Castaway Cay Cabanas - Is It Worth It?

The opportunity to rent and experience the bliss of a private Cabana at Disney's Castaway Cay is one of the top items on many guests' bucket lists for Disney Cruise Line. These premium beach cabanas are beautifully furnished and step right out to the crystal blue waters of Disney's private island in the Bahamas.

There are three types of Cabanas available to rent on Castaway Cay:

• Family Beach Cabana

• Grand Family Cabana

• Serenity Beach Cabana

There are a total of 27 Cabanas, with 21 being on the Family Beach and 6 located on Serenity Beach. All of the Castaway Cay Cabanas are 325 square feet except the Grand Family Cabana which is twice the size. To rent a cabana on Serenity Beach, everyone in your party must be 18 or older since this is an adult beach. All cabanas accommodate up to 10 Guests except the Grand Cabana which can accommodate up to 16 Guests. Cabana # 1, located on the Family Beach, is handicap accessible. All cabanas are private spaces with indoor and outdoor cushioned seating as well as access to a sectioned-off portion of the beach. Generally, you will find a couch, loungers, a mini fridge, a curtain to serve as a changing area, and towels in each type of cabana.

If you would like to see an example of what a standard Family Cabana looks like, check out this video I have linked below. Cabana # 7 featured here in this video is a great representation of the layout you will find in the remaining cabanas along the Family Beach except for Cabana # 1 and the Grand Family Cabana.

What is included with a Castaway Cay Cabana?

Your cabana is stocked with several amenities that will elevate your experience as well as some perks which add to the value of renting a cabana. These are at no extra cost and included in the price of the cabana.

One of the major benefits of a cabana is the mini fridge located inside the structure. The fridge comes fully stocked with canned sodas and water. Occasionally, I have also found a fruit platter or a plate of wet towelettes in there. This will save you the trouble of walking over to either food service location to access the soda fountains. If the stockpile needs replenishing, ring the call button and inform the Cabana Hosts what you need refills on. Plus, your drinks will stay nice and chilled during those hot Bahamian days. Above the fridge is a small basket with snacks like Lay's Potato Chips and Nature Valley Granola Bars. If your all-shore time is on the earlier side, there may be some time that passes before the lunch spots start serving. Until then, options for food will be scarce so it is a bonus to have a snack or piece of fruit handy if you get hungry early. Adjacent to the fridge, on the wall, is a call button. This can be used to call over the Cabana Hosts for requests such as more towels, replenishing drinks, or any other concerns you might have.

Other amenities include a narrow closet with shelves and a small safe to safely store any valuables. Usually, there is a box of facial tissues placed in the closet as well. Next to the closet is a control panel to control the volume and station of the music being piped into the cabana. You have options ranging from classic vacation songs like "Cheeseburger in Paradise" to the music they use at the Senses Spa. Another bonus is a power outlet if you want to charge your devices or stay connected.

Castaway Cay does not have beach towels anywhere on the island so the crew is stationed right after you disembark the ship to hand you pool towels to use for the day, BUT your Cabana will include a basket of towels so there is no need to grab the towels they offer you once you get off the boat. Plus, if you need more, the Cabana attendants are happy to bring fresh ones. This is one less thing you have to carry and keep track of.

Before you make your way down to the sectioned-off portion of the Family Beach exclusive to Cabana Guests, you will find several amenities for a perfect beach day. On a table in the patio area, there is a basket with sunscreen, both for adults and babies. There is also a set of plastic beach toys in a sand bucket to play with, most of the time they are Disney-themed and adorable. As you step down onto the sand, you will find a private hammock for your use as well as a fresh-water shower with nozzles positioned overhead and foot level to wash off any salt or sand. Down by the water, there are sets of loungers, chairs, and umbrellas stationed in front of each cabana walkway. General beach etiquette is to utilize the space and furniture directly in front of the pathway to your cabana, so each party has their own personal space to play and relax. Sporadically placed along the sectioned-off portion of the beach, are corrals with inner tubes and foam lounge floats to use in the water.

Another perk of having a cabana is complimentary access to both the Snorkel Equipment Rental and the one-hour Bicycle Rental on the island. With your Cabana wristband, you will be able to utilize these activities for free. You can access the Snorkel Equipment rentals at either Gil's Fins and Boats or Flippers & Floats. My suggestion is to grab these for everyone in your party, regardless of whether you will use them or not, before heading to your cabana. Your snorkel gear then can be stored in your cabana until you are ready to use it, or if your little ones want to use it at the private beach, without having to wait in any lines or double back to one of the two locations. Flippers & Floats will be your nearest location to the cabana check-in. As I also mentioned, with your Cabana, you will get a one-hour Bicycle Rental. The check-in for the bikes is conveniently located near the entrance to the Family Cabanas and all you need to do is show the kiosk your bracelet. The "one-hour" rule normally is not enforced but still, plenty of time to ride along the airstrip and explore the 2 bike path options.

How much does a Cabana cost?

Cabana pricing can get pretty expensive, so it is important to decide whether this is something your sailing party will take full advantage of.

As of February 2024, the current pricing for Castaway Cay Cabanas is as follows:

• Family Beach Cabana: $880.00 for up to six (6) guests, an additional $56.00 plus tax per person for up to four (4) more guests.

• Grand Family Cabana: $1,238.00 for up to 10 guests, an additional $56.00 plus tax per person for up to six (6) more guests

• Serenity Bay Cabana: $523.00 for up to six (6) guests, an additional $56.00 plus tax per person for up to two (2) more guests

An additional cost is tipping for your Castaway Cay Concierge Team. These are the folks that prepare the Cabanas for your arrival and assist with anything you might need during your stay such as replenishing the mini fridge. This is the same Concierge staff on the ship so if you are already staying Concierge, you can include your tip at the end for their overall service.

Tip: To make the cost more affordable, consider sharing the Cabana with another family or stateroom. This helps with the overall cost and Disney Cruise Line can help with splitting the costs between staterooms.

How do you book a Cabana?

Now this is where things get tricky. The Cabanas at Castaway Cay are one of the most sought-after pre-booked amenities so chances of snagging a Cabana can be slim. For the majority of sailings, the cabanas are booked out entirely by Concierge Guests, especially for the Disney Wish. If you are Pearl or Platinum Castaway Cay Level, there might be some availability on less crowded sailings.

As a Concierge Guest, you get priority booking access to activities at Castaway Cay including private cabanas. In your 130-day email to Disney Cruise Line Shoreside, simply include what type of cabana (either Family, Grand, or Serenity) you would like to book. In your request, you can also specify which cabana you would want, and Concierge will try their best to honor your preferences, however, not guaranteed. Many Guests prefer Cabanas 1-9 as these have the fullest foliage for privacy, great views of the beach and are closest to Cookies Too for lunch. Shoreside Concierge processes the emails in the order in which they are received once midnight hits, so sending your email right at midnight can increase your chances of getting the specific Cabana you want.

If you are not a Concierge Guest, once your booking window opens up, you can go to the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App or the Disney Cruise Line Website to view availability and book a cabana. Select Port Adventures in the cruise activities menu - then select the day of your itinerary that shows Castaway Cay. As soon as booking opens, make this your top priority before scheduling anything else.

Even miracles take a little time, so do not lose hope, and continue to reach out to your travel agent or Disney Cruise Line to be put on a waiting list. In addition, I would head over to Guest Services on Embarkation Day to check in on availability with them as well. Sometimes cancellations happen and you could get lucky!

Is it worth it?

Many factors go into deciding whether you want to rent a cabana while at Castaway Cay. If this is your first time on the island, I would advise against renting a cabana. There is a reason Disney's Castaway Cay is one of the most looked-forward-to destinations for returning cruisers. As a first-timer, you will want to have the time to explore what the island has to offer from the breathtaking Family Beach with views of the ship to the adult-only Serenity Bay and its tranquil waters. Another reason to stray away from a cabana is if your party plans on having an excursion-based day. Not only are the cabanas on the opposite end of the excursion check-in, but you will not be maximizing your time at the cabana since your excursion will eat up a portion of your day.

If you do have the opportunity to book a cabana, I would highly recommend it for families who spend as much time as possible on the island or would like a home base to relax. Those with children can benefit from having a dedicated space to place their belongings and spread out. Your cabana gives you private access to an exclusive beach without the worry of crowds or leaving your belongings alone. As someone who prefers shade over sun, the cabana also has plenty of configurations between hammocks, loungers, and couches to accommodate one's sun preferences. Everything you might need to have a perfect Castaway Cay Day is at your disposal.