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Half Moon Cay Cabanas--color coding?

BAYA

By BAYA,
in Holland America Line

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BAYA

BAYA

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I've never been to Half Moon Cay. Someone posted that Cabanas can be booked so I went online to check it out. I have a few newbie questions.

 

  • Are they worth the cost? $249 for 4 people!
  • What does the color coding refer to? Are they in different locations and I should be consulting a map to choose my color?
  • Is there a color that is preferable to someone who is mobility limited? (Mom uses a walker.)
  • Is the Butler upgrade worthwhile ($270)? We aren't big alcohol drinkers, so if we exclude the value of multiple drinks, is it worth the cost?

Thanks for any info! We're very excited to be taking our first HAL cruise. There will be four of us all together.

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twinkletoes4445

twinkletoes4445

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The colors are starting from the closest to the tender area. HAL doesn't tell you this on their website. They just list the colors.

 

This is from Ziggy's page on Webshots, but they've added more cabanas since she posted this map. But you'll have an idea of where things are on HMC. For your mom, I'd probably choose #2 or #3. If there are more two ships in port, I'd consider #4. There are steps between #4 and #3 that lead to the area where the BBQ is served. On a day with two ships, this area (#1, #2, #3) might tend to get a little crowded. If you're looking for a cabana that has a lot of shade, #3, the turquoise cabana, has shade.

 

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1325132960059670232KphHhX

 

#1 Taupe

#2 Blue (it's a royal blue)

#3 Turquoise

#4 Orange

#5 Sky Blue

#6 Purple

#7 Peach

#8 Pink

#9 Eggshell

#10 Lime Green

#11 Gray

#12 Yellow

#13 Terracotta

#14 Red

#15 Violet

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twinkletoes4445

twinkletoes4445

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Are they worth the cost? $249 for 4 people!

 

I personally think they're worth the money, even for two, but this varies person-to-person.

 

 

Is the Butler upgrade worthwhile ($270)? We aren't big alcohol drinkers, so if we exclude the value of multiple drinks, is it worth the cost?

 

We're not big drinkers (we only had a couple and a glass of champagne with lunch), but we felt it was worth the money. It was fun to be pampered.

 

Here's the menu that we were able to choose from when we were on HMC. This was back in Feb. 2007, so I don't know if it's the same or not, but it will give you an idea of what they offer...

 

Champagne

 

Exotic Fruit Skewers

Mini Lobster Club Sandwiches

Gazpacho

 

Choice of Brochette BBQ Jumbo Prawns, or Brochette Citrus Chicken Breast, or 5oz. Cajun Sterling Silver Filet Mignon

 

Choice of "Drunken Whale" Fresh Fruit in Myer's Rum or Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Coulis

 

You'll also find salsa/chips and fruit waiting for you in the cabana. The butlers will run and get you any of the drinks you want...from water, to soda pop, to alcoholic beverages.

 

 

 

The butler will do everything for you, which we loved! In fact, you'll have two. There will be one who meets you in your cabin and escorts you to the cabana. And there will be a butler already at the cabana when you arrive. They take turns doing things. One will run for the food, and the other will stay with you. While we were there, one of the butlers told us HAL has a crew BBQ, so the butlers took turns and went to this. But one of them is always there to do whatever you need...getting drinks, whatever. The one butler that was already in the cabana left right after we ate lunch. The one that picked us up in the morning was the one that took us back to our cabin.

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twinkletoes4445

twinkletoes4445

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Do they have more food choices for people who are allergic to shellfish?

 

With that menu, I'll get really hungry.

 

I would think they'd be able to offer something else in place of the lobster sandwich, and probably the prawns. They really do go all-out for you on this butler upgrade. I felt SO special. It was quite a bummer when I got home and realized I am not special at all...lol :)

 

BTW, I had the prawns, and chocolate cake (of the ones that I had to choose), and they were both very good...especially the cake. :)

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cruz chic

cruz chic

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LOL... :)

 

It's funny...but I won't even walk into a Bed Bath and Beyond without a coupon, but I wouldn't think twice about having the cabana/butler. Where's the logic in that?

I know....it's funny...some things are just worth the price. I would love to get a cabana but I just can't justify it. That's why I want to be someones butler....:D

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twinkletoes4445

twinkletoes4445

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I know....it's funny...some things are just worth the price. I would love to get a cabana but I just can't justify it. That's why I want to be someones butler....:D

 

I know what you mean...about justifying things. Well, we finally have the last of our three kids out of college, so things are looking up! I turned 50 a couple of years ago and decided that it was "The Year of Me." I've carried that theme for two more years...since I like it so much! So I pretty much do what I want now...because I was at the bottom of the heap for so long. :)

 

And I completely understand wanting to be someone's butler for the day! I had a daughter who was a competitive figure-skater for years, and I did all sorts of things to fund that life for her! Crazy, I'll tell you. The day she said she didn't want to skate anymore, I dropped to my knees and cried with happiness! hehe :)

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cruz chic

cruz chic

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I know what you mean...about justifying things. Well, we finally have the last of our three kids out of college, so things are looking up! I turned 50 a couple of years ago and decided that it was "The Year of Me." I've carried that theme for two more years...since I like it so much! So I pretty much do what I want now...because I was at the bottom of the heap for so long. :)

 

And I completely understand wanting to be someone's butler for the day! I had a daughter who was a competitive figure-skater for years, and I did all sorts of things to fund that life for her! Crazy, I'll tell you. The day she said she didn't want to skate anymore, I dropped to my knees and cried with happiness! hehe :)

 

You are too funny:D . You must have had your kids young if you are only 50ish and they are out of college! I think it's time for them to take care of their dear mom. People claim university aka college is expensive here in Canada. I think it's probably outragous in the States.

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willowoodf

willowoodf

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I can't eat shellfish either, which I told them upfront, and they did NOT offer to substitute anything. But, believe me, there is MORE THAN ENOUGH food! Even without the lobster sandwhich, I ate so much food that I could barely waddle out to the water! LOL!

 

It IS expensive to do the cabana and butler, but DH and I have done it three times and consider it a big part of our vacation experience. If you want to be pampered in a beautiful location, go for it!

 

Mary

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twinkletoes4445

twinkletoes4445

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You are too funny:D .

 

I have my kids to thank for that. You have to have a sense of humor just to survive. :)

 

You must have had your kids young if you are only 50ish and they are out of college! I think it's time for them to take care of their dear mom. People claim university aka college is expensive here in Canada. I think it's probably outragous in the States.

 

I had my first when I was 23...and the last when I was 30. I was a good Catholic girl, well, for the most part! :)

 

Trust me, I milk the we-put-you-through-college-and-you-didn't-have-to-spend-a-dime routine as much as I can. They always come through for us...at least for now.

 

It's was pretty ugly at times, but I just kept writing the checks knowing it would end at some point. The worst year was when all three were in college and our middle kid (who's now an architect) wanted to "work" in Paris for a summer. Well, that job turned into an internship, and we had to pay for him to be in Paris for the summer. That summer we didn't even see Paris, Texas. lol But he ended up having a design of his built in China, which in turn helped him land his job here in the US. And now he owes us all the architectural plans we want in the future...for free. :) We also have a kid who's an engineer...and a daughter that's a nurse. We've got a lot of professional territory covered and believe me, I use their advice and help when I can get them to cooperate. :)

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cruz chic

cruz chic

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I have my kids to thank for that. You have to have a sense of humor just to survive. :)

 

 

 

I had my first when I was 23...and the last when I was 30. I was a good Catholic girl, well, for the most part! :)

 

Trust me, I milk the we-put-you-through-college-and-you-didn't-have-to-spend-a-dime routine as much as I can. They always come through for us...at least for now.

 

It's was pretty ugly at times, but I just kept writing the checks knowing it would end at some point. The worst year was when all three were in college and our middle kid (who's now an architect) wanted to "work" in Paris for a summer. Well, that job turned into an internship, and we had to pay for him to be in Paris for the summer. That summer we didn't even see Paris, Texas. lol But he ended up having a design of his built in China, which in turn helped him land his job here in the US. And now he owes us all the architectural plans we want in the future...for free. :) We also have a kid who's an engineer...and a daughter that's a nurse. We've got a lot of professional territory covered and believe me, I use their advice and help when I can get them to cooperate. :)

Wow...ya done good! Now I know....you really deserve the cabana big time. I'm sure your kids appreciate what you've done for them and they have done well for themselves.

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jzygail

jzygail

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LOL... :)

 

It's funny...but I won't even walk into a Bed Bath and Beyond without a coupon, but I wouldn't think twice about having the cabana/butler. Where's the logic in that?

 

The logic is: Bed Bath and Beyond is for stuff you see/use every day--and lots of times, you're unconscious (asleep). The cabana/butler is for your vacation, the memories of which will get you through your daily grind when you get home. Vacation always trumps daily grind :D

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jzygail

jzygail

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I know what you mean...about justifying things. Well, we finally have the last of our three kids out of college, so things are looking up! I turned 50 a couple of years ago and decided that it was "The Year of Me." I've carried that theme for two more years...since I like it so much! So I pretty much do what I want now...because I was at the bottom of the heap for so long. :)

 

And I completely understand wanting to be someone's butler for the day! I had a daughter who was a competitive figure-skater for years, and I did all sorts of things to fund that life for her! Crazy, I'll tell you. The day she said she didn't want to skate anymore, I dropped to my knees and cried with happiness! hehe :)

 

We need to get you one of these. :D

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twinkletoes4445

twinkletoes4445

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Wow...ya done good! Now I know....you really deserve the cabana big time. I'm sure your kids appreciate what you've done for them and they have done well for themselves.

 

 

We were just lucky with our kids. They all knew what they wanted and they did it. We just wrote the checks. :) But it is now time for US. lol

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twinkletoes4445

twinkletoes4445

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the cabana is for 4 persons but we will also have 2 kids (age 3 and 5) with us. Would we have to pay the extra surcharge for each kid?

 

It depends. I've read where some people have 4 adults and a couple of kids and they aren't charged. The kids were really never in the cabana. I personally think that kids that age are young enough that they shouldn't be charged. The cabana isn't really that big, so some of the time, you might be sitting on the loungers in front of the cabana (our butler snagged four loungers in front of our cabana and placed towels on them).

 

If you're not having a butler, I am not sure how they'd even know. We did not see any of the cabana guys roaming around when we were there. We only saw a butler at the next cabana.

 

If you don't get an answer to your question, you might start a thread and ask. I'm sure someone who's in the same situation as you will answer your question.

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