Half Moon Cay Issues

[CruisingSoon88]

My family and I recently sailed on the Liberty Thanksgiving week. Overall, the cruise was great, but I just wanted to share our experiences on HMC. First, I chose this particular cruise because we wanted to sail over Thanksgiving to minimize my son's days missed at school and I wanted to go to HMC. The Liberty usually gets good reviews so thats what we chose.

 

When we got on the ship, we went to chose our cabana first. After choosing #8, I asked about the tendering. We were to meet in the lounge at 8:30. I knew that this cruise was a little different because HMC was on Sunday,our first full day. I also knew that we would be tired and not too excited about getting up that early on our first morning. I asked if we could tender over whenever we wanted because we wanted to sleep later. She stated that we could go whenever we wanted as we had rented the cabana for the whole day.

 

We got to the lounge about 9:30. There were several others there that had other Carnival excursions booked. The guy went through the excursions asking for a show of hands. There were 3 other groups there that had cabanas. He kind of mildly scolded us for not being there at 8:30. I just figured whatever and didn't pay any attention. We waited for a very long time. I was surprised considering that everyone there was supposed to have priority tendering. When they finally took us down as a group, the people who did not have tours booked or have priority tendering and were waiting in a different location, just joined in with us as a huge mob of people trying to go down the steps. We waited again on the steps for quite a while.

 

Tendering just is what it is and after finally getting to our cabana at 11:20, I was ready to enjoy it. I checked out the food and was surprised to see that eveything was left out on the counter. This included the ranch dip and all of the food. The dip was hot, not just not cold, but hot. Yuck! The veggies and all of the fruit was covered in ants. Not just a few and not on top of the plastic. Needless to say, we didn't eat any of it.

 

When the lady came by to collect our ticket, I told her about the hot dip and the ants. I asked why they didn't just keep everything in the fridge until the renters got there. She told me to take it up with the ship.

 

Later, when back onboard, I visited the excursion desk. I told the guy about our issues and even offered to show him our pictures of the ants. He first again scolded me for not going on the 8:30 tender. I told him that we had asked and were told that we could go over when we wanted. He agreed and said that they just assume that everyone goes over early. I told him that it was an easy fix with the fridge being right there. They just simply needed to put the food in there and let the renters get it out. I told him that someone was going to get sick eating that hot dip and he agreed.

 

He got my name and cabin number and said that he would get back to me with a resolution. Of course, I never heard anything. Now don't excited, I didn't expect ANY compensation from this. I just wanted him to tell me that they were going to do better going forward.

 

This did not ruin our day. I will say that HMC was great, but not my favorite. We much preferred Grand Turk.

 

Has anyone else had this same experience on HMC or did we just have a fluke thing happen to us?

[Shipcats6]

We had a cabana on HMC last April and it was wonderful!

 

First off the people you talked to on the ship of course told you you could tender at any time but the people in the room rounding up groups & taking them to the tenders assume people will be on time. It messes with their schedule to have people showing up whenever they want and expecting to be taken first to the next tender. The system isn't set up for that.

 

Second, the people who deliver the food, drinks and supplies assume the people will be on time. Their job is only to deliver.

 

Sorry you didn't enjoy your day.

[Colorado Kat]

I would expect that if I paid for a cabana, it would be there waiting for me whenever I got there. Is there some agreement that you know you're supposed to be there at 8:30?

 

I'm platinum, and when we tender we just go to Guest Services and they escort us down to the front of the line.

[luvsviola]

Our food got covered in ants too. I was miffed because we barely got to eat any of it. IMO, they need to either spray or serve the food something with ant-proof lids. The ant guys we have for our home guarantee no ants for 6 months, and they only spray the perimeter. Seems Carnival could try a little harder on them.

Edited December 8, 2013 by luvsviola

[gusandgidgetsmom]

We have had a cabana 8 times on HMC and we have been fortunate not to have ants and have been during all seasons but the dead of winter. I have to admit we are always on the first tender over as we don't want to miss any time on the island. They always (at least the 8 times we have been there) place the food stuff out the same way. They come with a cooler of soft drinks then with the fruit,etc. It is on their time schedule not the ones getting the Cabana. It would be too hard to figure out who was coming when not to do it this way for all. BUT I have always wondered why they did not put the dip in the refrigerator. It seems simple to me as we are not always in the cabana when they arrive.Hopefully your suggestion will be taken to heart by the Guest services. Did you write or call Carnival when you got back? There is a special phone line for that and I know they do listen to suggestions. While they may or may not put your suggestion into play I think it is worth a try.

We will be there in September (our last stay there was in June) and I hope the ants are on vacation when we get there. We have always had Cabana 9 so close to the one you were in. I wonder if things were stirred up when they built those villas and that is why they are out.

[RWolver672]

They always (at least the 8 times we have been there) place the food stuff out the same way. They come with a cooler of soft drinks then with the fruit,etc. It is on their time schedule not the ones getting the Cabana. It would be too hard to figure out who was coming when not to do it this way for all.

 

The easiest solution would be for them to put everything in the refridgerator for everybody. Then when the guests come, they can take it out themselves.

[golfadj]

The easiest solution would be for them to put everything in the refridgerator for everybody. Then when the guests come, they can take it out themselves.

 

Rather surprised they dont refrigerate it all given the climate.

[golfadj]

Given what they charge for a cabanas would think you would want to get their first thing.

[N.FL Cruisers]

I remember our excursion ticket had a time so it makes since for them to have all the stuff ready when you got there at that time.

 

All the ticket excursions/priority go first then all non ticketed people go last on tenders. I can see why you ended up waiting till 11:30 to get there if you were late.

 

However, I love the idea that they keep the dip in the fridge and you pull it out when you get there.

[jks336]

I think it is something carnival should do as well. the guest's would know to look in the fridge for the items. as another said, with the climate there it makes sense for us to get it out and if we leave it out, that's on the guests. maybe if enough ppl made these calls/suggestions to carnival they would put it into practice

[golfadj]

I remember our excursion ticket had a time so it makes since for them to have all the stuff ready when you got there at that time.

 

All the ticket excursions/priority go first then all non ticketed people go last on tenders. I can see why you ended up waiting till 11:30 to get there if you were late.

 

However, I love the idea that they keep the dip in the fridge and you pull it out when you get there.

 

True but they really need to put the food in something with lids to keep out the livestock.

[wnc]

HMC is my favorite. Cabanna was fantastic. Only complaint is not enough time there!

[MsTabbyKats]

OP-

 

I'm in complete agreement with you.

 

If you rent something for the day....I don't see a reason to rush out first thing. It will still be there in an hour or two. It's certainly not like the cabana will go to someone else unless you're on the first tender.

 

I also don't see a problem with letting someone who has "priority" to the front of the line when they get there. How hard could that be?

 

And...yes...all food should be refrigerated...with a note on the door telling people that's where the food is.

 

I'm really easy going...very low maintenance....but if I paid for the cabana...and got greeted by ants....I'd expect some sort of compensation.

[winddawn]

I have seen ants in our cabana each time we visited HMC. Honestly though, I don't know how you can keep bugs out of an open air building. I'm sorry this happened to you, but my thoughts are that if you want to deviate from the normal schedule, you should be willing to accept the consequences of your decision. Considering that you had all-you-can-eat free food available to you at the HMC cookout, I would think the dip and fruit issue would have been incidental. The refrigerators are so small, I don't think you could fit the tray of fruit in the frig. I hope you tried some of the yummy jerk chicken.

[jimbo5544]

Given what they charge for a cabanas would think you would want to get their first thing.

 

My thoughts as well. I know we are on the first tender.

[golfadj]

My thoughts as well. I know we are on the first tender.

 

We are happy with lounge chairs and dont see the need for cabana we do like to get there before it gets real hot.

[Cruizinman]

True but they really need to put the food in something with lids to keep out the livestock.

 

Actually there are a few horses that freely roam the island .

[golfadj]

Actually there are a few horses that freely roam the island .

 

We were there a few months ago and noticed down the beach a ways was a stable. Didnt seem like the horses were free to roam at all.

[CruisingSoon88]

Like I said, it didn't ruin our day. I just think that the fix is so simple by putting everything in the fridge. We certainly didn't starve and it was no big deal. I just would hate for someone to start chomping down on that dip and then end up getting sick. I understand that these are outdoor buildings so the ants weren't a big surprise. Again, the fix is simple by putting the food in the fridge.

 

We had spent days being stressed packing and getting ready to go. Then we spent 2 days driving to Miami. We were exhausted. If they had told us that we had to leave at 8:30 when I asked the excursion desk, I honestly would have given the cabana up. We were just that tired. Since there were 3 other groups who had rented cabanas in the lounge at the same time with us, it seems that it is not that unusual for people to go over later. We also had FTTF so my understanding was that we had priority tendering no matter when we decided to go over. Again, they should not assume that everyone will go over early.

 

It seemed that Carnival is trying to be more aware of proper food temperatures. We were told that we were not allowed to store any food in our room fridge by our cabin steward. He said that the fridges could not maintain proper temperature for food. They do not allow you to take your leftover dessert from the steakhouse for this same reason. It just seemed like a contradiction that they would be more vigilant in these areas, but then leave a mayo based dip out for hours.

 

I did bring it to their attention twice that day and I did write a pretty detailed account about it on my survey. Hopefully this will yield some results. If anyone has a phone number that I should call to discuss it further, please share it with me so I can get in touch with the right people.

[Danacat222]

you dont need anyone from guest services to escort you to the tendering area in order to get he priority tendering, just go to that deck and area when you want, show your SS card with the FTTF sticker or the excursion tix and they will get you on the tender that is currently boarding.

[Cruizinman]

We were there a few months ago and noticed down the beach a ways was a stable. Didnt seem like the horses were free to roam at all.

 

I think there are only two that roam free, they're to old to ride.

The others are kept in that stable that you noticed down the beach .

[gusandgidgetsmom]

It would not fit in the small refrigerator. That is why I suggested the dip but that wouldn't help with the ants. There is plastic wrap covering the fruit and dips but don't know about keeping the ants out that way. If they put it in baggies and set a tray out they would be able to fit it in the refrig and the renter could put the fruit out themselves.

Rather surprised they dont refrigerate it all given the climate.

[golfadj]

It would not fit in the small refrigerator. That is why I suggested the dip but that wouldn't help with the ants. There is plastic wrap covering the fruit and dips but don't know about keeping the ants out that way. If they put it in baggies and set a tray out they would be able to fit it in the refrig and the renter could put the fruit out themselves.

 

If this was a regular problem they would probably be doing this as a matter of routine.

[golfadj]

I think there are only two that roam free, they're to old to ride.

The others are kept in that stable that you noticed down the beach .

 

The horses that were used for riding seemed rather scrawny.

[misguidedangel]

First off, I have had Cabana #8 twice...good choice and excellent location. However, I made sure I was in bed early enough because I would be up at 6am to get breakfast and get ready to go to the island. Yes, 6am wake up call. I would NOT miss a single second of HMC. Even when we booked the Grand Cabana only two of the 14 people were NOT waiting at 830am in the lounge, and they would have if she didn't have a slip and fall and was confined to a wheelchair for HMC. They came when they could have stayed on the ship.

 

If you are going to pay $225 for a cabana they will expect you to be waiting in the lounge at 830am to get on the first tender. Each time I went I would walk the beach to the cabana and by 945am everyone was at their cabanas! Cabana #8 is a bit of a walk to get to.........Leaving later means you lose out of a half a day of fun because to go back to the ship you have to leave the cabana at least an hour before the last tender, and then wait forever for the tenders. As you discovered, the later you leave the longer it takes to get back on the ship. Even leaving at 230pm we lucked out and didn't have to wait longer than 15 minutes for a tender, but then it took well over an hour to get through security....

 

On the flip side, be happy the ship went to HMC, occasionally it misses the island due to weather.....

 

I don't cruise to sleep, I can sleep at home.....I cruise to have fun, so that means a week of 4-5 hours of sleep max per night.....Gotta cram in a whole year of FUN into seven days. If I could get by on two or three hours a sleep a night on a cruise I would......I hate getting up early at home, but I am more than happy to wake up at 5am to get a 7am tender at Grand Cayman!!!!!!