Serenity Bay Cabana...do you think it is worth the $$$

[Kesohio63]

I would never use a cabana enough to make it worthwhile. I like to spend some time at CC and some time on the ship because it's so much less crowded when everyone is on the island. That being said, I've only been on two cruises, and both times it was cool and windy on CC, so sitting by the pool on the ship was more pleasant than sitting in the wind on the beach. A cabana would be sheltered from the wind, but then you're really not on the beach, in my opinion.

 

[phinz]

I don't even bother going ashore for more than an hour at CC unless I have a cabana, so is it worth it to me? Maybe. I've had one three different times (same cabana on SB) and it was fantastic. We'll be getting the same cabana again in November because my dad will be cruising with us and it will be worth every penny.

 

[Sytrace]

For our family it is just not worth the money.
We will do a few things on CC and then get back on the ship to ride Aquaduck (there is a consecutive ride challenge happening with our family)
This being said, we are from Orlando and are 45 minutes away from Cocoa Beach and 2 hours away from Caladesi Island in Dunedin. Beaches are no big deal for us and we are okay with sun, sand and salt water. To those who are traveling from areas where the beach is a dream, and sunburn a nightmare, I can see where having a Cabana is worth the price.
They have nice servers who come around checking to see if you need water,drinks etc as well as close proximity to Cookies BBQ so this is not a deal breaker either.
It is one of those individual things like booking a concierge cabin that only you know the value you will get out of spending the extra dollars.
We only book Verandahs and love the forward part of the ship, on higher decks, so in that respect we pay more than those who book inside cabins for a lot less. I think that at the end of the day, you are on a cruise and not at work so it is a win /win.

 

[gatordoc]

No. They're awful. Don't even consider it.

(What else can I say to make it more likely that one will be available for me to book )

 

[tdunaway]

I don't even bother going ashore for more than an hour at CC unless I have a cabana, so is it worth it to me? Maybe. I've had one three different times (same cabana on SB) and it was fantastic. We'll be getting the same cabana again in November because my dad will be cruising with us and it will be worth every penny.

Just out of curiosity...which one do you usually get?! We have a favorite as well and wondered if Buffett music was playing in the same one!!! Love the screen name!

 

[phinz]

We've never heard music in the SB cabanas, but we usually get 22 (which used to be 18). I *do* take my Bluetooth speaker with me, and I have literally every single album Jimmy has ever done, so you can imagine what's playing. I love that when you arrive in port the hall speakers are playing Bubba, as are the speakers as you walk down the pier.

 

[QuiltTeddy]

We rented a cabana last year and it was the best money we've ever spent on ANY of the many cruises we've been on!

 

[RedSox68]

I voted yes and I will tell you why. We've only done it once -- as an anniversary gift to ourselves. My adult daughter was sailing with us. The day we booked it was the coldest day I've ever been at CC in 8 stops there. It was cloudy and murky and too cold to even go in the water (which was freezing). So we lounged around our cabana, had drinks brought to us, used the snacks, fruit and soda they provide, changed into our shorts and tops and really had a great time. The furniture is super comfy. They came and picked us up for lunch and we brought everything back to the cabana, used the bikes they gave us, etc. It was probably one of the most relaxing days we've ever had there. Would I do it again -- depends. My ONLY complaint about the whole experience was that on that particular cruise, we couldn't disembark until 9:30 -- so didn't get to the cabana until 10 a.m. and felt like we got slightly short changed an hour, but still glad we did it.

I can say that if it was a swimmable day and warmer, and we had spent more time out of the cabana, I still think it would have been worth it for two reasons: the outside shower to rinse off and the changing area inside to get out of the wet clothes. Plus they provide you all the towels you want and sunblock. But we are not sunbathers and don't spend more than a couple of hours in the water.

 

[tdunaway]

We've never heard music in the SB cabanas, but we usually get 22 (which used to be 18). I *do* take my Bluetooth speaker with me, and I have literally every single album Jimmy has ever done, so you can imagine what's playing. I love that when you arrive in port the hall speakers are playing Bubba, as are the speakers as you walk down the pier.

Yea, that's what I meant....we do the same thing! We usually do 25 (which used to be 21)!

 

[brussrus]

My husband and I had SB cabana #25 last week on our grownups only getaway. It was worth every penny and I will always try and snag a cabana on future cruises.

 

[Heard02]

We did a cabana on Serenity and loved it!
We will definitely do it again.
Different strokes for different folks...

 

[pontikes67]

Do it if:

• it's in your budget
• you'll be there the whole day
• I would NOT schedule activities etc because it just takes you away from your private cabana; which is why you got it in the first place.
• I think you have to do it at least once...on the family side we did it; it was really nice, but a little weird as you have this HUGE beach to yourself and the 'other people' are on the other side of the fence

 

[Steelers0854]

We are going on our first DCL cruise in Jan 2017, adults only no kids. In your alls experience is it almost impossible for a first time DCL cruiser to get a cabana or does it really vary based on the cruise?

Thanks for the input!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Interesting thread thank you. We have a conceirge b2b cruise booked and I was thinking should we have one or will we find it a waste of valuable cash? Also I am in a wheelchair and not sure how accessible they are? Anybody know?

 

[Bettyscruise]

Drop the massage, keep the cabana. Bring your own bottle of massage oil. Spread, rub, repeat. Enjoy.

 

[Linda67]

If you are going to spend your whole day in the cabana asking yourself "is this worth it?' then don't do it. If you are going to book one, lay back and enjoy every second then yes, do it.
I loved every second I was in a SB cabana and would book one again in a heartbeat given the opportunity

 

[disboo]

YES! For us, anyway. My sister can't spend too long in the sun, and the one time we rented a cabana my elderly dad was with us. He snoozed on a lounger in the shade all day. My sister and I came and went to the water as we pleased. The hammock got lots of use. The button was great to take us to lunch and back to the tram. It was LUXURY squared. We loved it, and would repeat as often as we chose to afford it.

 

[Leilani McNurlan]

There are perks associated with having the cabana. If those are worth it then yay! But the cabanas at SB don't allow you the opportunity to just walk out on to the beach and into the water like you have at the family beaches. You have to find the path between the brush and then walk to the water from there.

We did a couples massage on Castaway Cay. That was plenty Cabana enough for me. There are servers who walk the beach and will get you drinks, there is a shower station next to the bar. I don't really need the sun tan lotion and reading materials (I have the lotion from the previous 3 days of cruising and books on my kindle). of course you know what you think your and your spouse will enjoy most.

where do the kids go on castaway if my husband and i would like to get a couples massage?

 

[trickiwoo]

We booked a Serenity Bay Cabana on our last cruise. We were traveling with friends (all 30-somethings with no kids) and there were 5 of us total that went in on the Cabana together. The Cabana split 5 ways was definitely worth it, but my husband and I agreed that if we were traveling just the 2 of us, the cabana wouldn't be worth the cost.

 

[Becky925]

My mom and I get one at every opportunity. However, we both burn very easily. One year we decided to spend the money else where and use an umbrella instead. We had to keep moving to avoid the sun and we both still got a sun burn anyway. We also love the service, but if we were both more sun ready, we might not spend the money.