Water temp at Castaway Cay currently

[kittylady1972]

Ok so the last time we cruised to Castaway Cay during "winter" it was late November and the water was COLD. We did mid November 2023 and were able to enjoy the water at Serenity Bay for a while.

Just curious with the cold temps across the entire East Coast right now...any recent reviews on the water at Castaway Cay? Our family has booked the Fishing excursion and the wave runners so while I think the fishing people won't care about the water I think us two waver runner people will not want to be on the cold water. I'm tempted to cancel that one. Of course this is the 3rd attempt for my DH to try fishing at CC (the other two times were Oct 2022 and Nov 2023) and both times have been cancelled due to wind.

I am just wondering about our chances for either of these honestly, though we mostly booked this trip to check out the Wish for the first time.

 

[tvguy]

The record low water temperature for the region of Castaway Cay is 72 degrees. My gym keeps the outdoor pool heated to 70 during the Winter. So it certainly is subjective, but for many of us the water at Castaway Cay is never cold.

 

[Genie+]

This site is helpful

https://seatemperature.info/castaway-cay-water-temperature.html

 

[cvjw]

We were there last month and the water was cold. And it was super windy. Hardly anyone was in the water at serenity bay.

 

[katellynne]

It depends on the weather the day you are there! Hah, helpful I know. But what I mean is if it's cloudy and windy that 70 degree water is going to feel freezing. I mean it also matters what the weather is like where you are coming from and how cold you feel

But I may be able to help. I was just there on 1/3/25. We had a gorgeous sunny day with just a slight breeze. Picture perfect! It was cool, a front had come through with north winds so the morning was in the mid-high 60's and myself and many wore a light sweatshirt or long sleeve top to be most comfortable. I am extremely cold natured though! I didn't snorkel it was too cold for me, but I am a baby. I DID do the wave runners!! I swear that is one excursion that gets cancelled a LOT, kind of like the fishing! Always due to wind. The water barely got on me and while I felt a little cool driving it was completely tolerable. I just had a long sleeve rash guard on. We rode out past the ship and stopped at a little beach and walked around. It was so fun. There were dolphins and conch shells in the flats. Then we just rode back! I highly recommend it if you are comfortable jet skiing already. I have never driven one in my life, I did it for my 16 year old who was dying to do it. I was scared to death lol and drove a lot slower than the rest of the group. But a guide stayed back with me and it was a great experience.

 

[KDG]

I was just there 1/12/25 and the water was cold. I couldn’t even wade in up to my ankles. But there were people in the water on the family beach. Not nearly as many as usual. Serenity Bay was practically empty of people.

 

[sponica]

It depends on the weather the day you are there! Hah, helpful I know. But what I mean is if it's cloudy and windy that 70 degree water is going to feel freezing. I mean it also matters what the weather is like where you are coming from and how cold you feel

I second this, we went in late February and the water was in the low 70s but the temp was sunny and around 80, maybe a little less than that so the water didn't feel that bad (to me). Although you could tell who all the northerners were, we were IN the water.

I imagine if the air temps were lower or if it was cloudy, the cold water temp would have gotten to me

 

[Joel0917]

We snorkeled Jan 3 and it was cold!!! No breeze so that was good but we were shivering and my head was freezing. My 16 year old was miserable and begged to stop

 

[sjuncfan]

This is so dependent on your tolerance for cold! I was there on January 4, and our kayak/hiking adventure was cancelled due to winds. I was totally comfortable snorkeling though! I don't have a huge tolerance for cold and I thought it would be too chilly for me but it was not bad at all, especially once I was in and used to it. Walking the 5k was totally comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt over my bathing suit. I think the air temperature was probably high 70s/low 80s and the water was mid-70s. I don't remember feeling too cold at all, but the water snorkeling was a little choppier than I've experienced there.

 

[kittylady1972]

Thanks everybody for your answers. Obviously this is subjective, and right now here in Maryland it's in the 20s but will be in the teens or less next week - while I plan on being elsewhere thankfully!

It depends on the weather the day you are there! Hah, helpful I know. But what I mean is if it's cloudy and windy that 70 degree water is going to feel freezing. I mean it also matters what the weather is like where you are coming from and how cold you feel

But I may be able to help. I was just there on 1/3/25. We had a gorgeous sunny day with just a slight breeze. Picture perfect! It was cool, a front had come through with north winds so the morning was in the mid-high 60's and myself and many wore a light sweatshirt or long sleeve top to be most comfortable. I am extremely cold natured though! I didn't snorkel it was too cold for me, but I am a baby. I DID do the wave runners!! I swear that is one excursion that gets cancelled a LOT, kind of like the fishing! Always due to wind. The water barely got on me and while I felt a little cool driving it was completely tolerable. I just had a long sleeve rash guard on. We rode out past the ship and stopped at a little beach and walked around. It was so fun. There were dolphins and conch shells in the flats. Then we just rode back! I highly recommend it if you are comfortable jet skiing already. I have never driven one in my life, I did it for my 16 year old who was dying to do it. I was scared to death lol and drove a lot slower than the rest of the group. But a guide stayed back with me and it was a great experience.

THANK YOU for this. I am really debating cancelling this trip, only doing it mostly because my 22yo daughter wants to do SOMETHING while the guys are fishing --- IF they even go of course. I have a feeling the cold front coming in expected at home in Maryland will probably also affect CC area as well. I guess I'll keep it but you have made me think I will at least pack a long sleeve rash guard which I haven't done yet.

I was just there 1/12/25 and the water was cold. I couldn’t even wade in up to my ankles. But there were people in the water on the family beach. Not nearly as many as usual. Serenity Bay was practically empty of people.

Yeah that is about what I expect, but we do want to go to Serenity Bay since we'll have two adult kids with us and we find the food there is usually better than the family beach. Maybe we'll just head over there for lunchtime though.

I second this, we went in late February and the water was in the low 70s but the temp was sunny and around 80, maybe a little less than that so the water didn't feel that bad (to me). Although you could tell who all the northerners were, we were IN the water.

I imagine if the air temps were lower or if it was cloudy, the cold water temp would have gotten to me

I am more EAST coast than north, but still I HATE the cold. The 20s and teens here in MD right now are NO BUENO!

This is so dependent on your tolerance for cold! I was there on January 4, and our kayak/hiking adventure was cancelled due to winds. I was totally comfortable snorkeling though! I don't have a huge tolerance for cold and I thought it would be too chilly for me but it was not bad at all, especially once I was in and used to it. Walking the 5k was totally comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt over my bathing suit. I think the air temperature was probably high 70s/low 80s and the water was mid-70s. I don't remember feeling too cold at all, but the water snorkeling was a little choppier than I've experienced there.

Interesting. I think the walking and biking may be more in our future.

 

[shb5007]

Was at Castaway last week, the water was pretty cold. Obviously its all subjective and you can "adjust" a bit. This was a "parents only" cruise, so we went out into the water and snorkeled a bit. Being adults, we can comprehend its cold, but we will be okay and can "settle in" a bit. A few konk koolers, doesn't hurt. lol

However, we purposely didn't book a cruise this time of the year (it can be tempting due to price) to bring our kids. They love Castaway and we feel like they would be super disappointed to get there and now want to get in the water (too cold). We just pay a little more and go when the water is warmer.

 

[MamaMermaid]

We were there 12/28 (I think) and didn't even get off the ship... it was cold, gray, and windy. We are Florida natives so big wimps lol.

 

[tvguy]

We were there 12/28 (I think) and didn't even get off the ship... it was cold, gray, and windy. We are Florida natives so big wimps lol.

Yeah, wasn't there a section of ocean in Florida where the water temperature hit 100 degrees? My neighbors on either side have unheated pools and they start using them when the water gets to about 65.

 

[TSR6]

We were there in December - Lookout was cool but tolerable. Castaway was colder, and I spent little time in the water. The kids did the same - were in the water tons at Lookout, barely at Castaway.

I swam with the kids out to the slides - once we got out there, they were too cold (it was windy too) to wait in line, so we swam back, and never used the slides.

We're from Wisconsin, so typically have a better tolerance to cold.