Considered one of my fondest recollections from my childhood was happening a Disney cruise with my mother and father. I fondly keep in mind spending the day in Castaway Cay – which is situated within the Bahamas within the South Abaco district, close to Nice Abaco Island.
Whereas my mother and father explored the personal island, I spent a lot of my time within the Scuttle Cove child’s membership – the place I vividly keep in mind happening an thrilling expedition to hunt for dinosaur bones with the opposite kids.
Though we had been simply youngsters enjoying with toys within the sand, the forged members – which is the identify for all Disney workers – actually introduced the story to life in a method that made it really feel actual and thrilling.
Once I took my first Disney Cruise as an grownup with my husband in 2022 – which was a 4-night crusing onboard Disney Dream to Nassau, Bahamas, and Castaway Cay – I used to be curious how the unique DCL vacation spot would reside as much as the expectations I had inbuilt my head from my childhood expertise.
Whereas there have been maybe a number of issues that would have been improved upon, I used to be really pleasantly stunned by how enjoyable a day in Castaway Cay may very well be for 2 childless adults.
What I Beloved About Castaway Cay
First, it’s simple to navigate the pier. Castaway Cay is not a young port – so you’ll be able to merely stroll on and off the ship. The port can also be completely utilized by Disney Cruise Line, so that you’re not struggling by way of crowds of individuals from different cruise ships.
Disney additionally has forged members stationed throughout the cruise port to supply instructions and to seize distinctive picture ops with the cruise ship from the shores of Castaway Cay – which we undoubtedly took benefit of.
There are additionally distinctive character picture ops across the island, however we didn’t search for these – though it will have been enjoyable to see their particular beach-day costumes in individual.
The spotlight of our day was finishing the Castaway Cay 5K. This fully free exercise is a superb supply of train – which was wanted after every part we had been consuming onboard – and a good way to see the island.
It was additionally a second of victory for me to finish the course – not simply because we obtained cool medals for it and the sense of accomplishment, but additionally as a result of it marked my comeback after having main ankle surgical procedure nearly precisely one yr prior.
It was additionally a really low-key expertise that allowed us to get out of the group and go at our personal tempo.
Regardless of the way it sounds, the 5K just isn’t operated as a race. You merely observe the indicators that mark the course after which verify in on the bike rental stand to retrieve your medal when you’re performed.
Talking of free actions, we completely liked Serenity Bay – which was the proper solution to cool off after operating (okay, principally energy strolling) three miles.
With medals in hand, we headed to the adults-only space. I’m undecided if we had been simply additional scorching and drained, however the water felt past superb.
The ocean was calm, heat, and virtually see-through – and we loved watching little fish swim round our ft. We additionally appreciated the calmer, and fewer busy ambiance from being surrounded by solely cruisers who had been 18-years-old or older.
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However whereas we might have floated in Serenity Bay ceaselessly, we did check out Boat Seaside and the household seashores – benefiting from the float leases (about $15 per tube on the time) and the AquaTrike ($30 for half-hour on the time).
Whilst you can pre-reserve the floats and excursions if for a truth you need them, we had been capable of make the most of the rental and exercise as a spur of the second determination on the day of our go to.
On the finish of all of it, we had been additionally fairly completely happy about how little our day in Castaway Cay really price us. Contemplating the BBQ lunch can also be free (and scrumptious), and accounting for the sunshine buying we did, we spent lower than $150 on the Bahamian island.
However whereas we made it by way of the port name with out breaking the financial institution, you’ll be able to actually spend a fairly penny on the island if you happen to’re travelling with an even bigger household, e book a number of of the shore excursions, or go for costlier excursions or experiences – to not point out the price of a Disney Cruise generally might be fairly steep.
Our greatest expense from the day was buying – and it’s actually onerous to withstand temptation because the retailers and stands promote souvenirs and handicrafts you received’t discover onboard or at different ports of name. Nevertheless, these magical finds don’t come at a reduction.
Potential Drawbacks to Castaway Cay
Whereas my husband and I completely liked our expertise in Castaway Cay, there are a number of not-so-great issues to consider now that I’m trying again.
First, understand that there could also be lengthy strains for the buffet lunch – which is served at a number of areas across the island.
We obtained fortunate and didn’t have to attend as a result of we occurred to be subsequent to the buffet in Serenity Bay when lunch service started. Nevertheless, by the point we made it by way of our brief line, there have been folks behind us who mentioned they ended up ready for 10-Quarter-hour earlier than they made it to the entrance.
Equally, the strains on the tram stops can get fairly lengthy – particularly originally and finish of the day when there’s a rush of visitors coming into and exiting the island.
The trams could also be price ready for if a visitor has a incapacity or harm that makes strolling tough, however we had no hassle strolling across the total island – along with finishing the Castaway Cay 5k!
Castaway Cay is just 3.1 miles lengthy and a pair of.2 miles extensive – and we discovered we might get nearly wherever in about 10 minutes or much less. Talking of strains, some components of the island do get fairly crowded – most notably the household seashores.
Unsurprisingly, we discovered the household seashores to be rather a lot much less peaceable – with youngsters screaming, splashing, and sometimes crashing into us and knocking us off our rented internal tubes. We didn’t hate being within the water there, however we actually didn’t keep so long as we did in Serenity Bay.
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It’s additionally price noting that as magical as Disney is, they can’t assure good climate.
Even throughout our port name, the morning began out reasonably windy – however fortunately, Disney Dream was nonetheless capable of dock with out a lot concern and the wind subsided by mid-morning.
Ultimately, we didn’t discover the wind in any respect – apart from when an even bigger gust sometimes tried to blow our floats away, which we discovered humorous.
That mentioned, we met some avid Disney cruisers who mentioned they’d visits to Castaway Cay cancelled on the final minute resulting from climate previously.
How You Can Go to Castaway Cay
If you wish to see what Castaway Cay is like for your self, all it’s a must to do is e book a Disney Cruise that features the personal island on the itinerary – which might be performed on-line, by calling the cruise line, or by way of a journey agent.
Apart from Disney Surprise, all in-service Disney ships supply sailings to Castaway Cay at numerous factors in the course of the yr – as will Disney Treasure and Disney Future once they formally enter service on the finish of 2024 and the tip of 2025, respectively.
The personal island is even included as a part of Disney Treasure’s maiden voyage – which is a 7-night Japanese Caribbean crusing embarking from Port Canaveral, Florida, on December 21, 2024.
Choose sailings in 2025 and 2026 onboard Disney Dream additionally name on each Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level – which is the cruise line’s new personal island vacation spot within the Bahamas that lately opened in summer time 2024.
