Castaway Cay Cancelled :(

[TwinPrincessTWINKIE]

That is definitely true. The immediate port area can be shady, but it is not the whole island. Although I think the ship pier and fiesta building are attempts to make the port more appealing and somewhat secure (once you walk out of the fiesta building, it isn't the ship port anymore, but to get into the fiesta building -and you can still do some shopping in there- you have to have a shipcard) so I do think they are trying to improve it. Once you leave that building though, you are definitely on your own.

...How do you remember this stuff! lol

 

[disdel]

Especially to folks who are doing 3 or 4 day cruises, I always tell them to get off in Nassau IN CASE you miss CC. You will have missed your only chance to get off the boat and go to the beach. For me, I take a very EASY taxi ride to Cabbage Beach (same beach as Atlantis) for about $10 and spend the day on a beautiful beach drinking pina coladas. Usually take sandwiches from Flo's in my backpack and have a picnic on the beach. Paradise Island is a 10 minute taxi ride, and world away, from the port area- it is beautiful. You cross the bridge and think you're in another country. Seriously, how many cities in the US would people have positive views of if they walked 2 or 3 blocks around their ports?

Absolutely correct - for Manhattan NY, other than the INTREPID Air/Sea Museum next to the Passenger Ship Terminal, you need to go at least three long blocks to Tenth Avenue for amenities, and if you're not a traveler or city person, I'd say it's a bit disconcerting. Bayonne (or Port Liberty, lol) on RCCL and Celebrity, there's no walking to anything. Baltimore no great experience, either

For the poster that asked about the water taxi, from what I've seen, I'd skip it and take a regular taxi. From what I've seen, the water taxi makes you wait until they have enough folks, and then drops you off in the middle of nowhere and you have a LONG walk to the beach. I usually laugh with the cab drivers as I see the folks walking along the road who took the water taxi.
Also have to agree here - the water taxi consumes a LOT of time, and the walk is tedious. If your intent is to visit the beach or Atlantis resort, take a cab

That being said, ptcbass asked how to get the water taxi - there is a ticket desk right inside the port building (maybe not now, in January all the vendors were being moved out to sheds so the area could be rebuilt), but they are tied up along the seawall a short walk to your right as you exit the pier onto the street. FWIW, across from where they tie up is a head-high window - don't hesitate to get conch fritters or other Caribbean bites there. Grab a cold beer, sometimes the water taxi guys have 'em for a buck, go sit on the seawall, yum.

 

[ptcbass]

That being said, ptcbass asked how to get the water taxi - there is a ticket desk right inside the port building (maybe not now, in January all the vendors were being moved out to sheds so the area could be rebuilt), but they are tied up along the seawall a short walk to your right as you exit the pier onto the street. FWIW, across from where they tie up is a head-high window - don't hesitate to get conch fritters or other Caribbean bites there. Grab a cold beer, sometimes the water taxi guys have 'em for a buck, go sit on the seawall, yum.

Thanks so much! I am not sure how we will get to Atlantis but wanted to know our options. We don’t have anything planned for the day so we won’t be in a hurry to Atlantis and just want to enjoy the view and relax (and maybe eat a conch fritter ). We also enjoy walking so that isn't a problem either (as long as it is a fairly safe neighborhood and the weather is good). Some friends of ours just went and said that they used the water taxi and enjoyed it. It is funny how everyone’s views are so different. I guess it also depends on what your expectations are. From some of these posts I am picturing a really nasty not so safe island with people begging from you every step you take. At least it has beautiful water around it.

 

[chinarider]

On our first cruise in Dec 2000, we were unable to dock at CC. They said that this was due to choppy waters and that I believe they have to back in and it's a tight fit (these are the things that I remember them explaining to us). The seas didnt seem rough so, it was somewhat hard to comprehend however, I have never tried to steer any sort of boat ( needless to say a large cruise ship). Since this was still while Disney cruising was new, there were extremely limited options and activities on the ship so, at least now, there is more to offer if and when these thing occur.