Castaway Snorkeling Questions

[J.R.R.Hook]

My parents went snorkeling on Castaway three years ago, but they don't remember how much it cost per person. Can anyone who has cruised recently tell me how much snorkeling costs per person? How much is it to rent a kayak? Can you snorkel to the submerged submarine from the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride? If you bring your own snorkel gear, can you snorkel for free? Can you kayak out to the submarine? I know this is a lot of questions--thank you in advance for any answers you can give.

 

[joanb]

you can snorkle for free if you bring your oun gear.
i don't know anything about a submarine.

there is a guide lead kayak trip for $60. I don't see that youcan rent and go. Hope this helps.

 

[beanteam]

We brought our own gear and snorkeled for free. We saw people kayaking around, using the pedal bikes (on the water). However, I don't know anything about the ride you mentioned.

 

[Favorite Auntie]

If you don't bring your own snorkel gear it is $25 for a set of gear, fins, snorkel, and mask....

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Can you rent a kayak without going out with a group? My kids (older teens) love to kayak, but I'm not sure they would want to go out with a group. They keep telling us that it would be "so cool to kayak in the ocean!"

 

[lovethatdisney]

There is also a snorkeling excursion now available on CC. Just signed up for our Aug 3 cruise. A couple of hours on a catamaran sailboat with snorkeling. $49 for adults, $29 for children You can find the details on the DCL website.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Um...DH didn't report a sunken submarine and he snorkeled everywhere last Friday. Nor have I ever heard of it.

If your teens are interested in kayaking they may want to consider the wild side excursion on CC. My son did it last week and absolutely loved it! It includes kayaking on the opposite side of the island from the rest of the ship, snorkeling off the family beach and biking. It was $35 and lasted about 4 hours.

Deb

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Originally posted by FantasticDisFamily
If your teens are interested in kayaking they may want to consider the wild side excursion on CC. My son did it last week and absolutely loved it! It includes kayaking on the opposite side of the island from the rest of the ship, snorkeling off the family beach and biking. It was $35 and lasted about 4 hours.

Deb

Wow! Sounds wonderful! I'm sure the younger one would love it (DD16), but I'm sure the older one won't be eligible to participate since she will be 19 at the time of the cruise. I'm sure there will be plenty of other stuff that she will enjoy though.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Perfect for the 16 year old. You're right that the 19 couldn't. There might be another kayaking option though. I'll try to remember to look at my excursion info and let you know. Feel free to PM me if I forget! I'm still unpacking.

Deb

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Originally posted by FantasticDisFamily
I'll try to remember to look at my excursion info and let you know. Feel free to PM me if I forget! I'm still unpacking.

Deb

That would be great! Unfortunately I have no idea how to PM you! LOL! For some reason I just can't figure out how to do a lot of things on the DIS boards!

I'd appreciate any information you can give me on the kayaking though! Thanks!

 

[WDWLVR]

The sunken sub is out there. It is over near the ropes on the far right hand side (as looking out at the water). Some of it is covered in canvas but you can definately tell it is the sub from the old MK ride.

Before you get in the water there is a map that shows where things can be found and numbered bouys to guide your way. In May we found both the Mickey statue, the sub, and a few other surprises.

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by WDWLVR
The sunken sub is out there. It is over near the ropes on the far right hand side (as looking out at the water). Some of it is covered in canvas but you can definately tell it is the sub from the old MK ride.

Before you get in the water there is a map that shows where things can be found and numbered bouys to guide your way. In May we found both the Mickey statue, the sub, and a few other surprises.

So that's where the old 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea sub went that was in the MK at WDW. Several years back, when we went to WDW we were going to take our nephew on the sub, when we got to where is was supposed to be, it was not there. Thanks Mary!!! I'll have to try and remember that for our cruise next month, and see if I can spot the sub.

 

[WDWLVR]

Andy, it is well worth checking out the map and then heading for the things you want to see. I had help as Mark had snorkeled the trail before so he took me to the best places!

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

I just asked hubby and he confirmed he found lots of neat and new surprises but not the sub. And then said, well guess we'll just have to go back. I hope! But not holding my breath that it will be soon.

Anyway, M&M to send a PM (private message) you would just click on the button down in the same area as sending a reply the says PM.

Meanwhile, I'm at home and grabbed my stack o' stuff. According to the excursion info from DCL I see a "boat rental" option. The booklet says:

"Half Hour rental
Children must be at least 5 years of age. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

Half-hour boat rentals are available on Castaway Cay at Boat Beach. (Based on availability only; walk up rental only.) Types of boats include aquacycles, paddleboats, sailboats, and kayaks."

No prices listed in the pamphlet or on the excursion facts sheet.

However, the sheet does list a couple of new excursions that were not in the full brochure. These are

Seahorse Snorkel Adventure
Walking/Kayak Nature Adventure
Glass Bottom Boat Scenic Voyage
Scuba Dive Adventure

The Walking/Kayak Nature Adventure is shown as 2.5-3 hours, meeting at either 9:15 or 12:45 and cost of $60 per person.

Hope that helps. I didn't talk to anyone who did this at CC - maybe someone out there has by now.

Deb

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Great! Sounds like both of the girls will get to kayak. They just love kayaking. We are heading to Disney Hilton Head Island resort for a family reunion on Sunday, and their only request is that we let them kayak while there.

Thanks for the info on sending a PM. I never noticed that little button down there. One of these days I'll have the DIS boards all figured out!

Now if I could just get my oldest daughter's school to give me her schedule for this coming school year, I'll finally be able to book our cruise! I've been calling for over a month trying to get the schedule but they just don't know what it will be yet! UGH!!!

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Hey M&M - something I've discovered about getting information from school. If you call the office they never "know" until the last minute. However, if the girls are in one of the extra curricular activities - sports, band, choir, theater, etc. the teachers who are responsible for those areas know for sure well in advance.

For instance as of earlier this week the high school office still didn't "know" when school started! But we had dates on the 3 major choir events, start of school, Christmas & Spring Break and last day of school from the choir director and football coach MONTHS ago!

Not meaning to highjack the thread - just an insight for those of you trying to schedule cruises and not getting cooperation from the "official" sources.

Deb

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Originally posted by FantasticDisFamily
the teachers who are responsible for those areas know for sure well in advance.

Deb

I know what you mean, Deb. I work for the local school system, and if I ever need to know a date for something, I go to the high school band director...he knows everything. Unfortunately for us, this is not a regular school that my daughter is going to be attending. She is entering a site based Radiology School and they sort of set their own schedule based on when the students will do their "clinicals" (whatever that is). I've been calling for over a month now and still haven't been able to get a single date from them. I told them I was trying to book a cruise, and they just keep telling me to call back. It is such a pain!

 

[MarkRG]

Ok, I'll see if I can clear it up.


From where the ship docks, the bay immediately visible is roped off into 3 segments.

The closest part is where the watesport rentals are, sailcraft, paddletrikes, etc..

The middle part is a dedicated snorkeling lagoon. There is a huge sign at the entry to it showing how the lagoon is laid out. Points of interest are marked off with buoys. Except for the 20,000 Leagues ride vehicle. This is one of a fleet of them they had in the Magic Kingdom, it is sunk right in the middle of the snorkeling area, and is roped off, but you can swim up to it reasonably close.

The third area is the family beach, which has permanent water fun facilities, including a climbing rope thing and volleyball nets.