Perfect Day in Coco Cay Review

Cruise lines’ private islands fascinate me and I’m quite sure why. I think the concept of being able to get off the ship, hangout at the beach and get food without having to worry about bringing a wallet is a very relaxing concept.

One of the ports of call on our weekend cruise on Liberty of the Seas was Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island. It really is an awesome island, so I wanted to share my experience and thoughts about our day there.

This article is part of my Cruise Trip Report: Weekend in the Bahamas including:

• Affordable and Efficient: Southwest to Florida
• Booking a Cruise: Triple Stack
• Liberty of the Seas: Interior Cabin Review
• Liberty of the Seas: Ship Review
• Perfect Day in Coco Cay Review
• Spending a day in Nassau
• Lounge Review: Centurion Studio FLL
• The Weekend Cruise… would I do it again?

Our Day

We were late getting off the ship after taking our time eating breakfast and getting ready. We grabbed some towels and headed to the gangway to disembark. It was an easy walk from the pier around the island.

We walked around the island to become acquainted with its offerings. We found a lounge chair on the beach and headed to the water to cool off as it was quite warm. The water was clear and calm and you could walk out to a sand bar, look at the fish in the water, and we even saw a small reef shark (which doesn’t bite).

While it was cloudy and we had some rain, it was warm and the sun poke itself out from time to time, and eventually come out towards the end of the day. Even with the bit of rain, we weren’t too disappointed, but we didn’t complain, we were in the Bahamas.

We grabbed a snack from the food and snack shacks on the beach, including a salad and fruit, which was quite good. Adjacent to the food area was a basketball court, where we quickly shot some hoops. In the various areas of the island, they had similar set-ups….food venues, basketball courts, lounge chairs, and of course, the water.

For lunch we headed to one of the buffet venues. The tacos were actually really good with a range of protein options, shell options, and toppings. There was also the typical grill cuisine, as well as salads and sandwiches, fruit buffet, and, of course, soft serve ice cream.

After lunch we headed back to the beach and hung around for a little while longer before walking back to the ship to try our luck on the flo rider.

Activities

Although we did not pay for anything additional on the island, there were plenty of options available. Ranging from the waterpark and insane slides (I believe it was actually the largest slide in the eastern hemisphere), to jet skiing, zip-lining, and snorkeling.

There were also more relaxing choices such as floating overwater bungalows with small slides, the island’s private beach club that comes with additional food offerings (and an added cost), as well as an infinite pool. There were a number of rental options including floating mats and cabanas. 

While there were plenty of beach chairs and umbrellas that did not require an added cost, it would be wise to get out to the beach early and mark your territory before the masses come off the ship (or ships) and it becomes more challenging to find enough seats for your entire party. 

There was also a splash playground for the younger folks, as well as a large party pool for those wanting to lounge around in the water and drink. Of course, you can’t forget the pirate ship jungle gym; always a favorite for the young or young at heart.

One interesting offering was a massive helium balloon that allows you to rise high above the island, though still tethered to the ground. It was like a hot air balloon ride but without the drifting. It was also pretty cool to watch. However, it was only operating a portion of the day due to weather conditions.

Of course, you could also drink your way through the day. Drinks bought on the island can be charged to your stateroom, which is quite convenient, and for those with a drink package, it also applies on the island.

My Thoughts

Whether or not you choose to pay for activities, it should be a fun day on the island. From the cold of winter up in DC, spending some time in the warm waters of the Bahamas is very enjoyable.

If it had been better weather, or if I return, I think I would try to pay for an activity such as the water park, but visiting for my first time, I am happy we got to explore.

The food was actually quite good, making me wish the taco options continued back on the boat. The convenience of it being included compared to other ports of call is also a nice perk and stretches the value of your cruise fare even further.

The Last Point

I would happily visit Perfect Day at Coco Cay again and would be excited to see it listed as a port of call on a future cruise. It is a perfect way to relax, and a great thing Royal Caribbean has going for it.

That said, there are cruises exclusively to the island and I do not know whether it is enough of a destination alone to have me interested in that type of cruise. Besides the rain and unfortunate weather, I had as perfect of a day in Coco Cay as possible.