Is the Castaway Cay double dip worth the extra $$?

[Memorymakerfor4]

Is this on the same ship for the same amount of nights? We did a double dip in July 2019 and loved it. But I don't think there was a $1500 difference between what we did and other 5 nights on the Dream around the same time. (though I don't recall was the difference was). For the same amount of nights I'd go in February if I were able. Could be the difference is March starts spring break time.

I think it’s definitely a Spring Break premium.

 

[KashasMom]

We've loved our stops in Nassau - a few times we got the day pass at British Colonial Hilton (food is good, pool is awesome) - love the view from the beach looking out at the cruise ships. Once we went to Blue Lagoon and loved that. Another time we did a walking tour on our own and really enjoyed that as well. The only bad time we had was a Disney (water) excursion that didn't go where we were supposed to because the water was so rough. We ended up at Pearl Island before it became an actual excursion.

Personally, I don't care for CC so once would be enough for me. And to save $1,500 once would definitely be enough! If you want to go to a pool/beach then get one of the day passes. I don't think I'd stay on the ship because too many people do.

 

[bakerworld]

DH really dislikes dealing with the initial Nassau hawking so rebooking our cancelled April 30 cruise for the March DD was a great option: DH doesn't have to deal with me forcing him off the ship so he gets more time to enjoy being on the ship and I get a non-sweating cruise to enjoy everything - day and night.

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

DH really dislikes dealing with the initial Nassau hawking so rebooking our cancelled April 30 cruise for the March DD was a great option: DH doesn't have to deal with me forcing him off the ship so he gets more time to enjoy being on the ship and I get a non-sweating cruise to enjoy everything - day and night.

I think that's what we disliked so much too, just feeling overrun by people trying to sell you something. I'd be interested in getting past that to see what else there was.

 

[bakerworld]

I think that's what we disliked so much too, just feeling overrun by people trying to sell you something. I'd be interested in getting past that to see what else there was.

I've made him get off the ship at Nassau 2 out of 3 times. There is one more area of Nassau that I'd like to see.

 

[mevelandry]

I think that's what we disliked so much too, just feeling overrun by people trying to sell you something. I'd be interested in getting past that to see what else there was.

If you book an excursion, you’ll completely avoid the hawking because they bring you through a different path. And by the end of the day, when you come back, the vendors ignore you.

 

[auntlynne]

I would do a triple-dip (or more) at Castaway Cay if offered - but even for that I wouldn’t pay $1500 extra. The best time of the day there is after 3 pm, when so many people have returned to the ship. You still have nearly 1.5 hours on a private beach. Without the risk of roaming pickpockets.

B2B are a great way to go if you can do a week’s vacation. Done that, and a 5-night DD.

 

[Quellman]

It's colder and more windy in Feb than March for sure. But March will still have pretty cold water temps. If your CC plans require lots of time in the water, I might consider rethinking it. We have done a double dip before. The second day, CC was much less busy than the first day. I do not know if it was because many people were hanging out on the ship checking out all the new stuff added.

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

We ended up rebooking the cruise - it felt like we were throwing money out the window to keep the double dip, as much as I was tempted to do it. I'll keep my eyes out for another one sometime. Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[Dug720]

The nice thing about a double dip is if they cannot dock one day for any reason you have another shot at it.

THIS! I did a Double Dip in the summer of 2019 over my birthday. The first day we somehow managed to dock, but then some kind of a storm cell opened up and a very few people got out, then were evacuated because of lightning and high winds. (No, it was not a hurricane...just a storm in the tropics!!). So while we WERE docked there, we might as well not have been. I was VERY happy to have the second day, which was PERFECTION.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

THIS! I did a Double Dip in the summer of 2019 over my birthday. The first day we somehow managed to dock, but then some kind of a storm cell opened up and a very few people got out, then were evacuated because of lightning and high winds. (No, it was not a hurricane...just a storm in the tropics!!). So while we WERE docked there, we might as well not have been. I was VERY happy to have the second day, which was PERFECTION.

On our Southern Caribbean cruise on the Fantasy in 2019 we had a similar day to your first day there. And with the lightning staying in the area, the pools all remained closed on the ship for an extended period of time as well.

 

[Dug720]

On our Southern Caribbean cruise on the Fantasy in 2019 we had a similar day to your first day there. And with the lightning staying in the area, the pools all remained closed on the ship for an extended period of time as well.

Yep. I will say the cruise director and her crew were AMAZING at getting activities going!

 

[JM_97]

We're beach bums so I feel like we would really enjoy a DD. If you're not, I could see why it wouldn't be as appealing.

 

[Elizakapeka]

we did the double dip in 2017...both CC days the island was evacuated before noon for severe weather. I cant say I regret the extra money but we definately did not get what we paid for but we had to come to terms with the fact that disney cant control the weather.

 

[KenInDenver]

We're booked for the double dip in March '22 but I keep side eyeing a trip a month earlier that is a CC/Nassau itinerary and $1500 cheaper. We hated Nassau so if we went we would stay on board, but loved CC on our last trip. Thoughts?

We love Castaway Cay so we would absolutely do the double dip again if we could get the dates right. On days where you dock but don't love the stop (think Costa Maya or Nassau in your case) then just stay on the ship. It is great because a lot of people do like to get off and go places. We like just hanging out when there is less crowd. Castaway Cay on the other hand is the best. I'm not sure I would even bother with a Disney Cruise if it didn't stop there. It is our favorite part. I say it's worth it.

 

[squirk]

I really like Castaway Cay, but I am not sure I need to do it twice in one cruise, and at a premium, no less.

Sure, it’d be nice to have a back-up option if the weather wasn’t cooperative the first time around, but once I have done a full day on CC, I’m good for the rest of the cruise.

 

[n2mm]

My version of a double dip is by booking a b2b (back to back) cruises. You get a longer cruise and have 2 stops at castaway cay. A 3/4 works, but there are other combos too. Just book the same cabin and it’s smooth sailing.


update....I did book a b2b, 7 night western Caribbean and 7 night eastern Caribbean. I get 2 stops at castaway cay on this 14 night cruise. Plus I booked the 4E extended veranda, same cabin on both And cost me $6850 total for 2 adults, with a placeholder discount on each of them. Much better than the 9 night which was coming in at $10k for the 2 of us.