Castaway Cay ideas for non-beach loving older folks?

[cmph]

What do older folks enjoy on Castaway Cay, if they don't like swimming/snorkeling and don't want to lounge in the sun for too long? I'm trying to help my parents plan excursions for our first DCL trip. They're experienced cruisers, but as they've gotten older and no longer have to watch their own kids in the water - they most definitely aren't "beach" people. The fishing excursions seem pricey, but then I'm not into fishing so maybe that's typical pricing for deep sea fishing? Thanks for any advice I can pass along to them!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I don't know how physical your parents are, but they have bike rentals. As far as excursions they have a walking tour of the island with a kayak excursion. Then there is parasailing.

there is the glass bottom boat ride.

Or, many people like to stay on board and take advantage of an "empty" ship.

 

[OKW Lover]

Well, we fit the category of "older folks" but I wouldn't paint all of us with the same brush. We typically bring along a book to read and some music to listen to while we relax on a lounge under an umbrella. Occasionally we will wander down to the shore and wade a bit. After a couple of hours we get lunch and slowly walk back to the ship, stopping at some of the shops along the way.

 

[bobbiwoz]

The glass bottom boat may be just right for them!

 

[MPS516]

So there are Jet Bikes, Peddle Water Bikes, Kayaking, Regular Land Bikes, a Bar overlooking the beach, Adult lunch area, or just walking around to see the set-up. Now to be clear, we are "old folks"and DW does not like to swim but she has a good time reading and watching from the beach. I enjoy the water a lot but don't get to spend much time in when it is just the 2 of us. We do spend a lot more time at the adult beach than we ever did when the DDs were younger.

 

[cmph]

I was trying not to be as wordy as I usually am, but probably not wise in this case!

My parents are not very physical. Also it looks like my dad will be having back surgery some time in the near future. In any case, they've never been into biking, and my dad has still not gotten over a disastrous kayak excursion on our southern Caribbean cruise that resulted in a lost wallet (don't ask! but he's very tall, and he didn't fit into the kayak and also fell in the water). My mom has always talked about wanting to go deep sea fishing, which is sort of weird b/c she's never been into fishing, and it's pretty darned pricey. I think the glass-bottom boat may be an easy outing, but I wasn't sure if there was enough non water/beach stuff to entertain them otherwise.

 

[lilclerk]

We're non-beachy younger folks (in our 30s) and we didn't get off the ship :x We pretty much had the run of the ship, it was great! See a movie, eat, hang out in the adults area and read, eat, enjoy your verandah if you have one, eat, lounge in the pool, maybe have a snack or something, trivia. We also played a round of the Midship Detective Agency that day, but it's a lot of running around, your parents may not like that.

Before you know it, it's time for dinner and the show.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Oops, sorry.

 

[Bear3412]

Sting rays. Excursion on boat to starfish beach/whatever they call it now. They could possibly stay aboard and still have a blast, IMO.

Jet skis ? ? ?

 

[shoes99]

DH has mobility issues, and doesn't go in the ocean. We ask for the "island taxi" to drive us to the beach near Pelican Pointe.
I find a lounger with an umbrella and two sand chairs. He sits in the lounge chair, out of the sun and waits for me while I
enjoy a little bit of the island and water. We then eat lunch at Cookies II, then get the golf cart to take us back to the ship.
You can pre-arrange for the golf cart assist, or just ask for one when you get off the ship. We waited about 15 minutes last
time for the assist. The other option is just to take the tram with everyone else...and set them up under an umbrella..

 

[Jennifer777]

The fishing excursions offered by DCL are not quite the same as what you would experience with a full or half day deep sea fishing excursion chartered privately but they are less expensive than that too. For comparison purposes, DH has paid any where from $600 - $800 (plus tip) for a half day (4 hours) and up to $1,400 for a full day this past spring. While it's not cheap, at less than $200/pp for most DCL fishing excursions, this would be a relatively inexpensive way for them to experience saltwater fishing if they want to try it. DH hasn't tried fishing at Castaway Cay yet but he would like to try the bottom fishing and trolling. The fly fishing is not interesting to him and if your dad has a bad back I would steer clear of that one.

 

[cmph]

The fishing excursions offered by DCL are not quite the same as what you would experience with a full or half day deep sea fishing excursion chartered privately but they are less expensive than that too. For comparison purposes, DH has paid any where from $600 - $800 (plus tip) for a half day (4 hours) and up to $1,400 for a full day this past spring. While it's not cheap, at less than $200/pp for most DCL fishing excursions, this would be a relatively inexpensive way for them to experience saltwater fishing if they want to try it. DH hasn't tried fishing at Castaway Cay yet but he would like to try the bottom fishing and trolling. The fly fishing is not interesting to him and if your dad has a bad back I would steer clear of that one.

Thanks!! This gives me a very good perspective on the fishing idea. It does actually sound like a good "starter" sea fishing idea, then. Yowzers, I had no clue that fishing could cost so much!

 

[cmph]

Well, we fit the category of "older folks" but I wouldn't paint all of us with the same brush. We typically bring along a book to read and some music to listen to while we relax on a lounge under an umbrella. Occasionally we will wander down to the shore and wade a bit. After a couple of hours we get lunch and slowly walk back to the ship, stopping at some of the shops along the way.

I'm a dork. I should have at least stuck a few more adjectives in to clarify what sort of outing would work. I didn't mean to lump everyone over 55 into one group. My apologies!

We're non-beachy younger folks (in our 30s) and we didn't get off the ship :x We pretty much had the run of the ship, it was great! See a movie, eat, hang out in the adults area and read, eat, enjoy your verandah if you have one, eat, lounge in the pool, maybe have a snack or something, trivia. We also played a round of the Midship Detective Agency that day, but it's a lot of running around, your parents may not like that.

Before you know it, it's time for dinner and the show.

Sting rays. Excursion on boat to starfish beach/whatever they call it now. They could possibly stay aboard and still have a blast, IMO.

Jet skis ? ? ?

As both of you above said, staying on the near-empty ship may not be a bad plan... or at least tell them to plan their CC wandering for later in the day when others start to get back on the ship.

DH has mobility issues, and doesn't go in the ocean. We ask for the "island taxi" to drive us to the beach near Pelican Pointe.
I find a lounger with an umbrella and two sand chairs. He sits in the lounge chair, out of the sun and waits for me while I
enjoy a little bit of the island and water. We then eat lunch at Cookies II, then get the golf cart to take us back to the ship.
You can pre-arrange for the golf cart assist, or just ask for one when you get off the ship. We waited about 15 minutes last
time for the assist. The other option is just to take the tram with everyone else...and set them up under an umbrella..

Thank you for the reminder of the island taxi. If his back surgery gets postponed until after our cruise, that may end up being necessary.

Thank you to everyone who responded! I feel much more informed. My parents decided to join us after we'd already booked, which I don't think they actually minded at all (to have had no part in the where/when decision making) but I do want to help them figure out how to make this cruise special. It's immediately before their 40th anniversary.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm a dork. I should have at least stuck a few more adjectives in to clarify what sort of outing would work. I didn't mean to lump everyone over 55 into one group. My apologies!

No apology needed. I was actually making the point that my experience wouldn't necessarily be the way others see it.

Hoping you've found some good info from all the responses in this thread. Its a really good question.

 

[lizabu]

My parents aren't beach people either. They shopped for souvineers and they walked around for a bit. There were some games and activities like the baby races and stuff and they grabbed a chair and watched. They had lunch and then they headed back to the ship. I think my dad saw a movie. They're very social people and they probably just talked to people.

 

[Uncleromulus]

MY suggestion would be to just get off the ship, walk around a bit and hop the tram for a ride--then get back on a mostly empty ship and relax!!!

 

[Googelibear]

We're non-beachy younger folks (in our 30s) and we didn't get off the ship :x We pretty much had the run of the ship, it was great! See a movie, eat, hang out in the adults area and read, eat, enjoy your verandah if you have one, eat, lounge in the pool, maybe have a snack or something, trivia. We also played a round of the Midship Detective Agency that day, but it's a lot of running around, your parents may not like that.

Before you know it, it's time for dinner and the show.

Ha! I like your way of cruising. We are beach people, but we live on a huge Lake Michigan beach. I don't need beach on my vacation too. Having the run of the empty ship is what I want.

 

[Mitchell G]

I'm a fishing addict. I love it and hop on a trip anytime I can. The boats out of CC are great but they are small center console boats (at least the ones I were on). They are quick and they get you where you want to fish quick. Which means they pound a bit. If I had a bad back - I would avoid this activity. Now because they are small boats you can ask to go slower, but again, it's a center console, they aren't built for comfort at any speed. Glass bottom boat is sounding better!

 

[cmph]

I'm a fishing addict. I love it and hop on a trip anytime I can. The boats out of CC are great but they are small center console boats (at least the ones I were on). They are quick and they get you where you want to fish quick. Which means they pound a bit. If I had a bad back - I would avoid this activity. Now because they are small boats you can ask to go slower, but again, it's a center console, they aren't built for comfort at any speed. Glass bottom boat is sounding better!

Oh wow, that's definitely not something I had thought about! OK, CC fishing is out for my dad for sure! Thanks so much for the info!!!

 

[85glht]

Well, we fit the category of "older folks" but I wouldn't paint all of us with the same brush. We typically bring along a book to read and some music to listen to while we relax on a lounge under an umbrella. Occasionally we will wander down to the shore and wade a bit. After a couple of hours we get lunch and slowly walk back to the ship, stopping at some of the shops along the way.

This is what I would do for sure. I don't quite fit this category yet but I would definitely get a chair in the shade and enjoy the island.