Princess Cays Bungalow Review

[Cruise Junky]

Don't honestly know as we weren't the ones to book it. They didn't book it before hand either. Sorry.

[patrickmoran]

Did the price include drinks or did Princess only provide a person to take orders but you still had to put them on the Sail n Sign card? Are the cabanas nearby?

[Cruise Junky]

Did the price include drinks or did Princess only provide a person to take orders but you still had to put them on the Sail n Sign card? Are the cabanas nearby?

 

Didn't you already ask that above?

[MattInFLL]

So glad I found this thread... We did this on the Westerdam last year at the Holland America private island stop, and it was well worth it. Not sure if the pricing structure is the same, but for $199, four of us got all food and drinks. We added two people, and there was a surcharge of $100 (I think).. so it was basically $50/person. Considering the $$$ people drop on shore excursions, etc, it really doesn't seem that expensive, and the service - at least on HAL - was excellent. The night before, they delivered special tender tickets, with full details of where to meet and when. We were escorted to the cabana and the attendant basically asked what drinks we would want for the day, and took our lunch order (on HAL it was a special choice of basically a meat dish, a chicken dish, or a fish dish - and had nothing to do with the burger buffet everyone else had).

 

The cabanas look about the same size as HAL's, and if all 6 people wanted to be inside with the door closed, it would be very cramped... but you're on the beach, so why would you want to do that?

 

I was hoping there would be something like this on Princess.

[Cruise Junky]

So glad I found this thread... We did this on the Westerdam last year at the Holland America private island stop, and it was well worth it. .

 

The people we shared the bungalow with had done it on HAL and they said The Princess Bungalows were better. Just keep in mind that it doesn't include free drinks, just the one welcome drink. Service was excellent though.

[Debi_D]

We just did a b2b last week of Nov on Princess and had a bungalow and it was fabulous. You could fit 6 people into eat but you could not close the doors. The second week we were on HAL and had a cabana, over all we love the princess cabana's over HAL. They have like there own private little area with beautiful palm trees, here are our pictures:

 

 

This picture is great of the palm trees and other cabanas:

 

[GSDsky]

Had a look at the pics and real small so wondering 6?;)

Just kidding as we have booked them for usage in 2 weeks so will also report back with comments.

 

Thanks In Advance....

[Toto2Kansas]

One comment I have about the bungalows on princess cays.

We arrived late on the Sun Princess last month, several hours late. I overheard someone talking to the shore excursion desk about how they had paid for the bungalow, but now would only have a few hours to enjoy it. Since many times this port has to be missed (which would give you a full refund from Princess), it sounded like that was not going to happen when arriving late. This passenger was not happy that she could not cancel it that late, but would be charged the full amount for only a few hours useage. I wasn't exactly evesdropping, I was waiting in line to go ashore when I overheard what was going on at the excursion desk.

So, this is something else to keep in mind when thinking about booking one of these bungalows.

[oledave]

I've booked a Cabana during our Sun Princess cruise on 3/30. This is all sounds good to me. Our group may need more than one, since we have more than 6 people who may be coming and going during the day. I didn't realize this included food, drink, and service. It really looks better than I had imagined.

 

Thanks to those who posted pics!

 

Oledave

[chrysalis]

I've booked a Cabana during our Sun Princess cruise on 3/30. This is all sounds good to me. Our group may need more than one, since we have more than 6 people who may be coming and going during the day. I didn't realize this included food, drink, and service. It really looks better than I had imagined.

 

Thanks to those who posted pics!

 

Oledave

 

Oledave, as you know, we are on the cruise with you...but just to be sure, the "Cabana ($24)" is not the same as the Beach Bungalow($199)..those photos are of the bangalows....the cabana is a cloth clamshell that is only large enough for 2 loungers

[rubegoddess]

To the OP

Thanks so much for the review. I booked one for my husband, his parents, his aunt and his grandmother for our CB cruise 1/28. I can't wait. It is going to be perfect- access to the snorkeling, A/C and shade for the non sun family members and I had no idea about the service. Very nice. :)

[oledave]

Oledave, as you know, we are on the cruise with you...but just to be sure, the "Cabana ($24)" is not the same as the Beach Bungalow($199)..those photos are of the bangalows....the cabana is a cloth clamshell that is only large enough for 2 loungers

 

Chrysalis--you're right...my bad. Bungalow it is...

 

Oledave

[PrincessCruisesLover]

So if I book one of the bungalows, how do we arrange for the correct amount of tickets for all of us to be escorted of the ship? Since you just enter "1" to reserve it, how do they know how many people there are total? In our case, there will be four of us.

 

(I think they are a bit pricey, however, having our own little place to go, with lunch brought to us sounds great and really relaxing!)

[Wilcoam]

There's six of us sailing the Star this Saturday and because there's an amazing website like this, we were able to see pics of these 'bungalows'

find out what they did and did not offer, and make a much more informed decision on whether to book, or not.

 

I'm just very appreciative for cruisecritic for having this website and all those members who contribute valuable information.

 

As for those, who love to offer their opinion if something is worth X or Y,

(especially when they have not used the product), so be it, to each their own, IMO I take it all with a grain of salt, but I applaud those who have spent the $200 and can use this website to dissuade or influence us and offer insight of it's value.

 

From what I'm seeing hear, IMO being able to tender easily, the escort, the shade, the AC, avoiding long mass market food lines, and being close to the snorkelling area, is well worth it n then some. Nothing stops any of us 6, to join the crowd at any point, but at a cost of $35.00 PP, it seems well worth the privacy and services. (if one can afford/budget approp)

 

I'll find out next Friday, but I can't wait for seems like a wonderful day in the bahamas on a somewhat private island with enhanced services...

 

jc

Toronto

Princess Star Jan 27-07

X Xpedition Sept 30-07

[Debi_D]

Trust me it is money well spent for the experience, as soon as everyone get use to these it will be very difficult to book one. Just like HAL',s are very hard to get these days and Princess are much nicer....

[CrusinAgain]

Gee.....where are you guys getting the idea that lunch and drinks are brought to you? The first drink is free and lunch is the BBQ buffet thats for everyone. Read the above posts from those who rented it since this seems to have turned into service comes to you and so does lunch.

[CrusinAgain]

Double post....

[crusdiva]

Gee.....where are you guys getting the idea that lunch and drinks are brought to you? The first drink is free and lunch is the BBQ buffet thats for everyone. Read the above posts from those who rented it since this seems to have turned into service comes to you and so does lunch.

I think the answer lies here: Read post #7 in this thread.;)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=479408&highlight=bungalows

[GSDsky]

I think the answer lies here: Read post #7 in this thread.;)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=479408&highlight=bungalows

 

 

We had one this past week on Sea Princess. We didn't book it, the couple we were travelling with did. And as much as at first I thought they were nuts to pay $199 for it, it did turn out to be nice. You do get escorted in the first tender off the ship by someone from the tour desk, she walked us over and made sure everything was ok and explained everything pretty well. There were four of us. It's basically a little room that holds a table and four chairs for you to eat lunch. There were some reserved loungers out front and it was very close to a lovely little cove for snorkelling ans swimming. When we first arrived there was a massive fruit tray waiting and four welcome drinks. They take your order for lunch, you don't have to wait in line and they were there with drink service all day long. Not sure if the hut was air conditioned, but the fan was going all day and it certainly did provide cool shelter from the sun. I wouldn't pay $199 for two of us, but it certainly was a nice treat.

[Typhoon1]

Does anyone know the total number of bungalows ? Those 9 0r 10 on Half Moon Cay sell real quidkly.

[tvaud]

When talking the Michael (cabana manager) he said that they are planning 6 more cabana's and adding a bathroom especially for the cabana's. They are also planning to somehow fence them off to keep those out that do not have a cabana.

 

Deb

 

 

Deb,

Did Michael mention when these additions would be made? We plan to book one for our July CB cruise.

Cindra

[Cruise Junky]

Gee.....where are you guys getting the idea that lunch and drinks are brought to you? The first drink is free and lunch is the BBQ buffet thats for everyone. Read the above posts from those who rented it since this seems to have turned into service comes to you and so does lunch.

 

Where does the idea come from?...Hmmm ME. We were in one in late November. There was drink service all day and they took our food order and brought it to us. Unless I'm speaking a different language, that's food and beverage service.

[MattInFLL]

Someone asked about the tender tickets since you enter "1" when you book it... don't like to assume, but on HAL, they called me early in the cruise and asked me how many tender tickets we would need. If you don't get the call, just call the shore desk or go down...they've got it covered.

 

There will be 4 of us sharing one...$50/person to have A/C - a place out of the sun - and someone to bring me drinks and food. Sign me up!

[CrusinAgain]

Where does the idea come from?...Hmmm ME. We were in one in late November. There was drink service all day and they took our food order and brought it to us. Unless I'm speaking a different language, that's food and beverage service.

 

Baffling.....I wonder why some are saying no service and reminding others it only includes first drink? Perhaps it was changed since they went?

[Cruise Junky]

Baffling.....I wonder why some are saying no service and reminding others it only includes first drink? Perhaps it was changed since they went?

 

I can't see that it would be changed in a month, the things only just opened up. Are you sure you're not confusing Cabanas with Bungalows? where are the posts that say you don't get food or drink service? I haven't seen them.