Going ashore

Once properly attired for our time on the island, we walk down the Deck 8 corridor to the aft elevator lobby, and then ride down to Deck 1. (Getting off of the ship in port is about the only reason to ever go to Deck 1, unless either you have to visit the infirmary or you are among the handful of cruisers that has one of the very few staterooms at this level.) It feels kind of strange walking around dressed for swimming without carrying a towel, but all of the towels are provided on shore.

Before stepping off of the ship, our i.d.’s are checked and our Key to the World cards are swiped, and then we are able to step out onto the gangway. A big container of fresh towels is waiting for us on the dock.

It’s always an impressive sight to step off of this massive cruise ship and then turn around and see it towering above us. I stop and snap a few pics, including one zoomed in on our lengthy veranda as seen from below.

Heh. I just looked back at the gangway leading off of the ship, and I notice that they already have a “welcome home” banner hung above the entrance for when we and other cruisers return to the ship. “Home”??? Cut it out, Disney – I’m already struggling with wanting to stay on the ship forever!

It’s a moderately lengthy walk to the family beach, but fortunately, it’s only a short walk to the waiting area for the tram that takes you to the family beach! This is really a gorgeous day. Of course, this being January I bet the water’s cold -- although I have a theory that it might be warmer than in March, when we usually cruise, because it is much earlier in winter. We'll see, I guess.

On our short walk to the tram stop, there’s plenty to look at. As we walk past the aft of the ship we get our first look at the newest resident of Castaway Cay – the Flying Dutchman, the ghost ship captained by Davy Jones in the second and third Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

This is the actual ship used in the filming of the movies. When filming was completed, the production company didn’t know what to do with the ship, and Disney suggested that it be moored here for Disney cruisers to enjoy.

The Dutchman set was built over and around another boat, and on its port side – a side that never faced the cameras in the filming – it’s been left unfinished. The finished side, of course, faces the island.

We pass by the Castaway Cay post office, where you can mail cards and letters to friends at home with a unique Castaway Cay postmark. It’s also one of the few places on a Disney cruise where you need cash, to buy Bahamian postage. Goofy’s son Max is in front of the post office, posing for pictures with cruisers.

A tram is pulling up just after we arrive at the stop. Good timing! We climb aboard and set off for the family beach.