Is Cabanas really closed?

[MouseinMelbourne]

Cabanas is closed (on the Fantasy) the first night and the last night. So they are only open ONCE for dinner on a 3 night cruise? Why?? That’s nuts!

 

[pixiedustedme]

Cabanas is closed (on the Fantasy) the first night and the last night. So they are only open ONCE for dinner on a 3 night cruise? Why?? That’s nuts!

That's a typical schedule for Cabana's. It's open daily for breakfast and lunch buffets, and offers a full-service meal on other nights aside from the first and last nights. It isn't nuts: every passenger has complimentary access to an MDR, pool deck counter service, and room service for dinner every single night. So no one is being deprived of dinner food or service by this schedule.

 

[Marc D]

Cabanas is closed (on the Fantasy) the first night and the last night. So they are only open ONCE for dinner on a 3 night cruise? Why?? That’s nuts!

While Cabanas is an option for dinner, I would venture a guess that 90% of guests eat their dinner in the MDRs every night. Unlike other cruise lines, where there are many equivalent options for dinner (dining rooms, specialty restaurants, buffet) plus lesser alternatives (quick service, room service), DCL puts a lot of emphasis on their MDRs as being part of the experience.

 

[lorimay]

Cabanas is closed (on the Fantasy) the first night and the last night. So they are only open ONCE for dinner on a 3 night cruise? Why?? That’s nuts!

While Cabanas is ok for dinner on a longer cruise, when you only have 3 nights, you will want to do the MDRs.
*Is this your first cruise?

 

[serenitynow]

It would be nice to have the option of Cabanas every night.

 

[MouseinMelbourne]

While Cabanas is ok for dinner on a longer cruise, when you only have 3 nights, you will want to do the MDRs.
*Is this your first cruise?

Lol, no, not my first cruise. My signature shows 4 completed and 2 more in queue.

We have Palo scheduled the 2nd night. I’ve never been to Cabanas for dinner so I thought that would be great our 3rd (last) night. During my 4 previous cruises we *had* to eat MDR for every single meal beacause my DD had a peanut allergy (since cured). We were actually looking forward to trying something OTHER than MDR. Think about how much of your day is taken up when you do MDR for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every. single. day. Don’t get me wrong, they were absolutely amazing! We are just looking forward to checking out other options now. All that food by the pool? Yep, never been there either.

 

[Budzooka]

We only do MDR for dinner. Cabanas for breakfast and by the pool or room service for lunch.

 

[BCV23]

Lol, no, not my first cruise. My signature shows 4 completed and 2 more in queue.

We have Palo scheduled the 2nd night. I’ve never been to Cabanas for dinner so I thought that would be great our 3rd (last) night. During my 4 previous cruises we *had* to eat MDR for every single meal beacause my DD had a peanut allergy (since cured). We were actually looking forward to trying something OTHER than MDR. Think about how much of your day is taken up when you do MDR for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every. single. day. Don’t get me wrong, they were absolutely amazing! We are just looking forward to checking out other options now. All that food by the pool? Yep, never been there either.

We eat most meals in the MDR for health reasons and I absolutely love it! However, since you want to branch out why not try Cabanas on the night it is open and Palo on the first or last night?

 

[lorimay]

Lol, no, not my first cruise. My signature shows 4 completed and 2 more in queue.

We have Palo scheduled the 2nd night. I’ve never been to Cabanas for dinner so I thought that would be great our 3rd (last) night. During my 4 previous cruises we *had* to eat MDR for every single meal beacause my DD had a peanut allergy (since cured). We were actually looking forward to trying something OTHER than MDR. Think about how much of your day is taken up when you do MDR for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every. single. day. Don’t get me wrong, they were absolutely amazing! We are just looking forward to checking out other options now. All that food by the pool? Yep, never been there either.

Wonderful news about your daughters allergy!
We have done Cabana's for dinner twice. Its very quiet and we enjoyed it.
They serve the same menu every night I believe.
Guess you will have a chance on one of your other cruises!

Have fun!

 

[DisneYE]

Lol, no, not my first cruise. My signature shows 4 completed and 2 more in queue.

We have Palo scheduled the 2nd night. I’ve never been to Cabanas for dinner so I thought that would be great our 3rd (last) night. During my 4 previous cruises we *had* to eat MDR for every single meal beacause my DD had a peanut allergy (since cured). We were actually looking forward to trying something OTHER than MDR. Think about how much of your day is taken up when you do MDR for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every. single. day. Don’t get me wrong, they were absolutely amazing! We are just looking forward to checking out other options now. All that food by the pool? Yep, never been there either.

Makes sense. You're on a shorter cruise & want to take advantage of your time there as much possible.
I love cabanas at dinner. I once had an extra long nap bc I had a few too many glasses of wine and missed the MDR. Went to cabanas for dinner by myself and a book and it was glorious.

Happy cruisin'.

 

[mcd2745]

My unsolicited opinion? Cabanas should be open *as a buffet* for dinner every night. I can't think of one good reason for making it a waiter service dinner. At the least, they could make one side waiter service, and the other a buffet.

 

[MouseinMelbourne]

My unsolicited opinion? Cabanas should be open *as a buffet* for dinner every night. I can't think of one good reason for making it a waiter service dinner. At the least, they could make one side waiter service, and the other a buffet.

I completely agree. I don’t get it. Cruises...buffets...aren’t they supposed to go together 24/7?

 

[SamFaniam]

My unsolicited opinion? Cabanas should be open *as a buffet* for dinner every night. I can't think of one good reason for making it a waiter service dinner. At the least, they could make one side waiter service, and the other a buffet.

I think they use Cabanas for people who are in training to be servers.

I do not know this, but I think having a buffet would require many more people to work in that area, which would take away from the main dining areas.

 

[MouseinMelbourne]

I think they use Cabanas for people who are in training to be servers.

I do not know this, but I think having a buffet would require many more people to work in that area, which would take away from the main dining areas.

That does make sense, actually. Thank you. I feel better. Roflmao!

 

[KashasMom]

My unsolicited opinion? Cabanas should be open *as a buffet* for dinner every night. I can't think of one good reason for making it a waiter service dinner. At the least, they could make one side waiter service, and the other a buffet.

^^^ This, this, THIS! I agree 100%! It will never happen though. Too many people like the MDR experience.

 

[SnowWhite2]

Cabanas is used as a training location for servers at night for dinner. The first and last night these poor souls are sorting luggage and food getting everything on or off.

 

[Narnia_girl]

Are you able to eat in the outdoor seating area of Cabanas for dinner?

 

[bbn1122]

The only time we eat at Cabana’s for dinner is longer cruises, for a change!

Shorter cruises we liked to experience all MDR at least once.

 

[tvguy]

Disney tends to pretty sensitive to guests needs and wants. I have to wonder if there just isn't sufficient demand for the buffet on the first and last nights to justify having it open.

 

[BCV23]

Are you able to eat in the outdoor seating area of Cabanas for dinner?

Not in my experience.

Disney tends to pretty sensitive to guests needs and wants. I have to wonder if there just isn't sufficient demand for the buffet on the first and last nights to justify having it open.

To be clear, Cabanas is not a buffet at dinner. It is table service with a set menu.