DCL Picture of the Day - part 2!

[Tink rules]

On the PC repo, CC was our first stop (on the wb journey....) we pulled in around 7:30... I think people started getting off around 8:30-9:00

 

[lavawalker]

I don't think anyone answered this. You almost always go to Castaway Cay the last day of the cruise. That gives them the short cut back to Port Canaveral to unload luggage and start getting ready for the next cruise while you are still sleeping and then eating breakfast.

Ship pulls into CC about 8 or 8:30 I think. Seems like disembarkation at Castaway Cay was about 9. You get back on by 4:30 so the ship is pulling out at 5 because there are mosquitos the size of buzzards which come out at 5. Well, maybe not, but they say that the bugs are BAD!

?? Anyone know for sure?

Jan

On the PC repo, CC was our first stop (on the wb journey....) we pulled in around 7:30... I think people started getting off around 8:30-9:00

So, it takes 14-15 hours for them to sail that far? Aren't the Bahamas less than 100 miles off the coast of FL?

 

[ibouncetoo]

The speed of the ship varies based on how far they are going and what time they have to be there!

The ship can't dock at CC before full light....or at least won't dock before full light.

 

[Tink rules]

I personally was asleep (right Jackie...) so we could have been going VERY slow... or around and around alot...

It was cool to watch us come in. and to see them turn the ship around... (it was my first time...)

 

[dizzi]

The speed of the ship varies based on how far they are going and what time they have to be there!

The ship can't dock at CC before full light....or at least won't dock before full light.

Why wont they dock until full light????

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I don't think the dock is well lit enough to dock at dark.

 

[dizzi]

View from ship in Puerta Vallarta!
I love reliving the days and moments of my vacation. This morning, i was up early before the kids (normal) before the DH. And just took the camera from the room put on a hat and slipped out still in my pjs and walked around deck.

I did this often on this cruise as we had an iside room....I really enjoyed the fresh air in the morning...AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH wish i was there right now!

 

[lavawalker]

The speed of the ship varies based on how far they are going and what time they have to be there!

The ship can't dock at CC before full light....or at least won't dock before full light.

Yes, I figured the ship speed varied, but still thought maybe it docked sometime in the middle of the night given how close the Bahamas are to FL. I wish I had gotten up to watch it dock. Oh well, next time.

Also, now I'm wondering it this is why the seas seemed so rough the first night of our cruise.... I'd think you'd feel waves more if you were going slower. It was the only night dh felt sea sick and left dinner early to go lay down... Someone else said the seas are always rough the first night because we were crossing the Gulf Stream, but did we actually cross it if we were only going to CC the first night? Not sure exactly where the gulf stream goes.... off to Google...

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

Captain Thord and CD Brent walking deck 9

 

[tvguy]

So, it takes 14-15 hours for them to sail that far? Aren't the Bahamas less than 100 miles off the coast of FL?

According to the Go Florida website, Castaway Cay is 225 nautical miles ( about 259 land miles ) from Port Canaveral. According to the cruise trade Cruise Trade website, the Magic and Wonder's average cruising speed is 21.5 knots (about 24 miles an hour on land). (Can you tell I love Google?)
So it would take almost 11 hours to make the trip at average cruising speed. The Magic and Wonder certainly aren't drag racers, so it takes a while to get to cruising speed, plus they leave Castaway Cay slowly, and have to enter Port Canaveral slowly, which is why it takes about 13 to 14 hours to make the trip. Which works out, because the ships normally leave Castaway Cay between 4 and 5 pm, and arrive in the Port between 5 and 6 am the next day.
As for why they don't dock or leave Castaway Cay in the dark. There is a very narrow channel that Disney dug to get the ship into the island. They need to be able to see where they are going.

Sources: http://goflorida.about.com/od/disneyworld/a/wdw_castawaycay.htm
http://www.cruisetrade.com/shiprofile/disney_magic.htm

 

[tvguy]

Also, now I'm wondering it this is why the seas seemed so rough the first night of our cruise.... I'd think you'd feel waves more if you were going slower. It was the only night dh felt sea sick and left dinner early to go lay down... Someone else said the seas are always rough the first night because we were crossing the Gulf Stream, but did we actually cross it if we were only going to CC the first night? Not sure exactly where the gulf stream goes.... off to Google...

There are no islands to the east to act as breakers the first night out, so the Gulf Stream hits the ship without any deflection.

 

[lavawalker]

According to the Go Florida website, Castaway Cay is 225 nautical miles ( about 259 land miles ) from Port Canaveral. According to the cruise trade Cruise Trade website, the Magic and Wonder's average cruising speed is 21.5 knots (about 24 miles an hour on land). (Can you tell I love Google?)
So it would take almost 11 hours to make the trip at average cruising speed. The Magic and Wonder certainly aren't drag racers, so it takes a while to get to cruising speed, plus they leave Castaway Cay slowly, and have to enter Port Canaveral slowly, which is why it takes about 13 to 14 hours to make the trip. Which works out, because the ships normally leave Castaway Cay between 4 and 5 pm, and arrive in the Port between 5 and 6 am the next day.
As for why they don't dock or leave Castaway Cay in the dark. There is a very narrow channel that Disney dug to get the ship into the island. They need to be able to see where they are going.

Sources: http://goflorida.about.com/od/disneyworld/a/wdw_castawaycay.htm
http://www.cruisetrade.com/shiprofile/disney_magic.htm

Thanks!! You answered my question and now I don't have to Google (although I like to Google too...). I wonder why I ponder things like this and not just reflect back on things like kicking back by the pool or Serenity Bay?

 

[bevtoy]

 

[dclcruzer]

Okay! After a much too LONG break from cruising (2005 was my last one!) I'm BACK and ready to cruise! The only downside is that my cruise isn't until Christmas 2009! Oh well at least I'm cruising!...I FINALLY caught up with the thread here, it took me FOREVER! But I'm here now and ready to post! Sorry my pictures are a bit older, but hey it's a DCL Picture!

 

[Sinderelli]

Alex, our AMAZING server on the Magic. He was telling DS not to blink or he was going to miss the magic trick. Notice DS holding his eyelids open

 

[lavawalker]

CC November 2008

 

[ibouncetoo]

A while back someone had a really good shot of the ship docking at CC and you would easily see how small the 'trench' was.

.

 

[nascar8820]

A while back someone had a really good shot of the ship docking at CC and you would easily see how small the 'trench' was.

.

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

 

[scottishwee35]

Alex, our AMAZING server on the Magic. He was telling DS not to blink or he was going to miss the magic trick. Notice DS holding his eyelids open

Kim

I am surprising to see Alex because he was on Panama Cruise and he server us too. We are deaf family apart from hearing son.

Here are the photos:

Olivia with Alex... she had so much fun with him too...

Scottishwee35