy your cruise!

[Rosethorn40]

When I recently booked a cruise on the Eurodam I booked both a balcony cabin, and a Retreat cabana. While I have yet to experience the Retreat, I did have the pleasure of using the Sanctuary on the Emerald Princess last year (And hope to repeat on the Golden Princess in a few weeks). There are differences I'm sure between the two, but the concepts I believe are similar. Knowing that I always had a lounger waiting for me, that was mine for the duration of the cruise, and being waited on hand and foot was affordable luxury. I don't think you can compare a balcony vs. Retreat Cabana because they are different, but decide on each for it's own merits.

[Cruisin Suzin]

I am sailing on the Nieuw Amsterdam in Feb/2011 and have already booked and paid for the retreat cabana. I think it depends on what type of holiday you would like to experience..I am travelling with my daughter and this is her first cruise, and first real vacation in about 3 years, first without her children and husband..we just want to chill, and from 9-5 we can do that in the retreat, then for a change if we just want to hang out on our own balcony we can.

I understand what one of the previous posters said about being removed from the "activities" of the ship but now I have a choice..I can still go and sit for an hour or so if I want on the lido and people watch..then I can go back to the retreat..

The other reason we rented it was because on some port days there will be 4 ships in at the same time over 13000 people, we intend to shop early, and go back to the ship and use the retreat instead of fighting for a spot on a beach..

What we may not rent is the HMC cabana, and just get a clam shell instead..

[bobincm]

We were on the Eurodam on a Nov/Dec cruise last year. We had the penthouse suite but we still rented the retreat cabana. We enjoyed it and would do it again - not the Penthouse Suite unless we got a great deal again.

Bob

[Willsot]

I think it depends on your itinerary. If I were on a cruise that is port-intensive with few sea days, I would not feel that renting a cabana for the cruise would not be worth the expense.
But if I have extra sea days or plan on staying aboard at any ports (or shorter shore excursions), I would love having the cabana. Our friends had one for our 7-day cruise last April and invited us to join them there on one of the sea days and we thought it was well worth the cost.

[natty bumppo]

We are sailing 1/15/11 on Eurodam. We have a verandah cabin and have booked a Retreat cabana. My wife enjoys eating breakfast on the verandah EARLY, before Retreat hours. I tend to sit out during the night. But during the day,we are looking forward to the openness of the Retreat with the ability to move in and out of the sun, use full size loungers, and drop down two levels to the Lido pool.

And, not to hijack the thread or in any way criticize smoking on verandahs, we have been told when we booked that the Retreat is non-smoking.

[yancycruiser]

We are on the Noordam in about three weeks. How can I rent a cabana and how much do they charge?

Thank you,

[Former Goalie]

We are on the Noordam in about three weeks. How can I rent a cabana and how much do they charge?

Thank you,
As far as I know, cabanas are only available on Eurodam and N. Amsterdam.
As to renting a cabana if you have a balcony cabin, the Retreat Cabana is well worth it no matter what accomodation you might have!