Castaway Cay - not on last day of cruise?

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I wonder if anyone else feels the same way about this as I do... Love Castaway Cay and the fact that it's offered on most Bahamian and Caribbean cruises. I absolutely hate the fact that it's on the last day of the cruise. I know some 4 day itineraries have it on the 3rd day with sea day at the end, but most of the time and always on the 7 night cruise it's on the last day.
Who else thinks it'd be awesome if Disney ended the cruise with a Sea day instead of Castaway Cay
Maybe I'm just out to lunch, lol.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

I agree, it does seem to make for a hectic end.

 

[Dug720]

I love ending it on Castaway. I'm a little nervous that it is our first stop on my Magic cruise this Feb...that is going to totally throw me off!

But maybe I'm weird in that I pretty much re-pack as I go so there is no "hectic" to the last day regardless.

 

[lorimay]

We were on The Wonder last February and it was our first stop and we loved it, usually it's bittersweet on the last day. But we like having 3 more days left after.

 

[chik1987]

Our October 2 2017 4 Day has CC as the 3rd day and I'm really excited about it. I think having the last day as a sea day to relax will be nice.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I wonder if anyone else feels the same way about this as I do... Love Castaway Cay and the fact that it's offered on most Bahamian and Caribbean cruises. I absolutely hate the fact that it's on the last day of the cruise. I know some 4 day itineraries have it on the 3rd day with sea day at the end, but most of the time and always on the 7 night cruise it's on the last day.
Who else thinks it'd be awesome if Disney ended the cruise with a Sea day instead of Castaway Cay
Maybe I'm just out to lunch, lol.

I love a stop at Castaway Cay, whenever it is. I agree that doing it the last day is a bit hectic. Although, you usually leave fairly early from there (around 5:00) so there should be plenty of time for packing up and all.

Our very first DCL cruise Castaway Cay was the first stop (WBPC). Subsequent cruises we've stopped there on the last day (7 night cruises) and second to last day (4 night cruise).

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I love a stop at Castaway Cay, whenever it is. I agree that doing it the last day is a bit hectic. Although, you usually leave fairly early from there (around 5:00) so there should be plenty of time for packing up and all.

Our very first DCL cruise Castaway Cay was the first stop (WBPC). Subsequent cruises we've stopped there on the last day (7 night cruises) and second to last day (4 night cruise).

Oh don't get me wrong, I love it too whenever it is... but all I think heading back to the ship from the island....the cruise is over... and I have to rush and pack before dinner. Maybe our next cruise I will think of a different "system" so I have more of a relaxing last day. If it was a sea day, I would pack before lunch and just relax...

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

I wish there was an itinerary where the ship docked for 2 - 3 days and became a floating hotel while I played on Castaway Cay.

 

[Dug720]

Oh don't get me wrong, I love it too whenever it is... but all I think heading back to the ship from the island....the cruise is over... and I have to rush and pack before dinner. Maybe our next cruise I will think of a different "system" so I have more of a relaxing last day. If it was a sea day, I would pack before lunch and just relax...

Pack as you go. Rather than wadding up the dirty clothes and putting them wherever, go ahead and fold them back into the luggage or whatever bag you are using to transport them each night when they come off. That way most of the heavy work is already done.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I wish there was an itinerary where the ship docked for 2 - 3 days and became a floating hotel while I played on Castaway Cay.

The rumor is that there is a bad insect problem in the evening/nighttime hours. And the extra costs for power at night would mean more development on the island.

 

[PlanoNana]

Pack most of your stuff the night before. But I can understand the feeling like the cruise is almost over when CC is the last day.

 

[clten]

Maybe over the years I've just gotten used to Castaway Cay being the last day and my packing is set to that time schedule. I've had a few cruises recently that end with a sea day and it feels like I end up wasting that whole day getting ready to leave! I wake up knowing it is the last day so I feel like I should be packing up rather than skipping out to some activity. Then I'll not finish and leave the cabin only to come back and be depressed that I haven't finished packing. Having to do it after Castaway Cay, I have limited time so I just suck it up and get it done. (I have been using packing cubes for the last couple of years and that really does help in the pack up. I fill them with dirty clothes as the cruise goes along and throw them into the suitcase under the bed. Then on packing day it is just a matter of organizing them and then everything else that has to be packed that isn't clothes!)

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

The last day of a DCL cruise is always depressing (a little less so if you've done the OBB though). On the Alaska cruise the last day is a sea day and it does make it less hectic, that's for sure. Unless they stop at CC on the first day, I think the 7-night Caribbean cruises pretty much have to do CC on the last day, logistically. But I also think DCL plans it this way on purpose, as many guests feel CC is the highlight of their itinerary and they want it to end on a high note.

 

[bumbershoot]

But maybe I'm weird in that I pretty much re-pack as I go so there is no "hectic" to the last day regardless.

That's really the key. Don't leave packing to the frantic last hours, but do it as you go.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I absolutely hate the fact that it's on the last day of the cruise.

100% agree...I can't stand it. It was the only time I have ever cruised when the last day was not a sea day and it was my last. If it means we miss castaway cay, so be it. I kinda think it's overrated anyway.

 

[Flossbolna]

I once saw a documentary about DCL and there they said that there is a purpose behind making Castaway Cay the last day: They perceive it to be the highlight of the cruise and want people to think of the last day of their cruise as their best day so that they end on a good feeling and then want to book the next cruise.

I also think for the 7-day itineraries there is no choice as they need all the time earlier in the cruise to the Caribbean ports and the distance back up north. For the Bahamas cruises, they could of course change it.

And I agree about what others said about the sea day. I love sea days, but on two of my cruises the last day was a sea day and those felt far less relaxing because I was constantly thinking about packing... Especially the last day of the Panama Canal cruise.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I once saw a documentary about DCL and there they said that there is a purpose behind making Castaway Cay the last day: They perceive it to be the highlight of the cruise and want people to think of the last day of their cruise as their best day so that they end on a good feeling and then want to book the next cruise.

I also think for the 7-day itineraries there is no choice as they need all the time earlier in the cruise to the Caribbean ports and the distance back up north. For the Bahamas cruises, they could of course change it.

And I agree about what others said about the sea day. I love sea days, but on two of my cruises the last day was a sea day and those felt far less relaxing because I was constantly thinking about packing... Especially the last day of the Panama Canal cruise.

I can see CC being the highlight, but then why does Disney not leave it til the end of the 4 night Bahamian cruises?
For me it's not just about the packing...it's that "feeling" I get that it's the last day when we arrive at CC. Suppose I would feel same way if it was a sea day, I don't know.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

100% agree...I can't stand it. It was the only time I have ever cruised when the last day was not a sea day and it was my last. If it means we miss castaway cay, so be it. I kinda think it's overrated anyway.

I love CC but it's not a must for us either. I find it a bit overrated as well, but that could be because the 3x I've been there the weather was cold and it rained on and off.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I also think for the 7-day itineraries there is no choice as they need all the time earlier in the cruise to the Caribbean ports and the distance back up north. For the Bahamas cruises, they could of course change it.

I personally would prefer a reversed itinerary.

Day 1 - port Canaveral
Day 2 - Castaway Cay
Day 3 - Sea Day
Day 4 - Caribbean port
Day 5 - Caribbean Port
Day 6 - Sea day
Day 7 - Sea Day
Day 8 - Port canaveral


Or, a different itinerary that possibly combined Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean...lol, I hate CC on the last day that much

Day 1 - port Canaveral
Day 2 - Castaway Cay
Day 3 - Sea Day
Day 4 - Caribbean port
Day 5 - Sea Day
Day 6 - Bahamian Port
Day 7 - Sea Day
Day 8 - Port canaveral

 

[BCV23]

Completely agree with the OP. Like your 7 night itineraries, LSUFan4444.

I do pack up dirty laundry as we go. Use packing cubes so any clean clothes in the drawers are very quickly repacked. However, on the Fantasy, the guest survey is not available until the last evening. I take notes on CMs who are great so it takes me quite a while to fill out the form. Also need to fill out the custom form which takes a while, too. Really, really want to sit on the verandah and read the entire last evening which is the way to relax at the end of a cruise for me. Never enough time to really enjoy it on the Fantasy. Our Galveston cruise had CC rather early in the cruise which was great. Some of our cruises out of Miami have had CC on different nights as well. One Miami cruise even skipped CC which was fine with me.