Cabana Options at HMC?

[twobytwo]

Hi!
Sailing on Zuidy 4/09/05 and I am looking at the excursion options at HMC.ID rather just chill on that beach all day and not really DO anything but it seems a cabana would be nice. Why is it so pricey? What do the different color options mean on HAL's website?

What would you recommend?
Thanks!
S

[Typhoon1]

Location, Location, Location, the different colors designate the location.

[twobytwo]

which is the better locations!?

[Orcrone]

Hi!
Sailing on Zuidy 4/09/05 and I am looking at the excursion options at HMC.ID rather just chill on that beach all day and not really DO anything but it seems a cabana would be nice. Why is it so pricey? What do the different color options mean on HAL's website?

What would you recommend?
Thanks!
SThere are about 8 or 10 cabanas and anywhere from 1200 passengers on the S class ship, to over 3000 passengers when two ships are present. It's a matter of supply and demand. Some people swear by them and say they're worth every penny. On the other hand I probably wouldn't spend much time in one, regardless of the cost. We rent a clamshell to give us a little shade.

[HeatherInFlorida]

which is the better locations!?

All depends on what you're looking for ... if you want privacy head out to the pink or the yellow. If you want to be near the rest rooms, pick the orange, taupe, turquoise, etc.

I doubt there's a thread about cabanas I haven't posted on about how much we loved ours. Maybe we were just lucky but we shared it with another couple so it was only $110 per couple. Compared to excursions, this is a bargain. It included sodas, fruit, chips, etc., and our cabana boys waited on us hand and foot bringing us more lunch than we could possibly eat. In the turquoise we were by a tree so had a nice amount of shade. Had it been a hot day (which it wasn't) we had misters by our chaises plus our own private shower. The guys hung out near the air conditioner and the food. All in all a fantastic time and I'll be heartbroken if we don't get one the next time.

[scluvsrain]

Hey, Heather, you said your turquoise cabana was by a tree so you had some shade. Does that mean the whole part of the outside deck of that cabana is shaded? I've got the turquoise one booked and don't want it to be completely in the shade!!!

Thanks,
Sherita

[HeatherInFlorida]

Not to worry!! We weren't in the shade all day at all and as you can see, the tree is rather sparse because of the hurricanes. If you look at my pics, you'll get a better feel for the location: Webshots - Images of Oosterdam Cruise 11/7/04~Half Moon Cay (http://community.webshots.com/album/219103614GQJOSl/0) . Have a fantastic time!!!
http://thumb4.webshots.com/s/thumb4/0/82/64/219108264LFvAmK_th.jpg (http://community.webshots.com/photo/219103614/219108264LFvAmK)
http://thumb0.webshots.com/s/thumb3/0/93/40/219109340fjwihW_th.jpg (http://community.webshots.com/photo/219103614/219109340fjwihW)
http://thumb3.webshots.com/s/thumb2/0/92/83/219109283nkxWdE_th.jpg (http://community.webshots.com/photo/219103614/219109283nkxWdE)

[trubey]

Heather,

Thanks for the link to all your pictures. I'd been wondering what everything looks like.
Are the navy "things" (they look like the foldable sunshades of an old-fashioned baby carriage) what they call the clamshells?

Thanks, Susan.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Heather,

Thanks for the link to all your pictures. I'd been wondering what everything looks like.
Are the navy "things" (they look like the foldable sunshades of an old-fashioned baby carriage) what they call the clamshells?

Thanks, Susan.

Yes, those are the clamshells.

[cgladin]

We were just on HMC a week ago. Two ships were there and I've never seen so many people fighting over the lounge chairs! If you do book a cabana, be ready to defend your territory as we saw people boldly walking up into cabanas they had not rented!


No matter what you decide, my advice is get on the beach early as possible. People were taking the chairs from clamshells, trying to take them from cabanas. It was ugly. We were there early and found two loungers beneath a nice shade tree between two cabanas. However, some unfortunate people in front of us getting the last clamshells didn't even have chairs:eek: We had watched people come take them and drag them down the beach.

[Ziggy7]

Hey are you all talking about my turquoise cabana !!!! hehehehe aaaaaaahhhhhh the memories we had that day!:)

[spcl4cs_gal]

We were just on HMC a week ago. Two ships were there and I've never seen so many people fighting over the lounge chairs! If you do book a cabana, be ready to defend your territory as we saw people boldly walking up into cabanas they had not rented!

Wow this is awful. I take it the HAL staff had a hand in sorting things out in the end?

[lgt]

We are in the Orange cabana; is it close to the bathroom and food court? How do I find out if we are sharing the island that day with another ship?

[grannynurse]

but the above posters are right about "grabbing" some people tried to take our water toys and mats, and many tried to park in front of the cabana restricting our view and walkway.
I imagine that some didn't realize that we actually paid for the privilege and thought we were grabbing. Even tho the cabanas are roped off, some ignore barriers and just squat.
I finally had to tell some folks that we paid extra for the cabana and they acted "very" surprised.

I'm surprised to hear about the lunch service, but as we didn't pay extra for the butler service, we didn't expect it and went after our own lunches as no one came around to serve us as they did drinks and snacks etc.

[heyabbott]

We were just on HMC a week ago. Two ships were there and I've never seen so many people fighting over the lounge chairs! If you do book a cabana, be ready to defend your territory as we saw people boldly walking up into cabanas they had not rented!


No matter what you decide, my advice is get on the beach early as possible. People were taking the chairs from clamshells, trying to take them from cabanas. It was ugly. We were there early and found two loungers beneath a nice shade tree between two cabanas. However, some unfortunate people in front of us getting the last clamshells didn't even have chairs:eek: We had watched people come take them and drag them down the beach.

tres beorgeoisie

[spcl4cs_gal]

Fortunately my brother purchased the butler package for our cabana next month so I guess that means that we will have the "special lunch" instead of the BBQ. I wonder when the Hotel Manager or whoever will be meeting with us to discuss the menu...we will be at the Pinnacle the night we sail so maybe later that evening. What other perks come with the butler service?

[gorka]

Lgt..go to cruisecal.com/ to find out what ships are in port with you. Gorka

[heyabbott]

Lgt..go to cruisecal.com/ to find out what ships are in port with you. Gorka

Great site!

The Westerdam will be the only ship at HMC on the 3/20 cruise.:D

7 ships at St.Maarten, though.:eek:

[HeatherInFlorida]

We are in the Orange cabana; is it close to the bathroom and food court? How do I find out if we are sharing the island that day with another ship?

Yes, lgt, it's in a great location for the food court and rest rooms. But your cabana boys should be getting you all your food anyway. The orange is right next to the turquoise.

Ziggy, it's MY turquoise cabana!!!:D

[SHayesShip]

Now, now, now! It is MY turquoise cabana on the Volendam cruise of 4/9/05.
And don't you forget it!!!! hehehe

Steve Hayes


Yes, lgt, it's in a great location for the food court and rest rooms. But your cabana boys should be getting you all your food anyway. The orange is right next to the turquoise.

Ziggy, it's MY turquoise cabana!!!:D

[HeatherInFlorida]

Okay, Steve, we'll let you have it for the day;)

[SHayesShip]

All I ask is that it is shown some TLC and is in good working order when I am there.

Steve Hayes

Okay, Steve, we'll let you have it for the day;)

[Typhoon1]

which is the better locations!?

If you really want a cabana, take any color you can get. There are only 9 to choose from.

[Disnyfan83]

We were just on HMC a week ago. Two ships were there and I've never seen so many people fighting over the lounge chairs! If you do book a cabana, be ready to defend your territory as we saw people boldly walking up into cabanas they had not rented!


No matter what you decide, my advice is get on the beach early as possible. People were taking the chairs from clamshells, trying to take them from cabanas. It was ugly. We were there early and found two loungers beneath a nice shade tree between two cabanas. However, some unfortunate people in front of us getting the last clamshells didn't even have chairs:eek: We had watched people come take them and drag them down the beach.

Yikes!! Now I'm scared!! My group has the Green and Yellow cabanas for the 3/28. I now see there is another ship there that day - and we are the second one to arrive. If it says we arrive at 8am, what time are people allowed to tender off the boat. NOBODY BETTER TAKE MY CABANAS!!!:mad: I've been waiting WAAAAAY too long for this!!:p

[SHayesShip]

You will get priority tendering service on the 1st tender to shore from your ship. Make sure to have your confirmation in hand. Since shore excursions have taken over from ship services there are no more accidental double bookings like early last year.
Steve Hayes

Yikes!! Now I'm scared!! My group has the Green and Yellow cabanas for the 3/28. I now see there is another ship there that day - and we are the second one to arrive. If it says we arrive at 8am, what time are people allowed to tender off the boat. NOBODY BETTER TAKE MY CABANAS!!!:mad: I've been waiting WAAAAAY too long for this!!:p

[twobytwo]

Ahh but its my TURQUOISE cabana on the zuiderdam 4/9 sailing!! yay..
we have it for 4/10 and looks like we are the only ship at hmc that day!dont worry Shayesship...we will clean it up nicely for you!! :):)

s

[spcl4cs_gal]

You guys can fight over your turquoise cabana all you like...just as long as you don't set your eyes on MY green cabana anytime soon. :D

[DavidNDC]

How has availability been on cabanas these days? Anyone have trouble reserving one? I know some folks have been wait-listed. How has that worked?

[scluvsrain]

And it's MY turquoise cabana for the 4/27/ Westerdam sailing!!!!!:)

[Ziggy7]

Now, now, now! It is MY turquoise cabana on the Volendam cruise of 4/9/05.
And don't you forget it!!!! hehehe

Steve Hayeshahaha but did either of you two christen it !!!!!! We did heheheheheehe :)

[watchdiva]

I'm Turquoise on 4/16/05 Zuiderdam sailing and I know I can count on fellow cc'ers to keep MY cabana in pristine shape! If not for the wealth of information on these boardsabout how much having a cabana added to the HMC experience, I most likely wouldn't have booked one. So, thanks from DH and I for sharing your "cabana capers" with us...........I printed out some of the posts (especially Heather's comments) about the cabanas, showed them to DH and his comment was "hurry up and book one"!

Thanks cc'ers...........

[lgt]

I booked the orange cabana way back in Sept for our 3/27 cruise and even back then I was having trouble; it kept waitlisting me. I called shore ex and they gave me the orange one. Said it was a problem with the computer site, but now I wonder. We have been in cabanas before, the first time, back on the Zuiderdam 8/2003 (when it was still reasonable) and our cabana boys brought us lunch from the BBQ. The last 3 times, they sort of disappeared (we did tip them). Are they supposed to get you lunch? The Volendam will be there with us and I have visions of mass crowds trying to get lunch. Have never been there with 2 ships and can imagine it is quite crowded.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I was told by Ships Services that if you booked your cabana before they switched it over to Shore Excursions then it would show you as "waitlisted" even though you weren't. But they should be able to confirm whether you're actually booked or not.

We were told that the Cabana Boys get lunch and they did. As you probably read, our guys were wonderful and did everything for us. It may be worth noting that they were in pretty good spirits because their contract was over the next day and they were headed home! Also, one of the cabanas they were serving had a private Butler so they were only handling 2 cabanas.

[spcl4cs_gal]

I was told by Ships Services that if you booked your cabana before they switched it over to Shore Excursions then it would show you as "waitlisted" even though you weren't. But they should be able to confirm whether you're actually booked or not.

Yes they told me that too saying that my credit card would be charged twice if they did it any other way. Sounds kind of crazy to me but at least I have the confirmation email from them.