How do you make the most out of your day at Castaway Cay?

[Frwinkley]

Having never been there before, I'm looking for some ideas/suggestions as to how to best enjoy the day.

We will not be getting a cabana.

4 adults. Is it easy enough to get bikes?

We'd like to explore the island as much as possible.

Thank you!

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Bikes are plentiful! I would get off right when you can at 8:30 am, stake out a spot, maybe get a hammock. Then do the bike riding because as the day goes on, it gets HOT. Come back, hit the beach for a bit, Pelican Plunge if you are into that, get lunch, then maybe rent a boat at the boat beach.

 

[darnheather]

Get a chair. Relax. Get a drink. Relax. Swim. Relax. Eat lunch. Relax. Another drink.Relax. Swim. Relax.

 

[dcassetta]

Get a chair. Relax. Get a drink. Relax. Swim. Relax. Eat lunch. Relax. Another drink.Relax. Swim. Relax.

The only thing I would add to this is get off the ship at all ashore, and do not get back on the ship until all aboard.

 

[darnheather]

The only thing I would add to this is get off the ship at all ashore, and do not get back on the ship until all aboard.

Oh and apply sunscreen ever 90 minutes.

 

[egesicki]

Although I haven't done it, yet!, There is also the CC5K. Wholeheartedly agree with getting ashore promptly and staying as long as possible.

 

[Trera]

Bikes are plentiful! I would get off right when you can at 8:30 am, stake out a spot, maybe get a hammock. Then do the bike riding because as the day goes on, it gets HOT. Come back, hit the beach for a bit, Pelican Plunge if you are into that, get lunch, then maybe rent a boat at the boat beach.

Pelican plunge was being renovated when we were there a few weeks ago.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Pelican plunge was being renovated when we were there a few weeks ago.

Definitely open, we were just there on Sunday

 

[Smeece]

Get one of the white chairs and set it on the shore line and sip a cold drink with your feet in the ocean. AHHH..................

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh and apply sunscreen ever 90 minutes.

I was going to mention that it's hard to make it all day if you mess up with the sunscreen. Or, like DS and I did one time, have a bizarre allergic reaction to our sunscreen and have to buy a small and expensive bottle of sunscreen on the island.


I maximize my day by having coffee and fruit early in my stateroom, get off the ship to take part in the 5K, return to the ship to shower and get ready for the day. One time we've stopped to grab a quick breakfast on the way off the ship (DH and DS sleep in a bit). Then we disembark and go with darnheather's idea.

The bike rental doesn't really appeal to me because I've already "explored" the areas where you can go with the bikes during the 5K. I mean, you can't go everywhere on the island. You can go on the blacktop (old airstrip) and into the loop. And that's where the 5K takes you. It hasn't yet appealed to DH and DS because by the time they get off the ship it's hotter and they just want to relax. The airstrip and loop don't appeal to them.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I get off first thing to grab chairs in first row with umbrellas. And wait for rest of family. My husband and kids snorkel while I hang out on beach. He brings his own gear but it is easily rented. You must wear a life vest which are free.

We love the slides at Pelican plunge but you must be able to swim. No life vests allowed. And the water is deep.

I'm not a biker but we have walked around the island. And people seem to really like the 5k run

We have lunch and then usually head back to ship around 2 so we can take advantage of the quiet and the slides.

The banana boat excursion and the parasailing is fun.

 

[Sytrace]

When we go to CC we usually don't leave the ship until about 10:00 AM. We find an umbrella and some chairs (maybe with a hammock nearby) my daughter (14) and I will grab float mats (I personally hate the tubes) and hang out in the water away from the crowds and get some sun. My son (13) and husband will sometimes snorkel and swim a bit before we all gather back at the chairs for some Cookies BBQ lunch. If I booked the Stingray adventure, my son and I do that while my husband and daughter head out to the water to float for awhile. We typically go back on the ship fairly early to enjoy some Aquaduck challenge time and then head back to the cabin when the pool area picks up again.
We have rented the bikes before (I think our first cruise, I booked the Getaway package that had the floats, bikes and snorkel gear for all of us) My daughter does not enjoy snorkeling, so now I get 2 floats and 2 snorkels and we switch back and forth. We did the bikes that first time, which was very nice to ride to the observation tower out there and take photos and just enjoy the scenery, but not since then.
There are always some drinks involved And the Pelican Plunge is lots of fun although it was not open in May when we were there (they were refurbishing it) it is open now.

 

[Love2Cruz]

I usually have an early breakfast and get off the boat as soon as allowed. I grab a good location with shade and close to Cabannas...I enjoy the whole morning at the island swimming and relaxing, repeat....and then head to cabanas at Noon for lunch...then we head back to the ship to enjoy the Aquaduck several times before the crowds come back.
We are going in a few weeks and we will probably do the same thing again.

 

[Love2Cruz]

And, and Pelican Plunge is a MUST!

 

[Weedy]

Serenity Bay is the adults only beach. It's wonderful!! There is also a restaurant for adults only. Both are much quieter than the family beach.
You have to take 2 trams to get there. Or after the 1st tram you can rent the bikes and bike to Serenity Bay

 

[Donna M]

The most memorable time at Serenity Bay with my dh was sitting under the umbrella reading our books with towels over our legs as the rain fell. Everybody, every single person left the beach. A little while later the sun came out and we had the beach and water to ourselves. It was wonderful. We stayed till the very end.

My last cruise with a friend who isn't a beach person was so disappointing because when it rained she wanted to go back to the ship. My dh and I would have waited it out.

On another cruise with friends, it was too cold to swim because of the rain.

Don't cruise when I do if you want sun all day!

When at the bbq, take two chocolate cookies and put some soft serve ice cream between them, yummy, but eat them quickly.

 

[professorandmom]

geocaching is fun - there are two spots on the island...if it is cool enough...I've been on the island in July when drinking cool drinks in the shade is the most effort I can extend...
oh, and remember, the bikes are rented for as long as you wish - island time, they explain...not by the hour

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

I get off first thing to grab chairs in first row with umbrellas. And wait for rest of family. My husband and kids snorkel while I hang out on beach. He brings his own gear but it is easily rented. You must wear a life vest which are free.

We love the slides at Pelican plunge but you must be able to swim. No life vests allowed. And the water is deep.

I'm not a biker but we have walked around the island. And people seem to really like the 5k run

We have lunch and then usually head back to ship around 2 so we can take advantage of the quiet and the slides.

The banana boat excursion and the parasailing is fun.

You can definitely use life vests on Pelican Plunge, in fact, there is a container of them when you enter the line.

 

[tlprice]

We love the slides at Pelican plunge but you must be able to swim. No life vests allowed. And the water is deep.

If you are short, they make you wear life vests for Pelican Plunge. My daughter was very distressed because they didn't actually measure her and made her wear a vest. She got very upset because she knew she was tall enough and is a very good swimmer. She came back to me crying and I helped her make sure they actually measured her and they let her go without a life vest.

 

[85glht]

What everyone said. We do the 5k, head back to the ship to pick up our beach stuff. Then we go back on shore to get our chairs under an umbrella. Serenity Bay is nice but my wife and I prefer the family beach. There is a DJ that plays music.... We get just close enough to hear the music but not too far away.... The happy medium approach if you will. Castaway Cay is alway the highlight of the cruise! I hope you enjoy it!