Castaway Cay: What Is There to Do on Disney’s Private Island?
Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island, accessible only by one of its cruise ships. It’s the kind of place that sounds suspiciously like a brochure until you actually go — and then you realize the hard part is leaving. So what is there to do on Castaway Cay, and is the cruise it takes to get there actually worth the effort and expense? Short version: yes, and most of the best stuff is free.
What is There to Do on Castaway Cay?
Quick verdict: Castaway Cay is a clean, easy, kid-proof beach day where lunch, towels, sunscreen, lifeguards, and a floating water slide all come included in your cruise fare. The paid excursions have gotten pricier, and most of them are skippable. Show up early, grab a shaded chair, eat at Cookie’s, and let the island do the rest.
1. Explore the Island
2. Visit the Beach
3. Snorkel in the Lagoon
4. Rent a Float
5. Lay in a Hammock
6. Rent a Boat
7. Ride in a Speedboat
8. Cruise in a Glass Bottom Boat
9. Slide Down Some Castaway Cay Water Slides
10. Play at the Splashpad
11. Visit Characters
12. Play a Sport
13. Visit the Game Pavilion
14. Run in a Castaway Cay Race
15. Ride a Bicycle Around the Island
16. Go Fishing
17. Interact with Castaway Cay Stingrays
18. Go Parasailing
19. Visit the Post Office
20. Ride the Castaway Cay Tram
21. Get a Massage
22. Eat Lunch
23. Ditch Your Kids
24. Rent Cabanas on Castaway Cay
25. Which Cruises Go to Castaway Cay?
26. How Long Do You Spend on Castaway Cay?
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What is There to Do on Castaway Cay?
1. Explore the Island
Where is Castaway Cay? It sits in the Bahamas, near the Abaco Islands, and these days Disney officially brands it “Disney Castaway Cay.” It’s reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests on Bahamian and Caribbean sailings.
One thing to clear up: Castaway Cay is no longer Disney’s only private destination. In June 2024, Disney opened a second Bahamian stop, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on Eleuthera. It’s a separate port, not a replacement — so depending on your itinerary, you might hit one, the other, or neither.
What was Castaway Cay before Disney signed a 99-year lease with the Bahamian government and moved in? The island was used to smuggle drugs. No, really. It was.
At this point, only Disney employees live there. This means there aren’t any locals stalking you the second you step off the ship to sell you things, and you won’t find the stereotypical cruise-port shops.
While Castaway Cay lacks the culture you’ll find on islands beyond the cruise ports, it delivers a clean, peaceful beach day with free food, a pile of activities, and bathrooms you don’t have to pay to use. If that sounds like a low bar, you have clearly never used a public restroom in a cruise port.
Spend some time exploring to see everything it offers. Designated walking trails are available, and the whole island is small enough that you can’t really get lost.
Cost: Free
Pro tip: Check out the Castaway Cay map before your visit to get the lay of the land. For the bigger-picture cruise breakdown, our guide to what’s included in a Disney cruise covers what you’re actually paying for.
2. Visit the Castaway Cay Beach
What’s included at Castaway Cay? A lot — but the beaches are the clear highlight of the free stuff.
There are two: a family beach and Serenity Bay, the adults-only (18+) stretch. Both are vast, with plenty of chairs and umbrellas, so even a crowded sailing rarely feels packed.
Lifeguards are on duty, life jackets are free to borrow, servers stroll the sand selling cocktails, and there are actual bathrooms with toilets that flush. Wins all around.
Cost: Free
Note: You’re not allowed to remove anything from the beach, including shells. Would they really take a shell away from a child as he or she boards the ship? Yes. Yes, they will.
Pro Castaway Cay tip: If you care about chairs and umbrellas near the water, arrive early. The good spots go to the people willing to skip the second cup of coffee.
Bonus pro tip for Castaway Cay: Try the Pina CoLAVA cocktail.
Extra bonus pro tip: You don’t need to bring towels. They’re handed out right outside the ship. You’ll also get washcloths when you board back up, so leave those at home too.
Extra bonus pro tip: The island is cashless. Everyone needs their keycard to exit and board the ship, and you’ll use the same card to pay for drinks and gift-shop purchases.
Extra bonus pro tip: Check the Castaway Cay weather so you know what to expect. It’s not always hot.
Beach Bag Packing List
Don’t forget to bring the following items (and for the full version, see our Caribbean Disney cruise packing list):
A. Shore excursion documentation
B. Identification (Key card)
C. Cash for the post office
D. Sunscreen
E. Cell phone and portable cell phone charger
F. Hats
G. Sunglasses
H. Gum
J. Chapstick
L. Waterproof cell phone case – If necessary.
M. Beach toys – These are also for sale at the gift shops on the island.
N. Goggles
O. Magic Bands provided by the cruise line – If you are dropping off at Scuttle’s Cove.
3. Castaway Cay Snorkeling Lagoon
Which activities at Castaway Cay cost extra? Several, but equipment rentals are the most popular.
There’s a lagoon dedicated to snorkeling with two trails to follow, plus sunken treasure and a few submerged surprises to spot. You can rent gear from a walk-up stand or pre-book it as a shore excursion. To snorkel, guests must be at least five years old.
Cost: As of 2026, Castaway Cay snorkel-equipment rental runs about $44 for ages 10 and up and $24 for ages 5 through 9. Prices climb every year, so confirm the current rate when you book. Honestly? The lagoon is fun, but you can also bring your own mask and skip the line at the rental hut.
Pro tip: Look for Hidden Mickeys.
4. Castaway Cay Float Rentals
What can you do at Castaway Cay if you just want to bob around doing nothing? Rent a float. It’s the laziest possible use of the ocean, and I mean that as a compliment.
You can rent floats and inner tubes to use in the swim area. Pre-book them through a shore excursion or walk up to the stand the same day.
Cost: As of 2026, a tube or float runs about $19 for the whole day. Disney dropped the old one-day/two-day pricing, so don’t be surprised if the number has crept up again by your sail date.
5. Lay in a Hammock
What’s included at Castaway Cay that costs nothing and delivers maximum payoff? The free hammocks scattered along the beach. If you can beat the crowds to one, it’s the best seat on the island.
Cost: Free
6. Rent a Boat
You can rent kayaks, paddleboards, paddle boats, aqua trikes, Fun Cats, Hobie Cats, and banana boats. Whether you’re a calm-paddle person or a banana-boat-screaming person, there’s a vessel for you.
Cost: Varies by what you rent. Prices change often, so check the current rate at the watercraft hut or in the Disney Cruise Line app before you commit.
7. Ride in a Speedboat
You can book a self-drive speedboat adventure around the island. This needs to be pre-booked as a Castaway Cay port adventure.
Cost: Pricing for the speedboat excursion has shifted over the years, and the current rate wasn’t something I could pin down reliably for 2026 — check Disney’s port adventures listing before you book so you’re not surprised at checkout.
Note: Castaway Cay excursions, including this one, fill up fast. If you don’t snag one, don’t sweat it. You don’t need a shore excursion to have a great day.
8. Ride in a Castaway Cay Glass Bottom Boat
Glass-bottom boats give you a window onto the reef and sea life below without getting wet. You need to pre-book this experience as a shore excursion.
Cost: As of 2026, the glass-bottom boat runs about $59 per guest ages 10 and up and $39 for kids ages 3 through 9 — one of the few excursion prices that hasn’t budged in years. Confirm it’s still operating when you book.
Note: Glass-bottom boats can be nauseating if you’re prone to motion sickness.
Note: Disney Castaway Cay excursions, including this one, fill up fast. Don’t worry if you miss out — you don’t need a shore excursion to enjoy your day.
9. Slide Down Some Water Slides
Pelican Plunge is a 2,400-square-foot floating platform anchored offshore in the family swim area, and it houses two big water slides. One slide is faster than the other, so you can launch at the same time as your kid, land first, and be waiting at the bottom to catch him or her. Best of all, it’s free.
Cost: Free
Note: These slides deposit you straight into the ocean. The ocean has saltwater. It does not feel great going up a child’s nose. Make sure he or she fully appreciates this before sliding.
10. Play at the Splashpad
Spring-a-Leak is a splash pad on the island, and it’s one of the best free things to do on Castaway Cay if you’re traveling with little kids. Toddlers who can’t handle the open ocean can run themselves ragged here instead.
Cost: Free
11. Visit Characters
If characters are your thing, snapping photos with them in their beach gear is one of the best free things to do on Castaway Cay. Goofy tends to host a dance party and has been known to go snorkeling, because of course he has.
Cost: Free
12. Play a Sport and Get Active
Soccer, volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard, a floating ropes course, and tetherball are all free things to do on Castaway Cay. Great for burning off the cruise buffet.
Cost: Free
13. Visit the Game Pavilion
In Da Shade (Disney isn’t winning any awards for naming this one) offers games like ping pong, foosball, and pool. It’s one of the best things to do at Castaway Cay if you need to get out of the sun for a while without going back to the ship.
Cost: Free
14. Disney Castaway Cay 5k Run
You can run a 5K on the island. It used to be a more formally organized event; these days it’s self-guided, so you just do it on your own time. No registration required.
Cost: Free
Pro tip: You can collect a Castaway Cay 5K medal after you finish, at the Bike Rental station.
Note: You can buy a package that includes a cinch sack, water bottle, and hat. It’s an unnecessary purchase you should only make if it genuinely makes you happy.
15. Ride a Bicycle Around the Island
Bikes are available to ride around the island. You can walk up to rent them or pre-book them as a shore excursion.
Cost: As of 2026, bike rental is about $19 per person for a one-hour rental, all ages. Note the change: this used to be priced per day, and now it’s per hour, so a leisurely all-day pedal isn’t the deal it once was. Confirm the current rate before you book.
Pro tip: If you want to do several things, you can sometimes rent bicycles as part of a larger package that bundles snorkel gear and an inner tube. Do the math to figure out what actually saves you money.
16. Castaway Cay Fishing Excursions
You can book fishing excursions. They are not cheap, and you’re not keeping the fish. Unless fishing is genuinely your thing, your time and money are better spent on the beach.
Cost: Fishing excursions have gotten significantly more expensive — the fly-fishing trip now runs around $259 per person (ages 8 and up) as of 2026. There may be other fishing options at different price points, so check the current port-adventures list when you book.
Note: Shore excursions, including this one, fill up fast. Don’t worry if you miss it. You don’t need a shore excursion to enjoy your day.
17. Interact with Stingrays
The Castaway Ray Stingray Adventure lets you feed and snorkel with stingrays at the stingray lagoon. You can book the full adventure or, depending on availability, a smaller package bundled with other rentals.
Cost: As of 2026, the Castaway Ray Stingray Adventure runs about $64 for guests ages 10 and up and $54 for kids ages 5 through 9, and it lasts roughly an hour. Prices have climbed sharply here, so verify the current rate before booking.
Note: Excursions on Castaway Cay, including this one, fill up fast. Don’t worry if you miss it. You don’t need a shore excursion to enjoy your day.
18. Castaway Cay Parasailing
What is there to do at Castaway Cay if your kids are older and big enough? Parasailing is a great option. This must be booked ahead of time as a shore excursion.
Cost: As of 2026, parasailing runs about $140 per person (ages 8 and up) — up from prior years. Confirm the current price when you book.
Note: This excursion is often canceled due to wind.
Note: Guests must be at least eight years old and 90 pounds to participate. You’ll find lower age and weight limits at plenty of other ports, so try to do it elsewhere if this one doesn’t work out.
Note: Castaway Cay excursions, including this one, fill up fast. Don’t worry if you miss it. You don’t need a shore excursion to enjoy your day.
19. Visit the Post Office
What is there to do at Disney Castaway Cay that doubles as a cheap souvenir? Visit the island post office and mail a postcard with a Bahamian stamp.
It’s operated by the Bahamian government and isn’t always open. If you do mail something, plan on it taking a long time to arrive — this is not express service.
Cost: Free to visit
Pro tip: Bring stamps onto the island in case the post office is closed. You can buy them on the ship.
20. Ride the Tram
How do you get around Castaway Cay? You can easily walk, but you can also hop on the free tram.
The tram is mainly a way to get from the ship to the far beaches, but it’s also a pleasant way to see the area. Take a ride in the afternoon when the kids are running on empty.
Cost: Free
Pro tip: There are free strollers available on the island. You don’t need to bring your own.
21. Get a Castaway Cay Massage
What is there to do on Disney’s private island if you want to splurge and can go without kids? A massage. Treatments are offered both on the ships and on the island the day you visit.
Disney Cruise Line spas are expensive, but the open-air cabana massage on the beach is one of the few splurges I’ll defend. The Serenity Bay setting does a lot of the work.
Cost: Varies by treatment. Spa pricing changes regularly, so check current rates onboard before you book.
22. Castaway Cay Lunch
Is food on Castaway Cay free? Yes. This is the part that makes the whole island worth it.
On the family beach you’ve got two barbecue spots, Cookie’s and Cookie’s Too, both included in your cruise fare. Over on the adults-only Serenity Bay side, the old Serenity Bay BBQ has been relocated and rebranded as Hangar 98 BBQ (the change rolled out in late 2025). The menu is largely the same — burgers, chicken, grilled fish, sides — and adults can order a fresh-grilled steak.
The restaurants are quick-service with no indoor dining. Seating is outdoors under pavilions.
Castaway Cay food options include things like hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, ribs, and salmon. Bold birds on the island will attempt to steal all of it, so guard your plate like it owes you money.
Cost: Free (with an extra charge for alcohol)
Pro tip: The Castaway Cay restaurants tend to have limited hours and brutal lines. Eat at an off time. Alternatively, if you don’t want to deal with the madness, walk back onto the ship to eat, then return to the island.
Bonus pro tip: Ice cream machines and drink stations are set up for self-service.
Castaway Cay extra bonus pro tip: The island can accommodate food allergies. Pre-order with your dining-room server the night before you visit the island.
23. Ditch Your Kids
The island offers plenty of free Castaway Cay kid activities, which is a polite way of saying you can hand off the children and go enjoy a quiet beer.
Scuttle’s Cove Castaway Cay
Scuttle’s Cove is the Castaway Cay kids club, with complimentary supervised care for ages 3 through 12. Your kids can play there while you hit the adult beach or run off to a shore excursion.
Tweens
There are often organized Castaway Cay activities for this age group. Check the schedule on the Disney Cruise Line app.
Teen Hideout
The Castaway Cay Hideout is a beach area for teens only — no parents, no little siblings, which is exactly what a teenager wants out of a family vacation.
Cost: Free
24. Rent Cabanas at Castaway Cay
What are the priciest costs at Castaway Cay? You can pay extra for a lot of things, but cabanas are by far the most expensive.
You can rent private cabanas at both the family beach and Serenity Bay. The cabana count used to be tiny — around 25 island-wide — but that changed in a big way. In December 2025, Disney opened 30 brand-new Mickey & Minnie Cove Cabanas near Serenity Bay (one Grand cabana plus 29 family units), on top of the roughly 20 family cabanas (now called Sandcastle Cabanas) and 6 Serenity Bay cabanas. That brings the island total to somewhere around 56 to 57.
More inventory should make them at least a little easier to snag — but they’re still wildly popular and tough to book unless you’re sailing Concierge level (way more money), which lets you reserve port adventures, cabanas included, before everyone else.
The price includes some snacks, activity rentals, sunscreen, and not a whole lot else. Since the food is already free, it’s hard to justify the steep price tag. If your main goal is to avoid other humans, go for it.
Cost: Prices vary by sail date, but a cabana on Castaway Cay will always run several hundred dollars — check current pricing for your specific sailing.
25. Which Disney Cruises Go to Castaway Cay?
Most Caribbean and Bahamian cruises with Disney Cruise Line stop at Castaway Cay, and some itineraries visit twice on a single sailing. A handful now pair it with the newer Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, so check the itinerary when you book to find the mix that interests you. If you’re still deciding, our take on whether Disney cruises are worth it is a good place to start, and the Disney Dream Bahamian sailing is a classic Castaway Cay route.
26. How Long Do You Spend on Castaway Cay?
How long do you stay on Castaway Cay? It varies by cruise, but you’ll generally be docked at the island for the better part of a day — long enough to eat, swim, and still have time to do nothing in a hammock. Check your cruise itinerary for the exact in-port hours.
Castaway Cay FAQ
Is Castaway Cay free?
The island itself is included in your Disney cruise fare, and so are the beaches, lunch at Cookie’s, towels, life jackets, the splash pad, Pelican Plunge, hammocks, sports, characters, the tram, and the kids club. You only pay extra for things like equipment rentals, cabanas, spa treatments, and shore excursions — none of which you actually need to have a great day.
Do you have to pay to get off the ship at Castaway Cay?
No. Walking off the ship onto the island is included. The only money you’ll spend is on optional extras like cocktails, rentals, and excursions — and the island is cashless, so everything goes on your keycard.
What is the best thing to do on Castaway Cay?
Honestly, the free stuff. Stake out a beach chair early, ride Pelican Plunge with the kids, eat barbecue, and float around the swim area. The included activities outshine most of the paid excursions, which keep getting more expensive every year.
Are Castaway Cay excursions worth booking?
Sometimes, but you don’t need them. Parasailing and the stingray adventure are fun if your kids meet the age and weight limits, but prices have risen across the board. If a popular excursion sells out before your booking window opens, don’t stress — the free beach day is the main event.
Is Castaway Cay the same as Lookout Cay?
No. Castaway Cay is Disney’s original private island near the Abaco Islands. Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point opened on Eleuthera in June 2024 as a separate Bahamian stop. Some itineraries visit one, some the other, and a few hit both — check before you book if a specific island is on your wish list.
Final Thoughts – What is There to Do on Castaway Cay?
The island is beautiful, clean, and packed with activities. What is there to do on Castaway Cay that doesn’t cost extra? A whole lot. The paid excursions have gotten pricier and the cabanas more numerous, but the verdict hasn’t changed: don’t waste money on an experience you won’t truly enjoy when you can fill your day with free stuff and barbecue.
Is Castaway Cay worth it? Absolutely. Take a cruise there with your kids. You will not regret it. For more before you sail, see our guide to the best things to do on Disney Fantasy cruises.
This place looks divine. It’s beautiful and fun. I want to live there!
This is a great list and sounds super fun! Thanks for sharing!
I like the idea of exploring the island. I will keep these things in mind when going there. Thank you for sharing!
Loved this post, thanks for the recommendations. Looking forward to be here
Interesting things and fun to do. I will keep them in mind. When going there, I will have plenty of things to do. Thank you for sharing!
Such a well-detailed post. Makes me want to visit right now! Thank you for sharing this.
Such a dreamy place. Thanks for the detailed list. Something to consider.
I had no idea Disney has their own island in the Bahamas.