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Castaway Cay 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, 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.
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 panhandlers 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.
Reference
- Ward, Douglas ed.. Berlitz ocean cruising & cruise ships. London : Berlitz, 2003.
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