We missed Castaway Cay :(

[MistressMerryweather]

This happened to us in 2007. It was our first and only Disney Cruise. We were devastated. We had so been looking forward to it. Ours was because of wind. They tried for half the day and eventually bent something. It was so crummy.

 

[nemofans]

We were on the Magic right b4 you on the western caribbean (Feb. 19- 26). We were 3 hrs late getting to CC b/c of a medical emergency. We did eventually get there at 12:30 & had a few hours there. I would have been crushed if we had missed it altogether.

 

[quentina]

Yes, it happened to us....I was fine with it. It was sad however; safety first. My teen went off to the teen club, my young ones went to camp, my DH and I watched TV (yes, this is true.....we relaxed).

No refund/rebates. It's all in the contract.

 

[FJS961]

It a disappointment for sure but its a risk you take. You can't predict the weather and you are at its mercy on vacation. Be it a wedding or vacation, mother nature can rain (or worse) on your parade and the best you can do is make the most out of it.

 

[Terri2007]

Our first cruise was a 4 day. CC day they couldn't stop due to the weather and tried again the next day, which again we couldn't dock. This was our 4th cruise and again we miss CC. Anyone know how often this happens, as in a percent of cruises? Its 50% of the time for my family.

They did throw in some extra pixie dust. We had free drink of the day from 1-2:00 at the pools, but I had 5 of them and not even a buzz. LOL Not sure there was any rum in them. They also did a show that was only done for the Mediterranean cruises. We also go the New Year Eve celebration in the lobby which was really fun. It sure was disappointing but at least they tried to make it more than just another day a sea.

I am sorry you were disappointed, but this was really, really funny. Thanks.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

We missed CC on ou march 10 cruise. There was a huge line at guest services of people demanding something for missing out. We never did ask, so no idea if they did anything.

I guess I don't get this mentality. Demanding something from DCL that wasn't even DCL's fault?

We have generally cruised in late August or September (i.e. hurricane season) and know the risks. We know we may miss one or all of our ports which is the risk when you're on a boat.

That said, of our 5 cruises, only one was outside of this timeframe and it was in March. We didn't miss CC, but the weather wasn't that great during most of our cruise. It was a true disappointment, but that's the risk we took when booking for March (cooler temps & rain most of the cruise). We still had a great time and I would have never demanded a refund or other compensation for something DCL had no control over.

I know there have been several of these types of threads over the years. Some believe that as much as DCL advertises CC, that if it is missed they should refund most of the cruise fare. I've even seen extremely upset posters state that it was the captain's fault. It seems the more extreme posts about missing CC come from those on the 3-night cruises as they had been planning the cruise for months or even more than a year and didn't want a Sea Day as part of their short cruise. I agree that a Sea Day is no substitute for CC, but isn't it still a great substitute for a day at work or the worries of home?

 

[twinstars]

For the posters that said they missed CC during their March 10 sailing, can you please elaborate on the reason? Was it weather? Something else? Thanks!

 

[jspen40788]

We missed CC on Saturday this past week and my grandchildren were devastated. So was I and so were their parents. It was really the place we were looking forward to most and completely changes the tenor of the cruise when you don't get to go.

 

[UncleLarry]

For the posters that said they missed CC during their March 10 sailing, can you please elaborate on the reason? Was it weather? Something else? Thanks!

To be clear, this was March 10 of 2010. We didn't stop due to the weather. It was too windy to dock. We are going again in less than two weeks, so I hope the same doesn't happen again.

 

[ariel68]

CC was definitely a deciding factor for us in booking DCL over ..."gasp"... another cruiseline for my DD's graduation trip. We will be very disappointed if we cant dock, for whatever reason, but I guess it will be a good excuse to book another cruise onboard (like we need one )

We havent even sailed yet, and I am already hooked. Negative reviews of the Dream have not dampened my enthusiasm one bit, nor do I expect it too. We are so excited and I can only hope that my DD and her BFF have the most memorable experience...but we certainly dont count on others to make it that way for us, nor would we expect compensation for it, should it not live up to our expectations

 

[Queen of Oakville]

My kids would be devastated if this happened. It has me reconsidering my choice, maybe I should book a 5 day instead.

On Carnival DREAM last year, we missed a stop (ship could not dock) and they creditted port charges to our account. I've been on other saillings with missed stops, and we didn't even get that.

 

[candy wife]

Wow, the fact that missing this port happens so often really does scare me. We booked a 3 night and plan on not even getting off the ship in Nassau and totally looking forward to CC. My son is probably more excited about going there than being an a ship for the first time ever. I really hope in Nov conditions are perfect for a docking there. Anyone sail in Nov and have reports on how the seas usually are? I know they can always vary but just looking for an idea.

 

[jspen40788]

Just curious as to how many cruises end up missing Castaway Cay for weather or medical emergencies? Seems to be quite a few on this board. We just got off from past week-end on the Dream and wind was too strong to allow ship to dock at CC and we were (and still are!) very disappointed.

 

[Michele325]

I am glad this has come up on the boards. After 2 cruises where we have gotten to CC, it is a good reminder to my whole family, that we might NOT get there on our up coming cruise. I honestly wouldn't have even thought about it. I would be disappointed, but being reminded that it might not happen does help with expections.

 

[twinstars]

To be clear, this was March 10 of 2010. We didn't stop due to the weather. It was too windy to dock. We are going again in less than two weeks, so I hope the same doesn't happen again.

We were on the March 13th sailing in 2010 and I guess got lucky. It was cold, but we were able to dock. We're on the March 13th sailing this year too, hopefully there won't be any problems docking this time either. I am bringing my parents this time and would hate for them to miss it.

 

[candy wife]

Just posted in this thread talking about the same thing http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2672593

Kinda scary how often it seems to happen :/

 

[CruznLexi]

We did the Panama Canal in Jan and there was no way the Capt could make it. No money and did not except it. But be weary of the Fantasy W cruises all ports have issues with docking. Grand Cayman is a tender and is missed frequently, Costamaya is similiar to CC can be missed and then CC so I guess in a week you could go nowhere. The ship is too big for Key West.

 

[owensjro]

It always amazes me how many people are upset that DCL cannot dock at CC when the weather is bad. We have been blessed and in all the cruises we have done we have always been able to get there.

BUT...twice now I wish we hadn't! The weather was so miserable and cold we would have been better off on the ship. Unfortunately the captain was persistent and managed to dock. One of those times almost no one was swimming, the wind was so high it was whipping sand all over and there really wasn't a lot of enjoyment to be had. We spent most of the day on the ship anyway.

So, yes CC is great...but if the weather is too bad to make it into port it is also too bad to enjoy much of the island. You are better of without it.

Jim

 

[Beachbumpirates]

In 5 DCL cruises we have only docked 3 times @ CC and this past one (10/30/10) was extremely windy and they had to cancel certain excursions. Once missed was weather and the other was the boat would not start in St Thomas and they had to fly in an engineer from San Juan to fix it. We told the kids that Goofy lost the keys and they still laugh about that. DCL was super and gave everyone a 50% discount on their next cruise. When it's weather it is out of their control. We were on a RCCL Western Caribbean cruise years ago during hurricane season and we missed EVERY port due to weather. It was a 7night "at sea" cruise. It is unfortunate but it does happen.

 

[Queen of Oakville]

Wow, the fact that missing this port happens so often really does scare me. We booked a 3 night and plan on not even getting off the ship in Nassau and totally looking forward to CC. My son is probably more excited about going there than being an a ship for the first time ever. I really hope in Nov conditions are perfect for a docking there. Anyone sail in Nov and have reports on how the seas usually are? I know they can always vary but just looking for an idea.

It will vary, but generally hurricane season ends in early November, and you still get the remnants of wind/choppy water. I've also sailed smack dab in the center of hurricane season and had perfect weather, so you just never know.