Royal Caribbean has a personal island in The Bahamas that’s not only a actually enjoyable place to spend the day, however I feel a spot lots of people do not realize how a lot there’s to do.
The standard cruise line non-public island expertise is a seaside, a chair, and a BBQ lunch. It is pretty, however a bit ho-hum and never that extraordinary.
Royal Caribbean flipped the script on that have when it upgraded its non-public island, CocoCay, to supply a lot greater than that. Since 2019, the island has been reworked right into a vacationer’s paradise with seashores, swimming pools, adults-only celebration, seaside membership, water park, and extra.
On a current cruise, I took associates that had by no means been they usually have been blown away by how a lot was supplied at Excellent Day at CocoCay. As soon as they found all the alternatives, they thought it was virtually overwhelming the place to go and what to do.
In planning our day, it turned apparent there have been a number of misconceptions a primary time customer had about CocoCay, and I am betting numerous others do too.
You must pay to do have an excellent time
After I began itemizing the issues you could possibly do at Excellent Day at CocoCay, my associates noticed greenback indicators virtually instantly.
Whereas there are certainly additional price choices, Royal Caribbean consists of a lot in your go to at no additional price.
A majority of the island expertise has no admission price, they usually’re not lackluster choices both.
Learn extra: 11 CocoCay secrets and techniques from Royal Caribbean’s workers
Chill Island is a part of the unique seaside that made up CocoCay previous to the island’s revitalization, and it has the basic seaside day expertise. Expansive seaside, mushy sand, and loads of methods to get within the ocean.
South Seashore has a bit extra of a celebration vibe to it than Chill Island does, and you will find a floating bar right here you can swim to.
There are literally two different seashores you’ll be able to go to: Harbor Seashore and Breezy Bay. I desire Harbor Seashore, particularly if in case you have children that are not sturdy swimmers. It is an inlet with calm waters and it is usually much less busy than different seashores, whereas being handy to meals.
The coup de grâce of the included selections is Oasis Lagoon, which is a big freshwater pool proper in the midst of CocoCay.
Oasis Lagoon has no price to enter, and it is my go-to spot every time I go to.
Name me loopy, however I desire swimming pools to seashores, and it is a ravishing place to take pleasure in cooling off within the water.
Talking of Oasis Lagoon, the pool has a swim-up bar and if in case you have a drink package deal from the ship, then you should use it right here too.
One other missed choice for household enjoyable is Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill’s Galleon. Too many households concentrate on the extra-cost water park, however Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill’s Galleon don’t have any price and it has water slides, geysers, and loads of locations for the youngsters to get soaked.
It is a boon for youths underneath the age of seven or 8, and may save dad and mom a lot cash over the water park.
On high of all of it, the umbrellas and seaside chairs are included too, so there is not any price to make use of them. I feel that is a shock contemplating any seaside you go to within the Caribbean can have a price related to that.
The meals is mid
The included meals on Excellent Day at CocoCay is so a lot better than I ever thought a personal island lunch could possibly be.
For years, I despised the meals served on cruise line non-public islands. In actual fact, we used to get off the ship early and swim after which return early to the ship so we may eat an excellent lunch onboard relatively than eat the seaside BBQ choices.
Royal Caribbean’s meals on CocoCay will not be solely higher than that, it is downright actually tasty.
The Snack Shack is my go-to place to deliver somebody who has by no means visited Excellent Day earlier than as a result of their menu is deceivingly good.
The mozzarella sticks alone often wins them over, however the burger, hen sandwich, and funnel cake are all winners too.
I am additionally a giant fan of Chill Grille/Skipper’s Grille due to the fixings bar they provide. Not solely does it have toppings in your burger, however you may make your individual tacos or fajitas and I may eat that day-after-day.
All of the meals is included and you may take pleasure in as a lot of it as you need all through the day.
When you can nonetheless discover scorching canine and hamburgers on CocoCay, it’s miles from the one alternative.
You need to go snorkeling
Not every thing is superb at CocoCay, such because the snorkeling choices.
A whole lot of first time guests are excited to be in The Bahamas and go snorkeling, however CocoCay most likely is not the island to attempt it.
When you can snorkel there and Royal Caribbean presents snorkel gear leases, I feel it is actually not price attempting.
The problem is the underwater life round CocoCay is relatively unremarkable. Sure, there’s marine life to see, however within the grand scheme of snorkeling choices, I feel you are higher off saving the snorkeling for an additional port.
You’ll be able to sleep in and get to the island later
To be clear, you’ll be able to completely sleep in and nonetheless take pleasure in CocoCay later, however I feel it is a mistake.
As a result of there’s two cruise ships in port virtually day-after-day, the island will get crowded because the day progresses. It will not be tremendous crowded that it appears like a theme park, however discovering chairs and umbrellas in handy areas turns into an issue.
It is commonplace for there to be over 10,000 individuals on the island between two cruise ships, so your finest guess is to get off the ship earlier than 10am.
My recommendation is do not sleep in, and get off the ship early so you will get an awesome spot on the seaside or pool.