Serenity Bay Cabana booking at 75 days out

[ruzer28]

As you can tell from the title of the thread, this is our first Disney Cruise. We are hoping to book a Serenity Bay cabana, but from what I have read they are difficult to get. I have also read that our booking window opens at 12:01 am. Yuck. I am willing to stay up in an attempt to book a cabana, but not if it's a hopeless venture. I have two questions. First, is there anywhere that I can look to check cabana availability prior to my booking window opening? Obviously this would help me out if I check at 9pm and there is nothing available. Night night. If not, can you advise me as to whether or not it's even worth it to try? If this is something that is extremely unlikely to be available at the 75-day mark I'll get a good night's sleep and be done with it.

Thanks all!

 

[Dug720]

Pretty slim to none. Particularly if you're on the Dream or Fantasy.

In terms of checking availability, you could always post on the meet for your cruise and see if someone who already has check-in/booking availability can check for you. (I'm assuming you're coming up on your date...so it's already open for some. If not, then see if someone can tell you once their dates open.)

 

[imahistorygeek]

I've read on these boards that you can put your name on a waiting list once you get on the cruise.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've read on these boards that you can put your name on a waiting list once you get on the cruise.

If they're running a wait list. I've read that once in a while there isn't a list.

 

[tink1970]

I don't want to give you false hope, but sometimes when I've been on SB in the low season not all of the cabanas are being used (and we're there long enough to catch the guys who are sleeping in and getting there in the afternoon). If you're not there in a crazy busy holiday week, it might be possible. Otherwise I'd recommend checking every day (or few days depending on how much you really want one of them) and if one doesn't pop up, putting your name down at Guest Services when you board is another option.

We had one for our honeymoon cruise and while lovely, Serenity Bay is so awesome we haven't felt the need to do it again. DH and I are usually among the first off the ship and by doing that secure our little piece of paradise without a problem (hammock, loungers, etc). The beach is usually quiet the first hour or so just doing this (and yes, have cruised with the Dream and Fantasy when they were full). Good luck whatever you decide (sleep is great too ).

 

[lorimay]

I agree with PP, every time we have been to CC and had a cabana on SB there are always a couple empty all day.
You may get lucky, keep checking the website every day as many times as you can.
We booked a last minute cruise a few years ago and there were no cabanas on SB available, I went and put my name on the wait list and the day before CC, we came back to our room to find the paper cabana attached to our fish, we were so excited.
Don't give up hope, its easier get one on SB than family beach, IMO.

 

[ruzer28]

Thanks all!! I know we'll have a great time either way. I will stalk the website if I don't get one at first, and I'll put our names on a waiting list once we get on the ship.

 

[lillygator]

if they are empty can you get it for a discount?

 

[n2mm]

We are on a 4 night cruise in October. The cabanas were booked up before the opening window for GOLD members. I was on at midnight.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

if they are empty can you get it for a discount?

No. The cabana price is the same whether you actually book it online (pre-cruise) or get it on the day of the Castaway Cay visit.

 

[over50visits]

My experience over the years is there are often empty SB cabanas. One February cruise we were the only ones in one. If they are full, you do have two options...first some who reserved one "just in case" may change their mind by the deadline, 3 days before the cruise. So check online during the last week. Second, they will have a wait list on the ship. I bet those odds are low, but better than if you don't sign up!

 

[lillygator]

I'm gold and the platinum had taken all the cabanas before our booking window opened.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm gold and the platinum had taken all the cabanas before our booking window opened.

That's not unusual.

 

[clten]

I'm gold and the platinum had taken all the cabanas before our booking window opened.

Don't jump to conclusions that it was platinum cruisers who took all the reservations. I'm platinum and on my upcoming cruise there was only one cabana available when I logged on at midnight. On certain cruises, there is very limited availability once the concierge bookings are accounted for.