Welcome to Disney’s private piece of paradise in the beautiful Bahamas! This 1000 acre slice of heaven is part of the Bahamas Abaco islands and is only 70 miles north of Nassau. Castaway Cay is an exclusive destination for Disney Cruise Line guests and is featured in many Bahamas and Caribbean sailing itineraries. Beautiful beaches, fun bars, great food, and watersports galore await lucky cruisers. Let’s explore!
Disney Ships dock directly onto Castaway Cay and there is no need for a tender. Simply walk off the ship and begin your journey on the island. Be sure to send a post card from the islands tiny post office.
Marges Barges is a marina located right next to the arrival plaza. Indulge in a fishing adventure or a parasailing excursion or simply take a jet boat tour around the island.
The main path to the islands amenities is long. There is a tram service (more on that below), but the entire island is walkable and accessible. Maps are available throughout the island to help you find your way, but the island is pretty easy to navigate.
The first stop down the path from the arrival plaza is the watersports beach. You won’t want to lounge here, so check out all the equipment to see if you want to stop by later. Keep walking, the beach is the next stop.
Castaway Family Beach is the main attraction on Castaway Cay. This beach is massive and spans two lagoons. If you want a more peaceful experience without venturing all the way to the end for the adult beach, setup shop on the southern part of the beach, which is the first part on the walking path. For a bit more fun, keep walking to the second lagoon where you will find fun in the water at Pelican Plunge. Regardless of where you choose to lounge, the water is crystal clear and calm. Plenty of chairs are available and all parts of the beach are conveniently located near bars, food, and bathrooms. Loungers and towels are complimentary and cabanas need to be reserved, which you should do well in advance.
The second lagoon features Pelican Plunge, a floating platform with all your inner-child could ask for including slides, sprays, and the all-important dump bucket. This area of the beach will be the busiest and have lots of kids.
There are numerous bars on Castaway Cay serving up your favorite beach concoctions no matter where you decide to settle on the island. The Head’s Up Bar at Pelican Point was our favorite as it is situated on a mini peninsula and has awesome views of beaches and the ridiculously blue water. Just grab a drink and take in that fine beach life.
Cookie’s BBQ and Cookies Too BBQ are located adjacent to both ends of the Castaway Family Beach and both serve the same fare. The BBQ food included chicken and ribs and all your favorite sides. If BBQ isn’t your thing, typical burgers and hot dogs were available as well. The food was really good and fit perfectly with a day at the beach.
Plenty of seating areas are lined up next to the dining venues. You will not have an issue finding a spot, even during the busy lunch hour.
There are a few shops on Castaway Cay selling island-inspired items and, of course, Disney branded merchandise. Note that Castaway Cay specific merchandise is only available at the shops on the island and not on the ship.
There are plenty of activities available if you are not the type of person content with baking in the sun all day. In Da Shade game pavillion has billiards, basketball, and other games. Volleyball courts and bike rentals are also available.
As mentioned at the start of this post, the island amenities are a bit of a walk from the arrival plaza. Luckily, Disney provides a continuously running tram from the arrival plaza to either Scuttles Cove or Pelican Point.
The island extremely accessible for guests with mobility concerns. The entire island has paved walkways with easy access to just about all the main amenities except the beach itself. The tram is able to load wheelchairs and scooters without a need for transfer. This is about the most accessible beach day you will find anywhere.
Disney pioneered the private island concept for the cruise industry over 20 years ago. Despite being the first, Castaway Cay hasn’t lost a step and makes for a memorable beach day for the whole family. The island is located in a beautiful setting, has a well-thought out design, boasts plenty of amenities, and is accessible to all. Enjoy your day on Disney’s Castaway Cay and we hope to see you there sometime!
