All you cabana counters ...

[MercedMike]

Try to figure this out. We were on HMC last week, and as we came in on the tender I snapped these pictures of the cabanas:

Count The Cabanas (http://www.elite.net/%7Ethehalls/cabanacount.jpg)

Now counting to the left from the Visitor center are the familiar 5 from taupe to sky blue with turquoise in the center. We all know and love those. BUT --
in the group further down the beach, I am now seeing TEN more cabanas for a total of 15. I can only identify a couple of those. How about it -- who knows the new colors?

;)

[cinann]

Hello,
This is my first post! My husband and I were just on the Westerdam. We were lucky enought to get #15--the Violet cabana. We had tried to pre-order on Hals website for any cabana, of course we were waitlisted. On Feb 25 when we got into our cabin--Surprise! the cabana was ours. It was GREAT!

Cindy

[INSIDERS CABIN]

In 2005, we were the lucky family in the yellow cabana--it was nearly the last one on the beach at that time, but I cannot quite make it out in your photos. It was the background on my monitor all last year!

My sequence from the watersport area, was pink, green, YELLOW, then orange.

[Len3]

Thanks you so much for posting the pics. HMC looks like a great spot for a long walk on the beach. We're snorkeling and taking the horseback deal, so we just reserved a clam shell.
Question - what was the temperature (both air and water) when you were there? Just give me a rough guess if you can. Thanks again.

[MercedMike]

Thanks you so much for posting the pics. HMC looks like a great spot for a long walk on the beach. We're snorkeling and taking the horseback deal, so we just reserved a clam shell.
Question - what was the temperature (both air and water) when you were there? Just give me a rough guess if you can. Thanks again.

HMC was beautiful when we were there last week. It did get plenty hot by mid afternoon -- probably mid 80s. Most of the bakers in the sun were giving up by then. My DW stepped into the water, and said it was chilly. Others reported that it is cold when you get in but nice when you get used to it.

If you walk down past the cabanas the beach gets less and less populated. It will be a great walk.

My husband and I were just on the Westerdam. We were lucky enought to get #15--the Violet cabana.

So that confirms my count ... is #15 the furthest down the beach? We were in the Taupe Cabana, the closest and it is #1. Frankly I think it will be smarter for them to just go to the numbers!

;)

[tootiesmom]

MercedMike:

I was on the Westerdam last November and took pictures of each of the cabanas so that the numbers showed. We had the red cabana # 14. If you'd like me to email you pix of each of the cabanas I'll be glad to.....just post your email. ;)

tootiesmom

[Sage]

It has been a few years since our cruise has stopped at HMC. Does anyone know where the Grand Cabana is located?

[AZGal]

I believe it's pretty close to the kiddie area. If you do a search for "Grand Cabana" you will find another thread where the location is discussed as well as a couple of pictures posted very recently.

I was researchiing this for our 4/7 cruise since we have a group of 18 friends and family. Unfortunately, it's already booked.

[CarolineInToronto]

MercedMike, how was the Taupe?? I'll be there in April and can't wait :)

Caroline

[Sage]

We have had the taupe and pink cabanas, and found the taupe very nicely located. The taupe is closer to the dock, the bathrooms and the food.

[dww]

Does anyone have experience with the Purple Cabana? We have booked it the week of the 17th. Also, is the butler package worth the price? It will be three of us that day. I hope the location is not to far removed from everything.

[tootiesmom]

The 3 of us had the butler package last November and I would not trade that experience for anything in the world !!!!!!! We had the red cabana (next to the last one on the beach) and loved the fact that there were so few people at that end. It was like having the place to ourselves.

The 3 of us split the price of the butler package and thought it was well worth it. The attention given, the food (spectacular !), etc..... well, we've not stopped talking about it and it's been almost 4 months now :D

If we went into the water for awhile, when we came out, our water shoes had been cleaned off and lined up for us, our towels had been shaken out and fluffed up, they rubbed our sunscreen on for us (not without asking 1st though but who's gonna turn that down ;) ), they brought us some water to drink while we were out in the water on our float mats....the list goes on and on and on......

One of the most beautiful sights was near the end of our time, the horses were able to run free down the beach and back to their stables. I wish I had been able to get a pix or video of that. I've only seen horses with riders or in a corral, etc. but never without saddles and just free to run.


tootiesmom

[MercedMike]

MercedMike, how was the Taupe?? I'll be there in April and can't wait :)

Caroline

Physically, all the cabanas are pretty much identical. Location is the only difference. The Taupe cabana is right next to the massage parlor, very close to the food pavilion, and very close to the restrooms! However, that means it is in a very populated portion of the beach so there are lots of lounge chairs and clamshells around, and plenty of people walking by. There is a paved path down from the main path directly to that cabana, and over the course of the day four or five people got lost and wandered down it, but it wasn't really a problem. They just said OOOPS and walked on through.

We also had the pink cabana once, and it is great but a lot further down the beach. Since we travel with my 93 y o aunt, it is hard for her (and me!) to walk through all that sand to get there. But if you are young and active and like sand the ones further down the beach are a lot more private!

I think all the cabanas are wonderful!

Have a GREAT cruise!

[gophercruiser]

Tootiesmom, can you link your pictures of the cabanas showing their numbers, I'm sure many of us could use the info for the future.Thanks.

[Len3]

For next weeks sailing of the Volendam, the high temp on HMC will be 81 and the water temp about 70. Maybe no need for an expensive cabana for this stop.

[CarolineInToronto]

The Taupe cabana is right next to the massage parlor, very close to the food pavilion, and very close to the restrooms!

Thanks Mike! I'll have my 2 munchkins with us and having handy access to everything was a priority -- looks like I made a good choice :)

Caroline :)

[INSIDERS CABIN]

We loved our yellow cabana! Cabanas were relatively new at the time we booked it and as people would stroll along the beach, they would stop and stare at our cozy set-up. The funniest moment was when we all took off for the water and returned to find squatters moving in to the cabana--they thought we had abandoned the property! (I don't think that would happen now!) We caught them in the act of moving the chairs around and setting up their towels and checking out the refrig!

[tootiesmom]

Gophercruiser: I would be happy to link the pix if you'll tell me how to do that. I'm just on this side of computer illiterate and only know how to do basic stuff. I have so many pix that I would love to share. Help !!!

tootiesmom

[dww]

Just curious as to how much people have tipped their butler package with the cabana in the past. Does he stay with you all day? I am still confused with HAL's tipping policy as this will be our first HAL cruise. I would appreciate some advice regarding the butler/cabana. Thanks!

[tootiesmom]

The butler stayed with us all day. He met us at our cabin, took our bags that we were going to carry on shore with us, led us to the tender boat, took us to our cabana and made sure that we did not want for anything for the entire stay on HMC. Not only did our butler stay with us, but there was a bar waiter that was continuously there, someone that assisted the butler and the gentleman from the Pinnacle Grill came several times during the day to make sure we were OK. The chef came by during our fabulous lunch to make sure that everything was prepared correctly. We felt like we were royalty (at least for a few hours out of our lives ;) ). I inquired at the shore excursion desk about the tipping for this package and the lady told me that it was included, but we tipped the gentleman that stayed with us from beginning to end extra. I believe we gave him about $20 - 25 a piece. At the end of our time on HMC, the gentleman from the Pinnacle Grill that seemed to be in charge of all of the wait staff came by on the "golf cart" and told us that we needed to get ready to go because there was only one more tender over to the ship. We almost told him to please leave us at the cabana because our day was so perfect. He asked did we want to ride from our cabana to the tender on the cart and we jumped at that. He flew up the beach and we were just screaming and having a blast ! Our butler took our things on board the tender and escorted us back to our cabin. That's when we tipped him. It would be very hard to go back to HMC without the cabana/butler package.

Hope this helps.
tootiesmom

[gophercruiser]

Tootiesmom, sorry but "I'm in the same boat and also am "computer challenged" .Thanks..

[Ziggy7]

MercedMike:

I was on the Westerdam last November and took pictures of each of the cabanas so that the numbers showed. We had the red cabana # 14. If you'd like me to email you pix of each of the cabanas I'll be glad to.....just post your email. ;)

tootiesmomI would love to recieve the pics to post on my HMC picture site with your permission of course:)
ziggysmoney@yahoo.com

[tootiesmom]

Ziggy7: I'll send you an email and hopefully the attachments come through. Let me know if you don't receive them. I'll put HMC Cabanas in the subject line.

tootiesmom

[Ziggy7]

Ziggy7: I'll send you an email and hopefully the attachments come through. Let me know if you don't receive them. I'll put HMC Cabanas in the subject line.

tootiesmomOk sounds great :)

[tootiesmom]

Ziggy7: thanks for the other link in my email :cool:

tootiesmom

[Ziggy7]

Ziggy7: thanks for the other link in my email :cool:

tootiesmomOk got them posted look in album "
HMC & New Cabanas" at this site :) http://community.webshots.com/user/ziggy638

[MercedMike]

Ok got them posted look in album "
HMC & New Cabanas" at this site :) http://community.webshots.com/user/ziggy638

Hey, Ziggy and Tootiesmom, you two are great!

I linked to your album from my page -- hope that's OK! We're all on one ball of string ...

[tootiesmom]

MercedMike

It's a great ball of string to be on, isn't it !!!!

tootiesmom

[Ziggy7]

Hey, Ziggy and Tootiesmom, you two are great!

I linked to your album from my page -- hope that's OK! We're all on one ball of string ...Sounds great to me Mike :) Thanks for including me you that wonderful ball of string!

[serendipity1499]

Thanks Ziggy & Tootsiesmom...Wonderful shots..I've put the the link into my favorites..:) Thanks again!

[cinann]

Mike,

Yes #15 is the furthest down. When we arrived on the island we were told to check in at the information booth. Then we were driven all the way down on the access road and dropped off. We were on our own to get back. A waiter kept checking on us to bring us drinks from the bar. The only reason to leave was to use the bathroom or get food. It wasn't so bad, the sand at the waters edge is very easy to walk on. We had a terrific time!

Cindy

[bigredcrusier]

My family had the Blue cabana on 03/09. We did not upgrade to the bulter service, but the service was still great. A steward from the lido deck was assigned to our cabana. He brought us our lunch and came back several times to see if we needed anything. As we were leaving the steward came and pushed my mother in her wheelchair back to the tender dock. I had been wondering if we would get any service seeing how we did not upgrade, and was not disappointed at all.