Cabana Prices Have Increased Again

[ctnurse]

We booked Serenity Bay #25 for our upcoming Fantasy cruise (just a couple hours ago) and the total was $428.93.

You must be on our cruise, I saw that open up yesterday, but since we are traveling with our 2 children we didn't book it.

 

[njdeviljulie]

I just can't understand why anyone would pay that? I've been to cc twice and sure, they look nice... but just don't see the need. I have 3 kids and wouldn't want us all in there.. that's why we're on vacay!! Lol
I wonder is it just the feeling of being one of the few to have snagged one and paying a crazy high price for a few hours?? Seems insane to me!! JMHO!!!

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

I don't think they TELL you of any price increase. It just happens and shows up on your onboard account.

Now, the last time they had a price increase, those people who had passed their PIF date and had cabanas booked when the increase was implemented were only charged what the price was on the day they made their reservation. But anyone who booked one after the price increase paid the higher price.

Not saying that this will happen this time, but it did in the past.

Hope that is the case this time. Still waiting to hear back from shoreside.

I just can't understand why anyone would pay that? I've been to cc twice and sure, they look nice... but just don't see the need. I have 3 kids and wouldn't want us all in there.. that's why we're on vacay!! Lol
I wonder is it just the feeling of being one of the few to have snagged one and paying a crazy high price for a few hours?? Seems insane to me!! JMHO!!!

I'm from Fl and grew up near the beach. After 5 skin cancer surgeries I can't and won't stay out in the sun for very long and we enjoy having some privacy as well. Nice to have a fridge for cold water and comfortable seating. We budget (as I'm sure others do as well) for a well deserved little luxury once a year.

 

[cwdefouw]

Well I hope the prices don't go up anymore before my 120 day mark. It's outrageously expensive but I still will get one for my November 2015 cruise.

This is exactly why they WILL continue to raise prices, because people will still PAY the price.

If you were running a business with a commodity that was continually sold out and always had a long waiting list, wouldn't you raise the price, as the commodity is obviously in very high demand? You would also do what you could to secure more of the commodity to sell, as Disney has done with the construction of additional cabanas, but the demand on this will always outstrip the supply until they reach the breaking point, where the customers will balk on the price, and I am pretty sure they are still far from that point.

The study of the breaking or balking point is something that Disney is very familiar with in dealing with everything from ride queues, restaurant wait times, hotel prices, ticket prices, etc. They know what they are doing and they will continue to raise prices as far as they can to maximize profit.

I am actually surprised that they have not raised the cabana prices more frequently and in bigger jumps, but there is undoubtedly some analytical statistics that guides them on the frequency and amount that will be accepted more readily by the customer.

 

[shelbell77]

I just can't understand why anyone would pay that? I've been to cc twice and sure, they look nice... but just don't see the need. I have 3 kids and wouldn't want us all in there.. that's why we're on vacay!! Lol
I wonder is it just the feeling of being one of the few to have snagged one and paying a crazy high price for a few hours?? Seems insane to me!! JMHO!!!

Its a matter of personal preference. We've had a cabana 3 times now, and wouldn't do Castaway Cay without it. It makes for a much more relaxing experience. I don't mind people who don't want to pay, as that means more likely I'll get the Cabana!

We regularly have 9 or 10 people in a cabana on the family beach, there is more than enough room for a family of 5, they are quite large.

We like the private beach - plenty of open space and much quieter and less crazy than the rest of the beach. The water isn't crawling with people so you can relax nicely.

Concierge takes great care of you, stocking plenty of towels in the cabana (and they'll bring more) plus a fridge with drinks and snacks. We like to take our food from Cookies Too back to the cabana to eat lunch - no fighting for table space by the buffet. Eating is generally the only time all of us are in there at once, and still enough seating that we can all sit and eat as a group.

The cabana includes floats, snorkel gear, and bike riding and our group loves using all three so that helps the price make more sense.

 

[ktb2002]

I just can't understand why anyone would pay that? I've been to cc twice and sure, they look nice... but just don't see the need. I have 3 kids and wouldn't want us all in there.. that's why we're on vacay!! Lol I wonder is it just the feeling of being one of the few to have snagged one and paying a crazy high price for a few hours?? Seems insane to me!! JMHO!!!

If it were just my son and I, there is no way I would get one. We are traveling with 2 other small families and splitting the cost 3 ways.

 

[Dug720]

Just a note regarding "privacy" and the SB cabanas...

Sound travels.

 

[Zandy595]

Too rich for my blood. I had booked one at SB for DD and I next month, when it was weirdly labeled and without a price. Assuming it would be $299, I felt lucky to have gotten it about 45 days out. A splurge, but I was rationalizing it.

Now the price is over $400. And, having sailed several January's before, I know that weather is hit or miss. And usually worse out at SB vs the FB. If it's a chilly, windy January, I'm spending $400+ to shelter in the cabana.

If it was summer, I'd keep it. But not worth the risk in January. I'd be pretty mad at myself if we didn't stay out there most of the day.

$299? I thought they were $399 and had been for a while.

 

[SnowWhite2]

DCL would not have a price like $590.18 if it was up to them to price it. My guess is that the cabana is still $549 but there is now a 7.5% tax added to it. What kind of tax or what it is for, don't have any idea.

Our cabana for Jan 3rd is also listed as $590.18 and we booked this in Sept.

 

[ilovebassets]

I just can't understand why anyone would pay that? I've been to cc twice and sure, they look nice... but just don't see the need. I have 3 kids and wouldn't want us all in there.. that's why we're on vacay!! Lol
I wonder is it just the feeling of being one of the few to have snagged one and paying a crazy high price for a few hours?? Seems insane to me!! JMHO!!!

I completely agree with you.

On our first Disney cruise, the weather was so bad we didn't even dock at Castaway.

On our recent November cruise, the weather was pretty bad again though we did dock. Not that warm, very overcast, and extremely windy. I believe almost all excursions were canceled. I would not have wanted to shell out so much money to enjoy THAT beach day for sure.

My point is we are definitely 0/2 for weather at Castaway. I'm not committing that much money to a cabana without a guarantee from the heavens that the weather is going to be sunny and warm!

 

[VbChristy]

What happens if the weather is bad? Can you get out of the cabana mid-cruise? Obviously if they don't dock you don't get charged but what about otherwise?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What happens if the weather is bad? Can you get out of the cabana mid-cruise? Obviously if they don't dock you don't get charged but what about otherwise?

If the weather is so bad that they can't dock, then you won't be charged for the cabana. If the ship docks, you will be charged for the cabana, regardless of how much or how little you use it (if at all).

If you cancel your cabana while onboard, before getting to Castaway Cay, and DCL can resell it (could be a problem if it's bad weather), you won't be charged. If they can't resell it, you will be charged.

Any excursions/cabanas can be cancelled up to 3 days before embarkation day and you will not be charged.

 

[VbChristy]

If the weather is so bad that they can't dock, then you won't be charged for the cabana. If the ship docks, you will be charged for the cabana, regardless of how much or how little you use it (if at all). If you cancel your cabana while onboard, before getting to Castaway Cay, and DCL can resell it (could be a problem if it's bad weather), you won't be charged. If they can't resell it, you will be charged. Any excursions/cabanas can be cancelled up to 3 days before embarkation day and you will not be charged.

Thanks.

 

[kindman]

If anyone booked a Cabana before the price increase but not sailing until after the increase, apparently Disney isn't certain what price they are going to charge you. I emailed shoreside concierge and asked and response was they are still waiting for guidance on what it will be.

 

[disney1990]

They were out of my reach before the increase.

 

[Bree]

Found the reason for the price increase. The Bahamian government has instituted a 7.5% VAT tax as of 01/01/2015 for purchases made ashore. This includes Castaway Cay.

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/201...-5-value-added-tax-vat-begins-january-1-2015/

 

[scrapshappen]

Found the reason for the price increase. The Bahamian government has instituted a 7.5% VAT tax as of 01/01/2015 for purchases made ashore. This includes Castaway Cay.

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/201...-5-value-added-tax-vat-begins-january-1-2015/

That is exactly what I was going to say. I read about the tax yesterday. The base price is still $549, but when you add that 7.5% tax to it, it comes exactly to $590.18. And I'm guessing since it's a tax levied by a government and not a Disney price increase, that everyone will have to start paying that price starting on January 1.

 

[cmash95]

just a heads up that vat tax is on everything you purchase including drinks and excusions, so everything on the island will increase in price