Labadee: Now & 5 Years ago???

[LuckiStac13*Majesty*]

Originally Posted by time4u2go

Maybe we're in the minority, but we liked it better before. It somehow seemed more...authentic? Just our opinion.

I definitely agree. Now it's more manufactured.

[sbell1]

I preferred the "old" Labadee. We would find a quiet secluded spot on the far side of the island. Now there are no quiet secluded spots. I tried to just sit in the water on the rocky side and the beach patrol would not allow it.

[Jman1118]

Last time I was there they were putting in the piling for the pier and they were building the alpine coaster. Labadee used to be just a simple beach day where you could have a barbecue lunch and go to the artisan market. This time I think it is going to be way more fun as their is lots more to do, plus no tendering!

[cicfam]

Just returned from Labadee on Liberty of the Seas. Here are some of our reactions:

1. Beautiful!
2. Aquatic Park sold out by 10:00am, although kids could still swim in
water outside of the Aquatic Park. Only advanced reservations
were being permitted in.
3. Lunch mediocre at best - hot dogs, hamburgers, overcooked ribs,
great chicken! Certainly not comparable to other cruise lines' meals
on their private islands (e.g. Disney/Castaway Cay).
4. Lunch made much worse when my daughter asked me why there
were Haitians standing behind barbed wire fences begging for food
right by the lunch area. I hadn't seen this myself, but my daughter's
response made me have second thoughts about shiploads of food
gorgers visiting an area where hungry native Hatians are kept behind
Royal Caribbean fences.
5. Local vendors on Labadee were few, and somewhat less harassing
than those we encountered in Jamaica.
6. Royal Caribbean "Compass" re: Labadee notes not to tip staff for
getting beach chairs for visitors, although this was CLEARLY not
the case and every visitor was tipping and every staff person was
expecting (and deserving of) it.

[zales]

Stacy, wow that was a great review, with great pics. You really kept your cool with rude chair hogs, and the attendant that ignored you, I need to take a page out of your book, I am way to vocal Glad you and your parents had a great time. Thanks for sharing

[B-52]

Originally Posted by LuckiStac13*Majesty*

Start at $150-200. You can put your name on a list to reserve one on Barefoot beach if you're in a suite or if you're diamond-plus. Otherwise you can reserve one online for Nellie's Beach.

Depends what you're looking for...I had one in march on barefoot(over the water so it was $200) and thought it was well worth it, but not sure the ones on Nellies would be...

Put your name on what list???

We had a over the water 2 years ago, reserved it the first night on board with the concierge.
This cruise we want to do it again, but from everything I'm reading lately they go very fast now and the best thing to do is e-mail the concierge before embarkation.
Is that the list you are referring to???

[Kycruisefan]

Is a stop at Labadee only on the Western route? What RCCL ships have stops there?

[Ocean Boy]

Originally Posted by Kycruisefan

Is a stop at Labadee only on the Western route? What RCCL ships have stops there?

Check out the 8 night eastern route cruises. Navigator was stopping there this year and Independence will be stopping next year.

[eldolko]

Originally Posted by Kycruisefan

Is a stop at Labadee only on the Western route? What RCCL ships have stops there?

Here's a link that searches for all crusies that stops at Labadee:
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findac...o?location=LAB

[Kycruisefan]

Thanks!

[negc]

Originally Posted by zales

Funny, I was just about to ask U if the ones on Nellie's beach were nice and also overlook the water. Also, what is in the Cabana, and won't you spend most of your time on the beach and not in the Cabana, sorry with all the ques, this is all new to me.

The cabanas are almost a necessity for those of us who have to limit our exposure to the sun and are located on or just above the beaches and within a short distance of the water. You can spend as much or as little time as you want in the cabana but it is still open to the air so you are not really closed off from the outside. The cost when spread among the six people that is the capacity of the cabanas is pretty reasonable. Cabanas come equipped with a ceiling fan, cushioned benches and lounge chairs, as well as a cooler with bottled water. Beach towels are provided and there is a staff person available to take and deliver your drink orders. Golf cart transportation will take you throughout Labadee. Reports on the cabanas at Nellie's Beach make it appear that they are similar to the ones on Barefoot Beach.

[LuckiStac13*Majesty*]

Originally Posted by B-52

Put your name on what list???

We had a over the water 2 years ago, reserved it the first night on board with the concierge.
This cruise we want to do it again, but from everything I'm reading lately they go very fast now and the best thing to do is e-mail the concierge before embarkation.
Is that the list you are referring to???

Yes, that's the "list" I'm referring to--emailing the concierge prior to your cruise. Hope you get one again!

[LuckiStac13*Majesty*]

Originally Posted by zales

Stacy, wow that was a great review, with great pics. You really kept your cool with rude chair hogs, and the attendant that ignored you, I need to take a page out of your book, I am way to vocal Glad you and your parents had a great time. Thanks for sharing

Thanks for your nice comments. The chair hogs really were unbelievable...I'd never seen it that bad. It's unfortunate that Royal doesn't enforce their rules at times--we also had a very loud group of college kids that absolutely took over the pool area on the day we were in Jamaica--they were drunk and actually jumping from the hot tubs into the water, while the "Pool Attendants"--not much older than the kids--literally stood there and watched. We stopped by the Purser's Desk to voice our complaint about that, we were sure there was going to be an accident, but luckily there never was.

Anyway, sorry for the tangent, Labadee is great!

[onthewater51]

Originally Posted by time4u2go

Maybe we're in the minority, but we liked it better before. It somehow seemed more...authentic? Just our opinion.

I'm with you on this. I actually preferred the ship anchoring in the cove & tendering in. I loved the view. The island had a natural, raw feel to it, like a "Lost" world. While its still a nice place, to us it has a theme park feel now.

[tasbm1]

Thanks for all the replies. We loved it because it was so unspoiled. I am not sure how I am going to feel about all the development. We are lowly Platinum C&A so we can't get on Barefoot Beach anymore. I loved to sit in the shade by the water all day. Sounds like I won't be able to do that anymore.