Article about cabanas on Eurodam

[Schplinky]

You know, I don't mind them charging for cabanas at HMC when there is lots of space for everyone else but the idea of charging to just use a part of an already finite pool deck seems a bit much. Princess and HAL are both doing this now. Soon, those not willing to be charged a fee will have fewer options and space!


Holland America Line’s Eurodam will feature a top-deck area of family-sized wooden cabanas with sheer curtains and Evian misting stations, and smaller cabanas lining the Lido Pool area. HAL president and ceo Stein Kruse disclosed the concept at Seatrade Miami last week.
There will be a charge to use the cabanas, which may be booked for the day. Amenities are likely to include a towel set-up, bathrobes, hand-held fans, iPods preloaded with music, and snacks such as fruit skewers in the morning and ice cream, frozen grapes and chocolate-covered strawberries in the afternoon.
Additional amenities and details are to be announced.

[RustaRoo]

Here's another thread on this topic too: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=735996

[jtl513]

... but the idea of charging to just use a part of an already finite pool deck seems a bit much.
From another article:
"There also will be smaller cabanas around the Lido deck that Kruse says will not cost extra to use." It will only be the larger wooden ones on the upper deck that will be rented.

[Schplinky]

Yes, but it's not as though deck space is at such a premium on a sea day that you want people camping out on paid or unpad space, which these will invite even more than the current chair hogging, in my opinion.

[jtl513]

... will invite even more than the current chair hogging, in my opinion.It looks from the deck plans that the cabanas will be replacing the tables and chairs along the windows, and not the loungers. I expect cabana hogging, though. :( Since we have a pool at home, we never use any ship's pools or the adjacent loungers ... but I will miss those tables along the windows.

[topspot]

...Evian misting stations.
Regular water not good enough for the misting stations?:rolleyes:

[C-Dragons]

We were on the Crown Princess last April and they had an area in the forward part of the ship called the Sanctuary (adults only) wich they charged for. There were a lot of the same amenities. You could book either a half day or full day and it was VERY popular. We didn't find out about it until our last day at sea and by then it was completely booked. HAL and Princess are both owned by Carnival. Maybe this is the start of a trend?

[Schplinky]

Regular water not good enough for the misting stations?:rolleyes:

Heaven forbid! :)

[sail7seas]

Please tell me they aren't planting these things at aft pool???!!!!

I think it a shame they are doing away with the tables along Lido pool. They are always filled with people sitting and enjoying. Some like to sit and read, people watch, play board games, eat lunch........

Not everyone wants to sit on a lounge with a swimsuit but they want to be out and enjoy the air and seeing what is going on. I feel sorry those people are losing that space. It is not an improvement IMO

[sail7seas]

I have a little to add from a friend at HAL who has correct info.

Lido pool is the family pool and, according to the first press release, those cabanas there will be first come, first served. There will still be lots of tables in the Lido pool area since that is where the Terrace Grill/Bistro (or whatever it is they will call it) is and the new pizza place. People like to eat at those tables. In the end, there probably will be fewer tables under the magrodome but there will still be tables.


There will also be tables on the aft pool deck for folks wanting to go there to eat/sit/read and those tables will probably be considered the smoking section as that is all outdoors.

[caviargal]

Yes, but it's not as though deck space is at such a premium on a sea day that you want people camping out on paid or unpad space, which these will invite even more than the current chair hogging, in my opinion.

It is because of the chair hogging that I would be willing to pay for these options personally IF there were something like Sanctuary on Princess that is adults only.

Seems like we pay extra for just about everything we enjoy these days on a cruise. For a reserved chair and some peace and quiet, we would be happy to pay.

[Schplinky]

It is because of the chair hogging that I would be willing to pay for these options personally IF there were something like Sanctuary on Princess that is adults only.

Seems like we pay extra for just about everything we enjoy these days on a cruise. For a reserved chair and some peace and quiet, we would be happy to pay.


I hadn't thought about it that way. You're right. We happily pay for the specialty restaurants on X and RCL (didn't find HAL's to be on par) because we like the special touches. If we had been able to book a chair on Westerdam, you're right that we probably would have done so.

[hammybee]

It was once common for cruise ships to charge for reserved loungers, giving potential hoggers the opportunity to pay for the privilege.

[Boytjie]

Regular water not good enough for the misting stations?:rolleyes:

Naive, I mean Evian, isn't good enough to drink. :D