Castaway Cay or RCCL Cococay?

[disneylandlocal]

Castaway is great for families with LITTLE kids. Once the kids are about 10-12 it's boring. I find it boring as an adult. My kids now would be bored with it.

It definitely needs a pool, since DCL has still not gotten the pools right on the new ship. CC gets SO hot and not everyone likes to swim in the ocean with the fish (my 18 year old, for one). He discovered this fear on Castaway as an 8 year old.

The food is also garbage. They need better food for sure.

I don't think it needs to be developed to the level of Coco Cay, but a large pool with maybe 2 waterslides would go a LONG way. Something like Stormalong Bay at the YC/BC.

Completely agree with this. A pool, some slides, a zip line or ropes course. Anything different would be nice. I don’t need an amusement park just more to do. Hoping they add more for older kids or active adults at lighthouse point but the press reports don’t leave me optimistic. Taking a bike ride around the island in 90 degree weather doesn’t cut it.

 

[insureman]

The food isn't very good (except for the desserts, which are quite tasty, and some of the smoothies), and perhaps some things need repairs and a bit of work, but otherwise, I really have no complaints about Castaway Cay. It's meant to be a relaxing beach day with optional non-relaxing activities like parasailing, snorkeling, and bicycling for people who want to do those things. Why would you want to ruin that with a giant waterpark that has a ridiculous upcharge like Coco Cay? No, thanks.

For those wanting a pool, try swimming in the ship's pools while it's docked at Castaway. There won't be many people there!

I kind of like the barbecue/cookout type of food they serve.

 

[Kwami]

I kind of like the barbecue/cookout type of food they serve.

I like the idea of that food. They just don't do it very well. The buns are often stale, the meat isn't always the best quality or cooked properly, and so on. I'm sure that it could be done better.

 

[ucf_knight]

So a question for the people that have been to CocoCay, are there many upcharges for experiences when you get to the island?

There is plenty of free stuff to do on the island. The main thing to pay for is the water park or private cabanas. I’ve been to coco cay many times with our kids (6 & 8) and have never paid for any up charges and won’t until both my kids are tall enough for all the slides at the water park. The kids splash areas and the huge oasis lagoon pool are our favorite things to do there and keep the kids plenty busy (the pool has a swim up bar which makes me and the wife happy too)

 

[sethschroeder]

Why would you want to ruin that with a giant waterpark that has a ridiculous upcharge like Coco Cay?

Why does it have to be ruined?

Build out the main area, split the adult area to a quite area for families and an adult only area.

Watch the videos on coco cay and you will realize both things can be true.

 

[darnheather]

I'm kind of surprised by the thoughts on food. I love the food at CC.

 

[Kwami]

Why does it have to be ruined?

Build out the main area, split the adult area to a quite area for families and an adult only area.

Watch the videos on coco cay and you will realize both things can be true.

The adult area isn't very large. Often, it's already hard to find chairs there. Making it smaller and allowing kids near it would completely ruin it. There's no such thing as a "quiet area" for families.

Besides that, Disney is committed to keeping large parts of the island undeveloped and natural. That's part of the island's appeal, but it's also the right thing to do for the environment, the flora and fauna that live there, and for the Bahamian people that let us use their land for our vacations. So, I don't think that they want to build out and take up any more land without very good reason.

Anyway, whenever I've been to Castaway Cay, the ship is a ghost town and everyone is enjoying the island. I don't think Disney's worried about people being bored or whatever.

 

[brentm77]

I like the idea of that food. They just don't do it very well. The buns are often stale, the meat isn't always the best quality or cooked properly, and so on. I'm sure that it could be done better.

This is perfectly stated. They have the right idea, but need to execute better.

They also seem to run out of stuff rather early in the day sometimes. Often the soft serve isn't working right or not frozen enough - I would love them to find a solution that works better, or offer some real hand-scooped ice-cream or something better in that area. Some extra seating with shade and big fans would be great too.

 

[Cheburashka]

The only real problem with Castaway Cay is that there aren't enough hammocks.

 

[auntlynne]

I like the idea of that food. They just don't do it very well. ..

You have summarized my reaction to most buffets I have visited (the exception I come up with is The Bellagio.)

 

[auntlynne]

So a question for the people that have been to CocoCay, are there many upcharges for experiences when you get to the island?

Depending on the cruise, the Thrill Park can be $100 pp. Royal’s charges are very dynamic.

 

[auntlynne]

If CC was turned into something more akin to other cruise line’s private beach areas (some of them are just part of an island), it might be the death knell of my willingness to pay the extra price for DCL.

I love Double Dip cruises. They are the ultimate beach vacation.

Can you imagine how many times a pool would shut down for cleaning? And the grumbling that would ensue?

 

[ITGirl50]

I used to love Castaway Cay, but Serenity Bay beach has eroded over the years and now it only has one row of loungers and umbrellas and there is not enough room for everyone who wants to go there. From the videos I’ve seen, it’s still the same as it was over two years ago.

 

[ITGirl50]

The adult area isn't very large. Often, it's already hard to find chairs there. Making it smaller and allowing kids near it would completely ruin it. There's no such thing as a "quiet area" for families.

Besides that, Disney is committed to keeping large parts of the island undeveloped and natural. That's part of the island's appeal, but it's also the right thing to do for the environment, the flora and fauna that live there, and for the Bahamian people that let us use their land for our vacations. So, I don't think that they want to build out and take up any more land without very good reason.

Anyway, whenever I've been to Castaway Cay, the ship is a ghost town and everyone is enjoying the island. I don't think Disney's worried about people being bored or whatever.

And people pay more for the double dip cruises.

 

[sethschroeder]

Often, it's already hard to find chairs there.

I will take your word for it never saw that myself and never saw it in the cruise vlogs I have watched.

 

[Kwami]

I will take your word for it never saw that myself and never saw it in the cruise vlogs I have watched.

I guess it's easy to find a chair if you're out there early. By the time I get off the ship at around 10am, I usually have trouble finding a chair at Serenity Bay.

I used to love Castaway Cay, but Serenity Bay beach has eroded over the years and now it only has one row of loungers and umbrellas and there is not enough room for everyone who wants to go there. From the videos I’ve seen, it’s still the same as it was over two years ago.

Yeah, they've done something weird lately. They made a steep slope and put the chairs up top, then left the rest of the beach empty. It wasn't like that before the restart. I don't know why they did this or what they're planning, but I'm hopeful that they'll fix it up soon.

 

[ITGirl50]

I guess it's easy to find a chair if you're out there early. By the time I get off the ship at around 10am, I usually have trouble finding a chair at Serenity Bay.

Yeah, they've done something weird lately. They made a steep slope and put the chairs up top, then left the rest of the beach empty. It wasn't like that before the restart. I don't know why they did this or what they're planning, but I'm hopeful that they'll fix it up soon.

It’s been that way since the hurricane hit the Bahamas in 2019. It eroded the beach and they really haven’t done anything to fix it or even protect it.

 

[Elle1777]

I've never been to Coco, so it may be a matter of not knowing what I'm missing, but I wouldn't want it to feel over developed. One thing I like is the natural beauty and feeling that you are actually on an island in the middle of the Caribbean and not some Florida resort. Large waterside towers or lots of buildings would be a step back from what we are looking for.

If they just improved the quality of the BQ, it would be nearly perfect for a day at the beach.

We are from a dry desert state, with no ocean, and when we do go to the ocean, more often than not it's the Pacific, so it's wonderful to just be on a white sand beach with crystal blue water. We aren't really looking for more. I'd be curious if those wanting a lot more are from states with beaches. Or maybe they are just not the type to slow down and relax on a beach and prefer to be entertained or high adventure?

We live in FL and we appreciated the quiet/unspoiled feeling as our beaches can get so crowded

 

[Pens Fan]

I didn't vote in the poll as I've never been to Coco Cay. But I will say that while we really enjoyed Castaway Cay, we have never had that the strong love for it that so many DCL fans do. It's a lovely beach, but that's about it. The food was horrible. The two times we were there our son was little so we never made it over to Serenity Bay and I have heard the food is better there. What they served at Cookies was awful, and we were pretty shocked at the quality of the food considering the premium you pay to take a Disney cruise.

Still - it is a pretty beach, but it's safe to say our family would never, ever book a double dip. We need something a bit more exciting in the literary. Different strokes for different folks and all that jazz ........

 

[insureman]

I used to love Castaway Cay, but Serenity Bay beach has eroded over the years and now it only has one row of loungers and umbrellas and there is not enough room for everyone who wants to go there. From the videos I’ve seen, it’s still the same as it was over two years ago.

Actually that erosion was caused by hurricane Dorian in 2019. It was fixed somewhat when we there this past February but still needed some work.