Thursday, April 11, 2024

Castaway Cay Guide & Tips

disney cruise castaway cay

Think of Disney Castaway Cay as a Choose Your Own Beach Adventure kind of place. From where you decide to hang out to how you want to get around, there’s something for everyone. To maximize your time and keep your stress levels low, plan your attack ahead of time. Here are some things to keep in mind when figuring out your day.

disney cruise castaway cay

tips for the best sea day on Disney Cruise Line

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Pros and Cons of a Disney Cruise.

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Once on land, towels and lounge chairs are complimentary (though chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis so you may want to get there early to snag a prime spot). For those with accessibility concerns, all-terrain wheelchairs are available. And while itineraries can change year to year, most Disney cruises sailing the Bahamas and Caribbean will include a stop at Castaway Cay.

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She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams. However, we really think, and so do the majority of Disney cruise guests, that Castaway Cay is the highlight of most Disney cruises. Staying on the ship is not an option that we really recommend. There is paradise right out there so we recommend taking the opportunity to experience it.

Does Castaway Cay offer cabanas to rent?

There is also self-service ice cream station located next to the serve-yourself soda bar. It is not gourmet and it isn’t as good as that offered on the ship. It used to be that you were given a ticket with a time and place to meet on the ship for the morning of your day at Castaway Cay. This was so 5K participants could get off the ship earlier than other people. There is a special area on the Family Beach for snorkeling.

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A Castaway Cay Cabana is the most difficult thing to actually book on a Disney cruise as there is such limited availability. You really have to at least be a Platinum Castaway Cay Club member or Concierge Guest to even have a chance of getting one of these. The concierge guests have priority booking of 120 days out from the cruise and they are usually gone on day one of the booking window. This means that you will have fewer people on the island if you are on the classic ships. Human nature being what it is, most people don’t want to venture far from the Disney ship.

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Sarah compared this to “a light version” of Stingray City in the Cayman Islands. Another option is to go back aboard the cruise ship, and have lunch in one of the regular dining rooms. Some people prefer this for greater variety and a chance to regroup, but we think time on Castaway Cay is already too limited, so we do not recommend this, nor would we do it. Plus, we thought the BBQ at Castaway Cay was pretty good and offered something for everyone. Castaway Cay Family Beach is the main beach on the island, and as the name implies, is for everyone.

Is Castaway Cay a private island?

You have a few different options for getting around Castaway Cay, and two of them won’t cost you a thing. A complimentary tram is available between the dock and the Castaway Family Beach, as well as another between the family area and Serenity Bay on the far side of the island. Or, if you’d rather get your steps in after all that soft serve, Serenity Bay is just a well-marked, 20-minute walk away. An early arrival will help you avoid a battle for a beach chair or, for a relaxing retreat away from the crowds, splurge on one of the Castaway Cay cabanas. Over the past decade, I've taken eight Disney cruises with my family and friends. When I book, I always make sure Disney's private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, is on the port of call.

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You’ll usually see Mickey & Friends — in special beach outfits — Captain Jack Sparrow, and Captain Hook, and Mr. Smee. Guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult from their own stateroom when disembarking at any port of call. A parent or guardian may complete a “Traveling with Minors” form during online check-in to allow another specified adult to accompany their child off the ship. On the ship, they may complete a Debarkation Authorization for Minors Form at Guest Services to allow the child to leave the ship on their own.

Should you choose to wait until you get to the island, you’ll wind up paying $20 to book the exact same rental equipment individually. Since this adults-only beach is further from the dock, the competition for a good seat isn’t as stiff. However, things can still get pretty busy, and if you don’t claim a spot early, you could be left out of the shade. Or, for the ultimate in relaxation, snag a coveted Serenity Bay Cabana, which starts at $399. Scuttle’s Cove, located just next door to Monstro Point, is designed for kids ages 3 to 12 and features everything from supervised activities to its own aquatic play area. For the older kids, the Hide Out is a haven for 14 to 17-year-olds, while tweens ages 11 to 13 can enjoy their own special time at Pelican Plunge and the In Da Shade Game Pavilion.

After disembarking, visitors can explore the island’s many attractions and enjoy complimentary food and beverages at various restaurants. Basic food and drink are included as part of your Disney Cruise Line dining package, so you only need to pay for specialty items and alcoholic drinks on Castaway Cay. Lunch is provided at Cookie’s BBQ and Cookie’s Too BBQ by the family beaches, as well as at Air Bar BBQ by Serenity Bay. There are two family beaches, side by side, separated by Pelican Point.

Snorkel gear is also available at Flippers & Floats, along with fins and inner tubes. At Serenity Bay, float rentals are available from The Windsock Hut. Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure is another popular option, which provides the opportunity to snorkel with some 40 stingrays that are in the water off the island. There is an additional charge for this experience, but stingray encounters are always fun.

Something quite popular onboard Disney ships is character meet and greets. When I boarded my Disney cruise, I was curious to see if there would be as many opportunities for guests to meet characters as there are in Disney’s theme parks. For this reason, I recommend carefully considering if you are someone who would like the earlier or later dining time. Each time is scheduled to accommodate the multiple theater show times each night, so you won't have to worry about missing any other exciting onboard activities! Most families with young children tend to prefer the earlier dinner dining time. If you are someone who enjoys long days ashore, I would recommend considering the later time.

disney cruise castaway cay

Your day on Castaway Cay is idyllic because you have to make very few arrangements. Beach chairs, umbrellas, towels and a delicious lunch are all provided to you. There are no pools at Castaway Cay, but there are many other things to do. The sports beach is the spot for volleyball and soccer among other games. This is also where guests can get water equipment rentals.

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