Cocacay vs Castaway Cay

[Rogillio]

Can anyone compare/contrast Disney's Castaway Cay with RCCL's Cocacay?

We are sailing in the Bahamas next week on RCCL and they too have their own 'private' island.

Any info or tips appreciated.

 

[LeslieG]

It's been a few years since I've been to Coco Cay, but my impression was it wasn't as immaculately landscaped or developed as Castaway Cay. I remember them having a big inflatable slide for an extra charge. We walked quite a ways down the beach, and it was much less crowded, and I remember being able to walk a really long way out in the water and still be in only waist deep water. Of course there's not a dock, so you have to tender in from the ship. All the normal rentals like beach floats and snorkel gear were available.

 

[Rogillio]

It's been a few years since I've been to Coco Cay, but my impression was it wasn't as immaculately landscaped or developed as Castaway Cay. I remember them having a big inflatable slide for an extra charge. We walked quite a ways down the beach, and it was much less crowded, and I remember being able to walk a really long way out in the water and still be in only waist deep water. Of course there's not a dock, so you have to tender in from the ship. All the normal rentals like beach floats and snorkel gear were available.

Didn't know we had to tender to the island. Darn. Thanks for posting.

 

[hanscarlet]

I've never been to CocoCay but if you DVR/TIVO the show Dream Cruises on AWE channel, they show many cruises that feature a stop on Coco Cay, it looks pretty nice based on watching that show

 

[Capt_BJ]

I like the snorkeling better at Coco .....

 

[Rogillio]

I like the snorkeling better at Coco .....

Did you rent the mask, fins and snorkels or did you bring your own? Do you remember how much the rentals are? Just wondering if it is worth the hassle/luggage space to pack our own.

 

[kiford]

Didn't know we had to tender to the island. Darn. Thanks for posting.

I believe that Disney is the only cruise line with a private island who doesn't tender; water around most of the Bahamian cays is quite shallow. The very first year they operated, they did have to tender to Castaway Cay but then they dredged a channel (at great expense no doubt) to ensure that they would no longer have to tender.

 

[aprincessatlast]

It's been a few years since I've been to Coco Cay, but my impression was it wasn't as immaculately landscaped or developed as Castaway Cay. I remember them having a big inflatable slide for an extra charge. We walked quite a ways down the beach, and it was much less crowded, and I remember being able to walk a really long way out in the water and still be in only waist deep water. Of course there's not a dock, so you have to tender in from the ship. All the normal rentals like beach floats and snorkel gear were available.

and these are the attributes that I loved about coco cay. RCCL was my first cruise (like pp it has been a few years) and the next year we went on Disney. I was at first not impressed with Castaway as it felt too manicured. I felt like I was at typhoon lagoon and not in the bahamas. I loved the rustic factor of Coco cay. It is beautiful and very relaxing. The beach barbecue felt like a beach bbq. I felt like I was eating at typhoon tilly's or Lotttawotta lodge at Blizzard beach when at Cookies on Castaway. In time it all grew on me and now Castaway is a favorite, however I still love the idea of the isolated island charm of Coco Cay. Happy travels!

 

[bumbershoot]

Castaway showed me that I am a beach person.

Coco showed me that it wasn't a one-time thing.

Castaway has Mickey and Jack Sparrow. And two big loooooong beaches so you can never forget you're one of 2000 all frantically trying to have a nice time.

Coco has several more private inlets so you don't just look to the side and see every single person you've been bumping into the last 3-7 days. Makes it a lot more pleasant, less of "you're one of the gazillions".

Coco has chickens wandering. LOVE THAT. I love chickens.

Coco feels more like an island and less like a fake beach.

You might not get to Coco. You have to tender; you aren't right up close to the island because there's coral in between the ship and the beach. If the wind is too strong or the water is too choppy (those two go together) now or later, they can't tender. Either because you can't get there or they can't get you back later. Be prepared for not being able to get there. It's disappointing an sad, so if you have part of your brain ready for it, it's easier to deal with.

I love Castaway, and I love Coco MORE.

 

[tz2989]

I believe that Disney is the only cruise line with a private island who doesn't tender; water around most of the Bahamian cays is quite shallow. The very first year they operated, they did have to tender to Castaway Cay but then they dredged a channel (at great expense no doubt) to ensure that they would no longer have to tender.

False. Royal Caribbean does not tender to Labadee (albeit it's not really an island).

 

[kiford]

False. Royal Caribbean does not tender to Labadee (albeit it's not really an island).

I wasn't including that because it isn't a cay/island although it's often considered to be in the same category. It's really just more of a private beach even though you don't have to go through a main port city to get there.

 

[kaseyC]

I believe that Disney is the only cruise line with a private island who doesn't tender; water around most of the Bahamian cays is quite shallow. The very first year they operated, they did have to tender to Castaway Cay but then they dredged a channel (at great expense no doubt) to ensure that they would no longer have to tender.

IIRC, NCL's new island in Belize - Harvest Caye does not require tendering. MSC is developing an island in the Bahamas and their ships will dock instead of tendering.

 

[Capt_BJ]

Did you rent the mask, fins and snorkels or did you bring your own? Do you remember how much the rentals are? Just wondering if it is worth the hassle/luggage space to pack our own.

I bring my own .... since I can drive to PC in 30 minutes luggage space isn't an issue

but I see a ton of folks renting so it must not be too bad ....


*****************
technically not an island but RCL's other "private" loacation LABADEE has a dock .... and there are persistent rumors that a dock is in the works for Coco

 

[soniam]

I haven't been to Coco Cay in a while, but I was just wowed by Castaway Cay. It's very beautiful and well appointed. It feels more like an extension of the ship. Coco Cay didn't feel like that. It was nice, but it couldn't hold a candle to Castaway Cay. I think the services are much better on Castaway Cay too, like childcare, food, and entertainment. Now Labadee on the other hand was very uncomfortable. I don't think I would go back. Knowing how people live in Haiti made me not want to be there. I think understanding how fortunate we are is good, but not to the extant that I wish I weren't on vacation.

 

[mmouse37]

I believe that Disney is the only cruise line with a private island who doesn't tender; water around most of the Bahamian cays is quite shallow. The very first year they operated, they did have to tender to Castaway Cay but then they dredged a channel (at great expense no doubt) to ensure that they would no longer have to tender.

We were on the Maiden voyage of the Magic on July 30, 1998 and I don't remembering tendering at CC. DCL made a big deal of them being the only cruise line that did not have to tender to their private island. They did dredge it deeper later on but don't ever remember us tendering at CC.

MJ