hmc cabana and butler packages

[sunflowerstarr]

just out of curiosity who would the butlers be? is it part of the actual cruise ship crew or would it be workers that come in for the day? and is it possible for you to not be able to book on the ship? like for them to be "out" of them for lack of a better term? we definitely want one but were not quite ready to book. just wanna know if theres any pressing reason to book now or if its safe to wait. thanks

[crystal808]

If the cabanas have been "opened" for your sailing, chances are they're gone. They go quickly, because there are so few. I would imagine there will always be "butlers" available for each cabana; I believe they are crew members who "work" them. They can be added later, even on-board, but if you don't have a cabana, it won't make any difference!

 

Paul

[Randyk47]

Paul is correct. If you wait until you get on the ship to get a cabana it probably won't happen, the cabanas typically sell out over the HAL website well before the cruise. Yes, not always, there'll always be exceptions. We had a cabana, booked months before the cruise, on our last cruise. I think, though I didn't check, we could have added a butler pretty much up until a day or so before. We were asked about 3 days out what we wanted in our cabana in terms of drinks (water, soda, etc) and had the pick of a limited choice of snacks and, as I recall, there was the option to ask for a butler. We didn't do the butler and got along just fine. Since the butler comes to your cabin on the ship and escorts you to your cabana I'd have to say he/she comes from the ship crew.

[Green4me]

How much are they?

 

Thanks

[Randyk47]

As I remember the cabana was $219 and the butler service was an additional $279. I could handle....mentally at least....the cabana charge but not the butler. We would/will do the cabana any time we stop at HMC but not ready to go the extra for the butler.

[Frogs]

A cabana is $219 (I think) and the Butler package is $270. This is for up to 4 people. Over 4 people costs additional.

 

Blessings!

[sunflowerstarr]

i got the taupe cabana as soon as i realized they were open. i was just more curious about the whole butler thing. it is 219 for up to four in the cabana and 270 for up to four with the butler upgrade. my friend and i got a 200 obc (not applicable to the cabana itself since we booked in advance) but we can use it towards the butler upgrade and we might have another couple join us so that cheapens the cost. i just was wondering where they came from and sinc eit sounds like itsx not a problem we will wait either till we are on the ship or until its a bit closer to the departure before we book. thanks!

[willowoodf]

We had the butler for our cabana on our cruise last December and I have to say, IT WAS WONDERFUL! We ended up with 6 people in our cabana (not crowded at all) and so we split the cost over 6, so it wasn't bad. We were SO PAMPERED and it was SO GREAT! If you aren't drinkers, I don't know if you would get the entire benefit from it, :D but we had champagne and lots of other drinks all day and it was great.

 

Our butler was a waiter from the Pinnacle Grill. His boss from the Pinnacle Grill came by to check on our cabana and how he and us were doing. We actually had several officers come by our cabana throughout the day.

 

I think I will always remember that cabana experience as one of funnest times of my life!!

 

Mary

[sunflowerstarr]

lol we are definitely drinkers which is why we wanted it mostly. that and the three course picinic lunch brought to us. no worries about waiting in line especially since theres another ship in hmc that day. plus i may not get to splurge like this again. settled for a inside cabin so i could save money for shopping and the ports. speaking of ive been reading a lot of threads about tipping, im assuming there should be no need here since we are payin speficially for those services? did you guys tip? just trying to have everything planned as best as possible! glad to hear it was worth it!

[Frogs]

This will be our first time in the Cabana and on HMC but from reading other post, other cruisers have mentioned that they tipped both the cabana attendants (or as I say my cabana 'boy') :o

 

They also have mentioned something about tipping the butlers.

 

I'm sure someone will stop by and provide assistance. You could also search for more information either here in HAL or on the excursion pages for HMC.

 

Enjoy your cruise and cabana! I know we will!

 

Blessings!

[Green4me]

Thanks for the info on pricing. Is there any significance to the color of the cabana or just a way to identify which one you havereserved? Is it better to be at one end of the beach than the other?

 

Thanks for the advice.:)

[Randyk47]

Green - The color scheme serves a number of purposes. One, it is the Caribbean and folks naturally think of bright, crisp colors. Secondly, it's easier just to rent by color than it is say by number. For the most part the cabanas are exactly alike in terms of construction, layout, etc. Location is important for folks as some want to be closer to the support facilities and therefore want the cabanas closer to the beginning of the beach area while others want to be away from that end in the relatively more private cabanas.

[Green4me]

Thanks for the info. Looking forward to our first trip to HMC in December.

[Randyk47]

HMC is fantastic and hopefully you'll love it. Even though our next HAL cruise is in the Caribbean it won't be going to HMC. Other than our very first HAL cruise, before HMC was developed, this will be the first time we've been on HAL and not gone to the island. A bit sad but since we're on a 14-day cruise I guess I'll find a way to get over it. :rolleyes:

[bruce-r]

Is there any significance to the color of the cabana or just a way to identify which one you havereserved?

The cabanas are as follows starting closest to Welcome Center and going farther away:

Taupe

Blue

Turquoise

Orange

Light Blue

Purple

Pink

Green

Yellow

Terra Cotta.

 

There is also a new Peach cabana that is somewhere in the middle. The choice of location will depend on several things. Proximity to a restroom, the Food Pavillion, and desire for privacy.

[Green4me]

Thanks again Randy and Bruce, we just officially booked the cruise today with deposit and I was able to book the Taupe cabana so first in from the pier. It was that or last in line. I defaulted for closer as we like to be where the action is ;)

 

Sunflowerstar, I like the way you think on the buttler package :) It will be a hard option not to choses as we too have two ships in port that day so it will be crowded I am sure.

 

All the Best

[Randyk47]

All the best to you Green and your cruise. You'll really enjoy the cabana....we're spoiled for sure now and will probably always try to get one when we go to HMC.

 

Noticed you're from Tampa area. Any recommendations for a good to great hotel near the cruise terminal? Our Veendam cruise is out of Tampa and it's been years.....make that ages....since I lived even close to Tampa. (Actually, lived in Zephyrhills back in the 60's.) Obviously not our first cruise out of Florida but certainly the first out of Tampa.

[sunflowerstarr]

hey green when ya gonna be there. im in the taupe cabana as well lol guess great minds think alike eh? it was either that or the pink and i figured my friend could feel more manly with taupe than pink! lol anyways have a good trip!

[debjo]

For bruce-r...

According to what the HAL rep told me...the PEACH cabana is located between the LIGHT BLUE (aka Sky Blue) and the PURPLE cabanas, next to the LIGHT BLUE one before the Water Sports area. The PURPLE cabana is on the other side of the Water Sports area.

 

Debjo

[willowoodf]

We were in the PINK cabana - it was actually quite pretty and none of the men seemed to mind it! Yes, we did tip! I don't think those butler's get much if anything of the money that we pay HAL for his services. And he worked his behind off running back and forth for drinks for 6 people!! He was great!

 

Mary

[Randyk47]

 

Here's a map of HMC with the cabana locations and colors. Thanks to DW who put this together for our webpage. www.geocities.com/theklugspage

[sunflowerstarr]

thanks willowoodf. i didnt know what i should do tipping wise and am so glad to hear that it was a great experience for you!

 

and thanks randy. everyone kept saying the tourquoise was closest to the bathrooms and thats something important to the people in our party. we ended up with the taupe whih i knew wasnt far but until i saw the map i didnt realize how close they were. best map ive seen on here so far!

[debjo]

HERE'S A "NEW" BUT COMPLICATED QUESTION...

 

We have four people in a cabana who want to get the BUTLER UPGRADE. We have a fifth person that might want to be added to the cabana, but doesn't want to participate in the BUTLER UPGRADE. Is it possible to have five people in the cabana (the original 4 people priced at $219 plus the additional person at $45 more) and have the original 4 people get the BUTLER UPGRADE at $270, but not have to pay the additional $100 more for the 5th person? We don't to be surprised with another $100 added to our on-board account for the 5th person getting a BUTLER UPGRADE if they don't want to use the BUTLER while they are sharing the cabana with the first 4 people.

 

Debjo

[crystal808]

You should definitely call Ship Services about this one...I'd expect that, if there are 5 people booked for the cabana, then a butler service upgrade will be for the same number. I wouldn't expect HAL to try to differentiate between "butler" and "non-butler" people in one cabana!!!

 

JMHO,

Paul

[bookworm0911]

Is it possible to have five people in the cabana (the original 4 people priced at $219 plus the additional person at $45 more) and have the original 4 people get the BUTLER UPGRADE at $270, but not have to pay the additional $100 more for the 5th person? We don't to be surprised with another $100 added to our on-board account for the 5th person getting a BUTLER UPGRADE if they don't want to use the BUTLER while they are sharing the cabana with the first 4 people.

 

Debjo

I don't see how it could possibly be monitored by the butler that the 5th person did not use any of the benefits he brought to the cabana for the other 4. How do you see this working without paying for the 5th person? :confused: