Annefran

Wonderful review and gorgeous photos, thanks so much for sharing. It was like we were right there with you. Happy Cruising!

Great photos Radio. I also have a couple friends cruising with you and are posting photos whenever they can. Would like to hear your perspective on the studio cabin after staying there for the 2 nights. As always a wonderful review.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Anne, We all love Radio's reports and beautiful pics! Perhaps you didn't realize you can reply without adding the pics again. The thread is so much easier to read without the repeats. Just a suggestion.

Yes I do realize that, been on CC for years. Just wanted Radio to know I appreciated those particular photos.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Here are a few more pics. . . Many more later.

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

 

I am almost there . . . just a few more steps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ahhh. . . .I will spend a lot of time in this beautiful Solarium

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a lot to see on this ship. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a very small (119sq ft) cabin on Deck 6.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a Super Studio Balcony Cabin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Balcony size is wonderful

 

 

 

 

 

.

Hi Radio thanks so much for the studio balcony photos. I'm also on deck 6 in the same type of cabin next April and appreciate the photos. I was worried that the balcony would be very small and too closed in but it doesn't appear that way from your photo. Have a wonderful cruise and looking forward to coming along too!

Thanks again Anne

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

I also subscribed Radio, looking forward to your LIVE review. You are sailing with a couple of my friends Jewelinthesand (Polly) and Emmy this cruise. I hope you get to meet them. Especially looking forward to your review since I also have a studio balcony cabin booked for next April (12 Night Southern Caribbean) with Bugsy and Emmy. I want to know how you like the cabin. Have a wonderful cruise/sailing.

The first time my DD experienced our first hilltop cabana, she said "I feel like a Kardashian!" :p Now every time we stop in Labadee she wants a cabana. Yes spoiled are we and love every minute of it! ;)

We've been in a Nellie's cabana twice, and on both occasions, the towels, cooler with water, floating mats, and snorkel gear were all provided at no extra charge. Your cabana attendant only has a few cabanas to watch over all day long - that's pretty dedicated service, and these guys are looking for tips at the end of the day - they are super friendly, and will do anything for you - including getting you your drinks (if you are comfortable giving him your setsail card - which I am OK with).

 

 

 

Cabanas are truly a spoiled indulgence!

The only change I found when we had a cabana this past August was they now limit the floating mats to 2 per cabana. If you want additional mats you have to pay for them.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

I doubt that it will be rolled out Fleet Wide as is being done and planned for on the mega ships. The smaller craft are just not able to accommodate some aspects of it due to their current design, layout and space restrictions.

I have had discussions with HDs and other senior staff about it and they feel the same. Now that doesn't mean that RCI will not apply some form of Dynamic Dining where they can.

I hope you're right. I hope that RCI doesn't make DD fleet wide either. I think they should leave the older ships alone to give cruisers a choice for the different dining venues. Fingers crossed.

Hi Carol thanks the live report. We were lucky enough to cruise on EOS late July/August for one last cruise before she left NJ. Like you we have cruised on her 6 times and those are our best cruise memories. Tell Leigh X the CD that Jules and Anne said hi. We absolutely love Leigh and he's a wonderful CD. I'm enjoying your review thanks so much.

Anne

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2116425

Lots of useful information and photos all the different types of cabanas.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2116425

:D:) Lots of photos of all the different types of cabanas on both Barefoot and Nellie's beaches. Lots of good information.

Hi Chris,

 

Thanks for all the work and pics.

 

This may be redundant so I apologize. How do we get assigned our booked beach cabana ? Is it done

when we booked, on the ship, or do we get assigned one when we get to the beach ? Can we request a certain

one ? If so, do you have a recommendation of which one ?

 

Thanks

 

Sent from my SM-T800 using Forums mobile app

Hi Bob, Your cabana assignment is done by the concierge if you are booked in a suite. If you are at Nellie's, it's assigned by the Excursion desk and I believe you can request where you would like to be. They should show you a map of where all the cabanas are located.

As far as recommendations, any beach cabana is great. I don't think there's a best location. I hope I answered all your questions. Anne

Good Morning, are you in a suite or regular cabin? If you're in a suite, you can email the Concierge about a month out from your cruise to request to reserve a cabana for you. If you're not in a suite, unfortunately, you will have to wait until you board to go to the Excursion Desk to inquire and put your name on a waiting list.

We were recently in a suite on our EOS cruise this past July/August. I emailed the Concierge about a month before our cruise to reserve our cabana. He emailed me almost immediately with response that we were booked in an over the water cabana. Good luck!

I was surprised to see the price hike -- the first time we booked a cabana, in late 2011, it was $150. The prices have been steadily climbing.

 

Supply and demand. :)

I totally agree. Yes I remember the first time we booked a cabana too, Jan 2012 on Allure of the Seas cruise. Prices most certainly have increased. But like Bugsy posted, it does make for the best in Labadee. At least in my humble opinion. :D

This set of photos given to me by Anne

 

 

These Barefoot Beach ones are located close to the buffet and in my opinion wouldn't seem very private. But I could be wrong

 

 

Here are the ones that are over the water at Barefoot Beach:

 

 

Chris you are correct about the location of the beach cabana. We were right next to the buffet area. There are plenty of tables and chairs to use for lunch. The buffet was excellent. There are a circle of showers centrally located near all the cabanas. The beach cabana was the first one we had. We had the highest hilltop cabana on our next cruise. Loved the views but didn't like being so far away from the water and beach area. The steward will set up chairs for you near the water if you request them. We had over the water cabanas after that twice. They are by far our favorite followed by the beach ones.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Any body know how they choose who gets which cabana?

I believe the concierge makes up the schedule of where everyone is located on Barefoot and Nellies beaches.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

I know they offer food and drink in these cabanas. Do they offer other amenities for suite guests such as massages? Just curious what all is available?

Hi I've had a couple cabanas on Barefoot beach. No additional amenities except; a cooler with water, float mats and snorkel equipment. Also you won't need to bring towels they will be supplied. If you have a hilltop cabana your cabana steward will set up chairs on the beach for you. I should mention the last time I was at Barefoot this past August, they will only give you 2 float mats per cabana not one per person as they did in the past. If you want any extra mats, you will be asked to pay.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Hi all, I'm starting to think more and more of only booking through RCI too for a tour. I've googled around so much but cannot seem to find any tour companies. I know that I've read where some people have had success with just getting off the ship and booking tours through companies that were waiting at the end of the pier area. I guess depending on what you want to do; beach, tour the island you can probably find a tour once off the ship. But I believe you will need Euros for the private tour companies or taxis. If you book through your ship, you won't need Euros. Hopefully our cruise lines will add more tours soon. Thanks all who have posted helpful information.

Based on your entertainment schedule being posted now, 4 months from your cruise departure. I guess it's safe to assume that they will post the schedule in December for our April 12, 2015. Is that correct all?

Just went online to look at Royal's excursions again. There are a total of 15 for our Quantum cruise but nothing really I want to do. I really would like an island tour and then end up at their best beach for the day. Hopefully something will come up soon!

What's Quantum offering for shore excursions in Martinique?

LuLu

Lulu, I just looked at RCI and there's only 10 tours listed. Not much beach or island tours though. What they have listed is sparse with information too. Maybe once RCI gets closer to sailing to this itinerary, they will add more tours.

Hi Anne-

 

Loved reading the review of your cruise because we had planned on sailing with you....but, unfortunately we needed to cancel last minute due to the passing of my FIL. Luckily, we had insurance. Perhaps our paths will cross on a future cruise. Sounds like we missed a great cruise and meeting nice people.

 

Susan

So sorry for your loss Susan. Yes hopefully our cruise paths will cross again.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Yes we are sailing January 11, 2015 on Quantum. We also booked the Anthem for January 2016.

Keep your fingers crossed that I convince Julie to go and her schedule will work with it. I'm ready to go! Will keep you posted. Take care!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Hi Anne - Joyce and George from Long Island - Terrific review and enjoyed your many details and activities. We had a fabulous time with our dear friends Carl and Doris. We are looking forward to sailing again on the Explorer on 10/23 for the last time. It was a pleasure meeting you and Julie.

Hi Joyce it was so nice to meet you and your hubby, George. Tell Carl, Julie said hi and that I'm trying to convince her to do the Quantum cruise in January with you all. That's January 11-23 for 12 nights correct? Have fun on your Oct Explorer cruise.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Hey Anne!

 

 

 

Just finished reading your review. Very enjoyable. Love your positive attitude. We've sailed on Explorer a number of times and have it booked for a B2B for New Year's Eve. The last time we were on board' date=' Denzil was the Concierge and we loved him. I hope he will be there in December.

 

 

 

Again, thanks for the great review. Happy Sailing!![/size']

Glad you enjoyed the review and yes I try to find the positive in things👍😀

[

QUOTE=cruzinlady1947;43799252]Great review and great pictures too. We leave on the Explorer Aug. 28th for our last cruise on her. Will certainly miss her.

I agree, Denzil is a great Concierge. One of the best, if not "the" best.

Thanks for taking the time to do this review. Really appreciate it. Glad too, to hear that the debarkation went well. I am hoping for the same. Last Dec. it was the worse I ever experienced.

Gwen :)

Gwen enjoy your cruise !

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app