Castaway cay massage..worth it?

[MrsB919]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if the couples massage at castaway cay is worth the money. Dh and I already have booked a couples massage on board on our first at sea day. We had this one before and loved it. I booked the castaway cay one just in case but I'm not completely sold on it. How private/public is it? Are you able to hear and or see others? Also how late can you cancel the reservations? I'm a little concerned about being sunburned by the time we get to castaway cay. I'd also appreciate if anyone had any pictures of what the massage cabanas look like. Thanks in advance

 

[cruisecrasher]

It's pretty private you have your own cabana. I just think its way overpriced.

 

[IrishCowboy]

It is private, but a little pricey and takes away from precious beach time on Serenity Bay

 

[wiigirl]

It's pretty private you have your own cabana. I just think its way overpriced.

Me too...no compaints except a little pricey.

 

[Maryrn11168]

I did a single massage on Castaway Cay on my 1st cruise. Very nice, very private, you can hear the surf while getting the massage. I enjoyed it but, I got a bit of a sunburn because of the oils they used, even though I showered after and applied sunscreen (I am quite fair), not terrible but more then I would have liked.

All of my other massages have been on the ship, On my next cruise when my booking window opened all I could get for a couple massage was on Castaway Cay, so I took it. But if an onboard one opens up, I would jump on it, I do not understand why it is $50 more to have it done on CC?? That is the gratuity!

 

[Mama Odie]

We did it in January. It was nice, but it did eat up most of our Serenity Bay time (full-disclosure: we spent the morning on the ship enjoying pool time with the kiddos so we didn't disembark until early afternoon).

It was a lovely massage, but pretty costly. And they hit us with a spa product sales pitch immediately after our massage (which was kind of a buzzkill for me).

Next time we go, if I get a massage at all, I'll try it onboard.

Julie

 

[Fantasiesabound]

I absolutely loved mine - waay more than on the ship! Waay more. You get to hear the ocean and feel the breeze in the cabana. I was super relaxed during it (I may have snored a little ), plus you are really into wind down mode by that day on the cruise too. The massage then "stays" with you - rather than a massage being ruined by having to rush to dinner or rush to something on the ship.

I felt I had more time to schedule a massage in on castaway cay than on the ship too - to go against what people are saying about it taking away time.

I really loved it, but it's really a splurge. But waaay more ambiance and relaxation than on the ship in my opinion.

It also gave me an excuse to go over to serenity bay by myself, sans kids.

I've had massages on the ship and couples massages both places. Its always my splurge for every cruise, and my massage on CC was by far the BEST!

 

[cris0809]

I had a very non-relaxing experience during my cabana massage. Wouldn't do it again. Onboard ones for me from now on.

Could hear every maintenance cart, every time the tram pulled in and out, every voice on the beach in front of me, the couple and the two therapists at the end of their treatment in the next cabana (10 minutes into mine) and my therapist had to LEAVE IN THE MIDDLE to shush them.

Nope. Lost my future money there. The spa manager was apologetic but I really wasn't compensated. My massage was therapeutic for my muscles but not relaxing whatsoever.

 

[BEARCATS07]

If you get a massage on CC where is the shower located to rinse off afterwards? I would want to rinse off and apply sunscreen before hitting the beach!

 

[sorceressk]

If you get a massage on CC where is the shower located to rinse off afterwards? I would want to rinse off and apply sunscreen before hitting the beach!

I heard they will apply your sunscreen for you while you are on the table if you bring it and ask

 

[Nette]

My experience was less than stellar. DH enjoyed his though. The masseuse I had had a cold. I actually caught her wiping her nose with one hand while "massaging" me with the other. It was the wimpiest coldest (grossest) massage I ever had.

 

[Slappy32]

We did it last year right after the CC 5k. It was fine, the cabana was nice and relaxing, the massage was a run of the mill Swedish massage, nothing noteworthy about it. The ubiquitous sales pitch at the end probably undid at least half of the relaxed state I was in. We are going to pass this year. CC time is limited and valuable for an overpriced massage.

 

[sambycat]

i cant imagine loving any massage so much i would pay their prices to have 2 on the same cruise. if youve already had the onboard one, and really want to have a massage on the trip, i would do the cabana one for a different experience. the cabanas are pretty, i had mine at the end of the day, i didnt have noise issues and it was a a nice massage, though very overpriced. and you are already aware then of the hard sell tactics that come immediately after.

 

[MrsB919]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. My dilemma was very much what most of you pointed out. It just seems so overpriced. I booked it just in case I changed my mind but more and more I think I might cancel it. I don't wanna risk it being noisy or like some of you pointed lose out on our cc time. I enjoyed sitting in the water at serentity bay and sipping my drink. . the onboard one was very relaxing and the time we had picked was around sunset so it was very romantic. . As for the hard sell that I can live without. I've read on the boards that some people put it on their invoice not to sell has anyone had any success with that?

 

[Fantasiesabound]

I do have to admit I could hear people on the beach in front of the cabana. So there is that issue with the CC Massages.

And I guess my saying it was awesome is also slightly negated by the fact that I won't be doing one this next cruise. It's just too much money and I have been there...done that.

Now, the exotic rasul... YES! Cabana massage, NO.

This is why the DIS boards are awesome - vet it out here and you can usually get some pretty good advice and a balance of opinions on a question you have. Cool!

 

[MrsB919]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I really appreciate it. I talked it over with DH and we decided to cancel it and just keep the on ship couples massage. The price and the possibility of hearing people and being brought back to reality just isn't worth it to us. I'd rather just enjoy serenity bay and maybe spend that money on something else. Possibly a Dooney.

 

[Lorelei528]

What's the cancellation policy on the castaway cay massages?

 

[mpetersen]

On our honeymoon we had a terrible experience with the massage people on castaway cay. Mine never asked if the pressure was ok (I'm terribly sensitive and bruise like a peach), the whole time she used her elbow on my body. Dh's made a reference to him "needing to lose a few pounds"

 

[firsttimemom]

I do have to admit I could hear people on the beach in front of the cabana. So there is that issue with the CC Massages.

yup! We also heard the people waiting for their massages- 2 couples who knew each other. I'm guessing the massage was a surprise for some of them bcs there was much squealing and excited chatter. Great for them, but not as relaxing for us.

 

[DizMagic]

I had read on the boards years back that there could sometimes be issues with sand getting into the massage oils... Has anyone had that experience lately with the CC Massage?

Also, can anyone comment on the earlier question regarding location of the showers?