Remember the Big Red Boat?

[Micca]

Prior to Disney having their own cruise line, another cruise line that promoted itself as the Big Red Boat used to be the official Disney cruise line. Our family took that cruise in the 80's and we stopped at a private island in the Bahamas. DW says that island was Castaway Cay, the same island that DCL uses now. I don't think that is accurate. Any clues?

 

[fireplug]

CC was essentially a deserted island when Disney leased it. There was not much there. They did all the reconstruction of it. Don't know what island the BRB stopped at but I highly doubt it was CC.

Steve

 

[CamColt]

We went on BRB for our honeymoon in 1995, and no, that island was definitely not Castaway Cay. Actually, I remember hearing it was the island they show on Gilligans Island, during the theme song.

***Edited to add*** I just got out my brochure. From what Im getting it looks like it was called Salt Cay.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

From what I've heard, the island Premier used was the island where the Blue Lagoon Day is offered as an excursion near Nassau.

 

[Micca]

Thanks to all who responded. I recall that they did tell us the island was the one pictured in the intro to Gilligan Island(it had a bunch of bent over trees).

 

[Rob1559]

When we had to take the 4 day instead of the cancelled 7 day in Nov 03 we went to Freeport (what a waste of time). In the same area we docked there were 3 of the BRB's docked for maintenance. They looked like garbage skowls. They were in terrible condition. I think they call them The Party Boat.

 

[jlawall]

I believe Salt Cay is the Blue Lagoon Beach. DCL definitely has alot more to offer over the BRB!!!!!!!

 

[disney6]

We went on the BRB way back when we only had 1 child (1993) and we had a great time. BUT...... it was nothing compared to Disney and the island was definately NOT CC!

 

[dclwdwlover]

I also went on the BRB in 1990. It was a very nice cruise with an awesome midnight buffet, fun activities including the 'Newlywed Game' which was a riot & just an overall enjoyable time, but the ship was NOTHING in comparison to DCL.

I also remember hearing that info about 'Gilligan's Island', but I also remember asking some of the people that worked on the ship. Half agreed - the other 1/2 said it was a rumor & not true. So, who knows?

 

[Mary Anne]

Never sailed on the Big Red Boat when it was called the Big Red Boat but before it was Big Red it was the "Oceanic" and owned by the Home Lines Cruise Lines. I sailed on it in 1970 (when I was 19 - my first vacation alone without my parents) 7 day cruise from NYCity to Nassau. It was a beautiful ship then, almost brand new and top of the line. To this day I remember my room nuimber O-62.

Thanks for that memory!

 

[aprilgail2]

We went on the Big Red Boat many years ago....Make a Wish had given my godson his wish of a Week at Disney and the 4 day cruise (I think it was 4 days but not positive). We had a blast, they gave us a limo, spending money, all our tickets and a rental car for the whole time....We thought the Big Red Boat was SO big when we were on it....when I saw it last year when we were in Freeport I had to laugh, it was a tiny little nothing boat!! I still remember our room, long and narrow and can still picture Matthew up in that top bunk and having a great time that whole vacation.

 

[SomePixiedust]

We too sailed the BRB back in the late 80's. The island we stopped at was Salt Cay, used only by Disney, and we were also told it was used for Gilligans Island. The rooms were nothing to brag about, but everything else was fabulous---but nothing by today's standards------that was our first cruise and we had a great time.

 

[mrsltg]

BRB was my first cruise way back in '87! I thought it was fantastic, but I was 12 so who knows?! I also remember enjoying Salt Cay with my big brother and having an absolute blast on the inner tubes and snorkeling.

Erin

 

[SeaDog]

We did the Premier Abacos Island trip back in the late 80's... our first cruise... and probably one of our best... the boat anchored off "Premier's private island" where you could sun and snorkle yourself silly all day long... oh yeah, you could drink too.

You had to tender off the boat to get to the island and, during the two days your were anchored you could take side trips to Turtle Cay, and a couple of other nearby islands. We opted to hang out on Premier's island.

The snorkling was the best I have experienced on any subsequent cruises... it was actually fantastic... the reef they carted you to had a resident five foot barracuda with one eye... Pete... funny what you can remember... cabin number was P-4 and Boyer was the attendent.

We tried to book the same cruise again but they had to stop it because the boat was tearing up the reef when it anchored. Anyone who happened to luck into that cruise would probably agree it was a keeper.

Found this link thinking it was the island we stopped at but I think this was the island they went to after they stopped going to Big Abaco. http://www.abaco.tv/disney-treasure-island.asp

 

[Micca]

It is funny what you remember. Our cruise was in 1989, our twin DD's were 6. The thing I remember was what a relief it was to go to dinner and have the server cut up the food for the children. What a relief! Also I did pretty well at the casino on board the ship, and one of our DD's scored a black pearl in one of those pearl diving booths.

 

[xoxoangel]

My first cruise was a 4 day land 3 day sea on the BRB we only sailed to cozumel. The biggest surprise was after 4 days in disney we got on the ship and the characters were Looney tunes. I have a picture of sylvester on my lap. We had such high seas they shut the elevator down So after that experience the DCL is the most luxurious trip ever.

 

[GrayFal]

We did this initially as a 4 night cruise/3 night WDW stay in 1991,,,dd was 6, ds was 8. I still have my "Big Red Boat" duffle bag,,,,think I will dig it out and bring it on our cruise in 2004!

We then returned for a 4 night cruise in Feb 1993 - a friend's 23 year old son was working for a travel agency. I told him I had seen an advertisement in a local newspaper for $299 per adult, kids under 12 free and asked him to book the 4 of us but to ask the cruise line if there were any upgrade 'specials'. He called me back in an hour and i think he was more excited then me. He was able to upgrade us to a suite on the top deck (our cabin was down the hall from the Captains) for an additional $100 per adult....so the 4 of us went for $798!

The best part was I did not tell DH until the morning we were leaving that we were not in the 'basement' of the boat as he had been teasing me unmercifully about my bargain basement vacation since I booked it.......Boy, was he surprised to be escorted to a special check-in area and have preferred treatment all throughtout the cruise.

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Hey rob1559 we too were on that Dec. 1 sailing due to our Nov. 30, 2002 cancellation............I was told that that "big red boat" went to Freeport for maintenance but then couldn't leave due to some taxes or back port fees that went unpaid. It sure didn't look "big" compared to the new DCL ships.

 

[MissDisneyTeach]

I went on the BRB Oceanic for my college graduation present from my parents. We had a blast. I do remember the midnight buffet being great! I also had fun at the 11 pm Pizza buffet! It was my first and so far only cruise. But this afternoon I booked my first Disney cruise for March 6, 2004. I am very excited, as I know that this one will be even better than my first!

 

[MarkRG]

On one of our early sailings, we sailed past one of the BRB's on our way out of Port Canaveral. It was more like the little red boat. You will be amazed at the difference sailing on DCL vs Premier.