Parasailing on Castaway Cay

[FigmentSpark]

I know this is one of the excursions that can often be cancelled, but has anyone here done it? What's it like?

Could a person do something like a morning excursion and then a later in the day parasailing or even the other way around?

Is Castaway Cay the best place to look for something like that?

Also, physically speaking, do you have to be young and in shape? What are the stresses on your body?

 

[squirk]

I know this is one of the excursions that can often be cancelled, but has anyone here done it? What's it like?

Could a person do something like a morning excursion and then a later in the day parasailing or even the other way around?

Is Castaway Cay the best place to look for something like that?

Also, physically speaking, do you have to be young and in shape? What are the stresses on your body?

I can’t remember the schedule, so I can’t help there. However, you don’t have to be young or in shape. It’s really not stressful at all. In fact, it’s almost tranquil up there.

I liked it because it was cool to see the ship and CC from a “bird’s-eye view.” Also, it’s very conveniently located - almost immediately when you get off the ship, you hit the meeting spot @ Marge’s Barges.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I know this is one of the excursions that can often be cancelled, but has anyone here done it? What's it like?

Could a person do something like a morning excursion and then a later in the day parasailing or even the other way around?

Is Castaway Cay the best place to look for something like that?

Also, physically speaking, do you have to be young and in shape? What are the stresses on your body?

We finally did it. We were more comfortable doing this at Castaway Cay instead of some other port, as we felt safer with a Disney sponsored excursion.

Whether you can do 2 excursions in one day depends on the lag time between the two. You may or may not be able to book 2.

We're not "young", but in fairly decent shape. The actual parasailing is fairly smooth and nice. The boat that you're riding in while the others on your particular boat are doing their ride is a different story. You're traveling at a pretty high speed across waves (real rough and bouncy). I wound up with bruises on both arms being banged against the rails on the side of the boat during that.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Are you in a harness? Do you have to swim out at first, like water skiing? Any talent/coordination involved?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Are you in a harness? Do you have to swim out at first, like water skiing? Any talent/coordination involved?

You are in a harness.

You are in a small speed boat, with a deck on the rear of it. You go to the back of the boat and sit on the deck and they put in the harness. Then the boat speeds up and you lift off. At some point near the end of your time the boat slows down so that you may be dipped in the ocean, or just your feet will. Then they reel you in to the deck and you get out of the harness.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Thanks. It sounds easier than it looks.

 

[RamblingMad]

Parasailing is like zip lining. It feels pretty much the same.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Never done ziplining, either. So maybe I should look into it?

 

[Kmonies007]

I know this is one of the excursions that can often be cancelled, but has anyone here done it? What's it like?

Could a person do something like a morning excursion and then a later in the day parasailing or even the other way around?

Is Castaway Cay the best place to look for something like that?

Also, physically speaking, do you have to be young and in shape? What are the stresses on your body?

If you stop at Key West by chance, I highly recommend doing it there. Good prices since multiple companies do it. We had a couple in their 80s go up in our group!

 

[SG131]

You could definitely do two excursions. With the location of the dock its easy to do first thing or at the end of the day. I did the 5k, then went back to the ship to change and ate on the ship. Then came back did enough snorkling to see all of the buried stuff, spend a little bit of time on the beach and then was on the last parasailing boat of the day. It worked out great. We had late dining though so I wasn't worried about rushing to get ready.

 

[FigmentSpark]

If you stop at Key West by chance, I highly recommend doing it there. Good prices since multiple companies do it. We had a couple in their 80s go up in our group!

Thanks. We don't. We're on a Fantasy - Western, but I'll keep it in mind for the future.

You could definitely do two excursions. With the location of the dock its easy to do first thing or at the end of the day. I did the 5k, then went back to the ship to change and ate on the ship. Then came back did enough snorkling to see all of the buried stuff, spend a little bit of time on the beach and then was on the last parasailing boat of the day. It worked out great. We had late dining though so I wasn't worried about rushing to get ready.

Nice. I was thinking more like a fishing excursion, then parasailing either first or last. Not sure I want to use all my island time that way, but half of us are set on the fishing, while the other half want the parasailing. The teens want to do both.

 

[Tikihula]

We've been parasailing on Castaway Cay several times (we have done 11 DCL cruises), and we started while in our 60's. It's become our favorite activity on CC, and we're disappointed if it's too windy to go up. The boat ride can be smooth or a little rough, depending on the seas, but they won't go out if it's not safe. We like to go out mid-morning and then relax with lunch afterwards. You leave your shoes on the dock as you board the boat. After they reach the parasailing area, each passenger has a turn getting harnessed up by stepping into the leg straps and getting hooked up to the parasail. They have two harnesses, so as one guest is sailing, the next guest is being harnessed up. You sit on the back of the boat and as the boat speeds up they let out the parasail and it and lifts you up slowly until you're at the maximum height. My first time was a little scary because I didn't know what to expect, but it's very smooth and so quiet and peaceful yet exhilarating up there, with beautiful views of the ocean, the ship, and the island. You hang on to the straps that are connected to the parasail canopy, and your thighs and body are supported by the harness. Be sure and keep your hands off the metal buckles. After a few minutes of floating you are slowly reeled back in and you eventually land on your feet on the back deck of the boat. They quickly unsnap the harness and you step out and take a place in the boat and the next guest has their turn. After everyone is finished they return to the dock. We usually tip the boat crew a few bucks. My husband took his camera up and shot some video, but he made sure it was on a strap around his neck.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Is just a strap around your neck enough to save your camera? I ask, because one time, on Space Mountain (totally different, I know) we went over a bump and the camera lifted off me and so did the strap. I wouldn't have thought it possible, but I nearly lost my camera that day.

 

[SG131]

Nice. I was thinking more like a fishing excursion, then parasailing either first or last. Not sure I want to use all my island time that way, but half of us are set on the fishing, while the other half want the parasailing. The teens want to do both.

They leave from the same place so it would be very easy to do both or have some people do both and some do just one. I took a camera up attached to my head.

 

[JoeFromSeoul]

We had an early booking for parasailing on our last trip to Castaway Cay. The booking was in the first hour after arrival, so we had time for a second event after we came back from the dock if we had booked an afternoon trip. We didn't, we just played on the beach while our kids met up with their friends in the clubs.

After everyone had flown, the crew brought out a bar designed to allow multiple people to fly at the same time. The three children on the boat got an extra flight!

 

[FigmentSpark]

We had an early booking for parasailing on our last trip to Castaway Cay. The booking was in the first hour after arrival, so we had time for a second event after we came back from the dock if we had booked an afternoon trip. We didn't, we just played on the beach while our kids met up with their friends in the clubs.

After everyone had flown, the crew brought out a bar designed to allow multiple people to fly at the same time. The three children on the boat got an extra flight!

Nice. Was there any concern that the ship wouldn't be docked in time for your parasailing? I think we had an issue like that on our last trip. DH's fishing excursion was delayed an hour and I don't know if the afternoon crew even got their trip because of it.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

How many people typically will be on the parasailing boat? I’m trying to figure out how long we might have to sit through a bumpy boat ride.

 

[ginny65]

What is the cost for a couple to do parasailing? Is it tandem or one at a time?

 

[SG131]

How many people typically will be on the parasailing boat? I’m trying to figure out how long we might have to sit through a bumpy boat ride.

I think there were 5 groups of 2 in my group. You may be on the boat 45 min till they go out and back in.

What is the cost for a couple to do parasailing? Is it tandem or one at a time?

It's tandem. It was $110 per person when I did it in May.