Castaway Cay Private Cabanas

[kyla]

So I noticed that the Disney Cruise Line description of the cabana services talks about the "option of a cabana host". So does this mean you can get a cabana without the host? Because it sounded like with everyone that has been getting a cabana that it comes with the host. So I'm confused.

 

[AverysMommy]

are these cabins still only available for Concierge guests?

 

[outahere]

are these cabins still only available for Concierge guests?

There are available to anyone however, I believe, Concierge guests are currently the only guests able to reserve them prior to boarding the ship.

 

[princssdisnygina]

So I noticed that the Disney Cruise Line description of the cabana services talks about the "option of a cabana host". So does this mean you can get a cabana without the host? Because it sounded like with everyone that has been getting a cabana that it comes with the host. So I'm confused.

I am guessing this means you have the option of using them. They escort you to the cabana, tell you a little about it and then "ringing" them is up to you. They do automatically come with the cabana though.

 

[mousebrat]

Yes, they will leave you alone unless you page them. We had housekeeping come by twice but our concierge only came when called.

 

[ppiew]

Curious, what do you ask the host for anyway? I mean you are practically next to Cookies Too so eating isn't a problem. Is it just more soda, towels, etc.? Do they drive u back to the tram? How far is that? Or do they bring u back to the ship? Not quite sure WHAT services they would be used for.

 

[inkkognito]

I was wondering that too. When we had a cabana at a water park, the hostess took our food order and brought the food to us so we didn't have to go buy lunch at the food stands. It sounds like food service is not included at Castaway, which is understandable since they wouldn't really know what you'd want from the buffet.

 

[princssdisnygina]

Curious, what do you ask the host for anyway? I mean you are practically next to Cookies Too so eating isn't a problem. Is it just more soda, towels, etc.? Do they drive u back to the tram? How far is that? Or do they bring u back to the ship? Not quite sure WHAT services they would be used for.

ANYTHING! They will take you back to the tram or if you are on the family beach they will take you to the shops... whatever you need. My sister wanted a Konk Kooler and he went and got her one. He will bring more snacks, drinks, towels, take you to the bathroom... whatever you need.
I am sure... if you told them what you wanted from the buffet they would bring it to you. But they will take you to the buffet and then take you back. It's crazy cause they are always there and know when you are done but you never see them!

 

[KingRichard]

ANYTHING! They will take you back to the tram or if you are on the family beach they will take you to the shops... whatever you need. My sister wanted a Konk Kooler and he went and got her one. He will bring more snacks, drinks, towels, take you to the bathroom... whatever you need.
I am sure... if you told them what you wanted from the buffet they would bring it to you. But they will take you to the buffet and then take you back. It's crazy cause they are always there and know when you are done but you never see them!

Time to look for the hiding cameras before something crazy gets posted someplace!

 

[ashman]

Okay I've read a few pages of this thread but didn't see this, how much to rent one? When can you book them?

 

[outahere]

Okay I've read a few pages of this thread but didn't see this, how much to rent one? When can you book them?

The cost is $499 for the ones on the family beach, for up to 6 people. You can add up to 2 more people for $50 each. The ones on the adult beach (Serenity Bay) are $399 - not sure how many people that includes in those.

Currently only Concierge guests can reserve prior to boarding, others can book them at the excursion desk on board.

 

[princssdisnygina]

Serenity Bay is $390 and also is up to 6 people, but you don't get the roped off beach area you get on the family beach.

 

[Brandis]

Are the cabanas airconditioned? Seems not very energy efficient with the big open front and the side windows.

I know the Cabanas on HAL's private island are and I thought it was crazy.

 

[mousebrat]

They weren't airconditioned that we were aware of. They did have a ceiling fan but we didn't use it.

Oh how I wish I could be back there right now...

 

[justmestace]

REALLY? You don't pay for something that is already free. You pay for the privacy and for the service of a concierge. If you feel like it is something you already get then good thing you don't have to get a cabana should you not want to. However, I LIKE having a private area where the rest of the passengers are not around. I LIKE having everything available to me at my beckon call. I LIKE to be spoiled while on vacation. And I don't believe, if you read again... that people wanted the food brought to them because they didn't want to stand in line, they wanted it brought to them to assure a place to sit for 7 people. (However, the max number in the cabanas is 6). This is just an added luxury Disney has offered and there is no false advertising here. Maybe you should look at the pictures I posted and let me know if you find that somewhere on Castaway Cay? Or where I can get FREE alcohol? Or where I can get FREE canned sodas? Yes, I can get free drinks at the BBQ but that is the only time. Maybe you can show me where I can get FREE tanning lotion, or have an area with loungers, a private shower and FREE rafts and tubes? And personally... spending $390-$500 on a cabana isn't going to prevent me from taking a vacation in the future, I take extra cash to spend for reasons just like this. Good thing you retired young and you have all that money! I, on the other hand, am not retired and still get to vacation once or twice a year. You enjoy the beach with all the kids and I will enjoy the privacy of my cabana and my beach area. Can't take the money with me, so I am going to enjoy it while I have it. No complaints here. If you don't like it, ignore it. Don't be ridiculous.Thanks!

None of what you mentioned are FREE. Even the food in the dining rooms on the ship or at Pluto's or wherever, is not FREE.

What that's called is INCLUDED. Included in the cost. You PAID $500 for all the soda you could drink from 10:00-4:00, a bottle of tanning lotion and the rafts and loungers, and alcohol.
So that's more than $75 an hour for that stuff. Not free.



The dumbest thing I ever did was to buy a "soda card" onboard a ship one time. Much later, I realized that I would have had to drink, in one week's time, approximately 4 cases of soda to break even money-wise. NOT a good deal.

 

[princssdisnygina]

None of what you mentioned are FREE. Even the food in the dining rooms on the ship or at Pluto's or wherever, is not FREE.

What that's called is INCLUDED. Included in the cost. You PAID $500 for all the soda you could drink from 10:00-4:00, a bottle of tanning lotion and the rafts and loungers, and alcohol.
So that's more than $75 an hour for that stuff. Not free.



The dumbest thing I ever did was to buy a "soda card" onboard a ship one time. Much later, I realized that I would have had to drink, in one week's time, approximately 4 cases of soda to break even money-wise. NOT a good deal.

Excuse me... included. If you have a problem with how much things cost on Disney then why don't you try another ship... say.... Carnival? I on the other hand, along with many others, pay for the quality I receive, and do not look at what I eat or drink... just because they are included does not make or break why I take a Disney cruise. So to me, not having to pay "extra" for them... makes them free. I have taken Disney Cruises when they were not "included" as you would say.

As far as the cabana goes... I don't pay $400 for a cabana for drinks and tanning lotion. I pay for the privacy of a private area... for the convenience of having someone there to wait on us if we need something, and for the luxury of being pampered. It just so happens all of those things that as you would say are "included" are just perks! If you don't care about having these things then why be so worried about it? Some would ask... why even take a cruise? You can do all of those things in your own hotel room or condo for half the cost? So... I ask you... why do you take Disney? It is one of the highest priced cruises on the water and yet you pay it. There are other cruises that are significantly cheaper... Carnival, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean? If you too don't like quality... or want to pay for it, why take a Disney Cruise? I am just willing to pay the extra for a little more luxury and being spoiled. I have the money and am willing to spend it. No one says you have to or is even asking you to. If you buy rafts, bicycles and scuba gear for 4 people alone it is $132.00. Two bottles of tanning lotion is approximately $12.00. Snacks and drinks including alcohol would be about $50.00 or more so for those items alone it would have cost approximately $200. Add in the concierge, the private cabana which included loungers, a changing area, plush towels, chairs, refrigerator, a shower, and many other things, the price would be crazy. So... to us it was well worth it and we like being pampered. So, if you want to disagree that is fine. Not everyone will do this and that is fine. You are entitled to your opinion but leave those of us alone who actually enjoy this and are willing to do this. It isn't affecting you. Please show a little respect.

Just because things are included doesn't mean they aren't appreciated, you make them sound like I should expect those things because I paid the price. I pay for the quality of Disney and we love everything Disney. I have been on several other cruise lines and Disney is my favorite. I don't mind paying almost double the cost because to me, things are so much better on DCL. Disney's prices haven't changed since they started "including" the soft drinks. At one point soft drinks were only "free" at dinner, any other time you have to buy a refillable mug (only $24.95) or buy them individually. So to me... those have become free. You call it what you want...
Oh.. and canned sodas... never free on DCL.

 

[PizzieDuster]

Excuse me... included. If you have a problem with how much things cost on Disney then why don't you try another ship... say.... Carnival?

If you want respect, please show respect. And not get this thread closed for those of us who want to hear all about cabanas.

Let's keep this thread open please. I love to see pictures !

 

[biohaz_man]

Excuse me... included. If you have a problem with how much things cost on Disney then why don't you try another ship... say.... Carnival? I on the other hand, along with many others, pay for the quality I receive, and do not look at what I eat or drink... just because they are included does not make or break why I take a Disney cruise. So to me, not having to pay "extra" for them... makes them free. I have taken Disney Cruises when they were not "included" as you would say.

As far as the cabana goes... I don't pay $400 for a cabana for drinks and tanning lotion. I pay for the privacy of a private area... for the convenience of having someone there to wait on us if we need something, and for the luxury of being pampered. It just so happens all of those things that as you would say are "included" are just perks! If you don't care about having these things then why be so worried about it? Some would ask... why even take a cruise? You can do all of those things in your own hotel room or condo for half the cost? So... I ask you... why do you take Disney? It is one of the highest priced cruises on the water and yet you pay it. There are other cruises that are significantly cheaper... Carnival, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean? If you too don't like quality... or want to pay for it, why take a Disney Cruise? I am just willing to pay the extra for a little more luxury and being spoiled. I have the money and am willing to spend it. No one says you have to or is even asking you to. If you buy rafts, bicycles and scuba gear for 4 people alone it is $132.00. Two bottles of tanning lotion is approximately $12.00. Snacks and drinks including alcohol would be about $50.00 or more so for those items alone it would have cost approximately $200. Add in the concierge, the private cabana which included loungers, a changing area, plush towels, chairs, refrigerator, a shower, and many other things, the price would be crazy. So... to us it was well worth it and we like being pampered. So, if you want to disagree that is fine. Not everyone will do this and that is fine. You are entitled to your opinion but leave those of us alone who actually enjoy this and are willing to do this. It isn't affecting you. Please show a little respect.

Just because things are included doesn't mean they aren't appreciated, you make them sound like I should expect those things because I paid the price. I pay for the quality of Disney and we love everything Disney. I have been on several other cruise lines and Disney is my favorite. I don't mind paying almost double the cost because to me, things are so much better on DCL. Disney's prices haven't changed since they started "including" the soft drinks. At one point soft drinks were only "free" at dinner, any other time you have to buy a refillable mug (only $24.95) or buy them individually. So to me... those have become free. You call it what you want...
Oh.. and canned sodas... never free on DCL.

The only part I disagree with you on is the last part about canned sodas... DCL's service is so great that, on the last cruise, when DW said she could only drink Coke Zero because she can't have sugar they had a can of Coke Zero at dinner for her every night thereafter for no additional charge...

Just goes to show that DCL does provide good service.

 

[justmestace]

Nm

 

[Scotty69]

If you want respect, please show respect. And not get this thread closed for those of us who want to hear all about cabanas.

Let's keep this thread open please. I love to see pictures !

I agree. Let's not get this thread closed down. My wife wants to get a cabana when we sail in October 2011 for my mother and her father. Her father has Parkisons Disease and my mother has bad legs. We were wondering how her father was going to do on the island. Both of them will have scooter for on the boat, but we can't bring them to the beach. We want them to be able to enjoy the day like everyone else.

I agree that the price is a lot but my wife says her peace of mind is worth that much. The memories we will get from this trip will be priceless.