serenity bay details

[iambrink]

I have spent some time searching, but still have some questions about serenity bay. As my upcoming cruise is my first without kids, i am thinking it makes sense to spend the Castaway Cay day at Serenity Bay. Having never been there on previous stops, I know nothing about it...although did pass it on a bike ride! Is there a different lunch buffet over there? if yes, is there a different food selection? (I am not overly fond of the barbecue). is there a place to get drinks? is the beach rocky or sandy? any thoughts/suggestions/details would be greatly appreciated.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have spent some time searching, but still have some questions about serenity bay. As my upcoming cruise is my first without kids, i am thinking it makes sense to spend the Castaway Cay day at Serenity Bay. Having never been there on previous stops, I know nothing about it...although did pass it on a bike ride! Is there a different lunch buffet over there? if yes, is there a different food selection? (I am not overly fond of the barbecue). is there a place to get drinks? is the beach rocky or sandy? any thoughts/suggestions/details would be greatly appreciated.

There is a buffet there.


Food selection is similar to the main buffet on the family beach, although, on occasion, they may also have lobster


There is a drink station like the one onboard the ship. Oh, do you mean alcoholic? Yes, there's a bar there


I find the beach there more sandy than the family beach, but there are rocks and shells still.

 

[perditax]

Last month my experience was that there was a line of pebbly/sharp rocks for 3-4 feet as you entered the water, then it got nice and sandy again. Wasn't worth water shoes, just had to step carefully.

 

[professorandmom]

Last month my experience was that there was a line of pebbly/sharp rocks for 3-4 feet as you entered the water, then it got nice and sandy again. Wasn't worth water shoes, just had to step carefully.

This does depends on the tide schedule...

 

[C6PT7]

This does depends on the tide schedule...

And tidal erosion. Since they are all man made beaches, it does require the staff to replenish the sand back up the beach to cover the native "rockyness".

 

[iambrink]

Thanks. the pictures help. thanks princessShmoo! I think it is definitely worth checking out. gotta a few years before my kids will be moved on, so i will take this opportunity to enjoy the adult amenities. I am thinking in December, water and sand may not be an issue, but every year brings different weather! We did the exact same cruise last year and the weather was just OK. I think my kids went in the water, but it was a little chilly; even for NH standards!

 

[Disnut4925]

Serenity Bay is a beautiful place to spend the day. The buffet is similar to the main one, maybe less crowded. Snorkeling off the beach is nice, no net so sometimes big things swim in! The water is shallow compared to the snorkeling at the family beach. Sometimes it can be a little rocky but we've never used water shoes. Overall we just love it there!

 

[over50visits]

If you google "Disney serenity bay" and "serenity bay buffet" and pick the images section, you'll find many (hundreds?) of pictures of the beach, the buffet, the bar, the sand, the underwater life, etc. Probably a quick look at those will tell you a lot more than a few pics or even the great posts some have made here. They make it obvious the "serenity" part of the name is well chosen!

It's also a great starting place for renting bikes (they have them there, no crowd or line) because there are a couple of directions you can go using Serenity Bay as a starting point.

Consider the cabanas there someday. Much easier to reserve than the family beach, each one is reasonably secluded (not all lined up in a row), and they cost a bit less than the family beach units!

 

[MickeyEarrings]

I had the best steak on my seven night cruise at Serenity Bay!

 

[iambrink]

I did do a little searching for info on serenity bay. I tried to get a cabana, but there are none available. I am happy to also know we can start the bike rentals there. We do that every time we go to Castaway Cay and i was thinking it would be a bit of walk to get to the bike rentals! I also noticed as i found more info, that there seemed to be a little more at the buffet. I am not a big lover of hot dogs and hamburgers, so steak would be awesome! i will look forward to that.

 

[goofygirl27]

Can someone explain the tram to get to serenity bay? Can you get on a tram from the stop closest to the ship and ride to serenity bay without changing trams? And how far is the tram stop at serenity bay to the beach? TIA!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Can someone explain the tram to get to serenity bay? Can you get on a tram from the stop closest to the ship and ride to serenity bay without changing trams? And how far is the tram stop at serenity bay to the beach? TIA!

No, the tram stop closest to the ship goes to the two family beach stops. At the second one, you must get off and transfer to the Serenity Bay tram. That tram only travels between the second family beach stop and Serenity Bay.

It's not far, maybe about 100 feet, at the most. Red star shows where the tram stops

 

[chimo2u]

I've currently got #5 booked on the Family Beach for my cruise in 3 weeks. Someone in my cruise group wants to switch for SB #25.... I was considering it as it is just my DH and myself. However I picked the family beach for several reasons - private beach area, view of the ship, and the more protected waters with the swim net surrounding the family beach. The only thing that interests me at SB is the adult bbq!
Those who've experienced both beaches, which is better? Can adults use the SB bbq if they are on the family beach side?
I don't know if I should consider the offer to switch or if I should just stay put with what we have!
Oh, another plus of the SB cabanas are the cheaper price....
Hard decisions!

 

[over50visits]

Can someone explain the tram to get to serenity bay? Can you get on a tram from the stop closest to the ship and ride to serenity bay without changing trams? And how far is the tram stop at serenity bay to the beach? TIA!

You can't ride the tram nonstop from the ship to SB. From the ship, the tram makes 2 stops, and you stay on until the 2nd/last stop. Then, that tram returns to the ship, so you have to get off and catch the Serenity Bay tram (it stops right there where the ship tram stopped). Easy, obvious, you can't go wrong.

The tram ride to SB is about 3-4 minutes, down an old abandoned runway. Kind of surreal, imagining what it was like once upon a time when planes landed there. Anyway, the only stop is when you get to SG, and the stop is right there next to everything. The food is a right there, the bathrooms/bike/rental/bar are just a few feet, and the beach is right there also. As are the cabanas. The tram stops right in the middle of everything, and you can literally see it all from the tram stop since it is so close.

If you're a walker, the walk from the final ship tram stop to serenity bay is a nice one, and there will be plenty of other walkers, bikers, and joggers along the way.The first part isn't on the tram road, you'll go past the bike rental for FB, but you quickly join up with the tram path on the runway. Not a short walk at all, but something we enjoy doing as we like pleasure hikes. If you're carrying too much, though, you'll want to ride the tram, as almost everyone does.

 

[over50visits]

I've currently got #5 booked on the Family Beach for my cruise in 3 weeks. Someone in my cruise group wants to switch for SB #25.... I was considering it as it is just my DH and myself. However I picked the family beach for several reasons - private beach area, view of the ship, and the more protected waters with the swim net surrounding the family beach. The only thing that interests me at SB is the adult bbq!
Those who've experienced both beaches, which is better? Can adults use the SB bbq if they are on the family beach side?
I don't know if I should consider the offer to switch or if I should just stay put with what we have!
Oh, another plus of the SB cabanas are the cheaper price....
Hard decisions!

As for the BBQ, of course you can use it as an adult, but it isn't close to the FB. It's a healthy (but fun) walk or a tram ride. Your advantages of the FB cabanas are right on, with the private beach, closeness to a lot more activities, and a beautiful view of the ship. SB is cheaper, the beach though for everyone is not crowded at all, you are close to the SB bbq area with the better food and shorter lines, and the environment is much quieter (it is an adult beach).

I think you'd be happy with either one for different reasons.

 

[DisneyNDecember]

Where do you get towels on SB? Do they already have them laying on the chairs for you on the beach? This is our first cruise & you guys have really helped me, especially with the info on the tram..... I never even thought to ask that question. We will be enjoying the SB side, no kiddos.

 

[tinkerone]

Where do you get towels on SB? Do they already have them laying on the chairs for you on the beach? This is our first cruise & you guys have really helped me, especially with the info on the tram..... I never even thought to ask that question. We will be enjoying the SB side, no kiddos.

you pick up towels on your way off the ship. there will be a cm handing them out. you can take what you need. they are not on the chairs on the beach.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Where do you get towels on SB? Do they already have them laying on the chairs for you on the beach? This is our first cruise & you guys have really helped me, especially with the info on the tram..... I never even thought to ask that question. We will be enjoying the SB side, no kiddos.

You get towels as you exit the ship. We usually take at least two each.

 

[Pegasus928]

If you have a cabana are there towels in there already - or do you need to grab a couple on the way?

 

[DisneyNDecember]

You get towels as you exit the ship. We usually take at least two each.
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Thank you !!!!