Table Of Content
No tender is necessary here, even for Oasis-class ships, thanks to upgrades to the pier. There isn’t an adults-only area here, but the extra-charge Coco Beach Club, with an infinity pool and sit-down restaurant, is likely to attract fewer kids than the rest of the island. There was no cap on beverages; my finacée was able to order a Patrón soda for no extra charge. However, all the bartenders I spoke with said that they're still trying to figure out Celebrity's packages since this is Celebrity's first sailing to CocoCay.
CocoCay: 21+ Tips & Things to Know for Royal Caribbean’s Private Island (Prices, What to Do, And More)
Check out our breakdown of some of the best cruise line private islands and see which one is the match for you. Owning or renting your own private island may be a bit of a reach, but luckily there's an easy -- and fun -- solution. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. CocoCay has been a Royal Caribbean private island since the 1980s, but only in the last few years has it really become in demand and is only used by Royal Caribbean cruise ships.
Guide to Visiting Half Moon Cay, Carnival's Private Island in the Bahamas - Travel + Leisure
Guide to Visiting Half Moon Cay, Carnival's Private Island in the Bahamas.
Posted: Thu, 30 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Key Takeaways for Ocean Cay
Check out the private cabana rentals for a bit of extra privacy and service. Princess Cays is a tender port, but the operation runs smoothly for the short ride from and to your ship. While not a stand-alone private island, Princess Cays rests on the southern tip of Eleuthera in the Bahamas, and most cruisers would never realize they’re on a larger strip of land. Owned, as the name suggests, by Princess Cruises, Princess Cays is also a destination for Carnival Cruise Line.
Key Takeaways for Princess Cays
Widely regarded as the best cruise private island in the world, Royal Caribbean’s island underwent a huge $200 million revamp in 2019. This project saw the addition of many Instagram-worthy features including the tallest water slide in North America, the largest freshwater swimming pool in the Caribbean and a 1600-foot-long zip line. A 268 acre island oasis, Great Stirrup Cay is a lush paradise and guests can enjoy its vast beaches, great snorkeling as well as other activities. Seakers Food Court is an open air venue that offers a buffet of BBQ classics with some Bahamian flavors. There are also food trucks "Beach Shacks" throughout the island that serve hot dogs and hamburgers, also complimentary. A lunch buffet is offered onboard to guests who prefer to return to the ship.
With a number of stunning beaches, a waterpark, floating cabanas, a wave pool and Oasis lagoon, guests will find plenty of ways to stay cool. The island has a good selection of cabanas including super luxurious ocean and lagoon villas which are furnished with beds to fully relax. Farther south than most private islands, the weather in Harvest Caye is ideal for cruisers all year long, ranging from the 80s to 90s. January to May are the driest parts of the year; summer and fall tend to be hotter with some rain. There are plenty of bars on the island including the unique Lighthouse Bar which is adjacent to a 100-foot lighthouse. A casual spot, great for drinks and music, including live DJ.
Third Disney Cruise Staffer Arrested for Possession of Underage Images
So whether you want to check email, or post that selfie of you on the island to your Instagram, you can do it from the shore. You do need to connect to a different network, but if you paid for wi-fi for the cruise, you can use it on shore as well. Apart from Seakers, there are multiple food trucks around the island. These spots (called Beach Shacks) are also free, but we’ve noticed some have paid options. With so many of them, you never have to walk far to get a bite to eat. They have a menu of hamburgers, dogs, and pasta salad for those who don’t eat meat.
Half Moon Cay Vs CocoCay
Royal Caribbean's Labadee is a 260-acre private beach resort carved out of Haiti's rolling, densely forested north coast. Norwegian Cruise Line's Great Stirrup Cay -- located in the Bahamas' Berry Island chain, 130 nautical miles due east of Fort Lauderdale -- is a 250-acre island. The cay features dining and bar areas, private beachfront cabanas, a straw market, a kid-friendly Aqua Park and more. The exclusive Silver Cove area offers luxurious villa rentals for the day, giving you access to a private beach and lagoon with overwater swings.
Make sure you know about all your food choices before digging in because you might miss out on a special meal. Your cruise line's private island might be bigger than you think. It can be a long trek on boardwalks or sandy roads to the beach from where you disembarked the ship or tender. Don't make the mistake of walking to the far end of the beach with all your gear when some cruise lines will provide open-air trams to take you where you want to go. On most private islands, beach access, lounge chair and hammock use, a buffet lunch and basic beverages (water, iced tea) are included in your cruise fare. Volleyball and Ping-Pong are often free, as are kid play areas.
Cruise Companies Are Investing in Private Beaches - Business Insider
Cruise Companies Are Investing in Private Beaches.
Posted: Thu, 28 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Cruisers can enjoy eight beaches, a spa, nighttime Junkanoo parades and light shows, a zip line from the picturesque lighthouse, multiple bars, and several dining experiences — including food trucks. The island’s shade canopy is still growing, so be sure to pack your sunscreen when going ashore. Designed with a “castaway” theme, the island features food service, shops, three separate beaches (including an adults-only option), water sports, shore excursions, and even its own 5K race. Guests are able to use their room keys to charge on the island, and Disney even offers onshore child care.
Today, the 2,400-acre island is known as Half Moon Cay and serves as a private retreat for passengers on the line's Caribbean and Panama Canal sailings. Castaway Cay is an ultra-tidy, 1,000-acre splash of sun and sand located in the northern Bahamas. Owned by the Walt Disney Company, the island is used exclusively for Disney passengers -- though alert cinephiles might also remember it as the spot where Tom Hanks finds his mermaid (Daryl Hannah) in "Splash." Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private island in the Bahamas, is also shared by sister cruise line Carnival. The island, named for its two-mile-long curved beach, is about 100 miles (160 km) southeast of Nassau. If a cruise in French Polynesia sounds like paradise, luxury cruise line Paul Gauguin Cruises offers a day at Motu Mahana, their private destination off the coast of Tahaꞌa, Tahiti.
There are plenty of exciting things you can do on the island, including a river tubing adventures through the rainforest and parasailing along the coast. You can also visit a Mayan temple, or take a serene sightseeing tour among the mangrove estuaries to see the native manatees. If you visit Castaway Cay, keep an eye out for Goofy, Olaf and other characters who are known to enjoy a visit to the island too. Children will love the Family Lagoon Beach with shallow water for little ones to splash around. There’s also a 100-foot lighthouse which you can climb for some amazing views. Ocean Cay is a place not just to appreciate nature, but also to enhance your own personal wellbeing, and a range of yoga and fitness classes are available, alongside relaxing spa treatments and massages.
Music is a huge focus at The Beach Club at Bimini, with Grammy-Award-winning producer Mark Ronson named as founding DJ. Evening beach bonfires are also on the agenda, thanks to later departure times than most other cruise line private destinations. The private island offers a scenic land-and-sea horseback trail ride, finishing on the beach where you’ll ride right into the sparkling Caribbean Sea. Guests can even hold a wedding or vow-renewal ceremony at Half Moon Cay’s tiny white Bahamian-style church (be sure to book your ceremony with the cruise line well in advance).
