Castaway Cay...Disney's Private Island Paradise

The island of Castaway Cay is located within the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. DCL owns 1,000 acres of land and 55 acres are developed for the travelers on the Disney ships to enjoy. If you are running/walking in the 5K, you will be allowed off the ship first. Unfortunately you will not be allowed to stop for photos with the characters or the ship's photographers in front of the ship. If you complete the 5K you will get a participation ribbon to boast about! 

When you first debark the ship and are not in the 5K, characters are out and about to take pictures with you (see the Navigator or Navigator App for specific times and locations). You will take a short walk to your hangout/port adventure, or take a tram to explore the island. While you are there, enjoy shopping and port adventures. Use your key to the world card to make purchases. There is a 7.5% Bahamian tax for items you purchase and some port adventures while on the island. You will get to choose from a variety of places for a complimentary BBQ lunch. When you are finished eating, enjoy some fresh fruit, an ice cream cone, or an alcoholic beverage (21 years and up).

What about kids? Scuttles Cove is a giant sandy paradise for kids ages 3-12 and is supervised by Disney youth counselors. You will check your kids in using a very similar procedure than when you are on the ship. Teens can get away to the Hideout while adults retreat to Serenity Bay. Families can enjoy time together at the Family Beach or reserve port adventures (extra charge) or relax in a private 325 sq. ft. cabana (extra charge).

We have not done many port adventures on Castaway Cay because we enjoy Pelican Plunge, riding the tram, shopping, swimming, and relaxing. We have rented tubes a few times and did the Glass Bottom Boat excursion. 

About the Disney Cruise Line Fleet

Disney Magic

Birthplace: Fincantieri- Marghera & Ancona, Italy
Maiden Voyage: 7-30-1998
Re-imagined: October, 2013
Ships Registry: The Bahamas
Weight: 84,000 gross tons
Decks: 11
Length: 984 feet
Width: 106 feet
Capacity: 2,700 Passengers
Staterooms: 875

                                                       Disney Wonder

Birthplace: Fincantieri- Marghera, Italy
Maiden Voyage: 8-15-1999
Re-imagined: November, 2016
Ships Registry: The Bahamas
Weight: 84,000 gross tons
Decks: 11
Length: 984 feet
Width: 106 feet
                                                                                    Capacity: 2,700 Passengers
                                                                                    Staterooms: 875

Disney Dream

Birthplace: Meyer Werft- Papenburg, Germany
Maiden Voyage: 1-26-2011
Re-imagined:
Ships Registry: The Bahama
Weight:  130,000 gross tons
Decks: 14
Length: 1,115 feet
Width: 125 feet
Capacity:  4,000 Passengers
Staterooms: 1,250                              

 Disney Fantasy

Birthplace: Meyer Werft- Papenburg, Germany
Maiden Voyage: 3-31-2012
Re-imagined:
Ships Registry: The Bahamas
Decks: 14
Weight:  130,000 gross tons
Length: 1,115 feet
Width: 125 feet
Capacity:  4,000 Passengers
Staterooms: 1,250

Dining Dress Code on DCL

Many people ask, "What is appropriate for dress in the dining rooms?" Well, this is a topic that is debated often. The information below is taken right from the Disney Cruise Line website. I have included my opinion as well as observations and photos below the official information.
https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/dining-food-beverages/dining-dress-codes/

Q. Are there dress codes or guidelines regarding dressing for dinner?

A. In general, most onboard dining locations are "cruise casual,” so casual attire, such as shorts and T-shirts, is permitted, with the exception of swimwear and tank tops. Most cruises have special theme nights that provide opportunities to dress up for a one-of-a-kind family photo. Here's a breakdown of special dress events by cruise itinerary:

3-night cruises:

• One cruise casual night—no swimwear or tank tops
• One pirate night themed deck party
• One optional “dress-up night"—jacket for men, dress or pantsuit for women

4-night cruises:

• First night is cruise casual—no swimwear or tank tops
• One pirate night themed deck party
• One optional dress-up night—jacket for men, dress or pantsuit for women
• Final night is cruise casual—no swimwear or tank tops

Pirate Night in Animator's Palate

7-night cruises:

• First night is cruise casual—no swimwear or tank tops
• One pirate night or other themed deck party
• 3 additional cruise casual nights—no swimwear or tank tops
• One formal and one semi-formal night—both give you the opportunity to dress up and take advantage of the onboard photography services. Though optional, we recommend dress pants with a jacket or a suit for men, and dress or pantsuit for women

Formal Night

Semi-formal Night (photographers did not get around to our table, but this is what we wore)

Dress Codes for Palo and Remy, Adults-Only Restaurants for Guests 18 and Older

So that we may provide an enjoyable and refined dining experience for all Guests, please be advised that tank tops, swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, shorts, hats, cut-offs, torn clothing, t-shirts with offensive language and/or graphics, flip-flops or tennis shoes are not permitted at Palo or Remy. We thank you for your understanding and your cooperation with the following dress requirements

At Palo: The elegant northern Italian-inspired dining venue aboard all 4 ships.

Dinner and Brunch

• Men: dress pants or slacks and collared shirt; jacket is optional
• Women: dress, skirt or pants with a blouse
• Jeans may be worn if in good condition (no holes)

At Remy: Serving sophisticated French cuisine aboard the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

Dress to Impress

To preserve the elegant atmosphere, you are asked to adhere to a strict dress code when dining at Remy.

Dinner

At dinnertime, the following dress code is enforced:

• Men: A jacket (such as a sports, suit or tuxedo jacket) is required, with dress pants/slacks and shoes. Ties are optional. Please no jeans, shorts, sandals, flip-flops or tennis shoes.
• Ladies: Cocktail dress, evening dress, pant suit or skirt/blouse are required. Please no jeans, shorts, capri pants, sandals, flip-flops or tennis shoes.

Brunch and Dessert

During brunch and dessert, the following dress code is enforced:

• Men: Dress pants and a shirt are required for men. A jacket is optional. Please no jeans, shorts, capri pants, sandals, flip-flops or tennis shoes.
• Women: A dress or pantsuit is required. Please no jeans, shorts, capri pants, sandals, flip-flops or tennis shoes.

If you prefer more formal attire during the optional dress-up evenings, you're invited to pre-order tailored formalwear rentals and have them delivered directly to your stateroom upon arrival. To learn more, visit Cruiseline Formalwear.

My Beliefs on Dining Room Dress

• As long as you are not in offensive or skimpy clothing, you should be OK. 
• I would wear decent shoes, like you would wear at a nice restaurant (not water shoes)
• Sometimes I will wear jeans (not torn or ragged) with a nice shirt. Most of the time it's a dress or pirate wear. We usually get pictures made before and after dinner and we want to look nice.
• My husband will wear a button down or Hawaiian shirt and slacks. 
• My daughter usually dresses nice (but that's her always)
• I take a hoodie or a sweater for my daughter and myself for the main dining rooms because I get cold easily. On days I forgot, the waitstaff was nice enough to bring me a heated tablecloth to wrap up in. Some days it seems like you are eating in a refrigerator. 
• Swim suits, running shorts, and tank tops (exercise type) are not appropriate.
• A lot of people who don't feel like dressing up for formal or semi-formal night choose to eat at Cabanas or one of the quick stop places. We never skip a main dining room. Cabanas and the quick places are great for lunches, but we love the 5-star meals we get in the MDR's.
  

Just a side note...when we take cruises, we get to "fake" (LOL) that we have money, so we want to play the part the entire time! We take advantage of feeling like royalty so we dress and act that way.

Prohibited Items and Packing Tips

This is straight off the Disney Cruise Line Website:  https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/prohibited-items/list/

Items prohibited on board ship and on Castaway Cay. 

• Firearms, ammunition, knives (including dive knives), swords, daggers and any other types of weapons
• Toy guns or other replicas of firearms and weapons
• Highly flammable liquids and combustible substances
• Liquid oxygen
• Non-prescribed controlled substances, illegal drugs, medically prescribed and synthetic marijuana
• Hookah pipes
• Power tools and toolboxes (except those utilized by vendors providing services)
• Potentially dangerous sporting equipment, including baseball and cricket bats, hockey and lacrosse sticks, pool cues, ski poles, fishing gear and archery equipment. (Golf clubs are permitted as long as they are stored inside your stateroom.)
• Scuba equipment such as tanks, spears, spear guns, slings, dive knives, pry bars, and underwater scooters. (Masks and snorkels are allowed)
• Remote-controlled helicopters, airplanes, drones or similar devices
• Kites, balloons, surfboards, wave boards, inflatable floats, pool noodles, inflatable pools and wagons
• Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, hoverboards, inline & roller skates, any footwear with wheels (i.e. Heely’s type shoes) and Segways, or other wheeled mobility devices with less than 3 wheels and devices that cannot maintain stability and balance when stopped, unpowered or unoccupied. Training wheels or similar modifications are not permitted.
• Wheeled transport devices other than those required by Guests with disabilities
• Electrical appliances such as rice cookers, hot plates, coffee makers, blenders, electric irons, electric blankets, heating pads, bottle sterilizers and warmers
  • Please note: A limited number of approved bottle warmers and bottle sterilizers are available upon request through Guest Services
  • All ships offer self-service laundry facilities with irons and ironing boards. Portable fans are permitted in your stateroom. However, you must contact Guest Services to have the Chief Electrician approve your fan.
• Candles and incense
• DVD, VCR, and Blu-ray players
• Gaming systems such as Playstation®, Xbox and Nintendo Wii (due to compatibility issues with the stateroom TVs)
• Musical instruments
• Ice chests and coolers, except for those permitted for storing medications, baby food and items related to dietary restrictions
• Homemade, precooked or perishable foods or open food containers. Also, please refer to our guidelines on restricted food and beverages
• Over-the-door hanging organizers
• Metal detectors
• Fireworks or pyrotechnics
• Seasonal and/or celebratory light bulb strings
• Extension cords or surge protectors
• Ham radios

What about alcohol?

What about alcohol? How much, if any can I bring onboard? What types are allowed? Please see the information below directly taken from DCL's website on their alcohol policy. https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/prohibited-items/carrying-alcohol-onboard/

Q.

Are Guests allowed to bring alcoholic beverages on board the ship?

A.

Disney Cruise Line Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or 6 beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. These beverages must be packed in carry-on (not checked) bags or luggage.

Guests wishing to consume wine or champagne that they have brought on board in one of the dining rooms will be charged a corking fee of $25.00 per bottle.

Please note:

• Any alcohol packed in checked luggage will be removed and stored until the end of the cruise.
• All alcohol brought onboard must be in an original unopened container. Partially used bottles and those in which the seal has been broken will be destroyed and no compensation will be offered.
• Any wine or champagne in excess of 2 bottles or beer in excess of 6 beers will be stored until the end of the cruise.
• Bringing liquors and spirits (including powdered alcohol) on board is prohibited. These items will be stored until the end of the cruise.
• Guest MUST retrieve any stored alcohol at the end of the cruise. Items not retrieved will be destroyed and no compensation will be offered.
• Alcohol brought on board may not be consumed in any lounge or public area.

Please note that the Disney Cruise Line alcohol policy is subject to change without notice.

Packing Tips

Required or very important items:Passport (see required cruise documents section of the blog)
Cruise documents 
Credit card

Special occasions to pack for on Caribbean itineraries: 

Formal Night (you can rent gowns and tuxedos on the ship: If you prefer more formal attire during the optional dress-up evenings, you're invited to pre-order tailored formalwear rentals and have them delivered directly to your stateroom upon arrival. To learn more, visit Cruiseline Formalwear.) https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/dining-food-beverages/dining-dress-codes/

• Women: SHOES!!! (Both of them), Dress or gown, accessories, sweater for dining rooms, make-up (if you wear it), curling iron/straightener or whatever you need to make your hair dazzling!
• Men: Tuxedo or suit. If bringing a Tux, don't forget your buttons, bowtie, and cufflinks. We found this out the hard way that Disney Cruise Line does not sell them on the ship!
• Don't forget your kiddos! Sunday best would be just fine on Formal Night.

Semi-formal Night: Same as formal night, just not as formal! Ladies, a nice dress/skirt will do. Men, nice slacks/polo or a button down shirt or a suit will do. 

Pirate Night: Make-up, costume, accessories. You can dress up as much as possible or not at all. DCL will give you bandanas to wear on Pirate Night. You can also purchase pirate gear in the shops on the ship. 

Tip: Many people think Nassau has pirate costumes since there is a history of pirate activity. Actually, Nassau does not sell much in the way of pirate gear. They have a few T-shirts and accessories in the Pirate Museum, but don't plan on buying a pirate costume there.

Items people are thankful they packed:

Medications

Clothespins (personally, I've never needed them, but people like to use them to hang wet suits on the clothesline in the bathroom)

Laundry soap

Autograph book (if you have kids)

Pins to trade

Mickey Ears

Ziploc bags for wet clothes

Sea Lice Ointment for Castaway Cay. When sea lice is bad, they will sometimes provide it. I have also seen it for sale in the shops on the ship and on the island.

Merrytime Cruise on Disney Dream

Merrytime Cruise on Disney Dream: December 2015 B2B

Christmas Tree in the atrium. 

 The following pictures were from the atrium on Christmas Day. The chefs on DCL made amazing goodies for everyone for Christmas morning. They even served cool hot cocoa and hot cocoa, gave away cookies for free that you would pay an arm and a leg for in the parks, and had special music playing and snow falling in the atrium.

 
 

 

The characters were all decked out in the Christmas best!

Santa Goofy on Christmas Day. The real Santa was still delivering gifts across the world.

Mrs. Claus reading Christmas stories on Christmas Day

Minnie Mouse in her Christmas best on Christmas Day.

We sailed past Fantasy on Christmas Day near Castaway Cay at sunset.

Instead of the chocolate Mickey's, we got a cute gingerbread man on our sundae.

Gift in Stateroom on Christmas Eve

Gift in our Stateroom on Christmas Eve

We made gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve

Deck the Deck Tropical Holiday Party with favorite Disney Characters

One of the photo studios is in front of the Christmas Tree

Santa on Christmas Eve (borders on photos in photo package are changed to holiday theme)

Mickey on Christmas Eve

Mickey on Formal Night (Christmas Night)

Christmas Tree at Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay is Decked Out

Characters Wear Christmas Attire

Decorations at the Terminal

Click Here for a Quick Merrytime Cruise Video

Character Meet and Greet Surprise after Mrs. Claus' Read Aloud

Charles Dickens' Christmas Carolers...they were Amazing!

Disney Fantasy Easter Cruise- April 4-11, 2015

We did an Eastern Caribbean on Disney Fantasy over Easter. As a teacher I can only travel during peak times. This was our Spring Break and it was worth every penny!


Click here to see our Disney Fantasy Eastern Caribbean Photos

Back-to-Back Merrytime Cruise December 24-December 31, 2015

Would you ever think about spending the holidays on the high seas? This is one question I had to ponder over and over. I just didn't know if my daughter would be OK not being home the day the big man in the red suit showed up in the middle of the night. I had to tell her we had booked a cruise over Christmas. We would be leaving on December 24 and returning on the 31st. What she didn't know was that we had a back-to-back planned. (You can hear in the video, I almost spoiled that surprise when I broke the news to her, so I covered it up by restating we had another cruise booked for Spring Break). We decided to only tell her about the first leg of the cruise and would tell her we were going to be staying at the beach in Melbourne, FL for New Year's Eve. 

I walked into her room and told her I needed to talk to her. She immediately asked me if we were cancelling our trip to FL and asked if we would be staying home for Christmas. Well, I broke the news to her and as you can see in the video, I was very hesitant. I initially told her we were going to be moving to FL. She was not very happy about that, but knew I was playing. so here I was thinking I was going to get this great response full of excitement...you know, the kind you see on YouTube where the reactions are priceless. I told her we were going to see the Mouse. To my surprise, she said, "Yea, so." (So not what I expected). This was the not-so-priceless part of the reveal. Then she asked if we would be staying in the castle. I told her no and we would be floating with Mickey. A small smile broke, but then she was worried Santa would not visit and if she could bring her American Girl dolls with her. I wanted this to be exciting for her. I didn't want to ruin her Christmas. 

Well, as you can see here, we had an amazing trip! We revealed to her we would be staying on for another cruise after that one ended. She didn't believe us because she thought she had to start school again. She was so excited we were staying on the Dream because, you see, she makes friends with anyone she meets. She had become close with some photographers and officers on the ship. The bracelet she shows is a friendship bracelet Rhaul made for her (he is a photographer). [If you have questions about the disembarkation and embarkation process on a back-to-back, let me know. I'll be happy to share our experience!]
What is special about a Very Merrytime Cruise on Disney? Well, everything, really! The characters are decked out in their holiday best and worst (ugly sweaters). The Charles Dickens Carolers were amazing. There was snow in the atrium. Santa came on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day Mrs. Claus read stories to the children in front of the Christmas tree. In the atrium there was hot (and cool) cocoa, cookies, cakes, and all kinds of treats. We were given a special Christmas gift from Disney Cruise Line in our staterooms on Christmas Eve (a DCL miniature santa hat, goodies, and a collectors poster) and on Christmas Day we got another special gift in the atrium (a DCL calendar). We made gingerbread houses. Christmas Day was even more special when Disney Dream sailed past Disney Fantasy near Castaway Cay at sunset. There was also special character appearances and a Christmas Day deck party, Deck the Deck Tropical Holiday Party, for the kids and families. 

Will we sail over Christmas again? Yes, but not until Emily becomes her own Santa. Until then, we will sail on other holidays. We haven't experienced Halloween on the High Seas yet. Maybe next year! This year, we will be on our first New Year's Eve cruise on Disney Dream! I can't wait to share my experiences with you!

I hope you enjoy the videos. They make me laugh. Emily (my daughter) is a character of her own! Feel free to ask me specific questions you have about Merrytime Cruises. I will do my best to answer them based on my experiences. Feel free to browse this Merrytime Cruise Album with over 1,000 photos for your viewing pleasure. 

Read more: http://mickeychats.com/thread/61/merrytime-cruise#ixzz4wgBcBRH0


Here are some highlights from our Very Merrytime Cruise: 

Surprise Character Appearances

Charles Dickens Christmas Carolers

The video below is the, "Surprise! We are staying on for another Disney Cruise!" 

Transportation

Transportation: We live in Charlotte,  NC which is only 7-8 hours from Port Canaveral, depending on the time of day we leave. Most of the time we leave a day or two before the cruise to make sure we make it there on time. Once we stayed at the Radisson at the Port and left our car there with the Stay and Cruise package, which saved us money on parking at the port, but we were on a Back to Back and needed to take things to the car between cruises, so it was slightly inconvenient. All the other times we paid to park at the port.

This is from DCL's webpage under FAQ's:

Disney Cruise Line Air Program

Flying to a departure port? Experience flexibility, convenience and peace of mind when you book air travel through Disney Cruise Line for your upcoming cruise vacation.

• The Disney Cruise Line Air Program includes these features and benefits:
  • Economy round-trip air transportation
  • Peace of mind knowing that if your flight changes due to certain airline-related delays, Disney Cruise Line will take care of the arrangements
  • Flexibility to make changes or cancellations to your air reservation without fees up to 90 days prior to the start of your vacation—or even as close as 75 days for select itineraries
  • Convenience of not having to pay for your air arrangements until your final cruise payment due date
  • Ability to make special requests for upgrades, extended stays and specific airlines or flight itineraries (subject to availability; additional charges may apply)
  Reservations 
  To add air to your cruise vacation, please call Disney Cruise Line at (877) 566-0967. Guests under 18 years of age must have adult or guardian permission to call.
  Please note that the Disney Cruise Line Air Program cannot be added to cruise packages booked by using a Disney Vacation Club Membership.
  As of November 8, 2016, the Disney Cruise Line Air Program no longer includes Ground Transfers.
• https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/air-program/

Q. How do I arrange air and/or ground transportation to and from my port of departure? 

A.

 

Please call us to make flight arrangements to and from an airport near your port of departure and, if needed, book any overnight accommodations. For certain itineraries, we offer ground transportation to and from select hotels.

We can also plan your ground transportation from local airports to the embarkation port and get you back to the airport at the end of your cruise.

To discuss specific options for your cruise and travel itinerary, call Disney Cruise Line at (800) 951-3532. Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/booking-reservations/air-ground-transportation/