Cabana cost at Half Moon Cay

[Riley's Mom]

Can someone tell me how much the cabanas rent for at HMC and how I go about renting them.

I think I saw that they needed to be booked onboard? Do I go to the pursers office to do this. Is there a certain time to book them or can I do it as soon as I board this ship? Also, is there one cabana that is better than the others that I can ask for?

Thanks so much for your help!!!

Carla

[mamabas]

HI! We rented a cabana at HMC last Jan. and loved it. I went to the rental desk as soon as I got on the ship and reserved one. It was about $225 I believe. They provided snacks and pop, floaties and snorkel gear. The BEST part to us was being the first ones off the ship (because of the rental) and the beach pretty much to ourselves for the first hour or so. YOu get to watch hoards of people fill the beach over many hours and strategically look for chairs. As for the best ones, the closer ones are better if you want trips to the kids area, but worse if you want people coming up and using your cabana (they don't realize you've paid for it!). There are lots further down which would give you less intrusion but you have to walk farther to get to all the action. I belive bathrooms are placed all the way down. Last year only 3 were rented and I was so concerned not to get one! Will be renting another one in a couple weeks and sharing with another couple to help cut the cost.

Have fun!

[grandmato4]

Cost was $225 in Oct. and worth every penny! Go to the excursion desk as soon as you get on board to reserve your Cabana. As mamabas said, if you want to be near the kids area then renting one of the lower number cabana's (1-5) is a good idea as you won't have so far to walk to enjoy that area. If you want peace and quiet away from the crowd then a higher number is better. We wanted peace and quiet away from the crowd and LOVED #10 green- convenient to the restrooms too!;)

[TMJplus1]

You will love-love-LOVE renting a cabana for your day in paradise. We rented the Sky Blue Cabana and found the location perfect - it was close to everything, and we received amazing service from our "Cabana boys" (two waiters from the ship who catered to our every need). Your cabana rental includes the lunch BBQ, which your waiters will bring to you. You can also order drinks from the bar (again, we never had to get up - the waiters brought them to us) and there is snorkeling equipment and floaties included. If I recall correctly, it was $225-250 to rent the cabana and worth every penny.

 

Also, for an additional $250 you can have a personal butler included with your cabana. You receive free alcoholic beverages and an upgraded lunch with this option. Plus you have your butler at your service all day - from personally escorting you from your stateroom in the morning to shooing lookie-loos away from your cabana if necessary. (Note: we didn't have a problem with anyone trying to take our cabana...but I've heard others who were constantly bombarded by "visitors" all day.)

 

Most importantly, you can book your cabana in advance on the HAL website by looking under "For Booked Guests" and then "Book Excursions." Rumor has it they open up the cabana bookings anywhere from 3-10 months before the cruise. So, if you're obsessive like me, you might want to check daily.

 

Enjoy your cruise! You'll love HMC. The worst thing about the island is having to leave at the end of the day.

[twinkletoes4445]

Here are pictures of the cabanas. We rented the turquoise cabana on our last cruise because it was close to the restrooms and had a tree next to it (so there was shade). If you "click" on a particular cabana, the picture will enlarge. Below I've listed the cabana number and color (as listed by HAL). There's some confusion over what color they are called. I wish they'd list them by number and color, but HAL doesn't.

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/108/296583013_6fa96f5e51_o.jpg

 

#1 is the closest to the tender area.

 

1. Taupe

2. Blue

3. Turquoise

4. Orange

5. Sky Blue

6. Purple

7. Peach

8. Pink

9. Eggshell

10. Green

11. Gray

12. Yellow

13. Terracotta

14. Red

15. Violet

[Typhoon1]

$225.00 on Carnival, bookable on board.

 

$249.00 on HAL, bookable online

[karenw]

You will love-love-LOVE renting a cabana for your day in paradise. We rented the Sky Blue Cabana and found the location perfect - it was close to everything, and we received amazing service from our "Cabana boys" (two waiters from the ship who catered to our every need). Your cabana rental includes the lunch BBQ, which your waiters will bring to you. You can also order drinks from the bar (again, we never had to get up - the waiters brought them to us) and there is snorkeling equipment and floaties included. If I recall correctly, it was $225-250 to rent the cabana and worth every penny.

 

Also, for an additional $250 you can have a personal butler included with your cabana. You receive free alcoholic beverages and an upgraded lunch with this option. Plus you have your butler at your service all day - from personally escorting you from your stateroom in the morning to shooing lookie-loos away from your cabana if necessary. (Note: we didn't have a problem with anyone trying to take our cabana...but I've heard others who were constantly bombarded by "visitors" all day.)

 

Most importantly, you can book your cabana in advance on the HAL website by looking under "For Booked Guests" and then "Book Excursions." Rumor has it they open up the cabana bookings anywhere from 3-10 months before the cruise. So, if you're obsessive like me, you might want to check daily.

 

Enjoy your cruise! You'll love HMC. The worst thing about the island is having to leave at the end of the day.

 

So this is an additional $250 per cabana for the butler and alcohol?

[juliebug52]

Here are pictures of the cabanas. We rented the turquoise cabana on our last cruise because it was close to the restrooms and had a tree next to it (so there was shade). If you "click" on a particular cabana, the picture will enlarge. Below I've listed the cabana number and color (as listed by HAL). There's some confusion over what color they are called. I wish they'd list them by number and color, but HAL doesn't.

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/108/296583013_6fa96f5e51_o.jpg

 

#1 is the closest to the tender area.

 

1. Taupe

2. Blue

3. Turquoise

4. Orange

5. Sky Blue

6. Purple

7. Peach

8. Pink

9. Eggshell

10. Green

11. Gray

12. Yellow

13. Terracotta

14. Red

15. Violet

 

I booked the green one!

[Riley's Mom]

Thanks for all the responses. Iam booked on Carnival so not able to get one until I board. Now I am worried they will be sold out before I can get one onboard. I guess it depends on how many ships are in port that day too...

Does anyone know if the waterpark is free or is there a per person fee? Also what else does Half Moon cay have to offer. you say to either rent a cabana close to the acitivites or farther down the beach ..

Thanks, Carla

[grandmato4]

I booked the green one!

 

You're gonna LOVE that Cabana ! We really hated to leave it the day we were there as we'd had such a good time. We were the only people left on the beach as everyone else had already left. The workers were playing in the area beside the cabana waiting for us to leave so they could clean up, but were in no hurry themselves. There are some shade tree on either side and a hammack to your left. To your right is the path to the restrooms and if you wish to go get some food at lunch time just walk up to the restrooms and follow the path on the other side to where lunch is served. Its much easier and quicker to walk to the food than on the beach. We brought our food back to the cabana to eat.

 

 

Riley's Mom- the demand for them on the Carnival ships varies but just to be safe try to be among the earlier groups to board and go straight to the excursion desk. The will ask which cabana you'd like so you might want to have a couple choices in case your first is taken. the will ask the shoe size of the people in your party for your snorkel fins and they will ask what kind of soda you'd like also. I don't know anything about the new waterpark they are suppose to be building as that hadn't started when we were there in Oct but in the water area when you first enter the beach area there are stationary water animals and I think I few other days for children. If you rent a cabana you will get snorkel equipment and watermats which are fun.

 

The island is very pretty and there are many paths that you can walk. We planned too do some exploring but were having so much fun that we only walked the one to get lunch and back to the cabana. Carnival has excursion you can do. Three of us did the parasailing and loved it. SIL went on a snorkeling excursion and enjoyed it but said you really needed to be a good swimmer and experienced snorkler as the water was deep and there was a current in the water which you needed to swim against to be back to the boat.

[Typhoon1]

Thanks for all the responses. Iam booked on Carnival so not able to get one until I board. Now I am worried they will be sold out before I can get one onboard. I guess it depends on how many ships are in port that day too...

Does anyone know if the waterpark is free or is there a per person fee? Also what else does Half Moon cay have to offer. you say to either rent a cabana close to the acitivites or farther down the beach ..

Thanks' date=' Carla[/color']

 

Get to the ship as early as possible and head directly to the shore excursion desk. Get ready to stand in line as the line will be forming as soon as people board.

[coach_anne]

Anyone know how many ships at Half Moon Cay on 1/29?

 

All but one of the cabanas are waitlisted, and that one will only accept one name for the reservation -- the other three names in our party have to be waitlisted. Huh? :confused:

 

What are the odds of us actually getting a cabana?

 

Maybe I better reserve a couple of clamshells.... :(

[jbes3]

How much is it for additional people? We have 6 in our group.

[twinkletoes4445]

Anyone know how many ships at Half Moon Cay on 1/29?

 

All but one of the cabanas are waitlisted, and that one will only accept one name for the reservation -- the other three names in our party have to be waitlisted. Huh? :confused:

 

What are the odds of us actually getting a cabana?

 

Maybe I better reserve a couple of clamshells.... :(

 

HAL's site is strange when it comes to reserving a cabana. You can only enter one name even though up to four people can use the cabana for the price. This confused me when we booked our cabana back in 2007. If you go to the "book excursions" list (after you log in), your cabana should be at the bottom of the page. It should say something like..."The one name" and departure time "available." Once you click on the "Add Tours To This Port," your cabana should be at the bottom of the page with a check mark next to it and say the cabana color and under that "Departure Times: Available (Waitlisted).

 

I printed this off last time and kept it. It's really weird. I wasn't sure we had the cabana so I called the excursion number at HAL to verify this. I don't know if they're around on Sunday, but they are there during the week. You might call them to confirm.

 

If you haven't booked it, I'd grab it as soon as possible. They don't last long.

 

As for ships there that day, it looks like the Zuiderdam will be the only ship. :)

 

http://www.cruisett.com

[twinkletoes4445]

How much is it for additional people? We have 6 in our group.

 

For the cabana it's $45 per person (under 2 years-free). If you want to add on the butler package, it's an additional $100 (under 2 years-free). :)

[grayling111]

For the cabana it's $45 per person (under 2 years-free). If you want to add on the butler package, it's an additional $100 (under 2 years-free). :)

 

We are thinking of renting a cabana, because our grandparents will be along on the cruise. There will be 7 of us total. I know the 3 Teens will be busy tanning, and will only come and "visit" us in the cabana once in a while. So...do I just book it for 4 people, (is that a problem)or do i need to book all the extra persons. put it this way...the grandparents won't be using the snorkels, kids will. kids won't be using the chairs, parents will...etc. Is the pop supplied?

[Typhoon1]

We are thinking of renting a cabana, because our grandparents will be along on the cruise. There will be 7 of us total. I know the 3 Teens will be busy tanning, and will only come and "visit" us in the cabana once in a while. So...do I just book it for 4 people, (is that a problem)or do i need to book all the extra persons. put it this way...the grandparents won't be using the snorkels, kids will. kids won't be using the chairs, parents will...etc. Is the pop supplied?

 

Book the cabana for four people. You will be just fine. The refrigerator will be stocked with the pop you have specified on your order form which will be left in your cabin.

 

If you need additional pop, a waiter will be more than happy to charge it to your room card.

[LynneL]

I couldn't get the cabana pics to enlarge but it did look like an a/c unit on the back wall. Since they seem to be quite open, does this a/c really cool off that area or just make it cooler than sitting in the sun? DH does not think this is worth the cost. I think he is going to get tired of the sun & want to head back to the ship if we don't have one.

[grandmato4]

I couldn't get the cabana pics to enlarge but it did look like an a/c unit on the back wall. Since they seem to be quite open, does this a/c really cool off that area or just make it cooler than sitting in the sun? DH does not think this is worth the cost. I think he is going to get tired of the sun & want to head back to the ship if we don't have one.

 

Yes, the air conditioner unit is on the back wall. The cabana is open so the air condtioner doesn't make it cold but it does keep the inside much cooler than being out in the sun. There are also air mister's that can be directed to blow on you while sitting in the very comfortable lounge chairs on the deck.

 

I questioned if having one was worth the price but after having the experience we thought it was worth every single penny if you intend to spend the entire day on the island expecially if your DH isn't a sun worshiper.

[Typhoon1]

DH does not think this is worth the cost.

 

Whether or not a cabana is worth the cost is completely subjective.

[twinkletoes4445]

I couldn't get the cabana pics to enlarge but it did look like an a/c unit on the back wall. Since they seem to be quite open, does this a/c really cool off that area or just make it cooler than sitting in the sun? DH does not think this is worth the cost. I think he is going to get tired of the sun & want to head back to the ship if we don't have one.

 

Here's some pictures from our day on HMC (2/1/09). We had the turquoise cabana. We went for a walk, and took a couple pictures of the inside of another cabana. This past time we visited HMC is was cloudy and fairly chilly in the morning. We picked the turquoise cabana because there is a tree right next to it and the balcony part is shaded. HAL has added new furniture to the cabanas and it is very comfy (compared to what they used to have in the cabanas).

 

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2542668560104783828AgrWSD

 

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2873644970104783828xKYOTT

 

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2076872630104783828tMjqDg

 

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2919887260104783828bopTgL

[bruce-r]

Lets put those images in a post so people can see them without having to click.

 

 

 

 

[twinkletoes4445]

Bruce,

 

Thank you for your help. I have no clue how to do anything with a computer. :) I had to ask my son to help me with the Webshots site!

[Typhoon1]

As usual, great job Bruce. Where would this board be without you?:D Gotta love those new wicker loungers.

[bruce-r]

Gotta love those new wicker loungers.

I do believe that I could take a nap in one of those loungers. :D