How deep is water at "Water Fort" on CC?

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

At the family beach they have what I'm calling a "Water Fort" where kids can jump off of it or swing off ropes. I was wondering how deep is the water around it. My kids are 48 and 51 inches currently, but not strong swimmers. After watching the cruise DVD again they said that they want to try this, but I need to know if I need to bring their life vests with me.

 

[depomas]

I would most definitely... My kids were not strong swimmers the first time, and I had brought their arm floaties.. Now, they are both great little swimmers, so they do not need them....

 

[lbgraves]

You may want to let them know that there is the possibility that this area will be closed due to the shallowness of the area since the hurricanes last fall. It was closed during our 12/4/04 cruise & I know that I saw many other posters say that this was the case before our cruise. I haven't seen anyone posting about it lately. Maybe someone will see this post & comment on that. It could have just been due to the tide but we were near it from the time they let us off the ship until 3:30 and noone was on it.

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

At the family beach they have what I'm calling a "Water Fort" where kids can jump off of it or swing off ropes. I was wondering how deep is the water around it. My kids are 48 and 51 inches currently, but not strong swimmers. After watching the cruise DVD again they said that they want to try this, but I need to know if I need to bring their life vests with me.

We went in Nov last year and it was DEEP! It was over my head and I am 6 foot 1 inches. I would say it was at least 8 feet at times. We were terrified with DS who was only just 4. He is not a good swimmer at all so we put on a jacket and swimmies but he didn't like it too much since it is so tiring being he is little. The older kids get nuts on it too. So it isn't little kid friendly.

 

[Rence]

The depth can vary widely depending on the tides. At some times it will be so shallow that it will be closed at other times the water can be quite deep.

 

[jhorstma]

I did not think the water fort was kid friendly - too deep, a little too crowded and for our cruise they closed it mid-morning. It looks more fun in the pictures than it really is. Actually if you can believe it the snorkeling is more kid friendly than the water fort, as snorkeling is pretty effortless with the life jacket and fins, plus there are plenty of 2 foot sand bars to stand up on (just roll onto your back first, or else you'll trip over your fins).

 

[mrsltg]

I swam and pushed DD and DH on their float out to the "playground". I had no idea how deep it was until we got to the ladder and their was a height marker - the water was over 9'! I'm a good swimmer, but DH is dead weight in the water. I kept thinking, "if something happens, you're on your own - I'm saving my girl!" Anyway, this was on the 9/11/04 cruise so depth definitely wasn't a problem.

Erin

 

[mog]

Does anyone know if this is still for kids only? The first DCL cruise we went on several years ago, a friend (adult) who was with us swam out and climbed up on it. He was told by the lifeguard that it was only for kids 12 and under and he wasn't allowed up there.
So I didn't let my kids out there that trip because I thought they were too young to be on it alone. Our last trip they were a little older so they could go alone so I never bothered to ask if adults were allowed.

 

[jacobatt1]

The depth changes with the tides--when we got there in the morning it was probably 4 or 5 feet deep, but by afternoon it was way over my head, at 7 or 8 feet. But you wouldn't want it to be shallow or kids would get hurt jumping off it.

I would definitely use a life preserver for little kids; another idea for moderate or even good swimmers is to have the mom or dad hang on to a float in the water and have them swim to you each time. Otherwise, you'll be treading water the whole time!!

Amy

 

[LAMPSKIES]

When we were there on our Thanksgiving 04 Western sailing Sunday (1st stop) the Ft. was closed and the water was very shallow in the morning. I went snorkeling and got back to the Ft. around 1:30 and the water was around 6 ft. deep and open. I thought that maybe some of the tide from the hurricane had drug some sand in....But when we were there the second time on Friday it was open all day.....must be a combo of hurricane and tides.....on all 3 of our previous sailings I don't remember it closed....