Castaway Cay Private Cabanas

[PrincessShmoo]

I am new to Disney Cruising. Waiting for them to release the rest of 2015. We would love to get a Cabana. Is this something we need to book at the time we book our trip? Or is this something only for return guests?

Cabanas are booked when your port excursion/online checkin window opens. For first time cruisers this is 75 days out from the cruise. Anyone can book cabanas, as long as there is availability.

 

[calimom951]

You cannot book it when booking cruise, you select it at you booking window for shore trips these are based on how many cruises people have taken with DCL

So concierge cruisers and repeat cruisers get first licks and they can sell out quickly, as a new Disney cruiser you will book at 75 days pre cruise unless your concierge.

So am I understanding you correctly? If I book upgrade to a concierge package when I book then can I have first booking for a cabana? Or are Concierge packages just for returning Disney Cruisers?

 

[cypressmom]

Anyone an book a concierge suite.

 

[Meghatron]

So am I understanding you correctly? If I book upgrade to a concierge package when I book then can I have first booking for a cabana? Or are Concierge packages just for returning Disney Cruisers?

If you pay the premium for a concierge room AND you are paid in full BEFORE 150 days prior to sailing, then yes, the shoreside concierge team will take your request for a cabana before they open up to Platinum cruisers at 120 days.

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[calimom951]

If you pay the premium for a concierge room AND you are paid in full BEFORE 150 days prior to sailing, then yes, the shoreside concierge team will take your request for a cabana before they open up to Platinum cruisers at 120 days.

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Thanks so much. I appreciate your answer. The words pay the premium are scary to me..LOL...So I am assuming this is WAY expensive. But I will inquire.

 

[alagille]

Thanks so much. I appreciate your answer. The words pay the premium are scary to me..LOL...So I am assuming this is WAY expensive. But I will inquire.

Yes, concierge is quite expensive and you can check your prices on the disney cruise line website. I've done both ways (non-concierge and concierge stateroom, cabana and no cabana) and honestly, for your first time on Castaway Cay, I would just say, save your money and enjoy the experience. You'll want to check everything out and likely spend less time in the cabana. You can get an idea after you spend a day there if you'd like to do it your next cruise. Read everything here and enjoy!

 

[phinz]

This past cruise was our first time at CC and we got a cabana. We also did concierge. We'll never go without again. I didn't care about bicycling, waterslides, floats, snorkeling, parasailing, etc. I just wanted to relax and read my book in the shade with a light breeze blowing and no sand in my shoes.

Then again I didn't even go in to St. Thomas (BTDT and not all that interested) and I didn't stay on the rock in Sint Maarten for very long either. I preferred spending time on the boat.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Cabanas are booked when your port excursion/online checkin window opens. For first time cruisers this is 75 days out from the cruise. Anyone can book cabanas, as long as there is availability.

You realize that this does not apply to concierge even if they are first time cruisers. If they are paid in full, a first time concierge cruiser can book a cabana before they open up to platinum cruisers. My sister's Boss did it. He had three concierge cabins/suites on the Fantasy the week of Christmas. He had never cruised DCL and probably won't again. He was able to get 2 cabanas...one on family beach and one on Serenity Bay. Concierge gets priority over all others as long as they are PIF.
Edited to add...actually concierge including first timers, can book ANYTHING once they are PIF.

 

[AustralianJetsetter]

You realize that this does not apply to concierge even if they are first time cruisers. If they are paid in full, a first time concierge cruiser can book a cabana before they open up to platinum cruisers. My sister's Boss did it. He had three concierge cabins/suites on the Fantasy the week of Christmas. He had never cruised DCL and probably won't again. He was able to get 2 cabanas...one on family beach and one on Serenity Bay. Concierge gets priority over all others as long as they are PIF.
Edited to add...actually concierge including first timers, can book ANYTHING once they are PIF.

PrincessShmoo answered the original question before the OP mentiined that they were 'thinking' about upgrading to concierge ;-)

Trust me PrincessShmoo would realise all of what you just pointed out!!

 

[stitchlovestink]

PrincessShmoo answered the original question before the OP mentiined that they were 'thinking' about upgrading to concierge ;-)

Trust me PrincessShmoo would realise all of what you just pointed out!!

But someone else reading the thread who was a first time concierge cruiser might not know this based on the way her answer was worded. Her wording makes it appear that ALL First time cruisers book at the 75 day window and that simply isn't the case if someone has booked concierge. Another reader on this thread may have booked or be considering booking concierge and should be aware of the booking differences.
I did not know it was against the rules to clarify information so that ALL readers were getting accurate info. And I thought Everyone was allowed to answer questions posted.

 

[mc2]

If you pay the premium for a concierge room AND you are paid in full BEFORE 150 days prior to sailing, then yes, the shoreside concierge team will take your request for a cabana before they open up to Platinum cruisers at 120 days.

Sent from my Tricorder using DISBoards

You don't need to be paid in full at the 150 day mark for them to take the request. They start taking requests at the 150 day mark regardless. But if you aren't paid in full as of midnight on the 120 day mark (when the booking window actually opens), they can't book any of it for you.

 

[CarolyninCO]

You don't need to be paid in full at the 150 day mark for them to take the request. They start taking requests at the 150 day mark regardless. But if you aren't paid in full as of midnight on the 120 day mark (when the booking window actually opens), they can't book any of it for you.

This is great info! I've been trying to stock up on Disney cards in time for my 150 mark. It's nice to have an extra 30 days.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Bear3412]

This is the first I heard about not having to be PIF at 150 days for cabana requests.

I would still recommend it, and it could only help your request for a cabana become reality. IMO

Perhaps other CL guests could confirm the pecking order/PIF order during their communications, and report back.

Good luck to all

 

[CarolyninCO]

This is the first I heard about not having to be PIF at 150 days for cabana requests.

I would still recommend it, and it could only help your request for a cabana become reality. IMO

Perhaps other CL guests could confirm the pecking order/PIF order during their communications, and report back.

Good luck to all

Good point!

 

[StephandDick]

I wasn't PIF until 122 days out and got my request for one (although it's not a full cruise right now).

 

[mc2]

This is the first I heard about not having to be PIF at 150 days for cabana requests.

I would still recommend it, and it could only help your request for a cabana become reality. IMO

Perhaps other CL guests could confirm the pecking order/PIF order during their communications, and report back.

Good luck to all

Well, I've done it 3 times in a row now without being PIF at 150 days.

All I was ever told was that you absolutely had to be PIF as of midnight when the booking window opens (at the 120 mark) or you lose whatever requests they have made on your behalf. And that goes for everything, not just cabanas. So if you have a Palo request, same deal. Once that booking window opens up at midnight, if you aren't PIF, any requests become "null and void" of sorts, and you would have to start with new requests (based on whatever is available) once you are PIF. Even if you pay at 10 am on day 120.

Maybe something different happens if more people request them than there are cabanas (not sure how that is prioritized?), but I know we haven't had an issue yet in 3 cruises, and we were only doing PIF at around the 123-124 day mark for all 3 (hoping for the CAD to hit par...no dice...haha!).

 

[Bear3412]

OK S&D and mc2, sounds good. Thanks for reporting. Like I said, that wasn't the consensus prior, at least in my small mind.

 

[firsttimemom]

This is the first I heard about not having to be PIF at 150 days for cabana requests.

I would still recommend it, and it could only help your request for a cabana become reality. IMO

Perhaps other CL guests could confirm the pecking order/PIF order during their communications, and report back.

Good luck to all

I was not PIF at 150 days and was able to put my requests in and receive conf. of said requests. Paid at about 125 and all was taken care of at the 120 mark.

 

[HeddyRuth]

OK S&D and mc2, sounds good. Thanks for reporting. Like I said, that wasn't the consensus prior, at least in my small mind.

It is good to hear this has changed as I when I called when this new policy started last year with the 150 day requests they would not take the request unless I was PIF. I will be hitting a new 150 day window soon and I was stressing about paying already.

 

[tdunaway]

We just booked 2 weeks ago at about 128 days out. Although we paid in full when we booked it, the transaction took a couple of days to clear and the balance didn't say zero until day 125. I called to make my requests on day 125 and received the confirmation email the morning of 120. On a side note, when I looked at what was available on day 120, there were only 3 family cabanas left!