Cabanas - castaway

[Disneyfan628]

we are about to take our first non-concierge cruise since about 2011. On that cruise we actually managed to get a cabana at serenity beach. I know this is supposed to be adults only but they told us we should go get our two year old and let him enjoy it. So nice and I would never expect it.

We’ve always had a cabana at castaway when sailing concierge but it has been booked so I can’t upgrade our cabin. We are gold and as expected could not book a cabana when our date came up. I always tell people to keep checking for all activities. Cabanas are probably the exception to that. Has anyone had personal experience with one just popping up? We will be just fine without it but curious if anyone has gotten that lucky?

 

[Dug720]

You can always keep checking...

BUT I would not count on getting to bring your kid to a Serenity Bay cabana again - so unless you're willing to leave them you're stuck with the family beach ones. You got VERY lucky - and DCL got very lucky they didn't have other adult only parties complaining.

 

[Disneyfan628]

You can always keep checking...

BUT I would not count on getting to bring your kid to a Serenity Bay cabana again - so unless you're willing to leave them you're stuck with the family beach ones. You got VERY lucky - and DCL got very lucky they didn't have other adult only parties complaining.

We’ve experienced family cabanas many times and know the rules of the adult beach and cabanas. I mentioned that we were able to book the serenity bay cabana because we were not concierge on that cruise and thought someone might appreciate knowing it happened. This was over a decade ago and everyone survived. I just mentioned it as it was our experience. Not looking to book a serenity bay cabana this year. If someone had complained about our son we didn’t do anything wrong so we just would have handled it. Leaving or whatever. He was invited enthusiastically by the hosts so it’s really them who are lucky no one complained. I know it’s an adult beach which is why when we had it booked 12 years ago we didn’t bring our kid to start with…..

I’m really just wondering if anyone has had luck with checking and getting a family cabana while not sailing concierge. Has someone had luck with it popping up. I also know that doesn’t mean It will for me and I’m aware I can keep checking. Thank you.

 

[pearljammer]

We’ve experienced family cabanas many times and know the rules of the adult beach and cabanas. I mentioned that we were able to book the serenity bay cabana because we were not concierge on that cruise and thought someone might appreciate knowing it happened. This was over a decade ago and everyone survived. I just mentioned it as it was our experience. Not looking to book a serenity bay cabana this year. If someone had complained about our son we didn’t do anything wrong so we just would have handled it. Leaving or whatever. He was invited enthusiastically by the hosts so it’s really them who are lucky no one complained. I know it’s an adult beach which is why when we had it booked 12 years ago we didn’t bring our kid to start with…..

I’m really just wondering if anyone has had luck with checking and getting a family cabana while not sailing concierge. Has someone had luck with it popping up. I also know that doesn’t mean It will for me and I’m aware I can keep checking. Thank you.

Well said.

i too am was curious about this same question. Also, if one does pop up (on the off chance) will it appear in alphabetical order with other “port adventures” or will It appear at the end as all those booked are at the very end of the list of options. I’m currently looking both in active area and all the way at the end JUST in case it’s there. I’ve never seen one open so perhaps if one does pop up, it will be in alpha order as the others are. Anyone able to confirm?

 

[Disneyfan628]

Well said.

i too am was curious about this same question. Also, if one does pop up (on the off chance) will it appear in alphabetical order with other “port adventures” or will It appear at the end as all those booked are at the very end of the list of options. I’m currently looking both in active area and all the way at the end JUST in case it’s there. I’ve never seen one open so perhaps if one does pop up, it will be in alpha order as the others are. Anyone able to confirm?

I’m just scrolling all the way through. Realistically I would think it would be alphabetical though. If I ever get so lucky as to find out for sure I’ll share the information!

 

[dcassetta]

With the classic ships adding more concierge staterooms, and the Wish already having too many for the number of available cabanas, I think the chances of getting a cabana are very unlikely.

That being said if one opens it will be in alphabetical order with other available port adventures.

 

[Disneyfan628]

With the classic ships adding more concierge staterooms, and the Wish already having too many for the number of available cabanas, I think the chances of getting a cabana are very unlikely.

That being said if one opens it will be in alphabetical order with other available port adventures.

Expecting this! If something does pop up I’ll share though!

 

[pearljammer]

we are about to take our first non-concierge cruise since about 2011. On that cruise we actually managed to get a cabana at serenity beach. I know this is supposed to be adults only but they told us we should go get our two year old and let him enjoy it. So nice and I would never expect it.

We’ve always had a cabana at castaway when sailing concierge but it has been booked so I can’t upgrade our cabin. We are gold and as expected could not book a cabana when our date came up. I always tell people to keep checking for all activities. Cabanas are probably the exception to that. Has anyone had personal experience with one just popping up? We will be just fine without it but curious if anyone has gotten that lucky?

I’m a bit in shock but wanted to come on here and let you know. Please do keep checking availability. I just looked about 10 minutes ago and there was one open so I was able to snag it. I‘ll admit I’m absolutely delighted!! This will be our first. So don’t give up. Wish it to happen. *wink* Best of luck to you!!

 

[ajluze]

I’m a bit in shock but wanted to come on here and let you know. Please do keep checking availability. I just looked about 10 minutes ago and there was one open so I was able to snag it. I‘ll admit I’m absolutely delighted!! This will be our first. So don’t give up. Wish it to happen. *wink* Best of luck to you!!

When are you sailing?

 

[Disneyfan628]

I’m a bit in shock but wanted to come on here and let you know. Please do keep checking availability. I just looked about 10 minutes ago and there was one open so I was able to snag it. I‘ll admit I’m absolutely delighted!! This will be our first. So don’t give up. Wish it to happen. *wink* Best of luck to you!!

Well that’s wonderful!!! I will keep checking! This is the one thing I never believe will actually pop up! How far out are you? We are a little over 2 months out at this point. Enjoy!!! You’re just going to love it!

 

[pearljammer]

When are you sailing?

Late summer

 

[bigAWL]

I’m a bit in shock but wanted to come on here and let you know. Please do keep checking availability. I just looked about 10 minutes ago and there was one open so I was able to snag it. I‘ll admit I’m absolutely delighted!! This will be our first. So don’t give up. Wish it to happen. *wink* Best of luck to you!!

Very interesting (and so cool for you!). As a non-concierge cruiser, I've been following the cabana situation for some time, trying to figure out how they work the waitlist. I've heard all sorts of theories and "the CM told me this" stories. Some in the past have reported seeing them pop up online as available before the cruise. Some say they only offer to other concierge if someone cancels early. Others are convinced that they always hold all availability until boarding. Maybe the process has gone back and forth, but it's good to know that there's currently a chance to snag one off the website pre-cruise.

 

[pearljammer]

Well that’s wonderful!!! I will keep checking! This is the one thing I never believe will actually pop up! How far out are you? We are a little over 2 months out at this point. Enjoy!!! You’re just going to love it!

We are about 3 months out. Our booking window just opened this past Monday. Again, I’m stunned. I keep checking my plans to make sure it hasn’t disappeared. It hasn’t yet. Now I’m afraid to touch it so I don’t accidentally cancel it. Good luck and thanks for the well wishes!

 

[Marthasor]

If it's the Wish, I think your chances are very low. I sailed concierge on the Wish last October and was waitlisted for a cabana on any beach (we were two adults) and nothing came through. If it's one of the classic ships, keep checking! One popped up for us, but this was years ago. I think ability to get one, non-concierge, has gotten harder over the years.

 

[dcassetta]

Very interesting (and so cool for you!). As a non-concierge cruiser, I've been following the cabana situation for some time, trying to figure out how they work the waitlist. I've heard all sorts of theories and "the CM told me this" stories. Some in the past have reported seeing them pop up online as available before the cruise. Some say they only offer to other concierge if someone cancels early. Others are convinced that they always hold all availability until boarding. Maybe the process has gone back and forth, but it's good to know that there's currently a chance to snag one off the website pre-cruise.

Shoreside has access to all the pre-book port adventures, but especially the cabanas. Cabanas are first allotted to concierge guests who request them when they submit their request email. If there are more requests than cabanas, the concierge team manages that waitlist, and no cabanas are made available to other guests. If they are not all taken, they will then be made available with Pearl getting the first shot as their booking window opens first.

If a guest, concierge or not, cancels a cabana before the cruise, one of two things can happen. If there is a concierge waiting list, the cabana will not become bookable on the DCL site. If there is not a concierge waiting list, it will be available.

The concierge team holds two family beach cabanas back until boarding in case there are concierge guests that did not book one and decide upon boarding that they would like one. It is my understanding that this is challenging on the Wish as there are far more concierges staterooms than cabanas.

Once the concierge team has met their needs after embarkation, any remaining cabanas are released to the onboard waitlist for non-concierge guests.

So, if a non-concierge guest sees a cabana become available for booking before the cruise, that means concierge did not need it.

 

[Disneyfan628]

If it's the Wish, I think your chances are very low. I sailed concierge on the Wish last October and was waitlisted for a cabana on any beach (we were two adults) and nothing came through. If it's one of the classic ships, keep checking! One popped up for us, but this was years ago. I think ability to get one, non-concierge, has gotten harder over the years.

Think so too! It’s the wish and our sailing appears to be on its way to fully booked. I’ll keep checking but definitely thinking chances are slim

 

[DSLRuser]

You can always keep checking...

BUT I would not count on getting to bring your kid to a Serenity Bay cabana again - so unless you're willing to leave them you're stuck with the family beach ones. You got VERY lucky - and DCL got very lucky they didn't have other adult only parties complaining.

I would have no problem with a two year old. Now and eight year old splashing and playing in the water would be too much

 

[Dug720]

I would have no problem with a two year old. Now and eight year old splashing and playing in the water would be too much

IMHO there is already enough squickyness around the Adult Only areas (at least on Dream Class and to a degree Classics - I haven't been on the Wish yet) that no, I would have a problem with it. DCL advertises Serenity Bay as ADULT ONLY and it should remain that way. Even for the cabanas.

(And yes, I will register a complaint if I'm ever there and there is anyone under 18 in those cabanas.)

 

[Disneyfan628]

Can we not have a conversation about a host inviting my two year old to a cabana 12 years ago please? I agree serenity bay is an adult only area! I don’t think anything like this happens regularly. My sincere apologies for having the audacity to take the host up on the offer. My son is 14 now and everyone involved in the crime has moved on.

 

[Disneyfan628]

IMHO there is already enough squickyness around the Adult Only areas (at least on Dream Class and to a degree Classics - I haven't been on the Wish yet) that no, I would have a problem with it. DCL advertises Serenity Bay as ADULT ONLY and it should remain that way. Even for the cabanas.

(And yes, I will register a complaint if I'm ever there and there is anyone under 18 in those cabanas.)

Can you please start your own thread about babies being invited by hosts to serenity bay?