Castaway Cay, My Favorite Disney Cruise Port
Juli RussDecember 29, 2016Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, is a favorite stop for our family on every Disney Cruise. This 3-mile-long, 1000-acre island has something for everyone, just like on the ship. We love watching the ship pull into the dock and looking at all the fun we will have for the day.
For runners and walkers there is the Castaway Cay 5K. Registration for the 5k is available on the ship at the Port Adventures Desk. The 5K does fill up, so registering early is a good idea. Those who register for the 5K gather together first thing in the morning to disembark before all the other passengers. The run takes you on a lovely early morning tour of the island, then you have the rest of the day to relax or join in all the fun! You will find a water station at the starting line and on the course. At the end of the 5K all participants receive a medal!Castaway Cay has a family beach which includes a great water playground for the little ones and a fun water slide called Pelican Plunge. Check your personal navigator before leaving the ship to check for any play area closures. My kids can’t get enough of either area, it’s hard to get them out of the water. While the kids play in the water, I like to relax in one of the hammocks under the palm trees while I can! It doesn’t take long for one of my family members to come get me to play in the water. For passengers without children, Serenity Bay, the adult only beach, is the perfect place to spend the day.Cabanas are available for adults and families who would like a little more privacy. The cabanas come with all the equipment that might normally be rented:snorkel gear, floats, and bikes. Every cabana has a refrigerator stocked with cans of Coke products and Evian water. Snacks are also provided in the cabanas. Cabanas are booked just like an excursion, but they do fill up early with Platinum members.
For runners and walkers there is the Castaway Cay 5K. Registration for the 5k is available on the ship at the Port Adventures Desk. The 5K does fill up, so registering early is a good idea. Those who register for the 5K gather together first thing in the morning to disembark before all the other passengers. The run takes you on a lovely early morning tour of the island, then you have the rest of the day to relax or join in all the fun! You will find a water station at the starting line and on the course. At the end of the 5K all participants receive a medal!Castaway Cay has a family beach which includes a great water playground for the little ones and a fun water slide called Pelican Plunge. Check your personal navigator before leaving the ship to check for any play area closures. My kids can’t get enough of either area, it’s hard to get them out of the water. While the kids play in the water, I like to relax in one of the hammocks under the palm trees while I can! It doesn’t take long for one of my family members to come get me to play in the water. For passengers without children, Serenity Bay, the adult only beach, is the perfect place to spend the day.Cabanas are available for adults and families who would like a little more privacy. The cabanas come with all the equipment that might normally be rented:snorkel gear, floats, and bikes. Every cabana has a refrigerator stocked with cans of Coke products and Evian water. Snacks are also provided in the cabanas. Cabanas are booked just like an excursion, but they do fill up early with Platinum members.
There is no shortage of food or beverages on the island. Cookies BBQ and Cookies Too serve up delicious BBQ style food with selections such as ribs, burgers, coleslaw, chicken, and cornbread. Dessert is also available; ice cream, cookies (my favorite) and cakes. Serenity Bay offers adults their own restaurant which serves entrees not available at the family restaurants like, steak and mahi-mahi. There are bars located throughout the island where you can get a refreshing cocktail or cold beer. Keep an eye out for the two for one specials often available later in the afternoon, you can often find two for one drinks before the bars close! All of the restaurants and bars are staffed by Cast Members from the ship, so look for your favorite dining room attendant.Excursions are plentiful on Castaway Cay from fishing, parasailing, and a sting ray adventure to snorkeling, biking and float tube rental. Our favorites are the snorkeling and bike riding! While following the under water snorkel trail you will see boats, Mickey & Minnie and a reef filled with fish. Renting bikes is a fun family activity which takes riders across Castaway Cay. There is even a stop at an observation tower where a beautiful view of the entire island awaits.
If you are in the mood for a little shopping, you won’t be disappointed. Traditional Bahamian items can be found at Cultural Illusions as well as Castaway Cay only souvenirs at She Sells Sea Shells…and Everything Else and But the Sea Shore. We always stop by the shops before getting back on the ship for a little something to bring home.A stop on Castaway Cay would not be complete without visiting with some Disney characters! We love to see Mickey and his pals in their beach attire greeting guests as they enter the island. My kids would like Mickey to hang out with them on the beach all day!
Our very last stop as we leave Castaway Cay for the day is dropping post cards off at the Post Office. It’s fun to send mail that we have written on the ship to family and friends from the Bahamas! We have even sent mail to ourselves as a souvenir.Disney’s island is the perfect way to spend a day during a Disney Cruise. I look forward to this day more than any other during our cruise. Whether you want to relax on the beach or experience the many excursions, Castaway Cay really does have something for everyone. I would love to tell you more about the Disney Cruises and all the wonderful places the ships visit. For more information, please visit my Wishes Facebook Page, Twitter, or send an email to julir@wishesfamilytravel.com
If you are in the mood for a little shopping, you won’t be disappointed. Traditional Bahamian items can be found at Cultural Illusions as well as Castaway Cay only souvenirs at She Sells Sea Shells…and Everything Else and But the Sea Shore. We always stop by the shops before getting back on the ship for a little something to bring home.A stop on Castaway Cay would not be complete without visiting with some Disney characters! We love to see Mickey and his pals in their beach attire greeting guests as they enter the island. My kids would like Mickey to hang out with them on the beach all day!Our very last stop as we leave Castaway Cay for the day is dropping post cards off at the Post Office. It’s fun to send mail that we have written on the ship to family and friends from the Bahamas! We have even sent mail to ourselves as a souvenir.Disney’s island is the perfect way to spend a day during a Disney Cruise. I look forward to this day more than any other during our cruise. Whether you want to relax on the beach or experience the many excursions, Castaway Cay really does have something for everyone. I would love to tell you more about the Disney Cruises and all the wonderful places the ships visit. For more information, please visit my Wishes Facebook Page, Twitter, or send an email to julir@wishesfamilytravel.com