Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy: What is Castaway Cay?

If you’ve been researching Disney Cruise Line, Castaway Cay might have floated across your radar. What is this mysterious place? The answer: Castaway Cay is Disney’s first private port. It’s an island in the Bahamas that is entirely managed by Disney. If you love the beach and water sports on your port stops, then you’ll want to know what’s here for you.

Disney Cruise Line ships dock at a pier at Castaway Cay, so you’ll walk on and off the ship. The island is themed to the Castaway name, with buildings that look like they were built from the ruins of a shipwreck. There are three beaches, a snorkeling lagoon, and areas for adults, families, and kids. If sand is not your thing, you can hang at one of the bars with a great view of the ocean. Your ship’s dining expands to the island on the day of your visit, and you can pay with your room key everywhere.

Many of the activities available on Castaway Cay are equipment rentals. You can rent bikes, snorkels, floats, tubes, kayaks, and more. There are a few guided excursions such as the Stingray Adventure, and these should be reserved in advance. There are many scenic stops for photo-ops, and you’ll be able to Meet & Greet characters in beach gear.

Most of the island is family-friendly, but Serenity Bay is an adults-only beach. And if you’ve brought littles with you and want some adults-only time, you’ll find that the kid’s clubs each have outposts on the island. Scuttle’s Cove is the Castaway Cay childcare for ages 3-12.

Castaway Cay is about 225 miles from Port Canaveral, and it’s not uncommon to find it as the last day of your cruise. The biggest difference between Castaway Cay and a “beach day” Port Adventure is the lack of structure on Castaway Cay. You get on and off the ship on your schedule. You explore on your own, at your leisure. You can lunch on the island, or go back to the ship to eat and then return to the beach. You can decide to rent snorkeling equipment even if you didn’t reserve in advance. You get the idea. It’s a hassle-free day with beach and water sports activities that you choose.

Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy is for first-time Disney cruisers looking to learn about the DCL experience. Got a question about a term that’s unfamiliar to you? Suggest it in the comments below! Been to Castaway Cay? Share your best tips!