Pay for umbrella/lounger?

[petuniaflower]

Is it true you  must pay for an umbrella/loungers at Ocean Cay?  If so, how does this work..pre purchase on ship/valid for any umbrella?  Thx

[AndersK]

6 hours ago, petuniaflower said:

Is it true you  must pay for an umbrella/loungers at Ocean Cay?  If so, how does this work..pre purchase on ship/valid for any umbrella?  Thx

 

Loungers are free at OC. Umbrella is for rent. You can pre purchase before your cruise ($12) or at the excursion desk onboard the ship.

[cruzingambler]

Is one umbrella large enough to provide shade for 2 loungers? 

 

Thanks

[petuniaflower]

I love MSC but find this so odd for their private island..they provide the food included and even drink if youre on a plan, but you have pay for an umbrella? 

 

So when you pay on the ship, do you just pick any umbrella already set up on the island?  Then are you kind of stuck in that area for the day with that umbrella, or can you just use any umbrella?  Thx

[dexddd]

6 hours ago, petuniaflower said:

I love MSC but find this so odd for their private island..they provide the food included and even drink if youre on a plan, but you have pay for an umbrella? 

 

So when you pay on the ship, do you just pick any umbrella already set up on the island?  Then are you kind of stuck in that area for the day with that umbrella, or can you just use any umbrella?  Thx

This varies by line.  Ncl charges,Dcl doesn't as example.  Food and drinks originally not free but changed mind.

[Anita Latte]

You can reserve the umbrella in advance through the cruise planner or simply do in onboard the ship. We filled out the paper for the umbrella rental onboard. The shore excursions desk was closed, so fill out the paperwork and put it in the clear box at the desk where you put such things. The excursion ticket for our umbrella rental showed up at our stateroom.

 

On the island, we walked out to where we wanted to be. There are umbrella stands all over. They are moveable but they are sturdy where they are. A pole base is somewhat dug down into the sand and then that pole is secured with a sort of canvas surround that holds sand to keep the pole base steady. There was a nearby rental place where you show your excursion ticket and pick up your umbrella. They are in sling bags and are extremely lightweight to carry. You pick any umbrella base you want and any lounger you want and set up your umbrella. It IS a bit odd in that you are doing all the work of the umbrella set up, but it is very easy to do.

 

Definitely, one umbrella is fine for two people. As expected, the shade moves and you can easy rearrange your lounge chairs so that you can keep to the shade of the umbrella. Should you decide to move where you are parked, you could easily carry your umbrella to a new area.

 

We stayed put in our spot for the day. There were no issues leaving the umbrellas to go grab food, swim, walk around, etc.

 

Not too many people rented the umbrellas.

 

The island has a bit of the new construction, immature landscaping look and so the current trees, etc., do not offer too much shade but there are a FEW, very few, spots here and there were you can find some shade and move a lounger to such a place. Seriously, though, very FEW.

 

Rental spots are in several places on the island and each different area has a bit of a different flavor. It's super easy to deal wit the umbrella situation and I would definitely rent an umbrella again. Enjoy your day! Ocean Cay is gorgeous.

[jules815]

On 1/16/2020 at 10:41 PM, petuniaflower said:

I love MSC but find this so odd for their private island..they provide the food included and even drink if youre on a plan, but you have pay for an umbrella? 

 

So when you pay on the ship, do you just pick any umbrella already set up on the island?  Then are you kind of stuck in that area for the day with that umbrella, or can you just use any umbrella?  Thx

 

It was the same on Labadee when we sailed with Royal Caribbean.  Paying for the umbrella is pretty standard.

 

[jdvmd]

If you buy ahead of time or on the ship, the cost is $12.99. If you wait until you get to OC, the price is $14.99 due to the Bahamian tax.

 

[petuniaflower]

5 hours ago, Anita Latte said:

You can reserve the umbrella in advance through the cruise planner or simply do in onboard the ship. We filled out the paper for the umbrella rental onboard. The shore excursions desk was closed, so fill out the paperwork and put it in the clear box at the desk where you put such things. The excursion ticket for our umbrella rental showed up at our stateroom.

 

On the island, we walked out to where we wanted to be. There are umbrella stands all over. They are moveable but they are sturdy where they are. A pole base is somewhat dug down into the sand and then that pole is secured with a sort of canvas surround that holds sand to keep the pole base steady. There was a nearby rental place where you show your excursion ticket and pick up your umbrella. They are in sling bags and are extremely lightweight to carry. You pick any umbrella base you want and any lounger you want and set up your umbrella. It IS a bit odd in that you are doing all the work of the umbrella set up, but it is very easy to do.

 

Definitely, one umbrella is fine for two people. As expected, the shade moves and you can easy rearrange your lounge chairs so that you can keep to the shade of the umbrella. Should you decide to move where you are parked, you could easily carry your umbrella to a new area.

 

We stayed put in our spot for the day. There were no issues leaving the umbrellas to go grab food, swim, walk around, etc.

 

Not too many people rented the umbrellas.

 

The island has a bit of the new construction, immature landscaping look and so the current trees, etc., do not offer too much shade but there are a FEW, very few, spots here and there were you can find some shade and move a lounger to such a place. Seriously, though, very FEW.

 

Rental spots are in several places on the island and each different area has a bit of a different flavor. It's super easy to deal wit the umbrella situation and I would definitely rent an umbrella again. Enjoy your day! Ocean Cay is gorgeous.

Perfect, just the info I was looking for!  Will definitely be getting one, we will be 7 but really only 1 who needs the shade, the rest like to rotate/ be in the water etc.

 

Is there a volleyball net anywhere you noticed?

[Anita Latte]

9 hours ago, petuniaflower said:

Is there a volleyball net anywhere you noticed?

 

I didn’t see the volleyball net but there has to be at least one on Sunset Beach because there was a beach volleyball tournament scheduled on Sunset Beach.