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Princess Cays is a private resort owned by Carnival Corporation that is located on the
southern tip of the island of Eleuthera. It is a port of call for ships from both Carnival
and Princess cruise lines.
Ships anchor offshore and complimentary tender boats -- or water shuttles -- transport passengers
between the ship and the island.
A quick note about the name of the port.
On our cruise, we heard both passengers and crew call the port Princess “Keys,” Princess
“Key,” Princess “Kays,” and Princess “Kay.”
In this video, we’ll be calling it Princess “Key” because that’s what the friendly
local woman I met in the bathroom said the name was.
As your water shuttle approaches Princess Cays, you’ll be able to see several beach
areas and building structures on the left side -- or North side -- of the port.
You’ll also be able to see beach areas and fewer building structures on the right
side -- or South side -- of the port.
Although the North side of the port is far more popular, the South side is also worth
visiting.
As you leave the water shuttle and approach the dock area of Princess Cays, you’ll find
restrooms, lockers, a First Aid station, a helpful sign informing you of the time for
the last water shuttle, and a large map that will help you easily orient yourself.
Several of these maps are available around the port.
If you follow the crowds from the dock area to the North side of the port, you’ll soon
find an information desk, towel station, and Princess Cays photo op.
If the photo op is crowded early in the day, wait until later in the day to get a clear shot.
Continuing along the sidewalk, you’ll find several shops and kiosks selling trinkets,
souvenirs, and more, before you quickly arrive at the expansive beach area.
The beach area on the North side of Princess Cays is quite large and has four inlets for
you to enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and other water activities.
Water sports equipment and inflatables are available for rent.
If you’re interested in some rest and relaxation -- or just a break from playing in the sun
and water -- complimentary lounge chairs are provided throughout the
beach areas at Princess Cays.
During our cruise, there were many lounge chairs still available well after everybody
was in port.
Some of the lounge chairs are situated in the shade so you can enjoy your day at the
beach without the risk for sunburn.
Or, if you prefer a clam shell for your shade, you can rent one for an additional fee.
For even more relaxation, several air-conditioned bungalows are available for rent at the Northern-most
end of Princess Cays, including some adults-only Sanctuary bungalows.
Each bungalow can accommodate four people and can be reserved as a shore excursion through
your cruise ship.
A complimentary shuttle near the First Aid station is available if you don’t want to
make the trek to the bungalows on foot.
After enjoying all that Princess Cays has to offer and working up an appetite, you can
grab a bite to eat at the Grill Crazy BBQ Pavilion, which serves a complimentary buffet.
During our visit, the food options included jerk chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, sides,
fruit, desserts, tea, and lemonade.
Shaded picnic benches are provided at the buffet area.
And if you get thirsty, there are three bars on the North side of the port that serve up
alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for a fee.
The one closest to the entrance of the port had live music during our visit.
It’s easy to see why so many passengers go to the North side of Princess Cays to enjoy
their day in port.
However, the South side should not be ignored, especially if you want to avoid the crowds
and enjoy many of the same amenities.
To get to the South side of Princess Cays, walk around the back of the restrooms building
at the water shuttle dock and follow the line of flag poles to a small bridge that will
take you to the other side of the dock.
Take note that as you head to the South side of the port, you’ll walk past a gate that
separates the Princess Cays port area from the rest of the island.
A small shopping market operated by locals is located on the other side of the gate,
but make sure you take the required identification with you if you choose to exit the gate and visit.
Continuing to the South side of Princess Cays, you’ll find the Sea Breeze Grill just a
few steps away from the dock area.
The Grill served the exact same buffet as the Grill Crazy BBQ Pavilion during our visit
and also has shaded picnic benches available.
Also on the South side of the port, you’ll find a kiosk selling beach necessities, a
rentals kiosk, lockers, a few small shopping kiosks, restrooms, and -- most importantly -- a lot
of wide open, uncrowded beach.
This area features two inlets and one long stretch of beach for swimming, snorkeling,
and other water activities.
Just like the North side of Princess Cays, the South side also has complimentary lounge
chairs available, both in the sun and in the shade.
Also, clam shells are available to rent and a bar is available for purchasing both alcoholic
and non-alcoholic beverages.
While there is a lot to enjoy at Princess Cays, it’s important to note that there
are a lot of rocks in and around all of the water areas.
If you plan on spending time in and around the water, we strongly recommend wearing a
good pair of water shoes to protect your feet.
On a positive note, the rocks do provide the opportunity to see some sea life while snorkeling.
No matter where you spend your time at Princess Cays, you should find plenty of opportunity
to enjoy your visit.
In addition to everything we’ve already covered, there are a few other things you
might want to check out during your time in port:
The Offshore Pavilion, which is located near the Coconut Bar and Grill Crazy BBQ Pavilion,
is a nice place to snap a photo with your cruise ship in the background.
It’s also a nice place to check out the fish swimming in the water below.
The Crow’s Nest Overlook is a two-story-tall wooden structure that provides a great view
of the entire port.
It’s also located near the Grill Crazy BBQ Pavilion on the North side of the port.
If you have younger kids, you’ll want to check out Pelican’s Perch, which is located
just past the shopping area on the North side of the port.
The play area features two fully-shaded sand-filled play areas, a wooden climbing structure, and
a kiddie pool for the little ones.
Finally, be prepared for very long lines on your way back to your cruise ship if you’re
leaving close to the end of the day.
During our cruise, there simply were not enough water shuttles to return everybody back to
the cruise ship in a timely manner.
If you prefer to avoid the crowds, consider leaving immediately after eating lunch, or earlier.