Serenity Bay Is Now Less Serene...

[jdb in AZ]

Well, it is the ocean, and there have been nurse sharks and the occasional barracuda there since 1999 without real incident. They never bother anyone; in fact, the marine biologists who work with the sting rays have named the sharks and barracuda over the years. It was clear that the lifeguards' primary role was to enforce the no swim and no snorkel ban, not to keep the marine life away. Knowing PETA, chasing away sharks and jellyfish with jet skis would likely violate some kind of regulation or policy, resulting in a lawsuit against DCL!

Since Castaway Cay is in the Bahamas, does PETA have any jurisdiction there?

 

[phinz]

Since Castaway Cay is in the Bahamas, does PETA have any jurisdiction there?

PETA doesn't have any "jurisdiction" anywhere, but they are an international group.

 

[Belle1997]

Did the Fantasy 31 cruise. I would say Disney has made the world's largest wading pool for adults at Serenity Bay. Makes us laugh just to think about it. People out 200 feet still standing with water up to their waists. Yup sat on the sand and watch a few hundred people just standing around. Looked pretty funny. They have put markers on how far you can go, however the nice reef wear you can see lots of fish is about 20 yards part the makers. Which is sad. Why they would not move the markers so you can see this area. They make you use a vest if you have snorkel stuff. Not sure why since you can not get any deep that waist deep water. Someone asked where the deep water was it is at the family side.

 

[hubbard53]

I visited SB for the fist time last week - I thought it was weird, well, at least if you like to be in water. Soooo shallow and contained. We did see several jet skis racing to adults out past the bouys in water 6 inches deeper than inside the bouys

SB is perfect for toddlers!

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

I visited SB for the fist time last week - I thought it was weird, well, at least if you like to be in water. Soooo shallow and contained. We did see several jet skis racing to adults out past the bouys in water 6 inches deeper than inside the bouys

SB is perfect for toddlers!

Told DH about this last night and we will keep our Cabana for our Feb. cruise but stay aboard ship for the one in May. He likes to snorkel/dive and has always gone way out on SB to deeper water. He is not happy.

 

[Flossbolna]

I just wish someone would post a picture of where those bouys are!

 

[hubbard53]

we snorkeled in the "regular" family beach area with our son. When he went to kid's club, we made the trek to SB with our gear but just left if on a chair. We would have looked ridiculous walking around in 20 inches of water in full snorkel gear

However, the water was so beautifully shallow and clear that we could see the abundant sea life without gear/masks.

 

[chirurgeon]

We walked out to the buoys last week. It was low tide when we did it. A friend had walked or earlier in the day and it had been much deeper at that point. I can't say how far out it was. Im no good at judging the distance. We spent most of out time crouched or sitting in the water because it was so hot. We just talked and laughed with each other.

 

[mmmears]

All of this is making me rethink our CC day. This is the first time DD will be old enough to go to SB, and we were planning to spend the day there instead of the family beach. Now I'm not sure she or DH will be happy there. I know that if we go there first and hang out and then go to the FB it will be very crowded there and hard to find a nice place (since it would be later in the day). Hoping more reports will help us figure out what to do. I'm sad that they won't let people swim on the adult beach.

 

[hubbard53]

I dont know all the various beaches but the first beach you encounter off the boat is very busy. However, whatever the beach is in the middle - before you get to SB - is much less crowded. If I were you, go visit SB - maybe eat lunch there. And then if it's shallow and weird, go back to the middle area.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

I dont know all the various beaches but the first beach you encounter off the boat is very busy. However, whatever the beach is in the middle - before you get to SB - is much less crowded. If I were you, go visit SB - maybe eat lunch there. And then if it's shallow and weird, go back to the middle area.

I thought the "middle beach" is now the teen beach.

 

[hubbard53]

I thought the "middle beach" is now the teen beach.

dunno. It was less crowded and I didnt smell Axe body spray so if it was, it wasnt obvious.

 

[kollerbear]

I'm really sad about this, too. My husband and I went on our honeymoon in June and we loved swimming out to the sandbar. Snorkeling to see the fish and other awesome sea creatures out by the sunken engine was the highlight of our entire trip and we talked about it to so many people. So much of the cruise experience was very loud and commercial-feeling to us--the sailing away parties, pirate night, etc.. Serenity Bay was so peaceful--it was easy to feel like you were swimming away on a little peaceful adventure. It was exactly our speed--it felt like Disney magic.

This is really a big disappointment. Returning to SB is one of the reasons I was looking forward to sailing with Disney again and this actually really might make it a lot easier for me to book a cheaper trip on Royal Caribbean. They really do keep chipping away at the experiences that people have enjoyed in the past. The thing that is tough with cruises is that it's a limited environment and everyone makes their habits and routines that are enjoyable to them. Adjusting policies is well within their right, but it really does affect how many people (who are not necessarily their core demographic, but who find their niche) will enjoy their vacation. I hope that they take visitor feedback into account, but so far it doesn't seem like that's really something that they do very much.

 

[anricat]

I dont know all the various beaches but the first beach you encounter off the boat is very busy. However, whatever the beach is in the middle - before you get to SB - is much less crowded. If I were you, go visit SB - maybe eat lunch there. And then if it's shallow and weird, go back to the middle area.

If you're talking about the tram stops (Scuttles Cove and Pelican Point) as being the various beaches (a separate tram from Pelican to SB is needed) then I can say that this was the case on our Dream cruise in June however it was NOT the case two weeks ago for us off the Magic. Hardly anyone got off at Scuttles. I think word is out about the fun to be had at Pelican Point.

 

[karmacats]

we were on SB a couple of weeks ago and the water was definitely deep enough to swim. I am 5'7" and it was over my head. obviously where you enter is shallow, then we hit a deep part where we had to swim for a bit, and then hit the sandbar a little before the buoys, which we walked on to the buoy area. near the buoys were tons of fish who came to say hi, and we could see a ray right past the buoys. the water there was still about waist-high - it would have been fine for snorkeling.

i'm guessing it depends on time of day, tides, etc. we were there late morning to early afternoon on halloween.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

It definitely depends on the time and day. We were there in May and it was pretty deep where we actually had to swim further out. Then in July we were lucky to be knee deep.

 

[professorandmom]

It definitely depends on the time and day. We were there in May and it was pretty deep where we actually had to swim further out. Then in July we were lucky to be knee deep.

If you google Tide Chart Castaway Cay you can find the high and low tide times for a particular day...that will tell you whether the water will be deep or shallow during your visit

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Thanks. It really doesn't make a difference either way for us. We love thev"serenity" part of it.

 

[dskib]

Reviving this post. Anybody know how it is now?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Reviving this post. Anybody know how it is now?

How what is now?