Stay onboard on Lookout Cay day?

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Just booked a last-minute 4-night Destiny cruise. It's our first time on this ship and our second Wish-class sailing. I'm debating just staying on the ship on Lookout Cay day. We're fit enough to manage the walk on the long pier, but I think the kids would prefer to enjoy short lines on the Aquamouse and play the Magicband+ game without crowds instead. We live by the beach and the kids can go whenever they want, so it's less of a novelty for us than someone coming from a landlocked state. I've also spent a lot of time in small Bahamian islands over the years and have experienced real Bahamian junkanoos, etc.

I know that the lounges and kids clubs won't be open until 3pm or so, but will they at least be running the Aquamouse? Will the Hero Zone be open? One time on the Dream when we stayed aboard in Nassau they didn't open the Aquaduck until noon, it felt like they were trying to force us off the ship for lack of options. We ended up playing mini-golf.

Would we really be missing out on anything special by staying on the ship? We plan to get off on Castaway and have parasailing booked, even though I expect it might get canceled as it has before.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

Aquamouse won't open to sometime in the afternoon. Sleep in, get a late breakfast and be slow then head up to pool deck in the afternoon and it won't be busy at all!

 

[Cfabar1]

We have very young kids...

Getting to Castaway is tricky enough... we've done Lookout once... it was too hard to even consider repeating...

At least given their ages...

We stick to 3-4 night sailings, and never get off the boat...

You'll have a great time even without going to Lookout!

 

[hardcorestitch]

Just booked a last-minute 4-night Destiny cruise. It's our first time on this ship and our second Wish-class sailing. I'm debating just staying on the ship on Lookout Cay day. We're fit enough to manage the walk on the long pier, but I think the kids would prefer to enjoy short lines on the Aquamouse and play the Magicband+ game without crowds instead. We live by the beach and the kids can go whenever they want, so it's less of a novelty for us than someone coming from a landlocked state. I've also spent a lot of time in small Bahamian islands over the years and have experienced real Bahamian junkanoos, etc.

I know that the lounges and kids clubs won't be open until 3pm or so, but will they at least be running the Aquamouse? Will the Hero Zone be open? One time on the Dream when we stayed aboard in Nassau they didn't open the Aquaduck until noon, it felt like they were trying to force us off the ship for lack of options. We ended up playing mini-golf.

Would we really be missing out on anything special by staying on the ship? We plan to get off on Castaway and have parasailing booked, even though I expect it might get canceled as it has before.

I would go on Castaway IMO. The kids may get lonely with the few activities ahead. Their club friends may also be heading off the ship… and if they made any then they’d be gutted.

 

[insureman]

My wife and I were just talking about staying on board next time at Lookout. We've been 3 times and still don't like it. With the long pier and long walking distances when you get off the tram it's just not worth it. I don't know about the eating venues elsewhere but the adult one at Serenity Bay still had fly problem on our visit this past February.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Aquamouse won't open to sometime in the afternoon. Sleep in, get a late breakfast and be slow then head up to pool deck in the afternoon and it won't be busy at all!

I wonder why they do this. It’s so annoying and if it’s a staffing issue they should prio the Aquamouse/duck due to their popularity. These cruises are so expensive every minute counts, especially when they’re only 3/4 nights. When we stayed onboard on our Nassau day and they didn’t open until noon, my kids got in one ride right when it reopened and then the line stretched around the deck.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

My wife and I were just talking about staying on board next time at Lookout. We've been 3 times and still don't like it. With the long pier and long walking distances when you get off the tram it's just not worth it. I don't know about the eating venues elsewhere but the adult one at Serenity Bay still had fly problem on our visit this past February.

I was wondering if that was still an issue! Cookies is even a bit tricky for us because one member of our party is vegetarian, so we have to preorder one lunch the day before if we go there. But it really seems like Mickey’s Festival of Foods would be much better for our family. Kids loved it on the Wish.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I would go on Castaway IMO. The kids may get lonely with the few activities ahead. Their club friends may also be heading off the ship… and if they made any then they’d be gutted.

Oh we will! Even if they cancel the parasailing the kids like the slides you have to swim out to.

 

[Pixarfans]

We had no issue with flies a few weeks ago. As for staffing the aquamouse, it takes a ton of people especially at start up. It went down one day at startup and I was amazed at the amount of staff working on it.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

I wonder why they do this. It’s so annoying and if it’s a staffing issue they should prio the Aquamouse/duck due to their popularity. These cruises are so expensive every minute counts, especially when they’re only 3/4 nights. When we stayed onboard on our Nassau day and they didn’t open until noon, my kids got in one ride right when it reopened and then the line stretched around the deck.

Because its so dead, the vast majority of the ship gets off. Even in the early afternoon when they do open it there are so few people, like less than 5 min wait. We usually do Castaway Cay day as a half day and then get back on for Lunch and its so quiet. Done that probably 5-6 different times. As you get closer to all aboard it gets busier but still nothing like a sea day or even a day in a regular port.

 

[lanejudy]

I wonder why they do this. It’s so annoying and if it’s a staffing issue they should prio the Aquamouse/duck due to their popularity.

They have to prioritize staffing where the majority of guests are -- which is on the island. It doesn't make logical sense to leave larger number of staff onboard to service maybe a dozen guests.

 

[WinterSolider]

I wonder why they do this.

The private islands are one of the main reasons people choose to sail DCL Bahamas itineraries.

It's fine that you don't enjoy them but a huge majority of people onboard do and they need to schedule their programming based on the majority, not the exceptions.