Water slides, zip line and a huge balloon: Royal Caribbean spends $250 million on its island
Now that the four largest cruise companies all own private destinations in the Bahamas, chances are your Caribbean cruise will include a stop at one of them. But what you find when you disembark depends on who you book with.
Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is banking on thrills. The company debuted its Perfect Day at CocoCay destination earlier this month after a $250 million renovation. The island boasts a new water park featuring a 135-foot-tall water slide, a helium balloon carrying guests 450 feet above land, a 1,600-foot-long zip-line, and a freshwater lagoon. The Eleven Royal Caribbean 125-acre destination has ships will sail to Perfect enough room to accommo- Day at CocoCay in 2019, date 10,000 people at one including Miami-based time. Empress, Symphony, and
The thrills come with a Navigator of the Seas ships. price though. A full day at the The company’s largest water park goes for $44 to ships in its Oasis class are $99 per person, the zip-line able to dock right at the $79 to $139 per person, and island thanks to a new pier the balloon ride $39 to $99 — no tender needed. The per person, depending on the pier can accommodate two season. ships at a time.
Royal Caribbean is planning four more private destinations in the Caribbean, Asia and Australia. Locations have not been announced.
MSC Cruises, a Genevabased company with U.S. headquarters in South Florida, is taking the opposite approach with its new private Bahamian destination debuting in November. At Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the company aims to show off the natural beauty of the Caribbean island with activities like snorkeling, kayaking and paddle boarding. The company is planning to build a marine laboratory on the island for researching climate changeresistant coral.
Miami-based Carnival Corporation operates two private Bahamian destinations, Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays. Last year Carnival Corp. completed a renovation of Princess Cays to equip the destination with its new Medallion Net wifi tech, expand the marina to allow for larger tenders, and offer more excursions like clear-bottom kayaking and bicycle tours.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, also based in Miami, is investing in several upgrades to its private Bahamian island, Great Stirrup Cay, this year. By the end of the year the cruise company said the island will feature beachfront luxury villas, new dining options, and a Mandara Spa.
The newest cruise company to town, Virgin Voyages, which sails its first ship from Miami next year, is building a private beach club for its passengers on the Bahamas island of Bimini. The company said it plans to throw beach parties for passengers at the club that rival the beach parties of Ibiza.
Taylor Dolven: 305-376-2052, @taydolven