What Is Perfect Day At Cococay Bahamas
RCIs Perfect Day at CocoCay is the chance for cruisers to enjoy unforgettable experiences in a safe private island environment as part of their cruise. This private island has been an exclusive beach escape for RCI cruisers since the 1980s, but the luxury Perfect Day at CocoCay Bahamas amenities and facilities puts it in a league of its own.
RCI expects over two million visitors a year to experience Perfect Day at CocoCay once it is fully operational. It is designed to provide ample amenities for up to 6,000 cruisers a day with plenty of space and more than enough lounge chairs for everyone to feel they are in their own peaceful island hideaway.
Visitors can choose what they want to do at CocoCay. Watersports, thrilling rides and one-of-a-kind experiences can all be experienced along with three huge beach areas for just chilling out and enjoying the sand and sea. You can even get married at one of the island wedding sites during your Perfect Day at CocoCay!
While some activities are included in the cruise price, others attract an additional fee. Weve included a guideline to prices, which vary depending on the season. The most popular winter months from January to Easter are likely to be the most expensive.
Royal Caribbean Cruise To Cococay Bahamas
Guests can only arrive at CocoCay Bahamas via a Royal Caribbean cruiseand a stop at the isle is included in the cruise fare. While visiting the island is FREE for cruisers, there are some attractions here that will cost you extra . Families will love that there are a variety of cruises to reach Perfect Day at CocoCay. If you want to try a seven-night cruise from New Jersey or even just a two-night Caribbean cruise from Ft. Lauderdale that only stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay, there is a cruise that will take you there.
The length of time youll stay on Perfect Day at CocoCay will depend on the specific cruise itinerary your family opts for but generally, you can spend the full day, from 7am to 7pm. In the coming months, there are plans for some itineraries to stay docked overnight but guests would still need to return to the ship for sleeping. Just note that there aren’t any overnight guest accommodations on CocoCay.
The first thing I loved was the large CocoCay pier to disembark from and the shuttles to take passengers from the ship entrance to the beginning of the island. This may not seem like a big deal on paper but it really is a nice little luxury for tired cruisers. Also, being docked at the pier allows families to come and go at their leisure without much difficulty .
Big kids will love the water slides at the water park! Photo courtesy of the Royal Caribbean
Is Food Included On Royal Caribbean Cruises
Royal Caribbean cruises include meals and snacks in a choice of dining venues. For something special, you can pay an extra fee to dine in one of the many speciality dining venues onboard.
On each ship, you can eat for free in the Main Dining Room, the Windjammer and at least two more free dining venues.
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Which Rci Cruise Ships Include A Perfect Day At Cococay
- Adventure of the Seas was the first ship to enjoy the new enhancements at CocoCay from June 2021. They will continue to offer cruises from Nassau to this fun-filled private island.
- Based in Fort Lauderdale, Liberty of the Seas is offering 3 night Perfect Day Cruises.
- Freedom of the Seas offers 3 and 4-night Bahamas and Perfect Day Cruises from Miami.
- 2-night Getaway cruises from Port Canaveral aboard the Independence of the Seas include a full day at CocoCay.
- The all-new Odyssey of the Seas begins sailing from Fort Lauderdale in 2021. Longer voyages will include Perfect Day at CocoCay as a port of call.
All these dates are provisional and may change to comply with U.S. Centers for Disease Control travel advisories and warnings.
Cruises From Coco Cay
Coco Cay has been relatively unscathed by hurricane Dorian, September 2019. The secluded Little Stirrup Cay was one of the Berry Islands, located between Freeport and Nassau. a collection of cays and small islands surrounded by the translucent waters in the Bahamas. Its new name is Coco Cay, and is reserved exclusively for Royal Caribbean guests. Read more
The island has recently been updated with new aquatic facilities, trails and places to just sit back, relax, and enjoy a tropical drink. Activities available to guests include swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, parasailing, scuba diving, and wave-runner piloting. There are 13 waterslides, a wave pool, helium balloon ride, zip line and freshwater pool.
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Day Beds At Coco Beach Club Go Very Quickly
If you bought admission to the Coco Beach Club, plan to get there as early as you can for prime seating.
There are a handful of day beds and in-pool loungers at the infinity pool that are available to whomever claims them first.
While there are plenty of beach lounge chairs and umbrellas to go around, seating around the pool goes very quickly. So if you want one, plan to arrive early.
Free Things To Do At Perfect Day At Cococay Bahamas
Like many things on a luxury cruise, your cruise price includes some complimentary experiences at Perfect Day at CocoCay while other optional activities attract an additional fee.
If you dont want to pay Waterpark admission fees simply relax on complimentary beach chairs on the white sandy, swim in the warm Bahamian waters right off the beach and enjoy the following free activities:
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More Tips For Visiting Cococay Bahamas
- Beach wheelchairs, umbrellas/chairs, towels, lockers, and showers are all free of charge and were easy to find.
- Perfect Day at CocoCay only has room for two cruise ships at a time, minimizing crowds.
- There is a small shopping village with local artisans it is cash only.
- Point out the chickens and iguanas running around for the kids!.
- There are three complimentary restaurants on CocoCay. They all serve the same buffet menu of sandwiches/salads, BBQ chicken and burgers, and a taco station. There are also self-serve flavors drinks and ice cream at each of the restaurants. The Snack Shacks serve much smaller but similar menus and also are included.
- The one specialty restaurant is Captain Jacks. It serves wings and fries priced a la carte.
- Trams are available to ferry guests around the 125 acres of Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Families with children of all ages will likely find that Perfect Day at CocoCay is working hard to earn the title of “a perfect day,” and I know our family will be back. More attractions are planned, too!
More Fun Attractions For Families
For those seeking a day out of the water, there are a few more entertainment options at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Try the 1,600-foot zip line that goes over the Thrill Waterpark and beach, or just hit a ride with the Up, Up and Away Helium Balloon. It can go up to 450 feet on a clear day and provides a 360-view of the island with a protective barrier on the sides. Both attractions require an extra fee.
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Don’t Miss The Floating Bar
Located near South Beach, Royal Caribbean operates a floating bar in the ocean.
It is less of a swim-up bar, and more of a wade-up bar, but once you get to it, you climb a short ladder to get onboard the tiki bar and enjoy drinks in the ocean.
The floating bar has a limited selection of drinks, and no blender, so plan on beers or basic mixed drinks.
Where To Eat At Perfect Day At Cococay
Complimentary meals are included on the island at Skippers Grill, Chill Grill, or any of the three Snack Shacks. These are all buffet style so lunch wont take up too much of your fun time on the island. While Captain Jacks is a la carte with an additional fee we heard the wings and fries were too good not to try. We definitely agree, my five year old may just have eaten 10 wings on her own! Our favorite flavors were the mango habanero and bourbon barbeque.
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No Rash Guards On Slides
Something you should know about is the lifeguards are pretty strict about not wearing rash guards while going down the water slides in Thrill Waterpark.
You can certainly take off the rash guard and hold it as you go down, and then put it back on, but in my experience I had to do this every time I went down a slide without a raft in the water park.
Why? Because rash guards cause drag on the slide, and can slow you down to the point you could actually stop.
Refurbishments And Island Expansion 2017
In early-March 2017, Royal Caribbean announced a planned investment in Coco Cay. The expansion project included building of a dedicated cruise ship docking pier, adding new facilities, amenities and duty-free shopping options.
The new pier is covered and able to handle RCI’s largest ships. Construction works will be done in several phases, with scheduled completion in 2019. The project will not affect the RCI’s scheduled cruises to CocoCay. According to RCI, CocoCay’s pier was completed in June 2018.
Royal Caribbean also signed a 5-year agreement with The Bahamas government aimed to increase the cruise company’s employment of Bahamian citizens. The company will also invest in a hospitality training program. The company will create a curriculum to prepare thousands of Bahamian students for maritime careers on RCCL ships. Classes will be lead by certified instructors providing theoretical and practical information and training to help students develop hospitality skills. Besides classroom teaching, students will also receive training from the company’s onboard staff.
On April 26, 2017, Royal Caribbean held an official groundbreaking ceremony while Enchantment of the Seas was docked here on a 4-day Bahamas cruise roundtrip from Miami to Nassau, , Coco Cay and Key West Florida .
Among the island’s newly added amenities are a basketball court, bocce ball court , bowling court, volleyball nets, large-size pool table.
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Where Should You Eat At Perfect Day At Cococay
One of the unheralded improvements Royal Caribbean made to CocoCay is the upgraded dining choices.
The days of only having burgers and hot dogs are gone , and there is a wide variety of complimentary food on the island.
The two main areas to eat are Chill Grill and the Snack Shack.
Chill Grill is like the island’s Windjammer, with the most variety of food to pick from, along with shaded seating nearby. You will find salads, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and much more. Chill Grill is also where to go to get soft serve ice cream.
Skippers Grill is centrally located and very similar to Chill Grill.
The Snack Shack offers more grab-and-go choices, such as chicken sandwiches, mozzarella sticks, burgers, and even a light Greek salad. Snack Shack is the only restaurant inside Thrill Waterpark.
The Coco Beach Club has its own restaurant and you will not find burgers, hot dogs and other typical island fare here. Instead, there is lobster, steak, grilled fish, ceviche, babaganoush and plenty more to enjoy.
Moreover, you can order unlimited entrees at the Coco Beach Club restaurant, so feel free to try a couple of dishes while you are there.
Captain Jack’s is an extra cost restaurant near the pier, which has wings and fries. Unless you are craving chicken wings and would be disappointed not to get them, you can skip this.
Cococay Tips & Things To Know
The Island Can Handle up to 9,000 Guests at a TimeAccording to Royal Caribbean, CocoCay can handle a lot of people up to 9,000 at the current configuration. With that sort of size, having one ship in port should provide plenty of space without a lot of overcrowding. But the number of guests it can hold should tip you off that it could mean multiple ships visiting the port on some days.
Royal Caribbean Wi-Fi Works on the IslandWant to stay connected or post to Facebook/Instagram to make everyone back home jealous? You can do that on CocoCay. Royal Caribbeans on-ship wi-fi does extend to the island.
Considering that many people pay for Internet service for the entirety of the cruise but normally cant use it in port, this is a big addition to the wi-fi package.
Drink Packages Work on the IslandIf youve ever bought a drink package on a cruise ship then you likely know one of the big drawbacks is that they dont work in ports. If you are off the ship, youve got to open up your wallet for a drink.
But on CocoCay, theres a huge benefit drink packages work while youre enjoying your time at the beach. There are bars all around the island, so you can walk up to any of them and grab a drink just like you would on the ship.
How large? At more than 33,000 square feet, its about 3/4 of an acre! That makes it the largest pool in the Caribbean. In other words, youre unlikely to have a hard time staking out your own little spot in the pool.
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There Is No Breakfast On Cococay
I advocate getting off the ship as early as you can to take advantage of your time there, but make sure you grab something to eat on the ship first.
There is no breakfast option on the island, and food does not open up until the lunch offerings begin later in the morning.
The Coco Beach Club is the one exception, and offers coffee and pastries to its guests.
Up Up And Away Helium Balloon
This amazing experience allows cruisers to get a birds eye view of the island, its attractions and the surrounding beautiful blue ocean and golden sandy beaches. It gently rises 450 feet in the air and carries 30 passengers at a time.
No pre-reservation is available as it only runs when wind conditions are favorable. Just buy your ticket when you arrive on the island for your Perfect Day at CocoCay.
- Up, Up and Away Balloon $39-$99 for ages 13+
- $24-$64 for children aged 4-12
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Booking Your Cococay Cruise
Take a look at our cruises below which visit this island and look forward to visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay for yourself! If you’d like any more information about the island, our Ultimate Guide to CocoCayaims to answer every question you can think of!
When you’ve found a cruise you like the sound of, call our Cruise Concierge team on 0808 1234 118 for expert assistance.
No Masks Required For Perfect Day At Cococay Cruise Ship Visits
Its no fun wearing a mask at the beach, so it was good news when Royal Caribbean SVP Sales Vicki Freed announced today that masks will not be required during the two-day stop at private destination Perfect Day at CocoCay during seven-night Adventure of the Seas sailings from Nassau this summer.
The first sailing departs a month from now, on June 12. As well as the two-day stop at CocoCay, the ship will also call at Grand Bahama Island and Cozumel. Onshore health protocols at those destinations are still being determined.
Passengers and crew members over the age of 18 will need to be fully vaccinated, while those under 18 will have to provide a negative PCR test to sail.
In more good news for this early return to cruising, the Bahamas government recently announced that fully-vaccinated visitors to the Bahamas will no longer have to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival, so adult passengers will have one less task to perform before relaxing on their vacation. Proof of vaccination and that two weeks have passed since the final dose will be all that is medically required to enter the country.
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Shore excursions in the visited ports will only be allowed if booked through the cruise line. As with visits to CocoCay, this precaution is designed to create a protective bubble and minimize the risk of infections being brought on board.
Adventure of the Seas
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Your Seapass Card Works Almost Everywhere
Just like on the ship, Royal Caribbean designed Perfect Day at CocoCay to be reliant on the SeaPass card instead of cash.
Your SeaPass card will get you into Thrill Waterpark, Coco Beach Club, and any shore excursion you book. Dont worry about losing shore excursion tickets. Everything is loaded to your SeaPass card.
It is also how you pay for drinks or souvenirs.
The one place your SeaPass card does not work is the Artisan Market, so bring cash for that.
How Fast Do Cruise Ships Go
Cruise ships are massive ocean going vessels packed with lots to do, so how fast can they really go?
To move a ship as large as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class cruise ships requires a combination of power generation and efficiency. After all, the easier something is to get going, the less energy required overall.
If you have seen a modern cruise ship up close, they are quite large and can move from port to port, and even continent to continent.
Here’s everything you may have wondered about cruise ships and their speeds.
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Carnival To Call At Coco Cay
Coco Cay. photo: RCI
Carnival Cruise Lines announced theyll be calling at Little Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas on select sailings starting in March, replacing Key West.
According to a statement from the line, Carnival Fascination and Carnival Ecstasy will begin calling at Little Stirrup Cay, a private island in The Bahamas. The March 14, 2013, visit will be the first of 19 calls to the island by the Carnival Fascination through December 2013 with an additional six calls in 2014. Carnival Ecstasy will also make 11 calls to Little Stirrup Cay in 2013 and one call in 2014.
Carnival is giving guests the option to re-book their cruise without penalty.
Located 55 miles north of Nassau, Bahamas, Little Stirrup Cay is also home to Royal Caribbeans private island Coco Cay. The excursions on Coco Cay will be available to Carnivals guests.
Key West remains a popular port and is included on many Carnival itineraries. Even with this change we will still be bringing the most guests in the industry to Key West, said a spokesman for Carnival.
Though no statement has been made from the line regarding the the reduction in Key West port calls, local papers report it could be regarding the Naval base.