Castaway Cay

Things To Do On The Island

Castaway Cay is a tropical paradise that is exclusive to the Disney Cruise Line, and is located in the Bahamas. This island is full of white sand beaches that are surrounded by shimmering crystal clear water. Castaway Cay is mostly surrounded by break walls, so the beaches are like lagoons in the midst of the vast and endless sea. Explore the island by land or sea, as there are great options either way. During my day on Castaway Cay I went for a bike ride, snorkeled, ate delicious BBQ, went for a boat ride, and went shopping. In addition to these activities there are also boat rentals, cabana rentals, paddle boards, kayaks, and many other activities.

Biking/Jogging Trail

After disembarking on the island at around 8:30 am, I was thrilled to explore the paradise that surrounded me. What better way to explore than to go for a bike ride! Castaway Cay has a paved biking and 5k trail that takes you out towards the more distant parts of the island. The trail occasionally has some blind corners, so please be courteous of the runners. During my hour bike ride I explored the runway, and biked near the cabanas, and to the outpost tower. The tower provided beautiful views of the island, and its wildlife. I spotted many pelicans, and even saw a few hummingbirds hovering over the bushes. After an hour of biking, I had worked up quite a sweat, so I made my way towards the lagoon to cool off in the snorkeling lagoon.

Snorkeling Lagoon

It was so great to escape the frigid midwestern winter to go to the Bahamas, and snorkeling was the cherry on top. I went to Castaway Cay during late January, and the water was not initially warm but it did not take long to warm up. I am used to swimming in the infamous Lake Erie, which isn’t nearly as warm even in the summer, so this was not hard for me to get used to. A disadvantage of going to the Bahamas when your body is used to the winter, is that you will burn really easily. My skin typically has two shades, pasty white, and lobster. And after a few hours in the lagoon, I switched shades very fast, to prevent this I recommend bringing some good sunscreen and maybe even a UV shielding swim shirt. I was having so much fun that I made the mistake of using it sparingly, which resulted in my first time having sun poisoning(not a good time); so be wise and apply every hour.

The lagoon was one of my favorite things I have ever witnessed, it was full of friendly sea life and Disney theming. In the lagoon you can expect to find a few sunken statues, boats, and other Disney relics. Among those were sunken statues of Mickey, Minnie, Daisy Duck, Prince Eric, Boo’s Door, a steamboat, and a nautilus ship. In addition there were also a few other artificial reefs that were loaded with friendly fish that would swim right past you.

The best part of my snorkeling adventure was when I spotted a few stingrays off in the distance. Keep in mind that these are real animals, and they can be dangerous so respect them by giving them the space they deserve. It was a traumatic experience for my first grade class the day we were told about the tragedy of Steve Irwin’s swim with the rays, so please give them the space so you don’t end up like he did(rest his soul). In addition to stingrays, there is also the chance of barracudas, jelly fish, and sea lice(baby jellyfish), though we did not see any of these. There are also lifeguards that actively patrol the lagoon on docks located at the edge of the lagoon.

Food

Castaway Cay is loaded with great food options that are all inclusive and endless. Lunch was served at 11:30 and we had the option of a few BBQ restaurants, which we choose Cookies Too Barbecue. After a morning full of biking and snorkeling I was ready to devour some food, and this BBQ joint hit the spot. I started off by stopping at the ice cream machine, because why not. The soft serve machines were self serve, and featured strawberry, banana, chocolate, and vanilla. My personal favorite was the strawberry and banana twist. Following my early dessert, I munched down on some very savory corn and bean salad, and potato salad. Then I dug right into the BBQ, the pulled pork was especially tasty. In addition to BBQ, they also served hamburgers and hot dogs, and a variety of salads and deserts.

Shopping

There are a few shops on the island that offer exclusive merchandise that you won’t find on the boat. I stopped by at “She Sells Seashells” and bought a nice towel, and a swim shirt. Much of the merchandise was vibrantly themed with colorful designs reminiscent of the island, which I liked. I struggle to find men’s clothing that is full of color(usually it’s boring like navy, black, grey, white), so the change in pace was welcomed. Alexis got a long sleeve spirit jersey which was nice to wear around the boat as many of the dining rooms are slightly chilly in the evening. Don’t worry about needing to exchange currency, instead you will just charge any purchases onto your room card.

Glass Bottom Boat Tour

The glass bottom boat tour was an additional excursion that was a great opportunity to see the reefs. The island is surrounded by many coral reefs, and the water is not too deep, so we were able to see a lot of sea life. Keep your eyes pealed, we saw a sea turtle swim right past the boat! They stopped the boat near a small reef and we threw some oats overboard for the fish to eat.

It was amazing to see the reefs and the fish. Coral reefs are an important ecosystem that serve as homes for many species. Unfortunately many of these reefs worldwide are dying due to water pollution and rising levels of carbon. To learn more about protecting these beautiful yet fragile life forms read this!

After a long day on the island it was time to head back to the boat, and voyage towards my next destination. I had a lovely time at Castaway Cay, and I hope you will too! If you enjoyed this, and you learned some tips feel free to subscribe!