Disney Cruise Line private island showdown: Castaw...

Greatest seaside

That is the place I provide the good or dangerous information about this comparability of Disney’s two island locations. A lot of which one is “higher” is subjective, even while you break it into classes. So, I provides you with my take and my causes, however you may come to the alternative conclusion than I did, which is nice, as the entire level helps you identify which one you will take pleasure in essentially the most.

Disney’s Castaway Cay has glorious postcard-worthy seashores, and the household seaside has the additional benefit of being sheltered by a rocky breakwater. This implies the water is often very calm, making it an excellent match for households.

There are lifeguards, free seaside chairs with and with out umbrellas and a few shade beneath mature bushes.

Nonetheless, in order for you a superb seat near the water or with some shade at Castaway, you usually have to both get off the ship fairly early or wait till after lunch when extra households begin to head again to the ship.

In the meantime, at Lookout Cay, that basic recommendation continues to be true in order for you a seat on the principle strip of seaside. Nonetheless, at Lookout Cay, you’ve much more choices.

First, there are further chairs in a secondary part behind a dune, not fairly as near the seaside. However maybe extra importantly to me, when you merely stroll somewhat bit farther down towards the island’s tip, you will discover loads of house that is not crowded, even in the course of the busiest time of the day.

There are chairs you’ll be able to convey right down to that uncrowded part of the seaside, making it a reasonably improbable setup. That is additionally open water within the sense that you’ll get some waves that you aren’t getting when at Castaway. Whether or not or not you want that may seemingly depend upon the ages of your youngsters and their swimming skills, however we cherished it.

Final however not least, Lookout Cay’s pink-hued sand provides an extra-special seaside expertise.

My private choice is the seaside at Lookout Cay. Nonetheless, I am calling it a tie as a result of the water within the household seaside part shouldn’t be as calm as at Castaway Cay, because of the latter’s breakwater rocks. The much less crowded a part of the seaside at Lookout Cay can also be away from the lifeguards, and there aren’t shade-providing bushes on the seaside, so it will not be the very best match for all households.

Winner: Tie relying on preferences

Greatest meals

After all, meals can also be very subjective. Nonetheless, I do have a transparent favourite on this battle of the Disney islands, so this one won’t finish as a tie in my e book.

On Castaway Cay, lunch is included at Cookies and Cookies Too, that are primarily the identical besides they’re positioned at completely different components of the island. On the buffet menu at each, you will discover choices equivalent to ribs, scorching canine, hamburgers, hen, cornbread, corn on the cob, chips, cookies, pulled pork, fruit, potato salad and beans.

I do benefit from the straightforward lunch with crowd-pleasing favorites at Cookies and Cookies Too. The road is structured with a number of buffet stations which might be all the identical, so it often strikes shortly and barely has you ready out within the solar in line for lengthy. To not point out, everybody is ready to discover one thing they like effectively sufficient to fill them up.

However whereas I just like the included meals on Castaway Cay effectively sufficient for a day on the island, I loved what is offered and included at Lookout Cay even higher.

The meals on Castaway offers the vibe of a Fourth of July barbecue picnic, however at Lookout Cay, the island’s True-True BBQ and True-True BBQ Too lean into its tropical location a bit extra with choices equivalent to plantains, ginger-marinated snapper and seafood jambalaya. Regardless of liking the American staples on Castaway as a lot as the subsequent individual, I do know I can get a good variety of these fan favorites on board the ship just about day by day of the cruise, so it is enjoyable to combine it up extra whereas on land.

However don’t be concerned if island-inspired meals feels like your child’s worst nightmare. There are nonetheless cheeseburgers, scorching canine, french fries and macaroni and cheese, amongst different kid-approved classics, on Lookout Cay.

The number of menu choices at Lookout Cay does result in barely longer strains, in my expertise, because the sections of the buffet are completely different. That is nice for selection, but it surely does imply a probably longer wait (typically within the solar) to make your choices. I am going to additionally add that we had a bit extra bother getting a desk for lunch at Lookout Cay than we did on Castaway, so be strategic about getting someplace to sit down or consuming at barely off-peak occasions.

However with a larger number of extra island-inspired selections and what I would additionally describe as a wider choice of tried-and-true child favorites (just like the addition of fries and macaroni … do not choose), the lunchtime trophy from me goes to Lookout Cay.

Winner: Lookout Cay

Greatest for ease of use

Greatest included facilities

Do you want a waterslide into the ocean? What about a big youngsters splash space with waterslides that do not drop you into the ocean? How a few “free” 5K with a medal?

Do your youngsters wish to head to an island youngsters membership (with a shaded splash space) only for them? Do your teenagers need a hideout space the place little youngsters and adults aren’t allowed? What a few nature path?

Nicely, you’re in luck, relying on which of Disney’s island locations you select.

Listed below are some highlights of the included facilities on Disney’s Castaway Cay:

• Pelican Plunge: That is an in-water play construction positioned within the cove. It has two waterslides that shoot you into the water.
• Spring-a-leak: This can be a small, coated splash space for youthful cruisers to play.
• Snorkeling Lagoon: There are some Disney-themed surprises beneath the water right here (snorkeling within the lagoon is free in case you have your individual gear; in any other case, there’s a small price to hire snorkeling gear).
• Castaway Cay 5K: This can be a free, untimed, go-at-your-own-pace route you are able to do whereas on Castaway Cay. You will earn a medal after finishing the course. Professional tip: Do that very first thing within the morning, because it does get scorching later within the day.
• In Da Shade Sport Pavilion: This can be a shaded space with actions equivalent to basketball, foosball, chess and pool.
• Scuttle’s Cove: This can be a drop-off youngsters membership for kids ages 3 to 10 (much like what you will discover on the ships).
• Teen Hideout: This hangout space on the island is only for teenagers ages 14 to 17.

Whereas there are some overlapping facilities at Lookout Cay, there are additionally some very differentiated choices. Along with the beforehand talked about pink-hued seaside, beachside chairs and lunch, the principle included facilities to take pleasure in on Disney’s Lookout Cay are:

• Rush Out Gush Out: This huge, colourful interactive water play space has two waterslides, splash and water drums, amongst different options.
• Junkanoo parade: This energetic parade is placed on by the Bahamian individuals who dwell on the island. It often occurs twice per day.
• Sebastian’s Cove: This drop-off youngsters membership for these ages 3 to 10 has a water play space that’s impressed by “The Little Mermaid.”
• Goombay Cultural Middle: The Junkanoo parade ends right here, so it is an excellent place to take pleasure in music and see the characters and headpieces.
• Play-Play Pavilion: That is additionally a shaded place to see Disney characters, plus play video games equivalent to ring toss.
• Nature Path: lf you wish to stretch your legs and study in regards to the indigenous natural world of the island, you’ll be able to stroll the roughly 20- to 25-minute marked nature path (and see the historic lighthouse from 1901).

Winner: Tie relying on preferences

Greatest cabanas

Each of Disney’s island locations have cabanas you can hire on your personal non-public house to benefit from the seaside.

Greatest sense of tradition

OK, let’s be severe. These are each Disney non-public island locations, so we’re speaking tastes or levels of tradition, not depths of genuine tradition. That mentioned, this class nonetheless has a transparent winner.

Castaway Cay is an absolute blast with enjoyable particulars, together with nice seaside outfits donned by Mickey and his friends. You will additionally get a intelligent shipwrecked storyline with a lot of Disney Easter eggs hidden about.

However in relation to any true, genuine tradition outdoors of the one created by Mickey and mates … effectively, this isn’t the island you’re searching for.

Whereas Mickey and Minnie even have some completely different festive outfits on Lookout Cay, they don’t seem to be the one ones dressed for the event.

Residents of the island additionally get into the celebrations on Lookout Cay by placing on the twice-daily Junkanoo celebration.

As an alternative of making a fictional storyline for the island, like Disney did for Castaway Cay, the cruise line made the Bahamian individuals and tradition the celebrities of Lookout Cay’s story. The island leans right into a (barely Disney-fied) model of the place it actually sits. Meaning you do get a dose of tradition that may be loved not solely by way of the parade and the cultural middle, however even within the meals and the outlets.

For instance, whereas you may get official Lookout Cay merch on the island, it’s also possible to buy jewellery, decor, luggage, toys and different gadgets that have been made by island residents.

Winner: Lookout Cay

Greatest for staying within the Disney bubble

Each Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay are non-public Disney locations (regardless that one is not technically a whole non-public island). Each have Disney characters, an included lunch, a number of included facilities and Disney solid members entertaining company at nearly each flip.

So, each islands are fairly solidly within the Disney Bubble in lots of respects. Nonetheless, they are not precisely the identical in how they strategy that have.

On Castaway Cay, you’ll be able to snorkel to get a have a look at underwater Disney statues in a chosen space and e book an exercise on the stingray journey proper on the seaside. And, in fact, we have already coated how straightforward it’s to get off the ship and be nearly instantly within the enjoyable.

On Lookout Cay, you’re really on a bigger, inhabited Bahamian island, so whereas the a part of the island Disney makes use of is only for Disney, you’ll be able to do excursions that get you out of the bubble.

For instance, on Lookout Cay, you can e book the South Eleuthera Eco and Cultural Tour, throughout which you will note issues just like the city of Rock Sound, the Boiling Gap (also called “nature’s scorching tub”) and the Cathedral Cave, with its beautiful rock formations. That feels like a variety of enjoyable in order for you a broader sense of the island, but it surely might not be the very best match for individuals who wish to keep all-in on Mickey and mates throughout their day.

Winner: Castaway Cay

Backside line

When you requested my household in the event that they’d slightly cruise to Disney’s Castaway Cay or Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level, I wager you’d get a cut up vote — although the true reply is de facto both, anytime.

For us, our favourite components of Castaway Cay are its familiarity, ease of use, 5K operating and biking course, extra mature bushes for shade, protected seaside and teenage hideout, the latter of which Lookout Cay notably lacks. Nonetheless, it is very a lot within the Disney bubble, which is usually a good or dangerous factor, relying on what you’re after from that port.

In the meantime, our standout reminiscences from Lookout Cay contain the cool on-land waterslides, the attractive seaside with pink sand, the enjoyable Junkanoo parade and the delectable island-inspired lunch. On the flip aspect, Lookout Cay was actually scorching (even in March) as a result of it did not have a lot pure shade, and, in fact, that trek from the ship to get to the enjoyable was unquestionably longer than on Castaway Cay.

However actually, each are top-notch cruise island locations, and I would pack my luggage in a scorching hurry when you instructed me we had an opportunity to return to both and take consolation in realizing that there is no such thing as a dangerous selection.

Extra tales that can assist you plan your subsequent cruise: