Welcome to the Williams Family Blog!

Now that you have found us, we invite you to return often for more adventures!


We Came To Play!

We Came To Play!

Opening Magic Kingdom

Opening Magic Kingdom

Monday, January 7, 2013

Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Cay--A Two-Wheeled Way to See the Island

One of our favorite activities to do when visiting Castaway Cay is ride bicycles.  The rental fee is usually $6.00 per hour per person, but we got a great deal by reserving bikes for two days with a cost of $7.50 per person for two hours over the course of two days--a savings of $13.50!  Trust me, an hour is just the right amount of time for a bike ride and this is The Bahamas, so you are on island time.


 Look for the Bike Rentals near Pelican Point, just past the Family Beach.  The tires hanging on the pole will give you a hint that you are nearby.

 Check in at the rental booth.  We had tickets for our reserved bikes, which we showed to the Cast Member.  Since it was a two-day rental, a note was made on the back of the ticket that we had used the first day of our rental and the tickets were handed back to us to use again. . . tomorrow during our next stop at Castaway Cay.  (Note:  Two-day rentals are available for itineraries with two stops at Castaway Cay.  There are no more itineraries with two stops at Castaway Cay or "double dips" as of the writing of this post.)  Adults must sign a waiver and children's names are included in the waiver but without signature.

You are shown a map of the island with the bicycle route featured.  The route includes the air strip, a circular path to the overlook tower, and a long path that runs parallel to Serenity Bay, the adult beach.


Next, pick your bikes and you are ready to go!  Children under 12 are required to wear a helmet and adults can wear a helmet if they like.  Helmets are free and there is a return bin that includes disinfectant.





Bikes of all sizes, including those with baby seats on the back, are available.  We found the bikes to be in good condition, air in the tires, and with adjustable height seats.




There are many signs indicating the Bike Path, so don't worry about getting lost.  The signs and the path were easy to follow.



Once on the path, there is an element of seclusion due to the mangrove trees and vegetation along the path.  We could hear different kinds of birds but didn't see any animals--just the rustling of the bushes.  There are "themed" areas along the path that make for great picture taking opportunities.  Know that joggers and walkers also use the bike path.


A treat in the middle of the circular path is the overlook tower.  It features two stories and you can climb to the top.



We climbed to the top to check out the view.  Ah!  We also brought binoculars in our backpack.  A water station is also located near the overlook tower.  In fact, there were water stations located throughout the bike path.


Next we headed to the long path that is parallel to Serenity Bay and starts out just behind the cabanas.  But if you keep going, the path ends at a tranquil spot overlooking the ocean.  Warning signs are posted about not entering the water.  We did enjoy the view!






We then rode back to the air strip, completed the bike path, and returned our bikes.

 We returned the next morning to do it again!  Bicycle riding on Castaway Cay is one of our favorite activities because it is something our entire family enjoys and can do together.  We got some exercise and were able to do it at our own pace.  It is also a great way to explore the island.





The boy gives bicycle riding on Castaway Cay two thumbs up.  During one of our rides, he noticed the entrance to the sports beach and made a bee-line to check it out shortly after we returned our bikes.

Guests wishing to ride bikes at Castaway Cay can reserve ahead of time using the on-line cruise activities reservation system, reserve on board at the shore excursion desk, or walk-up to the bike rental station and check availability.





No comments:

Post a Comment