Private I’s
It’s elementary! investigates the private islands owned by our favorite cruise lines and uncovers our top five must-do activities.
It's elementary! Porthole investigates the private islands owned by our favorite cruise lines and uncovers our top five must-do activities.
When cruise lines pioneered private islands as ports of call on Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries decades ago, they were an instant hit. They’ve been upgraded with new facilities and activities through the years, but still consistently earn high satisfaction ratings on guests’ comment cards.
Many fellow passengers tell me the private island stop was the highlight of the cruise for them. Some spend their entire time in these idyllic, almost-heaven enclaves taking a dip in the calm, aquamarine waters; others, like me, find that the more activities they participate in during their private island call, the more they enjoy the experience. And there are plenty to choose from!
When it comes to the activities at the cruise lines’ exclusive beaches in the Bahamas, it’s not easy to choose just five favorites — but duty calls.
RENTING A CABANA
Definitely a splurge, but if you’ve always dreamed of a little home by the sea, this is your chance to experience it … if only for one day. We’ve rented a cabana on Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay while on three different Disney cruises. At first our eyes popped out like those of panic-stricken cartoon characters when we saw the cost — but once we considered the price included extras like snorkel- equipment rental, bike rental and floats, complimentary soft drinks and fresh fruit, sunscreen, a safe, private hammock, shower, and a cabana butler at our beck and call, it seemed a good value. Cabanas are 235 square feet and furnished with a sofa, chairs and tables, a terrace with canopy, two lounge chairs with thick cushions, a closet, and ceiling fan. We spent part of the day swimming, snorkeling, and enjoying the Pelican Plunge water slides, and part riding along the nice, wide bike trails that Disney designs with such relics as the “wreckage” of an abandoned airplane. There is also a lookout tower we climbed for views of the island.
HORSEBACK RIDING
At Half Moon Cay — Holland America Line’s gorgeous private island that marked its 20th anniversary in 2017 — a recipe for a perfect day may include the horseback- riding excursion that takes participants on winding trails to explore the island … and, ultimately, the sea, as horses enjoy a swim along the beach. After the ride, enjoy your own dip in the crystalline waters of the beach and sip something tall and cool while drinking in the island scenery to the tunes of calypso music. For a finishing touch, you can feast on everyone’s favorite crustacean at Half Moon Cay’s Lobster Shack.
CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
At Princess Cays, Princess Cruises’ private beach on the southern tip of Eleuthera Island, there’s an option for those who want to venture beyond the beach: the Rock Sound, Tarpum Bay, Scenic Drive & Lunch tour. I took this 4- hour program on one of my visits to Princess Cays and was delighted at the opportunity to get a taste of the local culture. The program features an authentic native lunch including conch salad plus the chance to experience junkanoo, traditional Bahamian- style enter tainment that incorporates music, costumes, and dance right on the sands of a beautiful beach. As we continued to explore the island, we made a stop at one of Eleuthera’s elementary schools and had a chance to chat with the teacher and the children in one classroom and see some of their beautiful artwork. We also drove past quaint villages with small pristine churches and made another stop at a fishing pier where fishermen were bringing in a catch of Caribbean spiny lobsters.
PARASAILING & ZIP- LINING
Several lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney, and Holland America, offer the adrenaline rush of parasailing around their islands. I tried it a few years ago, and after that fleeting “what the heck made me do this?” panicky moment, I was floating aloft feeling like Half Moon Cay was a Never- never Land with its blue waters, ribbons of white sand and tropical vegetation. The only sound was the occasional rustle of my parachute and harness in the wind. I imagined that at any moment I would be able to spot mermaids frolicking in a lagoon, and my fears and concerns blew away with the balmy breezes that were fanning me.
STINGRAY ENCOUNTER
Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Disney, and Holland America are among the lines that feature this soft adventure, offering the opportunity to get up close and personal with these beautiful creatures of the deep whose silky wings recall angels as they swim through the waters. During one of these experiences in shallow waters — 3 to 6 feet deep — I was able to watch, pet, hold, and feed several stingrays, and I had the thrill of feeling them brush past my legs like friendly kittens as they went swimming about.