is the food Castaway Cay free?

[Blanche_Neige]

is it included in the DCL fees?

Drink, food and treats?

 

[acourtwdw]

Sure is but you will have to pay for your "adult" beverages.

 

[sdlong329]

Yes ... just as if you were on the ship. Free soda at Cookies BBQ, as well. Lunch is served from 11:30 till 2PM. Of course, if you were to order soda from a bar tender, they would charge. Same rules for alcohol - pay as you go ... use your Key to the World card - no cash accepted.

There ARE two small Bahamian shoppes on the island. I usually do not take cash. If I see something I want, I can stop back at the ship for cash.

If you want something mailed from Castaway Cay (with Bahamas postmark), bring cash for the Castaway Cay post office - sits about 20 feet from where you debark.

MAKE SURE YOU DO THE PARASAILING, if at all possible. Throw caution to the wind (well, you know what I mean). It's a hoot!

 

[Blanche_Neige]

 

[sdlong329]

The Mahi-Mahi is succulent!

If my memory serves me properly, there are / were (sometimes) a few extra offerings at Serenity Bay (SB). I believe SB had Mahi-Mahi first, which is now served at Cookies. Serenity Bay has had different ice-cream, and a separate kiosk for fresh fruit, which is served separately, around the corner from Cookies.

If you are in for hanging out at a bar ... skip the bar across from Cookies, and head for HEADS UP bar ... in the middle of the water (peninsula) ... about 150' away from the new water island slide currently under construction.

As an aside, they are building extra cabana's for massages, etc. I think I saw about 8-10 under construction.

 

[Pluto 2]

do not buy bottled water at castaway cay. theres a lot of water coolers in a lot of places and its pretty good water. on my first cruise before i knew any better i bought a couple.

 

[sdlong329]

The water on Castaway Cay is the same water you get on the ship at dinner ... reclaimed water from the sea ... through the desalinization system onboard the ship. I agree - it is good water ... and a good tip to pass along.

Newbies may ask - where does the food on Castaway Cay come from? ANSWER: THE SHIP. Everything (including the servers) is offloaded from the ship while in port. The ship even offloads other food & supplies for the cast members who stay on the island.

REMEMBER: Castaway Cay provides delivery service to the ship, for all items purchased from Disney while on Castaway Cay. You do not have to lug your purchases around the island, stow them by your beach chair, or run them back to the ship.

 

[disney1990]

Yes ... just as if you were on the ship. Free soda at Cookies BBQ, as well. Lunch is served from 11:30 till 2PM. Of course, if you were to order soda from a bar tender, they would charge. Same rules for alcohol - pay as you go ... use your Key to the World card - no cash accepted.

There ARE two small Bahamian shoppes on the island. I usually do not take cash. If I see something I want, I can stop back at the ship for cash.
If you want something mailed from Castaway Cay (with Bahamas postmark), bring cash for the Castaway Cay post office - sits about 20 feet from where you debark.

MAKE SURE YOU DO THE PARASAILING, if at all possible. Throw caution to the wind (well, you know what I mean). It's a hoot!

Are you saying that you need cash for these 2 shops? I thought you only needed cash for the Post Office.

 

[sdlong329]

You do not need cash for anything operated by Disney. That being said, there are two small huts, which are operated by local Bahamians from Abaco Island. They sell local Bahamian gifts, artwork, swimsuits, widgets, etc. They are not Disney personnel, and only take cash.

If you want to buy something from SHE SELLS SEASHELLS (a Disney operated facility), which sells Disney themed items, suntan lotion, etc store ... you MUST use your room key, as Disney stores do not take cash. The same is true if you opt to rent any snorkeling equipment ... since they are Disney operated, you MUSt use your room key. Lunch and soft drinks at Cookies or Serenity Bay are operated by Disney, and complimentary. Adult beverages, and anything else at the two Disney bars are not free, and require your room card for charging.

You will surely enjoy Castaway Cay. Many people believe it is the very best part of their cruise. LMK if I need to clarify anything.

 

[BeyondKen]

At Serenity Bay they have all-you-can-eat ribeye steaks for free!

 

[ibouncetoo]

As an aside, they are building extra cabana's for massages, etc. I think I saw about 8-10 under construction.

Actually, these cabanas (at the family beach and Serenity Bay) will be 'for rent'. They will have lounge chairs and a table, an outdoor shower for rinsing off sand...and some other stuff. DCL says there will be different levels of 'service' available at different prices. In one of them, you fly a flag to attract a bar server.

Someone may come along with a link to the details that have slipped out of my brain since I last read about it.

.

 

[EJ'sMom]

Ok, too clarify, I have to pay for soft drinks while on CC when they are free on the ship? Am I understanding this correctly? Why would they charge for that? I understand alcohol, but soft drinks? Couldn't I just bring a big insulated mug that is full off the boat to CC??

 

[mommyoftwinfants]

You only have to pay for soft drinks if you order from the bar.
There is a self serve soda machine which is right in front of cookies - no charge.

 

[Husurdady]

is it included in the DCL fees?

Drink, food and treats?

NO! People with birthdays that fall on the odd number days of the month have to wash the dishes,

 

[sdlong329]

Actually, these cabanas (at the family beach and Serenity Bay) will be 'for rent'. They will have lounge chairs and a table, an outdoor shower for rinsing off sand...and some other stuff. DCL says there will be different levels of 'service' available at different prices. In one of them, you fly a flag to attract a bar server.

Thanks for the clarification. Sounds neat - though not likely for me. If I wanted to be a hob-nob snob, I'd rent a cabana at a roof-top pool in South Beach, Miami. Actually, the cabanas sound like an oxymoron. Top notch service on an island replicating Gilligan's Island? Then again, Disney is bringing more and more signs of life and activity to the island. We'll see what happens next.

Someone once told me they "understood" Disney's agreement with the Bahamian government was that they (Disney) will not provide overnight accomodations for guests on the island. I am not sure if that includes the ship ... as my last back-to-back (two) days at CC ('08 on the Wonder) had up boarding the ship at 5:00ish at the end of day 1 ... only to bring us back to the island the next morning.

 

[jilljill]

Someone once told me they "understood" Disney's agreement with the Bahamian government was that they (Disney) will not provide overnight accomodations for guests on the island. I am not sure if that includes the ship ... as my last back-to-back (two) days at CC ('08 on the Wonder) had up boarding the ship at 5:00ish at the end of day 1 ... only to bring us back to the island the next morning.

I've heard the bugs that come out after dark on CC will eat you alive. Even the CM's that live on the island tend to stay indoors after dark.




Back to the OP's topic, sometimes there are bags of chips sitting in baskets at the bars you can take, there is no charge for them.