Docking at Castaway Cay

[AAAG]

My friend just got off the Wonder today. they were unable to dock at Castaway Cay, which was a big disappointment. Now I'm starting to worry about our cruise next month. We loved Castaway cay when we were there last year, and I would be so upset if we couldn't dock.

Does anyone know what percentage of cruises are unable to dock? I know it depends on wind, waves, etc, but I'm wondering how frequent it is that a ship can't dock? Is it really rare? or does it happen often? Anyone know the stats?

 

[deidre]

We were on this cruise. It was a huge disappointment basically because I feel we were so close to the island that it almost made the feeling worse. I understand that safety comes first and they know a heck of a lot more about steering a ship than I do, but if not docking becomes a habit, they need to find a solution. I sail Disney because of castaway and there were a lot of first time cruisers furious. I wonder if royal doesn't dock on their islands ever.

I know I've been on castaway when the waves were crashing and the wind was 30 MPH and it was just hard for me to believe that the situation was much worse.

It's seriously making me consider a different cruise line. I do wonder if it's just the Disney Wonder they have problems docking? One of the servers told me two cruises ago it couldn't dock at castaway either so I do think it happens more often than we know. Hope you get a chance to enjoy the island. I truly feel cheated, even though we did have a good time.

 

[lbgraves]

It happens fairly often and can be at any time of the year. There was a rather intensive thread done where someone tracked years of CC stops to track how many times it missed. I honestly forget the percentage, but someone here is bound to remember. The winter months seemed to be more frequent for issues.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My friend just got off the Wonder today. they were unable to dock at Castaway Cay, which was a big disappointment. Now I'm starting to worry about our cruise next month. We loved Castaway cay when we were there last year, and I would be so upset if we couldn't dock.

Does anyone know what percentage of cruises are unable to dock? I know it depends on wind, waves, etc, but I'm wondering how frequent it is that a ship can't dock? Is it really rare? or does it happen often? Anyone know the stats?

This thread may be of interest to you:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2854575

 

[Mastfamilycruise]

We went last January and they couldn't dock but switched our day at sea and gave it a try the next day and was successful. We are going again in April!

 

[phinz]

I guess I'm weird in that I don't care if we dock at CC or not.

 

[jpeppers]

I have been on 2 cruises and on both it was insanely windy and this year they tried to dock for hours and finally did as they did the year before. They will start very early in the morning, I was aft both times so had a front row seat. It was very bad bad when they docked for us so I'm very confident it must be incredibly bad when they don't. They will make every effort to get you on the Island!

 

[ptcbass]

I wonder too if it happens with one ship more than another. It does seem as if it happens more in the winter too. I never thought about the 4 days giving you another chance in case you can't dock.

With the RCCL my parents went on they tendered into Coco (there wasn't a dock) and it was storming with lightening in the distance and they still took them over - just made them get on the lower covered level of the boat. I don't know how windy it was though.

 

[Poohbug]

I was incredibly disappointed when we couldn't dock at Castaway on my last cruise. I am still a little disappointed.

I really hope my cruise next month will be able to dock. Castaway is a big part of why I book DCL and if we can't dock the value of my cruise has gone considerably down.

I wish DCL would have a back-up in place when this happens. Something like tenders or an alternate day.

I completely understand that safety comes first and you can never predict what sea conditions will be but it is still disappointing when you are so close and can't get to the island.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Twice we could not tender into Princess's private island, and once we could not tender into RCCL's Coco Cay. Tendering in does not mean you definitely get the private island day.

We were on the Wonder for the January 4th cruise. Out captain tried for an hour, came back, tried again, and it again took nearly an hour, and he made it!. We did not go on the island, it was too windy for us to enjoy, and from our veranda there were few people in the water and all water craft excursions were cancelled. However, plenty of people were sunbathing and everyone had a good time. DH & I enjoyed the pool area on board that was relatively empty!

I understand that people are disappointed, it is a beautiful island, and I do believe that DCL does the best it can to get people there. All 11 of our cruises that were scheduled to go there have been able to dock there, including the 2 we have done in a January.

Bobbi

 

[kstaack]

I think this again is one of the problems with DCL. You have your whole trip but really the only day you care about is the Castaway day....if the weather is bad, or you cannot dock you feel like it ruined your whole trip because you couldn't go to Castaway. No one would care if you couldn't dock in Nassau.

I guess it could maybe be possible to go on a different day if there wasn't another ship scheduled to be there. But I think it would be hard for them to change that. All of the excursion boats come from Freeport and I'm sure they have other trips planned when they are not at Castaway.

On my first cruise we were not able to dock due to winds. It was also on one of the smaller ships. There engines might not provide them enough control against high winds.

On our last cruise. I ran the castaway cay challenge the ship docked at castaway at 11:30pm. If we would have had any issues docking they could have tried all night long.

Missing the Castaway or bad weather is just a risk you take and something Disney does not have control of. But I do understand how disappointing this can be.

 

[ptcbass]

About a week ago they had to get a tug to help the Fantasy dock at Port Canaveral.

 

[lbgraves]

If the ship cannot dock safely at CC due to current and wind conditions, there is no way I am going to get on a tender boat in those same conditions. The ship carries all of the supplies essential to the running of CC during its stay there, so if the food, shop inventory, & liquor can't get to land there isn't much point in the guests trying to do so.

 

[moremouse]

I guess I'm weird in that I don't care if we dock at CC or not.

Me too. It was exciting the first time, but I can take it or leave it now. I know those with kids love it though.

 

[bobbiwoz]

If the ship cannot dock safely at CC due to current and wind conditions, there is no way I am going to get on a tender boat in those same conditions. The ship carries all of the supplies essential to the running of CC during its stay there, so if the food, shop inventory, & liquor can't get to land there isn't much point in the guests trying to do so.

Very very good points!

 

[phinz]

All of the excursion boats come from Freeport and I'm sure they have other trips planned when they are not at Castaway.

It was my understanding they came from Great Abaco, the island you can see from port side in Castaway Cay. Can anybody confirm? Seems to me that Freeport is a fair distance from CC (about 70 nautical miles).

 

[FB722]

We were on the Dream in 2013 and had a very difficult time getting in due to the wind. Captain had to try for hours. On the 4th attempt, he finally got us in. But it was so windy they cancelled all excursions. Then is started to rain. Its nature... what can you do! I understand people may be disappointed, but Mother Nature always gets what she wants

 

[Cruella 66]

We did a rigid hull open water snorkling excursion last June and our guides were from Abaco. I think most of them are from there. I've asked workers on the island before and don't remember anyone telling me Freeport.

 

[kstaack]

We did a rigid hull open water snorkling excursion last June and our guides were from Abaco. I think most of them are from there. I've asked workers on the island before and don't remember anyone telling me Freeport.

Abaco is probably right. Someone on our last trip told us that the island we could see while we were in port was Freeport.

 

[cbonebt]

If castaway is too windy to dock do they goto another island? And if so how do I plan excursions?