Disney Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay is a private island in the Bahamas that serves as an exclusive port for Disney Cruise Line ships. Located near Great Abaco Island, it was formerly known as Gorda Cay. In 1997, The Walt Disney Company purchased a 99-year land lease through 2096 from the Bahamian government, marking the start of a transformation from an island with a colourful past into a carefully managed resort destination.

The island's development was substantial. Disney spent 25 million dollars over 18 months of construction, including dredging 50,000 truckloads of sand from the Atlantic Ocean. Castaway Cay was the first private island in the cruise industry where the ship docks on the island, eliminating the need for guests to be tendered to land. A 1,700 foot channel and pier were constructed to allow Disney ships to dock directly alongside the island.

The entire island is designed and maintained as an extension of a Disney theme park. The isle is developed in the theme of a castaway community, with buildings made to look as if they have been improvised after a shipwreck. The island is still largely undeveloped, with only 55 of the 1,000 acres being used, preserving much of its natural character.

Castaway Cay offers guests a variety of beaches and activities. There are three beaches for passengers: one for Cabana guests, one for families, and Serenity Bay exclusively for adults. Activities include personal watercraft rental, bicycle hire, massages overlooking the ocean, parasailing, snorkeling, volleyball and basketball, plus monkey bars and a rope for children to climb across set around 98 feet in the ocean on one beach and a slide around 82 feet into the ocean on another.

The island operates with distinctive touches. A post office features special Bahamian postage specific to Disney Cruise Line and issues an officially recognized Castaway Cay postmark. All facilities are maintained like a Walt Disney park, and all shops accept passengers' cabin keys for payment. Castaway Cay is the only Disney Cruise Line port where you step directly from your ship onto the island, making it a singular part of any Disney cruise itinerary.