questions about life jackets and castaway cay

[lisamarie12]

Some random questions that just came up in my head today. I am traveling with DD who is 4. She has some water awareness, but cannot swim. Is it worth it to bring her life jacket with us. We have one of these the Disney Princess Tad Pool life vest (I will try a link)
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Disney-Princess-Tad-Pool-Life-Vest/29096393

She may want to swim in the on board pools (may not- depends on if they are as microscopic as on Carnival cruises). Of course she will most likely swim at Castaway Cay, but I thought I read that maybe there are life jackets available there(??). In St Maarten I think we are going to do an excursion that has a boat cruise so I would imagine they have life jackets for that if they are needed. So other than Castaway Cay, I do not imagine that much swimming. Is it worth it to bring the life jacket or save the luggage space?

Also, a semi related question- re Castaway Cay. DH likes to snorkel and I do not. I was thinking of renting him snorkeling gear and then a tube or raft for me. I see there is a deal where you can rent snorkel gear and a tube, assuming we both don't want to float at the same time. I am assuming we can rent the tubes there (without advance reservation)- right? That way if we decide we each want a tube, we could get another. Or does it have to be in advance. FOr that matter, can he rent the snorkel equipment on the island as well, or does it have to be in advance. I don't want to do too much in advance, because I want to just see how things go. We might want to have DD go to the kids camp area and check out the adult area. Or we might have had too much sun and just want to sit in the shade and drink.

 

[lanejudy]

The description of your DD's life vest doesn't specify that it is U.S. Coast Guard Approved. If it is, it will be noted on a tag or printed on the life vest itself. As long as the vest is U.S. Coast Guard Approved, she may use that. However, life vests are available both onboard at the pools and at Castaway Cay. And they should be provided by the vendor if you do an excursion. The onboard pools are small and very crowded.

You can rent floats on CC whenever you want. There is no need to reserve them in advance. I'm not sure about the snorkel equipment.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[manateesmom]

"Worth it" is a highly individualized question. We brought DS4's "arm floaties," aka "puddle jumpers" (the ones with the chest and arm pieces attached). He is comfortable with them. I honestly did not notice if there were vests available at Castaway Cay? There is an area where you can rent swim equipment, but we walked right past it to the beach. We flew SW, so packing the vest and beach toys was not a big deal.

To the best of my recollection, having been to CC twice, you rent water equipment (snorkel, etc.) at the beach and not in advance.

 

[bumbershoot]

You can rent the equipment in advance, but you don't have to. I imagine they would warn you that they might sell out. I personally wouldn't worry about that.

 

[lanejudy]

We brought DS4's "arm floaties," aka "puddle jumpers" (the ones with the chest and arm pieces attached)

Just to clarify... Stearn's Puddlejumpers (if your's is that brand) is U.S. Coast Guard approved. The description of the item OP linked does not indicate it is approved. DCL only allows U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[lisamarie12]

Just to clarify... Stearn's Puddlejumpers (if your's is that brand) is U.S. Coast Guard approved. The description of the item OP linked does not indicate it is approved. DCL only allows U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices.

Enjoy your cruise!

The description from Amazon of the same item says that it is. I will have to check at home, but I believe it is. I specifically bought that one, because that is one that they had at the swimming pool where she had swim lessons. I assumed that they would not use something that is not Coast Guard approved, but I don't know.

It sounds like it might not be necessary, but I may just bring it because we are flying in the day before and will probably stay at a hotel with a pool or beach. Plus it also provides some spf protection which is good since my daughter is fair skinned and we sometimes don't remember to reapply sun screen as often as we should.

 

[lanejudy]

I will have to check at home, but I believe it is.

Yep, that's why I suggested in my earlier post that it would be noted on the vest or tag. Sometimes the online descriptions are a bit lacking.

I just wanted to point out that some products are Coast Guard approved but not all, even when they look similar. It may have to do with the flotation material or position of how the product fits.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[lisamarie12]

Yep, that's why I suggested in my earlier post that it would be noted on the vest or tag. Sometimes the online descriptions are a bit lacking.

I just wanted to point out that some products are Coast Guard approved but not all, even when they look similar. It may have to do with the flotation material or position of how the product fits.

Enjoy your cruise!

I will definitely check when I get home. I assumed it was and never entertained the idea that it isn't. If it isn't then I am not planning on using it in the future!

 

[JJsmama]

Additional question about life vests at CC:

I have read that the snorkel vest things are required. Is there an option for someone (specifically my DS8) to wear a real life jacket while snorkeling. I love to snorkel but DS get tired easily while swimming in deep water. Is the snorkel vest enough? Should I bring a life vest for him to wear under it?

 

[TestingH2O]

I honestly did not notice if there were vests available at Castaway Cay?

There are racks full of vests in a few locations on CC. The vests are the same as those on the pool decks.

OP, we brought DD's flotation on our first cruise (it is Coast Guard approved,) but we always used Disney's. They were in good shape, comfortable to her, and then I didn't have to worry about packing wet flotation devices.

Have a great trip!