Boo....no getting off at castaway

[Huey duck]

Dec 19-23 2012 cruise could not dock at castaway despite multiple attempts by the captain, the crew did a great job keeping us entertained anyway as we reluctantly added another sea day. It was our family,s first cruise ever on any cruise ship and because we stayed on ship for the first day on nassau.....we never got off. Castaway was scheduled for the last day. How often does this happen. The wind was awful that last day so I understand but we paid a lot for castaway and want to know if we should make another attempt.

 

[anniemck]

In my past position as a travel agent,(I am not any longer so I am not soliciting) I will say... never count on making it to the private island on any cruise. Winter is the worst for some reason and I do not know why honestly. I have taken 17 cruises and only two in the winter time, both of them missed the private island port.
Now I have to ask... why did you skip Nassau?... that is a great port.

 

[lodge]

We've stayed on the ship, on purpose, at both CC and Nassau... what can I say, we love the ships!

 

[lbgraves]

It happens at different times throughout the year. After Sandy hit, there were cruises that missed CC while the CMs cleaned up the island. Someone did a spreadsheet with the information but the link is no longer valid. You cannot count on a cruise ship being able to dock at any port, including Castaway Cay. Grand Cayman has been cancelled before. It is a tender port so if the harbor closes there is no way to get off the ship. Ports can be changed due to weather as well.

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

We've been on 9 cruises and we missed CC twice. Not a bad percentage! One time was an August cruise last year on the Dream and there was a hurricane; the first time was years ago on the Magic and it was also too windy. That one was torture because we could see the island and they kept trying to dock but couldn't do it. Both times the crew went above and beyond to give us a wonderful day on the ship so while we were sad, it all worked out. So sorry to hear you missed CC!

 

[speicher46]

We have been on seven cruises and never missed Castaway Cay......lucky, I guess.

 

[lanejudy]

...but we paid a lot for castaway and want to know if we should make another attempt.

So sorry you were disappointed and missed your beach day at CC. But as to the statement above, it all depends on how you look at it. You paid a lot for a cruise, on DCL, which included a planned itinerary of ports including Castaway Cay and Nassau. As with any cruise line, DCL is upfront in stating they can and will change or skip port calls as necessary for safety. If you look at it that you paid a lot of money for a Disney cruise, the family enjoyed the ship and activities, you made great memories...rather than concentrating on that one unfortunate part, it might seem more palatable. I would certainly do another DCL cruise even if our CC port stop were missed or if it didn't include a CC port stop at all.

 

[wink13]

Sorry you missed CC! We have been on 3 Disney Cruises all in Feb and missed CC on our 2nd cruise. It is very disappointing but try again!!!

 

[Melissa S]

The same thing happened to us almost one year ago (December 26-29, 2011). It would have been our first time at CC so luckily we didn't know what we were missing. The captain tried for hours and then told us we couldn't make it to CC. Luckily it was only a 3 night so we didn't mind the sea day. What bothers me now is that the crew told us this NEVER happens, but what I read on DIS this actually happens quite often.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We missed it in January. The captain tried four times, but didn't want to risk damaging the ship by trying more than that.

If I remember the poll from before, January was the most popular (unpopular?) month for missing the island.

 

[3Mickeys]

Our first cruise we missed CC not because of the weather but because of two different medical emergencies that diverted us.

Our second cruise we made it but it was torrential rain and wind. We put on our happy faces and still had a ball. Can't say the rest of the passengers felt that way though. This was late April.

 

[darkwing818]

We have been on seven cruises and never missed Castaway Cay......lucky, I guess.

We've been on 8 cruises, Spring, Summer & Fall & never missed Castaway Cay. We're scheduled on the Dream next week (1/2/2013) hopefully our luck will hold , but if not there is always plenty to keep us busy.

 

[TreyQ3]

We were on the same cruise as the OP. Really this was a combination of 2 events. We woke up sailing full speed to Kingston for a medical emergency (luckily his/her condition was announced as stable). Then we had to haul *** back to CC but we didn't get there until 12:30. With the triple whammy of high winds, currents and little time, the Captain only made two attempts to dock before aborting.

We were disappointed but understood the decision. This was our first cruise and problably our only cruise since DW and DS(7) were both a little seasick. DW's quote coming off the cruise was "never again". But never say never. . .

 

[jdb in AZ]

We were on the same cruise as the OP. Really this was a combination of 2 events. We woke up sailing full speed to Kingston for a medical emergency (luckily his/her condition was announced as stable). Then we had to haul *** back to CC but we didn't get there until 12:30. With the triple whammy of high winds, currents and little time, the Captain only made two attempts to dock before aborting.

We were disappointed but understood the decision. This was our first cruise and problably our only cruise since DW and DS(7) were both a little seasick. DW's quote coming off the cruise was "never again". But never say never. . .

Do you know if the ship's stabilizers were used? Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the stabilizers create drag so they aren't used when the captain is in a hurry.

If you ever cruise again, you might want to try an Alaskan cruise -- there's land on both sides of the ship for a good part of the way, and that helps keep the water smooth.

 

[DMMarla07860]

We were on the same cruise as the OP. Really this was a combination of 2 events. We woke up sailing full speed to Kingston for a medical emergency (luckily his/her condition was announced as stable). Then we had to haul *** back to CC but we didn't get there until 12:30. With the triple whammy of high winds, currents and little time, the Captain only made two attempts to dock before aborting.

We were disappointed but understood the decision. This was our first cruise and problably our only cruise since DW and DS(7) were both a little seasick. DW's quote coming off the cruise was "never again". But never say never. . .

Sorry to hear you missed Castaway Cay and that it might be your only cruise because your DW and DS got sea sick, but great spirit by never say never

 

[jbuckent]

Anything can happen to disrupt the plan. My first cruise (not DCL) there was a government upset happening on an island and so we docked at a different island (turns out it was one of my favorite islands!). Our first cruise with Disney was a 4 day, it was too windy to stop at CC on our scheduled day, so we circled around for the day and tried again on what was suppose to be our sea day, again the wind was too bad. I was also on the cruise with the previous posted who mentioned the two medical emergencies causing us to be too delayed to get there. Three completely different reasons to miss a scheduled island. Anything can happen.

 

[momof2minnies]

Fingers crossed this does not happen to us-I will cry. BTW I know we all love Disney and I know the reasons they can't dock if the weather is not right but it seems to happen way too often. Just sayin'.


Linda

 

[loran424]

I was on that cruise & I wanted to cry! It was my 1st cruise & CC was my only "must do". I had to suck it up & find reasons to not be sad: no one in my family was ill; I am on a CRUISE!; it is 70 degrees today, I am on a CRUISE!; had a fancy breakfast at Royal Palace; I am on a CRUISE!...you get the idea, lol.

 

[Eleblanc]

Last year during the Med cruise in July we had to skip a port. The weather was too difficult in Monaco, and since they have to use tender boats there we were diverted to Palma de Mallorca.

 

[dad4dis]

I too would be disappointed. Sorry this happened, they're responsible for the safety of the passengers and the ship.