Everything You Need to Know About Perfect Day at CocoCay

Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island, made a splash when it debuted in 2019. Although guests have been visiting CocoCay for over 30 years, the recent renovation transformed it into a premier vacation destination. Many new and old cruisers are now searching for cruises that visit the popular destination.

When you hear “private island,” you may think of a secluded and deserted getaway with miles of sand and undeveloped beaches. In reality, they’re small developments on larger islands that provide exclusive experiences for cruise travelers. Almost all the private islands in North America are in the Bahamas, and CocoCay is one of the Berry Islands in the center of the Bahamas archipelago.

Note: only Royal Caribbean and sister-cruise like Celebrity are allowed to stop at this island.

What’s Perfect Day at CocoCay Like?

In the morning, your ship will dock at a pier that can accommodate up to two Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships. No long lines, no bumpy tender rides; just walk right off the boat and onto the island. It makes it so much more convenient to go back to the ship (see why we prefer these types of ports to those with tenders).

With the new Perfect Day, you walk up through a new pier dotted with colorful arches and awnings. You pass by a huge CocoCay sign with water geysers that erupt and lead you to the island. It feels much more like a theme park than it used to, or than other islands do.

A winding path circles the island of CocoCay, taking visitors through many different zones. These zones help spread out the visitors and make the island, which can hold up to 13,000 people, feel much less crowded. A tram is available to help visitors get around the island and get back to the ship if it’s too hot to walk or they have mobility issues.

How Much Does Perfect Day at CocoCay Cost?

There’s no cost to get onto the island itself; just walk off the ship and enjoy. I’ve easily spent a day on the island and didn’t spend an extra dime on shore, which was nice.

Tip: If you have a drink package or Wi-Fi package on the ship, they will extend to the island, which is really nice.

Some attractions and features may cost extra if you are interested in them. You can use your SeaPass card for almost anything on the island, except the Straw Market, so it makes it easy to be cash-free on the island.

Royal Caribbean adjusts the pricing based on specific cruise itineraries and ships. They’re also known to offer discounts upfront as well. The prices below are based on what we’ve seen and heard from other cruisers. For the most accurate pricing and special deals, view your Cruise Planner before your cruise.

Various Costs on Perfect Day at CocoCay

What Is There to Do at CocoCay?

Oasis Lagoon – One of the largest freshwater pool in the Bahamas

Filled with over 800,000 gallons of water, Oasis Lagoon was the largest freshwater pool in the Bahamas when it was built. That’s the equivalent of almost 60 inground pools! Kids and adults will love this pool, with shallow zone-entry areas for younger children and a swim-up bar with 23 seats for adults. You can find secluded coves with benches, in-water seating, or swim out to one of the three islands in the pool with seating. The pool can hold up to 1,750 people, but it rarely feels crowded because of its size and layout.

For a cool effect, dive underwater and listen to some tunes. You can’t hear them when you’re above water, but as soon as you’re submerged, you’re hit with some energizing Caribbean music.

The loungers and umbrellas are all free. Don’t worry if you forgot your towel; towel stations are available and provide complimentary towels with your room key (just make sure to return it before you head back to the ship).

Traditional Beach Fun on Chill Island or South Beach

More of a beach person than a pool person? Check out Chill Island or South Beach. With beautiful turquoise waters and soft sand beaches, it’s the perfect way to enjoy your Caribbean vacation.

Stop by South Beach and visit the sports courts. They have traditional basketball courts, beach volleyball, cornhole, and more. Because this beach is further away than the others, it’s usually easier to find lounge chairs here if you get to the island later in the day.

Chill Island is what used to be the main section of CocoCay before Royal Caribbean built Perfect Day. It’s a better section to visit if you’re interested in snorkeling or water sports. You can bring your own snorkeling equipment or rent some there for between $22 and $27. Personally, I recommend bringing your own if you’re interested in snorkeling. I paid the same price to get one from Amazon (see the snorkel) and I’ve used it at least three times since then. When I go on a regular cruise excursion, I just use what the vendor provides, but since this is just right off the boat, it’s easy to bring your own. While you’re there, swim out to the floating bar for a cocktail in the middle of the ocean.

Harbor Beach Offers a Quiet Lagoon

Play Areas for Kids – Splashaway Bay & Captain Jill’s Galleon

Splashaway Bay keeps the kids busy with five mini water slides, two dumping buckets, countless fountains, water cannons, and pools. It’s a great way to help your kids get all the energy out. It’s right by Thrill Waterpark, but it is complimentary.

If it’s a cooler day or your kids just don’t like being splashed as much, try the splash area called Captain Jill’s Galleon. Shaped like a traditional pirate ship, it has a tunnel slide and scramble net. It’s right by the pier, so your kids won’t have to wait long before going crazy.

Tip: Kids swim vests are available in case you forgot to bring swimmies (or you want to save room).

Grab Some Food While on the Island

Feeling hungry while at Perfect Day? You have the choice of three venues that offer complimentary food: Skipper’s Grill, Chill Grill, and the Snack Shacks.

Skipper’s Grill and Chill Grill are two large, self-serve buffet-style venues. If you’re looking for traditional beach food, like burgers, hot dogs, and fries, you won’t be disappointed. They also have a salad bar, pre-made sandwich station, and taco bar. It’s usually open from around 11:00 am – 3:00 pm, but that depends on the sailing.

If you don’t mind paying extra for some food, stop by Captain Jack’s, a cool themed bar with specialty drinks and wings. You don’t pay admission here, so you can just stop by for a drink and play some bar games or swing on the swing seats. The food pricing is a la carte.

Grab a Refreshing Cold Beverage

Perfect Day at CocoCay has a lot of bars dotted around the island. You never have to walk too far to try a refreshing Daiquiri or Bahama Mama.

If you have a beverage package, you can use it at any of the bars or restaurants that Perfect Day at CocoCay. That’s a huge benefit since you’ll be there for quite a few hours and you can have many cocktails while relaxing. It’s a nice change compared to Carnival or Princess, who make you pay for drinks on their private islands, even if you have a drink package.

If you don’t have a drink package, the drinks cost the same on land as they do onboard. That’s about $7.25 for a beer or $11 for a standard cocktail like a Hurricane or Bahama Mama.

Want to see if the drink package is worth it for you?

Thrill Waterpark (additional cost)

While not the island’s main attraction, the Thrill Waterpark is the first thing anything notices about the island, mostly because of its colossal slide tower. The unique-looking and colorful structure houses the tallest water slide in North America, Daredevil’s Peak, as well as several 6 other body slides.

You enter the waterpark by using your SeaPass card to enter. You can come and go as often as you’d like over the course of the day.

Tip: complimentary lockers are available for guests in Thrill Waterpark.

Once inside, you have 13 different water slides to choose from as well as the largest wave pool in the Caribbean and an adventure pool with swings, ropes, and obstacles for kids to try. Free lockers are available in the park so that you can store your towels, cell phones, and other personal belongings easily.

The park can get crowded from late morning until mid-afternoon. Get there before 10 am to beat the lines. The biggest attraction is the record-breaking Daredevil’s Peak, which can have lines of up to an hour. For the rest of the water slides, the wait is usually 10 to 30 minutes per slide, which is on par with other water parks I’ve attended.

Noticeably absent is a lazy river. It seems like every waterpark has one (the one in Atlantis Bahamas is excellent), but this one does not. Also, the freshwater pool and kids splash areas are actually outside of the waterpark, so it’s weird. In essence, you’re just paying to ride the water slides or use the wave pool. If you have younger kids who just want to splash around, save your money and use the free facilities.

Costs will vary, but here are some ballpark costs. Be on the lookout for bundles with the zip line to save money or Thrill Waterpark Cabanas, which may make it cheaper (those cabanas include admission for up to 6 people).

• Full-day Thrill Waterpark Admission $44-$99 per person depending upon the season
• Children aged 0-3 are free
• Thrill Waterpark and Zip Line Bundle $99-$179

Up, Up and Away Hot Air Balloon (additional cost)

Get a unique perspective of CocoCay by flying up in its signature hot air balloon. Just like the Thrill Tower, you see this gigantic balloon in many of the ads for CocoCay. Up to 30 guests can get in and slowly rise 450 feet in the air for a beautiful view. The balloon only runs in good weather with low winds, so don’t get your hopes up too high. Because of this issue, you can’t pre-reserve tickets for it and instead need to book when you arrive on the island.

Pricing is usually between $39 – $99 for ages 13 and up and $24 – $64 for ages 4 to 12.

Zip Line (additional cost)

If you want a bit of a thrill, try out the zip line on Perfect Day at CocoCay. It’s over 1,600 feet long and has three segments lasting 20 seconds each. Riders must be between 50 and 300 pounds, and closed-toe shoes are required.

The prices for a standalone zip line run from $79 – $139 per person, but we’ve seen packages where you can get it along with the waterpark or hot air balloon for as low as $10 more. Personally, it doesn’t seem worth the steep standalone price, but for a small add-on, it can be fun for a thrill seeker.

Coco Beach Club (additional cost)

This beach club is the premier private island experience. If you want to go all-out and spend your day in the lap of luxury, try the Coco Beach Club. You can get day passes which include access to a premium beach, clubhouse, infinity pool, the exclusive restaurant Grille at Coco Beach Club, beach chairs, and umbrellas. They also have cabanas here, both on the island and the only overwater cabanas in the Caribbean.

The cost for a day pass can range between $54 – $99 per adult and $34 – $69 for children 4 – 12. Children 0 to 3 years old are free.

You can also book private cabanas in this area. The beautiful overwater cabanas, for up to 8 people, can range from $949 to $1,549 which includes admission to the beach club.

Hideaway Beach (additional cost)

Hideaway Beach is the only adults-only section at Perfect Day at CocoCay. It first opened in 2024 in a whole new part of the island previously unused by guests. This area includes a large heated infinity pool, a swim-up bar, and hundreds of loungers, and a calm lagoon to cool down in.

To get there, guests can take a dedicated tram from the Arrival Plaza for a quick 3-minute ride. Once there, guests don’t really have to leave for anything.

Hideaway Beach has two grab-and-go restaurants. Snack Shack serves similar items to the ones found on the rest of the island, but it also has special dishes like ceviche and coconut shrimp. The area also has Slice of Paradise, the one place at Perfect Day at CocoCay for pizza, and it also serves empanadas. Both of these options are completely complimentary.

The area also has several bars, including a huge swim-up bar, On the Rocks, a shaded bar area overlooking the water with live music, and several smaller bars.

Guests who want to upgrade can also book cabanas in this area. There are two types of cabanas. The Hideaway Cabana typically costs around $1,599 and includes passes for up to eight adults. The Hideout Cabana typically costs around $1,739 and includes access to a dedicated infinity pool available only to The Hideout cabana guests. It also includes passes for up to eight adults.

The cost for a day pass can range between $50 and $104.

Cabanas and Daybeds (additional cost)

While there are tons of free loungers and umbrellas available, some people prefer to upgrade to daybeds or cabanas. If you’re with a family or a group, it is nice to have a set meeting place that’s just yours to relax and enjoy. Cabanas typically come with complimentary bottled water and a safe to use.

When you book online, you have a choice of where to pick your cabana. It’s not just about location, but what you want to do and how you want to spend your time on the island. The Oasis Lagoon cabanas are usually louder and busier since they’re close to the pool. Thrill Waterpark Cabanas usually include admission to the park for up to 6 people. Chill Island and South Beach Cabanas typically include snorkeling gear and floating mats. Cabanas give you access to a cabana concierge who can help you get drinks, towels, food, etc.

Tip: If your whole family will be going to the Thrill Waterpark, check out one of their cabanas. The cabanas come with admission for up to 6 people, so it can be cheaper than buying admission separately. Just be sure to book early!

If you are considering a cabana or daybed, book early using your Cruise Planner! They fill up quickly, especially during peak season or when there are two ships at the island on the same day. Usually, pre-booking will always get you a better price as well. If you do ever see it go on sale after you book, give them a call, and they’ll usually offer you a credit. 

Here is the price range of some of the items. Again this will vary depending on demand and time of year. 

• Full-Day Beach Bed Rental: $199 – $569 for 4 guests
• Oasis Lagoon Cabana: $499.99 for 8 guests
• Chill Island Cabana: $499.99 for 8 guests
• Thrill Waterpark Cabana: $299.99 for 6 guests

Beach Rentals (additional cost)

Want to float on the ocean on a comfy foam mat? Or maybe you want to kayak or jet ski across the beautiful blue waters. You can rent these while you’re on the island to add some adventure to your day.

Sea-Doos / Jetskis are usually around $110 while kayaks are around $43. If you prefer to snorkel, you can rent equipment for that as well at around $22 – $37 per person (or bring your own).

Straw Market

The Straw Market offers traditional, handmade Bahamian crafts. This area is one of the only things on the island you will need cash for, as these vendors aren’t employed by Royal Caribbean.

How to Book Activities?

The best way to book these activities is by using your Cruise Planner, either the website or through the app. Since Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, the cost, discounts, and bundle promotions can change often.

Tip: Booking usually opens 6 months before your cruise. Book early; things sell out quickly. Also, Royal Caribbean usually uses dynamic pricing, which means things will be more expensive as they get full.

Is CocoCay Right for You?

As always, there’s no clear answer; everyone has their own tastes and opinions. Before I first stepped foot on the island, I was afraid it would feel like a massive theme park. But on my first visit, I realized I was wrong. Yes, it’s developed, but Royal Caribbean has painstakingly planted thousands of plants and designed the areas so everyone can find what they’re looking for, whether that’s peaceful relaxation, a thrill, or a party vibe.

You might like Perfect Day at CocoCay if…

• You have kids
  • There’s tons to do on the island that don’t require extra money. Little kids love just swimming and playing in the sand; here, they can do that at no cost. 
• You’re with a group
  • Planning excursions with a group is such a hassle. With Perfect Day, you just walk off the boat and enjoy.
• You like waterparks
  • How can you say no to trying the tallest water slide in North America?
• You don’t like spending a lot of money on excursions
  • There are lots of ways to spend money on CocoCay, but you don’t have to. If you just want to relax by the beach or in the pool, you don’t have to spend a single penny, and food is included. You won’t find that in many other excursions at other ports. 

You might not like Perfect Day at CocoCay if…

• You want to learn about local culture, cuisine, architecture, or history.
  • Perfect Day at CocoCay is basically the equivalent of a theme park. Most people who work on the island live on the island, so you won’t be sharing culture. There are no visiting museums or historical points of interest either. 
• You don’t like outdoor or sun-based activities
  • While there are many opportunities for shade on CocoCay, you have to walk in full sun to get to them, and there’s no air conditioning. If you prefer being indoors or excursions in air-conditioned buses to museums, then you won’t like CocoCay.
• You like to shop
  • There is a small Straw Market on the island, but if you like to go to different stores to find deals and tax-free merchandise, you won’t find much to do here.
• You like to find secluded getaways not many people know about
  • This island is not a “hidden gem”; it’s a very well-known beach getaway visited by almost every Royal Caribbean ship sailing in the Caribbean.  

Follow Along on Our Visits to Perfect Day?

Read our blog when we visited Perfect Day on Star of the Seas

Read our blog when we visited Perfect Day on Celebrity Reflection

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Related posts:

Star of the Seas Cruise Blog – Day 3 – Perfect Day at CocoCay Celebrity Reflection Cruise Blog – Day 3 – Perfect Day at CocoCay Review: Royal Caribbean’s Hideaway Beach: Is It Worth the Price? Star of the Seas Cruise Blog – Day 1 – Port Canaveral