Castaway Cay less crowded with smaller ships?

ToyStory3

DIS Veteran
Joined
May 29, 2013
Messages
1,298
We've been on one other DCL trip. It was supposed to go to Castaway Cay but was re-routed to Canada last year during the hurricane. We are looking at another one this autumn and trying to decide between the Magic and Fantasy. Is Castaway Cay noticeably less crowded when the smaller ships are there versus the larger ships? Or is that even an issue or concern on the island? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
 
We've been on one other DCL trip. It was supposed to go to Castaway Cay but was re-routed to Canada last year during the hurricane. We are looking at another one this autumn and trying to decide between the Magic and Fantasy. Is Castaway Cay noticeably less crowded when the smaller ships are there versus the larger ships? Or is that even an issue or concern on the island? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Well, yes, it's less crowded. The smaller ships only accommodate 2400 passengers. The Dream class = 4,000 passengers.
 
I guess what I'm asking is....should it be a factor at all? Not sure how well the island holds the crowds and if it really matters or not. Maybe they open up additional areas for the larger ships? Is it noticeable and would you consider it a factor?
 

I guess what I'm asking is....should it be a factor at all? Not sure how well the island holds the crowds and if it really matters or not. Maybe they open up additional areas for the larger ships? Is it noticeable and would you consider it a factor?
They do not open additional areas for the larger ships. Yes, it can seem to be a smaller crowd for the Magic class ships, but, sometimes, not. If you're in an area that many people want to be in it's going to be crowded.

Also depends on how many people actually get off the ship and do anything on Castaway Cay. Some people prefer staying onboard the ship.
 
How crowded some parts of Castaway feel also depends on the adult: child ratio. In Oct 2014 we sailed 2 double dips on Wonder back to back. Every stop at Castaway there was not a single solitary chair of any kind available at Serenity Bay. The line for lunch at SB was insane. We heard they ran out of food. There were very, very few children on those sailings. The family beaches were like having your own private beach. It was the weirdest thing!
 
  • Like
Reactions: KVH
I have been to ️CC only twice, once on Magic and once on Dream. I did not notice a difference. Both times a lot of people. Some area more then others. No matter what it's a great place to visit.
 
I have been to ️CC only twice, once on Magic and once on Dream. I did not notice a difference. Both times a lot of people. Some area more then others. No matter what it's a great place to visit.

Thanks!!!
 
We've been on one other DCL trip. It was supposed to go to Castaway Cay but was re-routed to Canada last year during the hurricane. We are looking at another one this autumn and trying to decide between the Magic and Fantasy. Is Castaway Cay noticeably less crowded when the smaller ships are there versus the larger ships? Or is that even an issue or concern on the island? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Ill be honest with you i never feel a difference. Technically yes it will be more crowded but I have never felt a difference.
 
With regards to Serenity Bay, you can definitely see a difference. The adult beach is much more crowded during a Dream/Fantasy cruise.
 
We cruised on the Wonder after cruising on the Dream for our last few trips. We definitely felt like it was "less crowded."

We had no trouble grabbing not just one, but two hammocks at the family beach. We didn't head off early and seek them out, there was just that much available even by mid-morning. Lots of chairs and we got a wagon for the kiddos too. I went by at lunch and grabbed a jogging stroller so I could walk YDS for a nap - there were still plenty parked at both tram stops.

Sure, there are lots of factors. But this was a Spring Break cruise, so we do feel the ship size makes a difference.
 
How crowded some parts of Castaway feel also depends on the adult: child ratio. In Oct 2014 we sailed 2 double dips on Wonder back to back. Every stop at Castaway there was not a single solitary chair of any kind available at Serenity Bay. The line for lunch at SB was insane. We heard they ran out of food. There were very, very few children on those sailings. The family beaches were like having your own private beach. It was the weirdest thing!
That's what we've found on those cruises that are adult-heavy (TransAtlantic, Panama Canal). Our first visit to Castaway Cay (Panama Canal), we headed for Serenity Bay, and found it full of people. Went back to the family beach, and found many empty loungers right at the water's edge and not many people.
 
After four visits to CC - two on the Magic, once each on the Dream and Fantasy - my personal experience was it was noticeably quieter when it was the Magic. Our general plan is always the same, with SB in the morning, SB BBQ for lunch, and then back to one of the family beaches for some final lounging around before getting back on the ship. Both times on the larger ships it's been difficult finding seating at any of the beaches.
 
I have never noticed a difference on CC but IMO the larder ships are better in general
 
How crowded some parts of Castaway feel also depends on the adult: child ratio. In Oct 2014 we sailed 2 double dips on Wonder back to back. Every stop at Castaway there was not a single solitary chair of any kind available at Serenity Bay. The line for lunch at SB was insane. We heard they ran out of food. There were very, very few children on those sailings. The family beaches were like having your own private beach. It was the weirdest thing!


Exactly! We had an almost empty family beach before. it was great.

For the original poster. Yes there are less people on the island, but the island does a good job of spreading them out no matter the size. And this is with 2 trips on the magic, 2 on the dream and 3 on the fantasy. 8 Total days at Castaway doesn't seem long enough!
 
We've been on one other DCL trip. It was supposed to go to Castaway Cay but was re-routed to Canada last year during the hurricane. We are looking at another one this autumn and trying to decide between the Magic and Fantasy. Is Castaway Cay noticeably less crowded when the smaller ships are there versus the larger ships? Or is that even an issue or concern on the island? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

If you are going to spend the day in Serenity Bay, it might be relatively quiet even if you sail on the Fantasy.

If you are looking for the Family Beach then it will be more crowded. That being said, there are plenty of space and chairs and umbrellas even on the Family Beach.
 
We have been to CC many times on the classic ships, and SB in the Fall/Winter months seems to be very quiet.
The last time we were there on The Magic in May it was packed like I have never seen before, after I told a first time visitor its always nice and quiet on SB. :hyper2:
 
We have been to CC many times on all of the ships and I honestly have never noticed any difference.
 
We've done CC on the Magic, Wonder, and Fantasy. Yes, it can technically be more crowded on the bigger ships, but it's well designed to handle the crowds, for the most part.

Some suggestions if you do go on the Fantasy or Dream, would be to do whatever you want to do most first thing.

I love to snorkel, and it's fun to hunt for all of the underwater 'treasures' in the snorkel lagoon. But I only snorkel first thing, if the water seems relatively clear. Because it's a Lagoon, the water can get murky if there are high winds, heavier surf beyond the Lagoon, or lots of people splashing in the Lagoon. For that reason, I don't book snorkel gear ahead of time, but rent them day of, depending upon the conditions. And I don't go snorkeling again after lunch.

If you like the idea of hanging out at Serenity Bay, it's likewise nicest in the early morning, when it's less crowded and easier to find lounge chairs, especially shaded chairs.

Afternoons, we generally just play around at the family beach, listen to tunes, build sand castles, ride the water slides, etc.

We love the classic ships, but I'll admit I'm looking forward to sailing on the Fantasy again.
 

GET UP TO A $1000 SHIPBOARD CREDIT AND AN EXCLUSIVE GIFT!

If you make your Disney Cruise Line reservation with Dreams Unlimited Travel you’ll receive these incredible shipboard credits to spend on your cruise!




























DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top