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Castaway Cay

Cruiseable team

On a cruise ship

Castaway Cay: Disney seal of approval

October 20, 2020

The vibe

Castaway Cay is a private island in the Bahamas which serves as an exclusive port for Disney Cruise Line ships Disney Wonder, Disney Magic, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. It is located near Great Abaco Island and was formerly known as Gorda Cay. In 1997, The Walt Disney Company purchased a 99-year land lease for the cay from the Bahamian government, set to expire in 2096, giving the company substantial control over the guest experience on the island. A post office on the island has special Bahamian postage specific to Disney Cruise Line, and a "Castaway Cay" postmark.

Top reasons to go

Disney fans will enjoy the Disney characters who make appearances, including a Lilo and Stitch Dance party.
With paved walkways and tram service to different parts of the island, and Disney has worked so all visitors , whether in a stroller or wheelchair can travel the island.
If you are traveling with small children, you will know what to expect if you've visited other Disney resorts. The food will be kid friendly, the waves will be manageable, and there will be fun spaces when it is time to get out of the sun.
Castaway Cay has most of the standard activities and excursions that you will find in most other Caribbean resorts.

Top things to do & see

The island is developed in the theme of a castaway community, with buildings made to look as if they had been improvised after a shipwreck. The facilities are maintained like any other Disney theme park, and the shops accept guests' stateroom keys for payment. The food service is operated as an extension of the cruise package. A variety of activities are available to guests including bicycle hire, personal watercraft rental, massages overlooking the ocean, snorkeling, para-sailing, volleyball and basketball. There are monkey bars and a rope for children to climb across set about 50 meters in the ocean on one beach and a slide about 40 meters into the ocean on another beach. There are three beaches for guests: one for families, one for families and teens, and another exclusively for adults, called Serenity Bay.

Castaway Cay visitors find an island completely outfitted for premium family leisure. Ample amenities include open-air BBQ dining locations, two shops featuring Castaway Cay gifts and souvenirs, and convenient tram transportation (now with additional paths) around the island. Also enjoy:

Swimming, kayaking, water sports and more at the various teens-only, adults-only and all-ages areas
Open-air massages with an ocean view, a yoga class and a bar at the secluded, adults-only beach, Serenity Bay
Port Adventures for everyone in the family, including stingray interactions, glass-bottom boat tours, parasailing and fishing

Fun facts

The island is three miles long and consists of 1,000 acres, only 55 of which are developed.
A Nautilus sub from the old 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea ride at the Magic Kingdom has been partially sunk off the beach. You can see it while snorkeling.
Castaway Cay researchers are restoring the health of coral reefs by transplanting long-spined sea urchins and fostering their growth.

Your take

Have you been to Castaway Cay? Please share a story, tip or discovery. What was the highlight for you? Please share in the comments below.

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Published February 2015

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Cruiseable team
The Cruiseable editorial team consists of award-winning travel writers, cruise bloggers and journalists.

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