The Bahamas · Cruise port guide
Disney Castaway Cay, Gorda Cay
Disney’s private island in the Abacos — the only major private island where ships dock rather than tender, with a separate adults-only beach.
Port basics
Getting ashore
Ships dock
Berth to town
There is no town. The beaches are a few minutes from the ship by tram or on foot.
Time in port
Typically 8–10 hours
Cruise season
Calls year-round
Currency
Purchases run on the onboard account; no cash needed
Language
English
Time zone
Eastern Time (UTC−5, UTC−4 in summer)
Nearest airport
Marsh Harbour, Abaco (MHH) — About 40 km northeast — not reachable on a port call
These are the patterns Castaway Cay normally operates on. Berth assignments, tender arrangements and time in port vary by ship, line and day, and we confirm the specifics for your sailing once we know the dates.
About Castaway Cay
Castaway Cay is Gorda Cay in the Abaco chain, bought by Disney in 1997. Disney dredged a deep-water channel so ships could berth alongside, and that decision still separates it from almost every other private island in the Bahamas: there is no tender operation, so a group is ashore in minutes rather than hours.
The island is laid out to keep different parts of a family apart when they want to be. Family Beach has a supervised water play area and the children’s activities; Serenity Bay, a separate beach at the far end of the island, is adults-only and reached by tram. Both are included in the fare.
Lunch at Cookie’s BBQ is complimentary, as are bicycles on some sailings, the snorkel lagoon and the beaches. Cabanas, floats and some excursions cost extra and book out well in advance of the sailing date.
Castaway Cay is only reachable on Disney Cruise Line sailings, which is the practical constraint. Groups drawn to it should treat it as a reason to choose the line rather than something to add to an existing itinerary.
Going ashore in Castaway Cay
Within reach on foot
- Family Beach, with a supervised children’s water play area
- Serenity Bay, an adults-only beach at the far end of the island
- Pelican Plunge, a floating water platform offshore
- Complimentary barbecue lunch at Cookie’s BBQ
What the port is known for
- Snorkelling the marked lagoon trail, with a sunken submarine prop
- Bicycle rental along the island’s paved paths
- Stingray encounters at the island’s lagoon
- Cabana rentals on both Family Beach and Serenity Bay
How ships berth here
Disney dredged a channel and built a pier, so ships berth alongside. Passengers walk off and take a tram or a short walk to the beaches, with no tender queue at either end of the day.
Access and mobility
Docked rather than tendered, with trams, paved paths and beach wheelchairs — the most accessible private island in the Bahamas. Serenity Bay is the furthest point and the tram covers it.
Weather and when ships call
Warm year-round, 22–27°C in winter and 28–32°C in summer. There is more natural vegetation and shade here than on most private islands.
Cruise season
Calls year-round
Typical itinerary length
Castaway Cay usually appears on 3–5 nights The Bahamas itineraries. Sails year-round.
Ports often paired with Castaway Cay
Itineraries that call here usually call at these too, so it is worth reading them together when you are comparing weeks.
Nassau
The Bahamian capital and the most-called port in the world, with a rebuilt terminal that opens directly onto the historic town.
CocoCay
Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Berry Islands, with a pier, the Caribbean’s tallest waterslide and a very large freshwater pool.
Great Stirrup Cay
Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island in the Berry Islands — the industry’s first, tender-served, with a quiet beach and a lagoon.
Explore further
The Bahamas cruises
Short sailings from Florida to Nassau, Freeport and the cruise lines’ private islands — the easiest first cruise for a group.
Cruise ports in Bahamas
Every Bahamas port we cover, with seasons, berthing and shore access.
All cruise ports
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Bringing a group to Castaway Cay?
We hold five cabins or more together as a single block, quote it once, and let each household book and pay separately. Tell us roughly when and how many.