Bahamas, Cruise, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

A Postcard Perfect Day at CocoCay: Our Guide to Royal Caribbean’s Private Island – Bahamas

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Although we’ve had the pleasure of visiting Royal Caribbean’s private resort in Labadee, Haiti, this was our very first time visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay, and it was a postcard Perfect Day!

A person wearing a striped swimsuit walks along a sandy beach with palm trees, while a large waterslide structure is visible in the background under a sunny sky.

Previously known as Little Stirrup Cay, CocoCay was originally first leased by Royal Caribbean in 1988 where it became a Bahamian tender port for Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Then, in 2019 after an extensive renovation, Perfect Day at CocoCay reopened making it so much more than just another beach getaway. At CocoCay, you will find a private island paradise packed with fresh-water lagoons, white-sand beaches, swim-up bars, and both family-friendly and adults-only areas, as well as the tallest waterslide in North America.

A staff member pointing at a colorful map of Perfect Day at CocoCay, illustrating the various attractions, dining options, and beach areas on the island.
The friendly faces of Royal Caribbean Team Members were located throughout CocoCay (seriously – they were everywhere!) who were all very eager to say ‘hello,’ welcome us to the Island and answer any questions we might have or provide directions on how to find our way around. There were also oversize maps, such as the one above, located throughout. This was greatly appreciated!
Aerial view of Perfect Day at CocoCay, showcasing pristine beaches, colorful sun loungers, lush greenery, and the vibrant blue waters of the Caribbean, with two cruise ships docked nearby.

We are so excited to have finally checked this award-winning private island off our bucket list, and here are a few highlights:

Harbour Beach

Located just to the left of the main entryway, this area surrounds Harbour Lagoon and is family-friendly with calm shallow waters. This is the closest beach to the pier, and it is the perfect spot for those who aren’t strong swimmers yet, or maybe you’re just looking to get your feet wet. Like the rest of CocoCay, this inlet was not overcrowded.

A smiling individual in a turquoise sweatshirt poses for a selfie with a view of the waterfront and amusement attractions at Perfect Day at CocoCay in the background.

Harbour Beach is conveniently located near the main complimentary buffet, Chill Grill.

South Beach

A complimentary family-friendly option, South Beach is a long stretch of white-sand beach with food & drink options as well as restrooms close by. This seemed to be the spot where everyone was heading.

A hand holding a tropical drink garnished with fruits, with a beach and calm water in the background.
A couple smiles for a selfie on a sandy beach at CocoCay, with calm turquoise water and distant cabanas visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Cozy beach seating area with colorful chairs and a red table, surrounded by palm trees and a sandy beach under a partly cloudy sky.
A tranquil beach scene at Perfect Day at CocoCay, featuring soft white sand, calm waters, and people enjoying the sun and water activities under a partly cloudy blue sky.
A pair of colorful wooden chairs under an orange umbrella on a sandy beach, with palm trees and blue sky in the background.
View of a tranquil beach with clear turquoise water, soft sand, and scattered rocks under a partly cloudy sky.

Music was playing throughout South Beach with complimentary sunloungers while daybeds, cabanas & overwater bungalows were an additional charge.

Similar to Labadee, there is a floating tiki bar to enjoy and a lot of cruisers were doing just that.

Cove Beach

This complimentary beach may be the furthest point from port (there is a complimentary open-air tram, but we walked it) but it is by far the most laid-back of all the beaches.

A sign reading 'The Cove' surrounded by lush greenery and sandy terrain, indicating the entrance to a secluded beach area.
A couple posing for a selfie in clear waters under a sunny sky, with a wooden fence and a bird in the background.
A clear, tranquil lagoon with shallow turquoise waters, light sandy beach, and a partially cloudy sky.
A person standing in shallow water at a beach, with a clear blue sky and scattered clouds in the background.
A peaceful beach scene featuring several pelicans perched on a wooden fence by the water, with calm waves and a clear blue sky in the background.

This area is free of loud music or additional charges required, and we had The Cove all to ourselves for most of the day.  We grabbed a pair of sunloungers & soaked up the sun beachfront. The water here was calm and crystal clear, perfect for snorkeling. We watched as brown pelicans plunge-dived for snacks and even saw a few lemon sharks off shore.

A person standing in shallow water at a beach, wearing a striped swimsuit, with a clear blue sky and ocean in the background.

There are no restrooms in The Cove, and there is also no drink service offered at The Cove, but you can make the easy walk to South Beach Bar & back …which we did several times!

Travel Tip: pack your water shoes for beach walks as we found a lot of coral rock washed ashore

A person with long hair, wearing a red baseball cap, sits on the beach looking out at a calm, clear ocean with gentle waves and a bright blue sky filled with fluffy clouds.

Chill Island

The closest complimentary area to port, at Chill Island you will find not only great beachfront real estate but also the largest manmade freshwater pool in the Caribbean.

Sign reading 'Chill Island' adorned with decorative floats against a clear blue sky and palm trees.
A decorated Christmas tree in shades of green and blue stands amidst palm trees on a sandy beach, with a sand sculpture nearby and a clear blue sky overhead.
A view of palm trees and greenery with a cruise ship in the background under a bright blue sky.

From the pool, you can enjoy stunning views of the ship across the landscape & of course drink service. Captain Jacks cocktails are infamous & Chill Grill serves a fantastic lunch featuring burgers, hot dogs, salads, sandwiches & a delicious taco bar (Carnitas 😋).

View of two cruise ships docked near a rocky beach, with a palm tree shadow in the foreground and bright blue skies overhead.

If you’ve booked an excursion or want to rent a Jet ski, Chill Island is where you’ll want to be.

Oasis Lagoon

This massive fresh-water lagoon, located in the very center of CocoCay, features a swim-up pool bar and a tropical soundtrack both above and under water.

View of a sandy beach at CocoCay with blue lounge chairs and umbrellas, palm trees in the foreground, and a cruise ship docked in the background under partly cloudy skies.
A scenic view of the shoreline at Perfect Day at CocoCay, featuring clear turquoise water, a rocky edge, and a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds. In the background, there are colorful umbrellas and structures, showcasing the vibrant atmosphere of the private island.
A scenic view of a beach area at Perfect Day at CocoCay, featuring turquoise waters, a fountain, and various umbrellas on the sandy shore. Palm trees and a restaurant with colorful awnings are visible in the background under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Once known as ‘The Largest Freshwater Pool in the Caribbean,’ offers partially-submerged sunloungers to curl up with a good book & keep you cool while basking in that Bahamian sunshine.

Breezy Bay at Chill Island

Although the beach area is a bit smaller here, if you’re looking to bounce back-and-forth between the beach and the pool, Breezy Bay is the perfect spot to do just that.

Sign welcoming visitors to CocoCay, surrounded by lush greenery, emphasizing cleanliness and environmental preservation.

In addition, Breezy Bay is close to the sports zone where visitors can enjoy volleyball, basketball, and so much more.

Take A Break

The addition of a visit to any cruise line-owned private island or resort to an itinerary for us is a welcome one.  We spend so much of our cruise exploring all that we can, on land and onboard these incredible ships.  It’s nice to have a private paradise like CocoCay that forces us to kick-back and relax, or if you’re looking to keep up the pace you can still enjoy adventures like ziplining, jet skiing, and more.

View of two cruise ships docked at CocoCay, with rocky shoreline and clear blue water in the foreground under a bright blue sky.
Visitors walking along a colorful pathway at CocoCay, with vibrant canopies overhead and the ocean in the background.
A vibrant 'Perfect Day' sign stands against a backdrop of palm trees and a clear blue sky, with gentle waves lapping at the rocky shoreline.

From the moment you step off the ship (there were two ships in port on our visit), you feel like you’re stepping into a mega-all-inclusive resort.  Like Labadee, there is no need for cash, a passport, or anything other than sunblock at CocoCay, and visitors can spend their day however they choose.

Complimentary Food

There are many complimentary dining options, including some of our favorites like the open-air buffet offerings of Chill Grill and Skipper’s Grill.

A sandy area at a beach resort featuring a large thatched-roof pavilion, colorful umbrellas over picnic tables, and lush palm trees against a blue sky with clouds.
Exterior view of Captain Jack's restaurant at Perfect Day at CocoCay, featuring a vibrant blue roof, palm trees, and a welcoming entrance with outdoor seating.

Burgers, salads, sandwiches, tacos and fajitas are all included, along with a seemingly endless toppings bar. A major plus to this buffet was the fresh fruit offerings. This was a really nice treat for those who wanted to keep things on the lighter side. We hit Chill Grill later in the day (right before getting back on the ship) for an early dinner. The carnitas were absolutely outstanding, and we really liked that the food was still fresh (and that the buffet was still serving) so late in the day (other private cruise ship islands only serve food during a designated time frame).

At The Snack Shack, with two locates on either Oasis Lagoon or South Beach, you’ll find standard fare similar to what you’d find onboard your Royal Caribbean cruise ship. The menu offers burgers, crispy chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, French fries, salads, cookies, brownies and funnel cakes. We tried a few of these options for an early lunch, and even though this was a grab-and-go style kiosk, the food was all made-to-order which we enjoyed.

Each of the above-listed dining options are available free-of-charge. You can enjoy as much or as little as you’d like throughout your day at CocoCay.

All-Inclusive + More

Another benefit to this private island is that at CocoCay, you can spend as much money as you’d like, or no money at all! If you have a Royal Caribbean Drink Package, this package will follow you on land at CocoCay meaning you can enjoy unlimited beverages throughout The Island’s various bars.

A hand holding a tropical drink with a slice of orange in front of a sandy beach and clear blue water.

For families looking to enjoy complimentary activities on land, visit Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill’s Galleon where kiddos can have a blast on land. There are water slides, splash pads, and it’s all completely free! The laughter pouring out of this spot was contagious.

We did not visit any of the paid areas or participate in any of the paid activities, but you certainly have the option to throughout your visit.  We grabbed two free beachfront sunloungers with a table and umbrellas in our own little slice of heaven aka The Cove, and we dined on all the complimentary food throughout the island.  The only thing we spent additional money on during our stay was a few cocktails (since we were not on the drink package) and a few souvenirs.

There’s Room for All

With over 8,000 people and two cruise ships in port during our visit to CocoCay (5,000+ on Odyssey and 3,000+ on the other), we never felt that any public areas of The Island were crowded.  The Island’s layout seemed perfectly designed to absorb everyone – a true accomplishment! Each of the complimentary beach and pool areas we enjoyed felt open and airy, never overcrowded. That’s right, at CocoCay – we never had to pay for lounge chairs or umbrella access. As we made the trek back and forth from The Cove to South Beach for drinks and complimentary snacks, we remarked at the number of open sunloungers and beach areas throughout the day.  This wasn’t something we were used to seeing with that many people in one spot, especially later in the day. We didn’t have to fight for sunloungers or food which was a nice surprise.  

A cheerful couple taking a selfie at a beach, both wearing sunglasses, with lush greenery in the background.

It should be noted that we never visited any of the premium areas like the Coco Beach Club or The Hideaway which is an additional cost per visitor.  We did speak with a lot of our fellow cruisers who visited Thrill Waterpark and said it did not feel overcrowded and that they really enjoyed themselves.

Hideaway
Hideaway
Coco Beach Club

However, we were allowed to walk through Coco Beach & The Hideaway to catch a glimpse of the vibe.  This area features a beachfront infinity pool, exclusive restaurant, cabanas, and daybeds, but to us Coco Beach Club & The Hideaway are more like an all-day night club set on an uber-crowded beachfront.  Call us old, but we’d much rather the peaceful calming sounds of the ocean waters kissing the shoreline than the deep base of a DJ’s set. (Yes, in our younger years we would’ve been all about this type of establishment and believe us when we say – we were regulars at The Tunnel, Twilo, Palladium & Bungalow 8 just to name a few of our spots!)  However, that’s the beauty of CocoCay.  There truly is something for everyone!

Signpost directing visitors at Perfect Day at CocoCay, featuring various beach and activity location names.

There is such a wonderful variety of things to do at CocoCay. While we were enjoying our calm, relaxing day in The Cove, our fellow travelers were hitting Thrill Water Park, playing beach volleyball, paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkeling, ziplining, jet skiing, shopping, and dancing the day away at Coco Beach and The Hideaway.

Perfect Day at CocoCay v. Labadee, Haiti

When comparing CocoCay to Labadee, we definitely fell in love with the Haitian landscape from the moment we pulled into port.  Located on the northern coast of Haiti, the contrast of Haiti’s lush green mountainous coast set against those calm turquoise waters was breathtaking (we have the same feelings about St. Lucia!).  CocoCay is truly an island paradise surrounded by calm Bahamian waters.

A person holding a cup and smiling on a cruise ship balcony, overlooking the turquoise waters and vibrant attractions of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

We really enjoyed the meandering nature paths that lead us to and from each of CocoCay’s various neighborhoods.  The Island’s lush vegetation provided a natural shade cover as we walked the soft sandy paths to and from.  We can’t speak to what CocoCay was like previously, but we do know that shade is something that was missing on our visit to Labadee.  Everywhere we walked in Labadee was in direct sunlight, and that Haitian sun is strong!

Within eye shot of CocoCay is also Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Private Island (we heard a few fellow cruisers wondering aloud if they could swim from one to the other – not advised).

In Labadee, the reveal is slightly more subtle as you have to step deeper inland to find everything that awaits you at this Royal Caribbean-owned private resort.  However, at CocoCay, so much of what is waiting for you can be seen from the ship’s main pool deck while waiting for the all clear to go ashore. The vibrant bright colors of Daredevil’s Peak welcome you to port, and the entire island of CocoCay really feels on brand with Royal Caribbean’s newer ships like Icon of the Seas.

We Will be Back

Can you see and do all of CocoCay in one day? Absolutely not, in our opinion.  However, that gives us reason to keep coming back!

A couple poses for a selfie with the cruise ship 'Odyssey of the Seas' in the background, showcasing the large vessel and a clear blue sky.

We loved acquainting ourselves with this new spot on our fist visit.  We set out early to explore the different areas and get the lay of the land, but did we really experience it? Not possible, for us.  We certainly did make a list of ‘must-dos’ on future cruises (we’ve got quite a list). We look forward to our next visit to CocoCay where we hope to enjoy the Waterpark & Beach Club!

Overall, our day at CocoCay was perfection. The complimentary beaches were clean (no seaweed) & well-maintained. The island was easy to navigate & there were plenty of Royal Staff available throughout to answer any & all questions.

A couple smiling in front of the 'Perfect Day' sign at CocoCay, with a tropical backdrop of palm trees and turquoise water.

Let us know if Perfect Day at CocoCay is on your bucket list in the comments below & safe travels ♡

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