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This cabana thing???


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Hi All,Thankyou for all your previous answers to my sometimes petty questions, I truly think the HAL board is one of the best on these forums for helpfulness and response,so keep it comin',its much appreciated!!

 

Todays questions are -1/ Are the cabanas on board worth renting,on a value for money basis?

2/Are the retreat cabanas much better than the lido ones,on Eurodam?

3/And if anyone has partaken on these,which one did they choose or was it selcted for them,or did they have problems getting one availability wise?

 

Thanks :)

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2/Are the retreat cabanas much better than the lido ones,on Eurodam?
Yes. Granted, I've never used an onboard cabana, but my observations from sailing on the E'dam. They will have fresh air as the ones in the Lido could very well have the dome over the pool closed (or may be open just a foot or so). If one does decide to sit in the sun, you are competing for a lounger with everyone else by the pool. Also, the ones at the Lido pool have a 'fish bowl' feel to them as the main traffic flow is RIGHT past the cabanas. It is human nature to look in them.

 

The retreat cabanas are up a deck from the pool, not as convenient for those who actually want to swim. They are larger and IMHO the furnishings looked MUCH more comfortable. It would also be much quieter there as pool noise wouldn't be trapped under the dome. The retreat cabanas are in a U shape around the loungers reserved for those cabanas. It would be very easy to pop out and get some sun whenever one wishes..

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Tilly, since you are on Eurodam's Eastern Caribbean itinerary, you should know there are two different "cabana things".

 

One is the ship's own cabanas, which you've queried about here.

 

The other is cabanas on Holland America's private island, Half Moon Cay. HMC is beautiful, but I find it much more pleasant with a cabana, plus a butler. You sign up this for online, as a shore excursion. Cost is $299 for the cabana, $270 for the butler service. This entitles 4 people to use the cabana. This is for one day only, a total of perhaps 5 - 6 hours.

 

They may, or may not, be available yet for booking on your sailing. They tend to book up very quickly, so I'd check every day if you're interested in getting one. The difference between the different colours is location on the beach, with taupe being closest to the tender area, and violet (I think) being the furthest away. (Furthest out will give more privacy, fewer on the beach, but longer walks to restrooms.) Here are a few threads to read about them:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1011129

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=898586

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=983480

 

When I booked my first one, I thought I was mad to spend this kind of money for a few hours. This year, I'm doing it again.

 

Just wanted you to know there will be two completely different cabanas on your sailing, and not to book one, thinking you were booking the other.

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The retreat cabanas are up a deck from the pool, not as convenient for those who actually want to swim.
They are two decks up from the pool.
Why do people get cabanas? I never understood that. What's up?
Some people want a reserved lounger space, and they offer some refreshments and amenities. We don't stay in one place more than an hour or so, and so they are not worth the money to us.
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Also the "lounger" in the Lido Cabanas looks like a big round bed that can not be moved anywhere -- and they can not be separated.

Whereas the Cabanas two decks up have more a recliner type chair -- some have 2 recliners which can be moved around -- aomw have a solid recliner for 2 people -- this one piece is still able to be moved around.

Also we noticed that there was a lot more air flow on the Retreat ones. In the Retreat area ones, there is a section where there are other tables and chairs for use by the cabana people only.

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Also the "lounger" in the Lido Cabanas looks like a big round bed that can not be moved anywhere -- and they can not be separated.

Whereas the Cabanas two decks up have more a recliner type chair -- some have 2 recliners which can be moved around -- aomw have a solid recliner for 2 people -- this one piece is still able to be moved around.

Also we noticed that there was a lot more air flow on the Retreat ones. In the Retreat area ones, there is a section where there are other tables and chairs for use by the cabana people only.

I agree with Krazy Kruiser. BW and I and another couple rented a retreat cabana on our Januray cruise and found it to be very worth while, as we also avoided the early rush to get chairs and etc. There are 1 or 2 attendants there all day and the amenities are very nice. A cabana will be assigned to you when you get there, not before. Extra chairs and tables in the sun are available and the area is quieter and airier. Showers and bathroom facilities are right there. You are also very close to the Crows nest and Explorations cafe if needed.

Enjoy your cruise and the retreat.

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Thanks for your replies,can you tell me what furniture is in the cabanas? ie chairs number etc,as there are three of us and I didnt really want to purchase a family cabana for 4 if i could help it.

 

Also how many fit into the cabanas a HMC/?

 

tHANKS

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Thanks for your replies,can you tell me what furniture is in the cabanas? ie chairs number etc,as there are three of us and I didnt really want to purchase a family cabana for 4 if i could help it.

 

Also how many fit into the cabanas a HMC/?

 

tHANKS

See http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=19300167#post19300167 for pics of the Lido cabanas and more of the Retreat cabanas.

 

See http://agent.aaamidatlantic.com/what...0%20071808.pdf for the rates, amenities, maps, and one pic of the Family Retreat cabana. I think the non-family Retreat cabanas only have room for two, but there are other tables and chairs just outside the tents for extra people.

 

 

The $299 fee for the HMC cabanas covers up to 4 people, but I believe there's only two loungers in each. (We've never had one.)

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Yes, there are only two loungers on the deck area of the HMC cabanas. The table inside has chairs for four. The water equipment (fins, floats... ) will be supplied for 4 at the basic rate.

 

The Lida cabanas would be cozy for 3. Two would have to be on the oval lounger (aka teen make-out area) and one in a chair. Not too comfy IMHO.

 

Greg took a lot of pictures when we sailed on the E'dam's Inaugural. I can't link directly to them, but if you go to his Eurodam Tour 1, there are nice pictures of the Retreat Cabana area. In the picture captioned 'A view forward from the Silk Den, the Magradome has been retracted' the Retreat Cabanas are just on the other side of the retraced dome and the Lido cabanas are tucked under the walkway on the left side of the pool area. Tour 9 has shots of the Lido cabanas and some nighttime pictures of the Retreat.

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Could someone in the know explain the pricing for the "on board" cabanas?

 

I know that the Lido deck Cabanas are around $200.00 for an entire 7 day cruise. How much are they "by the day" if booked onboard? Also what is the "cruise length" cost of the "retreat" cabanas and are they only availbale ahead of time through Ship's Sevices or are they also available "by te day" onboard?

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If I can throw in another question--how hard is it to get a one-day-only Eurodam cabana (either in the retreat or by the pool) on a Caribbean 7-day cruise? I know they can be reserved beforehand by the week. Does anyone have experience trying to get one and finding that they have all been reserved ahead of time by the week?

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I agree with Krazy Kruiser. BW and I and another couple rented a retreat cabana on our Januray cruise and found it to be very worth while, as we also avoided the early rush to get chairs and etc. There are 1 or 2 attendants there all day and the amenities are very nice. A cabana will be assigned to you when you get there, not before. Extra chairs and tables in the sun are available and the area is quieter and airier. Showers and bathroom facilities are right there. You are also very close to the Crows nest and Explorations cafe if needed.

Enjoy your cruise and the retreat.

 

Thanks for your reply,Did you book a family cabana for 4 of you or did you just get a normal cabana? There are 3 of us,and I dont want to book a family cabana for a week,but HAL are saying the normal cabanas only fit 2 adults and 2 kids up to 18! My mother is half the size of an 18yr old, and I think thats a bit much,us having to rent a 4 berth cabana and a family getting in a normal cabana,anyone with 3 people had this problem?? Thanks

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Could someone in the know explain the pricing for the "on board" cabanas?

 

I know that the Lido deck Cabanas are around $200.00 for an entire 7 day cruise. How much are they "by the day" if booked onboard? Also what is the "cruise length" cost of the "retreat" cabanas and are they only availbale ahead of time through Ship's Sevices or are they also available "by te day" onboard?

Click on the aaamidatlantic link I put in post #10. I think that will answer your rate questions ... if they haven't gone up since 5/08. Yes, you can book by-the-day onboard if there are any that haven't been booked for the entire cruise.
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Yes,it is I,but we just wondered if we might like a change of scenery and a bit more going on around us,I know the veranda would be nice but we also wondered about whether or not there would be any shade on our veranda,as we don't like too much sun.We don't like to be too anti social!!

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... but we also wondered about whether or not there would be any shade on our veranda,as we don't like too much sun.
That will vary with the direction the ship is pointed ... as will the sun or shade in the cabanas. :)
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Thanks for your reply,Did you book a family cabana for 4 of you or did you just get a normal cabana? There are 3 of us,and I dont want to book a family cabana for a week,but HAL are saying the normal cabanas only fit 2 adults and 2 kids up to 18! My mother is half the size of an 18yr old, and I think thats a bit much,us having to rent a 4 berth cabana and a family getting in a normal cabana,anyone with 3 people had this problem?? Thanks

We booked only a cabana for two. There is enough room to put in 2 chairs besides the 2 chaises, a little tight but OK. There are plenty of extra chairs and chaises oustside the cabanas to sun and etc. The attendants had no problem with the four of us, not there always at the same time. That being said we take care of the during the week.

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We had the retreat one for 2 persons, Our 17 year old (6ft & broad shoulders) was with us a lot in the retreat cabana also and it was fine.(one of the 3 of us would just sit in a chair and put our feet up on the end of one of the 2 loungers,which was also comfortable,( it didnt feel cramped at all) other times we sat out in the sun in the reserved area of the retreat which was very peacefull and relaxing. If I went back on a cruise in a warm climate on this vessel I would certainly book one again for the entire week.

 

After a day out in G Turk , St Thomas & Half Moon Cay we would go up there and watch sail away and relax and get pampered a bit for a couple of hours which was really nice. San Juan we stayed on our balcony since departure was later at 2200 hrs. just google retreat cabanas as images, and you should get a good idea of how the lay out is. We had one on the side which overlooked the ocean which was also kinda of better than the ones over looking the pool area, (I think anyways)

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hi,

 

Our was called Malaga, beside us was Rhodes these were on the port side of the ship, on the other stbd side there were Santorini & Marbella. there a a couple of other ones also, all these have a side view overlooking the ocean and ports.

 

they were pretty all booked for the whole cruise,(same people all week) so the possibility of having one just for a day might be a hard find.

 

Truthfully it was a highlight of our cruise, we dont enjoy crowds too much, or seaching for a lounger. here we had the best of both, shade in the cabana, and sun out in the middle open area of the retreat. if if was a tad windy you were well protected in the cabana from it.

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Note: there is a large glass window over looking the water from inside the cabana. so you are not getting wind coming in, but there is a free open space between the cabana and the pane of glass so it isnt stuffy either.

(nice fresh air still comes in but you are protected all the same)

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