Castaway Cay, Serenity Bay construction

[WB1971]

Anyone know what the significant construction at the former crew beach area of Serenity Bay is? New adult dining area? Dozens of pilings, looks like a pretty big structure. We were there this past Monday and Thursday, didn’t get a chance to ask any crew.

 

[cvjw]

On our cruise in September, we were told they were building additional cabanas for guests.

 

[asgur5]

More Cabanas? Yuck.

Some more amenities would be nice and instead they waste them on cabanas.

 

[Lucien Franciosa]

More Cabanas? Yuck.

Some more amenities would get nice and instead they waste them on cabanas.

Have you been there? I missed your review. Tried a cabana? Just curious because cabanas are always in high demand and people tend to complain there is no chance to get one unless your concierge, greater availability would seem to be a good thing. Not to mention amenities are placed more off shore than cabanas so they don’t occupy the same space. I.e. not mutually exclusive.

 

[dreamer17555]

Have you been there? I missed your review. Tried a cabana? Just curious because cabanas are always in high demand and people tend to complain there is no chance to get one unless your concierge, greater availability would seem to be a good thing. Not to mention amenities are placed more off shore than cabanas so they don’t occupy the same space. I.e. not mutually exclusive.

With how many concierge rooms they are adding to the ships even if they add more cabanas it is still going to be almost impossible for non concierge guests to get one. Honestly they need to add them just so some concierge guests have a shot. The Dream just added 24 more rooms to concierge and I bet the Fantasy follows during it's drydock.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Have you been there? I missed your review. Tried a cabana? Just curious because cabanas are always in high demand and people tend to complain there is no chance to get one unless your concierge, greater availability would seem to be a good thing. Not to mention amenities are placed more off shore than cabanas so they don’t occupy the same space. I.e. not mutually exclusive.

We cancelled a concierge sailing after failing to get a cabana despite emailing at midnight. I wonder if they are seeing people (like me) avoiding Concierge on the Wish because the cabana lottery is awful and with two more Wish class ships coming online, are now trying to do something about it?

I would think constructing more cabanas would pay for themselves in a matter of months, if not weeks, given that they are glorified shacks and rent for $700/day. If they have a ship in port 5 days a week that’s $14,000/mo. Absent an economic catastrophe, it’s hard to imagine they couldn’t add 50% more cabanas and still have them sell out almost every sailing.

I could see being annoyed about building more cabanas on Lighthouse before completing all of the other infrastructure, but I’ve long wondered why they didn’t build more cabanas on CC. Even for those of us who can’t get them, getting another few dozen people off the main beaches makes them (slightly) less crowded.

 

[dreamer17555]

We cancelled a concierge sailing after failing to get a cabana despite emailing at midnight. I wonder if they are seeing people (like me) avoiding Concierge on the Wish because the cabana lottery is awful and with two more Wish class ships coming online, are now trying to do something about it?

I would think constructing more cabanas would pay for themselves in a matter of months, if not weeks, given that they are glorified shacks and rent for $700/day. If they have a ship in port 5 days a week that’s $14,000/mo. Absent an economic catastrophe, it’s hard to imagine they couldn’t add 50% more cabanas and still have them sell out almost every sailing.

I could see being annoyed about building more cabanas on Lighthouse before completing all of the other infrastructure, but I’ve long wondered why they didn’t build more cabanas on CC. Even for those of us who can’t get them, getting another few dozen people off the main beaches makes them (slightly) less crowded.

When you cancel concierge don't you lose the deposit per guest? If so I can't imagine many people cancelling over not securing a cabana.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

When you cancel concierge don't you lose the deposit per guest? If so I can't imagine many people cancelling over not securing a cabana.

No, you can move to a standard stateroom (or two, in our case) or a different further out sailing without penalty. You can’t simply cancel outright without penalty though.

 

[Dug720]

More Cabanas? Yuck.

Some more amenities would get nice and instead they waste them on cabanas.

I feel bad for the crew. They deserved their own space totally away from guests.

Tried a cabana?

I have. It was nice to have the attendants to pick us up in golf carts because my dad was a couple of weeks away from hip replacement surgery, but it was certainly not a "my cruise would be ruined" if I didn't get one and 100% NOT the only reason I'd book concierge. A lot of people just like feeling special and like they're away from the "unwashed masses" of the rest of the ship though.

 

[cvjw]

I feel bad for the crew. They deserved their own space totally away from guests.

They still have it. Their beach is at the far end of serenity bay now. You can kinda see it in the pic

 

[Dug720]

They still have it. Their beach is at the far end of serenity bay now. You can kinda see it in the pic

My point is where it was they were totally isolated from guests. "At the far end of Serenity Bay" is not isolated from guests.

 

[cvjw]

My point is where it was they were totally isolated from guests. "At the far end of Serenity Bay" is not isolated from guests.

agreed. I think they got the short end of the stick. Their previous beach seemed much nicer.

 

[WB1971]

The arrangement and quantity of pilings didn’t look like cabanas to me. If cabanas, there would be zero space between them. Looked like the making of one large structure to me, but I certainly could be mistaken.

 

[Lucien Franciosa]

I have. It was nice to have the attendants to pick us up in golf carts because my dad was a couple of weeks away from hip replacement surgery, but it was certainly not a "my cruise would be ruined" if I didn't get one and 100% NOT the only reason I'd book concierge. A lot of people just like feeling special and like they're away from the "unwashed masses" of the rest of the ship though.

So what experience would be a 'ruined my cruise?" thing. I tend to look at cruises as an experience as a whole and agree a cabana plus or minus would not ruin things for me, but it was nice. not sure why you feel the need to disparage people that like cabanas. some, probably most, just like them for what they are, relaxing and free of worry, not to feel 'special' as compared to 'unwashed masses.' I find that characterization to say more about you than others.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

not sure why you feel the need to disparage people that like cabanas. some, probably most, just like them for what they are, relaxing and free of worry, not to feel 'special' as compared to 'unwashed masses.' I find that characterization to say more about you than others.

I found it particularly distasteful that the poster you are referring had their own (very common and understandable) reasons for wanting a cabana and then just assumed everyone else using one was a snob and not a family that also had a good reason (maybe even the exact same reason!) the extra expense was worth it to them.

 

[Dug720]

I found it particularly distasteful that the poster you are referring had their own (very common and understandable) reasons for wanting a cabana and then just assumed everyone else using one was a snob and not a family that also had a good reason (maybe even the exact same reason!) the extra expense was worth it to them.

I should have specified that I got one to try it - did not know my dad was going to have to have surgery when it was booked. What I said was it was goof for that reason. Otherwise I'd never feel the need to spend the money to get one.

If you read a lot of posts about them, for many it IS people wanting to not be around everyone else. And often based on other posts from those people they DO want segregation from everyone else.

So what experience would be a 'ruined my cruise?" thing

Honestly? It would be some major mechanical issue a la the Titanic. Certainly not simply ONE aspect of a cruise like not getting a cabana. There are plenty of chairs and umbrellas on Castaway that it's perfectly capable of being enjoyed for a relaxing day without having a cabana.

 

[Lucien Franciosa]

I should have specified that I got one to try it - did not know my dad was going to have to have surgery when it was booked. What I said was it was goof for that reason. Otherwise I'd never feel the need to spend the money to get one.

If you read a lot of posts about them, for many it IS people wanting to not be around everyone else. And often based on other posts from those people they DO want segregation from everyone else.



Honestly? It would be some major mechanical issue a la the Titanic. Certainly not simply ONE aspect of a cruise like not getting a cabana. There are plenty of chairs and umbrellas on Castaway that it's perfectly capable of being enjoyed for a relaxing day without having a cabana.

So you doubled down on the snob aspect of cabanas? I haven't seen the posts that offend your sensibilities, but believe there could have been a minority that if one wanted to read it in a negative way one could, but I would not use words like 'many' or 'a lot.' I also haven't seen comments about how someone's trip was ruined because they did NOT get one (but wanted one). I have seen some disappointment, and definitely a lot of joy. For the most part I see the majority of people just comment that they like splurging on vacation to treat themselves to some shade, cool beverages, good seats, shelter from the rain (it's rained on me several times), etc. Others feel the need to say they wouldn't spend their money that way. Cool. How you spend your money, how I spend mine, is very personal and doesn't apply to others. There are a lot of things people spend their money on that I don't see the value for me, but I don't feel the need to comment so.

Anyway, I agree with the person that said it's likely Disney is NOT building more cabanas, so perhaps this is a big nothing burger of conversation, but I do think Disney could fill as many as they had. Perhaps if there were plenty so people didn't feel left out there would be less contentious comments.

 

[JM_97]

I feel bad for the crew. They deserved their own space totally away from guests.



I have. It was nice to have the attendants to pick us up in golf carts because my dad was a couple of weeks away from hip replacement surgery, but it was certainly not a "my cruise would be ruined" if I didn't get one and 100% NOT the only reason I'd book concierge. A lot of people just like feeling special and like they're away from the "unwashed masses" of the rest of the ship though.

Or some people just like to treat themselves.

You will always have some snobs (I saw it on NCL with their Haven guests; some of them would stick their nose up at the common folks area) but many just want to be pampered. One day I want to try concierge and a cabana but that is way down the line.

 

[MalvernPa]

Deleted.

 

[bbn1122]

My family stayed in a Concierge stateroom back in 2014. It was the end of August and a 3 night cruise. It was $2800 for the 4 of us. The price was right.
We snagged a Cabana for $500 and had a fabulous time. We loved it.

Now prices have gone up and we have not sailed Concierge again. Howerver, DH and I have a Concierge stateroom book for 2026. Yes, its a little pricey, but we are celebrating some big milestones.

I personally would love to have the finances to cruise Concierge more often. I think how folks spend their hard earned cash is personal.

Happy cruising to everyone.

PS. We have cruised all catergories of staterooms, they are all great because you are on a Disney Cruise!!!