Castaway Cay - not on last day of cruise?

[CamColt]

I agree, CC being on the last day is sort of sad. It is really the only port I care about so I almost feel like I'm wishing the cruise way, waiting to get there. I want to be there, but I don't because it means vacation is over. We have been on a few 4 and 5 night cruises where it was not the last day, and much prefer that.

I like the idea of the reverse itineraries as noted above.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

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.

Probably because one of the other ships is there on that day?

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Probably because one of the other ships is there on that day?

Good point

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

@PrincessShmoo

Here is the picture blown up and the full picture to show a better vantage of where it is. I took this off my verandah, deck 9.

 

[bumbershoot]

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.

FWIW I've been on a Royal cruise where CocoCay (which I love just as much as, and if you included a 5K I'd love it MORE than, Castaway) was on the first full day, and it was sad!

Sea day for packing makes you procrastinate, and then it feels like you're pulling time away from the awesome relaxation you can get on a sea day.

Packing up after a full port stop...way too hard!


So really, having Castaway on the last full day makes a bit of sense. The ship is *right there*. It doesn't take forever to get back like if you booked a long tour in another port. They aren't going to leave you behind (no matter how much you want them to). It's a very controlled port, and there's a bit of a time schedule that helps you figure out the timing you need to follow to get things packed.


The last night is never awesomely fun. Packing to go is sad. No matter where you are that day.

 

[BCV23]

I find packing up on a sea day is a piece of cake. All those lovely hours in which to fit it in. No procrastination for me. I just pick a time that fits our schedule and stick to it.

Packing up after a full port day fits a description of CC day. Not fun. Other ports aren't really close enough to PC to do the last day, right?? Oh, I guess Nassau. Key West would work for Miami cruises I think but the ship would need to sail early. At any rate, most excursions are not all day leaving large blocks to pack.

I think Flossbolna hit the nail on the head. So many families find CC to be a highlight, DCL likes to end the cruise with it as a lasting memory.

 

[JanBlessed]

I love Castaway Cay. That's why I did the 5 day "double dip" in 2012 and booked another for the upcoming summer (2 kiddos, this time)! To me: it's about the ship and castaway - until the kids get older.

When I do a seven day, then I will have to go to Castaway just once per trip

 

[bumbershoot]

I find packing up on a sea day is a piece of cake. All those lovely hours in which to fit it in. No procrastination for me. I just pick a time that fits our schedule and stick to it.

You are fabulously organized.

Or I like the zen of the sea day more than I like packing.

Packing up after a full port day fits a description of CC day.

By full I mean that you could potentially end up an hour or more away from the port, that there might be traffic, you might be stuck somewhere, etc. Those can't happen on Castaway. It's controlled and they know where you are and you know where you are in relation to the ship. No traffic, etc, to get in the way of you getting back. You can put in a full day of fun there, that's for sure. But (barring awful things whose possibility we won't bring up) you're getting back on board.


But the point is...there's no great way to do it for everyone. You want it to be on a sea day; I don't want to interrupt my peacefulness. YOu like it after Castaway; others don't. etc. It's all going to be sad!

 

[BCV23]

Agree that people's opinion will vary. I just agree with the OP that CC on the last day is not ideal. I would prefer any day but the last. First, middle or second to last. Perhaps with the addition of the 5th and 6th ships, those of us who feel that way and enjoy longer cruises will have options.

 

[stingfancb]

Thinking we're on the same cruise. 2/22/17?
I think it's the perfect itinerary!

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.

 

[RedSox68]

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.

Me. I always prefer a sea day at the end. You can relax, catch up on packing and ship shopping for those last minute purchases and get the rest of your pics from Shutters. That last day at CC you know you have final packing ahead of you and the deadline for getting the bags out. We enjoy and relax on CC, but once we get back onboard we feel like the rest of the day is spent running around getting all the last minute purchases and packing! A final day at sea would be so much better.

When we were trying to outrun a hurricane in 2004, we did CC first and then went to the Western Caribbean. It was so much more relaxing to know that the last day was a sea day.

 

[RedSox68]

I find packing up on a sea day is a piece of cake. All those lovely hours in which to fit it in. No procrastination for me. I just pick a time that fits our schedule and stick to it.

YES. I love watching the ocean, putting a good movie on the TV and just taking my time getting everything together. I always send my family out and about to do their thing. On CC day, it's like helter skelter in that stateroom LOL

 

[iluveeyore]

Maybe it was easier because it was just two of us, and because we didn't really plan any activities on CC, but for our 7-Day Western last week, we used our sea day before CC to pack, and just left out what we needed for our last day at CC and to go home. Our last day, we spent the morning at Serenity Bay, had lunch, then relaxed all afternoon on the ship at Satellite Falls and the adult pool area. We finished packing between dinner and the evening activities.

 

[Dug720]

Thinking we're on the same cruise. 2/22/17?
I think it's the perfect itinerary!

Yep!

It should be awesome! I just have never started with CC. Should be interesting doing it.

 

[Endflag]

Thinking we're on the same cruise. 2/22/17?
I think it's the perfect itinerary!

Yep!

It should be awesome! I just have never started with CC. Should be interesting doing it.

Hah! My family is going to be on that same cruise outta Miami! Excited about the reversed itinerary as well!

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I will definitely taking some suggestions posted here and try them on our cruise in a couple of weeks. Maybe pack the day before CC - maybe I'll get up extra early I don't know yet, lol.
I just don't want to board the ship after CC and run around like a mad woman...