Ultimate Guide to Cruise Line Private Islands
Are you cruising on a mainstream or premium cruise line around the Caribbean or from the East coast? It’s likely your cruise itinerary will include a stop at the cruise line’s private island or destination.
Across the board, these islands have been designed around creating a perfect experience for the cruise guest. You will find it all on a cruise line private locale - pristine beaches complete with turquoise waters and soft white sand, thrilling activities for kids and teens, relaxation areas for adults, and more.
We’ve rounded up the ultimate guide to cruise line private islands, and what you can expect if your sailing includes a stop at one of these highly-rated destinations.
Castaway Cay (Bahamas) - Disney Cruise Line
Disney Dream docked at Castaway Cay. - Disney Cruise Line
About the Island:
Disney Cruises’ private island was designed for travelers of all ages, offering separate beaches for adults and families. Available exclusively to Disney Cruise Line guests only, most of the line’s Bahamian and Caribbean itineraries include a stop here.
While in port at Castaway Cay you can expect to find sprawling beaches, sparkling lagoons, splash-worthy water play areas for all ages, scenic walking trails, and open-air BBQ dining locations serving complimentary meals. Adults (over 18) can head to the exclusive Serenity Bay where they will find an oasis complete with open-air cabana massages and specialty frozen cocktails. Kids will love cooling off at the ‘Spring-A-Leak’, a 2,400-square-foot water play area. Of course, no Disney Cruise Line destination experience would be complete without special character meet and greets. Throughout the day, guests will find Disney Characters stationed at the Post Office, Gazebo, gangway and other locations throughout the island.
Read More: 13 Best Things to Do on Castaway Cay, The Bahamas
Tip: Planning a cruise with a stop at Castaway Cay? We recommend renting a private cabana for the day. This option is perfect for families looking to spread out and enjoy some fun in the sun.
Explore All Cruises to Castaway Cay
Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas) - Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas
Cabanas dot the shores of the beaches of Great Stirrup Cay. - Norwegian Cruise Line
About the Island:
Great Stirrup Cay is a four-mile island in the Bahamas that is exclusive to Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas, and Oceania guests. On the island, you will find numerous restaurants and bars and over 1,500 feet of white sand beaches. Looking for adventure? Activities include snorkeling, stand-up paddleboard, kayaking, parasailing, wave runner rentals, volleyball courts and more. Unwind at Silver Cove, the island’s newest area featuring a private villa area. Each Villa offers A/C, a TV with complimentary on-demand movies, access to the upscale Silver Cove buffet, a full private restroom, a retractable glass wall providing unobstructed views, and access to the beach.
Excursion Tip - A featured, once-in-a-lifetime shore excursion on Great Stirrup Cay is the opportunity to swim with the pigs of Treasure Island. This unique and popular experience includes round-trip transportation to the island and guided interaction with these playful swimming pigs. (Additional Cost)
See All Cruises to Great Stirrup Cay
Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas) - Royal Caribbean & Celebrity Cruises
About the Island:
Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay is jam-packed with so many activities and adventures that you will have a hard time deciding what to do first! The island’s amenities went through a rehaul in 2019, so most of the activities you will find are relatively new. In 2024, Celebrity Cruises (part of the Royal Caribbean Group) will begin offering itineraries with a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Those looking to spend some time relaxing on the beach can head to the pristine white sands of Chill Island, or one of the numerous cabanas available to rent on South Beach. Kids and adults of all ages are guaranteed to find excitement at the Thrill Waterpark. This area is home to Daredevil’s Peak, the tallest waterslide in North America. Want to see the island from above? The Up, Up, and Away balloon ride will bring you 450 feet above the ground! You can also soar above the ground on the Zip Line, an exhilarating ride spanning 1,600 feet across the island.
Also found at Perfect Day at CocoCay is the exclusive Coco Beach Club on the far side of the island. Beach chairs and umbrellas are included in the club’s admissions charge, as well as complimentary dining at its upscale restaurant, The Grille at Coco Beach Club. Want to go all out? Consider renting one of the club’s overwater cabanas, each featuring a hammock, shower, and slide into the sea.
Come 2024, Perfect Day at CocoCay will open Hideaway Beach, a special extra-cost area for adults 18+. The space will offer a private beach, two pools, 20 cabanas, and seven open-air bars. The space is locatedon a quiet section of the island, perfect for those looking to chill out and relax.
See All Cruises to Perfect Day at CocoCay
Half Moon Cay (Bahamas) - Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line
A Holland America ship sails into port at Half Moon Cay. - Holland America Line
About the Island:
Beautiful Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas is the private island for Carnival and Holland America Line. During your visit to the island, you can choose to relax, seek out adventure, or enjoy a little bit of both.
Activities you can take part in while on Half Moon Cay include kayaking, bike tours, horseback riding by the sea, snorkeling, swimming with stingrays, jet ski rentals, nature hikes, and lagoon tours. Want to chill out? Rent a cabana or your own private villa for the day and book a relaxing outdoor massage on the beach.
Insider Tip - Looking for a place to relax on Half Moon Cay? Take a quick nap in one of the numerous hammocks you will find scattered around the island!
See All Cruises to Half Moon Cay
Harvest Caye (Belize) - Norwegian Cruise Line
A guest soars across the island of Harvest Caye on the Flighthouse Zipline. - Norwegian Cruise Line
About the Destination:
Harvest Caye, a private destination for Norwegian Cruise Line guests, is a 75-acre oasis located in Belize. Highlights of the port include an expansive pool area with a swim-up bar, beachside cabanas that accommodate up to 6 guests, and a saltwater lagoon that’s perfect for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and riding on electric float boats.
Thrill junkies will love the Flighthouse Zipline, a thrilling 136-foot high venue for aerial activities, including 3,000 feet of zip lining across the island and an observation deck with mainland views. If you prefer to stay on the ground, Norwegian offers a special excursion that will take you to snorkel the world’s second-largest barrier reef in Belize.
See All Cruises to Harvest Caye
Labadee (Haiti) - Royal Caribbean
A view from one of the private cabanas on Labadee. - Royal Caribbean International
About the Destination:
Just like Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s other private destination, Labadee, offers no shortage of fun activities. You will find stops in Labadee on many of Royal’s Western and Eastern Caribbean itineraries. If your next cruise includes a stop to this island, prepare for a day of relaxation and adventure set in a tropical paradise filled with picture-perfect beaches and rolling jungles.
Labadee is home to the Dragon's Breath Flight LineSM, the world’s longest zip line over water, which soars 500 feet over the ground. You can also take in the island views from the Dragon’s Tail Chaser, a roller coaster that races across the island at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.
Tip - Looking to kick back and relax near the ocean? Enjoy the island’s signature drink, the Labadoozie, from your own private beach bungalow overlooking stunning Nellie’s Beach.
Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (Bahamas) - MSC Cruises
Ocean Cay is unlike many other cruise line private islands. - MSC Cruises
About the Island:
Ocean Cay is the first private cruise destination in the Bahamas just for MSC Cruises passengers. As the cruise line has added more ships to sail the Caribbean, cruisers have come back raving about this pristine island.
Ocean Cay has an emphasis on the environment and education all the while allowing guests to soak in the natural beauty and relax. The island is dedicated to ecological principles that shaped how the island operates, the activities offered as well as the overall operation. This private ecological oasis features 8 world-class beaches, abundant sea life for snorkeling, massage huts on the beach, authentic Bahamian cuisine, tropical cocktails, and a Bahamian shopping village. A unique feature is a lighthouse to take in the sweeping 360-degree views of the island. Ocean Cay also offers morning yoga, nighttime glow paddle boarding, kayaking, beachside stargazing, and much more.
Read Related: Inside Look: MSC Cruises’ Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve
Princess Cays (Bahamas) - Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line
Private bungalows on Princess Cays - Princess Cruises
About the Island:
Princess Cays is an exclusive port of call for Princess Cruises and Carnival guests on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. The private resort for Princess sits on over 40 acres featuring half a mile of white sandy shoreline at the southernmost tip of Eleuthera.
The resort boasts outstanding amenities while carefully preserving this natural paradise. Looking to relax on the beach? Rent a ‘made for two’ beach clamshell offering two seas right by the shore. For those looking to splurge, the island offers private cabanas complete with private transportation and air conditioning.
Water sports are big on Princess Cays. Some of the featured activities guests can take part in include banana boat rides, fishing, kayaking, windsurfing, floats, paddle wheelers, snorkeling, and more.
Read More: Photo Tour of Princess Cays
See All Cruises to Princess Cays
The Beach Club at Bimini - Virgin Voyages
About the Destination:
The Beach Club at Bimini is Virgin Voyages new private spot in the Bahamas. As the cruise line is for guests 18+, all activites you will find at The Beach Club at Bimini are geared towards adults. On the island included offerings are a lagoon-style pool, themed events and parties, wellness activities (like beachside yoga and meditation), and local Bahamaian fare. Virgin offers a handful of excursions at the destination, including scuba diving, swimming with the stingrays, and a cultural heritage tour. Most of Virgin Voyage's Caribbean cruises currently call
on The Beach Club at Bimini.
See All Cruises to The Beach Club at Bimini
Coming Soon!
A handful of cruise lines have announced private destinations opening in the coming years.
Royal Caribbean is set to open 'Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island' in 2025. This 17-acre private destination located on the island of Nassau in the Bahamas, will be according to the cruise line "the ultimate beach experience for passengers". In July 2025, Carnival Cruise Line will open Celebration Key, located on Grand Bahama Isle. This new spot (reserved for only Carnival Cruise Line guests) will offer fun options for guests of all ages with a mile-long beach, authentic Bahamian shopping and dining, and fun water and beach activities.In Summer 2024, Disney Cruise Line will open Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, located on the Bahamas island of Eleuthera. The space will be complete with all the thrills and fun that Disney is known for, in a new space that celebrates the beauty of the Bahamas.
Read More:
Tips for Visiting a Cruise Line Private Island
Things to Do on a Cruise Line Private Island
Smackdown: Perfect Day at CocoCay vs Castaway Cay
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