Skip Serenity Bay?

[insureman]

I watched a Vlog on YouTube yesterday and the beach at Serenity Bay looks awful. Has anyone been there the last couple of weeks to confirm this. We'll be cruising shortly and because so much beach has eroded from the hurricane it was very crowded. I'm thinking on skipping it and dealing with the family beach. Any thoughts?

 

[disdel]

We were there a little over two weeks ago during WONDER's repositioning to New Orleans. The usable beach is very short from the waterline back towards the cabanas. There is a big jump up to where the cabanas are from erosion. In-water is not too changed. Thecwater depth for some reason has trended shallower and shallower for years. You can go quite far out and still be barely waist high. The bottom itself hasn't changed much. The further away from the arrival area, bar and restrooms, the less rocky it is.

As to crowds, we arrived there later since we wanted to explore the family areas, plus due to dietary needs had to pre-arrange food, which they prefer to do at Cookie's. So it was near 1:000 by the time we arrived at Serenity Bay. No trouble finding loungers and chairs, but people weren't as spread out as in the past.

One disturbing aspect was a couple nearby who had brought a small, maybe 12 inch cube, boombox on which they had music that was clearly heard for dozens of yards around. We had been pretty far out in the water, but it was going when we came back to our chairs. Folks next to us said it had been going for quite a while. By that time, it was nearing departure time, and they packed up and walked off before the lifeguards walked along stacking the loungers. I would have notified a lifequard or other castmember otherwise. It was the first time we had ever experienced that. I always credited DCL for not even piping in their own low-key soundtrack to that area.

 

[Adventurelawyer]

I watched a Vlog on YouTube yesterday and the beach at Serenity Bay looks awful. Has anyone been there the last couple of weeks to confirm this. We'll be cruising shortly and because so much beach has eroded from the hurricane it was very crowded. I'm thinking on skipping it and dealing with the family beach. Any thoughts?

Which vlog? I wanna check it out too, please.

 

[fredandkell]

I haven’t been recently so I can’t comment on the erosion but I’ve always thought that the family beach is much nicer than the adult beach.

 

[dolewhipdreams]

Which ship are you sailing on? The size of the ship makes a huge difference. We just got off the Magic yesterday (were at CC on Wednesday 2/19) and it was absolutely stunning. No issues finding shaded chairs at around 10:30am. Yes the water is very shallow but we found that to be relaxing. It was crystal clear and so, so quiet. We loved it and wouldn't imagine skipping it. The photos below were taken two days ago.

 

[allaboutthemouse]

We were there a little over two weeks ago during WONDER's repositioning to New Orleans. The usable beach is very short from the waterline back towards the cabanas. There is a big jump up to where the cabanas are from erosion. In-water is not too changed. Thecwater depth for some reason has trended shallower and shallower for years. You can go quite far out and still be barely waist high. The bottom itself hasn't changed much. The further away from the arrival area, bar and restrooms, the less rocky it is.

As to crowds, we arrived there later since we wanted to explore the family areas, plus due to dietary needs had to pre-arrange food, which they prefer to do at Cookie's. So it was near 1:000 by the time we arrived at Serenity Bay. No trouble finding loungers and chairs, but people weren't as spread out as in the past.

One disturbing aspect was a couple nearby who had brought a small, maybe 12 inch cube, boombox on which they had music that was clearly heard for dozens of yards around. We had been pretty far out in the water, but it was going when we came back to our chairs. Folks next to us said it had been going for quite a while. By that time, it was nearing departure time, and they packed up and walked off before the lifeguards walked along stacking the loungers. I would have notified a lifequard or other castmember otherwise. It was the first time we had ever experienced that. I always credited DCL for not even piping in their own low-key soundtrack to that area.

Noticed the erosion there as well from when I was there is August 2019 to this repo cruise in February...and just wanted to second this disturbing aspect you speak of, the boombox...I don’t want to hear that either. Fortunately, we were far enough down, almost to the end, that we didn’t hear it from where we were, just when walking past to eat. Wouldn’t want to be right next to that, but some people don’t mind I guess?

 

[insureman]

Which vlog? I wanna check it out too, please.

Here you go.

 

[insureman]

Which ship are you sailing on? The size of the ship makes a huge difference. We just got off the Magic yesterday (were at CC on Wednesday 2/19) and it was absolutely stunning. No issues finding shaded chairs at around 10:30am. Yes the water is very shallow but we found that to be relaxing. It was crystal clear and so, so quiet. We loved it and wouldn't imagine skipping it. The photos below were taken two days ago.

View attachment 475511

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View attachment 475513

Sailing on the Fantasy. It looks like those pics are at the opposite side from the entrance. Maybe there's more beach on that end.

 

[kurts mom]

We were on The Wonder a few weeks ago and got to Serenity fairly early and couldn’t get a chair. The beach eroded quite a bit
They only had one row of chairs and only half of them had umbrellas The water was beautiful tho

 

[Adventurelawyer]

Looks like I'll be skipping it. I do have a cabana massage booked for the afternoon, but honestly, I can't see myself fighting for real estate. Would rather post up elsewhere.

 

[Minnie352]

We were at SB a little over a week ago (7 nt Wonder from NOLA). We were shocked how much beach they have lost just since November '19. We arrived early, and it was high tide. As the tide went out it got a little better. The incline from chairs to water was steep in areas. It was wider farther down the beach (away from Airbar). I hope they can eventually replace the sand they lost. Despite being a smaller passenger count than the Dream class ships, it felt crowded. We mentioned it on the survey. We still love the place, though!

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

One disturbing aspect was a couple nearby who had brought a small, maybe 12 inch cube, boombox on which they had music that was clearly heard for dozens of yards around. We had been pretty far out in the water, but it was going when we came back to our chairs. Folks next to us said it had been going for quite a while.

That is horrible. It's amazing how selfish and inconsiderate some people can be, to assume everyone on the beach wants to listen to their music, or to just not care about anyone else as long as they get what they want. I hope this was a violation of the rules that they unfortunately got away with, and not something Disney expressly allows.

 

[JPTexan82]

I don’t even go down there anymore. On the dream class ships, the crowds are larger. Plus the walk to the bar is crazy far for what’s suppose to be a relaxing time.