First cruise...... SUCCESS!!!

[av8erdunn]

Our first cruise on the Dream was the week of October 7th and I have to say it was a success. The first day I was somewhat overwhelmed trying to get the navigator working on all of our phones and trying to find stuff on the ship but after that it was fantastic. It was crowded and you do not want to get in the pools due to standing room only and the line for the aqua duck was long but there was plenty for the kids to do while mom and dad are in the adult areas. We stayed on the boat in Nassau and got off at castaway cay for 2 hours. It was ok but I will be honest and say the beaches where I live are better. Sand is softer, whiter, etc. Once back at the boat it was empty and I actually got in a pool for the first time on day 3. The kids rode the aqua duck time and time again then went to the kids club for a bit.

All in all it was a great trip and we look forward to the next one. Thanks for all the tips everyone.

This is a pic I took at about 5:30 am after a brief rain shower. Just thought I would share as most have really liked it. It would have been better with a real camera but I was working with an iPhone.

 

[starvenger]

That's still a pretty amazing shot. The slight distortion due to the water on deck plus the sunrise makes that shot work really well.

The first day I was somewhat overwhelmed trying to get the navigator working on all of our phones and trying to find stuff on the ship but after that it was fantastic.

If it makes you feel better I tend to get a bit overwhelmed on Day 1 on a new ship. First day jitters, I guess?

It's only when you take the second trip on a ship that you feel comfortable the moment you step aboard.

It was crowded and you do not want to get in the pools due to standing room only and the line for the aqua duck was long but there was plenty for the kids to do while mom and dad are in the adult areas.

This has been my experience onboard DCL. Not saying that pools on the Royal Oasis class aren't crowded, but not to the extent you see on DCL.

We stayed on the boat in Nassau and got off at castaway cay for 2 hours. It was ok but I will be honest and say the beaches where I live are better. Sand is softer, whiter, etc. Once back at the boat it was empty and I actually got in a pool for the first time on day 3. The kids rode the aqua duck time and time again then went to the kids club for a bit.

I can see how Castaway can seem underwhelming if you have nice beaches in your area. All my nearby beaches are on Lake Ontario and that should tell you all you need to know. Still, Castaway is the nicest private island/peninsula I've been to on a cruise.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

It was ok but I will be honest and say the beaches where I live are better. Sand is softer, whiter, etc.

Where do you live that the beaches are better? Glad you had a great cruise!

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Duplicate post

 

[MomOTwins]

Where do you live that the beaches are better? Glad you had a great cruise!

Probably somewhere that wasn't just directly hit by a major hurricane

When we went to Castaway on our last two cruises, it was perfection. Soft perfectly white sand. I've braced myself for the fact it has probably had a good chunk of erosion from Dorian and won't be back to what it was for a year or more.

 

[Garyjames220]

Is the beaches at royals perfect day better ?

 

[starvenger]

I think Mlle mevelandry did a report on Coco Cay. I don't have any firsthand experience there.

I will say that Castaway is better than Labadee.

 

[71 Truck]

This is a pic I took at about 5:30 am after a brief rain shower. Just thought I would share as most have really liked it. It would have been better with a real camera but I was working with an iPhone.

View attachment 445228

Great Picture.
I guess I am not the only person who gets up at 5:30 in the morning to get sunrise pictures. ☀

 

[av8erdunn]

I live on the gulf coast and we are about 1 hour away from Perdido Key Fl, little further to Destin and Panama City Beach. Don’t get me wrong, it was nice but nothing new to us. You could tell it had some erosion from the storm but they bounced back that’s for sure. The water was cloudy and you couldn’t see very well either. I am glad everyone else enjoys it too because we get the boat to ourselves.

 

[mevelandry]

(...) It was ok but I will be honest and say the beaches where I live are better. Sand is softer, whiter, etc. (...)

Now, I'm curious and would love to know where you live (not your address, just the area LOL) ...

 

[mevelandry]

I can see how Castaway can seem underwhelming if you have nice beaches in your area. All my nearby beaches are on Lake Ontario and that should tell you all you need to know.

Try Jean Drapeau Park Beach...

 

[starvenger]

Try Jean Drapeau Park Beach...

I took a look at that. A beach in the middle of the St. Lawrence. That is... definitely something.

 

[av8erdunn]

Now, I'm curious and would love to know where you live (not your address, just the area LOL) ...

Stalker!!!! LOL

Kidding; we are in Baldwin county Alabama.

 

[mmouse37]

Stalker!!!! LOL

Kidding; we are in Baldwin county Alabama. View attachment 445324View attachment 445325

Just beautiful!!!

MJ

 

[MonaMN]

I can see how Castaway can seem underwhelming if you have nice beaches in your area. All my nearby beaches are on Lake Ontario and that should tell you all you need to know. Still, Castaway is the nicest private island/peninsula I've been to on a cruise.

Coming from Minnesota, I completely agree. Our lakes are lovely and beautiful, but we lack the gorgeous blue water and the palm trees!

 

[dclpluto]

Where do you live that the beaches are better? Glad you had a great cruise!

I was getting ready to ask the same question. Hopefully they know castaway cay is not at its greatest right now since the hurricane.

 

[disneyholic family]

Our first cruise on the Dream was the week of October 7th and I have to say it was a success. The first day I was somewhat overwhelmed trying to get the navigator working on all of our phones and trying to find stuff on the ship but after that it was fantastic. It was crowded and you do not want to get in the pools due to standing room only and the line for the aqua duck was long but there was plenty for the kids to do while mom and dad are in the adult areas. We stayed on the boat in Nassau and got off at castaway cay for 2 hours. It was ok but I will be honest and say the beaches where I live are better. Sand is softer, whiter, etc. Once back at the boat it was empty and I actually got in a pool for the first time on day 3. The kids rode the aqua duck time and time again then went to the kids club for a bit.

All in all it was a great trip and we look forward to the next one. Thanks for all the tips everyone.

This is a pic I took at about 5:30 am after a brief rain shower. Just thought I would share as most have really liked it. It would have been better with a real camera but I was working with an iPhone.

View attachment 445228

glad to hear you enjoyed your cruise!!
and now you know why a disney cruise is a big mistake...
much like potato chips, bet you can't do just one....

we took both our kids and their families in july..
while our kids had been on DCL when they were young, this was the first time for our toddler grandchildren..
and even they are asking when we're going again!!
.

 

[mevelandry]

Stalker!!!! LOL

Kidding; we are in Baldwin county Alabama. View attachment 445324View attachment 445325

WOAH... As a Canadian, I did not know you had beaches in Alabama. And I definitely had no idea they looked like THIS. :O

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

WOAH... As a Canadian, I did not know you had beaches in Alabama. And I definitely had no idea they looked like THIS. :O

Yep. All of the states surrounding the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana & Texas) have beaches.

 

[mevelandry]

I took a look at that. A beach in the middle of the St. Lawrence. That is... definitely something.

Water was more clear/clean this summer... but still...