Labadee Cabanas,Barefoot Beach For Suite Guests Only

[The Flying Pirate]

So you have to be a Suite Guest to swim at Barefoot Beach? That was the best place to snorkel in the past.

 

The idea of having an exclusive area only for suite guests is kind of annoying. It is like RCCL is returning to the old system of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Class Passengers. In the past RCCL did a great job of providing additional perks to the Suite Guests with keeping it out of site of the "normal" guests, the concierge lounge etc. But now with reserved seats for shows, at the pool and now taking over the nicest beach at Labadee it seems like the gap is getting bigger. This is very disappointing.

 

And as for the Iceberg in the Caribbean, there is a big inflatable iceberg tethered in Labadee.

[EmpressofPurple]

IMHO...I wish RCCL would have not designated any beach as private use only for suite guests (and I am a suite cruiser)..It really wasn't necessary...again IMHO....to make any "beach" area more elite than another..As far as the Cabanas go let them be on a first come basis or purchased in advance like an excursion to ANYONE....I think this is going to create more problems than they are worth..They either should have built more or none at all...On our previous visits to Labadee it was great just like it was...everyone was treated the same....the only difference was the spot on the beach where your lounge chair happened to be sitting..

 

Thank you so much, suite cruiser! I am not a suite cruiser, but if I were, I would not want to be separated from my friends and others in lower stateroom categories. If I wanted that type of experience, I could cruise with Cunard, which assigns different levels to their own dining rooms, or NCL, with their special amenities for suite guests only.

 

I like that RCI and Princess offer premium accommodations for those who wish (and can afford) to retreat in luxury, but provide egalitarian service and amenities (eg. theatre, pools, games, shore excursions, gym, dining) to all. That is why these are my favorite cruise lines.

 

I sincerely hope RCI does not change its policy in this regard, and I really appreciate your putting in your two cents on this matter, since you are one of the people who pay the premium for a suite, and yet don't feel you "deserve" extra perks (or at least not ones which are denied to others).

[stones902]

We just visited Labadee and were fortunate enough to purchase access to a cabana even though we were not in a suite. It is possible to put friends (to a point) on the guest list to get wristbands for that area. Ours was a group of 8. I only mention this because it is possible to invite your friends although I am sure there is a maximum number.

 

Barefoot Beach is simply another revenue generator for RCL for those passengers willing to pay. The beach is nicer and the cabanas are very comfortable. We did a B2B with both weeks visiting Labadee and purchased a cabana the 2nd week even though we did not the first week. For what it is worth, I wish we had tried to purchase our first week as well. It really made for a great day.

[ATG]

stones902 - Which cabana did you have? The over water look really neat, but so do the beach ones.

 

We usually do not book a suite and I have never felt I was missing anything. Those that pay for a suite can have all the perks RCI wants to give them.

[kjm1988]

Doesn't it bother anyone else that cruise lines seem to be going back to the class system. If you pay for a suite fine, but to limit certain areas of the ship or islands to suite guest just seems wrong to me. If we hit an iceburgh is it suite guest off first? I thought we were beyond that now.:(

 

i just had to laugh...not making fun of you, but......there are no iceberg's in the caribbean :) i get what you mean, but everyone gets the same minimums as everyone else, suite guests pay more...and they pay a lot more to be able to pay for even more :eek:

[jamesr3939]

We did the LOTS in September and our kids upgraded us to a GS so we had access to all those extras. As pointed out, if you are willing to pay extra you get extra that's the way it is.

 

Being a GS guest did not get us a cabana. It did get us on to Barefoot Beach with the "better" buffet lunch (actually the best food we had the entire trip). I did purchase two cabanas since our kids and grandkids were in a balcony and JS and could not get into Barefoot Beach. They say the cabanas are limited to six guests so I had to get two for the 10 of us.

 

I thought the overwater cabanas would be the best but was talked into two beach ones instead. This was a good choice. I think we had S1 and S2, which are just inside the enterance gate. I would take those again in a minute. We were close to the buffet/bar and the walk from any of them is less than 30 seconds to the water. We had much more shade than the OWC, which was nice as we were more protected from the wind.

 

Bottom line is the cabanas are well worth the money especially if that's the only way to get into Barefoot Beach.

[The Flying Pirate]

Alright, so let's see if I have all this sorted out. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

So anyone can purchase access to the Cabanas regardless of where on the ship they are booked suite or not. Does anyone have the prices for the Cabana rental

 

But Suite guests have free access to the Barefoot beach Area and a separate Buffet set up. If you rent a cabana do you have access to this buffet as well?

 

Just trying to get this sorted out.

[Cruising89143]

Alright, so let's see if I have all this sorted out. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

So anyone can purchase access to the Cabanas regardless of where on the ship they are booked suite or not. Does anyone have the prices for the Cabana rental

 

But Suite guests have free access to the Barefoot beach Area and a separate Buffet set up. If you rent a cabana do you have access to this buffet as well?

 

Just trying to get this sorted out.

 

Cabanas are opened up to guests booked in a GS and higher first. If any are left then they are opened up the everyone else on board. The prices start at $150.00 and go up to $200.00 per cabana depending on the area.

 

All suite guests have access to Barefoot Beach and the separate buffet. Yes, if you rent the cabana, you have access to the buffet.

[CruiseLover15]

The cabanas are great, I was able to get one in September while on the Oasis and I wasn't in a suite.

[snausman]

We had one of the over the water cabana's. It cost us 200.00 dollars and was well worth it. We had a 7 month old with us and the shade was great. Would get another cabana again in a minute.

 

Laura

[GSuitesailing]

We had one of the over the water cabana's. It cost us 200.00 dollars and was well worth it. We had a 7 month old with us and the shade was great. Would get another cabana again in a minute.

 

Laura

 

Do you know which water Cabana you had?

[snausman]

Do you know which water Cabana you had?

 

 

Yes, we had W3. Would get this cabana again. We LOVED it.

 

Laura

[Gilgo Surfer]

The cabanas are great, I was able to get one in September while on the Oasis and I wasn't in a suite.

 

I have grown up on the beach. I have been a beach bum and a surfer all my life. My friends and I who were born, raised and spend our lives on the beach would have no interest in spending a day at the beach in these shacks. This is not a real beach experience.

A drink in my hand and my toes in the sand is how I do it. At least I got to see Barefoot beach once before they ruined it with these shacks.

It is all money and marketing, these cabanas are unnecessary unless your one of those people who can't be in the sun for more than three minutes(in which case why go to the beach?)

[eal]

I have grown up on the beach. I have been a beach bum and a surfer all my life. My friends and I who were born, raised and spend our lives on the beach would have no interest in spending a day at the beach in these shacks. This is not a real beach experience.

A drink in my hand and my toes in the sand is how I do it. At least I got to see Barefoot beach once before they ruined it with these shacks.

It is all money and marketing, these cabanas are unnecessary unless your one of those people who can't be in the sun for more than three minutes(in which case why go to the beach?)

 

 

Yes, I grew up on the beach, too. I lived just 2 houses from the beach for the first 20 yrs of my life. Now after many, many, many years in the sun I have skin cancer. I still like a drink in my hand and my toes in the sand. But I must sit in the shade. So you see, Grasshopper, shade is not bad. It lets me live.

[GSuitesailing]

Yes, we had W3. Would get this cabana again. We LOVED it.

 

Laura

 

 

I would love to see a map to look at the locations of the Cabanas. I was thinking that my family would enjoy a Cabana over the water, but other posters mentioned there was no shade. I was glad to read you did have some. Thanks for the info.

[snausman]

I would love to see a map to look at the locations of the Cabanas. I was thinking that my family would enjoy a Cabana over the water, but other posters mentioned there was no shade. I was glad to read you did have some. Thanks for the info.

 

We really enjoyed it and hope you will too!

 

Laura

[sloree]

I agree. We can afford a suite and sometimes do... however, why not make more available and on first come basis or whomever wants to pay like an excursion? This poor country could benefit from building more cabanas.

[1ParticularHbr]

Which beach is Barefoot Beach? Is it the one to the left as you arrive in Labadee? Which beach do the other guests use?

 

If you Google "Labadee map", you'll find some of Royal Caribbean's maps there.

 

As you're walking off the ship, you can see Columbus Cove and Barefoot beach on your right. The first beach you come to once you're on the island (on the left) is Adrenaline Beach (below the zip line). Lots of folks never wander further from the ship than that. We've always taken the tram or walked to Columbus Cove. There are usually plenty of loungers (in both sun and shade) and the water is much more "swimable" than at Adrenaline Beach.

 

I, for one though, am excited to finally be sailing in a suite on our next cruise and looking forward to being able to get to Barefoot Beach. We're up in the air on the cabana. As another poster mentioned, just like flying first class, or staying in a suite at a hotel, paying more will get you more space, more privacy, and better perks. It's no different on a ship than on land.

[Bella O]

If you are staying in a suite, can you book online thrugh excursions? If not, how do you reserve one, email the concierge? I'd really like an over water one, and want to book early if possible, thanks!

[flowers44]

The only cabanas you can reserve through the excursions are the ones on Nellies Beach. The suite guest should email their concierge to reserve the cabanas on Barefoot Beach, unless you want to be on Nellie's.

[rpettus]

If you are staying in a suite, can you book online thrugh excursions? If not, how do you reserve one, email the concierge? I'd really like an over water one, and want to book early if possible, thanks!

 

Any suggestions on what would be a proper tip for the cabana attendant? :confused:

[Gusters99]

Flowers44 - Can you tell me how to obtain the email address for the concierge? I will be on the Oasis in February, booked in a Suite and would like to book a Cabana.

[flowers44]

With a little bit of research on the RCCL thread, I came up with what I beleieve are the current Concierges on the Oasis. There are actually two. Their names are Allan Fajardo and Francis Calimag according to a 12/5/12 posting on the RCCL thread. The email address that seems to appear on that thread is OA Concierge01@rccl.com or

OA Concierge02@rccl.com. If that doesn't work, I would suggest calling RCCL and asking a cruise specialist for the email addresses.

[RCI Cruisers 004]

Did they allow JS guests into Barefoot Beach?

 

Barefoot beach is reserved for those with the gold sea pass card, which is Grand Suite and above....so I'm told !

[RCI Cruisers 004]

With a little bit of research on the RCCL thread, I came up with what I beleieve are the current Concierges on the Oasis. There are actually two. Their names are Allan Fajardo and Francis Calimag according to a 12/5/12 posting on the RCCL thread. The email address that seems to appear on that thread is OA Concierge01@rccl.com or

OA Concierge02@rccl.com. If that doesn't work, I would suggest calling RCCL and asking a cruise specialist for the email addresses.

 

Can you tell me how you found these, I'd like to get ahold of the concierge on Freedom with some questions. Or do you know their email address. Thanks in advance !