Snagged a Cabana!!!! Now I have Questions!

[MessyJessy]

We were on a waiting list for a cabana and didn’t have much hope of obtaining one since we sail on 9/3. Monday we got an email from HAL that a cabana had come available and were we interested in booking it still. We jumped on it and are now the proud owners of the yellow cabana – well, at least for 9/4. I’m very excited and have already found pictures of the cabanas online thanks to Ziggy7, Candy and others for posting them. :D

 

 

I had a few questions about the cabanas since we’ve never had one before. I searched the boards and read through 10 pages of cabana related threads but there is a lot of conflicting information. If you have had a cabana recently would you shed some light on some of the questions I have?

Question 1: With the cabana you are entitled to priority tendering (as stated by HAL on their website). How does that work? Do you just go to the front of the line and tell the staff? Do you have a special pass? Is there a different line for cabana / priority tender passengers? Do you call someone?

 

 

Question 2: My father-in-law is a large man and cannot walk far distances. We are in the yellow cabana and it is one of the furthest down the beach. Does HAL provide transportation to your cabana? Whom would you speak with to arrange transportation? Would I have to do it before we arrive on the Zuiderdam?

 

 

Question 3: Several posters stated that the cabana attendant delivers the barbeque lunch. Others have said that they had to get it themselves. If you do not book the butler service (apparently it is not an option for the yellow cabana since it’s so far down the beach) will they still deliver lunch? It would make it easier if they could deliver lunch since my father-in-law has a hard time walking long distances. Should I give a tip in advance and ask if they would deliver lunch?

 

 

Question 4: Some posters said their cabana attendant was nonexistent. How many cabana attendants are to a cabana or vice versa? Is there one assigned to your area that you can flag down for more drinks or do you have to find a waiter from the bar? Will they have everything in the cabana waiting for you before you get there (like the drinks, snacks, towels and water toys) or do you have to request the items once you arrive?

 

 

Question 5: We are scheduled to be in HMC from 8:00 am till 4:00 pm. When does the last tender leave the island? Will they send transportation to the cabana to take us back to the tender? We will need some assistance since my father-in-law has trouble walking distances.

 

 

Thanks for your help! I can’t wait to see my cabana! :D

[General Max]

Considering your questions above, I do not think you are going to like the answers to a lot of them.

 

Cheers

 

General max

[MessyJessy]

Considering your questions above, I do not think you are going to like the answers to a lot of them.

 

:confused: Gee, that's a bold assumption to make. I guess we won't know if I'll "like the answers" until someone supplies the information. :rolleyes: That brings me to my next question. Do you actually have any valid information about cabanas to contribute? :rolleyes:

[dacade]

We forgot to congratulate you guys on the Roll Call board - so CONGRATS on the cabana. Have you contacted HAL regarding your questions? They may be the first, or last, or only place to get any defintives. Good luck in your search. Your questions are certainly valid!

 

We will look for you at the Meet and Greet!

[MessyJessy]

We forgot to congratulate you guys on the Roll Call board - so CONGRATS on the cabana. Have you contacted HAL regarding your questions? They may be the first, or last, or only place to get any defintives. Good luck in your search. Your questions are certainly valid! We will look for you at the Meet and Greet!

 

Thanks dacade! I am really happy we were able to get one this time. Seriously, the grin has not left my face since I booked it! :D Our last visit we had a clamshell. I did contact HAL but the rep wasn't that helpful. She couldn't answer a lot of the questions I had and only advised that butler service isn't offered for the yellow cabana since it is so far down the beach. :rolleyes:

 

I'm hoping that past cabana occupants can help me out! :p

[dacade]

Too bad HAL didn't have the answers you need.

 

Hopefully someone on this board who has "been there, done that" will provide the info you need. Give them, let's say ... 15 days!!!

[Sage]

Let me first start by saying congratulations on your cabana. We have loved ours each time we have been on HMC. There is transportation provided to the cabana, but there will still be some walking involved. The tram will pick you up at information booth when you first come ashore. If it is not very busy, you may be able to find someone to bring your lunch to you, but there is not a cabana person assigned to your cabana or any cabana unless you have the Butler service. I would suggest that you go and get a plate for your FIL and take it back to the cabana. The Butler service also entitles you to priority tendering, and if you are in a S category, you will have priority tendering. The items, such as the snacks, drinks and floats and such should be there when you arrive.

[Ziggy7]

Question 1: With the cabana you are entitled to priority tendering (as stated by HAL on their website). How does that work? Do you just go to the front of the line and tell the staff? Do you have a special pass? Is there a different line for cabana / priority tender passengers? Do you call someone?

The night before HMC you will recieve a priorty tender ticket in your cabin, then just walk to the front of the line and present it to the tender people.

Question 2: My father-in-law is a large man and cannot walk far distances. We are in the yellow cabana and it is one of the furthest down the beach. Does HAL provide transportation to your cabana? Whom would you speak with to arrange transportation? Would I have to do it before we arrive on the Zuiderdam?

Hal will provide assistance with the use of a tram, just check in at the information booth at the entrence of HMC, and ask for help for your FIL/group.

 

Question 3: Several posters stated that the cabana attendant delivers the barbeque lunch. Others have said that they had to get it themselves. If you do not book the butler service (apparently it is not an option for the yellow cabana since it’s so far down the beach) will they still deliver lunch? It would make it easier if they could deliver lunch since my father-in-law has a hard time walking long distances. Should I give a tip in advance and ask if they would deliver lunch?

I think much of the service you get depends on who you get as a cabana boy, so I would tip a little in advance, telling them there is more if they deliver lunch to your cabana, this will probaly do the trick. Ours (2 cabana boys) came at 12 noon and took our order for what meats we wanted, then brought us a bunch of the other stuff with a bunch of the meats we wanted, the BBQ opens at 11:30am so if you want food then you will prolly have to get it yourself.

Question 4: Some posters said their cabana attendant was nonexistent. How many cabana attendants are to a cabana or vice versa? Is there one assigned to your area that you can flag down for more drinks or do you have to find a waiter from the bar? Will they have everything in the cabana waiting for you before you get there (like the drinks, snacks, towels and water toys) or do you have to request the items once you arrive?

Ours was a team of 2 for 3 cabanas (not all ours lol) and in between our cabana and one of the others was a bar server station, so we didnt need to wait till our cabana guys returned, keep in mind, they dont wait on you hand and foot, thats the butlar service, but they will check in on you occasionly to see if you need anything. On slow days some may hang around longer than others but that is a bonus, not something that automaticly comes with the cabana :)

Everything should be in your cabana when you get there, your cabana boy can help you if they are not, we were given a slip asking us questions on how many floats, snorkel gear, what sizes for snorkel flippers, what kind of soft drinks did we want, to be filled out and returned to the pursers desk by the night before.

When we got off the first tender, it was with alot of the crew, so we went straight to our cabana, when we got there they were still setting up our stuff, so it may take them some time.

 

Question 5: We are scheduled to be in HMC from 8:00 am till 4:00 pm. When does the last tender leave the island? Will they send transportation to the cabana to take us back to the tender? We will need some assistance since my father-in-law has trouble walking distances.

That is something you should ask once your at the information desk on arrival, I'm sure they will have a time for the last tram to run and you will need to be standing on the dirt path to hitch hike back. but its best to ask when you get there. Last tender will prolly leave at 3:30pm, as a cabana holder you will be allowed to take the last tender off. But may be required to leave sooner for the tram service. So asking these at information will be a good thing hehehe :) Be flexible and you will have a great time :)

[TidePrideGA]

Hi, Jesse! I, like you, will have my first cabana (the orange one) at HMC. So, while I can't answer from experience, I've talked to a bunch of people (including my TA and other is RL) who do have this experience, and here's the concensus answers to your questions, realizing that everyone's experience can be different, in reality and perception:

 

Question 1: With the cabana you are entitled to priority tendering (as stated by HAL on their website). How does that work? Do you just go to the front of the line and tell the staff? Do you have a special pass? Is there a different line for cabana / priority tender passengers? Do you call someone?

 

This is the one question I won't be able to answer, because I've never asked (although I was aware it came with priority tendering). I assume they will give you a pass, since S and up categories prove their priority by having a gold card. The way this works is most people are assigned to a tendering time. If you have priority status, you don't have to wait for your time, but can go on ANY tender leaving. This does NOT mean you "go to the front of the line" - just that you are assigned to "any" boat rather than a specific boat.

 

Question 2: My father-in-law is a large man and cannot walk far distances. We are in the yellow cabana and it is one of the furthest down the beach. Does HAL provide transportation to your cabana? Whom would you speak with to arrange transportation? Would I have to do it before we arrive on the Zuiderdam?

 

There is a tram that takes people over to the other side of the island where the motorized water toys are. They will usually be happy to drop you off as close to your cabana as you can get. I would ask the tram driver what's the best way to get back.

 

Question 3: Several posters stated that the cabana attendant delivers the barbeque lunch. Others have said that they had to get it themselves. If you do not book the butler service (apparently it is not an option for the yellow cabana since it’s so far down the beach) will they still deliver lunch? It would make it easier if they could deliver lunch since my father-in-law has a hard time walking long distances. Should I give a tip in advance and ask if they would deliver lunch?

 

You DO have a cabana attendant, who is assigned to as many as 3 cabanas. As with any other service (e.g. cabin stewards) some are going to do better jobs than others. The majority seemed to have gotten great service, anything they needed when they wanted it, including lunch being brought to them. My guess is, though, that the further down you are, the less wonderful the service will be.

Question 4: Some posters said their cabana attendant was nonexistent. How many cabana attendants are to a cabana or vice versa? Is there one assigned to your area that you can flag down for more drinks or do you have to find a waiter from the bar? Will they have everything in the cabana waiting for you before you get there (like the drinks, snacks, towels and water toys) or do you have to request the items once you arrive?

 

See Question 3, and everything (towels, snorkel gear, drinks, snacks) should be there when you arrive. If not, ask.

 

Question 5: We are scheduled to be in HMC from 8:00 am till 4:00 pm. When does the last tender leave the island? Will they send transportation to the cabana to take us back to the tender? We will need some assistance since my father-in-law has trouble walking distances.

 

Again, ask the tram driver when you first get to HMC. I'm sure they'll be happy to provide *some* assistance. I would suggest that given your situation you not wait for the last tender time - those tend to be the most crowded. You might want to think about heading back for a relaxing afternoon on the uncrowded ship - maybe early afternoon.

 

Thanks for your help! I can’t wait to see my cabana! :D

 

I know exactly how you feel!! I'm looking more forward to my "cabana day" than any other port - I'm keeping fingers and toes crossed we don't miss it due to weather.

[MessyJessy]

Let me first start by saying congratulations on your cabana. We have loved ours each time we have been on HMC. There is transportation provided to the cabana, but there will still be some walking involved. The tram will pick you up at information booth when you first come ashore. If it is not very busy, you may be able to find someone to bring your lunch to you, but there is not a cabana person assigned to your cabana or any cabana unless you have the Butler service. I would suggest that you go and get a plate for your FIL and take it back to the cabana. The Butler service also entitles you to priority tendering, and if you are in a S category, you will have priority tendering. The items, such as the snacks, drinks and floats and such should be there when you arrive.

Sage - thanks for the information! I appreciate all the advice. I was concerned about the FIL making it to the cabana if he had to walk. It's good to know they have transportation for him.

 

Personally, I like walking the beach and will probably stroll along the waters edge all the way to the cabana with the husband in hand (yes, I am a hopeless romantic). :p

Rats! It's too bad they won't send a butler down to the yellow cabana! Oh well.

[TidePrideGA]

Oh, I almost forgot!! See here for a GREAT story on what one family's cabana day was like:

 

http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/feature/HalCabana.cfm

[peaches from georgia]

The night before HMC you will recieve a priorty tender ticket in your cabin, then just walk to the front of the line and present it to the tender people.

Having priority tendering means that you will either have your special S ships card to show or a priority tender pass given to you the night before. You do not have to go to an assigned Lounge to get a tender number. You go directly to the deck where the tenders are loading.

 

However, you do NOT go to the front of that line unless you want to make some other pax already waiting very angry. Take your place at the end of that line unless you don't mind being extremely rude. ;)

[HeatherInFlorida]

I tried doing a post answering every question one by one, but I'm having an ongoing problem with CC (brand new problem) where my entire internet connection freezes when I hit "submit reply" and I can do nothing except end the program.

 

But luckily others have jumped in and helped. I will add, however, that I was told the yellow cabana was a problem for people with any kind of disability. Perhaps they have improved this since last November but at that time, the shuttles could not go as far as the yellow cabana. So do check with HAL.

 

We did not pre-tip our cabana boys and they could not have been more wonderful. We had 2 and they served 3 cabanas. However, one of those had butler service so they only needed to serve 2. That may have made it easier for them, but they were actually with us most of the day. They hung in our window and chatted with us a good part of the time. We loved them and, of course, tipped them very well at the end of the day. We did not have to go for our own food.

 

All in all it's a wonderful day so I hope it all works out for you and your family. Have a great time!

[Ziggy7]

Having priority tendering means that you will either have your special S ships card to show or a priority tender pass given to you the night before. You do not have to go to an assigned Lounge to get a tender number. You go directly to the deck where the tenders are loading.

I believe that is what I said, I never said you needed to go to the lounge :)

 

However, you do NOT go to the front of that line unless you want to make some other pax already waiting very angry. Take your place at the end of that line unless you don't mind being extremely rude. ;)

Thats what we did, just got in line and right away a crew member stopped and told us we were suppose to just go up front and escorted us there, he said thats what priorty meant! We did nothing rude, we purchased that right! They also were not letting anyone on except priorty passes for 10 minutes after we got there. :D

[peaches from georgia]

I believe that is what I said, I never said you needed to go to the lounge :)

 

You are right. You didn't say to go to a Lounge, nor did I say that you did. I was simply giving the policy that anyone with a priority pass does not go to the Lounge, in case this pax heard the announcement about going to the Lounge and was confused.

 

Thats what we did, just got in line and right away a crew member stopped and told us we were suppose to just go up front and escorted us there, he said thats what priorty meant! We did nothing rude, we purchased that right! They also were not letting anyone on except priorty passes for 10 minutes after we got there. :D

Then they have changed the policy of even priority pax getting into the queue at the tender deck. This question and topic has been asked on CC many times and the answer has always been the same- you don't go to the Lounge for a tender ticket, but do get on line when you go down to get your tender. We have always had a priority Suite card pass or card and priority pax have always gotten on line. Thanks for letting us know there has been a change in policy.

[MessyJessy]

The night before HMC you will recieve a priorty tender ticket in your cabin, then just walk to the front of the line and present it to the tender people.... Be flexible and you will have a great time :)

 

Ziggy - you always amaze me with the plethora of information you provide.:D Thanks for clearing some stuff up for me and the in-laws!

[MessyJessy]

Oh, I almost forgot!! See here for a GREAT story on what one family's cabana day was like:...

 

Wow! Great link Tide! Thanks for your help!:D

[MessyJessy]

...However, you do NOT go to the front of that line unless you want to make some other pax already waiting very angry. Take your place at the end of that line unless you don't mind being extremely rude. ;)

As a fellow southerner, I understand how rude this would be to my cruisemates. I'll just smile demurely, bat my lashes and ask an attendant where the priority passengers tender is! If that doesn't work then I'll wait paitiently in line with the rest of the folks - Shucks, my cabana's not going anywhere! :rolleyes: Thanks for the tips Peaches!

[MessyJessy]

I will add, however, that I was told the yellow cabana was a problem for people with any kind of disability. Perhaps they have improved this since last November but at that time, the shuttles could not go as far as the yellow cabana. So do check with HAL.

Hmmm...perhaps this is the reason it became availible? :rolleyes:

 

We did not pre-tip our cabana boys and they could not have been more wonderful. We had 2 and they served 3 cabanas. However, one of those had butler service so they only needed to serve 2. That may have made it easier for them, but they were actually with us most of the day. They hung in our window and chatted with us a good part of the time. We loved them and, of course, tipped them very well at the end of the day. We did not have to go for our own food.All in all it's a wonderful day so I hope it all works out for you and your family. Have a great time!

I think I saw your pictures of the cabana posted on webshots (or maybe that's another HeatherinFlorida?). We liked HMC the last time we were there and we will have an even better time with the cabana!:D

[TidePrideGA]

Wow! Great link Tide! Thanks for your help!:D

Isn't that a GREAT story? We were debating whether to spend the $$ on a cabana and leaning against until we read that - after that, it was a done deal!

[Ziggy7]

Ziggy - you always amaze me with the plethora of information you provide.:D Thanks for clearing some stuff up for me and the in-laws!

You are very welcome! I also want to say how beautiful a bride you are! I really enjoyed looking at your wedding pictures and cruise albums. Thanks for sharing them :)

[Lvteks]

Luck can strike more than once....why not see if there is a wait-list? Even if there is, my style is to check in frequently because the result means more to me than anyone else. Although my on-line TA got ahead of me and found a "scenic" side cabin for our S.A. cruise in Dec. That was a first.

 

Be positive and persistent, nothing happens unless you act and with a cruise a lot of circumstances change over time. Good Luck....and bless your heart for caring about your FIL. Keep the atitude.:)

 

Blessings,

[HeatherInFlorida]

Hmmm...perhaps this is the reason it became availible? :rolleyes:

 

I think I saw your pictures of the cabana posted on webshots (or maybe that's another HeatherinFlorida?). We liked HMC the last time we were there and we will have an even better time with the cabana!:D

 

Yes! Those are my pictures ... same HeatherinFlorida:D . I hope you liked the pictures ... we had such a wonderful day.

 

Check with HAL about the shuttle because they may have extended the road. You never know. Don't go by me because this was last November and things change all the time.

 

I hope you'll tell us about your cruise, and of course your visit to HMC, when you get back. Have an amazing time!

[McDebbie]

Oh man, now I want a cabana! :) Actually our goal is to walk all around to get the big picture so we may be dropping in at the yellow cabana. Two weeks and two days to go, can't wait!

[MessyJessy]

You are very welcome! I also want to say how beautiful a bride you are! I really enjoyed looking at your wedding pictures and cruise albums. Thanks for sharing them :)

Awwww....thanks! :p I'm glad you enjoyed them. I'll post new pictures of our Zuiderdam cruise and my yellow cabana in 3 weeks! :D