Not to scare you but just got back and... sand flies/fleas on castaway cay

I was looking around online to find out what I could about sand flies and sand fleas... sounds like folks were talking about sand fleas, but not sure.

Here's some info:

Sand Fly (also called Sandfly): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandfly check out the photo -- it is very tiny, but it does look like a typical fly

Sand Flea: http://www.flea-i.com/sand-fleas.html in this second link there is a close-up picture, showing that they are not dark in color, but almost have no color http://www.healthy-skincare.com/sand-flea-bite.html

It seems that, although they both bite, and both bites/stings are painful and itchy, the main difference between the two is that sandflies are insects, while sand fleas are actually crustaceans.

Can anyone verify which of these they might have seen? Might help future cruisers determine the best type of repellant to bring... thanks.

Of the two links you posted, it was definitely sand fleas.

We were also there on Jan. 29th and they were VERY bad. My wife really got bit up around her ankles and is still experiencing swelling and itching as I type this. She has been taking Benadryl which really seems to help alot and she can tell when the medicine is starting to wear off.

We first noticed the bugs when stopping along the walkway by the Flying Dutchmen to take pictures. Couldn't figure out why we got so itchy all of a sudden. The place I noticed them the worst was at the bike rental area. They were horrendous there and the poor lady sitting in the bike rental shack was going nuts trying to keep them off of her. We had chairs on the family beach in the first row right in front of the platform which is in the water. They would be all over the whitel towels and shirts but for some reason they did not seem to bite down on the beach even if they were on you. Still haven't figured that one out.

I think the problem with the bugs may have been more weather related than anything. It was very nice when we were there with sun, warm temps and a very light (almost nonexistent) breeze. I think it is generally much more breezy on the island and I bet that really keeps these bugs down when the wind is more normal.

As far as constuction goes, it was pretty noticeable but I don't think it should really bother anyone as everybody knows what is going on. There was a Lull forklift running around by the pier. On the walkway from the pier to the shops there was an excavator in plain site which was cleaning out the bottom of a lagoon. I probably noticed the construction most at the bike rental area. The area is completely surrounded by construction fencing which is kind of a see through green mesh so you can still see what is happening. At the rental hut the bike helmets were up against a fence and only about 20 feet behind that they fence they are constructing a small building. When I was there, they were using a crane to put in place some of the roof beams. They were trying to put a beam in place and the crane operator was not doing what the crew wanted him to do and there was a few swear words being thrown out. Finally, the crane operator ended up knocking down about 3 other beams which had aleady been put up and it was kind of a dangerours situation there for the construction workers for a few seconds as beams were toppling to the ground and the workers were getting out of the way. The crane operator shut the engine down and the crew spent the next few minutes arguing with each other about who was wrong and basically cussing each other out the whole time. Lots of swear words flying around at that time including the F word. I think I got to hear what every single swear word sounds like with a Bahamian accent. I really just found it all sort of amusing but I'm sure there are some people who would make a big deal about it and complain.

I think what I'm trying to say is that there WILL be construction taking place when you are there. I had read references on here before that they would not be working when guests are on the island and that is definitely not true. There were dozens of construction workers hard at work throughout the day.
 
I just wanted to say that we were there on January 29. And like previously posted it was not just a few bugs.

When I went to rent bikes there were cans of Off sitting on the counter I just grabbed it and sprayed myself and daughter. I did not have to pay to use it.

Anyway I did not really feel any bites until after I went swimming. I was swarmed when we were walking back to the ship at the end of the day and I wasn't wearing white.

So maybe off does work.
 

Of the two links you posted, it was definitely sand fleas.

The crane operator shut the engine down and the crew spent the next few minutes arguing with each other about who was wrong and basically cussing each other out the whole time. Lots of swear words flying around at that time including the F word. I think I got to hear what every single swear word sounds like with a Bahamian accent. I really just found it all sort of amusing but I'm sure there are some people who would make a big deal about it and complain.

.

Totally off topic, but your story reminds me of when we were in Pompeii on a Disney Cruise tour. We had the tour listening ear plugs in. At the end of our tour, our Disney guide & bus driver got into a big fight. They forgot we still had our plugs in, & starting to fight in Italian. You should have heard all of the curse words screaming in our plugs F this & F that. Thank god it was in Italian & most of our tour didn't understand the language. Disney cruise line would have had a heart attack. It was amusing.

We will be leaving next week for the Magic, & post about CC. I know this beach fleas sometimes happens at the Jersey Shore.
 
Hi,
I had never heard of Sea Safe before. (Canadian eh!) Can you buy it on the Wonder or Castaway Cay or do you need to bring it with you?:)

I also want to know the answer to this. I'll be flying in, if these are not avaliable on the ship will I be able to fly in with Sea Safe/Off Spray? Thanks :goodvibes

No Sea Safe on board, not sure about the Off. There is info in the FAQ sticky on where to find Sea Safe. :thumbsup2
 
I can't figure out if they are fleas or flies. We asked some CMs and some said one and some the other.

They are very very very annoying AND painful. They swarm white stuff, which means if you wear white you will be covered with them in no time. Towels too...

I HATE bugs and I felt some bitings on my legs before we realized those nasty brown things were bugs. DH was the one who noticed those things were crawling all over our towels and shirts :scared1: :mad:

We immediately went back to the boat and did our laundry. Everything we wore didn't go past our bathroom. The people we met at the laundry room were doing laundry for the same reason... :lmao:

Ugh... just want to warn you guys who are leaving soon. They said those bugs probably went nuts because they are digging at the island for the expansion. Usually those bugs only come out at night but this past friday they were everywhere... UCK UCK UCK!!! I am still itchy while typing this down... yuck!

DD and I got a few small bites, DH and DS had none. I also washed our stuff when we got back (no white). DD had a friend on the ship whose Mom took her to medical for the bites. She is ok now just itchy.
 
I agree. We were at Castaway Cay this past Friday (Jan 29th) and the little yellowish bugs were terrible-that was the only thing that made us leave the island early. They were all over our towels etc. They swarmed like a yellow-haze on everything. My other complaint is that the crew gave us brand-new-never-washed towels as we arrived...most mom's know that a brand-new-never-washed towel doesn't soak up water...and leaves a beautiful white fluff reside over your clothes and body!
 
Having traveled all over the Caribbean for 25 years....not just cruising, but lengthy island visits, we've been told to use Avon's Skin So Soft. We use it, and have never had a problem with any kind of bug.
We do use Safe Sea in the water, but for land, the Skin So Soft is better.
I also take individual packets of jellyfish sting relief. I've only had to use it once for actual jellyfish (Mexican Riviera) but also use it for any other bug bites (when we forget to apply the Skin So Soft) and it REALLY helps.

DON'T BE FREAKED, BE PREPARED!
 
Yikes! Do they sell repellent on the island? Any advice on how to deal with them -- I hate to put poison on us...:confused3

We were there last week and they were horrible but here's what I learned:

1. They LOVE white, so don't wear it at all.
2. You can buy bug spray on CC for $8.50 but it didn't work at all.
3. Stay away from any plant life. When we were in or close to the water I didn't notice them at all.
4. Have a Conch Cooler and don't let the little buggers ruin your day :thumbsup2
 
Agree with MaryKLady's post. Avon, I think, has sunscreen with bug repellent that works really well. And I think the horrible-ness of the bugs depends on where you are from. If you are anywhere on the coast you will barely notice them. We spent 18 years in Charleston, SC and the noseeums there would carry off your children if you weren't careful pretty much from late March to early November. :lmao: To me these were barely noticeable, just kind of annoying. 1 margarita later, I didn't notice them at all! As I recall, they were pretty much gone by 1:00ish. Or maybe they just moved! :laughing:
 
EWWWWWW.. I hate bugs :( I'm getting all itchy too. I hope it's breezy the week of May 9th when I'm there :(
 
We were on the Feb 21 4 night (so long ago already!) and I had packed Skin So Soft bug wipes just to be on the safe side... I didn't see one bug. We spent the day at Serenity Bay and had no trouble in or out of the water. :)
 

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