Monday, April 1, 2024

Disney: Summer Deployment Includes Mix of Destinations, New Private Island

disney cruise private island

The package is valued at $52 for little kids or $68 for anyone ages 10 and up, but costs $30 or $50, respectively, saving you $18 to $22. MSC Cruises gave Ocean Cay Marine Reserve a total makeover after it purchased the island from the Bahamian government. What, for years, had been a manmade industrial wasteland about 20 miles south of Bimini is now an island teeming with new plant life and clean beaches.

Everything You Need to Know About Castaway Cay, Disney's Private Island

Disney Cruise ships usually dock with the stern (back) of the ship facing against the island. Because of how the pier is positioned, this means that rooms on the starboard (right) side of the ship are most likely to have a view of Castaway Cay. It’s worth mentioning that alcoholic drinks, specialty non-alcoholic drinks, and bottled beverages are an extra charge.

Is Castaway Cay a private island?

Disney has announced their initial list of port adventures (excursions) that will be available for booking when Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point opens later this year. Hello, I'm Alison a Disney Cruise and Travel Blogger with over 40 cruises and more than 30 years of Disney travel experience. I share tips, reviews and videos so that you can have the best Disney travel experience.

disney cruise private island

Family-friendly Activities

Disney Cruise Line-A Perfect Day at Castaway Cay - The Main Street Mouse

Disney Cruise Line-A Perfect Day at Castaway Cay.

Posted: Wed, 27 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

It is located near Great Abaco Island and was formerly known as Gorda Cay. In 1997, The Walt Disney Company purchased a 99-year land lease (through 2096) for the cay from the Bahamian government, giving the company substantial control over the island. The Disney private island offers unique locations for weddings, vow renewals, and commitment ceremonies with a base price of $4,500 for 16 guests. With additional guests costing just $20 per person (age three and older), Disney Castaway Cay is definitely worth considering for the couple looking for an exquisite Disney experience. Located in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay is a private island paradise that is reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests.

Disney spent $25 million developing Castaway Cay, and they have still only developed 55 of the island’s 1,000 acres. Many cruise lines own private islands, but Castaway Cay was the first where the ships can dock directly at the island, so guests don’t need to be tendered to land. The beach is on the other side of the island from the family beaches and a long trek (or tram ride) from the Pelican Point area. A visit to Castaway Cay is a highlight of any Disney cruise to the Bahamas or Caribbean. The island is the exclusive beach-day playground for Disney Cruise Line guests, and cruisers can enjoy a fun, hassle-free day of sunbathing and water sports at the island. Unlike most other private islands, Harvest Caye doesn't offer any free food options on shore.

You can spend the day snorkelling, dining, and even shopping for exclusive merchandise you can only find here, or opt for an excursion like fishing or parasailing. In the adults-only section, the same foods are offered at Serenity Bay BBQ. If you are vegan or have any special dietary needs, just ask the staff; they’re more than happy to oblige. Just like on the ships, food is included in your cruise fare, but you will need to pay for any alcoholic beverages. You can rent various watercraft for 30 minutes at a time, including kayaks ($20-$25), paddleboats ($20-$25), a 2-person aqua trike ($30 for ages 5+), and a stand-up paddleboard.

Is food included on  Castaway Cay?

When guests arrive at Lighthouse Point, they’ll be greeted by distinctive architecture in bright, saturated hues. The curvilinear buildings will at first appear as Bahamian shells scattered along the shoreline. Upon closer inspection, guests will discover artistic expressions of the native flora and fauna of The Bahamas and the pageantry and history of traditional Junkanoo parades. Throughout the destination, references to playful folklore characters will evoke the warmth and charm of the local culture. There is a specially created snorkeling lagoon where you will see lots of fish and some rather more unusual underwater sights.

Passengers on this sailing will be the first to visit the new private port of Lighthouse Point. Purpose-built ports are another way lines provide cruisers with a homogenized experience that extends from ship to shore. Ocean Cay is outfitted with a dock, which eliminates the need for tendering. Shore excursions are available, and free eats are served at the island's food court buffet.

Castaway Cay’s fee-based activities, excursions, and cabanas are in high demand, so book as soon as you’re able. Guests can enjoy Castaway Cay even more by adding an extra fee activity to your itinerary, such as renting bicycles or reserving a cabana. You can also rent kayaks, paddleboards, water floats, and water trikes on-site to explore the pristine waters surrounding this tropical paradise. Serenity Bay Beach, located in another part of the island, has a beautiful beach, a Jimmy Buffet-style bar, and a delicious barbeque joint. Disney Cruise Line’s exclusive port of Castaway Cay lies in The Bahamas, West Indies, in the Atlantic Ocean.

Disney’s Castaway Cay is the perfect place to celebrate your special day and make it a magical Disney experience. To guarantee your spot, book early and consult with a Disney travel agent for the best results. With its enchanting atmosphere and fantastic weather conditions, Disney’s Castaway Cay makes for an ideal Disney cruise port of call.

Your biggest decisions will be if you want to book a shore excursion, which will leave from a convenient location just steps from the ship, and which beach you and your family want to check out first. Additionally, the company is set to open its second private island destination during the season, introducing Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point in early June. At today’s Destination D23 event, it was announced that a 3-night preview cruise on the Disney Magic will be offered on June 6th, 2024 sailing out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

For a more luxurious visit, the island offers private cabana rentals; this experience comes with unlimited soda and bottled water, fresh fruit and snacks, sunscreen, and more. Adults can even indulge in a massage (for an extra fee) in a cabana on Serenity Bay. Among the activities, Disney offers rentals for bikes, aqua trikes, kayaks, paddleboards, floats, snorkeling gear, banana boats, and cabanas along the beach. Many activities await active adventurers, including snorkeling, parasailing, renting bicycles, fishing, boating, and feeding the stingrays.

On the ship, they may complete a Debarkation Authorization for Minors Form at Guest Services to allow the child to leave the ship on their own. Guests under 18 leaving the ship on their own need a photo ID and Key to the World card at every port except Castaway Cay, where they only need a Key to the World card. Start planning your Castaway Cay day once you book your Disney cruise.

Lunch is included on almost all private islands, usually in the form of a barbecue buffet. For purchases, most islands accept cruise cards as payment, which will add charges for things like alcohol to your onboard account (so you don't need to bring cash). New Port Adventures developed in partnership with local tour operators will take guests beyond Lighthouse Point to explore the rich culture and breathtaking beauty of Eleuthera. And now, the question you might have been asking … is there going to be an adults-only space on the island?

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