New structure by Post Office on Castaway

[PrincessShmoo]

Strangely, there wasn't anything in the Navigator that you should bring a photo ID with you on the island.

From our Navigator when we went to Castaway Cay


It's actually been in there for quite a while, but they weren't enforcing it. Now they are.

 

[jamer8]

As an adult, I would not bring my passport, I would use my driver's license. I don't want to leave my passport unattended on the beach. What happens with children? Not all child have passports or photo ids. Your KTTW has your picture. Don't they scan that?

 

[Flossbolna]

From our Navigator when we went to Castaway Cay
View attachment 95362

It's actually been in there for quite a while, but they weren't enforcing it. Now they are.

I also remember that I have heard announcements about having to take photo ID to Castaway Cay. I think it was at the show the evening before. I distinctly remember it from my first cruise in 2013 as we talked about how strange it is that they want us to bring photo ID as the island is more or less just an extension of the ship. So, the rule has been in effect for quite some time.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

As an adult, I would not bring my passport, I would use my driver's license. I don't want to leave my passport unattended on the beach. What happens with children? Not all child have passports or photo ids. Your KTTW has your picture. Don't they scan that?

Under 18 doesn't need a photo ID, only their KTTW card.

 

[Fyrefly]

I was there on Friday the 8th. They were checking IDs at that gate to get back on along with the KTTW. One of the card-checkers was from the Bahamas and asked me, curious, why there was a red heart on my license. I guess they don't have an organ donor program in the Bahamas because he was genuinely shocked to hear about it!

I think it's a bit silly because it would be very difficult to get on the island in the first place without coming on a ship. But regardless, I'd say make sure you take your license/passport off with you because they are definitely enforcing it.

Edit: Oh, OKW Lover beat me to it with confirming it's operational! Oh well, now you have two people.

 

[kiford]

Although we've cruised on DCL a bunch of times this requirement was new to us and we didn't hear about it until we got down to deck 1 to get off the ship. Nothing that a quick trip back to the room couldn't fix, but better communication would have been nice.

This has always been a requirement but they haven't checked in the last few years. They certainly did back in 2000 and 2005 (and possibly 2008) but seemed to have gotten lax in the recent past. It's still part of the Bahamas and, although somewhat difficult to get there, it's not impossible. Reportedly, Gorda Cay (the former name) was used for drug running years before Disney leased it. So it's definitely accessible by boat; all of the companies which provide excursions come by boat during the day. While you couldn't get onto the ship because of having to scan your KTTW card, you could still come and hide out on the island and, since you're then on Bahamian land, anything done there is under their jurisdiction. Including any crew member smuggling, something that has been in the news recently (i.e., crew members on other cruise lines smuggling drugs).

 

[bumbershoot]

As an adult, I would not bring my passport, I would use my driver's license. I don't want to leave my passport unattended on the beach. What happens with children? Not all child have passports or photo ids. Your KTTW has your picture. Don't they scan that?

Especially since the Bahamas started charging VAT on Castaway, they want to have the process done more properly as well, it seems

As Schmoo's image showed, 18 and over need ID, not minors.

For someone who doesn't have a driver's license or national ID other than a passport, they would need to figure out how to keep the passport ON them and safe and waterproof. Witz makes a passport-sized "locker" that's waterproof and hangs from a lanyard, for instance.

 

[Crush518]

We took our passports....The post office was not even open when we were there this past Wed......Did not realize Scuttles you had to register for, wish I would have known that..

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Did not realize Scuttles you had to register for, wish I would have known that..

I thought Scuttles was part of the kid's club? Once you're registered for Oceaneer's, you can go to Scuttles.

 

[Crush518]

Really?? Wish I had known this, kids might have had a better time, haha...Castaway Cay was not very relaxing for our kids, haha...

 

[bumbershoot]

I thought Scuttles was part of the kid's club? Once you're registered for Oceaneer's, you can go to Scuttles.

You are correct.

Crush why did you think you had to register for it? Next cruise, never assume, always ask questions! And read your daily Navigator, as it often has answers to things we thought we knew but didn't.

And yes the actual post office has funky hours. (This thread is about the immigration type structure and ID check that was built near the PO though).

 

[Crush518]

When I asked someone they said you had to register for it so thought this was separate from kids club on boat....To be honest though it was late in the day and we wanted to get kids back on the boat, its not a big deal just should have probably inquired about it first thing instead of later that afternoon when they were hot and tired....

 

[jrez]

I was there on 5/3 and it was functioning. We forgot to bring our IDs with us and they never asked.

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

Thanks for the info about this new id station, everyone. I'm glad to know in advance, as usually we would bring only our passports on a Caribbean cruise and leave our driver's licenses at home. Now we'll bring licenses too because I feel a little better taking those onto CC rather than passports. I have a locking bag and have never had issues with theft on the island, but our passports would be the last thing I would want to take a chance with while my bag is unsupervised for any period of time.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for the info about this new id station, everyone. I'm glad to know in advance, as usually we would bring only our passports on a Caribbean cruise and leave our driver's licenses at home. Now we'll bring licenses too because I feel a little better taking those onto CC rather than passports. I have a locking bag and have never had issues with theft on the island, but our passports would be the last thing I would want to take a chance with while my bag is unsupervised for any period of time.

There's also the fact that a driver's license, unlike a passport, can get wet. Much easier when you can just carry it in your swimsuit. Don't have to leave it lying around.

Just a note here, also, when returning to the ship in other ports all that's required is the KTTW card and photo ID (driver's license works for that). We've only had something like 3 ports in all our cruises that we were required to carry our passports ashore. We typically just leave them in the safe onboard and use our driver's licenses.

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

There's also the fact that a driver's license, unlike a passport, can get wet. Much easier when you can just carry it in your swimsuit. Don't have to leave it lying around.

Just a note here, also, when returning to the ship in other ports all that's required is the KTTW card and photo ID (driver's license works for that). We've only had something like 3 ports in all our cruises that we were required to carry our passports ashore. We typically just leave them in the safe onboard and use our driver's licenses.

Very true and good point. Maybe I'll do the same now that I'll have my license anyway. I don't know why, but I always feel better leaving the continental US with a passport...probably silly of me.

 

[bumbershoot]

I always feel better leaving the continental US with a passport.

Same. I don't think you're silly. But on the private islands, I just take the DL if that's what is allowed. CocoCay and Castaway, I'm not bringing my passport. The ship is *right there*. (or on Coco...the tender is *right there*)

I'm happy to bring my ID off for those ports; I'm happy to prove that I didn't just come ashore in a rowboat. But passport? Nah, not if I have a choice.

I do, however, take the passport for any and all other ports. And that is not always needed, and is a personal risk-management decision for each person/family.