Docking at Castaway Cay

[jmedrew]

0% of the other cruise lines will be able to dock at CC.

ROFL!

 

[AAAG]

Hi, Original Poster here. Happy to report that we were able to successfully dock at CC on Saturday. We were about 30 minutes delayed, but we made it! and it was a wonderful day! Hope everyone else has good luck too.

 

[insureman]

Last year in January the Dream docked at night the day before CC day. One of the concierge hosts said we did it because of high winds forecast for the next day.

 

[cbonebt]

Just goes to show how above and beyond Disney goes for it's guests!

 

[bringmethathorizon]

its a beach,a hamburger and a bag of chips.dont get me wrong its a beautiful island and we enjoy docking there but not docking there is not going to ruin my cruise.
with one kid college ,one starting high school and parents who are harder to raise than my kids i would enjoy a disney cruise if we never left dock.scratch that,get me out far enough for my cell phone not to work then drop anchor. its about the journey not destination.

 

[SteelersLover]

I've cruised DCL 5 times and we've docked at CC each visit. There have been times when docking seemed to take extra effort and when some CC activities have been cancelled due to winds. Unfortunately weather can't be controlled.

 

[KingRichard]

Last year in January the Dream docked at night the day before CC day. One of the concierge hosts said we did it because of high winds forecast for the next day.

So last week we docked at 11:30 pm. Next day everyone kept saying because of the winds. lol There was no wind, just rain.

It was because of low tide.

 

[Cartcanuck]

last Saturday we were a little late docking due to strong currents, but we were still off the boat at 10:30 and had a great day at the beach. I heard cast members talking about how bad it's been around the island lately and that they had to truck in a considerable amount of sand to rebuild some of the beaches towards the cabanas area just a few days before we got there. Thankfully we enjoyed a HOT and windy day at Castaway. I had no complaints.

 

[TinkRose]

Disney spent a lot of time and money to make the channel for the ships to dock. Then they had to make it larger for the Dream class ships while they were being built. Disney put everything into Castaway Cay and it's not like they could borrow another island. Besides, the same weather would be at the other close by island too and tendering is more dangerous. They can actually dock more often then other cruise lines can tender to their islands. Disney is the only cruise line with a dock on their private island for the cruise ship. Now that there are 4 ships the island is busy most days so if you can switch a Nassau day consider yourself extremly lucky. When you go to the tropics the weather can be an issue, everyday is not perfect but most days are beautiful.

 

[phinz]

Just docked at 9ish today on the Fantasy.

 

[amanet17]

We sailed on the Dream last October and we almost didn't dock at Castaway, I have been told that it really depends also on who your Captain is, some may try a couple times and give up while our Captain that day tried a few more and got it on the 5th try. We did disembark 2 hours later then we were suppose to so they did not serve lunch on the island but we did have about 3 hours on Castaway which was better then nothing.

 

[Dug720]

Just docked at 9ish today on the Fantasy.

You beat us last week. It was closer to 10 that we made it in I think.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

We sailed on the Dream last October and we almost didn't dock at Castaway, I have been told that it really depends also on who your Captain is, some may try a couple times and give up while our Captain that day tried a few more and got it on the 5th try. We did disembark 2 hours later then we were suppose to so they did not serve lunch on the island but we did have about 3 hours on Castaway which was better then nothing.

I think you will find its not the Captains giving up. Their are many factors which will effect the Masters decisions as to whether to *give it 1 or more extra trys*. Example, what is the wind force and direction forecast? is it going to change direction?, reduce intensity/force?. The tide conditions? , the change from raising to falling water can be a big factor, not to mention dead water, meaning the water is not raising or falling. lastly the currents themselves.

There is also the possibility that conditions are so bad and the forecast not improving, their may not keep trying, electing to just head for Nassau and trade days.

These Master on cruise ships, especially the DCL Captains, are not shy and their skills are excellent. If there is any safe chance of them getting in, they are going to go for it!

 

[DisneyDiva2006]

If you book a cabana and due to weather conditions or docking problems are not there the full day....like one poster said only three hours. Do you still pay the full amount for the cabana?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

they will try for an alternate day if they can. They can't possibly do tenders. Would they use the lifeboats, and where are they supposed to dock if it's too dangerous for a very large ship? At any rate it is entirely up to the Captain whether he feels the ship can safely dock or not. They aren't just "giving up" or trying to deny you a full day on the island.

 

[oklamomof4boys]

If you book a cabana and due to weather conditions or docking problems are not there the full day....like one poster said only three hours. Do you still pay the full amount for the cabana?

I'm wondering this too. My guess is yes you pay the full amount. In 8 cruises we have always made it to Castaway Cay- sometimes late, sometimes not great weather but we've always made it. We were actually able to get a cabana for our cruise in a couple of weeks- I was checking about 10x a day for a cancellation and happened to check when they added the new cabanas. My understanding is that the cabanas almost always go to concierge now so even being platinum in a couple of cruises won't help us much. It will be just my luck that this will be the one time we won't make it to Castaway Cay. I'm trying to mentally prepare myself, my husband and kids for that possibility.

 

[Capt_BJ]

The first time we missed Castaway I was awakened by the sounds of the engines as the Master was trying to get to the pier. As a "ship driver" I knew something was not normal and went up on deck ... time was around 5 AM. Master tried for well over and hour, at least 5 approaches but the wind was just too much for a safe evolution.

Later that evening DW and I were joined by the Master for over an hour of conversation, and I'll admit he and I mostly talked shop. I have a hunch I know why he choose to come sit with us in a lounge ....



birds of a feather as they say ...

I mentioned I was surprised how long he tried as it was clear to me it was going to be VERY difficult at best. I'd have just skipped the port and rescheduled . . . but I didn't drive a cruise ship.

He was very clear in his KNOWING that if they did not stop at Castaway there would be a LONG line at the service desk complaining, AND a ton of negative comments on the comment cards and a general 'pissed off' feeling from most of the passengers. AND Disney does NOT like less then stellar feedback.

I remain VERY convinced this is NOT a decision that is taken lightly.....

**************

technical discussion on ship handling aspects available on request ... but in short, the ship BACKS IN normally to avoid getting STUCK at the pier by the wind .... which HAS happened (only once that I'm aware of ... DCL does learn fast.)

Sounds great to you? Well the folks on the cruise that was a day late getting back did not all agree, nor the ones that boarded a day late.


**************
wrt a CM commenting on the ship pulling in early because of 'low tide'

don't step on superman's cape, don't spit into the wind, and unless the CM is the Captain/Master, Staff Captain, Navigator, or a bridge watch officer, don't ask them why the ship turned left rather than right cuz it is VERY VERY doubtful they know

 

[CM5]

We just finished a 4 day Dream cruise. Our Castaway Cay day was Wednesday. We spent Tuesday night docked at Castaway Cay, we were docking as we went to bed. While it was rather strange to wake up already docked it was great to not worry about missing the stop due to potentially poor conditions on Wednesday. There was no announcement made or even an acknowledgement that this wasn't the norm. Our Palo server told us the CMs were very surprised and didn't know it was going to happen but that they were happy for the extended opportunity to use their cell phones.

 

[OKW Lover]

We've completed 12 DCL cruises and have been fortunate enough to dock at CC for every one of them. On one cruise they did swap a CC day with a sea day because of conditions but we did make the island.