Disney Castaway Cay
Disney Cruise Line’s own island in The Bahamas, reserved for Disney guests. Here’s what’s included, what costs extra and what to book before you sail.
Disney’s beach day, done Disney’s way
Castaway Cay opened in 1998 as Disney’s first private island, and it still feels like an extension of the ship. Towels are waiting when you step ashore, loungers and umbrellas are already set up, and lunch is an all-you-can-eat barbecue. There’s a family beach with a snorkeling lagoon, a floating waterslide platform, supervised clubs for kids and teens, and Serenity Bay, a beach just for adults.
Most of the day costs nothing extra. The upgrades are simple: a private cabana, a massage by the water, rentals and a short list of Port Adventures, all booked with Disney. Cabanas are the one thing to plan for early, because there are only a few dozen of them and they sell out on most sailings.
Free, or worth the upgrade
There’s no fee to go ashore. Anything marked extra charge is booked with the cruise line, and prices vary by sailing; your advisor can pull yours.
| Included in your cruise | Extra cost |
|---|---|
| Castaway Family Beach and adults-only Serenity Bay, with loungers, umbrellas and towels | Family Beach cabanas: private beach retreat for your group |
| BBQ lunch at Cookie’s BBQ, Cookie’s Too and Serenity Bay BBQ | Serenity Bay cabanas: adults-only (18+) cabanas |
| Soft-serve ice cream and soft drink stations | Massages: open-air cabana massages at Serenity Bay |
| Pelican Plunge and the Spring-a-Leak splash area | Rentals: bikes, snorkel gear, floats, kayaks and paddleboats |
| Scuttle’s Cove (ages 3 to 12) and Teen Hideout (14 to 17) | Port Adventures: stingrays, parasailing, glass-bottom boat and more |
| The island tram, life jackets and free sand wheelchairs | Drinks: cocktails at the beach bars and Olaf’s Summertime Freeze |
Explore Castaway Cay
Castaway Family Beach
The heart of the island: a long, calm beach with plenty of loungers and umbrellas, Cookie’s BBQ close by and the Sports Beach for volleyball and tetherball. The In Da Shade Game Pavilion has ping pong, foosball, billiards and basketball out of the sun. Families who want a private home base book one of the cabanas at the far end of the beach, which come with their own stretch of sand.
Serenity Bay
The adults-only beach, at the far end of the island and reached by tram. It has its own lunch spot, Serenity Bay BBQ, the Castaway Air Bar for drinks and a quieter feel than the family side. Open-air massages and a small row of adults-only cabanas are available for an extra charge. The water stays shallow a long way out, though it can be breezier and choppier than the family beach.
Pelican Plunge
A floating platform anchored off the family beach, with twisting waterslides and a giant bucket that tips water over everyone below. You swim out to reach it, so it suits confident swimmers. Life jackets are free, and kids under 4 feet tall must wear one. On land, Spring-a-Leak is a splash area made for the littlest kids.
The snorkeling lagoon
Right off the family beach, with two marked routes: the Discover Trail for beginners and the Explorer Trail for stronger snorkelers. Bring your own mask and snorkel, or rent gear on the island. Lifeguards are on duty, and there’s a hidden Mickey to look for underwater.
Scuttle’s Cove & Teen Hideout
Just like the clubs on board, Scuttle’s Cove offers supervised fun for kids ages 3 to 12, with sandcastle building, water games and scavenger hunts. Teens 14 to 17 get Teen Hideout and their own Teen Beach. It’s how parents get an hour or two at Serenity Bay.
Rentals & Port Adventures
Gil’s Fins and Boats and Flippers & Floats rent snorkel gear, tubes, kayaks, paddleboats, aqua trikes and paddleboards, and bikes are a fun way to explore the trails. Port Adventures include Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure, parasailing, a glass-bottom boat ride and fishing trips. Book them ahead with Disney in My Cruise Activities.
Worth booking ahead
Family Beach cabanas
Extra charge. A private cabana with its own beach area, shade, a fridge with bottled drinks, fresh fruit, towels and the use of rentals like floats and bikes. They sell out on most sailings, so book the day your window opens. Cabanas closest to the BBQ and restrooms are the easiest with little ones.
Serenity Bay cabanas
Extra charge. Only a handful exist, on the adults-only (18+) beach, and they’re among the hardest reservations on any Disney cruise. Booking opens in order of Castaway Club status, so first-time cruisers should plan to book the moment they can.
Serenity Bay massages
Extra charge. Open-air massages in cabanas by the beach. Times are limited, so reserve before you sail if it’s part of your plan.
Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure
Extra charge. A guided swim with stingrays in a sheltered lagoon, open to younger kids as well as adults. One of the most popular Port Adventures on the island.
From our founderTouring Castaway Cay
And then one final bit on the cabanas is that they all sell out. They will sell out on every single trip.
Before you go ashore
- Book as soon as you can. Cabanas, massages and Port Adventures open by Castaway Club status, and the best ones go fast. Reserve in My Cruise Activities, or ask your advisor to do it for you. If the price drops later, you can usually cancel and rebook at the lower price. Just know it could sell out in between, so check that it’s still available before you cancel.
- Bring your ID. Guests 18 and older need a passport or government-issued photo ID to go ashore and get back on the ship.
- Leave the towels on board. Disney hands out beach towels as you step off the ship, and you turn them in on the island before you head back.
- Getting around. A free tram runs between the pier, the family beaches and Serenity Bay. Trams take personal and electric wheelchairs, and free sand wheelchairs are available first come, first served. Paved paths connect the main dining, shops and restrooms. Note that the Serenity Bay tram doesn’t go all the way to the ship, so you’ll change trams on the way back.
- Weather can change the plan. Like any port, Castaway Cay can be skipped for weather or sea conditions. Disney refunds prepaid Port Adventures and cabanas when a call is cancelled.
- Traveling with mobility needs? Tell your Harr Travel advisor about your mobility needs when you book. Our accessibility specialist can request the right cabana, rentals and cruise-line support before you sail.
Plan with Harr Travel
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