Visiting a cruise lines private island? Don't make these 11 mistakes
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Instead, the line is aiming to create a more environmentally sustainable slice of paradise. In addition to all the sun-soaked activities and options to bling-out your beach day, Half Moon Cay is one incredibly idyllic island. While you won't find waterslides and zip lines, you'll instead discover an abundance of crystal clear turquoise waters, sugar white sand and a thriving amount of natural flora and fauna. Private islands aren't the only ways cruise lines offer curated experiences to their passengers on shore. Several brands have developed private areas within larger destinations. This private island, owned by Disney Cruise Line, spans about 1,000 acres in the Bahamas.
Honorable Mention: Great Stirrup Cay (NCL)
If you are visiting Princess Cays on a Princess cruise ship, your cruise line drink package will work on the island. However, if you are visiting on a Carnival cruise ship, your drink package will not work on Princess Cays. Of course, there are also beach bars and restaurants where visitors can enjoy a refreshing drink or some BBQ lunch. There’s also a Straw Market market with a collection of local vendors selling handmade souvenirs, jewelry, and other crafts. While Carnival Cruise Line doesn’t have its own private island per se, the brand does share other Carnival Corp. private islands in the Bahamas.
Must See: Royal Caribbean Unveils Hideaway Beach (New Adult Area on CocoCay)
Castaway Cay: A guide to Disney Cruise Line's private island - The Points Guy
Castaway Cay: A guide to Disney Cruise Line's private island.
Posted: Thu, 25 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The swimming here is great, but it will likely take some time for the snorkeling to come up to snuff, simply because attracting and sustaining populations of fish where there previously weren't any takes time. If you prefer to just laze and soak in the paradisical scenery, look into booking a private cabana on Half Moon Cay -- they've got some of the best, at least in our expert opinion. No matter which line you arrive on, when you're here it's all about relaxation and fun in the sun. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Best cruise line private islands for families
MSC plans to build a conservation center on the island, including a coral nursery. Little kids will love the Pelican’s Perch play area, with shaded climbing structures, slides, swings, and a two-foot-deep children’s pool. The can’t-miss excursion on Sir Bani Yas is the Jeep safari tour. Beginning in 1977, the UAE began planting thousands of trees and plants on the island and introduced several animal species that are now thriving. On your semi-private tour you might spot cheetahs, gazelles, giraffes, hyenas, and other African and Arabian animals.
One thing that you’ll definitely notice is the size of Ocean Cay. If you’ve been on other private cruise line islands like CocoCay or Great Stirrup Cay, you know they are sizable, but the area reserved for guests is smaller. The first thing you will notice on the island is the large lighthouse that’s the anchor of Lighthouse Bay, right near where the cruise ship docks. The lighthouse features a viewing platform, as well as a bar at its base.
Only one ship visits per day, so the private destination never feels too crowded. Around the entire island are a number of other things to do, see, and visit. This includes eight different beaches, shops, a spa, food trucks, a buffet, bars, cabanas, and even a wedding chapel. The Beach Club at Bimini is Virgin Voyages private resort in the Bahamas. In partnership with Resorts World, Virgin Voyages has exclusive access to this beach club whenever they have a ship in port. On alternate days, cruise passengers from other line’s may be able to purchase Beach Club passes from Resorts World.
Amazing Cruise Line Private Islands to Visit in 2024 and Beyond
This means that weather conditions may impact your ability to visit the island. Of course, if you’d prefer a day of relaxation, there’s plenty of beachfront space to do so. Across the five stretches of beach, you will find plenty of lounge chairs and the perfect vibe to fit your mood from the quieter Columbus Cove to the livelier Adrenaline Beach.
Carnival’s Half Moon Cay and Amber Cove Resorts Finish in Top 3
Shore excursions are available, including paddleboating and personal watercraft tours. Rentals are also available for snorkeling gear, water floats and bicycles. If you're an active traveler, try biking the loop to the island's lookout point or signing up for the Castaway Cay 5K run; every participant earns a medal.
Or, book an adults-only bungalow in the exclusive Sanctuary area to enjoy access to a roped-off section of private beach. MSC Cruises has turned a 1.5-mile stretch of land on Sir Bani Yas Island, located off the southwest coast of Abu Dhabi, into a private beach oasis for passengers on many Emirates itineraries. Opened in late 2016, Sir Bani Yas is the Middle East’s only private cruise destination. The resort offers cruisers a stunningly beautiful beach, sports and entertainment, and activities unique to the island. Given its location, Labadee is more mountainous with lush vegetation than most of the other cruise line private islands. This affords for some unique experiences and shore excursions.
It's human nature to grab the first empty beach chair you see, but if you pick a lounge chair close to the pier, you'll be in the noisiest, most crowded part of the island. Remember that more than one ship can visit a private island simultaneously, so those empty spots near you will fill quickly. Walk away from the ship (and the music-blaring bars), and you'll be rewarded with more peaceful surroundings. You might have to share your exclusive beach with cruisers on a sister ship.
There’s also a dry playgroundwith slides, swings, see-saws and more pirate ships. MSC Cruises’ private island resort, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve is part of the Bimini chain of islands. This paradise island has a focus on connecting with nature and sustainability. Haiti is much farther south than most private islands, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. It is more mountainous and lush reaching into 90s along with more rain in the late summer. Pelican Plunge is a 2,400 square foot kids' play area located in the water.
For this port, you tender back and forth from the cruise ship. When you visit the island (or see it from the satellite photos) it may not quite seem finished. That’s because many of the trees and plants were freshly put in and will grow to provide lots of shade as they mature. One thing you’ll love is that with a calm lagoon built in the middle of the island, there is always a place to enjoy calm water no matter the weather. If you like beaches, how about an uninterrupted white-sand beach that’s more than a mile long?
Most private islands sit in The Bahamas — near the busy Florida cruise ports. Apart from location, this small island in the Caribbean is similar to what you’d expect in The Bahamas. Great Stirrup Cay is NCL’s private island, located just a stone’s throw from Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay. The island has everything you’d want, and we especially like the more secluded coves down the beach with tons of seating and a more private spot on the water. It’s hard to find the words to describe the water on Disney’s Castaway Cay. It’s crystal clear, but it’s also an amazing shade of electric blue.
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