Royal Caribbean’s Excellent Day at CocoCay has formally been topped the Greatest Cruise Line Personal Island of 2024 – marking the fourth time in a row the personal island vacation spot has gained the distinction.
CocoCay, which is a part of the Berry Islands within the middle of the Bahamas archipelago, beat out 9 different personal islands – together with model new locations like Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level, Bahamas, which simply opened this previous summer time.
Voting opened in mid-October and closed on December 22, 2024 – throughout which era hundreds of Cruise Hive readers positioned their votes.
Royal Caribbean’s personal island finally cinched the lead by incomes 32.58% of the votes – with second place (Half Moon Cay, Bahamas) greater than 10 factors behind at 19.21%.
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas – which has lately been renamed as RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay – is used solely by Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line.
To mirror its new identify, the unique vacation spot will probably be getting some main upgrades within the subsequent couple of years, together with an expanded seaside space, extra eating and beverage choices, and a brand new pier – and would possibly even give CocoCay a run for its cash as soon as accomplished.
Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, which is owned and operated by Carnival Cruise Line, landed in third place with 15.44% of the vote.
The personal 30-acre retreat is positioned at Maimón within the province of Puerto Plata. It’s divided into two areas with various kinds of eating, purchasing, rest, and water-filled experiences in every: the waterfront Welcome Heart Market and the Aqua Zone.
The remainder of the personal islands earned 7.34% or much less of the vote – and none stood out fairly as positively as Royal Caribbean’s Excellent Day at CocoCay.
What Makes CocoCay the Greatest?
Excellent Day at CocoCay has gained within the Cruise Hive awards yr after yr towards some steep competitors – indicating that this island should provide one thing additional particular.
Certainly, Royal Caribbean has labored arduous to keep up and enhance its unique piece of paradise – with the cruise line investing $250 million to rework the personal island in 2019.
Whereas this was already a large funding and enterprise, the cruise line has continued to work to enhance the expertise on the island – reminiscent of with the opening of the Coco Seashore Membership in 2021, which encompasses a clubhouse restaurant, luxurious lounging, a bar, and an infinity pool.
Much more lately in January of 2024, Royal Caribbean opened Hideaway Seashore – which is the primary adults-only retreat on the island.
The brand new addition permits visitors 18+ to get pleasure from pristine seashores, swimming pools, cabanas, and extra with out little ones round – and even encompasses a part known as The Hideout, which incorporates 10 rentable cabanas with an unique plunge pool and in-water loungers.
The 125-acre vacation spot can be house to a number of record-breaking experiences for the entire household to get pleasure from – together with however not restricted to Daredevil’s Peak, the tallest waterslide in North America; Oasis Lagoon, the biggest freshwater pool within the Bahamas; and the largest wave pool within the Caribbean.
Learn Additionally: What Are All of the Cruise Line Personal Islands and Locations?
The Miami-based cruise line can be within the strategy of increasing the Excellent Day expertise to elsewhere within the Caribbean – and will definitely be placing every part the model has realized from working and enhancing CocoCay to good use.
The primary “Excellent Day” expertise will probably be delivered to the western finish of Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas. The brand new 17-acre vacation spot, which has been named Royal Seashore Membership Paradise Island, is presently below building and is anticipated to open subsequent yr (2025).
In 2027, Royal Caribbean can be planning to open “Excellent Day Mexico” on the sunny shores of Costa Maya.
