Family Beach or Serenity Bay?

[Tawnyafitz]

I will be traveling with my bestie in October. Last trip I was with my family so we stayed at the Family Beach. Is it more enjoyable on the adults only beach? Less crowded for lunch? Thanks!

 

[wilkeliza]

It is less crowded but depending on the season sometimes the adult beach is not as clean as the family beach. We went in February one year and the adult beach was full of seaweed but the family beach was clear.

 

[Weedy]

So much better less crowded and so quiet.

 

[Steve Dexter]

Everything is better about Serenity Bay, lunch is quite a bit better.

 

[OKW Lover]

Agree with the PP's that Serenity Bay is a very nice beach. Our only caution is that occasionally you'll get a day where the wind is blowing in off the water and making the beach too cold. Its usually not a problem, and even less so in October. Just something for others to consider if they are sailing later in the year.

 

[over50visits]

We much prefer Serenity Bay, the adult beach. Quiet, not too crowded, and the lunch buffet is also less crowded.

But...it is definitely away from where the action is (the family beaches). If you like the various live and recorded music and activities (think crab race), the energy of a lot of people around, shopping, water activities such as boating and slides, then the family beach is the place for you. Your lifestyle should guide your choice of beaches, and I can really see the attraction of both depending on what you want your day to be like.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I will be traveling with my bestie in October. Last trip I was with my family so we stayed at the Family Beach. Is it more enjoyable on the adults only beach? Less crowded for lunch? Thanks!

"Less" crowded for lunch is relative. This was the line for lunch on one of our Fantasy cruises:


And it's not a very large area for seating:

 

[CurtisB]

Wow, I've been to Serenity Bay a few times on different ships and never seen lines like that.

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

We much prefer serenity bay as well! So quiet and peaceful and when we went in February there was almost no one there! It can get chilly though

 

[Dug720]

Serenity Bay all the way. The last time I was there (Fantasy in Feb 2016) I wandered to the family beach on my way back to the ship and no thank you. As I am adult and if I travel it's with adults there is no question I'll be at Serenity Bay.

I don't know that I've seen a line like the one above, but obviously if you're wanting to eat at high noon it's going to get busy. Eat a little earlier or a little later and no problem. Even when it was busy I've never had an issue finding a table. DO beware of the birds though and don't leave food unattended. I've seen them swoop in for ribs and people come back from the drink station to empty plates

 

[over50visits]

Wow, I've been to Serenity Bay a few times on different ships and never seen lines like that.

Lines like what? We have been to Serenity bay to eat on lots of different cruises, and never ever thought there was a line. Maybe a 10-15 people ahead of us at worst (usually 3-4 people line when we arrive), "held us up" a couple of minutes, but sorry, never seen a bad line there. I guess bad is in the eye of the beholder, maybe someone though a dozen people was a long line?

The buffet there is quiet, pleasant, children-free (a plus for some), and has a personal feeling, not an assembly line serving buffet. We've also eaten at the family beach locations. Really, this isn't a problem to worry about at either location.

 

[Tawnyafitz]

Thank you! Looks like we will give Serenity Bay at try!

 

[jiminy14]

Wow, I've been to Serenity Bay a few times on different ships and never seen lines like that.

On our last two cruises (one on the Fantasy and one on the Magic) we had lines like that at Serenity Bay. The line started at the food area and went all the way back to the entrance. We probably waited 20-25 minutes just to get to the food and we got there at 1:00. One of our servers from Palo was manning the drink station and he told us that there was already a long line waiting for them to open and it stayed that way.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We much prefer serenity bay as well! So quiet and peaceful

As I am adult and if I travel it's with adults there is no question I'll be at Serenity Bay.

I'll also point out that, if the cruise is one that there are a lot of adults and fewer children (longer ones, primarily in the "off" season) Serenity Bay can be busier/fuller than the family beach. We found that on our first cruise that we stopped there.

 

[mevelandry]

I will be traveling with my bestie in October. Last trip I was with my family so we stayed at the Family Beach. Is it more enjoyable on the adults only beach? Less crowded for lunch? Thanks!

Serenity Bay all the way! The beach is (IMO) even more beautiful and more quiet and the BBQ is so much better!

 

[MPS516]

I think it depends. We have been where food line extends back to beach entrance, other times walk right up to food line. We have never waited in a line at Cookies or Cookies 2. as far as enjoyable, what are you looking for ? Sit on a quiet beach and visit, Serenity Bay, activity, family beach. Like pp mentions when the sea weed and fractured shells line the beach from end to end, you can not get to the water in your bare feed. We now bring shower shoes (cheap rubber flip flu) in our day bag because the girls and enjoy being in the water.