'where to park the ship' at CC

[toot2]

What determines which way the ship faces at Castaway Cay?

I 've seen pictures of them docked both ways. When we were on the Wonder we 'backed in'.

Thanks...just curious.

 

[KathyTX]

Generally, weather and sea conditions. We asked the Captain about this- it seems they need very calm seas to back in.

 

[ohiominnie]

I heard they used to always pull in forward, but now they always back in. Something about some hurricane damage a year or two ago.....

Anyone know anything about this?

 

[WDWLVR]

Normally they back in, but there are times they will pull in. For example when we went on the DVC Member Cruise we thought we would finally be on the side to see Castaway Cay from our room, but they pulled in both days. They did it so that the ship would look better in the pictures.

I think current has something to do with it as well.

 

[mw06]

I was there in March 2001 and there was a lot of construction going on at the pier, that time we backed in and in October 2002 we also backed in

 

[Fantasia Sam]

We backed in, in May of this year we were on the Wonder

 

[jrabbit]

We have pictures where they take your picture off of the ship, just past the post office. One has the front of the ship, the other has the back end of the ship (I just couldn't bring myself to say the ships aft )

 

[atigeg]

Ever since hurricane Floyd, we have always backed in, that's over 20 cruises.

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by atigeg
Ever since hurricane Floyd, we have always backed in, that's over 20 cruises.

that supports the "rumor" I heard that it was hurricane damage that caused that change. Hmmmm, wonder if they'll ever fix that or if we are destined to always have rear end Shutters photos.

 

[DisneylandDarren]

They usually back in, but sometimes if they want to do lifeboat drills or lower the lifeboats on the port side the ship then they will go in forward.

I think it's good for the ship to back in, in CC as then they can do maintanence and cleaning on the Port side of the ship. Then when they dock the next day in Port Canaveral they can do work and cleaning on the Starboard side and that is the side of the ship facing the dock there.

 

[howardk613]

On our 1st cruise in 1998 we had a tour of the bridge by the 2nd officer and he said that the preferred way to dock was to back in so that the ship could leave CC as fast as possible if need be.
The decision is up to the captain and his judgement of the currents, conditions etc at the time of docking.

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by howardk613
preferred way to dock was to back in so that the ship could leave CC as fast as possible if need be.

Who in the world wants to leave CC quickly?????????????

 

[jrabbit]

Well when hurricane Floyd was comming, the Magic's first stop was at Castaway Cay (during the beginning of the hurricanes approach to the islands). They when there to pick up the islanders because it would not have been safe for them to stay on the island during Floyd. Once they were on board the Magic hightailed it out of there. OK so that's not a normal situation!!

Did DCL evacuate the island during Isabelle? Or was Isabelle's path far enough away from CC?