Dream 12/26 - No Castaway Cay

[NJBlackBerry]

How disappointing.

An otherwise nice (NOT MAGICAL) cruise - a bit rougher than previous cruises - and no Castaway Cay. Too windy to get into the port.

Does anyone know how frequently this occurs? I never thought to ask if this was a frequent occurrance - we aren't in Hurricane Season.

I was shocked (OK, not shocked - angry and disappointed) that they basically said "oops - you get a special DAY AT SEA". I am surprised that Disney didn't have a Plan B on how to handle this. I spoked to several offices and the Cruise Director. Oops. Sorry.

Without CC, it was an average cruise. For a 3 night cruise to miss CC, you basically have a day in Nassau (yawn - been there many times) and then a slow, choppy ride home. Impossible to get a chair on Deck 11 or 12 - even in the quiet adult area.

I filled out an unhappy customer survey. I would not have bought two cabins for the family if I new about this disappointment ahead of time.

 

[iloverags2]

This happens more often than I believe people are aware. Cruise lines miss ports...it's a fact of the cruise industry, and it is stated in cruise documents the line can change itinerary at any given time. Actually, Disney hits their private island more often than some other lines...Royal Caribbean is notorious for not making their stop at CocoCay since tendering there can often be difficult. Going on any cruise, Disney included, means being prepared for missing any potential ports...Castaway Cay included. Unexpected situations occur...Disney cannot control the weather in this case.

 

[SplashMountainManiac]

During the winter this is an extremely common occurrence. Disney does have a backup plan, in the fact that they are ready to immediately offer a full slate of activities for your surprise sea-day. If you miss a port on another cruise line, it takes them several hours to get activities going. Just as airports can be shut down by bad weather, so can ports of call. Just a fact of life when you are cruising. Hope you enjoyed the rest of your cruise.

 

[juliebug1997]

According to the capt., it happens quite a bit. He told us that he was glad that we were able to get to CC. This was back in mid-March. I am not surprised at all at what you say, however, like PPs said, Disney can do a lot but controlling the weather isn't one of them.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

I'd still like to know how frequently this happens on DCL at CC. Is it weekly? Monthly? Once a year and we had really bad luck?

We've been on several cruises (DCL and others) and fortunately never missed a port. I guess we were lucky.

Without CC the cruise was a nice (but not overly memorable) expensive cruise. Just my opinion.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I'd still like to know how frequently this happens on DCL at CC. Is it weekly? Monthly? Once a year and we had really bad luck?

We've been on several cruises (DCL and others) and fortunately never missed a port. I guess we were lucky.

Without CC the cruise was a nice (but not overly memorable) expensive cruise. Just my opinion.

I don't know any statistics and I'm sure that while DCL compiles them, that's not something they want to share. I'd guess 10 times a year? Anyone else think that's a good ballpark? I know I read somewhere that it was like a 95% docking rate- not sure if that's actually true. It sounds great until you are the 5%!!

We've missed Castaway Cay as well. As disappointing as it was, it certainly wouldn't have been an enjoyable day in port with bad weather, even if we had been able to dock. I'm sure it would have been the same with your cruise. Bad weather happens. The best you can hope for is that the captain can sail a bit away from the weather system and at least get you some tolerable weather.

As much as I LOVE CC...I wouldn't recommend counting on it if you have a one-stop try at getting there. Book a double dip if you are determined to get there, or a back-to-back. I have never heard of a cruise missing it twice in a row, outside of a hurricane.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

According to the very prompt reply I got from Rebekah, an Executive Guest Correspondent, "While we may be unable to stop at Castaway Cay less than 3% of the time, your concerns regarding our contingency plans have been taken very seriously."

Amazing that the Magic was able to dock the next day. I guess all the wind left overnight. Considering how rough our ride back to Port Canaveral was, I don't know what to think.

And I still don't think that coming up with a Navigator at 11AM and showing the previous days movies is much of a make up.

I guess I hold Disney to a very high standard, which we all happily pay for. This time I feel they missed missed by a long shot.

Our magical memory of the Dream will be no Castaway Cay So it goes.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Believe it or not, the sea conditions can change from unfavorable to favorable overnight...even hours depending on conditions. DCL's number one concern is going to be safety. If the Master of the ship determines it is not safe to dock at CC, then they will not dock. Trying could have led to the ship being stranded at CC or even adrift at sea if she suffered serious enough damage. Is it a letdown? Sure.

Would it have been nice if they'd known it in time to get out Navigators earlier in the day? Sure but they may have been hoping conditions would change.

Showing the same movies from the previous day? I think your expectations are a bit high. They can only show what they have and I can guarantee the same movies would have been showing whether you docked or not. They show the same movies multiple times on each cruise to give people a chance to see them.

I'm sorry something that is totally out of DCL's control seems to have left you with a sour impression of a company doing the right thing to keep you and everyone else on board safe. I hope you will give them another try sometime.

 

[MarkLyndaJakeChloe]

Hi

We were on the same cruise and agree with all that you have said. We too were extremely disappointed at not being able to dock at CC.

Luckily we have been at CC before, however, we were travelling with friends on their first cruise, so it was a big disappointment for them! I think DCL should have alternative methods of getting to the island eg tendering.

I also noticed a few other issues namely, our stateroom not being prepared to the previous standards ( though I think our host was under a lot of pressure), a very rude DVC CM, and another CM who stopped me from getting a picture signed by the captain at the shop on the last night as it was 7:50 and he had be finished by 8:00 but there were only two in front of me(I think he though he was the Secret Service guarding the President!)

Actually we have another ressie for next August but we're thinking of cancelling now or putting it off!

 

[krispykreme97]

Do they still have the BBQ when not docking at CC?

 

[iloverags2]

I think DCL should have alternative methods of getting to the island eg tendering.

Tendering is often a worse alternative than docking. As I mentioned previously, Royal Caribbean is notorious for missing CocoCay, mainly due to the rough seas and the small size of tender boats which cannot handle the seas when rough.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

I'm sorry you had that experience, especially on a 3 day cruise as had it been a bit longer and the schedule permitted it (none of the other ships scheduled to be there) maybe they could have tried it the next day.

Given they couldn't dock, did they come up with another navigator or list of activities to do.

 

[MagicMe]

Another reason that if I'm going to do the shorter routes, I like the four day cruise. It gives an option of being able to switch between the CC and at sea days if needed.

That said I've been on six Disney cruises (August, September and October timeframes) and have only missed CC once - and that was because we were in Alaska!!

 

[BraveCruiser]

We were disappointed as well. However, we spoke to the Captain at the signing that night. He tried for 2 hours and pushed the thrusters to the limit. Apparently they will automatically shut down if they get too hot. And then the Dream would end up crashing against the pier. He was at the point of risking the safety of everyone and the ship if he didn't give up. I would not have gotten on a tender to go ashore and there was no way they could have transported everything off the ship to feed people using that plan.

I was very happy that they immediately handed out the new navigators and we were able to see the Muppet Movie in the giant WDTheatre! We had a great day at sea and loved the cruise overall. I felt bad for the first-time cruisers that have never been to the island. Wish they could have experienced CC. I never did see the BBQ set up anywhere which surprised me but there was a nice buffet at Cabanas anyway. We'll just have to go back again to visit CC.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

There was no BBQ. I assume they use some sort of flame for the BBQ. Since they won't use candles in a Birthday Cake (I won't even get into that discussion) I find it impossible to believe they'd do a BBQ. Given the winds on Deck 11/12, that would be a safety issue.

We had two cabins. We never saw the host for one of them. Not once. At the other cabin he was ALWAYS there.

I apologize to the defenders of the DCL faith, but this voyage of the Dream was a bit of a nightmare.

Sorry. Really put a bad taste in our mouths.

 

[Tracerr00]

I'd still like to know how frequently this happens on DCL at CC. Is it weekly? Monthly? Once a year and we had really bad luck?

We've been on several cruises (DCL and others) and fortunately never missed a port. I guess we were lucky.

Without CC the cruise was a nice (but not overly memorable) expensive cruise. Just my opinion.

Sorry that you didn't have the best experience and sorry that the captain wouldn't risk the safety of thousands of people on board so you could get to CC. It's not like anyone can predict the weather so there is no set pattern as to how often this happens. You can't say "once per week the weather will be bad and they will not be able to dock at CC". I think most people are aware that if the weather is bad, you might have to miss a port. I think it's all in YOUR attitude whether you still have fun and make the best of the situation. I'm sailing next week and if we miss it I will be very bummed but I won't let it ruin my trip. But it sounds like you're dead set on being upset about it no matter what anyone says here or what Disney does during the sea day to make up for it.

 

[nextvacation]

first of all i don't think anyone is asking for the safety and well being of either the crew or passengers to be put at risk...i was on that cruise and was not exactly overjoyed at the reality of missing the best part of the cruise, but i'm an adult and have coping skills as did everyone else on board...never saw any weeping children or people jumping over the railings in desperation - that being said, myself being a faithful customer and veteran of countless Disney vacations to the World, Land and Cruise, i will say that i wouldn't hurt or necessarily cost the Almighty Mouse all that much to offer a small token to encourage people to rebook again - all i heard that day was " i"m not sure i would come again on this cruise, this wasn't a cheap trip either, i hear other cruise lines offer more for less money...ect, ect, ..a simple mailing to those guests affected with a " stuff happens but we'd love you to try again with this small percentage off " would go a longer way than " what can you do, we don't control the weather" - thanks Sherlock, i get it - yes i believe in the magic of Disney but i also believe in a higher power, that of customer satisfaction and the reality that a small business loss, which they get to write off by the way, will reap them lots of returning smiling faces..i know this to be a fact because they do it all the time at WDW and DL, which is why i keep coming back and i'd love to rebook another cruise..i just think reality is still a two way street - money i have to spend, just remember that i have lots of other choices on who i spend that money with..

 

[OurDogCisco]

Bummer... to miss Castaway Cay. I don't think any sea day would replace a day at Castaway Cay. We have never missed the port but we tend to travel during the summer which I know increases your odds. We went once in May, June and August. Our next trip will be in November so, I'm setting my expectations low. I'm really going to enjoy the Christmas decorations.

Just to let you know this is pretty common in the cruise industry. Ports can will be missed for many reasons. I remember reading about someone missing a port in the Mediterreran. I can't remember the reason something to do with the tender boats. Totally out of Disney's control as they aren't the operator of the tender boats. Anyways, can you imagine going half way across the world and missing a port. It also sounds like cruising might not be your cup of tea. Since, arriving at the port is important to you I'd stick to land vacations. Most people do cruise because they like the cruising aspect of buffets, sitdown dinners, shows, floating hotel, get to go to multiple locatons without packing and unpacking (the reason we did the Med and Baltics on Disney), etc...

 

[cappygirl]

We were on this cruise too. Although we were bummed about missing Castaway Cay we had a great time on the ship that day. I thought it would have been nice to give all the adults a free drink though - help them cope with their disappointed kids