Jakejosa

Hi All! I will be sailing from Tampa for the first time in February. How is port parking? Does anyone have a recommendation for shuttle parking? Thanks!

On 11/5/2021 at 12:03 PM, KristiZ said:

No lifeboats near that cabin. You're good  

Thank you!

I had no idea about this on Serenade! I am cruising on this ship for the first time in Feb and our travel agent assigned us to 7520. Any idea if the lifeboat cover will diminish the view in this room?

On 8/28/2019 at 5:51 AM, Thom Cruise said:

In people's opinion, is the refreshment package a much superior thing, coffee-wise, to the free coffee on board?

I think I want this package, and in my head, I can go anywhere on the ship at any bar or restaurant (Except Starbucks) and get any coffee off the menu, for free, with this pass.  Is this correct?

I always get the refreshment package.  The coffee is much superior to the free stuff.  You can get an Americano coffee at all of the specialty places, they just don’t put it on the menu.  I especially love to have a cappuccino with dessert in the main dining room.

On 6/24/2019 at 2:35 PM, RTripp said:

Hi jakejosa and sh2738   Our Chill Island Cabana did not have a special menue, we ate where and whatever everyone else did on CocoCay . Our cabana person was VERY reluctant to get us food & while we were asking, another cabana attendant walked by with sandwiches for her cabana she was attending to...we asked “well if you cant bring the food, what is that?” We tipp very well.. already they( RC)gets the 18% on drinks,  then we give cash of 10 % to 20% On TOP of, so it wasn’t that. Just some attendants want to work extra & some do not..we got the one that did not. We DID get drinks brought to us, about once an hour( not enough). So we did finally talk her into bringing us a sandwich from snack shack relaxed & then went thru the dive bombing pooping birds for a full place of fruit, fries, sandwiches used anither pkate to COVER my food & then headed back to the cabana to sit in the shade away from the birds. I am not exaggerating, i saw birds attacking plates of food people were holding. People were sitting on picknick tables that had sail type tarps as shade cover above,  but on the edges of the tarp  is where the birds sat and popped on the people below eating food.. yuck yuck yuckie..first and last cruise. RC knows this and could do better. 

Thanks for the information, this is disappointing news.

12 hours ago, RTripp said:

Hell, just went to CocoCay on Monday via HOTS. There are now I think 20 cabanas, the numberd layout is out of date. 1 thru 10 in “ front” staggered 11 thru 20 in “back”. ALL of the Chill  Island cabanas has a nice ocean view. We were second in line at excursion desk on 1st day to pick a cabana location, NO GO. RC assigned all the cabanas. I had walkinh issues & requested a secific spot, they would not change.  There is NOT a “ locking lid combination”, there is not a speaker, some might be available upon request. There is NOT a special menue to order lunch from. The cabana attendant  does get drinks, but not your food. I noticed lockers behind the jetski/activities desk near cabana/ bathroom/bar. The cabana did have power, 6 towels, 8 evian water bottles on ice.

Is the eating area only for cabanas or do we use the same buffet as everyone?  I was hoping for less crowds at meal time.

I have also cruised HOTS and found the WOW bands to be frustrating.  They are great for room entry, but when purchasing drinks etc. and disembarking/embarking I was always asked for my actual key card.

We have tentatively booked this excursion for October.  I would welcome any feedback or tips, especially about the Lagoon portion.  I couldn't find much information online about this. Thanks in advance!

On 3/25/2019 at 3:07 PM, Andrew72681 said:

Our one complaint was that it’s a long hike with beach bags in tow and on the way back a tired daughter. The shuttles appeared to be too infrequent and way too packed to be comfortable. 

One other note about Labadee: WATER SHOES ARE A MUST HAVE ITEM!  

We have done the beach bed in Labadee twice.  During the most recent trip in Dec 2018 our attendant called a golf cart to drive us back to the pier.  We did have my 82 y/o MIL with us, so that could be what inspired his generosity.  We did tip the attendant and the golf cart driver.

Thanks so much for your post!  I too have been searching everywhere for more information on the chill island cabanas.  Can you answer a few questions for me?

Does the cabana come with floating beach mats?

Do you recommend water shoes for this area?

Can you book your specific cabana onboard the ship?

I read that some cabanas include water park admission, is this correct an does it apply to Chill Island?