Half Moon Cay cabana question

[Bridges300]

Is there a difference between all the colors of the cabanas? If yes, which is the best to get or is the sun shade clam shell adequate?

[naxos]

If it is only shade you need- do not bother with the expense of a cabana. If youb walk down the beqch there is plenty of shade under th trees -m past the last cabana- we had clamshells and that was more than sufficient.

[gbc]

The primary difference among the colors is the location; secondary is that some of the cabanas have soft walls and some are solid wood. (if you do a search of this board, there are pictures and details of which color is where)OK, I know this sounds strange but what I love best about the cabana is that it is air conditioned. So, if it is a really hot day, I can cool off. Also, you have a refrigerator with snacks and soft drinks. Oy yes, one other thing - last time in HMC we had one of those wonderful tropical thunderstorms: the sky got pitch black and it POURED for about 15 minutes and then, the sun came out. But I do have to say there was nothing as spectacular as watching that storm from the dry interior of that cabana. They are pricey but, for me, it is well worth it.

[texkat]

More than you ever wanted to know about the HMC cabanas:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=32745

[dst]

We had the green cabana in July and it was wonderful, it is at the far end of the beach and very quiet, we also splurged and had the butler with it and it was the highlight of our honeymoon. I must say that whenever we go back to HMC we will do the same.

 

The cabanas are either hard sided or soft sided, all have a frig and a little deck with a few chairs and a table under cover for lunch etc.... also got floaties and hung out in the water for most of the day.

 

It is an expense well worth it IMHO.....

[Ziggy7]

Does anyone know what damage the hurricanes did to the trees, and it is my understanding that all the cabanas are hard sides now. Also are they in the same layout on the beach ???? Anyone know ????? :)

[momqat]

We were there the beginning of January. All were wooden, in the same configuration as the cabana thread posted. :)

[spcl4cs_gal]

Does anyone know what damage the hurricanes did to the trees, and it is my understanding that all the cabanas are hard sides now. Also are they in the same layout on the beach ???? Anyone know ????? :)

 

Apparently there has been a new one added to the beach making 10 in total. Its color? Terracotta. :)

[Ziggy7]

Thanks Momqut!

 

Thanks Allison! Did you happent to get a picture of it ????

[spcl4cs_gal]

Unfortunately no but when I am there in March I will see what I can do for you. :) Although I have to wonder if that's a new name for "tan".

[Ziggy7]

Unfortunately no but when I am there in March I will see what I can do for you. :) Although I have to wonder if that's a new name for "tan".

Awesome! Thanks Allison!:)

[spcl4cs_gal]

Geez didn't mean "tan" in that last post. Their tan cabana is taupe I guess. Just checked the HAL site and yes, there are now 10 cabanas.

[scluvsrain]

DST, what was the butler service like?

[dst]

in one word INCREDIBLE. A few days before you get to HMC the Food/Beverage Manager will make an apt to come to your cabin where he will ask you what you would like to eat and drink. For example our lunch was a starter of lobster bisque and a salad, then we had filet mignon for our main dish and could not decide on the desserts so he brought us all of them :) For beverages we had Corona Beer (which you could not get on the Island so they carried it over from the ship) Diet Pepsi and water. They filled the cooler with that and then when ever I wanted a Pina Colada they would run and get it and even bring it to us in the water.

 

The morning of, the Butler will meet you at your cabin and take any items that you want to bring over. You do not have to wait for a tender as your butler will bring you directly onto the tender. When you get to HMC there is a jeep waiting to drive you to your Cabana. He will carry all of your stuff to the cabana and unpack it for you. There is an ac in the cabana so he sets that to the temp you like. Also waiting for us was our floaties and the went and got us chairs and layed them in the sun for us. He stays there the entire time and sets the table, brings beverages etc....

 

I think the best part of it was when he poped the champagne and carried it out into the water in his white butler shorts :)

 

The entire day was heaven, we never had to leave our Cabana (we did the green one at the far end) we did see some people but not alot. I must say anytime that we ever go back to HMC we will use the Butler service, it may sound extravagant but we work hard and think it is nice to be spoiled at least one day :)

 

Hope this helped; any other questions, please let me know.

Deb

[scluvsrain]

Thanks for the specifics on the butler! Sounds wonderful. Don't know if we'll splurge and do that, but we've got the turquoise cabana booked at least.

Is the butler one of the regular crew from the ship or what? I would imagine he does other duties when not butlering on HMC. And I've got to assume you tipped him at the end of the day?

[dst]

I think he was another employee on the ship but we had never seen him before and he wore a different outfilt than when on the cruise. We did tip him 100.00 at the end of the day.

 

Also at the end of the day, they take you back to the tender and again you have priority boarding and he returns your belongings to your cabin.

 

I know if may seem to be alot but if you can save a few extra dollars, i would do it. Either way, you will love the cabana.....ENJOY :)

[angelkisses]

We also had the green cabana in April 2004. I loved it and would rent one again in a heart beat. My favorite part was the misting spray on the front deck of the cabana. You could lay out in the sun and continuously be misted by the spray.

 

A note on the Butler service: We decided not to go for the Butler Service because of the price, however once we got to the island we soon found we had a butler anyway although one was not requested. The only thing we missed out on was not having one come to our cabin or the personal escort to the cabana. I guess since all the cabanas were not booked that day the butler saw where he could make a little extra money by giving us the superb service we received. He made out by getting the extra tip and we made out by not having to pay extra for a butler. He checked with us about every 30 minutes to see if we needed anything, brought our meal to us and even gave us a ride back in the golf cart when it was time to leave. Our snorkling gear was not the right size so the butler had it exchanged for us. It was nice to have our beverages, fruits, and other snacks waiting for us at the cabana when we arrived as well as the floating mats and snorkling gear. Also, as the previous poster noted the air condition was a nice addition too. It was the hi-lite of our cruise! My advice: Rent a Cabana!!!!

[Ziggy7]

A note on the Butler service: We decided not to go for the Butler Service because of the price, however once we got to the island we soon found we had a butler anyway although one was not requested. The only thing we missed out on was not having one come to our cabin or the personal escort to the cabana. I guess since all the cabanas were not booked that day the butler saw where he could make a little extra money by giving us the superb service we received. He made out by getting the extra tip and we made out by not having to pay extra for a butler. He checked with us about every 30 minutes to see if we needed anything, brought our meal to us and even gave us a ride back in the golf cart when it was time to leave. Our snorkling gear was not the right size so the butler had it exchanged for us. It was nice to have our beverages, fruits, and other snacks waiting for us at the cabana when we arrived as well as the floating mats and snorkling gear. Also, as the previous poster noted the air condition was a nice addition too. It was the hi-lite of our cruise! My advice: Rent a Cabana!!!!

hehehe that was your cabana boy that comes with every cabana, they serve 3 cabanas each, get your drinks, towels,, and bring you bar b q lunch, all included in the 219.00 price. The butler never leaves your cabana except to get you something you requested. :)

[spcl4cs_gal]

NEVER leaves your cabana?? Hmmm....my brother and I are having one next month. :)

[angelkisses]

Thanks Ziggy. That's good to know. I think I prefer a Cabana Boy in that case to a Butler. He provided all the services we needed and yet my fiance and I had our privacy too. I don't much think I would have cared to have anyone around anymore than what we did. Gee .... and I thought we lucked out with special treatment. ;)

[dst]

You guys are too funny, at least you had some special treatment :)

 

Although our Bulter was around for the entire time it was not like he was hanging out in the Cabana he pretty much stayed a distance away and we waved when we wanted him. We even tried to get him to have some Champagne with us but said he could not. All in all in was an incredible experience and even if you do not get the butler service do not miss out on the cabana....as someone else said it was the hightlight of our cruise!

[Ziggy7]

You guys are too funny, at least you had some special treatment :)

 

Although our Bulter was around for the entire time it was not like he was hanging out in the Cabana he pretty much stayed a distance away and we waved when we wanted him. We even tried to get him to have some Champagne with us but said he could not. All in all in was an incredible experience and even if you do not get the butler service do not miss out on the cabana....as someone else said it was the hightlight of our cruise!

I agree, we loved our cabana both weeks when we did our b2b last Aug. Yes it was 2 hundered dollars but it was well worth it as we didnt do any other excursions on HMC. We got snorkeling equipment and floating mats which we used alot, and the a/c was very nice at it was very hot, except when we had a suprise rain storm for 15 minutes hehehe. Awwww it was heaven almost!