Platinum and CC cabana question

[tinkerone]

First, I'm platinum. I have never wanted a cabana on CC before so never paid much attention. We are planning a family cruise early next year and I'm wondering if there is some special way to request one or is it just looking on line so many days before. Even with the days before, I have never wanted something so bad that I felt I needed to be online early so I'm not sure what that magic number is. How any days before is it for platinum?
Anyone have any information that can help me? Would love to get the family cabana but that, being there is only one, is probably a dream.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

>I'm wondering if there is some special way to request one
nope, not for a standard booking. COncierge gets first crack.

>is it just looking on line so many days before.

yes.

It is 120 days before. Odds are good Concierge will take the family beach cabanas but you could be lucky.

There is not a waitlist before sailing, although you can go to Port Adventures on board and try.

 

[NephieRN]

Odds are pretty slim unless you’re concierge. We just got off the wonder yesterday and did no get a cabana during concierge booking. We waitlisted ahead of time thru shoreside and were told when we boarded the ship there were a total of 7 concierge families on the waitlist so it didn’t look good for us. The day before castaway we were told we lucked in to someone’s cancellation. As non concierge you can ask to waitlist at guest services when you board the ship but all the concierge waitlists will have priority.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

It is almost impossible to get a family beach cabana these days if you aren't concierge. This is regardless of which ship you're on. Cabanas are more in demand than they were several years ago, and even the classic ships have more concierge cabins than they used to.

Serenity Bay cabanas are the ones you have a chance to nab as a platinum cruiser, but those are strictly for ages 18 & up. Even sailing concierge, you'd have a chance of not getting a family beach cabana. The demand is that high. There won't be any available on platinum check-in day.

Your best bet is to arrive early at embarkation and put your name on the waitlist asap (and carry around your Wave phone all cruise hoping for a call). No guarantee, but that's the most likely way you could get one.

 

[Starwind]

As others have noted, getting a cabana, even for platinum cruises, is very difficult.

We have sailed 8 times with DCL, including a B2B and a B2B2B.

For our very first cruise, we checked the DCL website regularly and managed to get a serenity bay cabana at 20 days out. For one of our silver cruises, we got one at about 60 days out doing the same thing.

On our recent B2B2B, we did not manage to get one for the first cruise. For the second, as soon as we got on board [as B2B cruisers we were in the first group of guests let on, before new guests are] we went right away to the guest services line, were about 3rd or 4th in line, and got on the wait list. We did not get a cabana. For the third cruise, we did the same, this time we were second in line. The night before CC we got a call that a family beach cabana was available for us, which we accepted.

So, it is possible to get a cabana, but it can involve a bit of luck and some work on your part if there aren't any available when you first check in online.

SW

 

[Marc D]

Getting a cabana as a non-concierge guest is only based on luck. All will be booked by the time you can log in on day 120 at midnight since concierge requests are automatically processed in the millisecond after bookings open.

Therefore, your only chance is to be online when a concierge guest cancels his booking (or coordinate with someone who has one on your cruise meet page) or get waitlisted onboard. As a PP mentioned, concierge guests onboard will have first dibs, then they will move to the regular waitlist. Concierge hosts onboard are responsible with assigning cabanas.

If you get waitlisted, bring your wave phone around with you on the day before CC day. They call and if you do not answer, they move to the next guest on the list.

 

[allashore]

Odds are pretty slim unless you’re concierge. We just got off the wonder yesterday and did no get a cabana during concierge booking. We waitlisted ahead of time thru shoreside and were told when we boarded the ship there were a total of 7 concierge families on the waitlist so it didn’t look good for us. The day before castaway we were told we lucked in to someone’s cancellation. As non concierge you can ask to waitlist at guest services when you board the ship but all the concierge waitlists will have priority.

did you send your request in right at midnight?
what type of concierge cabin did you have? I am wondering if they prioritize by Royal, 2bdrm, T then V ?
I know shoreside says they are assigned by the timing of the email
I have not seen any clear information on how they assign the cabanas, do they really assign by the time of email? or give priority to cabin sz??

just curious who your concierge host were, we had Glenn, G & Selina in the summer & Don was the best bartender, I know the bartenders change every 2 weeks thou.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

what type of concierge cabin did you have? I am wondering if they prioritize by Royal, 2bdrm, T then V ?
I know shoreside says they are assigned by the timing of the email
I have not seen any clear information on how they assign the cabanas, do they really assign by the time of email? or give priority to cabin sz??

It's my understanding that it's by order of receipt of email. While Concierge gets first crack(ahead of Platinum CC members), there's no further "who's higher" ranking within Concierge for booking.

 

[coloradocutie]

It's my understanding that it's by order of receipt of email. While Concierge gets first crack(ahead of Platinum CC members), there's no further "who's higher" ranking within Concierge for booking.

Totally correct.
Last cruise to Castaway Cay, we were concierge and due to an illness, I got my email sent a little late at 10 am instead of midnight. I later found out all of the cabanas were already taken and we were placed on a waitlist.

 

[NephieRN]

did you send your request in right at midnight?
what type of concierge cabin did you have? I am wondering if they prioritize by Royal, 2bdrm, T then V ?
I know shoreside says they are assigned by the timing of the email
I have not seen any clear information on how they assign the cabanas, do they really assign by the time of email? or give priority to cabin sz??

just curious who your concierge host were, we had Glenn, G & Selina in the summer & Don was the best bartender, I know the bartenders change every 2 weeks thou.

We booked late. 121 days out so my requests were 4 days after everyone else’s. We were in a category V this time. But we’ve sailed in T and V multiple times and have always gotten our desired cabana number by sending our request at exactly midnight at 125 days out. I truly believe they assign based on time request is received, not based on which category you book.

We also had Glenn, Selina, and G. Glenn got off yesterday for 3 weeks vacation. Then he will go back to the Wonder for 8 more weeks before we takes the rest of his vacation. After that he will be moving to the Dream. G will go on vacation when Glenn comes back in 3 weeks and then he will be moving to the Magic when his vacation is over in April.

 

[Meriweather]

Yep......just tried to get one. Platinum. And all were booked at midnight

 

[lorimay]

First, I'm platinum. I have never wanted a cabana on CC before so never paid much attention. We are planning a family cruise early next year and I'm wondering if there is some special way to request one or is it just looking on line so many days before. Even with the days before, I have never wanted something so bad that I felt I needed to be online early so I'm not sure what that magic number is. How any days before is it for platinum?
Anyone have any information that can help me? Would love to get the family cabana but that, being there is only one, is probably a dream.

Don't think its over if you don't get one at midnight when your booking window opens, just keep checking the website a few times a day, people do drop them occasionally.
If you don't get one before, go to the Port Adevntures desk as soon as you board and put your name on a waitlist.
We have gotten them this way as silver, gold & platinum.
You stand a better shot on The Classic ships, less people.
I have not been able to get one on The Fantasy or Dream on the family beach, only on Serenity Bay.
But on The Magic a few years ago, we booked a last minute cruise so they were all gone, put my name on the waitlist, we got a call before we even sailed away that one was available on Family beach.

Good Luck!

 

[CM Dad]

My wife and I are Platinum cruisers and were unable to book a cabana on the inaugural cruise from New Orleans on the Wonder. As soon as we boarded, we went to guest services and asked to be added to the wait list. My wife needs a hip replacement and uses a wheelchair when going any distance. A couple of days before Castaway Cay day we go a call and were able to book cabana 1 on the family beach (the ADA compliant cabana)