No Docking at Castaway Cay?

[FLmomof2]

Ok, just got the new passporter, and reading through it, it says that there have been times that it is unable to dock at CC, and that it is most common in Jan/Feb (but can happen anytime).

We are on the 2/3/2007 eastern, and since this is the island we are most looking forward to, can anyone tell me if they have had this happen to them, and if so, what they do that day?

Thanks!

(Did a search and couldn't find a thread, sorry if it's a dupe)

 

[mmouse37]

Yes, it is true that sometimes the ship cannot dock at CC due to high seas or even high winds.....the Captain will do everything in his power to get the ship there but he will obviously not risk the passengers or ship if he feels it is unsafe in any way. Actually if you read the cruise contract carefully when you receive your documents you will see that it says the ship, for one or another may not dock at any of the ports of call...it is totally at the Captains discretion....we twice could not tender to Grand Cayman as the winds and waves were to high and the Cayman port authority would not let any ships stay anchored or use tenders.

Rest assured that the majority of times the ship does dock at CC. We have cruised 15 times on DCL and only missed CC twice...once is was closed due to hurricane damage and once it was just too windy.

We spent the day at sea instead.

There is another Dis member who actually compiled statistics, month by month on the percentage of times the ship has not docked at CC. I am sure someone will post the link.

 

[WDWLVR]

There are times when the winds/current make it impossible for the Captain to dock the ship safely. In those cases the day becomes a sea day and the cruise staff usually puts out a new navigator with additonal activities on the ship. If you are on a 4 day cruise where the next day is a sea day the Captain will try again on that day to dock at CC.

 

[tomspixie]

Last September we had busy seas...they brought a tug in to get the Magic into CC. It was really interesting to watch. So, they really do work to get you into the island. That is the only time we almost didn't get there. All other times, no problem! Remember...Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust !!!


tomspixie

 

[FLmomof2]

Thank you. That is good to hear they try hard to get you there. Thanks for the positive thoughts!

 

[Snoopyto]

I would be curious to know if their need to get into port (ie. bringing the tug in) is due to the Jones Act. FOr normal people it means a Foreign flagged Vessel (Magic and Wonder) have to touch foriegn soil once they leave a US Port. For instance on the 7 day cruise, they go from St Thomas to the Bahamas and then Port Canaveral. If they miss the Bahamas, then there are some fines they have to pay.

So if you had a full boat, you could look at several thousands of dollars of fines. We had this happen on NCL Star when we had Medicial Emergency and did not go the foreign port. So we did the real Hawian Islands and it was the better cruise I think.

 

[scrapbookingpro]

This happened to us on our seven day cruise in January 05. We had another day at sea. I admit I was really disappointed, but the captain did his best so what could we do! We still had a great time

 

[strega7]

We went the end of January this year on the 4 day. Our day at Castaway was extremely windy, seas were pretty rough, but we still made it in. Later that day the sky turned dark and it started pouring, it was actually pretty neat weather. Anyway, most people left the beach early, so as we left, the captain informed us that since we didn't have the worlds greatest weather, instead of having a day at sea, we got to go back to Castaway Cay.
The day was absolutely beautiful, what a difference a day makes.

 

[Robert and Kelley]

We have only missed CC once in 6 cruises. It was in December. We have always been able to dock in Jan through March. I hope our luck changes this December for our 4 day.

 

[mitsguy2001]

How often is it that if the weather is bad at Castaway Cay on the 4 night cruise that they go back there on the next day? The reason why I ask is because they are currently predicting rain for the day my cruise is scheduled for CC, but good weather for the sea day. I hope that if that Tuesday is a washout that we'll get to go there on Wednesday if the weather is good; but someone said in another thread that they don't always do that. Of course, my cruise isn't until next week, so the weather forecast is hopefully wrong.

 

[Kgroo]

mitsguy - there is a 20% chance of showers on the Tuesday that you are at Castaway Cay. That means there is an 80% chance that it will be sunny. Glass is half full, not half empty. Relax and have fun on your trip. You are setting yourself up to not have fun.

 

[msaseifert]

We cruised Feb 4-11 this year and we were able to dock at CC - the water was very chilly though. It was tolerable to snorkel and swim in - of course the water has to be ice for my kids not to get in it. Have fun on your crusie next Feb, we are on the week before you - Jan 27 - Feb 3, we loved the Eastern thought we would try the Western!

If something happens that you don;t get to CC - just remember booking another cruise while on board saves you 10% - a good reason to cruise again!

 

[tvguy]

I would be curious to know if their need to get into port (ie. bringing the tug in) is due to the Jones Act. FOr normal people it means a Foreign flagged Vessel (Magic and Wonder) have to touch foriegn soil once they leave a US Port. For instance on the 7 day cruise, they go from St Thomas to the Bahamas and then Port Canaveral. If they miss the Bahamas, then there are some fines they have to pay.
.

They go to St. Maarten before St. Thomas, so they would have to miss both St.Maarten and Castaway Cay before they had an issue with the Jones Act, assuming there is no exception for bad weather.
I just looked it up, the Jones Act was suspended by the director of homeland security under orders of the President during Hurricane Katrina, so it does appear weather can be a factor.
The fine is $200 per passenger, so not visiting a foreign port would cost Disney $540,000. Sounds like a lot, but I bet even if Disney had to pay that fine on a cruise, they still would turn a heft profit on that cruise

 

[mitsguy2001]

mitsguy - there is a 20% chance of showers on the Tuesday that you are at Castaway Cay. That means there is an 80% chance that it will be sunny. Glass is half full, not half empty. Relax and have fun on your trip. You are setting yourself up to not have fun.

It seems that it is now a 0% chance of rain. At the time that I checked it before posting, it had a 60% chance of rain, which, from my experience, is a near guarantee of rain. But it looks good now. Let's hope it stays that way.

 

[Snoopyto]

They go to St. Maarten before St. Thomas, so they would have to miss both St.Maarten and Castaway Cay before they had an issue with the Jones Act, assuming there is no exception for bad weather.
I just looked it up, the Jones Act was suspended by the director of homeland security under orders of the President during Hurricane Katrina, so it does appear weather can be a factor.
The fine is $200 per passenger, so not visiting a foreign port would cost Disney $540,000. Sounds like a lot, but I bet even if Disney had to pay that fine on a cruise, they still would turn a heft profit on that cruise

Actually, wouldn't transit from St Thomas back to Port Canaveral represent a violation of the Jones Act. I personally feel it is outdated, but old ways die hard.