Just back--Half Moon Cay, Cabana with Butler Package Review

[sparkle56]

I'm still unpacking from a fabulous week on the Eurodam but thought I would at least start a review of our Half Moon Cay cabana/butler experience. It's long. You might want to refill your coffee cup before you start reading. :rolleyes:

 

First, up front I will say that at no time during the day did I question the decision to have spent this amount of money on such a luxurious day. No question, the cost was steep. Things like money, and worries at home, and jobs, and other unpleasantries just vanish as soon as you arrive on this beautiful island.

 

That having been said there are some inaccuracies in the description of what a cabana and butler package includes or is. It clearly states on the description that cabana renters are on the first tender over. If you have a butler, he/she escorts you from your room and carries all your stuff.

 

The reality is that you get a form asking when you would like to go over but the earliest time listed is 9:00 a.m. I wrote in "first tender over, as soon as possible." However, we were anchored by 7:45 and the announcement was made at that time that people could start heading over on the tenders.

 

A call to the front desk elicited this response: "Your butler can't come before 9:00 a.m. because the cabana is being set up." So we waited. And waited. And watched the tenders going and coming, watched people parasailing, watched people on the beach. This was extremely frustrating.

 

At 9:05 a.m. our butler, Pika, arrived. She was a tiny, adorable woman and she clearly had not been advised that she was to carry our stuff. So we carried it. And we were on the last morning tender going over, not the first. (The tenders are permanent fixtures at HMC, they are not dispatched from the ship but rather from the island.)

 

Upon arrival at the island (10 minute ride), she checked us in, but there were no shuttles. So we walked to cabana #9, Eggshell, no big deal, we are healthy enough to make that hike and we got to see part of the island along the way.

 

Pika had to set up the cabana when we got there so the front desk info that told us it was being done and that is why we couldn't go over was not true. You all know the stuff provided: chips and salsa, guacamole, sour cream, veggies and ranch dip, fruit and fruit dip, and the assorted beverages we had designated on the form. (By the way, what we did not consume, we were invited to take with us so I took some Cokes and water.)

 

We sent Pika to get three Bloody Marys--one for each of us and a spare to have ready for whoever drank theirs first. Off she went. We quickly learned that the only time we would be alone would be when Pika was off getting something. Our sense was that she is told she must stay with us at all times. Although some alone time would have been nice--to nap or talk or read--she was superbly pleasant and we enjoyed visiting with her.

 

I decided to get into the hammock and there she was, holding it steady for me so I didn't fall on my face.

 

The water was absolutely freezing so the float mats were nice. Once I got wet it was okay--until the breeze picked up. Most people were strolling the water's edge. Few were actually in it. This is the nature of February weather in the Caribbean, especially in the morning.

 

It did warm up after noon and please be advised sunscreen is a really good plan. I used 50 SPF. Still got a tan.

 

An irritating thing was that Pika had a bag with a walkie talkie in it, used to contact people about lunch, etc. Unfortunately it did not have a buzz option and the thing rang constantly, not just for her, but guests with walkie talkies were on the same frequency. So we knew who was meeting who where and at what time. "Honey, I'm by the stingrays so meet me here in ten minutes, okay?" "Hey, babe, the girls are at the Lido but they'll be over soon." "Do you have the camera or do I?"

 

Pika had asked what time we wanted lunch and we said noon. About this time we heard a lovely sound--one of the crew was walking the beach with a beautiful percussion instrument, gently tapping and making wind chime sounds while announcing "lunch is ready." He was talking the Barbecue lunch and I have no knowledge of how that was.

 

Lunch was served as elegantly as in The Pinnacle, which is where the food comes from if you have butler service. White linen tablecloth, white linen napkins, real silverware. We started with excellent gazpacho and a fruit skewer but the fruit was both a combination of familiar (pineapple, strawberries) and tropical (papaya, mango). I had Chardonnay in a paper cup (no glass allowed) and DH had a Heiniken (no Corona as they are in glass bottles). Sparkling water on ice. Main course: Skewers of prawns and veggies. The prawns were as large as small lobsters. Corn on the cob. Rice and beans. Dessert: DH had the chocolate cake and I had the drunken whale, which is fruit bowl heavily laced with dark rum. However, a very big surprise here. There were two of us. That drunken whale was served in a complete, full-sized watermelon shell, carved to look like a whale! Seriously, this could have served a small village. I considered going to the front of the cabana and shouting "free fruit with rum--come on in!". I nibbled on the fruit most of the afternoon. It didn't even make a dent.

 

I snorkeled from the shore. DH does not "do" water so he enjoyed being in the cabana, watching people, reading, dozing, drinking, relaxing. Shore snorkeling was okay. I did see fish, large and pretty ones. They were as interested in me as I was in them.

 

The water is so clear you do lose your sense of the depth of it. I thought I was in shallow water but was actually in over my head. Fortunately I can swim.

 

Pika continued to hang around and we regularly sent her off to get more beverages. Finally she sat herself down in a hammock and did a little relaxing. We were fine with that.

 

We had said we wanted to be on the last tender back to the ship (3:30) so packed up at 3:00 and went to the place where the shuttles make their rounds. No shuttles. Waiting, waiting, waiting. No shuttles. Took some pictures of birds and flowers. No shuttles.

 

Pika did not seem concerned but we were joking it wasn't a bad place to get left behind although there is no phone service so we would have some difficulty about contacting anyone. Her walkie talkies could not be used to call for a shuttle. We began walking--again. Let me tell you--we made it to that last tender with no more than 3 minutes to spare. Had we not insisted on walking and not waiting, we would still be there.

 

And when we made it back to the ship, by the time we got to our room the ship was already sailing! Talk about a close call.

 

Random comments: We DID NOT see people having more people in their cabanas than they paid for, and were grateful for the integrity of our fellow cruisers. We were not bothered by people using our shower, or float mats, or snorkel gear, although had someone wanted to and if they had asked, it would have been "by all means, enjoy!" We were only two people and we were paying for four, so we had extra. One guy did come up and change his shoes on our porch, which was a little odd but nothing to get in a frenzy over. There were hammocks on either side of our cabana. I used one, the other was used by two young (and very happy) girls. It's all good.

 

I will have photos to post within the next day or so and will answer questions any of you have to the best of my ability.

 

It was just the two of us, me, 62, and DH, 68. Would we book a cabana again? Absolutely! Would we book the butler package again? Absolutely! Even though it was just the two of us? Absolutely!

 

Half Moon Cay is just the loveliest, cleanest, most peaceful place ever. We can only compare it to Princess Cays but the vote for "best" comes down clearly on the side of HMC.

 

Look for other reviews shortly comparing the Eurodam to Princess ships. A hint: The reviews are mixed.

[Typhoon1]

Glad you found your cabana and butler enjoyable and money well spent.

 

I can recall your numerous inquiries months ago as you were preparing for this trip.

 

With regard to having to wait for the butler to arrive at your cabin after many tenders have already gone. We just skipped the wait and headed directly to the cabana on the first tender. Probably another reason we've only done the butler one time. Time at that beautiful island is short enough without having to wait around for someone to walk me to the cabana.

 

You emobarked as we left the Eurodam on February 20.

[sparkle56]

Yes, Typhoon1, and you were pretty consistent that any cabana is better than no cabana at all! How true!

 

We were told not to go ahead without our butler because the butler might not find us "for several hours." Next time we will do as you did and get ourselves over there.

 

You were on the RSVP cruise to ??? Was that the ABC islands? Lucky you!

 

Thanks for being so helpful when I was pondering the whole cabana issue.

 

:)

[Typhoon1]

You were on the RSVP cruise to ??? Was that the ABC islands?

 

:)

Aruba, Curacao and HMC. Truly, a great adventure, as Aruba and Curacao are not your "typical" Caribbean destinations. BTW, we were in Orange at HMC. It has become a personal favorite, done that cabana the last two years.

[sparkle56]

We've been to Aruba but not Curacao. Hope to find an itinerary that includes that one. What did you like best about each?

 

Orange is more toward the main area, yes? Peach was down two from us.

[Typhoon1]

We've been to Aruba but not Curacao. Hope to find an itinerary that includes that one. What did you like best about each?

 

Orange is more toward the main area, yes? Peach was down two from us.

 

I enjoyed Curacao as it was much less commercialized than Aruba. My other half enjoyed Aruba as he is a shopaholic, and he went shopping most of the day. Curacao was celebrating Mardi Gras that day (Fat Tuesday). We did not depart until midnight so we could see the fireworks.

 

Orange is directly over the steps to the beach from the food Pavilion, #4.

 

HAL did that itinerary over the Christmas and New Year's holidays on the Eurodam, perhaps they will repeat it at some point in the future. The final stop at HMC is the perfect way to finish a cruise, a day of rest and relaxation before the return to reality.

[sparkle56]

I hope he found some fun things to buy on his shopping trip. What are the shopping specialties of Curacao?

 

I got diamond stud earrings in St. Thomas--don't need jewelry at all but for some reason did not have these so DH got them for me. And I bought a couple of things at an artsy shop in Grand Turk--the purchases benefited an animal rescue site.

 

The most amazing fireworks I ever saw were in Milwaukee!

[Typhoon1]

I hope he found some fun things to buy on his shopping trip. What are the shopping specialties of Curacao?

 

 

The most amazing fireworks I ever saw were in Milwaukee!

 

He came back with a watch and some linen shirts. Curacao shopping was pretty much unremarkable.

 

Being accustomed to fireworks in Milwaukee, a five minute fireworks display in Curacao was a major disappointment. We could have sailed earlier and we wouldn't have missed anything.

[chachi]

How much is it with butler service for 4?

[Typhoon1]

$270.00 additional.

[reno3]

$270.00 additional.

I was going to ask the same ...but that answers that....NO butler:eek: