Snorkeling & February Water Temps on Castaway Cay

[Off to Neverland 7]

DBF and I are just about ready to set sail on our first cruise on the Dream in just 16 days. I'm getting a little nervous and overthinking the Castaway Cay package (bike, snorkel, float) for several reasons. I'm concerned about the temperature of the water (I don't do well with the cold) and if I'll even be able to make it out far enough to see the Mickey & Minnie statues (which is one big reason I even want to snorkel.) Also, I'm not a strong swimmer and TBH, the one and only time I've ever gone snorkeling was 3 years ago and the waves was so overwhelming I started hyperventilating.

Does anyone have any experience with the waters at Castaway Cay in early February? Will I be okay? hahah.. Are there any other excursion options to make seeing the Minnie and Mickey statues a reality?

Dancing our way over to our happy place - Jan/Feb PTR 2015

Disneyland Resort 1993-2000 Passholder 2004-2014 Caribbean Beach Resort 07/2001 Paradise Pier Resort 2009, 11/ 2014 Grand Californian 04/2010 Pop Century 09/2012, 09/2013 Disneyland Hong Kong 07/2013 Animal Kingdom Villas & Universal's Cabana Bay 09/2014 Pop Century & Disney Dream 02/2015!! Beach Club Villas 09/2015!!

 

[TexDis]

My nephew and I were planning to snorkel on CC in March. We got about halfway out and turned aground because we were both too cold. I live in Florida though and am very much a wimp when it comes to cold weather and water. I'm sure some will post that they were just fine in Feb. I think it will come down to your own tolerance.

 

[Sir William]

Last March I found the water too cold, as did most adults, though it didn't faze any of the kids. I'll be there this March and plan to try again.

Floatation vests are free, but there is a charge for snorkel, mask, and fins. I bring my own mask and snorkel but rent the fins. I also bring my own vest, though I've used theirs as well.

 

[Sir William]

As an addition, I suggest you take a windbreaker, sweater, or fleece with you. Weather can be cool in the evenings, and on a January cruise it turned unseasonably cold during the day.

CC was so cold the CM were wearing jackets. One said it was the coldest she'd ever seen on CC. I went snorkeling with the rays and had them to myself because the water was so cold. When I began to turn blue, a CM "suggested" I leave the water for awhile.

 

[tigger2002]

I'm concerned about the temperature of the water (I don't do well with the cold) and if I'll even be able to make it out far enough to see the Mickey & Minnie statues (which is one big reason I even want to snorkel.)

After you get in the water you will be fine. It may feel cold after you get OUT of the water. I have found that if it is sunny I do not get cold at all. The water will not be near as cold as the Pacific.

Also, I'm not a strong swimmer and TBH, the one and only time I've ever gone snorkeling was 3 years ago and the waves was so overwhelming I started hyperventilating.

The Mickey and Minnie statues are pretty far out and they are in water that will be over your head. They are at the Family beach. There are other sunken objects and rocks that are in that area also, which attracts a lot of fish. I would suggest that you go to the adult side of the island and practice snorkeling there. The water is only waist deep and you can see a good variety of fish. There is one spot that is pretty far out (you can walk in the water to it) and has a lot of fish.

Does anyone have any experience with the waters at Castaway Cay in early February? Will I be okay?

The water at Castaway Cay on the family side has almost no waves.

Are there any other excursion options to make seeing the Minnie and Mickey statues a reality?

You really just do the snorkeling to see Minnie and Mickey on your own.

 

[mevelandry]

I'm interested in this thread since I booked a cruise with a Castaway Cay day from Feb 26 to March 2 (Or 3???) 2016. How cold exactly? 60-65-70-75-80 degrees?

I must say that I have done the shark reef at Typhoon Lagoon and although most people were saying the water was cold, I was okay with it.

 

[lolainkent]

We were on CC last Feb (the 18th) and had beautiful weather. It was about +28 (celsius, sorry!), but the water was definitely colder than I would have liked. It took my boys and I awhile to swim over to the Pelican Plunge because we had to make our way slowly into the water. Once in, it was fine. And once out, the sun dried us off and warmed us up nice and fast.

 

[ktate82]

We went at the end of Feb last year and the water was too cold for us to snorkel. We waded a bit in the afternoon and while it was still cool, it wasn't as bad. In Sept we snorkeled at the Family beach, and it was quite a swim out there. You do wear life jackets so if you get tired, you can stop and rest. We are going again at the end of this month and have no plans on snorkeling. If it is warm enough, then we might.

 

[Off to Neverland 7]

Thank you for all your feedback! DBF talked me into getting a wet suit to solve the "cold" issue and will use a life vest to make sure I don't drown haha

 

[tigger2002]

You have to use a snorkeling vest if you snorkel in the family beach area. I think that they are free to use.

,

 

[tigger2002]

Water temperatures for 12 months starting in January.


Antigua 77 77 78 79 81 82 83 83 82 81 80 78
Aruba 79 79 79 81 81 82 82 82 83 83 83 81
Bahamas 77 77 78 79 81 81 82 83 82 82 81 78
Barbados 78 78 79 80 81 82 81 82 81 80 79 80
Cozumel 75 76 78 80 82 83 83 83 82 80 78 76
Caymans 77 75 77 80 81 83 82 82 82 82 80 77
Havana 72 72 75 77 79 81 82 82 81 79 76 73
Dom. Republic 77 76 77 78 80 81 82 82 82 81 79 77
Jamaica 76 77 77 78 80 81 82 82 81 80 79 77
San Juan 79 77 78 79 81 82 83 83 83 82 80 78
St. Thomas USVI 78 77 78 79 81 82 83 83 82 81 80 78

 

[Off to Neverland 7]

Water temperatures for 12 months starting in January.


Antigua 77 77 78 79 81 82 83 83 82 81 80 78
Aruba 79 79 79 81 81 82 82 82 83 83 83 81
Bahamas 77 77 78 79 81 81 82 83 82 82 81 78
Barbados 78 78 79 80 81 82 81 82 81 80 79 80
Cozumel 75 76 78 80 82 83 83 83 82 80 78 76
Caymans 77 75 77 80 81 83 82 82 82 82 80 77
Havana 72 72 75 77 79 81 82 82 81 79 76 73
Dom. Republic 77 76 77 78 80 81 82 82 82 81 79 77
Jamaica 76 77 77 78 80 81 82 82 81 80 79 77
San Juan 79 77 78 79 81 82 83 83 83 82 80 78
St. Thomas USVI 78 77 78 79 81 82 83 83 82 81 80 78

This is great! Super helpful Thank you!!

 

[mevelandry]

Wow, thanks!

Good enough for me to (at least) swim!

 

[Arich01]

Just checked our water temps in April and May here locally (Panama City, FL) and they are the same as February temps in the Caribbean That's usually when I'm not a wimp to swim here... However the spring breakers will be in the water at the end of February-March 63 degree water temp, no thank you!!!!

I'll take warm waters and hot sun any day Glad to see we will have good temps on our Feb 8 cruise!

 

[truck1]

Depending on which way you enter the lagoon minnie is either near or far. If you enter the end closest to the ship she is about 500 feet from the beach near the lifeguard tower that has the ships masts sticking up out of the water. She's under the ball at that location. Mickey isn't too far away. If you look at the lagoon there's white and red balls. Each color is either the beginners or advanced course. Under each ball is something to see. On the far side near the cabanas is an orange ball with a 20 k sub under it.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

It was chilly both our Nassau Atlantis Beach Day and CC day in March 2013. The air/temp was nice but the water was pretty chilly…I'm also a FL resident so my thoughts could be a tad different lol. Still though I got in the water because it was my first cruise!! Going on my 2nd in March and can't wait!!

~Read on your PTR that you are doing a walking tour and Palo brunch on Nassau Day..whats your plan for the walking tour if u don't mind sharing!!

 

[Off to Neverland 7]

It was chilly both our Nassau Atlantis Beach Day and CC day in March 2013. The air/temp was nice but the water was pretty chilly…I'm also a FL resident so my thoughts could be a tad different lol. Still though I got in the water because it was my first cruise!! Going on my 2nd in March and can't wait!!

~Read on your PTR that you are doing a walking tour and Palo brunch on Nassau Day..whats your plan for the walking tour if u don't mind sharing!!

I usually run cold so I totally believe you when you say the water will be chilly. Thank you for reading my PTR! We don't really have a plan other than to look for a Starbucks to get the "you are here" mug and just see what there is to see. I'm a little hesitant to walk around after reading other's experiences of seller's every few steps at Nassau. I'm hoping we don't walk around for too long so we can continue to enjoy the ship amenities