"Dream Weavers" September 1, 2011

[pjstevens]

I would be surprised if the ship docked in an unscheduled port since there are no excursions established. It probably costs a lot of money to dock a ship and they need to make it back on excursions. They are well situated to switch to sea days when they can't make port.

I would gladly trade Palo Brunch for a Nassau visit, but Castaway Cay not so much. I wonder if they have the staff and the logistics (food ordering) ready to put brunch together if they know in advance that we won't be in port.

Looks like that tropical disturbance/TD-10/TS Jose is a non-factor which is great! Booking a cruise during the peak of the storm season is a dicey move. I think we are in the clear now.

Now, I would LOVE a Palo brunch So skip Nassau fine by me, but am hoping we get to CC.

 

[decked out]

Irene Updates from around the Web and the DIS:

The Disney Dream is currently docked at Port Canaveral and will be leaving at 4pm, which is 1 hr earlier than the planned 5pm departure.

It is going to be a bumpy ride tonight.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

I would be surprised if the ship docked in an unscheduled port since there are no excursions established. It probably costs a lot of money to dock a ship and they need to make it back on excursions. They are well situated to switch to sea days when they can't make port.

Thanks!

We honeymooned in Freeport seven years ago this week, and I would have loved to go back there! I thought maybe it was a possibility with all these weather-related events, but I can understand that their usual protocol would be a day at sea.

Well, we just had 3 members of our traveling party (out of 10) back out of the cruise today (unrelated to weather, although that would also be a good excuse!). I'm bummed for them, but I understand. At least Disney will be there waiting for them when they decide to try again!

 

[decked out]

Now, I would LOVE a Palo brunch So skip Nassau fine by me, but am hoping we get to CC.

Brunch will be the first thing I check on after we board...

 

[decked out]

Here is an interesting article on cruising with storms in the area.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/08/26/cruising-through-hurricane-irene/

 

[dstevens]

I have no real concern about the cruise . Disney will take care of us, whether it's an at sea day or Nassau it doesn't matter . I would miss Castaway Cay but they would probably add Key West (no thrill). Either way i will be on the Dream . Now, if there is storm damage at home i will not be going on the cruise. Patty and i have discussed a power failure at home but any house damage i could not leave.

 

[pjstevens]

Now, if there is storm damage at home i will not be going on the cruise. Patty and i have discussed a power failure at home but any house damage i could not leave.

It took two MONTHS to get our roof and bedroom fixed when the roof blew off. Nothing we could do during that time (once the put the tarp on). Certainly praying for NO damage though.

This time next week, we should be at Nassau (or enjoying the Aquaduck)!

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

The word on the DIS is that the Dream docked at Nassau about an hour ago, and that both the 8/25 and 8/28 cruises will continue with their itinerary as scheduled. I find that a little hard to believe, since I can't imagine tourists will find much to do right now in Nassau with downed trees and power outages, and things are very mum on the status of CC. There is speculation that, although the ships may dock, they may not allow guests to leave the boat.

Here is an article about damage to the straw market and video.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/nassaus-famous-straw-market-dealt-a-blow-by-1787155.html

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Heard it through the grapevine that the Dream will not be going to Castaway Cay tomorrow, but will spend a second day at Nassau.

I'll keep checking for confirmation of that or any other future plans.

 

[pjstevens]

Heard it through the grapevine that the Dream will not be going to Castaway Cay tomorrow, but will spend a second day at Nassau.

I'll keep checking for confirmation of that or any other future plans.

noooo, I was hoping, just maybe CC survived with minimal damage. Guess we'll know after this group gets back.

 

[jenifred]

According to a Diser posting live from the Dream, the Captin said at dinner tonight that they are cleaning up CC so guests can be welcomed in the near future. We'll see how near the near future is...

Ah well, a day on the Dream is still better than a day at work!

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Reports from the Dream say there was alot of damage on CC and a CM didn't think the next cruise (8/28/2011) will go to CC.

Hoping they can do alot of cleanup over the next 7 days in preparation for our arrival. Right now, I'm really glad CC is the second stop on our cruise, which buys us a little more time!

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

This is what happens when you are new to cruising!

So I finally got around to checking-in online today. Turns out that a 3pm Port Arrival timeslot was the only option available, even though we are arriving at 11am!

I called Disney and they said we can just show up and let them know we are there earlier than our selected time. Does anyone know what our chances are of being allowed to board earlier than our designated 3pm arrival time? It wouldn't be much fun to sit in the terminal for four hours staring at the Dream!

 

[pjstevens]

This is what happens when you are new to cruising!

So I finally got around to checking-in online today. Turns out that a 3pm Port Arrival timeslot was the only option available, even though we are arriving at 11am!

I called Disney and they said we can just show up and let them know we are there earlier than our selected time. Does anyone know what our chances are of being allowed to board earlier than our designed 3pm arrival time? It wouldn't be much fun to sit in the terminal for four hours staring at the Dream!

That stinks, I hope you are able to board before 3pm.

 

[decked out]

This is what happens when you are new to cruising!

So I finally got around to checking-in online today. Turns out that a 3pm Port Arrival timeslot was the only option available, even though we are arriving at 11am!

I called Disney and they said we can just show up and let them know we are there earlier than our selected time. Does anyone know what our chances are of being allowed to board earlier than our designated 3pm arrival time? It wouldn't be much fun to sit in the terminal for four hours staring at the Dream!

I don't know, but it is a good bet that they will board you if you arrive early. It sounds like they are encouraging people to arrive at specific times to reduce crowding in the terminal, but I can't believe they enforce it. It would be hard to enforce since it would increase crowding and create a needless hassle for guests. They want to make us happy.

Thoughts on CC... Excursions are very profitable and they have a big incentive to get us into port, but Disney will make sure that the MAGIC is up to standards before bringing guests in to CC. Based on the wind direction, tons of debris probably blew into the lagoon and that will be a big part of the cleanup. I can't imagine that they would dock at CC without disembarking guests - instead of a sea day.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

I don't know, but it is a good bet that they will board you if you arrive early. It sounds like they are encouraging people to arrive at specific times to reduce crowding in the terminal, but I can't believe they enforce it. It would be hard to enforce since it would increase crowding and create a needless hassle for guests. They want to make us happy.

Thoughts on CC... Excursions are very profitable and they have a big incentive to get us into port, but Disney will make sure that the MAGIC is up to standards before bringing guests in to CC. Based on the wind direction, tons of debris probably blew into the lagoon and that will be a big part of the cleanup. I can't imagine that they would dock at CC without disembarking guests - instead of a sea day.

I agree. In talking to DCL, it seemed like they understood guest arrival times may change, and would accomodate guests as needed. I was just shocked to see only one arrival time available, since there was no information from DCL or their website about arrival times "filling up." I also wonder if it has to do with all the staterooms I am linked to for our travel party. But since we are arriving separately from everyone else, I hope they weren't trying to make us all arrive at the same time. Either way, I know it will work out!

I thought the same thing about the debris--if the debris is limited to land, I assume they can clean it up quickly to make it safe for guests (even if they don't wait for structures to be rebuilt). But if debris is washing up and all over the waterline, that may be harder to get under control. Also, I wondered if sand was severely repositioned and either the beach eroded away or the land was covered in sand. I called DCL, but they wouldn't tell me anything. They said no itinerary changes are planned, and that it is the captain's discretion as a last minute decision whether we will be visiting CC. Even so, I'll probably call one more time before we leave to check again!

 

[pjstevens]

Trying to not get excited, but just read this on USA Today Travel!!!

USA Today Travel

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Trying to not get excited, but just read this on USA Today Travel!!!

USA Today Travel

Wow, thank you so much for posting this! That is awesome news! We had mostly resigned to not seeing Castaway Cay, but this gives us a glimmer of hope! It seems believable because they mentioned a specific itinerary change. If they had just said something generic like "the damage sustained will affect itineraries", I might be more cautious. But since they specifically mentioned switching the 8/28's CC day with their at-sea day, they must have received this information on good authority. Even so, I am sure we will probably see confirmation of this, one way or the other, on the boards. Yay!

 

[dstevens]

10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3

 

[decked out]

Trying to not get excited, but just read this on USA Today Travel!!!

USA Today Travel

Sounds positive!
"The storm also closed Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Cay, but damage was minimal. Dream will change its itinerary, rescheduling a Tuesday stop until Wednesday, giving crews an extra day to freshen up the popular call."