Castaway Cay - vs - Princess Cays

[Wishing on a star]

Can anybody compare the two....

We thoroughly enjoyed CC the one time we were there.

From photos and research, Princess Cays can not even come close...

The cruise I am looking at is the newest nicest Princess ship (looks awesome!!!) It carries way more passengers, and I simply can not see the Princess Cays accommodating that many people without being a crowded mess.

I am hoping that somebody will tell me that Princess Cays is maybe almost as nice as Castaway Cay... The cruise on the Princess Ruby, as a short all-adult getaway, for less than half the cost of DCL, looks wonderful!

Thanks!

 

[Cooper2009]

I have not yet been on our Disney Cruise (first time). We'll sail away on 8/9/09! Just a little more then a week left!

I HAVE been on the WONDERFUL Ruby Princess (my favorite ship) and will be traveling on her sister ship (the Emerald) in Oct. this year... and I expect it to be as nice as the Ruby and the other sister ship we sailed (the Crown). I wish I could tell you about Princess Cays... BUT - I never got off the boat - ever! We always travel with my Parents on the Princess, and we love the beach - but being from FL.. with our our beautiful beaches just a mile a way - we stayed on board and enjoyed the ship.

We are traveling with our 8 yr old son next week - his FIRST cruise and plan to get off the boat at CC.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Can anybody compare the two....

We thoroughly enjoyed CC the one time we were there.

From photos and research, Princess Cays can not even come close...

The cruise I am looking at is the newest nicest Princess ship (looks awesome!!!) It carries way more passengers, and I simply can not see the Princess Cays accommodating that many people without being a crowded mess.

I am hoping that somebody will tell me that Princess Cays is maybe almost as nice as Castaway Cay... The cruise on the Princess Ruby, as a short all-adult getaway, for less than half the cost of DCL, looks wonderful!

Thanks!

You tender in at princess cays, the beach is ok, but smaller in width than CC, and the sea has far more rocks in it, CC is clean and safe, the food facilities were far less than DCL. Not much there either, against the bikes, walks, etc and Stingrays and kids facilities of CC.

Due to tendering Princess cruises miss Princess cays a lot of the time, as soon as the waves are up, they cant tender, CC is missed far fewer times, as you dock.

On a smaller Princess ship I found their island crowded and tendering very slow, you didn't really have an option of going back to ship for lunch. There was a hard sell on drinks, I think you have to pay for all of those.

 

[NancyIL]

On a smaller Princess ship I found their island crowded and tendering very slow, you didn't really have an option of going back to ship for lunch. There was a hard sell on drinks, I think you have to pay for all of those.

Why would you go back to the ship for lunch when they serve a BBQ on the beach?

 

[SC Minnie]

I have been to both. Castaway Cay is better by a mile. Princess Cay is much smaller, rocks in the water, and tendering in. All things I didn't like. Would it stop me from booking another Princess cruise- no.

 

[Wishing on a star]

We are traveling with our 8 yr old son next week - his FIRST cruise and plan to get off the boat at CC.

We LOVED cc...
It was heaven, tons of room and landscaping... many, many, loungers under shady tropical 'palm' trees. Just PERFECT.
Of course, you already know that your son should LOVE this cruise!

PS: Nancy, Yes, I would go back to the Ruby for lunch if I had the chance... As mentioned, the facilities and the food on PC does not seem to compare to CC. We are thinking of having a nice full breakfast, early, and trying to tender over as soon as possible with some snacks in tow... And, then returning early-mid afternoon for a nice lunch on board... Beats standing forever in line for a mediocre plate of 'beach food'.

It also helps that we can escape the growing crowds on the beachfront and go back onboard to our spot at all-adult The Sanctuary.
If we take this cruise, our best shot at getting in The Sanctuary is to reserve the whole time upon boarding.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Why would you go back to the ship for lunch when they serve a BBQ on the beach?

Firstly its an ''option'' at CC, not an option at Princess cays that was the first point, second, the food at Princess cays is very substandard against Cookies BBQ so you would want to.

 

[NancyIL]

PS: Nancy, Yes, I would go back to the Ruby for lunch if I had the chance... As mentioned, the facilities and the food on PC does not seem to compare to CC. We are thinking of having a nice full breakfast, early, and trying to tender over as soon as possible with some snacks in tow... And, then returning early afternoon for a nice lunch on board... Beats standing forever in line for a mediocre plate of 'beach food'.

If I'd had enough of the beach, then I might wait to eat lunch on the ship. But If I wanted to stay longer at the beach, I'd survive "the mediocre plate of 'beach food'" in order to not waste time traveling to and from the ship.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Firstly its an ''option'' at CC, not an option at Princess cays that was the first point, second, the food at Princess cays is very substandard against Cookies BBQ so you would want to.

Andrew, this is a good question...
Surely the tenders do operate thru-out the afternoon...
So, it would be an option.
Just not an effective use of your day to spend that much time tendering to the ship, and then BACK to the beach.

Right????

 

[Wishing on a star]

If I'd had enough of the beach, then I might wait to eat lunch on the ship. But If I wanted to stay longer at the beach, I'd survive "the mediocre plate of 'beach food'" in order to not waste time traveling to and from the ship.

Now, if we are talking Castaway Cay, you couldn't get me back on that ship until last call!!!!!!

Princess Cays - I'm not so sure...

 

[NancyIL]

Now, if we are talking Castaway Cay, you couldn't get me back on that ship until last call!!!!!!

Princess Cays - I'm not so sure...

I can take only so much time at a beach, so I went back to the ship after lunch at CC. Too bad there was nothing going on on the ship in the afternoon until the DVC presentation at 3:30!

 

[sandiegosusie]

I've done both Cays. CC wins hands down. Not anything again Princess Cays, just not what we were expecting, very small and rocky.

On our honeymoon we sailed on the Grand Princess on an Eastern itinerary. Storm blew in and we were told to got off the beach and go directly to be tendered back. A bit of a bumpy ride to say the least. We had been there all of 10 minutes. Once everyone was aboard and accounted for, we left in a hurry I might add. The waves our last night hit 30feet. The crew was even sick! Hardly anyone at dinner, glasses were falling over. It was a mess...the pool emptied out because of the rocking. Looking back on it, it was a scary situation. Our marriage has survived in spite of our honeymoon trip.

 

[samily]

Glad you posted this question - DH and I are leaving the kids at home and sailing on the Ruby for a short cruise in December. Looks like a beautiful ship - we are looking at booking The Sanctuary too! When are you sailing?

 

[Wishing on a star]

We are looking at the 14th.

It does sound like a WONDERFUL adult getaway!!!
We would be leaving our son behind. (Just have to find somebody to leave him with!)

I was disappointed in what I was seeing and reading about Princess Cays....
Especially on this cruise, on this huge ship, that holds a billion passengers... with this being the only stop.... Not only will the Cays not compare to Castaway Cay, but I wonder if it will be a logistical issue as well... having to tender that many people ashore, and the small beach areas that they do have are sure to be shoulder-to-shoulder packed.

Then I was thinking.. so what... It is still an incredible getaway... If the weather holds out, and If we are able to tender over early enough to find a nice spot (DH is an early riser - and he can drag me with him!!! ) We get a couple-three hours there at the beach, and head back to the ship. If it works out, then I would consider that as a bonus! A small blessing!

I really want to do this... But, we are kind of at our financial limits right at the moment... We have had some recent expenses, and need to pay off our Discover before we do this...

If we finally book, I will be

 

[toodycat]

CC is nicer than Princess Cay which tends to be crowded and a bit rocky. I would recommend that you rent a cabana on Princess Cay. It is a little pricey but the sun gets hot and the lounge clamshells don't really protect you. CC, with all its attraction and separate beaches, is far superior.