Private Island Smackdown: RCL or DCL?

Coco Cay versus Castaway Cay

I have been to most of the popular cruise lines private islands. I have been to NCL’s private island, I have been to MSC’s private island, I have been to Royal Caribbean’s private island, I have been to Virgin’s “private” island, and now I have been to both private islands of Disney Cruise Line. After different trips to each, I have had two stand out as the very best. Royal Caribbean’s Coco Kay and Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay.

I have been to Coco Kay five or six times in the last few years, I have spent a day at the pool there, I have spent a day at the beaches included, and I have paid extra to spend the day at the adult only elevated private beach experience. The only thing I have not done is paid for the water park or paid for an on-water cabana. This is the island that I have the most experience with and it is an island that I could navigate perfectly. Due to the mega ships a part of Royal Caribbean they have to have options for everyone. This is one big knock I will give Coco Kay—it is always busy. The only time I have been able to get a chair in the front row was when I went on the Independence of the Seas. It was our ship, and a half capacity Wonder of the Seas on a media preview voyage. When I went on my three Utopia cruises, this was packed. The food is also mediocre but that is typical of private islands. They do have some fun items in the snack shack like funnel cakes, and mozzarella sticks. For the island, I love that they have a water park and a hot air balloon that goes up periodically. It just really drives home the point that this cruise line is all about fun. The huge pool in the middle of the island with a swim up bar is another highlight. The different types of beaches is a fun addition to this island, you can go into a smaller beach that has views of the cruise ship in a more controlled environment, or you can go to the larger beach that travels on the outside of the island, this is also where the water front cabanas are located and the most seating. Another beach is behind a paywall and includes a private experience on a private island that includes its own pool with a swim up bar, own food, and own private beach. The pricing of this can fluctuate during the run up to your departure date so keep an eye out on any discounts if you do want to enjoy this private experience. Overall, it is a strong island with plenty of things to do. If you want fun in the sun, you got that, if you want some bars, you got that, if you want to enjoy the ocean in a more controlled environment, they got that. They also have a splash pad as soon as you walk in, so the little ones don’t have to walk as far.

Castaway Cay is private island for Disney Cruise Line, and I have now been to it three times. Once when I was younger, and twice this year. I have some great memories of Castaway Cay when I went for my first time. They had a full version of the Flying Dutchman from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, they had a fun water play area, and they had some fun snorkel Easter eggs like a Prince Eric statue. They have since added some more items and it is fun to go around to look at all of the different statues. The adult beach that I get to see now, is very nice. It is much more peaceful than any other cruise line’s adult area, and much emptier which I am a huge fan of. They offer characters for the kiddos; they are out and about on the trail leading to the beaches. They also have a biking trail, or a walking trail for a 5K that you can get your very own Castaway Cay 5k medal at the end of it. It is a fun touch, and it was surprisingly a big deal that I never knew about on my first trip there. I am now collecting Disney run medals after my first marathon earlier this year. I love that I have a great view of the cruise ship on the family beach, and I LOVE that this port is a one ship port. It makes the island less busy than the typical two ships at Coco Kay. I went on the Magic this past week and I loved the amount of people on the beaches. It was dead. The food on this island is the typical private island food. Mediocre but gets the job done. I love that I don’t have to get back on the ship to enjoy a meal. The one thing this island is missing is a freshwater pool like Royal Caribbean has. This is a huge hit for the adults, but I can understand that this isn’t the type of crowd they are trying to draw in. The whole ship had four or five bars and the busiest these bars got were for trivia. A swim up bar in a freshwater pool would probably lose money. With the beaches offered, the bike trail, water play areas, this is a very strong private island, but does it beat Coco Cay?

I don’t think it does. I love Castaway Cay, and it has beaten out all other private islands with ease but when I compare it to Coco Cay, I just have a hard time putting it above given my life period right now. Once I have kids maybe it will change, but as of right now I love the options that Coco Kay has. They have more food options, more beach options, and a freshwater pool with a swim-up bar. They also have a water park, private paid adult area, and a hot air balloon. It best represents what the cruise line is. Bigger, more options, and all about FUN. You get to choose your own adventure and due to all the options, I would rather go to Coco Cay over any private island. Give me a few more trips to Castaway Cay and this could change but right now it is Coco Cay.