Castaway Cay Questions

[Gonzjj]

We will be in a February Bahamas cruise. What are the must do's for Castaway Cay? Is there anything we need to think about or preplan for Castaway Cay? Also, what is the weather like in the Bahamas in February? I am hoping for beach weather, but I also heard the water could be cold.

 

[Bishoparc]

We were there in late January this year and also just got back. The weather itself is gorgeous but if you are from the south like we are the water is too cold. We actually brought wet suits in January and were able to stand it and we brought them on this trip but left them in the room so we never did more than dip our toes in. The wife and I laid in a hammock literally all day and I wouldn't change a thing

 

[bumbershoot]

Castaway helped me see that I *am* a beach person. I do the 5K, rinse off and change, then go laze all day. Get lunch, laze some more.


As for weather, it can go either way.

My cousins from Florida (well...my cousin lived there since she was 5, and her husband moved there in his late teens, and their kids are Floridians) went February 2012 and froze. But it was freezing in FL as well. We all went back the same weekend 2013, and it was lovely. My cousins had a great warm day, and the water was totally fine.

My little family went back in October of the same year and the water felt colder, probably because the weather overall was actually hotter.

I swam in February, but couldn't do so that October.

 

[Iggswald]

I am going in January and was wondering how hard is it to get covered beach chairs? we have three young kids that will be going with us as well

 

[Dug720]

Unless things are radically different on the family beach, each set of 2 loungers and 2 small chairs should have their own umbrella. That's how it is on Serenity Bay anyway.

 

[Marc D]

I am going in January and was wondering how hard is it to get covered beach chairs? we have three young kids that will be going with us as well

If you get to the beach very late, your ship being the Dream or the Fantasy, you might have trouble getting an umbrella. If you want to be sure, send one person ahead on the first tram (or speed walking like I do, which gets me there faster) to get the spot you want. Not sure if it's possible with three kids...

 

[mmouse37]

There are plenty of umbrellas on the family beach. If you wait until very late there is a chance you might not get one, but if you are out there within an hour or so of the ship being cleared to go ashore you should be fine. You may not get an umbrella in the first row closer to the water but when we were on the Fantasy in early August there were still plenty of chairs and umbrellas further back. Plenty of palm trees as well.

MJ

 

[sbridgeman]

if you are from the south like we are the water is too cold

Excellent point! We were there in Feb. 3 years ago and the water was too cold for us (we're also from the south).

If memory serves me here, I don't recall seeing anyone really swimming that cruise and I know that I could not go above my knees - but that didn't stop us from renting some floats and lounging in the water.

 

[Gonzjj]

Thanks for the info. If it's too cold to swim, are there suggestions for other activities in the island?

 

[Garyjames220]

Thanks for the info. If it's too cold to swim, are there suggestions for other activities in the island?

Gets cocktails and get dance to the Disney music ?

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

There is plenty to do, or not do. There are some excursions you could pre-purchase, but I'd say CC is a good island to "wing it." They have bike rentals on the island. Hair braiding. Some little shops. They also have little activities like "excavating whale bones." And of course, characters will show up, and the Shutters people will be around taking pictures, and plenty of free food. Or just take a nice walk. A great relaxing day in any water temperature. Unless it rains....

 

[squirk]

Thanks for the info. If it's too cold to swim, are there suggestions for other activities in the island?

Not knowing anything about your party - are you guys active? traveling with kids? grandparents? special accommodations needed? - it's hard to make a suggestion.

In terms of activities that avoid a cold ocean, I personally really like the Castaway Cay 5K, the hiking and the parasailing.

Or you can just find some chairs, grab a drink, relax and not plan anything.

 

[lanejudy]

Where are you from? I think that is a key factor in whether or not you find the ocean warm enough to swim. We typically cruise in February and we swim in the ocean then; we are from northern New England where we've often left behind 6ft snow banks and 25 degree temps. If you are from a warmer clime, you may have a different opinion.

And there are lots of activities at CC without going in the ocean. Check out the excursions offered. And there are bikes, boat rentals, hiking/walking, build sandcastles, sit and relax in the sun...

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[ChicosWife]

We were there in late January and the water was actually warmer than the outside temperature (due to the wind) and we are from California.

 

[squirk]

If you are from a warmer clime, you may have a different opinion.

I'll second that. We are from Louisiana, and I always find the water at CC, even in the middle of June, to be a little too cold for my taste.

 

[Gonzjj]

Where are you from? I think that is a key factor in whether or not you find the ocean warm enough to swim. We typically cruise in February and we swim in the ocean then; we are from northern New England where we've often left behind 6ft snow banks and 25 degree temps. If you are from a warmer clime, you may have a different opinion.

And there are lots of activities at CC without going in the ocean. Check out the excursions offered. And there are bikes, boat rentals, hiking/walking, build sandcastles, sit and relax in the sun...

Enjoy your cruise!

Hello, we are coming from Western NY, so we are used to cold. It will be a family of 4 with two children ages 7&11.

Thanks for all the suggestions!!

 

[mygiantrobot]

We're going on the February 6th sailing, and I'm from Long Island -- around this time last year, it was -13º with the wind chill, or something insane. Any water will be warmer than New York!

 

[bumbershoot]

I'll second that. We are from Louisiana, and I always find the water at CC, even in the middle of June, to be a little too cold for my taste.

And what I noticed is that when it's very warm outside, like in summer or October, the water is going to feel colder. Whereas if it's in the 70s in February, the water is going to feel warmer than if it was 90 outside.

But then if the air temperature is too cold it's going to feel awful no matter how warm the water is. The day my Floridian cousins couldn't swim and were on the beach in jeans, my Washingtonian family couldn't swim at the Orlando resort, either.

 

[squirk]

And what I noticed is that when it's very warm outside, like in summer or October, the water is going to feel colder. Whereas if it's in the 70s in February, the water is going to feel warmer than if it was 90 outside.

But then if the air temperature is too cold it's going to feel awful no matter how warm the water is. The day my Floridian cousins couldn't swim and were on the beach in jeans, my Washingtonian family couldn't swim at the Orlando resort, either.

My wife and I grew up in Illinois, but my kids are Louisiana natives. They want us to fire up the fireplace if it dips below 65 degrees. Truth.

 

[Gonzjj]

Where are you from? I think that is a key factor in whether or not you find the ocean warm enough to swim. We typically cruise in February and we swim in the ocean then; we are from northern New England where we've often left behind 6ft snow banks and 25 degree temps. If you are from a warmer clime, you may have a different opinion.

And there are lots of activities at CC without going in the ocean. Check out the excursions offered. And there are bikes, boat rentals, hiking/walking, build sandcastles, sit and relax in the sun...

Enjoy your cruise!

Western NY near Buffalo