Castaway Cay Tips and Tricks

• What additional costs are available on Castaway Cay

  • Rent snorkeling equipment

    • Newbies can follow the underwater Discover Trail, while more seasoned snorkelers will enjoy the Explorer Trail.

    • Look for both beautiful tropical fish and some hidden Disney surprises.

    • Castaway Cay has snorkel equipment you can rent when you get on the island at Gil’s Fins and Boats (near the 1st tram stop) and Flippers and Floats (near the 2nd tram stop) or you can reserve your gear in advance online with port adventures.

    • You can save money by bringing your own gear

    • No matter you and your family will need to wear a yellow life vest while snorkeling

    • Look for the buoys to see hidden treasures below

  • Rent floats or inner tubes

    • Another all-day rental to relax in the water

    • They have lots of them therefore do not feel you need to pre-book

  • Bike Rental

    • Offer all different sizes of bikes including ones with training wheels and child seats

    • Helmets are included with your one-hour bike rental

    • Great way to explore the island

    • Two different paths to explore

  • Watercraft equipment

    • Sea kayaks, paddleboards, aqua trike, and paddleboats

    • Typically, 30-minute rentals you can pre-book or stop and see what is available

  • Alcoholic drinks

    • Numerous bars throughout the island and servers walking the beach can bring you a drink

    • Taste the island with the Konk Kooler a mix of rum, orange juice, passion fruit and coconut

    • All the bars will serve non-alcoholic options in addition to

  • Castaway Cay shopping and merchandise

    • Items for sale on the island are only available there and nowhere else

    • Don’t worry about having to carry your purchases all over Castaway Cay, when purchasing a bag, they will deliver them to your stateroom for you

    • Some shops are run by DCL and some by the locals therefore make sure to explore both

  • Post Office

    • Mail one of the postcards in your stateroom or purchase one at the gift shop

    • Make sure to stop at guest services on the ship because the post office is not always open to purchase stamps

    • The post card will take a few weeks to get to its location

    • If the post office is closed, you can still put your letters and postcards in the drop box outside

  • Cabanas

    • Located on both Family Beach and Serenity Bay

    • There is a limited number available and are typically booked by concierge or pearl/platinum castaway club cruisers

    • Frequently log onto DCL website and check cabana availability before your cruise sails. If you are still without a cabana by the time you get on the ship, visit the Port Adventures desk as soon as you get onboard to see if any have become available, or ask if you can be put on a waiting list

    • Rental will include snacks, towels, hammock, bottled water and soda, fresh fruit, sunscreen, beach toys, included recreational rentals such as snorkel equipment, tubes, bicycles, and DCL cast member

• What is included on Castaway Cay

  • BBQ meal with water and soda fountain and desserts, soft serve ice cream

  • Kids club, activities, towel, beach chairs, games and more

  • Lunch

    • 3 locations to enjoy BBQ

    • Cookies, Cookies Too and Serenity Bay BBQ

    • They all offer the same but at Serenity you can get a steak also

    • All three buffets serve the same food: chicken, burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, fruit, cookies, chips and more

    • All are open 11:30 am to 2 pm

    • Grab your food and eat in the covered area or bring it back to the beach

    • Get some extra bags of chips for snacks later

    • If you have food allergies talk to a server to place your order

  • Beaches

    • Family beach and Serenity Bay

    • Serenity Bay is the adult only beach area and furthest from the ship

    • Family beach is split into two beaches with tram stop 1 and 2

      • Both beaches have lots of chairs and play areas in the ocean

      • I recommend the second one as it gets less crowded

    • Based on available the beaches have umbrellas, hammocks and beach chairs

  • Transportation

    • The tram first pickup area is located a short walk from the ship

    • The first stop is next to Scuttle’s Cove and second is next to Pelican Plunge

    • If going to Serenity Bay, you need to get off at Pelican Plunge tram stop and get on the exclusive Serenity Bay tram

    • Strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs

      • All of these are no charge and can be picked up off the ship or at tram stops

      • They are first come first serve

  • Pelican Plunge

    • Located on the second family beach

    • Swim out to the location with 2 twisting slides

    • The one on the right is faster

    • Kids must be at least 38” tall to enjoy Pelican Plunge and those between 38” and 48” must wear a Disney provided life vest

  • Scuttle’s Cove

    • On island kids club for kids 3 – 12 years old

    • Same counselors as on the DCL ship

    • They will get to play many games and can dig for whale bones

    • Scuttle’s Cove is located AWAY from the water and the counselors will not take the children near the water. Make sure your children wear their swimsuits even though they are not near the water, there are opportunities for them to get wet in games they play.

    • Remember, you will need to come back and apply sunscreen many times during the day as the counselors are not allowed to do so

  • Teen Hideout

    • Located behind the bike rental

    • Volleyball, tether ball and soccer to name a few

    • Same counselors as on the DCL ship

    • The teens can come and go as they please

  • In Da Shade

    • Covered game area including checkers, basketball, pin pong, foosball

    • Great area to cool off or hide from the rain

    • Can spend a good amount of time here

• Basic Castaway Cay Information

  • Typically, most DCL Caribbean or Bahamian sailing stop here

  • Disney’s own private island

  • Beaches, lagoons with sea life, walking trails, BBQ meals, shops with exclusive merchandise, water play area, transportation, and port adventures

  • Previous called Gorda Cay and is 2.2 miles wide and 3.1 miles long with only 10% of the island developed (55 of 100 acres)

• Tips and Tricks

  • Run the Castaway Cay 5K early in the day

  • Skip the first tram stop and continue to walk to see some special character meet and greets and photo opportunities

  • Get off the ship early to get a great spot on the beach

  • Leave stroller and wheelchair on the ship if possible

  • Empty hammocks are sometimes hard to find therefore continue walking or wait until later in the day

  • Port adventures certain ones sell out quickly or have limited amount therefore make sure to book once you can

  • Rental equipment is cheap, and you do not need to worry about packing it

  • Bring sand toys from cheap stores and then leave them for other sailors or discard them. It will save room in your luggage

  • Rental a bike and explore the island and visit observation tower

  • Don’t feel you need to go to the bar, order a drink from your beach chair

  • Snorkel early on before it gets windy or very busy

  • Head over to the adult only area for a beach side massage

  • Take a magical family photo with the ship in the background

  • Apply sunblock numerous times if is cloudy

  • The It’s a Small World Nursery will be open during the day if you need to drop off the little ones

  • If needed there is an infirmary right next to the post office on the island

  • No need to bring cash

  • Save chips, cookies or go back for ice cream for snacks before getting back on the ship

  • Don’t bring towels from the ship they will be there for you

  • Don’t bring any valuable because there are no lockers

  • Stop and check out the weddings going on if you can

  • Remember is it called Key and not cay

  • Disney characters have special costumes for the island only therefore grab some extra photos