Come Sail Away
Holland America and Disney both opened their Bahamas private islands to guests in the late 1990s, but the concept of a cruise line operating a private island actually turns 30 in 2007. Norwegian Cruise Line was the first in 1977 with Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.
Disney's Castaway Cay is reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line Guests. This 1,000 acre Bahamian island paradise has turquoise water, aquatic playgrounds, separate beaches for families and teens, and Serenity Bay - a special secluded beach reserved for adults. Disney has developed less than 10 percent of the island, but in that 10 percent, guests can swim and snorkel, rent bikes and boats, get their hair braided, shop, send postcards, have a massage, or just lounge in a hammock or on the beach. Barbecue burgers, ribs, fish, and chicken are available at Cookie’s Bar-B-Q, and several bars are scattered around near the beaches.
Royal Caribbean has been operating CoCoCay in the Bahamas since the late 1980s. Located in Bahamas' Berry Islands chain, CocoCay is an exclusive 140-acre private island playground for Royal Caribbean guests. This tropical paradise has recently been updated with new aquatic facilities, nature trails and a ton of great places to just sit back, relax and enjoy a tropical drink. It's recently added a new giant inflatable water slide and "Power Wheels Track" in conjunction with Fisher Price. Kids, big and small, will like the aqua park that includes a floating trampoline, water slides, and a sunken airplane and schooner for snorkelers. For something quieter, head for Wanderer’s Beach; it’s a longer walk from the tender pier than the other beaches, so it tends to be less crowded and quieter. Royal Caribbean also owns Labadee, a private beach retreat on Hispaniola's north shore.
The tiny island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas is home to the private beach party hosted exclusively for Princess guests. The sand at Princess Cays is among the softest you’ll find in the Bahamas. The half-mile of shoreline allows passengers to swim, snorkel, and make use of Princess’s fleet of Hobie Cats, Sunfish, banana boats, kayaks, and paddle-wheelers.
Princess Cruises has opened its first bungalows at Princess Cays. Daily rentals for the initial six bungalows will be around $200. The bungalows have deck chairs and an air-conditioned area. Cruise staff provide food and beverages. Families can stow gear and personal effects inside the bungalow while enjoying the island. Princess has also recently added hundreds of additional clam-shell cabanas - basically double lounge chairs with a top to pull down for shade.
Half Moon Cay, the highest-rated port of call on Holland America Line's Caribbean cruise itineraries, is located on 65-acres of the 2,400-acre Little San Salvador Island in the Bahamas (only two percent of the island is developed) and has been designated by the Bahamian National Trust as an international wild birds preserve.
Half Moon Cay has been rated as "Best Private Island" by Porthole Cruise Magazine for the past five years. There are a variety of exciting activities to choose from while exploring this privately owned paradise. You can go horseback riding on the sand and through the surf, take a stingray adventure, visit the Half Moon Lagoon Aqua Park, hike a nature trail or simply relax in an air-conditioned, private beachfront cabana.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay, is
a stretch of palm-studded beachfront in the southern Bahamas,
and was the very first private resort developed by a cruise line
in the Caribbean. Passengers can ride paddle boats, sail
Sunfish, go snorkeling or parasailing, hop on a banana boat,
join a game of volleyball in the three deep sand courts, get a massage at one of the beachside stations or relax in hammocks strung between palms.
Cruises Private Island Growing Popularity
Why are so many cruise lines investing in providing a top-of-line private island experience? Because of the growing popularity with passengers. Holland America says Half Moon Cay rates highest with its guests for any port of call visit in the Caribbean.
Disney Cruise Line confirms that Castaway Cay also earns the highest marks of any of its Caribbean ports of call. According to Disney it is very common for guests to ask why we can't go back to the island or why we can't stay there longer. Disney is giving some guests the chance to do just that with a new Disney Magic itinerary to the western Caribbean; the ship spends two full days at the island, one at the start of the cruise, another at the end.
One interesting fact is that private islands appeal to both first-time and repeat island visitors. With the private island experience, you can have the food, convenience, safety, activities and a great beach.
What's the future of cruise lines private island destinations? Industry leaders say that the private island will continue to be important because of its "exclusivity". Cruise Lines have control of their private island experience and generally only allow their own ships to call at the private isles, but some make exceptions for sister lines. Windstar Cruises and Carnival Cruise Lines ships also call at Half Moon Cay. Celebrity Cruises also calls in 2007 at Royal Caribbean's Labadee.
Ultimately passengers may start choosing a cruise line for the private island experience, much in the way they now choose a cruise line for a certain ship.
