Getting off the boat is an enormous a part of cruising! We had one island we beloved and one other we didn’t. Right here’s the recap of our two Disney cruise islands. Try my Disney Cruise overview and my recap of the meals right here. If you happen to’d prefer to see the video model, examine my Instagram spotlight.
Disney Cruise Islands
My favourite a part of a cruise is the boat. I really like the coziness of getting every thing we want at sea, and I additionally love the joys of being in the course of the ocean (so long as the climate is sweet and the seas are calm!). However an enormous a part of cruising is getting off the boat to see totally different spots. It’s so handy to maintain all of your issues on board and get off at a special island every day. This is the reason we’re doing a European cruise this summer season – so we will see extra of Europe with out having to lug a suitcase to coach stations or airports.
Our cruise itinerary took us to 2 totally different islands. The primary was Nassau within the Bahamas and the second was Disney’s non-public island, Castaway Cay. As a reminder, right here was our itinerary:
Itinerary
- Depart Port Canaveral
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Castaway Cay
- Day at Sea
- Arrive Port Canaveral
Not being an enormous “cruise man,” I knew Thomas would need to get off at each islands. And I needed to as nicely! So we deliberate a paid tour to Atlantis and to take pleasure in Castaway Cay the day after.
Once we had been docked in Nassau, we had been proper subsequent to the Disney Dream! The 2 ships ended up having a Disney music horn competitors later that afternoon. So cool!
On our reverse aspect had been some large ships from different cruise corporations.
Island One: Atlantis
Because the climate may be very hit and miss this time of 12 months, we didn’t need to plan any snorkeling or boating adventures for our tour in Nassau. We determined to do a day move to Atlantis, which we thought can be nice for the youngsters. And so they have indoor / aquarium actions if it was chilly or wet. The draw back was that this was fairly costly, and the tremendous draw back was we actually didn’t have a good time. A part of that was on us for being disorganized.
My sister and her household and my mother and father all ended up staying on the boat. They didn’t need to spend the cash and likewise knew the boat would have loads of actions. On the finish of the day, we want we had stayed on the boat, too. However you reside and study!
Disembarking
We met in one of many closed eating rooms to get off the boat in a gaggle. Everybody was placing on sunscreen and given directions on when to return. The entire technique of getting off in a gaggle, strolling in a complicated line, getting on busses, signing waivers, and getting wristbands for the day was a little bit of a drag. It took us virtually two hours from breakfast ending to strolling by the Atlantis foyer.
Regardless of his face, Mazen was excited LOL
The sharks and turtles had been cool!
Whereas our plans had been to go to the waterpark, we determined to go put our toes within the ocean first, which ended up being a 30 minute detour that left us all a bit grumpy. The youngsters needed to swim somewhat, however there have been no chairs, no towels, and no shade, so we needed to arrange elsewhere earlier than they received dripping moist. We lastly satisfied them to go to the seashore (after they received their ft moist and needed to de-sand their Crocs!).
River Rapids Trip
As soon as we had been heading again within the route of the waterpark, we stumbled upon the River Rapids experience which I’d describe as a lazy river with rapids and wave options. We didn’t need to decide to a $20 locker OR depart our bank cards, so we determined that Mazen and I’d go and Thomas and Birch would splash round till we returned. The river was very enjoyable but it surely was approach longer than we thought it could be and we felt unhealthy we made them wait so long as they did (about 25 minutes!).
Youngsters Play Space
After that we settled into the youngsters splash fort in some chairs that had used towels on them. However there have been zero empty chairs wherever. Birch was ravenous, so I waited in a really lengthy line to get him a pizza (The remainder of us crammed up on breakfast so we didn’t must eat).
Additionally they closed the fort down for some time for a cleansing inspection, so our timing this entire day was simply off! Birch by no means actually needed to go in and play.
Whereas Birch ate, Thomas and Mazen went to experience this slide that had a 35 minute line for a 35 second slide. They mentioned it wasn’t price it.
Cove Seaside
Once we all reconvened, we walked to Cove Seaside in an try to do some snorkeling. There have been no chairs, so we put our towels within the sand and simply sat within the solar. Not very best for such a steep day move worth. 🙁
Mazen ended up having a good time snorkeling together with his goggles. It was too deep for Birch to swim. Thomas and I each went for brief swims with Mazen.
One other main criticism we had was that all the water bottle refill stations had been out of order. After the third one I requested somebody if any had been operational and he or she simply shrugged at me. I ended up spending $15 on bottled water. I additionally received the adults some hummus to snack on.
The Cove Pool
Whereas Mazen snorkeled, Birch and I went to this pool for a swim. It was an enormous good pool and by chance not as crowded as the opposite ones. However we had been principally prepared to return to the boat.
Our time at Atlantis was an entire bust. A part of this was us being unprepared, and a part of it was that the resort was simply too large and too crowded for our style. Had we recognized it could be crowded, we’d have stayed on the boat and saved $1000. It was fairly, and Mazen a minimum of had a good time, however we received’t be going again.
Island Two: Castaway Cay
The following day we awoke docked in Castaway Cay! That is Disney’s non-public island that they’ve leased for 100 years from the Bahamas. You must go on a Disney cruise to get there. It’s a real paradise! It’s additionally completely set as much as obtain the cruise company, and we LOVED it!
Sadly, we woke as much as rain! We delayed getting off the boat till most of it had handed round 10:30. The forecast seemed good for the remainder of the day, and the solar got here out proper after lunch.
The Seaside
In contrast to Atlantis, there have been TONS of chairs and umbrellas on the seashore. Even with the 3-4,000 cruise passengers getting off, there have been no traces and loads of chairs and towels to go round.
We had been so completely happy when the solar got here out!
The play fort within the water was so cool, and I beloved that that they had lifeguards in all places and loads of life jackets for younger swimmers.
Lunch Buffet
Additionally, lunch is offered!! There’s a cookout-style buffet with burgers, rooster, BBQ sandwiches, potato salad, pasta salad, desserts and extra.
Additionally they had loads of entire and sliced fruit at a fruit stand
And the well-known ice cream machines with a couple of totally different flavors!
And for sure, water bottle refill stations had been obtainable. : )
Snorkeling
The one factor we paid for on the island was snorkel gear. We rented 3 units (2 adults, 1 baby) for $90. Thomas, Matt, Me, Mazen, and Emerson all rotated by to make use of them (generally the youngsters simply wore their googles). The snorkeling cove was so cool as a result of there have been Disney options below the water! They’d Dumbo, Mickey, the statue of Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid and extra. It was like a scavenger hunt!
Bars
There have been additionally a number of bars scattered about (and a secondary meals space that I by no means laid my eyes on). Additionally, an adults-only seashore that I believe was very nice!!! I may solely dream about spending the day there. : )
Within the second bay, that they had a water slide into the ocean that Thomas and Avery did!
The Youngsters Membership
One REALLY COOL a part of Castaway Cay is that they transfer the youngsters membership onto the island! Birch and Avery went for about an hour and had a good time. I’m not even positive what was inside, however I believe it was a number of sand and sports activities actions. They used their similar wrist bands to get in that they introduced from the boat.
Tiki Bar
Whereas they had been within the youngsters membership, the adults received drinks! I used to be so completely happy that my marg was solely $8.75. What an amazing worth!
Strolling Again
We needed to be again on board the ship round 4:00, so we took the lengthy sandy stroll again. I at all times really feel so completely happy after I’m again on board.
In conclusion, I’d advocate staying on the ship in Nassau and undoubtedly getting off at Castaway Cay! That’s what we want we had accomplished. It’s the perfect bang on your buck and likewise the perfect seashore expertise!
That wraps up my Disney cruise weblog posts for the week. Hope you loved studying about our journey! Be at liberty to ask me any extra questions on particular issues I could have ignored. I discovered it so useful to learn blogs earlier than we left.
xx,
Kath
