We didn't make it to Castaway Cay

[tikibirds]

was on the 2/4 3 night and we were unable to dock at CC due to weather conditions. Got back into port to find out our flight home to Pittsburgh was cancelled- still stranded here in Orlando and hoping to get home tomorrow. Don't think I will be travelling in the Winter again in a big hurry.

 

[catzle]

Man what a huge and total bummer. I think that would be the worse thing. Does it say someone in the documents we get that if they can't go to the island too bad. I would be mad. We are doing the double dip so hopefully we will make it.

 

[DVCconvert]

Man what a huge and total bummer..... Does it say someone in the documents we get that if they can't go to the island too bad. I would be mad.....

It IS a big bummer...but I'm wondering what the alternative is that would make you happy??....If the documents said "we''ll ground the ship or sink it as close to CC as possible" would that be an improvement??


Weather is weather...God controls that not DCL, and while it IS a bummer...if it's not safe to dock...I'd personally wish they wouldn't try!

 

[moochpuppy]

That is a bummer. What did they do instead of docking for that day then?

 

[AbsyBabsy]

was on the 2/4 3 night and we were unable to dock at CC due to weather conditions. Got back into port to find out our flight home to Pittsburgh was cancelled- still stranded here in Orlando and hoping to get home tomorrow. Don't think I will be travelling in the Winter again in a big hurry.

HI - I am so sorry you missed the island - I hope you booked again on board so you can try it another date!!

The only good thing about your situation is that you are not freezing in Florida - I hope you are getting out of the airport to enjoy this wonderful weather we are having.

How are you holding up?

 

[HallsofVA]

So sorry to hear that! We just barely made it into CC on our December cruise, then arrived in Orlando the next day to see a major snowstorm hitting the east coast, so we too spent an extra day in Orlando. Thankfully the Hyatt had rooms, and there are certainly worse places to be stranded than the Orlando airport.

Hope you make it home safely before the next round of storms hits!

Your experience is while we probably won't do less than a 4nt cruise, and why we buy travel insurance for each trip. I like having the option of that extra day so you can try again should you miss CC on the planned day. And while I'm still awaiting payment from our insurance, it's nice knowing that our extra expenses were covered.

 

[Dizzyworld]

I would be bunned to. On our last cruise, it was the first time the Sail-Away Party was held inside. We were a little sad, but I felt worse for the people that this was their first party.

Sending you lots of pixie dust for a safe return home. We are bracing for another storm here in Maryland. If you can, enjoy the parks while you wait. Travel safe.

 

[momofsamandeden]

That stinks that you missed CC. That is why we are sailing Disney. I will say that I would rather be stuck in Orlando then when we were stuck over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in a Holiday Inn by the Minneapolis airport with kids crying that they could not see Mickey!

 

[croppincolburn]

Sorry to hear you missed Castaway Cay. I'm really looking forward to seeing it. I've only gotten stuck at home, unable to depart. Never stuck at my destination. It is quit a pain either way. Sorry for your inconvenience.

(does this winter's icky weather mean good weather next year when I sail?)

 

[kcashner]

Hey gang....DCL doesn't yet control the weather!

Yes, it's a bit of a disappointment when a part of your plans are altered due to weather. But safety first, remember? That means safety of docking, CMs dancing, etc.

So you could book in August and alter course due to a hurricane...or book in June and have it be "too hot" or "too rainy." Stuff happens.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

That stinks that you missed CC. That is why we are sailing Disney. I will say that I would rather be stuck in Orlando then when we were stuck over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in a Holiday Inn by the Minneapolis airport with kids crying that they could not see Mickey!

Oh, I am soooo sorry you hit our Christmas Snow Storm... Did you at least get to see our Mall of America? Sponge Bob is not Mickey, but I sure hope you were able to get across the street. If I had heard a DISer was here missing their cruise, we would have opened our doors for you.

To the OP, I know your pain... We too have been on a cruised that missed CC and DH was so bummed that he would not even speak the word "Disney" for over 6 months. As he feels he cruises DCL just because of CC. Try it again; it will be worth it.

 

[bmalonef45]

Our first DCL cruise missed CC as well. We were traveling in November. It was a bummer thats for sure. We had never been before so we didn't know what we were missing but we did finally make it there two years ago. Here's hoping you make it back and get another chance to go to CC in the future. Hopefully when they finish the upgrades at CC the channel will be more accessible and less vulnerable to the weather conditions. Then again a rainy windy day on CC may not be the best either.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Man what a huge and total bummer. I think that would be the worse thing. Does it say someone in the documents we get that if they can't go to the island too bad. I would be mad. We are doing the double dip so hopefully we will make it.

Yes in the cruise documents there is a disclaimer that there are no guarantees that you will make it into the ports of call We missed Grand Cayman on 2 of our trips do to bad weather .

 

[justmestace]

Man what a huge and total bummer. I think that would be the worse thing. Does it say someone in the documents we get that if they can't go to the island too bad. I would be mad. We are doing the double dip so hopefully we will make it.

Every cruise contract states that in the interest of safety, the ship will not dock at any port if the weather or seas are bad. Every cruise line, not just Disney.
You stand a good chance of getting there at least once, if you're doing a double-dip.
And if the ship doesn't dock, they plan a lot of extra activities onboard....and of course, they don't charge you for any excursions you had booked.

Curious....who or what would you be mad at? I think you mean you'd just be "upset" or just kind of mad at the weather, right?

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

This would force me to book another cruise!! Heck, I use any excuse and this would definitely rank up there as a prime excuse.

Heck, DH nabbed the DCL keychain in the Castway Cay Club bag on our last cruise. I told him right then and there that we would need to book another one so I could get my own keychain. And he agreed!!

Sorry you didn't get to CC OP. Time for another cruise!!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

That is such a bummer, I'm sorry you weren't able to get to CC. I hope you booked another cruise so you can try again.

 

[Beachbumpirates]

This would force me to book another cruise!! Heck, I use any excuse and this would definitely rank up there as a prime excuse.

Heck, DH nabbed the DCL keychain in the Castway Cay Club bag on our last cruise. I told him right then and there that we would need to book another one so I could get my own keychain. And he agreed!!

Sorry you didn't get to CC OP. Time for another cruise!!

Are we related? That is my game plan too! On a previous sailing the ship had engine trouble in St Thomas and had to spend the night which made skipping CC necessary to get back in time. That snafu allowed me to book a sailing 3 months later to get to CC!!! As we always tell the kids - lets leave something for the next trip! Oh the things we do to get back on board!

 

[DVCMikey]

are they going to refund you some money or give you some sort of voucher to make up for it? I know its natures fault, but I would think they would do somethign to make up for it.

 

[Pinmaniac]

We were on this cruise as well. Quite disheartening to be that close to CC and not get off the ship, but it was obvious why we didn't make it - very windy. Our family made the best of the day at sea. We were very impressed how well the crew adapted, printed new Navigators, and updated the passengers as to the new activities.

 

[LovesToRun]

Sorry to hear this happened on your cruise. That is a bummer.

We were on the 7/30 Eastern on the Magic and went to Castaway Cay on 2/5 (the day after you were supposed to be there), and the evening and night before (so on 2/4), it was SO windy and stormy while we were at sea heading up to Castaway Cay and probably the roughest I've experienced on a Disney Cruise, so that same storm must have been at Castaway Cay on 2/4. The wind was blowing so hard that the ship was tilting sideways (not severely, but tilting enough that we totally noticed it).

It was very windy on 2/5 at Castaway Cay (especially windy in the morning), and they cancelled a lot of shore excursions (happened to cancel the shore excursion we had booked), but they refunded us, which was nice. The shore excursion we had booked was Parasailing for our son, and I think I would have been a nervous wreck seeing my son parasail in the wind we were having on the island! So, I think the cancellations of the shore excursions was a good call.

Hopefully you can book another cruise and make it to Castaway Cay the next time.

yes, you never know what Mother Nature will bring... just have to roll with the puches, I think, when it comes to weather.