is a
Private Island or "out island" in the
Bahamas which serves as an exclusive
Port Of Call for the
Disney Wonder and her sister ship the
Disney Magic . The island, located at and formerly known as '''Gorda Cay''', is owned entirely by the
Walt Disney Company in contrast to the eight islands leased by other cruise lines for similar purposes. This makes it easy for the company to control all aspects of the "show" put on by the "cast" or employees. The post office even has special Bahamas Disney stamps.
Disney is said to have spent
$ 25,000,000 to develop and outfit the island, topping the $16 million spent by
Holland America on
Half Moon Cay , and the lesser efforts of other companies. As a result Castaway Cay has the most extensive facilities. Sea water is changed into pure water with
Reverse Osmosis water processors.
Like Disney resorts the island follows a theme, that of a
Castaway community with carefully planned buildings made to look as if they had been improvised after a shipwreck. However, all the facilities are spotlessly clean, like the Disney theme parks, and the many shops accept the
Disney Dollar as in the theme parks.
The
Pier and its approaches were constructed specifically for the Disney ships, so that they could dock alongside easily, thus removing the need for tenders to get the passengers ashore.
Like the other private islands there are no hawkers or
Panhandler s and crowd movement is planned in advance for organized beach parties and other events. Again like the other islands, the activities there are a major source of revenue for the cruise company since most rentals, such as
Personal Water Craft , are not included in the price of the cruise.
Castaway Cay, like most Disney resorts has extensive crew only facilities, with private beaches and recreational areas. ''Crew Beach'' is a favorite location for cruise ship and cast employees to relax and be themselves away from the tourists during their precious few moments off. Each department takes turns hosting a lunch barbeque for the other Crew Members on the ''Crew Beach''
Disney maintains a staff of custodians, boat captains, drivers, landscapers and maintenance personnel who live on the island. They are complimented by members of the Disney Wonder or Disney Magic crew to serve the islands guests when the ship is in port. Food and other supplies are brought in by the ships themselves both with food and other supplies. Each ship connects to a fiber optic link at the dock to provide data services to the island and allow guests to charge souveniers, equipment rentals, massages or other purchases back to their cabins.
- Ward, Douglas ed.. ''Berlitz ocean cruising & cruise ships''. London : Berlitz, 2003.
- Castaway Cay Disney Cruise Lines jobs
- [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=26%C2%B05%27N+77%C2%B032%27W&ll=26.083305,-77.53335&spn=0.045637,0.080595&t=h satellite image (Google Maps)]
