We missed Castaway Cay :(

[TitanBrett]

I totally agree

We have been on 4 cruises with DCL and have been on CC 2 times...
I would actually perfer to take a cruise where we dont stop at CC, once is fine, more than that....it really is just another beach.

I agree with you but I see we both live in Florida. I think that plays into the "just another beach" thinking. If I were coming from Iowa or some other non beach location I bet castaway cay would be pretty damn cool.

 

[TitanBrett]

It is amazingly beautiful and so much culture.

wait, what? Castaway Cay has no culture.

 

[dizzi]

That is very true...
I am at a beautiful beach at least once a week.

BUT evens though the beach is beautiful at CC and i did enjoy the time spent there, i have enjoyed other stops and other beaches more.

I am in no way downing CC or disney i am a fanatic, BUT i have done so much better snorkeling at other places and this was a big let down for me.
As i love to snorkle at different places...

We filled our second time at CC with excursions as it was January and not much laying in the sun that day...
The jet skis were fun and so was parasailing!!!

 

[clawmachine]

For those looking for the private beach experience, you definitely can get that on the other islands with just a little research. In Cozumel we spent the day at Chankanaab and it had a gorgeous beach as well as a pool and all the dolphin/sea lion/manatee areas. I did not see a single soul walking the beach soliciting. The big plus for us was that back from the beach there was a gorgeous garden filled with very large replicas of all the famous Mayan ruins. My son is of Mayan descent so seeing these was a special experience for us. Castaway Cay is wonderful and I have nothing bad to say about it, but it is not nearly as enriching an experience as visiting a beach that has local flavor. I'm certainly not wanting to start a debate either! Just trying to reassure some of the folks here who are worried that their cruise will be ruined without CC. There's so much more to love on a cruise!

 

[Donna PA]

OMG that is awful, We booked the double dip just for CC. If we even miss one my son will be devasted. After looking at all the disappointing reviews on the Dream, I am sorry I even booked a cruise, this will be our first, and to find out things like this happen is awful. Of course I would want someone to get emergency medical care if needed, but there should be another way of handling this, like another boat picking up the passenger in need of urgent care. Is it fair to the other 6000+ passengers who also paid for a cruise?

 

[vegs1]

Life is not fair!

I would much rather miss a stop at Castaway Cay (even though it is our favorite Disney port of call) than to put someone's life in jeopardy.

The cruise contract tells you it's possible to miss certain ports of call. They don't want it to happen but unfortunately it does.

I would hope my child would never be "devastated" over missing Castaway Cay. It's only an island for heaven's sake. I would use the situation as a learning lesson in empathy. I find it really difficult to think that a family's life could be changing forever while half the ship is crying over a missed island.

 

[Lyndz]

I agree with Life is not Fair...Let's be real...a life or a serious illness vs a day on an island.

I understand the disappointment..but, put yourself with the family who has a sick member.....so sad... close your eyes and be thankful your not sick. Smile and be happy..

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I agree with you but I see we both live in Florida. I think that plays into the "just another beach" thinking. If I were coming from Iowa or some other non beach location I bet castaway cay would be pretty damn cool.

Or scotland

 

[orlandothebeagle]

OMG that is awful, We booked the double dip just for CC. If we even miss one my son will be devasted. After looking at all the disappointing reviews on the Dream, I am sorry I even booked a cruise, this will be our first, and to find out things like this happen is awful. Of course I would want someone to get emergency medical care if needed, but there should be another way of handling this, like another boat picking up the passenger in need of urgent care. Is it fair to the other 6000+ passengers who also paid for a cruise?

Are you serious?

I would be devastated if someone died because I wanted to get to the beach.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

Are you serious?

I would be devastated if someone died because I wanted to get to the beach.

ITA.

If they did have another procedure such as being air lifted, I would want it because it would be the fastest way to help someone and not because it would cause me the least inconvenience.

My disappointment in missing a destination would never outweigh my concern. Someone in another thread posted a link about the death of a 5 year old child in Nassau. All I can think about is that poor families grief and pray that they are able to find some comfort over something I don't believe that any parent could ever recover from.

 

[3Mickeys]

I was on the cruise that had the double medical emergency and missed CC.

I stood on my verandah when we got to Grand Turk for the evacuation and watched the family leave the ship. My kids were with me, 8 and 10. A little blonde haired boy walked off, about 6 or 8 years old. A mom, simply carrying one back pack. On the stretcher, a dad. An officer helped, carrying another small bag and helping the boy along down the gangplank. The mom looked terrified, and I can only imagine what was going through the little boys head. Watching, I started crying. My kids looked at me and we talked about how that little boy felt. They realized in the grand scheme of things that Castaway Cay didn't matter and the captain did exactly what needed to be done.

I'm sorry for the people who were so disappointed that it ruined their vacation. And I'm sorry for the people who are worried it may happen to them. But you can only count your blessings and realize how fleeting life really is. We were very proud of our three kids (8, 10 and 12) and how they understood and knew it was the right thing to do. Life lessons.

 

[hopare]

I was on the cruise that had the double medical emergency and missed CC.

I stood on my verandah when we got to Grand Turk for the evacuation and watched the family leave the ship. My kids were with me, 8 and 10. A little blonde haired boy walked off, about 6 or 8 years old. A mom, simply carrying one back pack. On the stretcher, a dad. An officer helped, carrying another small bag and helping the boy along down the gangplank. The mom looked terrified, and I can only imagine what was going through the little boys head. Watching, I started crying. My kids looked at me and we talked about how that little boy felt. They realized in the grand scheme of things that Castaway Cay didn't matter and the captain did exactly what needed to be done.

I'm sorry for the people who were so disappointed that it ruined their vacation. And I'm sorry for the people who are worried it may happen to them. But you can only count your blessings and realize how fleeting life really is. We were very proud of our three kids (8, 10 and 12) and how they understood and knew it was the right thing to do. Life lessons.

Well said! Sometimes in the crazy world we lose track of the things that REALLY matter!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I was on the cruise that had the double medical emergency and missed CC.

I stood on my verandah when we got to Grand Turk for the evacuation and watched the family leave the ship. My kids were with me, 8 and 10. A little blonde haired boy walked off, about 6 or 8 years old. A mom, simply carrying one back pack. On the stretcher, a dad. An officer helped, carrying another small bag and helping the boy along down the gangplank. The mom looked terrified, and I can only imagine what was going through the little boys head. Watching, I started crying. My kids looked at me and we talked about how that little boy felt. They realized in the grand scheme of things that Castaway Cay didn't matter and the captain did exactly what needed to be done.

I'm sorry for the people who were so disappointed that it ruined their vacation. And I'm sorry for the people who are worried it may happen to them. But you can only count your blessings and realize how fleeting life really is. We were very proud of our three kids (8, 10 and 12) and how they understood and knew it was the right thing to do. Life lessons.

And rightly proud you should be.

 

[fivebyfive]

Is it fair to the other 6000+ passengers who also paid for a cruise?

In case you don't know safety is ALWAYS first with Disney. ALWAYS.

The order of their quality standards are as follows:

1) Safety
2) Courtesy
3) Show
4) Efficiency

I strongly recommend you read the contract for Disney Cruise Line before you sign it.

Is it fair that they have to shut down Toy Story Mania! because there is a medical emergency prior to you boarding? Is that fair to the other 1,000 people in line who have been waiting for months to ride that they can't? What's the difference?

Teach your children that sith happens and contrary to how they may have been raised, they can't always get what they want. Teach them that there are no guarantees in life. Crisis diverted. Yes, it's that simple.

 

[nursebeth03]

Well said "3Mickeys"...I will re read your post before I leave next February!

 

[MaineFam3]

Beautifully put 3Mickeys. I would have been crying right along side of you. Maybe if all the passengers had gotten to witness what you did, they would have been more understanding. I hope the family made it safely back home.
I, also will keep your post in mind if something similar happens during our upcoming cruise.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Sorry you didn't get to go to the wonderful castaway cay. On one of our cruises we missed going to CC, I don't remener the exact reason, but they gave full paying passengers a $500 credit on a future cruise.

What year was this? I would have looove to have this offer.... Actually, I have heard just the opposite. No on here has ever admitted it that I know of. One of our cruises, we missed CC, only 3 hours in St. Marteen and and almost all of St. Thomas. It turned into a 7 sea day adventure. (I know get over it); but we were not offered this!!! Ours also had to do with an engine problem and not weather or medical stuff (so on Disney not just circumstances) and we did not get this. The cruise prior to our last one also missed CC and I hear they did not get anything either.... So maybe DCL has turned over a new anchor. We got the "Read the contract" line & not any support from our DIS Family either.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Oh, our friends wer on NCL the same week we were sailing and missed Cozumel because a CHILD had an acut Appendicitis attack. They report that someone on board said it was so bad, they think it was very close to rupturing. So for those that ask, what could be so bad to need to stop and get medical attention.... Let's go back to "The reasons you should call 911"; like we do with 5 year olds....

 

[jlawall]

I was on the cruise that had the double medical emergency and missed CC.

I stood on my verandah when we got to Grand Turk for the evacuation and watched the family leave the ship. My kids were with me, 8 and 10. A little blonde haired boy walked off, about 6 or 8 years old. A mom, simply carrying one back pack. On the stretcher, a dad. An officer helped, carrying another small bag and helping the boy along down the gangplank. The mom looked terrified, and I can only imagine what was going through the little boys head. Watching, I started crying. My kids looked at me and we talked about how that little boy felt. They realized in the grand scheme of things that Castaway Cay didn't matter and the captain did exactly what needed to be done.

I'm sorry for the people who were so disappointed that it ruined their vacation. And I'm sorry for the people who are worried it may happen to them. But you can only count your blessings and realize how fleeting life really is. We were very proud of our three kids (8, 10 and 12) and how they understood and knew it was the right thing to do. Life lessons.

Let me once again weigh in on this discussion.......once I missed CC due to weather

and once I was on a DCL cruise when someone had a med emergency and later died (our trip was not affected but some newly made DISfriends lost a loved one.)

All I can say is that, bad weather can always happen and if someone's life was in danger I wouldn't ever want to be selfish and not try to cooperate under the circumstances.

 

[wnissen]

We missed a whole cruise due to a hurricane, and it was still a big disappointment. Those who handle changes in plans well are really fortunate, and I wish I could be like you, but it is still hard even when the weather makes it impossible for the cruise to safely operate as scheduled. We then had an unforgettable week at an uncrowded Disney World, so it was a classic case of making lemonade in the end...

One thing I would mention is that while cruise contracts say a lot of things, that is a classic "contract of adhesion." If a reasonable person would compensation in the event of a missed Castaway Cay stop, then the portion of the contract may not be enforceable. Disney does not have an unlimited right to say "Every Bahamian Disney Cruise stops at Castaway Cat" while they are trying to get your money, then turn around and say, "Oh so sorry" when you're on the ship.

If you want to read some really scary contract language, see clause 31 at http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruise-contract/

"If the performance of the proposed voyage is hindered or prevented (or in the opinion of the Carrier or the Master, is likely to be hindered or prevented) by war, hostilities, blockage, labor conflicts, weather, surf, shallow waters, insurrections, disturbances (on board or ashore), restraint of any Governmental Authority, breakdown of the Vessel, congestion, docking difficulties or any other cause whatsoever, or if the Carrier or the Master in their sole discretion consider that for any reason whatsoever, beyond the control of the Carrier, proceeding to, attempting to enter, or entering or remaining at any port may expose the Vessel or persons to risk of harm, loss or damage or be likely to delay the Vessel, the Guest and his property may be landed at the port of embarkation or at any port or place at which the Vessel may call; and in that event, the responsibility of the Carrier shall cease and this Cruise Contract shall be deemed to have been fully performed, or if the Guest has not embarked, the Carrier may cancel the proposed voyage without liability except to refund money or fares paid."

In human language, "If there's a hurricane coming, the captain can dump you off the ship at any port and not owe you a red cent." Seriously, that's what it says. All those who saying, "You signed a contract!" should read it and realize that the contract language places no restrictions on Disney at all. Naturally, the need to keep a good reputation forces some level of customer care, and I do have to give credit to Disney for offering us the choice of a full refund even though the cruise did leave (2 or 3 days late).