(This is part of a series about cruising on the Disney Magic. Click here if you want to go back to the start of the tour).
Welcome back to our tour of the Disney Cruise Line's exclusive island retreat - Castaway Cay:
Just past Boat Beach is the "heart" of the island, which features some light shopping, picnic facilities (our lunch is served on land while the ship is docked), restrooms, and the family beach area:
The buildings on the island feature a rustic style that captures the feel of a quaint island community mixed with a "castaway style" that incorporates objects that might have washed ashore from a shipwreck.
Adjacent to this area is the ever-popular Family beach:
Mix this with the Bahamian sun and the sound of the ocean and you have a destination where kicking back and "getting away from it all" couldn't be simpler.
Just like on board the ship, the Disney Cruise Line provides three classes of facilities: Kids-Only, Family, and Adults-only. For our next stop, we'll spend time at the Adults-only area - the aptly named "Serenity Bay."
(This is part of a series about cruising on the Disney Magic. Click here if you want to go back to the start of the tour).
After a brief tram ride, we continue our tour of Castway Cay at Boat Beach:
As one might expect, Boat Beach provides a wide array of small watercraft for our amusement.
We took advantage of both the Hobiecats and the pedal boats. Both are a good experience, and provide excellent views of the island, the Flying Dutchman, and your cruise ship.
Next time we'll come back to the island to do some light shopping and take a peek at the family beach area. For now, I'll leave you to enjoy the view from your boat:
(This is part of a series about cruising on the Disney Magic. Click here if you want to go back to the start of the tour).
Last time, the Disney Magic had arrived at Castaway Cay:
Like many of the Disney Cruise Line's ports of call, the ship docks directly at the island. Once docked, guests are free to come and go between the island and the ship at their leisure.
The guest experience at Castaway Cay is designed to make you think of the island as an extension of your cruise ship. For example, food (and non-alcoholic beverages) in the island are provided as part of your cruise package.
I'm excited that Disney has recently announced expansion plans for Castaway Cay. These images and remarks are based on my visit there during November of 2008.
Guests step ashore at the Arrival Plaza:
Which is a short stroll from the Post Office...
..."Marge's Barges Charter Dock"...
...and a fun Photo Op:
This area provides some of the best views of the Flying Dutchman prop ship from Pirates of the Caribbean:
But the heart of this island paradise is a short stroll or tram ride away. We'll stop at the tram station and wait for the next one to arrive:
Next stop -- Boat Beach.
See you then.
