Castaway Cay - getting off ship

[LCoulter]

The last two times we got off the ship, I think it was mid-morning and the beach was packed so it was hard to find a couple chairs. I would like to get off earlier but will I find huge lines? What time should I go down? What are your experiences?

 

[serenitynow]

The beach is pretty empty around 9:00 - 9:30 am

 

[Marc D]

We are morning people so we are always one of the first few families off the ship at CC. We are usually finishing our breakfast in Cabanas when they announce the opening of the gangway. We take a few minutes in the room then go down to get off the ship. We've never encountered any lines at security or at the tram stop. The crowd starts showing up maybe an hour after we've taken possession of our spot near Cookies Too.

 

[xQuizx]

On our last cruise we got off around 9:45AM and found ample seats near the water. The later you go the more folks will have gotten off the boat. I wish Castaway Cay was followed by a sea day, to allow extra time to relax.

 

[Quellman]

If you are on the Magic or Wonder, it will already be less crowded because the ships are smaller. But you can either wait on the boat to get off or walk around a sea of humanity looking for a chair. Many people will stop in the first areas. You might have better luck out by the cabanas, but I never sit there.

If you don't have kids with you, there is plenty of space further down the beach at Serenity Beach.

 

[ElenaRN]

We have never had a problem finding chairs. We've been on the Dream the last 3 cruises and its never been an issue for us. We aren't first ones off the ship either.
You might have better luck going down the beach a little further than the first tram stop.

 

[LCoulter]

Maybe we got off later than I am remembering then because the beach was packed and I went all the way down to the end. I ended up putting towels down and sitting on those but I’m not very patient with looking for chairs either so didn’t walk very far before I gave up.

 

[LCoulter]

On our last cruise we got off around 9:45AM and found ample seats near the water. The later you go the more folks will have gotten off the boat. I wish Castaway Cay was followed by a sea day, to allow extra time to relax.

I wish they had a sea day after too. It’s stressful thinking about packing while trying to relax on the island.

 

[lanejudy]

Did you go all the way down to the 2nd family beach? We've never had trouble finding spots down there, just past Pelican Plunge.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[LCoulter]

Yes, all the way down past Cookie II. We walked from where the cabanas are, past that first bar and setup towels there. It was a beautiful day so maybe folks were getting off earlier. Wasn’t too hot, nice breeze and water was warm. Maybe too many folks are now going to the far end.

 

[xQuizx]

I wish they had a sea day after too. It’s stressful thinking about packing while trying to relax on the island.

I really enjoyed the sea day after on our 4 day Dream cruise. Maybe I should do a B2B (3/4) Dream cruise and get Castaway Cay twice!

 

[darnheather]

Depends on your cruise whether you have a sea day after or not. I find CC very relaxing on its own. Last time I got off and did the 5k then went back to the ship to get my younger daughter. We went back out around 1030 and had no problem finding two chairs down next to the Cabanas. We were on the Magic though so fewer people. We like to stay until we are about the last people on the beach too. So calm.

 

[hcox31]

We have a sea day next week after our Castaway day We have early risers, so we're usually in cabanas by 7:30 for breakfast, and off the boat by 8:45/9:00. We always have first pick of the beach chairs at that time. And there are also characters on the gangway then too... last time my kids could run up to stitch and he played with them a bit since there was no line at all.

 

[kylaura]

We tried going down by Pelican Plunge one year and it was just as crowded, ended up back at the end of the first family beach. There are always chairs, just not front row by the water.

 

[southerngirl528]

I wish Castaway Cay was followed by a sea day, to allow extra time to relax.

That would be great IMO too! I imagine that happens pretty rarely because CC is so close to Port Canaveral, so logistically it makes sense to be back in port the next day. Of course they could reverse it and have CC on the first full day of the cruise, but again, short distance to the Port likely plays into this.

 

[oam]

I wish for a sea day after the cruise ends.

 

[DVersaggi]

Be one of the first off. Even if it's just one of your group to snag chairs. And if you really want to see something andyou're sans child-go to the 18+ beach first thing. There is NO ONE there and marine life has yet to be disturbed. I walked along the beach with a spotted ray with a 3 foot wing span on my left. We ambled together for a long time until it it decidedto head to deeper water. Magical. First thing in the morning is the rule for ANY beach, not just the Cay.

 

[Shanti]

The last two times we got off the ship, I think it was mid-morning and the beach was packed so it was hard to find a couple chairs. I would like to get off earlier but will I find huge lines? What time should I go down? What are your experiences?

I've sailed to Castaway during peak holiday season on both of the Dream-class ships & the Magic, tend to get off mid-morning or early afternoon, and still have never had any issue finding 2 chairs next to each other. Maybe you mean right by the water? In that case, get off right when the ship arrives.

 

[Shanti]

I wish Castaway Cay was followed by a sea day, to allow extra time to relax.

They usually do that on the 3-night cruises that don't include Nassau- just CC & then a day at sea. Those are rare but DCL does offer them every year. Just one reason that's our preferred 3-night itinerary.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Our ashore time on this past Friday was 9:45 AM. We walked down to deck 3 until they were ready and were at the front of the line. Take the tram to the second stop, not the first. I also don't recommend sitting on the beach in front of Pelican Plunge....it gets crazy busy! We usually sit between the ropes water structure and the snorkel area