HMC Cabana ?

[Katiedid]

New to CC and also to HAL. We have booked next April 9 on the Westedam and were lucky enough to secure the terra cotta cabana.We planned on going all out, (since this is a special vacation, silver anniv.) and having the butler service also. Now it sounds like a cabana boy(?) is included any way and he will get your drinks and set up your buffet lunch and you are totally pampered sans the extra expense of the butler package.

If any one has had the butler service could you advise on the pros and cons...

[LolaWiz]

there are a few theads about this in this forum... from what i remember, the butler service is a bit more special because you get to choose from a special lunch menu, very gourmet. plus, i believe drinks (hard, beer) are included.

Let me check around and i can find it for you.

 

I hope someone can say more, especially if they have the experience of it first hand!!!

 

edit: this is what is said on hal's website: The Butler Service Upgrade Package includes:

- Unlimited beverages that are available from the various bars on Half Moon Cay. Drinks made from house brand liquor, all beers, soft drinks, bottled water and wine.

- A picnic lunch consisting of appetizer, entree, and dessert.

- Butler escort from your cabin to assist you ashore carrying all belongings to and from the ship.

- Your Butler will see to whatever needs you have on the island including shopping from the island shops and any Shore Excursion bookings you may like to make on Half Moon Cay.

[jimbug]

Not to burst your bubble (because I would LOVE to be able to splurge for butler service with our cabana...), but I thought I read on here somewhere that the cabanas furthest down the beach (terra cotta being the furthest) could not have butler service because they were too far away from the food/drink facilities.

 

Now, this may or may not be true, and I may be imagining that I read it. However, I would call HAL just in case to be certain because I would hate for you to look forward to it and then be disappointed if they told you it couldn't happen. Is there a possibility of booking a closer cabana for your sailing?

[Ziggy7]

Not to burst your bubble (because I would LOVE to be able to splurge for butler service with our cabana...), but I thought I read on here somewhere that the cabanas furthest down the beach (terra cotta being the furthest) could not have butler service because they were too far away from the food/drink facilities.

 

Now, this may or may not be true, and I may be imagining that I read it. However, I would call HAL just in case to be certain because I would hate for you to look forward to it and then be disappointed if they told you it couldn't happen. Is there a possibility of booking a closer cabana for your sailing?

You are right, the terra cotta is too far for butler service, what they will do is move you to a closer cabana, even if they are sold out, they will shift pax around as to allow you to do this as its mega money to them :) I believe only the first three cabanas are allowed butler service.

[dreamofcruising]

Hello! I will be on the 4/9/06 Westerdam too. We have the turquoise rented. I sure hope we do not get bumped from it. But if we do, will HAL call and ask us first? I spent a good bit of time picking this cabana from comments here....would be bummed to be bumped!

[Ziggy7]

I doubt that you will be bumped, they will start at the tan, then the blue, they dont usually have more than one request per ship, so having 3 requests for Butler service is almost impossible :)

[Katiedid]

I did contact HAL about the distance and they advised that starting in "06" butler service would be available at all the cabanas, but I am begining to wonder if it is a big waste??

[LolaWiz]

I did contact HAL about the distance and they advised that starting in "06" butler service would be available at all the cabanas, but I am begining to wonder if it is a big waste??

i do not think its a big waste at all, especially if you are celebrating something special!

 

some one got it last time we were at HMC... it was so cute, besides everything else, they take a picture of you in the water with your butler (all "dressed up") and him holding a bottle of champagne and glasses on a tray standing in the water with black tux shorts on! They give you the picture. I asked the lady after the picture was taken what was going on and she said she got the butler package.

 

I would like to get it if I have the extra money! CARPE DIEM I say!!

[meglet]

With no butler package, I think it depends on what "cabana boys" are assigned to you for the day. In summer of 04 when we had the sky blue cabana, the guys couldn't do enough for us, offering to bring us drinks and get lunch for us. Last summer, the cabana boys checked in frequently with us to say hello, but never offered to bring back drinks or food. Both years were the sky blue location.

If you don't book the butler package, but want the waiter in the water picture, just keep an eye out. Ships photogs will be around taking as many pics as they can. Have a wonderful time!

[Ziggy7]

Cabana boys should get your food and drinks always, if not I would not tip them for sure! :D

[shonuf]

I have searched and read several threads about HMC cabanas but I still have a question. We are looking at Jan 07 on the Zuiderdam with friends. As we have not booked, I can't get the info from HAL's website.

 

What are the current cabana prices; with and without a butler. We are having dinner with our friends next week and I want to be able to talk to them about this.

 

Thanks,

[Randyk47]

As I recall it was $219 for the cabana and an additional $279 (???), or something like that, for the butler. We opted not to get the butler and really didn't notice. It was just the two of us and we easily managed to get our stuff to the sky blue cabana without a problem. We invited another couple, our dinner tablemates, to join us as the basic cost covers up to four people. We really didn't need much as we were asked a couple of days into the cruise what we'd like in our cabana and it was all set up for us when we got ashore. As Meglet mentioned....and we had the same cabana....the cabana boys are pretty much up and down the beach all day long checking on you and getting stuff if you need anything.

[refman]

it`s on HAL`s website under the halfmoon cay excursion list. you may need your booking number to access that particular page.

[refman]

nice picture, do you remember where the purple cabana was located?

[Randyk47]

The purple cabana was just to the right of ours......facing out toward the bay and the ship. If you're looking from the ship the purple cabana would be kind of left of center.

[Randyk47]

Here's another view of the purple cabana showing some of the others down to the left. I walked up and down the beach and took a picture of every cabana. These are recent....like just a little over two weeks ago.

[spcl4cs_gal]

You are right, the terra cotta is too far for butler service, what they will do is move you to a closer cabana, even if they are sold out, they will shift pax around as to allow you to do this as its mega money to them :) I believe only the first three cabanas are allowed butler service.

 

Hi Ziggy,

 

Unless HAL has changed things since last summer, all of the cabanas get the butler service if purchased, with the exception of the yellow and terra cotta cabanas.

 

To the OP, the butler service definitely is a perk and if you like five course meals for lunch, champagne, and your very own butler for the day, then this service is for you. A cabana without the butler has a cabana boy attached to it but you have to share him with two or three other cabanas for the day. He will bring you drinks and your lunch from the BBQ as well...but this doesn't compare with the lunch offered with the butler service. If this is a special time for you (sure sounds like it!), then I would suggest the butler service. Be sure to check to see if it is offered to terra cotta people before you go though. Enjoy! :)

[AlexandNessa]

Hi, we just had the butler package on 3/12 in the Orange Cabana. We loved it. The absolute only thing that I was disappointed in was that the ship was cleared and tenders started going around 8 am, and the earliest you could arrange to have the butler "pick you up" in your cabin was 9 am so I felt we lost an hour. Apparently, they need that extra time to get everything ready in your cabana.

 

So, our butler met us and escorted us past a very long line of people waiting to get on the next tender. Those pax were not too happy, and I was a little embarrassed at first, but quickly got over it and thought, "too bad!" The cabana and butler package is not inexpensive at all, and those pax were also welcome to pay to the price for such a perk. ;)

 

The food was phenomenal; the service was great; whatever drinks we wanted kept coming. We would not hesitate to do the butler package again (and are planning on it twice for our next B2B cruises).

 

Also, just as an FYI, our butler told us that all the cabanas are usually rented, but they usually have about only 2 per cruise that opt for the butler package.

 

I am happy to help with any questions. Enjoy it!

[S.S.Oceanlover]

New to CC and also to HAL. We have booked next April 9 on the Westedam and were lucky enough to secure the terra cotta cabana.We planned on going all out, (since this is a special vacation, silver anniv.) and having the butler service also. Now it sounds like a cabana boy(?) is included any way and he will get your drinks and set up your buffet lunch and you are totally pampered sans the extra expense of the butler package.

If any one has had the butler service could you advise on the pros and cons...

 

we had a cabana last summer and the cabana boy did nada for us. I don't know if they are supposed to get your buffet or drinks but we saw our cabana boy one time in 4 hours.

We didn't even get the salsa. We did get the chips though.

 

After reading this board we found out that you usually get great service from the cabana guys. We just had a bad day I guess.

 

Bill

[refman]

randy, thanx for the pic`s and info