When Do You Think Castaway Cay Will Reopen?

[Capitalangel]

What insurance is going to pay because of seasickness and a cancelled port?

Ones that have “cancel for any reason” coverage

 

[pman111]

Does anyone know what this week’s Eastern and Western Caribbean 7 days are doing instead of CC?

 

[JoeFromSeoul]

I've never been on a cruise ship. I only realized that I got seasick after we booked. I've never had an issue on boats until recently, and they have all been smaller vessels. I think I'll be okay based on tips and advise from others. It just would have been easier knowing that there was some land time each day. It's only 3 days, so I'm not overly concerned.

My wife and daughter are both prone to motion sickness. We all take a Bonine each morning starting on embarkation day. So far we have had zero problems.

 

[Lewisc]

What insurance is going to pay because of seasickness and a cancelled port?

Cancel for any reason insurance policy. They exist. edited to say I see another poster already mentioned that.

I don't understand the purposed of this thread. Why ask anonymous posters on an internet board their opinion. The issue seems to be how much dredging, if any, is required before ships can dock. I don't those surveys have been done. If so I doubt the information is public. Posters are basically pulling numbers out of a hat. It could be weeks. It could be months.

I understand tourism is important to the Bahamas. I'd hope whatever dredging is necessary to supply ships can dock and offload supplies to the affected islands takes priority.

 

[meliscan]

You probably have nothing to worry about. A lot of people, myself included, easily get seasick on small boats, but have absolutely no problem with cruise ships.

That is my husband too. Small boats make him sick but he has never once been sick on the cruise. Try the ginger candy as others suggested or take ginger root supplements. Also those sea bands work pretty well from what people have told me.

 

[meliscan]

Does anyone know what this week’s Eastern and Western Caribbean 7 days are doing instead of CC?

I just got off the Fantasy today and they took us to Nassau for a few hours then we stopped outside of Castaway Cay to deliver supplies. I would have been fine with a sea day but Nassau was nice for people who were really disappointed.

 

[ChicosWife]

It will really depend upon how badly messed up the seafloor is--remember that the Cat 5 storm surge was much more impactful than the winds. This means while the top of the islands sustained only moderate damage, they might have to dredge the cruise ship docking area and also inspect all underwater parts of the beaches. If everything underwater is okay, Im guessing 3 weeks. If there are serious problems, 3 months.

Several weeks, minimum. They also have to sort out, in addition to what TFM1980 listed, is who will be coming to Castaway and from where to help with some of the staffing and offer excursions. I am sure their regular vendors need the work, but if they have no shelter or food, I would think they would need to get that sorted out first.

Legally, they have to have the pier inspected before it can reopen. They can't just eyeball that.

I agree with this. Assuming the pier and/or channel do not require significant work, DCL will likely resume operations soon.

DCL is very important to the Bahamian tourism industry. To that end, even if channel or pier work is needed, I think it will happen as soon as they possibly can. Every day that DCL can’t port at CC, the Bahamian government loses the standard port fees/taxes, VAT taxes, and the workers lose income - all of which will help the country’s recovery.

Since we are going so soon, when will DCL notify us that we aren't stopping at CC?

 

[Garyjames220]

Was wed 4th the first day they closed CC from

 

[Lisa F]

Cancel for any reason insurance policy. They exist. edited to say I see another poster already mentioned that.

I don't understand the purposed of this thread. Why ask anonymous posters on an internet board their opinion. The issue seems to be how much dredging, if any, is required before ships can dock. I don't those surveys have been done. If so I doubt the information is public. Posters are basically pulling numbers out of a hat. It could be weeks. It could be months.

I understand tourism is important to the Bahamas. I'd hope whatever dredging is necessary to supply ships can dock and offload supplies to the affected islands takes priority.

It's because we all love dcl and people like to speculate! It's a discussions board so people will discuss!

 

[lanejudy]

Since we are going so soon, when will DCL notify us that we aren't stopping at CC?

Possibly not until you are on the cruise. Currently access to the island is closed, so go on that assumption until they update info.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[ChicosWife]

Possibly not until you are on the cruise. Currently access to the island is closed, so go on that assumption until they update info.

Enjoy your cruise!

We certainly will, but wouldn't they know beforehand if we will be able to stop or not?

 

[MrsInsG]

We certainly will, but wouldn't they know beforehand if we will be able to stop or not?

Not necessarily. We sailed between two hurricanes - Ivan and Jeanne - and CC was closed for a number of days. We were informed the night before the stop that it was back on the itinerary. It really is a day-to-day decision.

 

[Dug720]

Not necessarily. We sailed between two hurricanes - Ivan and Jeanne - and CC was closed for a number of days. We were informed the night before the stop that it was back on the itinerary. It really is a day-to-day decision.

And even when a storm has not just blown through the ship may not be able to dock. (Or even if you are a tropical wave or another type of non-hurricane storm may go completely over the island and result in the gangways being closed so you might as well be at sea.) The Cruise Director and their staff will come up with activities to keep everyone (who wants to be as opposed those who will complain at anything) occupied. About the only thing they can’t add is another Palo brunch day (largely because they don’t have the extra supplies there to just add a brunch).

 

[ironz]

And even when a storm has not just blown through the ship may not be able to dock. (Or even if you are a tropical wave or another type of non-hurricane storm may go completely over the island and result in the gangways being closed so you might as well be at sea.) The Cruise Director and their staff will come up with activities to keep everyone (who wants to be as opposed those who will complain at anything) occupied. About the only thing they can’t add is another Palo brunch day (largely because they don’t have the extra supplies there to just add a brunch).

Adding-- this doesn't apply only to Castaway Cay. Other ports can be missed if conditions make it unsafe to dock. We missed Key West on our first DCL cruise, because it was too windy. DH and I were up on the top deck, ready to watch us pull into Key West (but still a ways out), when we saw the local pilot get back on the pilot boat and drive away and the Wonder turned around.
The cruise staff came up with extra activities for the day.

 

[Dug720]

Adding-- this doesn't apply only to Castaway Cay. Other ports can be missed if conditions make it unsafe to dock. We missed Key West on our first DCL cruise, because it was too windy. DH and I were up on the top deck, ready to watch us pull into Key West (but still a ways out), when we saw the local pilot get back on the pilot boat and drive away and the Wonder turned around.
The cruise staff came up with extra activities for the day.

Exactly!

The primary difference is there is not the possibility of outside excursions to worry about contacting the vendor for Castaway Cay. They are ALL DCL-based excursions.

 

[SamFaniam]

As reported in the other thread about the status of CC, the Dream was able to dock today. Passengers were not allowed to disembark, it was only to drop off supplies. I am hopeful that this is a good sign that the next Fantasy cruise will be able to stop.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/any-word-on-how-castaway-cay-is-doing.3767830/

 

[jjturlington]

Castaway Cay - UPDATED
We continue the process of cleaning up areas of the island and making repairs related to the tropical storm conditions experienced last week. We anticipate re-opening the island on Thursday, September 12, as long as all necessary work is completed. Guests going ashore will see signs of the recent storm's passing and some experiences on the island may be unavailable.

 

[iZon]

Disney just updated website saying they anticipate the Dream visiting the island for guests on Thursday, Sept. 12th. It adds “if necessary work is completed” and says that guests will see signs of the storm’s passing.

 

[ChicosWife]

Castaway Cay - UPDATED
We continue the process of cleaning up areas of the island and making repairs related to the tropical storm conditions experienced last week. We anticipate re-opening the island on Thursday, September 12, as long as all necessary work is completed. Guests going ashore will see signs of the recent storm's passing and some experiences on the island may be unavailable.

Disney just updated website saying they anticipate the Dream visiting the island for guests on Thursday, Sept. 12th. It adds “if necessary work is completed” and says that guests will see signs of the storm’s passing.

That is great for us! We won't be there until the 27th, so that gives an extra 15 day buffer!