When Disney Cruise Line first set sail with the unique ship, Disney Magic, 27 years in the past in 1998, it did so to its unique personal island, Castaway Cay, positioned within the sunny Bahamas.
Castaway Cay was really a primary of its type in some methods, because it didn’t require a young to succeed in the island, not like the best way another cruise traces’ islands operated on the time. As a substitute, the ship may pull proper as much as the dock, and the day of enjoyable within the solar may start for cruisers.
For a few many years, Castaway Cay was the one Disney Cruise Line personal island vacation spot for individuals who selected to sail with Mickey and pals.
Nonetheless, the road entered an enlargement period in 2022 when Disney Wish joined the unique fleet of 4 ships. This part of development will culminate in 2033 when the line expects to sail a total of 13 ships (greater than thrice the quantity it had in early 2022).
With the speedy development in ships and passengers has come the addition of a second private island destination within the Bahamas, Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, which opened in 2024.
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In contrast to Castaway Cay, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level is not a wholly personal island, because it sits on the southernmost tip of the populated Bahamian island of Eleuthera (about 70 miles east of Nassau). However that is not essentially a foul factor, because it means it’s a cool and differentiated providing from Castaway Cay.
Some Disney cruises, just like the four-night crusing I lately took on Disney Fantasy, hit the itinerary jackpot by going to each Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay. However many occasions, chances are you’ll be on a ship that both goes to at least one island vacation spot or the opposite.
If you must select between Disney’s Castaway Cay and Disney’s Lookout Cay, here is how these islands examine so you may choose the very best match for your loved ones.
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Please notice that I’ve by no means been on a Disney cruise with out my household, so I am by no means certified to match the islands’ grownup areas (but). As a substitute, we’re going to maintain this head-to-head rating centered on the household areas and actions on these islands reasonably than the adult-only ones.
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Finest seashore
That is the place I provide the good or unhealthy information about this comparability of Disney’s two island locations. A lot of which one is “higher” is subjective, even if you break it into classes. So, I will provide you with my take and my causes, however you would possibly come to the other conclusion than I did, which is nice, as the entire level helps you identify which one you may get pleasure from probably the most.
Disney’s Castaway Cay has glorious postcard-worthy seashores, and the household seashore has the additional benefit of being sheltered by a rocky breakwater. This implies the water is often very calm, making it an awesome match for households.
There are lifeguards, free seashore chairs with and with out umbrellas and a few shade underneath mature bushes.
Nonetheless, if you would like a very good seat near the water or with some shade at Castaway, you usually have to both get off the ship fairly early or wait till after lunch when extra households begin to head again to the ship.
In the meantime, at Lookout Cay, that normal recommendation continues to be true if you would like a seat on the principle strip of seashore. Nonetheless, at Lookout Cay, you will have much more choices.
First, there are extra chairs in a secondary part behind a dune, not fairly as near the seashore. However maybe extra importantly to me, when you merely stroll somewhat bit farther down towards the island’s tip, you’ll find loads of house that is not crowded, even throughout the busiest time of the day.
There are chairs you may convey right down to that uncrowded part of the seashore, making it a fairly implausible setup. That is additionally open water within the sense that you’re going to get some waves that you do not get when at Castaway. Whether or not or not you want that may possible rely upon the ages of your youngsters and their swimming talents, however we liked it.
Final however not least, Lookout Cay’s pink-hued sand provides an extra-special seashore expertise.
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Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
My private choice is the seashore at Lookout Cay. Nonetheless, I am calling it a tie as a result of the water within the household seashore part is just not as calm as at Castaway Cay, due to the latter’s breakwater rocks. The much less crowded a part of the seashore at Lookout Cay can also be away from the lifeguards, and there aren’t shade-providing bushes on the seashore, so it will not be the very best match for all households.
Winner: Tie relying on preferences
Finest meals
In fact, meals can also be very subjective. Nonetheless, I do have a transparent favourite on this battle of the Disney islands, so this one is not going to finish as a tie in my e book.
On Castaway Cay, lunch is included at Cookies and Cookies Too, that are primarily the identical besides they’re positioned at totally different elements of the island. On the buffet menu at each, you may discover choices equivalent to ribs, sizzling canine, hamburgers, rooster, cornbread, corn on the cob, chips, cookies, pulled pork, fruit, potato salad and beans.
I do benefit from the straightforward lunch with crowd-pleasing favorites at Cookies and Cookies Too. The road is structured with a number of buffet stations which can be all the identical, so it often strikes rapidly and barely has you ready out within the solar in line for lengthy. To not point out, everybody is ready to discover one thing they like effectively sufficient to fill them up.
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Cookies Too. ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POINTS GUY
However whereas I just like the included meals on Castaway Cay effectively sufficient for a day on the island, I loved what is obtainable and included at Lookout Cay even higher.
The meals on Castaway provides the vibe of a Fourth of July barbecue picnic, however at Lookout Cay, the island’s True-True BBQ and True-True BBQ Too lean into its tropical location a bit extra with choices equivalent to plantains, ginger-marinated snapper and seafood jambalaya. Regardless of liking the American staples on Castaway as a lot as the following individual, I do know I can get a good variety of these fan favorites on board the ship just about day by day of the cruise, so it is enjoyable to combine it up extra whereas on land.
However don’t be concerned if island-inspired meals feels like your child’s worst nightmare. There are nonetheless cheeseburgers, sizzling canine, french fries and macaroni and cheese, amongst different kid-approved classics, on Lookout Cay.
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Lunch on Lookout Cay. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
The number of menu choices at Lookout Cay does result in barely longer traces, in my expertise, because the sections of the buffet are totally different. That is nice for alternative, but it surely does imply a probably longer wait (typically within the solar) to make your alternatives. I am going to additionally add that we had a bit extra hassle getting a desk for lunch at Lookout Cay than we did on Castaway, so be strategic about getting someplace to take a seat or consuming at barely off-peak occasions.
However with a better number of extra island-inspired decisions and what I might additionally describe as a wider choice of tried-and-true child favorites (just like the addition of fries and macaroni … do not choose), the lunchtime trophy from me goes to Lookout Cay.
Winner: Lookout Cay
Finest for ease of use
Each Lookout Cay and Castaway Cay are easy-to-access islands in that no tendering is required. (For these not acquainted, tendering includes leaving your huge ship on a smaller boat to succeed in the land.)
On Castaway, when you step off the ship on the dock, you might be only a two- or three-minute stroll from the tram that takes you to the totally different elements of the island. Nonetheless, when you needed to skip the tram, it is not that far of a stroll to the closest of the 2 family-friendly seashore areas, so you may get your steps in and be on the seashore inside a couple of minutes.
On my final journey to Castaway, I received off the ship to do the at-your-own-pace 5K within the morning, went again to the ship to get my youngsters up for breakfast after which all of us went again onto the island collectively later that morning. The on-and-off-and-on-again state of affairs did not really feel like an enormous deal because of the proximity of every part on Castaway.
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Disney’s personal island. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Lookout Cay is a special story.
To guard the ocean ground life and never should dredge to ensure that the ship to have the ability to pull up nearer to the land, Disney constructed a prolonged pier from the place the ship docks to the island. It actually does look a bit worse than it’s, however my Apple Watch clocked the stroll from the ship to the tram cease on Lookout Cay at about 0.6 miles every approach. That is not the largest deal on the earth, but it surely does discourage hopping on and off the ship an excessive amount of in at some point. And in inclement climate, it would not essentially be a really nice a part of the journey.
There are little pink wagons for younger youngsters to be pulled in, and people with mobility points can request a golf cart journey, if wanted. However the majority of company will get about 1.2 miles value of steps in full solar simply strolling from the ship to the island and again.
Then, as soon as you might be on the tram cease and loaded on the tram, it is nonetheless a five- to 10-minute journey to the principle seashore space that Disney makes use of.
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SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
All this to say, whereas each islands are very straightforward to get off the ship and revel in in comparison with visiting most different islands exterior the “Disney bubble,” there isn’t any query that getting straight to the enjoyable at Castaway Cay is somewhat simpler than at Lookout Cay.
Winner: Castaway Cay
Finest included facilities
Do you want a waterslide into the ocean? What about a big youngsters splash space with waterslides that do not drop you into the ocean? How a couple of “free” 5K with a medal?
Do your youngsters need to head to an island youngsters membership (with a shaded splash space) only for them? Do your teenagers need a hideout space the place little youngsters and adults aren’t allowed? What a couple of nature path?
Nicely, you might be in luck, relying on which of Disney’s island locations you select.
Listed below are some highlights of the included facilities on Disney’s Castaway Cay:
- Pelican Plunge: That is an in-water play construction positioned within the cove. It has two waterslides that shoot you into the water.
- Spring-a-leak: It is a small, coated splash space for youthful cruisers to play.
- Snorkeling Lagoon: There are some Disney-themed surprises beneath the water right here (snorkeling within the lagoon is free in case you have your personal gear; in any other case, there’s a small payment to hire snorkeling gear).
- Castaway Cay 5K: It is a free, untimed, go-at-your-own-pace route you are able to do whereas on Castaway Cay. You may earn a medal after finishing the course. Professional tip: Do that very first thing within the morning, because it does get sizzling later within the day.
- In Da Shade Recreation Pavilion: It is a shaded space with actions equivalent to basketball, foosball, chess and pool.
- Scuttle’s Cove: It is a drop-off youngsters membership for kids ages 3 to 10 (just like what you may discover on the ships).
- Teen Hideout: This hangout space on the island is only for teenagers ages 14 to 17.
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Pelican Plunge on Castaway Cay. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Whereas there are some overlapping facilities at Lookout Cay, there are additionally some very differentiated choices. Along with the beforehand talked about pink-hued seashore, beachside chairs and lunch, the principle included facilities to get pleasure from on Disney’s Lookout Cay are:
- Rush Out Gush Out: This huge, colourful interactive water play space has two waterslides, splash and water drums, amongst different options.
- Junkanoo parade: This full of life parade is placed on by the Bahamian individuals who dwell on the island. It often occurs twice per day.
- Sebastian’s Cove: This drop-off youngsters membership for these ages 3 to 10 has a water play space that’s impressed by “The Little Mermaid.”
- Goombay Cultural Middle: The Junkanoo parade ends right here, so it is an awesome place to get pleasure from music and see the characters and headpieces.
- Play-Play Pavilion: That is additionally a shaded place to see Disney characters, plus play video games equivalent to ring toss.
- Nature Path: lf you need to stretch your legs and be taught in regards to the indigenous natural world of the island, you may stroll the roughly 20- to 25-minute marked nature path (and see the historic lighthouse from 1901).
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Rush Out Gush Out on Lookout Cay. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Winner: Tie relying on preferences
Finest cabanas
Each of Disney’s island locations have cabanas you could hire on your personal personal house to benefit from the seashore.
However earlier than we speak about which Disney island cabanas are higher, I need to make sure you recognize that these cabanas are fairly laborious to e book. As you’ll quickly see, there aren’t very many cabanas in comparison with the hundreds of company on board a typical Disney cruise, so that you usually have to be sailing in a concierge-level cabin or have the very best stage of Disney’s Castaway Club status to have a shot at early reserving … and even then, it is not assured you may get one attributable to provide and demand.
With that caveat out of the best way, let’s dive into the cabanas on every island.
On Castaway Cay, there are 20 cabanas out there on the household seashore (considered one of which is bigger than the others) and 6 cabanas out there at Serenity Bay, the adults-only seashore, although extra are reportedly underneath building.
At the moment, the household cabanas on Castaway Cay have house for as much as six folks and price $880 for the day. It prices $1,238 for the Household Grand Cabana for as much as 10 folks for the day. The six cabanas on Serenity Bay price $523 for the day and might accommodate as much as 4 company ages 18 and over.
At Castaway, the household cabanas are positioned proper subsequent to one of many essential household seashores and only a seashore ball’s throw away from one of many essential areas the place you will get lunch, bikes and extra.
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Castaway Cay cabana. KENT PHILLIPS/DISNEY
Associated: Are Disney’s Castaway Cay cabanas worth the price?
In the meantime, over at Disney’s Lookout Cay, you may discover 20 household cabanas over in Mabrika Cove, which is notably on the other aspect of the island from the principle household seashore. In actual fact, that is the one seashore on Disney’s a part of the island the place you may see the cruise ship from the sand. To get straight to your day within the cabana, you will not have to take the tram, as this space is the primary cease to the appropriate after you stroll throughout the pier.
That is nice information for entry functions, however on the flip aspect, which means the cabanas aren’t notably near the Junkanoo parade, Sebastian’s Cove, the waterslides and different happenings, which would require a journey to the opposite aspect of the island.
The 16 six-person household cabanas on Lookout Cay are priced at $963 for the day. At the moment, for the 4 grand cabanas with house for as much as 10 folks, you may count on to pay $1,375 per day. (You possibly can add further company for added charges.)
On Lookout Cay, there are two grand cabanas on adults-only Serenity Bay that as much as 10 folks can get pleasure from for $963, whereas the 4 Lookout Serenity Bay cabanas that accommodate as much as 4 company are priced at $523.
Distinctive to the brand new cabanas at Lookout Cay is the presence of iPads from which you’ll be able to order meals, extra towels, toys, cocktails and extra with simply the press of some buttons.
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A normal cabana in Serenity Bay at Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
You do have your personal place to make your plate for lunch within the household cabana space on Lookout Cay. It has the identical meals as what’s out there on the essential lunch stations, plus steak for cabana company.
Nonetheless, you might be faraway from many of the island’s essential facilities (and folks). That could be a professional or con, relying on the ages of your youngsters and what you need to do throughout your day at Lookout Cay.
Winner: Tie relying on preferences
Finest sense of tradition
OK, let’s be critical. These are each Disney personal island locations, so we’re speaking tastes or levels of tradition, not depths of genuine tradition. That stated, this class nonetheless has a transparent winner.
Castaway Cay is an absolute blast with enjoyable particulars, together with nice seashore outfits donned by Mickey and his friends. You may additionally get a intelligent shipwrecked storyline with plenty of Disney Easter eggs hidden about.
However relating to any true, genuine tradition exterior of the one created by Mickey and pals … effectively, this isn’t the island you might be on the lookout for.
Whereas Mickey and Minnie even have some totally different festive outfits on Lookout Cay, they aren’t the one ones dressed for the event.
Residents of the island additionally get into the celebrations on Lookout Cay by placing on the twice-daily Junkanoo celebration.
As a substitute of making a fictional storyline for the island, like Disney did for Castaway Cay, the cruise line made the Bahamian folks and tradition the celebs of Lookout Cay’s story. The island leans right into a (barely Disney-fied) model of the place it actually sits. Meaning you do get a dose of tradition that may be loved not solely by way of the parade and the cultural middle, however even within the meals and the outlets.
For instance, whereas you will get official Lookout Cay merch on the island, you can too buy jewellery, decor, baggage, toys and different gadgets that had been made by island residents.
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SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Winner: Lookout Cay
Finest for staying within the Disney bubble
Each Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay are personal Disney locations (although one is not technically a complete personal island). Each have Disney characters, an included lunch, a number of included facilities and Disney forged members entertaining company at nearly each flip.
So, each islands are fairly solidly within the Disney Bubble in lots of respects. Nonetheless, they don’t seem to be precisely the identical in how they method that have.
On Castaway Cay, you may snorkel to get a have a look at underwater Disney statues in a chosen space and e book an exercise on the stingray journey proper on the seashore. And, after all, we have already coated how straightforward it’s to get off the ship and be nearly instantly within the enjoyable.
On Lookout Cay, you might be really on a bigger, inhabited Bahamian island, so whereas the a part of the island Disney makes use of is only for Disney, you’ll be able to do excursions that get you out of the bubble.
For instance, on Lookout Cay, you may e book the South Eleuthera Eco and Cultural Tour, throughout which you will note issues just like the city of Rock Sound, the Boiling Gap (also called “nature’s sizzling tub”) and the Cathedral Cave, with its beautiful rock formations. That feels like lots of enjoyable if you would like a broader sense of the island, but it surely might not be the very best match for individuals who need to keep all-in on Mickey and pals throughout their day.
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SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Winner: Castaway Cay
Backside line
For those who requested my household in the event that they’d reasonably cruise to Disney’s Castaway Cay or Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level, I wager you’d get a cut up vote — although the true reply is basically both, anytime.
For us, our favourite components of Castaway Cay are its familiarity, ease of use, 5K operating and biking course, extra mature bushes for shade, protected seashore and teenage hideout, the latter of which Lookout Cay notably lacks. Nonetheless, it’s totally a lot within the Disney bubble, which is usually a good or unhealthy factor, relying on what you might be after from that port.
In the meantime, our standout reminiscences from Lookout Cay contain the cool on-land waterslides, the attractive seashore with pink sand, the enjoyable Junkanoo parade and the delectable island-inspired lunch. On the flip aspect, Lookout Cay was actually sizzling (even in March) as a result of it did not have a lot pure shade, and, after all, that trek from the ship to get to the enjoyable was unquestionably longer than on Castaway Cay.
However actually, each are top-notch cruise island locations, and I might pack my baggage in a sizzling hurry when you informed me we had an opportunity to return to both and take consolation in understanding that there isn’t any unhealthy alternative.
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