Annefran

Hi all,

I do not want to rent a cabana at Nellie's Beach this time when we stop at Labadee next May 2016. I just don't want to pay the higher prices since they stripped away the upgraded buffet and water bottles.

My questions are: I believe that we can still use Nellie's Beach, it's chairs etc. without a cabana rental, is that correct? Also, is there clamshells available there people who want shade?

Thanks in advance, Happy Cruising!

I completely agree with all you stated! However, in all reality there will always be people that are not budget consious that will pay the price no matter what it is. Especially considering there are not that many cabanas, and when a ship full of several thousand passengers pulls up, it'll be easy to fill them all even at $495. It is unfortunate as they are pricing many many people out of them, but that's how it goes.

Exactly, if we keep accepting the price increases as many have decided, it will never stop. Happy Cruising!

If folks would stop shelling out the bucks, the prices would drop. Simple supply and demand....no "demand", and they'll be "giving them away"!

CB I completely agree with you. I love getting a cabana in Labadee for the day but I absolutely refuse to keep paying these prices and getting no additional amenities. If we as loyal Royal cruisers just stepped back and thought about this; we don't NEED to keep accepting these increases.

If we stop buying them, the prices will go down as you say. Royal will hear you if it affects their pocketbooks. If we keep buying them, they will continue to raise the prices. When does it end?

People are making excuses about splitting the costs with others and I truly get that. I started to think the same way but just can't justify it. In the past you got the bottled water and upgraded buffet but now those privileges have even been deleted with the new increased prices. I have to ask myself why bother?

My next stop at Labadee will be under a shaded tree or in a nice comfy lounger along the water. So disappointed in Royal right now! :rolleyes:

So disappointed to see this ridiculous increase in pricing. It was worth 250, it's not worth double!

 

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Totally agree but we as consumers need to let Royal know this is NOT right. Please everyone send them an email or letter now to express your disappointment and concerns. I definitely plan on doing just that. Hey they changed DD, we can hopefully change this too.

Booking a cabana and the prices sure have come a LONG way since I first booked one on Barefoot Beach back in January 2012. Nellie's beach didn't even exist at that point in time. I think they may have started construction though. I think I paid $150 for a beach cabana then.

I have a had all 3 types of cabanas and my favorites in order are; OTW, beach and then hilltop. I think it's completely unfair that they do not include the upgraded buffet now. You are paying for this expensive day at Labadee and they should include an upgraded buffet with that price. Plus the closest buffet is quite a walk from Nellie's Beach area. I plan on writing a letter to RCI about it soon. Not sure how much good it will do but can't hurt. :rolleyes:

My suggestion to RCI is to have an upgraded buffet in the Nellie Beach area too and then the Suite guests can have their own area.

I have a Anthem cruise booked for next May and the cabanas haven't showed up online for booking yet. I check every day. Not too happy with the price increase, they are going to eventually out-price themselves if they don't start including better perks with Nellie's cabanas.

I have been on trips where we couldnt have the divider opened and on trips where we have had as many as 4 in a row opened - both trips on the same ship. The last trip we did was on the Oasis and we were told no. before that was on the freedom and it was ok. I think it has to do with security levels. Ask your stateroom attendant and if they say you cant, ask at the desk & they may send maintenance to do it.

Thanks so much for the information. I've been on ships too where it wasn't an issue to open up the balcony dividers at all. I was just wondering about this particular ship since I cannot remember if the dividers can be opened. We were just on QOS and friends in 3 separate cabins all had their balcony dividers open and they had a huge balcony all together. I will take your advice once we board and give our request at Guest Relations. Thanks all!

Yes, the balcony dividers on side-facing balconies can be opened on Navigator, pending approval from ship's management.

Thanks Bob! You are always so helpful and a wealth of information. Have a great day and always Happy Cruising! :D

Good Morning All,

I will be sailing on the Navigator with a group of friends in April 2017 to the ABC islands. I have a JS (9614) and my friends are right next door in 9618. I've had JS cabin 9618 several times on both the Explorer and Adventure but not Navigator. Does anyone know if we can ask to have the balcony divider removed to share a larger balcony? Not sure if that can be done on the Voyager JS's. Thanks in advance for any information you all can share.

Happy Cruising! :D

Good morning friends and welcome to day 3 of LIVE from Quantum of the Seas! It's another beautiful day here as we are east of south Florida this morning. Off to breakfast and more importantly, COFFEE!!! :D

 

 

 

Then up to the pool deck for some relaxation. Slot pull this afternoon at 2:30. So stay tuned as the day gets under way! :)

Hey Chris as always a wonderful review. I have to stop here to see where you are on the ship and my cabin is right next door. LOL Looking forward to the slot pull today, as this will be my first. Excited to win some $$$! Cya up on deck later to enjoy our sunny day. Enjoy reading CC'ers! [emoji572]️[emoji160][emoji484]

Thanks for taking us along on your NYC adventures today Chris. Hope you all have a spectacular day.

Chris, subscribed and tagging along on this adventure with a wonderful group of Quayzies. I have a couple surprises for Bendie Gibbs on this cruise and hope it makes it into your review.

Chris is wonderful at answering everyone's questions on his thread. And if he doesn't know the answer, will definitely find one for you. :D

Chris, here we are one week away from our cruise and the start of what will be probably one of your BEST reviews ever.

Thanks for starting this thread to let us know that you will be posting and doing your review live while on QOS, April 12-24. I know you have a lot of CC followers that will be anxious for your journey to start and to see/read all your experiences while on board.

We appreciate you taking time from your cruise to share. Safe journey and we will all have a wonderful cruise. :D

I have a few questions.

 

We are a party of 7 and booked two OTW cabanas on Nellie's Beach.

 

1. Is it possible for only one person to get off the ship that morning to check in at the cabana area? Plus, will they allow the rest of the party into the cabana area, even if they won't have arm bands at the time?

 

2. Who assigns the parties to a particular cabana, the Excursion Desk or the actual Cabana check-in station?

Hi just make sure you give the Concierge all the names of the people that will be in your cabana. Then everyone can show up to check in and get their armbands separately.

Usually the Concierge will assign the cabanas but inquire at the excursion desk.

Surprise (definition) = sur·prised, sur·pris·ing, sur·pris·es

1. To cause to feel wonder, astonishment, or amazement, as at something unanticipated.

:p:rolleyes: Cannot wait to see what it is Chris when YOU reveal it in your actual review. ;)

Hi Chris, I will be subscribing but I'll be on board with you too. :D Cannot believe that we will be on board in 5 weeks, woo hoo! Now we just need this snow to all melt and Spring to be sprung.

Hi my DD will be in Cococay next month. Can she rent a cabana for the day or are they only suite guests like Labadee? Thanks for the information.

Looking forward to your St Marten photos and review Radio. Have very much enjoyed the review. 👍😀

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Hi Mark

I hope the seas don't stay too rough all day. Look for my friend Deb at the M&M today, her screen name is LUVS2WIN.

Love all the photos and will be following for sure. Enjoy your day!

Anne

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Hi Radio (Mark),

Safe travels to NJ today. I'll be following along as usual. I have a friend that will be sailing with you to celebrate her 60th birthday. Will tell her to be on the lookout for you ;).

Take good care of her, I'm on the April 12th sailing with Bugsy, Emmy and several others. Bon Voyage!

Anne

Yes Concierge should be able to do it when they contact you about 2 weeks before the cruise. I was on the Allure last New Years and had it done. However be careful what you wish for the sand was better at Nellie's than Barefoot that is why I asked travelgoddess1 how the sand was at the beaches?:D You can still go to Barefoot for the Suite buffet grilled Steaks & Lobster tails

Hi you can also email the concierge a few weeks before your cruise to request a cabana on barefoot beach. I would request which type of a cabana you prefer. I have done this several times in the past without an issue. Good luck and happy cruising !

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We stopped at Le Gallion on our last visit, and loved it. Beautiful beach with clear water, not overly crowded, and a little beach restaurant and a guy who brought us drinks. It was perfect!

Thanks for the information. I will look it up to see how far it is from the pier area. :D

You might think about Dawn Beach - probably the clearest water on the island - about fifteen minutes north of the pier on the east di of the island, so no traffic getting to or from. You can get a resort pass at the Westin, or just go to Mr. Busby's (a pretty good restaurant right on the beach) which has umbrella and lounger rentals.

Thanks so much, I have never heard of Dawn Beach and just googled it. It looks beautiful. I just emailed the Westin to see what they offer in Day Passes. This might be a wonderful alternative for the day. Thanks again!

You are most welcome. We always end our day in town when on a cruise. We too love the stores and the boardwalk.

 

Why don't you look into one of the beach bars that includes chair and umbrella rentals if you each lunch there. This will off set the price of the transportation to get there. Not sure if that is a reason why your friends chose this beach or not. Let me know if you want some info on beach bar/restaurants with that deal.

Thanks for all the useful information. I've been to St Maarten several times and I've been to Orient beach a handful of times and Divi Divi Beach club too. Will think about it for a few months. Happy Cruising!

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Thanks for sharing your experience. Here's what I know and what I have seen. These two places are not far from each other on Great Bay beach which is otherwise known as the town beach. If anything the Holland House is closer to the drainage area where the brown sludgy water enters Great Bay than the Blue Bitch Bar is. This is the beach with the documented pollution issues mentioned on this board for years now. I found out about it in 2007 I believe and saw the brown sludgy water entering Great Bay in 2010 or 2011 while I was walking the boardwalk. For what it's worth I do love the Ocean Lounge at the Holland House for lunch but we beach elsewhere.

Thanks so much for you insight and information. I'm just not thrilled about the beach area, although I love the boardwalk and all the shops and restauarants. May need to rethink going to the beach there that day. Thanks again!

If anyone else has more information, greatly appreciated too. ;)

Hi All,

I will be stopping in St Maarten this April. I've been to St Maarten several times and usually go to Orient Beach for the day. By far one of my favorite beaches in the islands. Last May some friends and I decided to just go into town and go to a local beach. We walked halfway down and decided to take one of the deals for loungers, chair pads, umbrella and a bucket filled with water bottles plus soda. It was right in front of the Blue Bitch Bar, which actually has great food and drinks, very reasonably priced too. Anyway, the loungers were old, chair pads were dirty and torn up. The water was cloudy and not clean at all. Beach was also not the greatest.

This April one of our friends is organizing a group to go to the Holland House Beach area in town. I cannot remember seeing that area in all my times there. I don't want a repeat of that day in May 2014. Is the beach area and water nicer near the Holland House? Tell me about your experiences, good and bad. Thanks in advance for any information you would like to share. Happy Cruising!