We got a whole day at Castaway Cay just the two of us – no kids, just us! While we enjoyed our previous time there with our two boys, this visit was special. It was part of our 25th wedding anniversary celebration, and it couldn’t have been better. Here is an overview of our day if you are also considering going to Disney’s private island with just adults.
Snorkeling
The island has a dedicated 22-acre snorkeling lagoon next to the ship and family beach full of sea life and “sunken treasures.” On our last visit, my husband and oldest son spent a good while snorkeling, but our youngest son couldn’t get used to his snorkel equipment, and I ended up playing with him in the sand instead. This time, my husband and I spent an hour snorkeling the entire area. We saw stingrays and colorful fish and found all the Disney treasures sitting below! My favorites were the statue of Prince Eric and the Nautilus.
We brought our own snorkeling equipment, but Disney does require that you wear a provided life jacket. It is up to you whether to inflate it or not. If you don’t want to hassle with bringing your own equipment, you can rent equipment from Disney for $44.00 per person for ages ten and up and $24.00 per person for ages 5 to 9. It is a unique snorkel experience!
Castaway Cay 5K
While the words 5K and vacation don’t typically go together for most, Castaway Cay offers a fun version of a 5K. Unlike most organized runs, there is no official start time, and guests can complete it at their leisure. We saw dedicated runners on the trail completing it solo as well as families biking it together. My husband and I had our snorkel equipment, backpacks, and towels, so we rucked it.
The 5K trail leaves from the bicycle rental hut toward Serenity Bay, the adults-only area at the far side of Castaway Cay. There is a loop about halfway up that takes guests to an uninhabited area of the island with an observation tower. Make the extra effort and climb the tower! You will see lovely views of the island’s vegetation and can spot your Disney cruise ship in the distance.
As the 5K is completed at your discretion and ends one way at Serenity Bay, we decided to do half of the 5K and eat lunch and enjoy the beach at Serenity Bay before completing the second half. Once we finished, we went back to the bike rental hut and received our Castaway Cay 5K medal! While the 5K can be done with kids, it is geared more for adults.
Serenity Bay Barbecue
Spending time at Serenity Bay, the island’s adults-only area, may have been one of the most relaxed times I have ever experienced at the beach! We started with lunch at Serenity Bay Barbecue. Unfortunately, we got in line right after a tram dropped off a bunch of other guests. If we had arrived twenty minutes later or so, there wouldn’t have been a line.
The open-air buffet has burgers and hot dogs with all the fixings, ribeye steak, other grilled meats, fresh fruit, a variety of salads, and some desserts. The salads were my favorite. I loved the potato and Mexican salads! I also really liked the pineapple cake. My husband’s favorite things were the steak and soft-serve ice cream. On the ship, crew members prepare your ice cream cones for you, but at Serenity Bay, adults can swirl their own as high as they like!
Serenity Bay Beach
With full stomachs, we found chairs with an umbrella at the beach area. There were already a good many people there, but we still had little trouble finding two unoccupied loungers in the back row. I took a quick nap while my husband enjoyed more ice cream.
Then, we waded out into the shallow water. Some people had rented floats, but we didn’t think they were needed as it was easy to float yourself in the salty water. Other people tried to pull beach chairs into the water, but a crew member kept asking them to put them back on the sand.
I could have spent all day swimming and floating here! Just be sure to reapply that sunscreen. I didn’t apply enough. We were lucky with good weather, and the water was clear and refreshing. Hundreds of small fish swam near us as well.
Shopping
We ended our time at Castaway Cay with a little shopping. You can shop for Disney merchandise as well as Bahamian crafts on the island. We browsed through the Bahamian retail section as well as the smaller Disney store, Buy the Seashore, which is located near the Pelican Point tram stop, when we passed by them throughout our day.
After our time at Serenity Bay, we spent about half an hour shopping in the larger Disney store, She Sells Sea Shells and Everything Else, which is located closer to the boat. I enjoyed looking at all the T-shirts. There were some cute Castaway Cay designs, but we had just bought Walt Disney World T-shirts before the cruise, so I had to pass on them. My plan was to purchase a Castaway Cay beach towel for us both to use, but there was only a larger Castaway Cay beach blanket. I decided to buy a Disney Cruise Line beach towel instead and a pin, but when I asked a cast member about using my Disney Visa card for a discount, she told me that I could only get that discount on the boat. So, we waited and purchased a beach towel and pin onboard the cruise ship to get our 10% off discount. While I didn’t buy anything, I did enjoy shopping on the island.
If you are considering a Disney cruise with your special person, don’t hesitate. A pretty day at Castaway Cay is perfect for just the two of you!
Laci Post is a Dreams Unlimited Travel agent who loves travel, history, and a good story anywhere. She would love to help you with your next Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Universal adventure! Laci@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com
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